Lemon Blueberry Loaf

Lemon Blueberry Loaf

1/3 c melted butter
1 c sugar
3 T lemon juice
2 eggs
1 1/2 c flour
1 t baking powder
1 t salt
1/2 c milk
2 T lemon zest
1 c frozen blueberries

Mix together butter, 1 c. sugar, juice, and eggs.  Combine flour, baking powder, and salt with egg mixture and milk.  Fold in lemon zest and blueberries.  Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.  Bake at 350 for 60 mins. 

Glaze

2 T lemon juice
1 T butter, melted
1 c powdered sugar

Roasted Beet Salad (My Copy Cat)

While visiting Seattle in March the "Gourmet Guy" and I went to Ivar's on the wharf.  We of course had some delicious fresh seafood that night but we also shared a salad the we both talked about for a couple of days.  For a few weeks I tried to find a recipe and then I finally broke it down and found or made up my own version of, here is my Roasted Beet Salad

Roasted Beets

1 gold beet
1 red beet  

Remove the greens and wash thoroughly, cover in foil separately so that the red color doesn't bleed into the pretty color of the yellow.  Bake in a 400 degree oven for 50-55 mins. depending on the size of the beets.  Cool, remove the skin, and cut into 3/4 inch cubes.

Vanilla Vinaigrette

1/3 c. olive oil
3 T white vinegar
1 T sugar
1/4 t ground pepper
2 t pure vanilla extract
1/2 t. salt

Combine all ingredients and mix well.  Chill.  Shake vigorously before serving

Candied Cashews

1/4 c. sugar
2 T water
1 1/4 c lightly toasted cashews

Dissolve sugar in water and bring to a boil.  Add the nuts and coat evenly place on parchment and let stand.


Add the above recipes to a bed of mixed greens and slivers of white cheddar cheese, serve. 

(On the spring salad menu we noticed the same vinaigrette with strawberries instead of beets and  candied almonds instead of cashews.  Oh the possibilities.)

Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli

1 lb. boneless beef chuck or round steak, slice thin
1 14 oz. can beef broth
1/2 c. soy sauce (La Choy is gluten free)
1 T sesame oil
1/3 c. brown sugar
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 T cornstarch
2 T cooled sauce (at the end of cooking time)
Broccoli, fresh florets. (frozen can be used as well just add a little cooking time)
Mushrooms, fresh or canned, to taste

Combine broth, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, and garlic mix well.  Pour over the meat in the bottom of the crock pot.  Cover, cook on low for 7 hours. At the end of the cooking time remove 2 T of the sauce and let cool, combine with the cornstarch and add to the meat mixture and stir well.  Add the broccoli and mushrooms, stir cover for another 30 mins.  Serve over hot rice.

(I have had this one tucked away for awhile, it is so easy and yummy and will become a staple in my rotation. To make it even easier use a crock pot liner and clean up is a breeze.)

Coconut Fruit Dip

Coconut Dip

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 15 oz. Cream of Coconut (not coconut oil or water!)
8 oz. Cool whip

Mix cream cheese and cream of coconut until WELL blended.  Fold in cool whip and chill.  Serve with fresh fruit. (Makes a very large batch.)

(This is my adaptation from a recipe I found on line.  It was a huge success with my family.  I made the mistake of doubling the recipe for a family event, it wasn't necessary to double it.  The benefit was having it in the fridge for snacks!)

Buttermilk Baked Chicken

Buttermilk Baked Chicken

2 c. buttermilk
1/4 c. sour cream
1 1 oz. packet ranch dressing
1 T salt
3 lb. bone in chicken breasts or thighs
5 slices white bread, sandwich

Mix buttermilk, sour cream, 2 T of the ranch mix, and salt until well combined.  In a large zip style bag add the mixture and the chicken.  Marinate 30-60 minutes.  While the chicken marinates place bread into a food processor and process until finely ground.  Add the seasoning mix.  Place on a baking sheet and place in a 450 oven until golden brown (3-5 minutes)  Put the chicken into the mixture and then place on a greased baking sheet.  Bake on the lowest rack in the oven for about 10 minutes, move the baking sheet up on level and reduce temperature to 400.  Bake until the chicken is golden and internal temperature is 160 for light meat 175 for dark.  20-25 minutes, the breading may look burned but it is not. 

My mom used to make the best fried chicken when I was growing up but because of the grease I have not done it in my own family.  I found this recipe years ago when I received a free copy of Cook's Country Magazine.  I have been going to try it since then. I finally did and it is one I will make again.  Since I was making an "old fashioned recipe" I decided to do red potatoes and peas like she used to make as well.  Yummy dinner.