Fried Apples

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:

• 2.5 c. Apple juice
• 4 med. apples, peeled and wedged
• 3 tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 4 tbsp. sugar

Method:

1. Combine 2 c. apple juice and all apples in a medium skillet and simmer until tender.
2. Remove apples to a baking dish.
3. Combine remaining apple juice, cornstarch, cinnamon and sugar, stirring until no lumps remain. Heat in skillet until mixture thickens.
4. Pour juice mixture over apple piece and stir to coat. Place in an oven heated to 300 for 10 minutes and serve while warm.

Feeds 6 to 8.

Southwestern Egg Casserole

Difficulty: **

Ingredients:

6 medium-sized potatoes, peeled
12 slices thick-cut bacon
12 links Jimmy Dean sausage
12 jumbo eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup shredded cheese

Method:

Preheat your oven to 375.

1. Slice potatos into small, bite-sized pieces after peeling.
2. Cook potatos in boiling water for 12-15 minutes, until each piece can be easily pierced with a fork.
3. Fry bacon and sausage using your preferred method - on a Foreman grill, on your stovetop or under your broiler. Ensure bacon is crisp and sausage is thoroughly cooked.
4. Slice sausage into tiny pieces and cut/slice/crumble bacon into tiny pieces as well.
5. Whip scrambled eggs with a fork or whisk, stirring in milk, until an even consistency is achieved.
6. Form an even layer of potato bites on the bottom of a 9 x 12 glass baking dish.
7. Spoon and smooth an even layer of salsa over potatos.
8. Spread bacon and sausage bites over salsa - either combining the two or using bacon on one half, sausage on the other.
9. Pour egg mixture on top and place in preheated oven, uncovered.
10. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes, occasionally checking to ensure progress. No stirring is necessary.
11. Remove casserole and sprinkle shredded cheese on top. Return to oven for 5 to 10 additional minutes, or until the egg mixture is firm and starting to brown lightly.
12. Remove and serve, piping hot!

Variation:

~A variety of chopped vegetables can be added to this breakfast treat to spice it up.

Tips:

~Your egg mixture will solidify rapidly in the last few minutes of cooking - while it may be liquidy and uncooked for the first 18 minutes, it can become solid and start to brown very quickly, so watch carefully.

<>

Eggs Benedict

Difficulty ***

Eggs Benedict is a step by step process. Many do not attempt it because of the Hollandaise Sauce. Do not be afraid.

Ingredients:
1 package English Muffins (6)
20 Eggs
1 Pound of Ham
Salt and White Pepper to Taste
3/4 tsp lemon juice
Tabasco
1 Pound of Salted Butter (Do Not substitute Margarine)


Step 1. Place Ham into oven to heat thoroughly

Step 2. Hollandaise Sauce

Melt Butter into liquid and set aside.
Heat water in a double boiler to boiling. You can also utilize a pot of water and a metal bowl placed over the pot to fit snugly. In the metal bowl mix together 8 egg yolks, 3/4 tsp lemon juice, 3 dashes of Tabasco. Place bowl onto boiler to allow steam from pot to heat bowl. Use a hot-pad to hold the bowl to avoid burning fingers from steam. Using a wire whisk, whip yolk mixture until the eggs yolks begin to scramble. Just as they begin to thicken slowly stir in about half of the melted butter keeping the heat on the bowl. Add Salt and White pepper to taste. Continue to add butter in until the desired consistency is achieved. The entire pound of butter may not be needed. Once consistency is reached, remove from heat, and set aside.

Step 3. Utilize Egg Poacher to poach 12 eggs cooked to Medium

Step 4. Toast English Muffins.

Step 5. Remove Heated ham from oven and slice into 1.5 ounce portions.

Place Toasted English Muffin halve on plate and top with portioned ham. Place Poached egg on top ham. Pour a liberal amount of hollandaise sauce over the top. Sprinkle paprika and garnish with fresh sprig of parsley.

Tips: Melt the butter very slowly. No high heat in this recipe. Once you have heated the water to boiling on the stove, reduce the heat to a slow simmer. Make sure the egg mixture does not get too hot or cook too fast. High heat will cause the sauce to separate instead of blend. Slow is key here.

