Hoppin John

It's New Years Eve...You have just got to prepare some Hoppin John with Goya Yellow Rice to bring in the New Year....It's Good Luck and Good Eatin....


INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups dry black-eyed peas

1 pound ham hocks

1 onion, chopped

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

salt and pepper to taste

4 cups water

1 1/2 cups of Goya Yellow rice

1 cup shredded smoked Cheddar cheese


DIRECTIONS-

1.In a large pan place the peas, ham hock, onion, red pepper, salt and pepper. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 1 1/2 hours.

2.Remove ham hock and cut meat into pieces. Return meat to pot. Stir in the rice, cover and cook until rice is tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle shredded cheese over top, if desired. Serve with- Collard Greens!

Enjoy!- Happy New Years!

Sweet Potato Pie

Desert Time Everybody !!!!!!!  Here is a recipe for something I love and admit that I have never actually prepared myself...A Sweet Potato pie...A Favorite anytime of the year!


INGREDIENTS:

* 3 frozen unbaked 8 or 9 inch single crust pie shells

* 4 pounds uncooked and un-peeled sweet potatoes

* 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

* 1/2 cup pure finely granulated sugar

* 1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed)

* 3 large eggs

* 2 cups whole milk

* 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

* 1/2 teaspoon salt

* 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Cookware and Utensils:

1 - Measuring cup

1 – Mixing bowl

1 – Cooking Bender

1 – Stirring spoon

DIRECTIONS:

As always the key to great cooking is to be prepared and use quality ingredients.

Recipe Instructions:

1. First, hand wash your sweet potatoes. After a complete washing, boil the sweet potatoes until they are tender. Once potatoes are tender drain and allow them to cool before peeling and mashing. Blend your sweet potatoes in mixing bowl with a blender to remove strings.

2. While you are cooking the sweet potatoes go ahead and place your butter on the kitchen countertop and allow to soften.

3. After the potatoes are ready, go ahead and preheat your oven to 350.

4. Next cream the softened butter with both sugars. Mix in the blended sweet potatoes and continue to mix while adding the eggs one at a time. Finally, add your milk, vanilla extract, nutmeg and salt and mix thoroughly.

5. Finally, pour mixture evenly into your three frozen unbaked pie shells. Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes at 350 degrees on your center oven rack.

Preparation Time = approx 1 hour and 40 minutes
Cooking Time = 1 hour and 30 minutes

Enjoy!

Pork & Bok Choy with Black Bean Sauce

As I promised two of my readers...Here is another Asian or Pacific dish that breaks up the monotony of the week after Christmas....  And...It's healthy eating too.


INGREDIENTS:

3/4 pound(s) pork tenderloin, cut into 3 strips (1/4-inch thick)

1 1/2 teaspoon(s) cornstarch

1 1/2 teaspoon(s) reduced-sodium soy sauce

1/4 cup(s) black bean sauce with garlic

1 tablespoon(s) rice wine vinegar

1 tablespoon(s) water

1 1/2 tablespoon(s) canola oil

3/4 pound(s) baby bok choy, cut in half lengthwise

1 large yellow bell pepper, cut into 2-inch chunks

4 ounce(s) medium-size shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps halved

1 teaspoon(s) grated peeled fresh ginger

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Accompaniment:

Brown rice (optional)

DIRECTIONS:


In a medium bowl, toss pork with cornstarch and soy sauce. In a small cup, stir together black bean sauce, vinegar, and water; set aside.                                                                                             

Heat 2 teaspoons of the oil in a large, deep nonstick skillet over high heat. Add pork; cook, stirring, until it browns and loses most of its raw appearance, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Reduce heat to medium-high and add another 2 teaspoons of the oil to skillet. Add bok choy, cut side down, and cook until cut surface is lightly browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Continue to cook, turning pieces, until bok choy stems start to soften, 2 minutes longer. Transfer to plate with pork.

Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil to skillet with bell pepper, mushrooms, and ginger. Cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Stir in black bean mixture, pork, and bok choy; cook, tossing until sauce evenly coats everything and bok choy is tender, about 2 minutes.


