Pao Tsai - Pickled Vegetables

INGREDIENTS
8 mini cucumbers (or 4 regular sized ones, I prefer the English kind as they're crispier)
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 dried chili peppers (more or less to taste)
1 1/4 cups white vinegar
1 cup sugar

DIRECTIONS
1. Peel cucumbers and cut them into smaller pieces. Mine were about 1 1/2 inches long each.
2. In a bowl dissolve sugar into vinegar. Add garlic and seeds from chili peppers.
3. Put cucumbers and hot peppers into a vessel or jar. Top with liquid mixture.
Close jar and put into fridge overnight. Let sit at least 24 hours if not longer. The flavor will get stronger as it sits.

{more details}

Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream & Dill Dressing

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish (optional)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
4 to 6 Kirby cucumbers (about 1 pound), halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise

DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium bowl, combine sour cream, lemon juice, and dill. Season with salt and pepper, and whisk well to combine.
2. Add cucumbers, and toss to coat. Garnish with more dill, if desired. Serve, or refrigerate, covered, up to 4 hours.

Cucumber, Cantaloupe and Squash Salad

INGREDIENTS
1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
Finely grated zest of 1 lime
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
3 yellow summer squashes (about 1 pound), unpeeled
1 English cucumber (about 10 ounces), unpeeled
1 1/2 tablespoons unseasoned rice-wine vinegar
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 large cantaloupe, rind removed

DIRECTIONS
1. Make the dressing: Combine yogurt, lime zest and juice, salt, cumin, and pepper. Cover, and refrigerate 20 minutes.
2. Make the salad: Using a vegetable peeler or a mandoline, shave squashes and cucumber into wide ribbons, stopping when you reach seeds. Toss with vinegar and salt. Cover, and refrigerate. Shave cantaloupe into ribbons, and refrigerate.
3. Just before serving, drain cucumber and squash ribbons, and toss with cantaloupe. Drizzle with dressing.

Grilled Beets with Dilled Cucumbers

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds beets, trimmed
1/2 cup ice
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons white-wine vinegar
Salt and pepper
1/2 English cucumber, halved and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat grill to high. In heavy-duty foil, wrap beets, in one layer, with ice. Cover grill; cook until beets are tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, 40 to 45 minutes, turning once.
2. Rub off skins with paper towel. Cut beets into wedges. Toss in bowl with oil and 1 tablespoon vinegar; season with salt and pepper.
3. In another bowl, toss cucumber slices with sour cream, dill, and remaining 2 teaspoons vinegar; season with salt and pepper.
4. Place beets on platter; top with cucumbers.

Quick Beer-Chicken Grilling Marinade

INGREDIENTS
One 12-ounce can or bottle beer, at room temperature
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons salt, plus more for sprinkling
6 chicken drumsticks (about 1 1/2 pounds)
2 baking potatoes
Olive oil, for drizzling
Lime wedges, for serving

1. In a resealable plastic bag, combine the beer, butter, garlic, chili powder, brown sugar and salt. Add the drumsticks, seal the bag and let marinate for about a 1/2 hour.
2. Transfer the chicken to the grill. Grill the drumsticks, brushing with the beer marinade and turning occasionally, until the skin is golden and crisp and the juices run clear, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve the chicken with the lime wedges.

Curried Chicken Salad

INGREDIENTS
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 lb skinless boneless chicken breast
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup plain yogurt
5 teaspoons curry powder
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 bunch green onions, chopped (1 cup)
1 red or green apple, chopped
1 cup red seedless grapes (5 oz), halved
1/2 cup salted roasted cashews, coarsely chopped

DIRECTIONS
Bring 4 cups water to a simmer with chicken broth in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan. Add chicken and simmer, uncovered, 6 minutes. Remove pan from heat and cover, then let stand until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and cool 10 minutes. Chop into 1/2-inch pieces.

While chicken is cooling, whisk together mayonnaise, yogurt, curry, lime juice, honey, ginger, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add chicken, onion, apple, grapes, and cashews and stir gently to combine.

Peanut Cole Slaw

by Mollie Katzen in her Still Life With Menu cookbook.

INGREDIENTS
1/4 c all natural peanut butter
1/2 c hot water
1/3 c plus 1 T rice vinegar or cider vinegar
3 T brown sugar
1 1/2 t salt
1 T soy sauce
1 t Chinese sesame oil
7 to 8 cups (packed) shredded green cabbage (1 small head)
crushed red pepper to taste
1/2 c peanuts (preferably roasted, unsalted)

1.) In a large bowl mash together peanut butter and hot water until they form a uniform mixture.
2.) Mix in vinegar, sugar, salt, soy sauce & sesame oil.
3.) Pour slowly over the shredded cabbage, stopping several times to stir, to ensure that the cabbage is evenly coated. Add crushed red pepper to taste (remember, this will intensify as the salad marinates.)
4.) Sprinkle the peanuts on top right before serving.

Carmelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tart

from Shelterrific

DIRECTIONS
First, prepare a standard tart-crust recipe for a 9- or 10-inch tart pan. I used a cornmeal crust to add some heft and crunch to the dish, but a basic crust would be just as delicious. Make sure you pre-bake the tart crust to keep it from going soggy.

