September 19th, 2009

At the Delaware Beaches….It’s a Gorgeous Day!….Say Cheese and Smile….

Unbelievable weather.  Crisp and clear. All my beach towns are packed.  I told you before, there are so many events going on.

Hope you made it to the beaches.

I say cheese because the following recipes will be very good if you are having people over to watch the football games or to take advantage of an equally beautiful night.

Better Cheddar – Great recipe.  From Carol

1 lb. New York sharp cheese, crumbled

1 cup walnuts, chopped

6 scallions, chopped

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tsp. liquid smoke

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

To crumble cheese, first cut it in small chunks then put in a food processor or blender until it crumbles.

Serve with crackers or  breadsticks.

Cheddar Raspberry Spread – You will think it is a strange combination, but I love it.  From Debbie

2 cups white Colby cheese, shredded

1/4 cup scallions, chopped, including bulb and green

2 tblsps. mayonnaise or slightly more, if needed

1/2 cup good quality raspberry jam

Toss cheese and scallions.  Moisten with mayonnaise to spreadable consistency.

Line shallow bowl with plastic wrap and pack cheese mixture firmly into bowl.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Unmold on a serving platter and top with jam.  Serve with plain crackers.

Old Kentucky Beer Cheese – From Louise

1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese

1 clove garlic, mashed

1 1/2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp dry mustard

Tabasco to taste

1/4 bottle beer or more if needed

1 tsp. salt to taste

Bring cheese to room temperature.  Cut into cubes and process in electric mixer or food processor until perfectly smooth.

Add garlic, Worcestershire, mustard and Tabasco.  Blend well.

Add the beer, a little at a time while continuing to beat the cheese until mixture is good firm spreading consistency.  Too much will make it too fluffy.  Stir in salt and refrigerate.

Serve on small slices of rye or pumpernickel bread or small crackers. 

Cheese will look pretty if put in a small crock.

Olive Canapes – These are great and the recipe comes from Macon, Georgia.

1 cup chopped ripe olives

1/2 cup sliced green onions

2 cups grated sharp cheese

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. curry powder

6-8 English muffins – split

Mix ingredients well and spread on English muffins.  Cut muffins into quarters.  If you want you may do them ahead of time and place them on a cookie sheet and freeze them and then store them in plastic bags.

Either way, bake them at 350 degrees until the cheese is melted.  Serve them hot.

Sausage Ball Hors D’oeuvres – Love these too and easy to make.

1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

1 lb. hot sausage

1 cup Bisquick

1 egg

Mix all ingredients together thoroughly and form into small balls (marble size or a bit larger).

Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until done.

These may also be frozen before cooking and taken out as needed. Put the sausage balls on a cookie sheet to freeze and then place in plastic bags.  The reason you put them on a cookie sheet to freeze is so that they don’t stick together.

So, that is it.  Anyone asks you to come over, you can offer to take any of these appetizers. And, you will be ready if anyone drops by, as well.

September 13th, 2009

Another Monday Night Football Season is about to start in the United States….I Hope You Are Ready….

Monday Night Football originally aired on ABC and it ran from 1970 until 2005.  After 60 Minutes on CBS, it was the second running prime time show in the U.S.

It was one of the highest rated; mostly male viewers.  Then Monday Night Football moved to ESPN in 2006.  It can be seen in Canada, in most of Europe, in the UK and in most of Australia.  There is even a Spanish language version on ESPN Deportes and on ESPN International in Latin America.

It is a big night for all viewers interested in American football and many gather to cheer their teams.  It is a weekly get together with different houses hosting parties on Monday nights.

I am including some recipes that will make your Monday nights easier to enjoy when all those foodies arrive at your door.

The following is a recipe from Carolyn Roehm, who writes books on the proper way to entertain.  It is almost like a fondue because you dip crusty bread in it. Not as deep, though.

Pecorino Cheese Baked with Honey and Walnuts

1 lb. Pecorino Toscano (if not found, just buy the Pecorino)

1/2 cup Honey

15 Walnut Halves

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees.  Put honey and walnuts in a small bowl.  Slice the pecorino 1/2″ thick and placed in a baking dish, slightly overlapping.  Bake for about 5 minutes but check it because it should be slightly runny.  Pour honey and walnut mix over the cheese.  Serve with crusty bread.

For a large crowd double it and adjust baking time.

The following 2 recipes came from a Florida book called Recipes to Remember.

Meatballs With Burgundy Sauce and with Sweet/Sour Sauce

2 lbs. ground beef

1 cup soft bread crumbs

1 beaten egg

1/4 cup Burgundy wine

2 tbsps. sliced green onion

1 tsp. salt

dash of pepper

Mix all ingredients with fork.  Shape into 1 inch balls.  Brown and cook in large skillet.  Drain.  Refrigerate meatballs until time to serve.  Heat and split them in two chafing dishes and pour Burgundy Sauce and Sweet/Sour Sauce over them. 

Servings: 4 dozen meatballs

Burgundy Sauce

4 tbsps. sliced green onions, 1 cup margarine and 1/2 cup of Burgundy wine.

Cook green onions in margarine until tender.  Add burgundy wine and simmer 5 minutes.  Pour over hot meatballs.

Sweet/Sour Sauce

Combine 1 jar (10 ounce) chili sauce with 1 jar (8 ounce) grape jelly.

Heat in saucepan.  Pour over hot meatballs.

At this time of the year, recipes with pumpkin will start to show up.  This recipe came  from Joan and it is a very good dessert.

Pumpkin Bars

Duncan Hines yellow cake mix

1/2 cup melted butter

4 eggs

1 (16-ounce) can pumpkin

1 cup evaporated milk

1 1/2 tsps. pumpkin pie spice

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 – 1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup soft margarine

Remove 1 cup from cake mix; set a side.  Mix together remaining cake mix, melted butter and 1 egg.  Pat into a 13″ x 9″ pan; set aside.

Mix pumpkin, remaining eggs, evaporated milk, pumpkin pie spice and brown sugar; pour over first layer in pan.

Stir together reserved cake mix, sugar, cinnamon and soft margarine; sprinkle over pumpkin layer.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 – 50 minutes. Cool, cut into bars and serve.

Note: Information on Monday Night Football was taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monday_Night_Football#Overview