If you can , have some Sake with this!

Enjoy!~

Sweet & Sour Pork

It's two or three days after Christmas and if you're like me, you're tired of Christmas leftovers...I mean how much Ham, Turkey, Cornbread Stuffing,Mac & Cheese, Cranbery sauce, Collard Greens and Candied yams can you eat?

Ready for a change?? Why not go Chinese with this Sweet and sour Pork Recipe?


INGREDIENTS:

1 pound pork butt, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 egg white
2 green onions, chopped
1 quart vegetable oil for frying
1/2 cup cornstarch

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 stalks celery, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 medium green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
white sugar to taste
salt to taste

1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
1 (8 ounce) can pineapple chunks, undrained
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup water


DIRECTIONS:

1.Place cubed pork in a medium bowl, and season with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon sugar, and 1 teaspoon soy sauce. Mix in the egg white and green onions. Cover, and place in the refrigerator at least 1 hour.

2.Heat 1 quart oil to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C) in a large, heavy saucepan or deep fryer.

3.Coat the pork with 1/2 cup cornstarch, and fry in the heated oil about 10 minutes, until evenly browned. Drain on paper towels.

4.Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok over medium heat. Stir in the celery, green bell pepper, and onion, and cook until tender. Season with salt and sugar. Remove from heat, and set aside.

5.In a large saucepan, mix 1 cup water, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 3/4 cup sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, and 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce. Bring to a boil, and stir in the cooked pork, celery mixture, and the pineapple chunks with juice. Return to boil, and mix in 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 1/4 cup water to thicken. Cook until well blended.

Serve with Hot tea and lemon....Enjoy!

My Christmas Menu

No Recipe today....Today ,Mrs. Martin and I plan to do some cooking.. A lot of cooking...See ,we are having people over the house tomorrow....My Daughter and son and Law...Our Grandchildren and my mother in law....So we will be fixing a traditional Christmas meal.

I'm going to start off with a Turkey, Though I doubt it will be as large as the turkey in the illustration-LOL

The Second Meat will be a Ham...Adorned with Pineapple rings and cherry!

At our Christmas Dinner, We have always served collard greens-

and Macaroni and Cheese-

And of course you've got to have some cranberry sauce-

To finish that off..or rather to add to it....I plan to make some cornbread stuffing-

Okay, I lied...I do have a recipe for this-

Cornbread Stuffing recipe :

Ingredients:

Cornbread, recipe follows

7 slices oven-dried white bread

1 sleeve saltine crackers

8 tablespoons butter

2 cups celery, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

7 cups chicken stock

1 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon sage (optional)

1 tablespoon poultry seasoning (optional)

5 eggs, beaten

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine crumbled cornbread, dried white bread slices, and saltines; set aside.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the celery and onion and cook until transparent, approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

Pour the vegetable mixture over cornbread mixture. Add the stock, mix well, taste, and add salt, pepper to taste, sage, and poultry seasoning.

Add beaten eggs and mix well. Reserve 2 heaping tablespoons of this mixture for the giblet gravy. Pour mixture into a greased pan and bake until dressing is cooked through, about 45 minutes. Serve with turkey as a side dish...but you knew that!

For Dessert-  Deep Dish Apple Pie-

And of course a red and white wine as a beverage-

Good Food, Good Wine, Family, Friends, Good Conversation, lots of laughter....That's what Christmas means to me!  Hope you and your family have a Merry one  and most importantly...Keep Christ first and foremost in Christmas...

Belgian Waffles

It's Early Sunday Morning and I'm Hungry...I've got a taste..a strong craving for some Belgian Waffles.....what to do?...what to do? Well...if you've got a well stocked kitchen..here is what you can do?


INGREDIENTS:

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

3 egg yolks

2 3/4 cups warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

3/4 cup butter, melted and cooled to lukewarm

1/2 cup white sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 cups all-purpose flour

3 egg whites

DIRECTIONS:

1.In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm milk. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

2.In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, 1/4 cup of the warm milk and the melted butter. Stir in the yeast mixture, sugar, salt and vanilla. Stir in the remaining 2 1/2 cups milk alternately with the flour, ending with the flour. Beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks; fold into the batter. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

3.Preheat the waffle iron. Brush with oil and spoon about 1/2 cup (or as recommended by manufacturer) onto center of iron. Close the lid and bake until it stops steaming and the waffle is golden brown. Serve immediately or keep warm in 200 degree oven.

