Easy Salisbury Steak

So, if you wondered how “Salisbury Steak” ever came to be, you will be fascinated to hear this; it was invented in 1888 by Dr. J. H. Salisbury. This American doctor created the dish made from minced beef and onions topped with gravy in order to provide easily digestible nutrition for sick Civil War veterans. So, apparently the dish did not come from the Swanson frozen TV dinner company or the city Salisbury, in Wiltshire England like most of us probably heard, just like Belgium Waffles don’t come from Belgium.

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 Packet dried Onion soup and dip mix
1 Jar of “homestyle” brown gravy
1 small basket mushrooms (or pre-sliced in a can)
1 ½-2 lbs pounds ground beef
½ cup bread crumbs
¼ cup milk
2 eggs
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
½ tsp garlic
½ tsp mustard powder
½ tablespoon parsley
1 ½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Directions

In a large bowl, mix together onion soup mix with ground beef, bread crumbs, milk, eggs, paprika, garlic, mustard powder, salt and black pepper. Shape into 6 oval patties.

Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, to a large skillet and over medium-high heat, brown both sides of patties. Absorb excess oil on paper towels and place in bake dish.

Rub mushrooms with wet paper towel to clean, and then cut into thin slices. Toss them with the Worshishire sauce, a little Olive Oil and sprinkle with paprika, salt and pepper. Spoon them over the steak patties. Pour the gravy on top and wrap tightly with tin foil.

Bake, covered at 375 degrees for 25 minutes, remove foil then bake for approximately 30-35 minutes or until the mushrooms are golden and browned on top. To serve, spoon some extra gravy over the top of the patty and sprinkle with parsley.

Grilled Chipotle Lime Fish Tacos

Recipe courtesy of “Healthy Home Recipes”

http://healthyhomerecipes.com/recipedetail.aspx?&id=24671

Marinade:

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbs distilled white vinegar
2 tbs fresh lime juice
2 tsp lime zest
1 1/2 tsp honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp seafood seasoning
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp hot pepper sauce, or to taste
1 lb tilapia fillets, cut into chunks

Dressing:
1 (8 oz) container light sour cream
1/2 cup adobo sauce from chipotle peppers
2 tbs fresh lime juice
2 tsp lime zest
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp seafood seasoning
salt and pepper to taste

Toppings:
1 (10 oz) package tortillas
3 ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 small head cabbage, cored and shredded
2 limes, cut in wedges

Instructions:
To make the marinade, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, lime juice, lime zest, honey, garlic, cumin, chili powder, seafood seasoning, black pepper, and hot sauce in a bowl until blended. Place the tilapia in a shallow dish, and pour the marinade over the fish. Cover, and refrigerate 6 to 8 hours.

To make the dressing, combine the sour cream and adobo sauce in a bowl. Stir in the lime juice, lime zest, cumin, chili powder, seafood seasoning. Add salt, and pepper in desired amounts. Cover, and refrigerate until needed.

Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil grate. Set grate 4 inches from the heat. Remove fish from marinade, drain off any excess and discard marinade. Grill fish pieces until easily flaked with a fork, turning once, about 9 minutes. Assemble tacos by placing fish pieces in the center of tortillas with desired amounts of tomatoes, cilantro, and cabbage; drizzle with dressing. To serve, roll up tortillas around fillings, and garnish with lime wedges.

Nancy's Home Made Dinner Rolls

Recipe courtesy of Nancy Josland Dalsin
Nancy's Locally International Cuisine
http://nancyscuisuine.blogspot.com/2011/08/homemade-dinner-rolls.html

HERE'S ALL YOU HAVE TO DO:

1 package quick-acting active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons) ( 7 grams)
1 1/3 cup milk (105º to 115ºF degrees)
3 to 3 1/2 cups flour or whole wheat flour
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon melted butter
coarse salt

Dissolve yeast in warm milk with sugar in electric mixer bowl. Stir in 1 cup flour, oil, and salt. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, scraping dough from side of bowl, until soft dough forms. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, about 45 minutes.

Heat oven 400ºF degrees. Prep a 12 cup muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Punch down dough in center and fold over a few times. Pinch off 1 inch balls of dough and quickly roll in palm of hands. Put 3 balls to one muffin cup; brush with melted butter; sprinkle with coarse salt.

