Category Archives: Recipes

Food for thought….and for eating:
If you’re having mom over for Sunday brunch, try this:

FRITATTA

Need ovenproof frying pan.

Ingredients

• 2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion
• 1 can potatoes or 1 cup [blanched] sliced fresh potatoes
• 1 package of frozen artichoke hearts – [thawed]
• ½ cup sun dried tomatoes – sliced
• 3-4 tablespoons fresh basil leaves shredded/chopped
• ¼ cup grated parmesan or romano cheese
• 4-containers of Eggbeaters [or 6-8 eggs scrambled]
• 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese [according to taste preference] to melt on top just before done

Directions

• Pre-heat oven to 350
• Sauté onions and potatoes in olive oil until soft
• Add artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes and sauté until ingredients are mixed
• Whisk eggs and parmesan cheese together and pour mixture over veggies, toss half the basil on top
• Let entire mixture set for about five-seven minutes on top of stove on low-medium, heat. You don’t want it to cook through.
• Once set, place frying pan in oven and bake for 20 minutes
• Sprinkle shredded cheese and bake additional 5 minutes
• Remove from oven and let sit for 3-4 minutes. Garnish with remaining basil.

SPRING SALAD – Arugula is a little spicey, but the goat cheese and beets soften it up or use spinach

Arugula, goat cheese, beets

Ingredients

SALAD:

• 6 cups fresh arugula or baby spinach
• 1-1/2 cups sliced beets – cooked
• 1/2 cup sliced cucumbers
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds or pine nuts
• 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese

VINAIGRETTE:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1-1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
• 1 teaspoon fresh sage or 1/4 teaspoon dried sage leaves
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions

In a salad bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk the vinaigrette ingredients. Drizzle over salad; toss to coat.

EASY SCONES

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading
• ½ cup white sugar
• 5 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup butter
• 1 cup milk (or half & half)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries if desired

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C)
• Lightly grease a baking sheet
• Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl;
• Cut in butter with 2 knives or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs
• Whisk milk and egg in a small bowl; gradually stir into flour mixture until moistened
• Add cranberries
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly, 5 or 6 turns
• Pat or roll dough out into a 1/2-inch-thick round
• Cut into 8 wedge-shaped pieces and place onto the prepared baking sheet
• Bake scones in the preheated oven until golden brown on top, about 15 minutes

Food for thought….and for eating:

Chicken Marsala – Easy and good for company

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour for coating
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 4 medium skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – pounded 1/4 inch thick
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• ½ cup Marsala wine (cooking wine is fine)
• ¼ cup cooking sherry

Directions:

Mix flour, pepper, oregano, salt in a shallow bowl.

Coat chicken in flour mixture.  Sometimes I will dip chicken in egg whites before I coat it with the flour.

In a large skillet add butter and olive oil, and heat.  Do not let the butter turn brown.

Add the coated chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes.  Turn and cook other side for 3-4 minutes.

Add mushrooms, sherry, and Marsala wine.

Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes until mushrooms are soft.

Serve over linguine.

 

Kielbasa with potatoes and peppers – another quick and easy dish

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 (16 ounce) package smoked kielbasa sausage, diced (or any smoked sausage you prefer)
• 6 medium red potatoes, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
• 1 small onion, diced

Directions:

Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.

Place kielbasa and potatoes in the pan. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes.

Mix bell peppers and onions into the pan, and continue cooking until peppers are just tender, 5 minutes.

Toss a sprig of parsley to make it pretty.

Serve with crusty bread.

 

Now for some dessert: – QUICK AND EASY

Pineapple Fluff

• 1 package Jiffy yellow cake
• 1 box instant French vanilla pudding mix
• 8 oz. cream cheese (I use low-fat)
• 1 large can crushed pineapple, strained
• 1 cup chopped nuts (I use walnuts, but any kind will work)
• 2 cups milk
• 16 oz. tub of Cool Whip

Directions:

Mix yellow cake mix according to package.