You know the deal..Waffles and Sausage...and of course  a glass of milk-

Enjoy!

Veal Shanks

Here is a recipe for a hearty meal for hungry holiday visitiors..This is good especially if you want to veer away from the traditional Ham and or Turkey. Try Veal Shanks.

INGREDIENTS:


2 whole(s) veal shanks, (4 to 5 pounds each)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup(s) extra virgin olive oil

2 medium red onions, chopped into 1/2-inch dice

3 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds

2 leeks, white and light green parts only, trimmed, halved lengthwise, cut crosswise into thin half-moons, rinsed thoroughly, and drained..

2 lemons, halved lengthwise, seeded, and sliced into 1/4-inch-thick half-moons

1 tablespoon(s) saffron threads

2 cup(s) dry white wine

1 cup(s) basic tomato sauce

1/2 cup(s) caperberries, stems removed..

DIRECTIONS:

1.Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

2.Rinse and dry the veal shanks, and season them liberally with salt and pepper.

3.In a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven that is large enough to hold the veal shanks comfortably, heat the olive oil over medium heat until smoking. Place 1 shank in the pot and brown it evenly on all sides, 15 to 20 minutes. (Take your time.) Carefully transfer the shank to a plate, and repeat with the other shank.

4.Add the onions, carrots, leeks, lemons, and saffron to the pot. Cook over medium-high heat, scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits, until the vegetables have softened, about 10 minutes. Add the wine, tomato sauce, and caperberries, and bring to a boil. Add the meat to the bubbling sauce and return it to a boil. Then place the pot in the oven and cook for 1 hour.

5.Remove the pot from the oven, and carefully turn each shank over, using tongs and a fork. Return the pot to the oven and cook for another 2 hours.

6.To serve, gently place the veal shanks on a platter, and spoon the sauce over them. The meat will be very tender. Carve with a carving fork and a large spoon instead of a knife.

Enjoy these Shanks with a nice bottle of red wine.....

Apple Bacon Pancakes With Cider Syrup

Just when you think that there is no other way to fix Pancakes....I run across this recipe given to me by a good friend... Check it out-

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup(s) apple cider

3 tablespoon(s) packed light brown sugar, divided

1 1/2 teaspoon(s) lemon juice

1 1/2 teaspoon(s) cornstarch

1/2 cup(s) whole-wheat pastry flour

1/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour

2 tablespoon(s) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon(s) baking powder

1/4 teaspoon(s) baking soda

1 large egg

1 large egg white

1/2 cup(s) nonfat buttermilk

1 medium (about 1 cup) apple, peeled and finely diced

4 slice(s) bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 teaspoon(s) canola oil, divided

DIRECTIONS:


1.Combine cider, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking, and cook until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside.

2.Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and the remaining 1 tablespoon brown sugar in a small bowl. Whisk egg, egg white, and buttermilk in a large bowl. Stir in the dry ingredients, apples, and bacon until just combined. (The batter will be thick.)

3.Brush a large nonstick skillet with 1/2 teaspoon oil and place over medium heat until hot. Cooking 4 at a time, use about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake and gently spread it to make them about 3 inches in diameter.

Cook until the edges are dry and bubbles begin to form, about 2 minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes more. Repeat with the remaining oil and batter, reducing the heat as necessary to prevent burning. Reheat the cider syrup, if desired, and serve with the pancakes.

Nutritional information is based on 2 pancakes topped with 2 tablespoons of syrup each.


Carb Servings: 1 1/2 starch, 1/2 fruit, 1 other carbohydrate, 1 fat. Carbohydrate Servings: 3.

You know what to have to wash this down....enjoy!

New York Strip Steak with Brussel Sprout Hash and Chutney

A man loves his steak!  That was the title of one of my first posts on this blog and here is yet another steak recipe.....