Bake 12 to 15 minutes, until crust is light golden brown. Immediately remove from pan. Store loosely covered.

Peter's Roasted Zucchini

Recipe courtesy of Peter Francis Battaglia

Roasted zucchini with allspice and Greek Olive Oil...marinated in fresh lemon juice, chopped fresh mint, garlic, sea salt, black pepper..topped with Feta
.

Almond Bundt Cake with Strawberries

Recipe courtesy of: “Recipe.com”
http://www.recipe.com/almond-bundt-cake-with-fresh-strawberries/

Ingredients

2 tablespoons sliced almonds (1/4 ounce)
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole almonds (5 ounces)
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter or non-hydrogenated margarine, softened
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
4 cups strawberries, halved
4 teaspoons sugar
Confectioners' sugar for dusting
Whipped cream for garnish, optional

Directions

1- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 10-inch (12-cup) Bundt pan with cooking spray formulated with flour for baking. Sprinkle sliced almonds over bottom of pan.

2- Pulse flour, whole almonds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in food processor or blender until almonds are finely ground.

3- Beat butter in large bowl with electric mixer 3 to 4 minutes, or until creamy. Beat in oil. Gradually add sugar, and beat 4 to 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add vanilla and almond extracts, and beat until blended.

4- Alternately fold flour mixture and buttermilk into butter mixture with spatula, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 additions of liquid. Spread batter in prepared pan, and bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until top springs back when touched and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 5 minutes. Unmold onto rack, and cool completely.

5- Toss strawberries with sugar in medium bowl. Chill 1 hour to let strawberries release their juices. Serve cake dusted with confectioners' sugar and topped with strawberries and whipped cream, if desired.

Nutrition Facts
Calories 271, Total Fat 15 g, Saturated Fat 5 g, Cholesterol 55 mg, Sodium 197 mg, Carbohydrate 29 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 5 g, Sugars 17 g
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Chicken and Black Bean Nachos

Recipe courtesy of: Paula Berglund Blum

chips of choice - mine were white corn
cheese of choice - mine was Sharp Cheddar
Garnishes were chopped vidalia, pickled jalapenoes, and sour cream

Chicken and Black Bean Mixture:

1 chcken breast, baked and pulled off the bone
1 c black beans cooked in chicken stock
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 chopped pasapilla pepper, seeded and deveined
3 T picante
1 t cumin
1 t garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
Stir to combine and left cold to warm when I served it

Avacado Salsa:

1 large tomato, diced
1 large avacado, diced
1/2 vidalia, diced
1 large clove garlic, chopped
Juice of one lime
1 T tasting olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Green onion for garnish

Assemble and enjoy!

Peter's Giambotta D'estate

Recipe courtesy of: Peter Francis Battaglia

Summer Vegetables stewed together...eggplants, mushrooms, onions, garlic, tomatoes, zucchini, with fresh parsley, basil, olive oil and white wine...

Peter's Grilled Chicken

Recipe courtesy of:Peter Francis Battaglia

Chicken marinated in lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, white wine, dill, salt, pepper, garlic,..then grilled...plated with pan fried potato and zucchini rounds with garlic and allspice...garnished with fresh lemon, sea salt, black pepper, fresh dill and sliced green onions.

Karen's Linguini in home made red sauce

Recipe courtesy of: Karen Dirgins-Graves


Two heads of garlic
Two cans of crushed plum tomatoes
One can of tomato paste
1/4 cup of olive oil
and a whole lotta fresh basil

Pasta Salad with Tuna and Zucchini (Insalata di pasta con tonno e zucchine)

Recipe courtesy of: “Italianfoodnet.com”
http://www.italianfoodnet.com/eng/ricette/pasta-salad-with-tuna-and-zucchini-insalata-di-pasta-con-tonno-e-zucchine

Serves 4
Ingredients:

350 gr (12.34 oz) Bow Tie Pasta
250 gr (8.81oz) Tuna flakes in Oil
1 Sliced Zucchini
1 Chopped Red Onion
Red Pepper flakes
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt

Directions:

First of all plunge the pasta into boiling salted water
Heat a frying pan then add the olive oil, once hot, add the chopped onion and fry until translucent then add zucchini, a pinch of red pepper flakes, a pinch of salt and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes
Once zucchini has cooked, turn off the heat then add tuna flakes and wait for the pasta's cooking time
When your pasta is ready drain and rinse under cool water
Without turning on the heat, put the pasta into the pan with sauce and saute to amalgamate
Transfer the pasta to a serving dish, drizzle with a little olive oil and serve