Pour into 9” x 13” greased pan.

Bake 15 minutes. Cool.

While cake is cooling:

Whip these together until it thickens:

• 1 box instant French vanilla pudding
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 2 Cups milk

Pour over cooled cake.

Sprinkle pineapple on top of pudding.

Spread 1 large carton Cool Whip over pineapple.

Sprinkle chopped nuts over Cool Whip.

Keep refrigerated.

BIRRIO – Columbian Stew

• 2 dried chile peppers, stemmed and seeded
• 2 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
• 2 New Mexico dried red chile pods, stemmed and seeded
• water to cover
• 6 cloves garlic
• 1 slice of onion, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 ½ onions, chopped
• 3 ½ pounds boneless beef chuck roast, cut into chunks
• 6 bay leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the dried chiles into a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until chiles are softened, 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Pour chile sauce mixture into a blender. Add garlic, onion slices, pepper, oregano, cumin, and cinnamon. Blend until smooth.
3. Layer chopped onions in the bottom of a slow cooker. Place chuck roast over onions and add bay leaves. Pour the chile sauce on top. Cook on High until beef is tender enough to shred with a fork, about 5 hours.
4. Remove beef from the sauce. Continue cooking sauce until is reduced, 35 to 45 minutes. Add beef back in and season with salt.

And you cant have stew without bread!   Cheese Bread!

PANDEBONO (Columbian Cheese Bread)

• ⅔ cup cassava starch or yuca flour
• ¼ cup precooked cornmeal or masarepa
• 1 cup Mexican queso freso or Colombian quesito
• 1 ¼ cup feta cheese
• 1 large egg

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pre-heat the oven to 400°F.
2. In a food processor, place the yuca flour, cheese and masarepa. Process until well combined. Add the egg slowly while food processor is running.
3. Divide the mixture into 12 equal size portions, shaping them into balls.
4. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until golden on top. Serve warm.

Here’s a recipe for some great comfort food that won’t break the bank:

Chili Macaroni Bake

Ingredients

• 1 cup (8 ounces) uncooked elbow macaroni
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chiles, drained (optional)
• ½  teaspoons salt
• ½  teaspoon chili powder
• ¼  teaspoon ground cumin
• ¼  teaspoon pepper
• 1-2  cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (depending on how much you like cheese.  For me, the cheesier the better.)

Directions

Cook macaroni according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat, crumbling beef, until meat is no longer pink.  Scoop out oil and discard if there’s too much from the beef.

Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.

Stir in remaining ingredients.  Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.  Drain macaroni; stir into beef mixture.

Preheat oven to 375°.

Transfer mixture into greased 2-qt. baking dish.

Top with cheese.

Cover and bake at 375° for 30 minutes.

Remove cover and bake another 10 minutes.

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Easy-Peasy Bundt Cake – FROM A MIX but the Bundt Cake pan makes it look fancy 😊

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream
• ⅛ cup confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Directions

Make the batter following the directions on the box, EXCEPT replace 2 teaspoons water with an equal amount of vanilla.

Fold in sour cream.

Bake according to directions on the box.  Be sure you grease the pan!

Cool on rack, place on serving plate, and dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Did somebody say food?

Slow-Cooker Hearty Beef Stew

2 lbs boneless chuck cut into cubes
¼ cup flour
1 large yellow onion
2 cloves of garlic, smashed
4 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
3-4 Yukon gold potatoes cut into chunks
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 tsp Paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
1 ½ cups beef broth
1 large bay leaf (if you want)
½ cup red wine (if you want)

• Coat beef with flour and brown in frying pan. I like to mix light olive oil with a dash of extra virgin.  The light olive oil is good for sautéing and the extra virgin gives it body.
• Once the meat is brown, add it to the slow cooker
• Brown the garlic, and onion in the beef drippings until light brown.
• Pour a tsp of the broth into the frying pan and scrape the drippings and add to the slow cooker.
• Add remaining ingredients to slow cooker. Set on high for 4-6 hours or low 6-8 hours.
• Serve with biscuits and/or mashed potatoes or if you’re adventurous, you’ll try the Stuffed Arepas (cheese stuffed corn cakes)