To make the filling: Caramelize 3 large onions in a pat of butter until meltingly sweet and tender; set aside. Next, puree a small log (mine was 4 ounces) of goat cheese, a couple of eggs, a pinch each of salt and pepper, a splash of milk, 1 to 2 Tbsp. fresh thyme leaves, and a whole lotta grated parmesan in a food processor or blender. Pour the mixture into the pre-baked tart shell and top with the caramelized onions. Sprinkle with some more fresh thyme and some toasted pine nuts, then pop in a 350F oven until golden and set. Mine took just 25 minutes and it was ready to eat.

Grilled Tilapia with Mango Coconut Rice

::Mango Coconut Rice::

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
1 (14-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk
2/3 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1 large ripe mango, peeled and cubedIn a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the rice and stir to coat with the oil. Add the coconut milk, water, and salt; bring to a boil. Stir in the mango. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer about 20 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed.

Remove the rice from the heat and fluff with a fork. Place a clean, dry dish towel over the pan, cover with the lid, and let steam for 5 minutes before serving.


::Zesty Grilled Tilapia::

INGREDIENTS
6 (6-ounce) tilapia fillets
6 tablespoons olive oil, plus additional for brushing
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
6 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon hot sauce, to taste
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Mango Coconut Rice, recipe followsPlace the fish in a large nonmetal dish. Whisk together the 6 tablespoons oil, the orange zest, orange juice, ginger, hot sauce, salt, and pepper, to taste; pour over the fish. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare grill. Brush the fish with additional oil. Grill until fish just flakes when tested with a fork, about 5 minutes per side for each inch of thickness.

Heirloom Tomato Salad

INGREDIENTS
Variety of Heirloom Tomatoes
(usually in season during summer months)
Salt, Pepper, Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar to taste.

Done!

Pulled Pork Sammiches!

INGREDIENTS {serves 6-8}
1 large onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, peeled
1 pickled jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
2 teaspoons of Chipotle chile powder
1 Tbsp tomato paste
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
3/4 cup white vinegar
1 tsp paprika
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 bay leaf
Salt
3 lbs of pork butt shoulder roast, trim excess fat
Hamburger buns



DIRECTIONS
1.) Purée all of the sauce ingredients (everything except the bay leaf, the pork and the buns) in a blender until smooth. If you have extra time, marinate the pork in the sauce overnight or for several hours before cooking.
2.) Put sauce, bay leaf, and pork into a large pot and add 1 quart of water. Bring mixture to a boil and simmer, covered, turning frequently, for 2 hours or until the meat pulls apart easily with a fork.

3.) Remove from heat and cool pork in the sauce. When cool, remove the pork from the sauce and shred into small pieces. Set aside.

4.) Reduce the sauce by two thirds. Add the pork back to the sauce. Salt to taste. Remove bay leaf before serving. Serve hot over open-face hamburger buns.

Banana Bread with Walnuts (or pecans)

Banana Bread with Walnuts/Pecans: (from Carrie!)

INGREDIENTS
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
3 overripe bananas
1 cup sugar
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¾ - 1 cup walnuts (or pecans)

DIRECTIONS
Preheat over to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9 by 5 inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together; set aside.

In a mixer fitted with a wire whisk, whip the bananas and sugar together for a good 3 minutes; you want a light and fluffy banana cream. Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla; beat well and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Mix in the dry ingredients just until incorporated; no need to overly blend. Fold in the nuts with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Give the pan a good rap on the counter.

Bake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes – until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Don’t get nervous if the banana bread develops a crack down the center of the loaf; that’s no mistake. Rotate the pan halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.

Cool the bread in the pan for about 5 minutes, and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Baked Potato Salad

INGREDIENTS
7 pounds baking potatoes or small red potatoes
Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
1.5 pounds bacon, cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
1 stick butter or margarine, softened (optional)
2-3 pints sour cream
Salt and pepper
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
1 pound sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 can of corn
1 package Uncle Dan's "classic ranch" salad dressing mix

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Pierce the potatoes with a fork; brush with oil. Bake until tender, 1 hour. Let cool, then cut into bite-size pieces.
2. In a skillet, cook the bacon until crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain.
3. In a large bowl, combine the butter and sour cream; season with salt and pepper. Stir in the potatoes, bacon, scallions, corn, Uncle Dan's mix and cheese. Serve at room temperature.

Adapted from Rachael Ray Magazine

Kiwi Melon Sangria

INGREDIENTS
1 bottle (750 ml) dry white Riesling
4 peeled and sliced kiwifruit
1 cup (237 ml) fresh watermelon, peeled, seeded and cubed
1 lime, thinly sliced
1 1/2 oz Midori melon liqueur
1/4 cup granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher, stirring to crush some of the fruit. Cover and refrigerate overnight for at least 12 hours to let the flavors marry before serving. Serve over ice, including some fruit. Use within 4 days.