Celtic Spiral Cookies

Difficulty: **

1-1/4 cups butter, softened
1 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
green food coloring

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture. Divide dough in half. Tint one portion green. Stir chocolate into other portion. Wrap each portion in plastic wrap; chill for one hour.

1. For spiral cookies, divide chocolate and green portions in half. Roll out each portion between waxed paper into a 9 x 6 inch rectangle. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. (Repeat for remaining portions.)

2. Remove waxed paper; place one green rectangle over a chocolate rectangle and trim if necessary. (Repeat for remaining portions or reverse colors if desired.)

3. Roll up tightly jelly-roll style, starting with the long side. Wrap in plastic and chill for two hours. Repeat.

4. Unwrap and cut spiral doughs into 1/2-inch slices. Place one inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Yield: 3-1/2 dozen spiral cookies.

Irish Drinks

Difficulty: *

Irish Coffee

1 coffee mug full of coffee, doctored to your taste
Blend in 1.5 ounces of Irish Whiskey

Irish Cowboy
1.5 ounces Irish Whiskey
1 Tablespoon Bailey's Irish Creme
1 Tablespoon Creme De Menthe

Blend ingredients in a shaker with ice.

Green Peppermint Pattie Martini
2 ounces Peppermint Schnapps
2 ounces Green Creme De Menthe
2 ounces Creme de Cocoa
Chocolate Shavings

Blend ingredients in a shaker with ice. Pour in glass. Top with Chocolate shavings.

Irish Chocolate Cake

Difficulty: ***

Cake Ingredients:
2 cups self-rising flour or cake flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup of buttermilk or milk
1/2 cup butter or margarine (softened)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 ounces melted unsweetened chocolate (cool)

Place all ingredients into a large mixer bowl. Blend 1/2 minute on low speed. Beat 3 minutes on high speed. Use cooking spray on a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan, or two 9-inch pans. Pour batter into pans. Bake at 350 degrees. 9 x 13 - 40 to 45 minutes; layers 30-35 minutes. Use a toothpick inserted in the center to test whether it's done. It should come out clean.

Frosting Ingredients:
2 2/3 cups powdered sugar
2/3 cup butter
2 ounces melted unsweetened chocolate
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons Irish creme liqueur

In a small mixer bowl, blend sugar, butter, chocolate, and vanilla on low. Gradually add milk and liqueur to desired consistency. Beat until smooth and fluffy.

WARNING: This recipe makes a lethally rich chocolate cake! [Evil grin!] Enjoy at your own risk!

Irish Roast Pork

Difficulty *

Ingredients:
2 lbs. pork tenderloin or lean pork chops or 3-4 lb pork rump roast
3 cups apple juice
1 pkg Lipton Onion soup or 2 tsps Mrs. Dash

Place pork in a crockpot or oven baking pan.
Cover with apple juice.
Add onion soup or Mrs. Dash to the apple juice

Cook in 350 degree oven for 2-3 hours or until meat is very tender. In the crockpot, cook on high for 4-5 hours. Meat will fall apart when done.

Serving ideas: Serve with stuffy and fresh cooked vegetables.

You Can Cook: Sugar Cookies

Technically, this post should be called "You Can Bake," but after a week where you've mastered two new main dishes and two yummy sides, it's time to reward yourself with a little baking. And there is no cookie easier to bake than sugar cookies!

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:

• 1 c. butter
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 3/4 c. flour

Method:

1. Using either a brisk stirring motion or a hand blender set to medium, cream butter and sugar.
2. Using a spatula, gradually add in egg, vanilla, baking powder and flower. Fold until smooth.
3. Using a method below, prepare cookie and then bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 400.
   

Cookie Options:

• Roll out dough on a floured surface. Use cookie cutters to cut desired shapes.
• Instead of rolling, simply pull off small pieces and form into a ball.

You Can Cook: Crunchy Mashed Potatoes

You're getting the hang of this cooking thing, aren't you? So far, we have two entrees, but only one side dish. Time to expand your repertoire!