This next recipe is from my forthcoming book ON THE LINE (new hardcover in March)

Stuffed Arepas

Makes 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups precooked corn meal (Marsarepa) (Goya makes it)
• 2 cups hot water
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoon soft butter divided
• 12 slices mozzarella cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

• In a medium bowl mix the Marsarepa, water, salt and butter. Knead with your hands for about 3 minutes moistening your hands with water as you work.
• Form 6 small balls with the dough. Place each ball between 2 plastic bags or parchment paper and with a flat pot cover flatten to about ⅓ inch. The arepas should be about 5” in diameter.
• Add the butter to a nonstick pan over medium heat. Place the arepas in the pan, and cook about 3 minutes on each side, until a crust forms or until they are golden brown.
• Split the arepas using a knife as you would do with an English muffin and stuff with 2 slices of mozzarella cheese.
• Place the stuffed arepas back on the skillet over medium high heat and cook 2 minutes on each side or until the cheese is melted and serve immediately.

You may often hear about the Italian tradition of Christmas Eve dinner when they serve seven fishes.  Luckily, I have several friends who are Italian who shared some recipes with me.  I sent these out last year but they bear repeating, and Diane Sarrocco is providing some scrumptious deserts.

Christmas Eve Dinner Italian Style

EGGPLANT STACKS

Ingredients:
(2) large eggplants, skinned and sliced ¼ inch thick
(3) cups Italian flavored breadcrumbs
(2) eggs beaten
(1/4) cup milk
(2) cups Parmesan cheese
(4) tablespoons chopped parsley
(2) teaspoons dry oregano
(2) cups Ricotta Cheese
(8 oz.) tomato sauce – Prego or other brand
(2 cups) shredded mozzarella
(1) cup olive oil

Mix eggs and milk in a bowl.
Mix breadcrumbs, and half the Parmesan cheese, parsley, and oregano in a different bowl.
Heat olive oil to medium.
Dip eggplant in egg batter and dredge through breadcrumb mixture.
Place eggplant in frying pan and brown on both sides.
Place on paper towels.
Mix/whip ricotta cheese and remaining ingredients (except mozzarella) together.
Let the eggplant cool.
Begin stacking.
1 slice of eggplant, top with 1 tablespoon of cheese mixture—spread on eggplant; add another slice of eggplant; top with a spoon of tomato sauce and a tablespoon of mozzarella.
Repeat until you have 3-4 slices of eggplant per stack.
Once assembled, bake in 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until cheese melts.

SHRIMP SCAMPI

Ingredients:
1-2 lbs JUMBO shrimp/shelled and deveined (leave tail on or off)
2 Tbs Olive Oil
4 tbs butter
4-5 cloves garlic minced
¼ cup dry white wine or vegetable stock
2 tbs lemon juice
¼ cup chopped parsley
Crushed red pepper if desired

Heat olive oil and ½ of the butter.  Saute’ garlic 2 minutes.
Add shrimp and saute on one side for 2 minutes.
Flip shrimp and pour wine/stock over shrimp, cook 3-4 minutes.
Shrimp should be pink.
Add remaining butter, lemon juice, and toss parsley into shrimp (red pepper).
Remove pan from heat.
Can be served over linguini or rice if desired.