INGREDIENTS:
•2 New York strip steaks (about 1 lb each)

•6 strips bacon (diced)

•5 tbsp butter

•2 chopped shallots

•1 chopped leek

•1 lb chopped brussels sprouts

•1 sliced scallion

•Salt and pepper to taste

•1/2 bottle Jamaican lager

•1 orange (chopped)

•1 apple (peeled, cored, and diced)

•1/2 mango (diced)

•1/2 tsp minced ginger

•Pinch of cinnamon

•Siracha hot sauce

•1 tbsp whole-grain mustard

•1 tsp Dijon mustard


DIRECTIONS:


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook bacon just until the edges start to crisp. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate. Reserve the fat. Wipe skillet clean and return to medium-high heat. Melt 1 tbsp butter. Add 1 chopped shallot and cook until translucent, about three minutes. Coarsely chop the leek (white and light-green parts only) and brussels sprouts,* and slice the scallion (white part only). Add to skillet and cook until the vegetables begin to soften, about ten minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add Jamaican lager, so that half of the hash is in liquid. Bring to a simmer and reduce until almost all the liquid is gone. Add the bacon, another tbsp butter, and reduce heat to low, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes



Smear 1 tbsp softened butter all over 2 New York strip steaks (about 1 lb each), then season liberally with salt and pepper. Grill in an ovenproof pan just to sear, then place in the oven and cook until desired doneness — about eight minutes for medium rare. Remove and let rest ten minutes before servin



Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tbsp butter, then add the orange, apple, mango, ginger, and another chopped shallot. Cook until everything starts to soften, about five minutes. Add a pinch of cinnamon, a few dashes of Sriracha, a splash of lager, and 0.5 tsp of the reserved bacon fat. Reduce the heat and let simmer until the fruit is soft and has the consistency of chunky jam, about ten minutes. Drink the rest of the beer.



To the hash, stir in another tbsp butter, up to 2 tbsp of the reserved bacon fat, whole-grain mustard, and Dijon mustard, and sauté a few minutes more. Total cooking time for the hash is about 30 minutes. · Divide hash onto two plates. Place steaks on top and spoon on some chutney. Serve with more lager. Serves two.

* (Note:) You can use a food processor to quickly chop the brussels sprouts and leeks. Just don't pulverize them — a few pulses and they're good. Otherwise they'll get mushy.

I don't have to tell you that you should eat this steak and enjoy it like a MAN!  Have a nice beer with this!

Beef Short Ribs

Here is a soulful recipe for anytime of the year.....but especially good for a nice mid week respite if you're in the need of something different.

INGREDIENTS:


# 2 to 3 racks beef short ribs

# 2 cups orange juice, without pulp

# 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

# 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

# 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce

# 1 tablespoon soy sauce

# 1 teaspoon hot sauce

# 1 tablespoon dry mustard

# 1 tablespoon garlic powder

# 1 teaspoon chili powder

# 1 teaspoon paprika


DIRECTIONS:

1. Prepare beef short ribs for cooking by rinsing and letting the ribs drain in your kitchen sink. For more tender ribs, peel away the membrane on the backside of the ribs.

2. Prepare marinade by combining and mixing together the orange juice, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, hot sauce, dry mustard, garlic powder, chili powder and paprika in a medium mixing bowl. Separate and reserve 3/4 cup for basting.

3. Pour remaining marinade into a dish and add ribs meat side down into marinade. Cover dish with foil or plastic wrap and allow beef ribs to marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours.

4. Remove ribs from refrigerator. Drain and discard marinade from ribs and set ribs aside until ready to cook.

5. Meanwhile, preheat grill to medium high heat (450 to 550 degree Fahrenheit) and prepare grill for indirect cooking.

6. In a medium saucepan, bring reserved marinade to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to simmer and continue to cook and stir for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. This marinade will be used as a baste during grilling of the ribs.

7. Once the grill reaches a temperature of 450 to 550 degree Fahrenheit, it's time to place the ribs on the grill. Place the grill rack 6 inches from the coals and cook the ribs on the side of the grill opposite the heat source(indirect cooking).