Darling Cheesecake Pops

INGREDIENTS
[Makes 30 – 40 Pops]
5 8-oz. packages cream cheese at room temperature
2 cups sugar
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
5 large eggs
2 egg yolks
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
¼ cup heavy cream
Boiling water as needed
Thirty to forty 8-inch lollipop sticks
1 pound chocolate, finely chopped – you can use all one kind or half and half of dark, milk, or white (Alternately, you can use 1 pound of flavored coatings, also known as summer coating, confectionary coating or wafer chocolate – candy supply stores carry colors, as well as the three kinds of chocolate.)
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
(Note: White chocolate is harder to use this way, but not impossible)
Assorted decorations such as chopped nuts, sanding sugars, sprinkles, drizzles, bows for the sticks

DIRECTIONS
Position oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees.

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer set at low speed, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, flour, and salt until smooth. Add the whole eggs and the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well (but still at lwo speed) after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and cream.

Lightly grease a 10-inch cake pan (not a springform pan). Pour the cheesecake batter into the cake pan and place in a larger roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with boiling water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the cake pan. Bake until the cheesecake is firm and slightly goldenon top, 35 to 45 minutes.

Remove the cheesecake from the water bath and cool to room temperature. Cover the cheesecake with plastic wrap and refrigerate until very cold, at least 3 hours or up to overnight.

When cold and very firm, scoop the cheesecake into 2-ounce balls and place on a parchemtn paper-lined baking sheet. Carefully insert a lollipop stick into each cheesecake ball. Freeze the pops, uncovered, until very hard, at least 1 – 2 hours.

When the cheesecake pops are frozen and ready for dipping, prepare the chocolate. In the top of a double boiler, set over simmering water, or in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, heat half the chocolate and half the shortening, stirring often, until chocolate is melted and chocolate and shortening are combined. Stir until completely smooth. Save the rest of the chocolate and shortening for later dipping, or use another type of chocolate for variety.

Alternately, you can microwave the same amount of chocolate coating pieces on high at 30 second intervals, stirring until smooth.

Quickly dip a frozen cheesecake pop in the melted chocolate, swirling quickly to coat it completely. Shake off any excess into the melted chocolate. If you like, you can now roll the pops quickly in optional decorations. You can also drizzle them with a contrasting color of melted chocolate (dark chocolate drizzled over milk chocolate or white chocolate over dark chocolate, etc.) Place the pop on a clean parchment paper-lined baking sheet to set. Repeat with remaining pops, melting more chocolate and shortening (or confectionary chocolate pieces) as needed.

Refrigerate the pops for up to 24 hours, until ready to serve.

Benedictine Cheese Tea Sandwiches

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded, grated, and drained of moisture
1 bunch scallions, white parts plus two inches of green parts, finely chopped
8 oz. cream cheese, softened (I used low-fat cream cheese)
1 Tbsp. mayonnaise
1-2 drops green food coloring
8 slices thin white bread, crusts removed
3 red leaf lettuce leaves
1 tbsp dill if desired

DIRECTIONS
1. Peel the cucumber, slice it in half lengthwise, and scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Using a microplane grater, grate the cucumber into a colander and drain the moisture off. Transfer cucumber to a bowl.

2. Finely chop the scallions and add them to bowl with the cucumber.

3. In the bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, dill (if desired) and food coloring and mix thoroughly.

4. To make each sandwich, spread a thin but significant layer of the cheese spread onto each slice, spreading just almost to the edges of the bread. Place a single layer of lettuce atop one of the slices, then press the two pieces of bread together so that the lettuce is between the two layers of cheese.

5. Cut diagonally into four triangles and serve.

Spiked Lemonade

INGREDIENTS
4 cups pink lemonade
2 cups vodka
Lemon, lime, raspberry, blueberry, star fruit, for garnish

White Wine Spritzers

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup ice cubes
5 ounces white wine, chilled
3 ounces club soda, chilled
2 or 3 watermelon or cantaloupe balls, for garnish

DIRECTIONS
Place ice in a 10-ounce cocktail glass. Add wine and club soda. Garnish with melon balls; serve immediately.

Grand Marnier-Marinated Strawberries

INGREDIENTS
2 pints strawberries, hulled
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon superfine sugar, or to taste
1 teaspoon dried lavender buds

DIRECTIONS
Slice the strawberries in half lengthwise and place them in a glass bowl. Pour ¼ cup of the Grand Marnier over the berries, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

When ready to serve, stir the berries and Grand Marnier. Place the cream and 1 tablespoon sugar in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until the cream begins to thicken. Drizzle in the remaining 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier and continue to whip until stiff but smooth peaks from, adding more sugar if you prefer a sweeter cream. Spoon a dollop of the cream on top of the berry bowl and dot the cream with the lavender buds. Place the rest of the whipped cream in a small serving bowl. Serve the berries and the cream immediately. {from HWM}

Watermelon Margaritas

INGREDIENTS: [one serving]
16 oz seeded, blended watermelons
1/2 lime
6 oz tequila
3 oz triple sec
1 tbsp sugar

DIRECTIONS
Cut up a watermelon, removing seeds. Liquify in a blender until you have about 16 oz. Add remaining ingredients, top with ice and blend until smooth. Taste and add sugar if watermelon is not sweet enough. Serve in a margarita glass with a sugar-coated rim.