STUFFED FLOUNDER WITH OR WITHOUT CRABMEAT

1 Piece of founder per person (using 6 pieces for recipe)
1 cup chopped crab meat (optional)
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup olive oil
(4) lemons for garnish – cut into equal pieces
Zest and juice of (1) lemon
2 cups breadcrumbs Italian flavored breadcrumbs
1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
¼ cup finely chopped parsley
4-5 cloves finely chopped garlic
¼ teaspoon oregano

Rinse flounder and pat dry.
Heat oven to 325 degrees.
Heat butter and ½ olive oil in sauce pan, add garlic and saute’ for 1-2 minutes.
Add breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, oregano (crabmeat if desired) and saute until blended and if   adding crabmeat until cooked.
Place 2-3 tablespoons of mixture and spread in middle of flounder.  Roll flounder and hold together with toothpick.
Mix lemon zest and lemon juice together and pour over flounder.
Bake 15-20 minutes until fish turns white.
Once removed from oven top fish with any remaining stuffing.
Squeeze lemons over fish.

FRESH APPLE CAKE, courtesy of Deb Yarmula.

Ingredients:
You will need (3) large mixing bowls, Bundt pan, shallow baking pan
1 cup chopped walnuts
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
3 ½ cups chopped Granny Smith apples – cored and peeled
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs

Preheat oven to 325.  Coat 10 inch Bundt pan with non-stick spray and lightly floured.
Spread walnuts in a separate pan and toast for about 7 minutes until golden.  Cool completely.
In large bowl whisk flour, baking soda, and salt.
In another large bowl combine walnuts, vanilla, cinnamon and 3 cups of the cut apples.
In third bowl beat sugar, oil, and eggs with electric mixer on medium until well blended.
Turn mixer to slow speed and gradually add the flour mixture from bowl 1. Scrape bowl occasionally with spatula.  Beat one minute longer or until well combined.
Fold in apple mixture from bowl 2.
Once all ingredients are folded together spoon batter into Bundt pan. Add remaining apples to top and gently press into mixture.
Bake 1 ½ hours or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Cool on rack.  Serve with a big helping of ice cream.

SNOWBALLS

Ingredients
1 Cup butter softened
½ Cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 ¼ Cups flour
¼ tsp salt
¼ Cup finely chopped walnuts

Mix well butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
Mix in flour, salt, and walnuts until holds together.
Roll into 1” balls.
Place on ungreased baking sheet.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10 – 12 minutes. Dough should be set, but not brown.
While still warm, roll in powdered sugar. Cool. Then roll again in powdered sugar (or gently shake in bag).
Makes 4 dozen.

POUND CAKE

Ingredients:
1 lb butter
3 1/3 C sugar
10 eggs
4 C flour
½ tsp salt
1 T vanilla
1 tsp lemon extract

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time and beat thoroughly. Add sifted flour and dry ingredients. Add flavorings. Beat 15 minutes. Bake in greased tube pan. Bake 300 degrees for 2 hours or 325 degrees 1 ½ hours.

PECAN TASSIES

3 oz. cream cheese softened
½ Cup butter or margarine softened
1 Cup flour

Blend together cream cheese and butter.
Stir in flour.
Chill 1 hour.
Shape into 2 dozen 1” balls. Place in 1 ¾” muffin pans. Press dough against bottom and sides.

For filling beat together just till smooth:
1 egg
¾ Cup brown sugar
1 T softened butter
1 tsp vanilla
Dash of salt

Divide 1/3 Cup coarsely broken pecans among “tarts”. Add egg mixture. Top with 1/3 Cup coarsely broken pecans.
Bake at 325 degrees for 25 min or until filling is set.
Cool completely and then remove from pans.

Now on to another favorite topic, food.  For those of you who are baking—and from what I hear it’s a lot of you—here is that fantastic apple pie recipe courtesy of Patricia Dorph—in case you missed it last year.

 Apple Pie

Pastry for two 9-inch pastry pans:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2/3 cups butter
• 2-3 Tbs. cold water
• Sift flour and salt together
• Add butter and cut it through with pastry blender until mixture is in pieces, pea size
• Add cold water a few drops at time until moistened enough to hold together in a ball
• Wrap in plastic and chill in frig. for 15-30 mins
• Take more than half for the under crust and roll out and fit into 9” pie pan

Filling:

• 5 cups, cored, peeled, and thinly sliced apples. Granny Green and Mackintosh
• Mix together and add to apples
• 3/4 cups brown sugar
• 2 Tbs. flour
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. allspice
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 2 Tbs. butter
• Place into pie pan
• Roll out top dough for crust and place on top
• Make 4 slashes in top crust

Bake 450 degrees for 15 mins.  Turn heat down to 350 degrees and bake for 20 to 35 mins.  Remove when golden brown.