8. Maintain a constant temperature and continue to cook the ribs for about 1 hour, basting the beef ribs frequently with your marinade.

Once done remove your ribs from the heat. Place the ribs in a pan, then baste generously with any remaining marinade.

Cover pan with aluminum foil, allowing ribs to cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Serve your beef short ribs with your favorite side items.

I'm sure you will enjoy this beef short rib recipe for many years to come.

Serve with -

Cornbread


and of course some sweet tea-

Enjoy!

Garlic Fried Chicken

Here is a recipe for something that works as a lunch dish or a dinner dish....Garlic Fried Chicken...You can serve this on toasted buns, with honey mustard, lettuce, onions and tomatoes. Oh so delicious.

What I like most about this garlic fried chicken breast recipe is the fact it's easy to prepare and cooks up in about 25 minutes.

Here are the simple instructions for how you can cook garlic fried chicken breast.

INGREDIENTS:

* 2 to 4 boneless chicken breast

* 1 cup all-purpose flour

* 3 teaspoons garlic powder

* 1 teaspoon black pepper

* 1 teaspoon salt

* 1 teaspoon paprika

* 1 egg

* 1/2 cup milk

* vegetable oil

Cookware and Utensils:

* paper towels

* measuring cup

* spoons

* brown paper bag

* small mixing bowl

* heavy cast iron skillet

DIRECTIONS:

1. You can use fresh or frozen chicken as the main ingredient to this chicken breast recipe. If you use frozen allow for ample time to thaw the chicken. Start by pounding each chicken breast to an even thickness so it cooks evenly. Go ahead and rinse your chicken under running cold water. Pat chicken breast dry with paper towels and set aside.

2. To make flour mixture, add all dry ingredients to a brown paper bag or plastic big. Close bag and shake to get a uniform mix of the dry ingredient, set aside.

3. In a small mixing bowl whisk together your egg and milk. Dip each chicken breast into the wet mixture, then thoroughly coat with the seasoned flour and set aside.

4. Add about 1 inch of vegetable oil to a heavy bottom or cast iron skillet and heat on medium high until sufficiently hot.

5. Test the cooking oil by tossing a drop of water into the skillet. If the oil crackles or pops it's ready for cooking. Depending on your stove, you may have to adjust the temperature up higher.

6. Add the chicken breast to the skillet. Do not overcrowd the skillet this will only hamper your cooking efforts. Cook chicken breast uncovered for about 5 minutes on each side, turning only once. The chicken breast is done when it center has reached an internal temperature of 160-165 degrees.

You can serve this with yesterday's side dish-

and some sweet tea-

Mac N Cheese

This is easily one of my favorite holiday side dishes...Really one of my favorite side dishes period...And here , in case you don't know is a very simple recipe for making baked macaroni & cheese...The proper name or just Mac & Cheese as we call it around the family table-

INGREDIENTS:

* 1 box elbow macaroni (about 16 ounces)

* 1-1/2 pounds shredded cheddar cheese

* 1 cup whole milk

* 1 stick butter, unsalted and softened

* a pinch of salt

* pepper to taste

Cookware and Utensils:

* 1 large boiling pot

* 1 baking casserole

* 1 measuring cup

DIRECTIONS:

1. Soften your butter using your microwave. Microwave the butter on low for about 60 to 90 seconds. You only want to soften the butter, therefore check the butter every 10 to 15 seconds to ensure it doesn't melt.

2. Boil your elbow macaroni according to package instructions.

3. Place cooked and drained macaroni in your casserole dish. Add softened butter, milk, pinch of salt, pepper to taste and one pound of shredded cheddar cheese. Gently mix to blend the ingredients. Layer the top of your macaroni with the remaining cheese, about 1/2 pound.

4. Bake macaroni with cheese at 350 degrees for about 1 hour. The top layer will turn golden brown when the macaroni is ready. Do not allow your mac and cheese to dry out.


Enjoy!