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:

• 3 cups water
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tsp garlic salt
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 3 cups instant mashed potatoes
• 1 cup French fried onions, crushed
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

Method:

1. Use cooking spray to coat an 8 x 8 casserole pan.
2. Boil water and remove from heat, adding milk, garlic salt, and sour cream; stir.
3. Add instant mashed potatoes and stir briskly.
4. Preheat oven to 450.
5. Place potatoes into casserole pan and spread evenly. Top with crushed onions and cheese.
6. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes, or until top browns.

Serves: 6-8.

You Can Cook: Fried Chicken

So you think you can't cook? Really, now. You've already made hamburgers and baked potatoes - now is not the time to stop - it's on to learning your next main dish: chicken.

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:

• 4 Boneless, skinless chicken breast filets (about 1 pound)
• 2 cups breadcrumbs, plain or Italian seasoning
  
• 1 egg, beaten
  

Method:

1. Thoroughly clean chicken breasts, cutting off any fat.
   
2. Dip in egg and then in breadcrumbs

Cooking Options:

• Bake at 350 for 30 minutes if using a regular oven; flip at halfway mark.
  
• Bake at 325 for 30 minutes if using a convection oven; flip at halfway mark.
  
• Fry in a frying pan at medium high heat for 7-9 minutes on each side.
  

How to know if it's done:

• It is VERY easy to overcook chicken, so watch very carefully during the last 25% of cooking time. Chicken, when fully cooked, should have no pink inside, but should still ooze juice when compressed.

You Can Cook: Baked Potatoes

So you think you can't cook? Still? Didn't you make hamburgers yesterday? Now you need something to go along with them! Try these easy directions for delicious potatoes that will compliment any meal.

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:

• Idaho baking potatoes
• Salt
• Pepper

Method:

1. Thoroughly rinse potatoes under cold water.
2. Push a fork into the potato to the hilt 5-7 times at regular intervals across ONLY the top of the potato. This allows it to NOT blow up while cooking.
3. Wrap in tin foil UNLESS following microwave directions below; if using microwave, simply place on a plate.
   

Cooking Options:

• Bake at 350 for 60 minutes if using a regular oven.
• Bake at 325 for 60 minutes if using a convection oven.
• Bake at 100% power for 10 minutes if using a microwave; flip upside down at halfway mark.
  

How to know if it's done:

• When a baked potato is thoroghly cooked, you'll be able to pierce a fork or a knife directly to the center from any side without any resistance; this tenderness is a sign that it is cooked to perfection.

Enjoy! Top with butter, sour cream, bacon crumbles, or chives for a yummy side dish anyone can cook!

You Can Cook: Hamburgers

So You Think You Can't Cook...

Well, you're wrong! This week, we'll explore simple recipes to feed your family in style, even if your cooking experience only includes calling the pizza place!

Difficulty: *

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 tbsp. A1 or other steak sauce
• 1 tsp. Pepper or mixed steak seasoning
  

Method:

1. Place ground beef in a bowl. Using your hands, knead it for a few minutes to soften and warm slightly. This will make it easier to mix in steak sauce and seasoning. If you're grossed out by using your hands, use a fork to thoroughly work ground meat.
2. Mix in steak sauce and seasoning.
3. Split meat into 3 or 4 equal portions and form into patties.
   

Cooking Options:

• Place patties in a saute pan and cook on medium high heat for 3 to 5 minutes on each side.
  
• Place patties on an electric grill and monitor carefully until done. No need to flip.
  
• Place patties in a foil pan under the broiler and cook for 3 to 5 minutes on each side.
• Place patties on tinfoil on a charcoal or gas grill and cook for 3 to 5 minutes on each side.

How to tell if it's done:

• Make a small slit in the center of the patty and look inside. Bright red means it's rare...and the lighter the pink, the more done it is.

Enjoy! Top with onions, tomatoes, lettuce, or steak sauce for a yummy dinner anyone can cook!

Tex-Mex Beef Barbeque

Difficulty: *

For the Crock Pot:

3 lbs beef brisket or boneless chicken breasts or tenders
1 - 18 oz bottle hickory-smoked barbeque sauce
1 envelop chili seasoning
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 cup chopped onion

Combine all ingredients except meat in crockpot. Add meat. Stir well to coat. Cook on HIGH for 5 hours. Remove meat and shred with a fork and then return to crockpot. Serve on hamburger buns or rolls.