Serve with whipped cream or ice cream.  Enjoy.

If you’re craving the traditional pumpkin pie, this is courtesy of Heidi Dugan.

Pumpkin Pie

Pastry for two 9-inch pastry pans:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2/3 cups butter
• 2-3 Tbs. cold water
• Sift flour and salt together
• Add butter and cut it through with pastry blender until mixture is in pieces, pea size
• Add cold water a few drops at time until moistened enough to hold together in a ball
• Wrap in plastic and chill in frig. for 15-30 mins.
• Take more than half for the under crust and roll out and fit into 9” pie pan

Filling:

• 2 Large eggs, beaten
• ¾ Cup brown sugar (may also use white sugar)
• ½ Teaspoon salt
• 1 Teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ Teaspoon ginger
• ¼ Teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ Teaspoon clove
• 15 Oz can pumpkin puree
• 1 12oz can evaporated milk
• In a medium bowl combine ingredients in order listed above
• Pour the mixture into unbaked piecrust. Bake in pre heat oven at 425 degrees for 15 minutes
• Reduce heat to 350 degrees bake for 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean
• Cool 2 hrs. and serve or refrigerate

Both are absolutely delicious and I want to thank Heidi and Patty for sharing their family recipes with us.  If you’d like to share one of yours, please go to my Facebook page.

Let’s no forget Halloween!  Below is a fun treat that I just l-o-v-e, love!

Peanut Butter Treats

1 small jar Jiff peanut butter, 1 can of Duncan Heinz cake frosting (vanilla or chocolate)

Microwave peanut butter 90 seconds.  Microwave frosting 60 seconds.  Mix and pour in baking pan lightly greased and refrigerate until solid.  Cut and EAT when set.  OMG, I ate half the pan.

And with the cold weather approaching, here is one of my favorite one-pot recipes

Short Ribs – Crock Pot Recipe – You can make two different dinners from this

• 2 lbs. short ribs
• 1 lb. mushrooms – washed and sliced
• 1 large leek (or onion) sliced thin
• 3 cloves crushed garlic
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 ½ cups dry red wine (don’t worry the alcohol will evaporate)
• 8 oz. broth (bone is the best but you can use chicken or vegetable)
• 1 tsp. ground savory
• 1 tsp. dry oregano
• 1 tsp. thyme
• Pinch of salt
• Fresh ground pepper – to your taste

Brown the short ribs in the olive oil.  Don’t overcook. Remove and set aside.
Brown the leeks and garlic in the same pan.
Pour the wine and broth into the crock pot and add savory, oregano, thyme, salt & pepper.  Stir together.
Add ribs and top with the mushrooms.
Cook 6 hours on high or 8 hours on low.

The meat will literally fall off the bone, that you can discard.
First meal is the beef.  Serve with mashed potatoes.

Second meal (which is the best part for me)

Pappardelle pasta.  Those are the long flat ones that are about a ¼ inch thick.  They usually come in spirals. Depending on how many people you are feeding you can decide how much pasta to make.  Cook pasta according to your liking.
Heat leftover mushroom sauce and serve over pasta.
Garnish with fresh basil, grated parmesan, or pecorino cheese.
If you’re like me and you want to give it a kick, sprinkle crushed red pepper.

Buon appetito!

Grilled cheese sandwiches.  Here are a couple of my favorites.  BTW, did you know you can substitute mayonnaise (the real stuff) instead of butter?  I recently discovered that many diners use it in place of butter.