Turkey Salad Sandwiches

It's the Monday after Thanksgiving and I know that all of you probably have lots of Turkey leftover..Here is a practical recipe for what you you can do with excess Turkey.


Ingredients:

3 cups fully cooked turkey, cubed

1/4 cup chopped celery

3 tablespoons mayonnaise or miracle whip

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

salt and ground pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.

2. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and then serve with bread, saltine crackers or over fresh greens.

If you're making a s sandwiches, serve this turkey salad spread between two slices of bread along with tomatoes, pickles and lettuce.

Enjoy!

Lotsa Layers Lasagna

Okay, Thanksgiving is over....You probably don't want to hear about anything involving turkey right?? Good, How about Pasta, Lotsa Layers Lasagna? 

INGREDIENTS:

1 1-pound package polska kielbasa, diced into 1/4-inch cubes3 cloves garlic, minced

 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced


1 5-ounce package fresh spinach, cleaned and spun dry




1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese




4 ounces fresh goat cheese




1 cup shredded parmesan




1 egg, beaten



1 1-pound package no-boil lasagna noodles





2 15-ounce jars Alfredo sauce (or 4 cups homemade)




1 2-ounce ball fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced



DIRECTIONS:

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Makes: 12 servings

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown polska kielbasa, stirring constantly, about 4 minutes.

3. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds. Add mushrooms and sauté until browned, about 4 minutes.

4. Turn off heat. Add spinach and stir, allowing the heat from the pan to wilt the spinach.

5. Make filling by mixing ricotta, goat cheese, parmesan and egg in a large bowl until combined.

6. Place 1/3 of kielbasa mixture into the bottom of a glass baking dish. Top with lasagna noodles.

7. Top lasagna noodles with 1/3 Kielbasa mixture and 1/2 of cheese mixture. Pour 1/3 Alfredo sauce over. Top with lasagna noodles.

8. Place remaining 1/3 kielbasa mixture, remaining 1/2 of cheese mixture and 1/3 of Alfredo sauce over noodles. Top with another layer of lasagna noodles.

9. Top noodles with remaining sauce. Place slices of fresh mozzarella on top.

10. Wrap baking dish tightly with foil. Bake 50-60 minutes, until bubbly.

11. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes, until excess liquid is absorbed. Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

A White wine and a nice salad are preferred to be served along with this!

Shaved Root Vegatable Salad

It's the day after Thanksgiving and you are more than likely stuffed...Here is a little something healthy that should hit the spot for you and not make you feel guilty about yesterday's over indulgence!


INGREDIENTS:


4 tablespoons hazelnuts, divided

1/4 cup fresh orange juice

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 teaspoons hazelnut oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 medium red beet, peeled

1 medium golden beet, peeled

1 small turnip, peeled

1 carrot, peeled

2 radishes, trimmed

1/4 cup (loosely packed) flat-leaf parsley


DIRECTIONS:


Crush 2 tablespoons hazelnuts; place in a small bowl. Whisk in orange and lemon juice, vegetable oil, and hazelnut oil. Season vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper.

Thinly slice beets, turnip, carrot, and radishes using a mandoline or V-slicer. Place red beet slices in another small bowl and remaining vegetables and parsley in a medium bowl. Spoon 3 tablespoons vinaigrette over red beets; pour remaining vinaigrette over vegetables in medium bowl. Toss each to coat. Season with salt and pepper.

Arrange red beets on a platter; spoon over any vinaigrette from bowl. Top red beets with remaining vegetables. Drizzle salad with any remaining vinaigrette; garnish with remaining 2 tablespoons hazelnuts.

Have some white wine with this...Enjoy.....

 A little mood music for your listening pleasure-

Perfect Turkey! Well Okay, Almost!

Good Day Everyone.....It is Thanksgiving and what better thing to post on Thanksgiving than a Turkey Recipe?

Actually...since it is Thanksgiving and all...You should have started this already...but if you're like me at times..a Johnny come lately...Here is the near perfect Turkey recipe for you-

INGREDIENTS:


Chopped vegetables, take about half an onion, a carrot, and a half celery rib and combine them with about 1 tsp. thyme and a tablespoon of melted butter. Mix them until evenly distributed.