Fran's Grapefruit Basil Martini

Recipe courtesy of: Fran Levitt-Higgins

Ingredients:

2 oz vodka
2 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
...1-2 teaspoons simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water)
2-3 basil leaves

Directions:

Muddle a couple of leaves with the simple syrup in the bottom of a mixing glass or shaker
add the other ingredients, plus ice
Shake until very cold and pour into martini glass
Place leaf in the drink : )

Peter's Shrimp Piccola Marina

Recipe courtesy of: Peter Francis Battaglia

Shrimp, dusted in flour and sauteed in olive oil...then added to a pan of grape tomatoes, organic baby spinach, onions, garlic, black pepper, sea salt..white wine...then a bit of unsalted butter, fresh basil and oregano, and Spaghetti Rigati (spaghetti with ridges) tossed and served.

Roasted Rosemary Lemon Garlic Chicken

Recipe courtesy of: "Nanzina's Recipe Swap"

https://www.facebook.com/groups/45089946689/#!/pages/Nanzinas-Recipe-Swap/159788228013?sk=wall

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 roasting chicken, cleaned

1 head of garlic, cut in half horizontally

½ lemon, cut in half

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary

3-4 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped (to put under the skin)

2 extra sprigs of rosemary, (for under the chicken during roasting)

Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper (to season the cavity)

1 tbsp olive oil

½ large red onion, cut in wedges

2 large carrots, peeled and halved length-wise and then cut in thirds across

2 large parsnips, peeled and halved length-wise and then cut in thirds across

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C

2. To prepare a chicken for roasting, I do some additional cleaning of the bird, removing any pin feathers left and taking out that huge lump of fat.

3. Season the cavity with salt and pepper and put 2 rosemary sprigs, garlic and lemon quarters in the cavity. Gently separate the skin from the breast of the chicken and put the chopped rosemary under the skin). Tie the legs together and pin the wings under the bird.

4. Line a small roasting pan with foil (you don’t have to, but clean up is so much easier). Prepare a bed for the chicken: - place the other 2 rosemary sprigs, carrots, parsnips and onions on the foil, spritz a little olive oil and place the lemon & onion slices plus the rosemary leaves.

5. Lay the chicken, breast side up top.Brush with olive oil and sprinkle a little salt for really crispy skin.

6. Roast for about 1 hour and test with a meat thermometer - It’s ready at 180°F/77°. Depending on the size of the chicken, it could take up to another 30 minutes.

7. Place the chicken on a platter and cover with aluminum foil for 15 minutes or so. It keeps the chicken juicy.



Butter Baked Chicken and Gravy

Recipe courtesy of: Tonya Dowden Howell Young

Ingredients:

1⁄4 cup butter, melted

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1⁄4 teaspoons salt

1⁄8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 (15-ounce) can evaporated milk, divided

1 (4 1⁄2-pound) chicken, cut into pieces

1 (10 3⁄4-ounce) can cream of chicken soup

3⁄4 cup water

Hot cooked rice (optional)

Asparagus (optional)

Instructions

1.Preheat oven to 350˚.

2.Pour melted butter into a 13x9-inch baking dish.

3.In a shallow dish, combine flour, salt, and pepper.

4.  In a separate shallow dish, add 1⁄2 cup evaporated milk. Coat chicken pieces with evaporated milk; dredge each in flour mixture. Place chicken, skin side up, in prepared baking dish. Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes. Remove from oven, and turn chicken.

5. In a small bowl, combine soup, water, and remaining evaporated milk; pour over chicken. Return chicken to oven, and bake for 35 minutes longer. Remove chicken from baking dish; whisk gravy in baking dish until smooth. Serve chicken and gravy with rice and asparagus, if desired.

Pamela's Jungle Juice

Recipe courtesy of: Pamela M. Wilson

Ingredients:

1 large watermelon
1 plum
1 apple
1 orange
a couple of handsful of watermelon
1 bottle Flavored Vodka..I used Blueberry..use the whole bottle..750 ML

Directions:
Chop and add fruit to watermelon and add Vodka and top with more watermelon..

Let sit over night in the frige..ENJOY..remember dont drink and drive