Grilled Swiss Cheese, Bacon & Tomato – I like it on Rye Bread
Make sure the bacon is cooked first.
*Slather up two slices of bread with either butter or mayo.  Place slathered side down on medium heat in frying pan.
Place 2-3 slices of swiss cheese on each slice of bread.  When cheese starts to melt, top with bacon and a slice of tomato.  Let melt for another minute.  Carefully flip one of the slices over and place on top of the other – cheese meets cheese.   Yummy.

If you want a little tang:
Sourdough bread
Provolone
Cheddar
*Same routine as above substituting cheeses

Even more tang:
Your choice of bread
Monterey Jack
Jalapeno peppers – as much heat as you can stand
*Same routine as above substituting cheese and adding peppers

For something fresh and easy try a Caprisi salad or sandwich.
Get fresh mozzarella, I mean fresh, not the stuff hermetically sealed.  If you can.
Fresh beefsteak tomato – there should still be a few around.
Fresh Basil.
Make ¼ inch slices of the cheese and tomatoes.
Lay them out like a fan alternating cheese, tomato, basil leaves.
You can make a sandwich out of this, or serve it with bread on the side.
Drizzle a little balsamic vinegar.  It looks refreshing and tastes delicious.
Note:  never refrigerate fresh mozzarella.  It makes it hard.  You can keep it in a cool place for up to a week. Cheese never lasts that long in my house.

TUSCAN STYLE COLLARD GREENS (A LITTLE BIT OF ITALY)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 large bunches local collards
• 16 oz. low-sodium vegetable broth, divided
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 2 large leeks, washed, white part diced (slice 2-3 rings for garnish)
• 1/3 lb. pancetta or bacon chopped

DIRECTIONS

• Cut or tear collard leaves off stems.
• Clean by rinsing repeatedly in cold water.  Remove excess water – use a salad spinner if you have one.
• Cut into two-inch strips.
• Place in a large pot, cover generously with vegetable broth (reserve 1/3 cup broth for later), and bring to a low boil.
• Cook until collards are almost tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.
• Sauté garlic for two minutes, or until tender. Using slotted spoon, remove garlic to a bowl.
• Add diced leeks to pan, and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes—do not brown.
• Remove leeks to garlic bowl. Add pancetta/bacon to frying pan, and sauté until browned.
• Return garlic and leeks to pan.
• Add reserved vegetable broth and collards.
• Stir gently and thoroughly until collards are completely cooked, about three minutes. Serve.

SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

INGREDIENTS

• Cut up whole chicken
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 cup corn meal
• 2 tablespoons sea salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 3-4 cups Wesson or high heat oil – enough to cover frying pan by at least 1 inch

DIRECTIONS

• Wash Chicken – soak in slightly salted water for 10 minutes
• Blend dry ingredients and let sit for 10 minutes
• Heat oil until a drop of water sizzles
• Dip chicken in buttermilk
• Dredge chicken through dry ingredients and place in hot oil
• Keep an eye on the chicken—when it is brown on one side turn over and cook other side

EASY POTATO SALAD

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lbs. New Potatoes or red potatoes cubed and cooked – let cool a bit
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup ranch dressing [with or without bacon] or add your own
• ¼ cup bacon bits or crumbled bacon

DIRECTIONS

• Mix and serve or refrigerate for 2 hours and serve

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE – ANOTHER CONTEST WINNER!

INGREDIENTS

• 4 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened)
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder plus additional for sprinkling

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat oven to 375°F and butter an 8-inch round baking pan. Line bottom with a round of wax paper and butter paper.
• Chop chocolate into small pieces.
• In a double boiler or metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate with butter, stirring, until smooth.
• Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and whisk sugar into chocolate mixture.
• Add eggs and whisk well.
• Sift 1/2 cup cocoa powder over chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined.
• Pour batter into pan and bake in middle of oven 25 minutes, or until top has formed a thin crust.
• Cool cake in pan on a rack 5 minutes and invert onto a serving plate.
• Dust cake with additional cocoa powder. (Cake keeps, after being cooled completely, in an airtight container, 1 week.)