Oh yeah...and of course you'll need a Turkey!


DIRECTIONS:

The term "classic" is often associated to a minimally seasoned roast turkey. Many people have developed roast turkey recipes that involve cajun spices, honey glazing, lemon infusions, and other techniques that produces a turkey that sets them apart from the classic roast. Since this is our first Thanksgiving together, I thought I would start with the basics and reveal how I roast a turkey.

This recipe is for a 10 to 14 pound turkey. I will update for larger turkeys later. (I rushed this recipe out after roasting a turkey in the wee hours of the morning, so everyone could get a head start on planning for their turkey dinner. I'll correct any mistakes I may have made after the weekend.)

Before you even think about roasting the turkey, you'll need to budget enough time to thaw, brine, and dry the turkey. If you're purchasing a frozen turkey, allow at least 5 hours per pound of thawing time in the refrigerator. After the turkey has thawed, treat it as if it were fresh (for the purposes of this recipe). Remove the giblets and the neck (found inside the chest cavity). Prepare a brining solution of 1 cup table salt to 1 gallon water in a nonreactive container and soak the turkey in the solution in the refrigerator for four hours. (If your turkey has been infused with a solution, then reduce the salt content in your brine or soak it in a container filled with water.) Pour out the brining solution and rinse the turkey. One convenient way to do this is to position a rack in the sink and place the turkey on the rack to rinse. After the turkey has been rinsed, let it dry by placing it on a rack on a sheet pan in the refrigerator overnight (or for eight hours). Alternatively, use a blow drier on cool setting (no heat) to blow over the skin of the turkey until dry. This is why I said that you should have already been past this part....Think of this as advice for next year!

Now that the turkey is ready to go, preheat your oven to 400°F. Chop up two medium onions, five carrots, and two celery ribs. Also melt 3 tablespoons butter and set aside 2 tablespoons dried thyme (or two sprigs of fresh thyme). Quantity and even chopping is not that important for this recipe, so feel free to prepare these steps quickly to save time.

From the chopped vegetables, take about half an onion, a carrot, and a half celery rib and combine them with about 1 tsp. thyme and a tablespoon of melted butter. Mix them until evenly distributed.

Throw the prepared vegetables (from the previous step) inside the turkey. Now, tie up the turkey's wings and legs so they will cook evenly. Take a 5 foot (1.5 m) long piece of kitchen twine and tie the drumsticks together. Loop the twine around the turkey and over the wings. At the head of the turkey, tie a knot over the flap of skin to hold everything in place.

Place the rest of vegetables and thyme in a roasting pan. If you don't have a roasting pan, you can use a disposable aluminum foil roasting pan from the supermarket. Pour one cup water into the pan and place a V Rack into the pan. Brush breast side of the turkey with butter. Place the turkey on the V rack with the breast side facing down. Brush the back with butter. Place in a 400°F oven.

We're roasting this turkey upside down (usually turkeys are roasted breast up) to cook the breasts at a slower rate. Starting breast side down, gives the legs a head start on cooking. This is desirable because drumsticks and thighs need to be cooked to a higher temperature (about 170°F) in order to remove any trace of pink flesh. The breasts would become very dry and unpalatable if cooked to temperatures as high as the legs.

After 45 minutes, remove the turkey from the oven and baste it with the juices from the roasting pan. I've tried to come up with an easy way to do this without a turkey baster, but I was unable to. Use a turkey baster to reach in between the rungs of the rack and suck up some juices and squirt it over the turkey. Then rotate the turkey onto its side (with a leg sticking up) and brush some more butter on. Return to oven for fifteen more minutes, then baste again and rotate onto other side. Roast for fifteen minutes. Roasting the turkey on its sides lets the sides brown (for better presentation). If you don't care about even browning, you can skip these two rotations and just prolong the breast down roasting by thirty minutes. (You may want to baste once after the 45 minute mark, though.)

Now, rotate the turkey so it is breast side up. Baste again and brush on the remaining butter. Roast for thirty more minutes and then start to check the temperature every ten minutes. The turkey is done when an instant read thermometer thrust into the breast reads 165°F. The deepest part of the thigh should read between 170°F to 175°F. Remove the turkey and allow it to rest for twenty or thirty minutes.

You know...As I write this in the wee hours of the morning...You may still have time to do all of this....If not...Pour yourself a glass of wine and call Boston Market...They cater an entire Thanksgiving Dinner!

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

Apple Cranberry Crisp

With Thansgiving coming in just two days...You might want to think of a different dessert to serve your guests.
Here is one of my favorites...Apple Cranberry Crisp-

INGREDIENTS:

2 pounds Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and thinly sliced

3/4 cup cranberries

1/4 cup white sugar

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/3 cup quick-cooking oats

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces

1/2 cup chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS:

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.) Butter an 8 inch square baking dish.

2.In a large bowl, mix together apples, cranberries, white sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Place evenly into baking dish.

3.In the same bowl, combine oats, flour and brown sugar. With a fork, mix in butter until crumbly. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle over apples.

4.Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until topping is golden brown, and apples are tender.

Have with a nice cold glass of milk...after your company has gone home...Wink wink!  Enjoy!

Suasage Potato Bake

Just hearing the title of this dish, before I even knew what it was sounded simply delicious to me...So Delicious that I had to share this recipe with you all and pray that if I can't find a place that serves this...At least I'll be able (as will you) to fix it myself.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 pound bulk pork sausage

3 large potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 jar (2 ounces) diced pimientos, drained

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup 2% milk

2 tablespoons minced chives

3/4 teaspoon dried thyme or oregano

Additional minced chives, optional

DIRECTIONS: (6 Servings  Prep time : About 20 minutes. Bake time: 55 minutes plus standing time . )

In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.

Arrange half of the potatoes in a greased 8-in. square baking dish; sprinkle with salt, pepper and half of the sausage.

Layer with remaining potatoes and sausage; sprinkle with pimientos.

In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, chives and thyme; pour over pimientos.

Cover and bake at 375° for 45-50 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer or until lightly browned.

Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Sprinkle with additional chives if desired. Yield: 6 servings.

Enjoy!

Chicken Fried Turkey Cutlets

Look! Don't even ask...Just trust me that this is good and copy this recipe-


INGREDIENTS:


1/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon(s) poultry seasoning, or 1/4 teaspoon each dried thyme, sage, and marjoram

1/8 teaspoon(s) cayenne pepper

1 large egg

1 large egg white

1 tablespoon(s) water

1 1/2 cup(s) fresh whole-wheat breadcrumbs (see Tip)

4 (1 to 1 1/4 pounds) turkey breast cutlets

2 tablespoon(s) canola oil, divided

1 slice(s) bacon, chopped

3/4 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth

1/2 cup(s) brewed coffee

1/2 teaspoon(s) sugar


DIRECTIONS:

1.Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Place a baking sheet in the oven.

2.Combine flour, poultry seasoning (or thyme, sage, and marjoram) and cayenne in a shallow bowl; reserve 1 tablespoon of the mixture in a small bowl. Whisk egg, egg white and water in another shallow bowl. Place breadcrumbs in a third shallow bowl.

3.One at a time, dredge the turkey cutlets first in the seasoned flour, shaking off the excess, then dip in the egg mixture to coat. Coat on both sides with breadcrumbs, pressing to help the crumbs stick.

4.Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, add half the cutlets and cook, turning once, until golden brown on the outside and cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the cutlets to the baking sheet in the oven. Return the pan to medium heat and repeat with the remaining oil and cutlets.

5.Add bacon to the pan and cook, stirring, until browned and crisp, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Sprinkle with the reserved 1 tablespoon seasoned flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute more. Stir in broth, coffee and sugar and cook, stirring, until thickened, 2 to 4 minutes more. Serve the cutlets with the gravy.


TIPS & TECHNIQUES:

To make your own fresh breadcrumbs, trim crusts from whole-wheat bread. Tear bread into pieces and process in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. One slice of bread makes about 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs.

Serve with Red Wine...Enjoy!

A little cookin music-