Black Beans with Lime

10 minutes prep.
To make this into a meal I sometimes cook white rice and then blend it in.

1 T olive oil
2 scallions, thinly sliced
Course salt and ground pepper
2 cans (19 ox. each) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 t chili powder
1 T fresh lime juice

In medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add white part of scallions and season with s & p. Cook until softened, about 3 minutes.

Add beans, chili powder and 1/4 C water. Cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in lime juice; season with salt and pepper.

Texas Black Bean Soup Recipe (Smooth)

1 C dry black beans
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small leek, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
4 sprigs fresh cilantro
1 quart chicken stock
Juice of 1 lemon

Cook dry beans according to directions on package.

Saute onion and garlic. Add the chopped leek and celery until tender.
In large pot boil chicken stock and add the beans. Add other ingredients. Pour mixture into food processor and blend. Season with lemon juice.

Stuffed Artichokes Recipe

Here is my mom's recipe for stuffed artichokes

Remove outside lower leaves of 4 medium-size artichokes and cutt off stems.
Cover with cold water and add 1 t salt.
Let artichokes stand 20-30 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix together

2/3 C 92 slices) fine, dry bread crumbs
1 clove garlic, sliced thin
1 t grated Parmesan cheese
1 t chopped parsley
1 t salt
3/4 t pepper
Set aside.

Wash artichokes. Spread open leaves and place in each artichoke:
3 slices garlic
Sprinkle crumb mixture between leaves and over tops of artichokes. Sprinkle with
1 T chopped parsley.
Place artichokes upright in the skillet containing
2 C water
Sprinkle artichokes with
2 T olive oil.
Cover and cook about 30 minutes, or until artichoke leaves are tender.

To eat artichokes, pull out leaves, one by one.

4 servings.

Healthy Recipe: White Bean and Tomato Saute

Only takes 15 minutes. Serves 4

1 T olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 t oregano
course salt and ground pepper to taste
1 can of white beans, rinsed and ddrained
3 plum tomatoes cut into small pieces
1-2 T fresh lemon juice

In large saucepan, heat oil over mediu. Add onion and oregano. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until tender, 4-5 minutes.
Add beans and tomatoes. Cook, stirring, until tomatoes are tender 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat, and add lemon juice to taste. Season with salt and pepper.

Recipe for the Best Homemade Meatballs

Here is my mom's recipe. I don't eat red meat but always make an exception for these.

Mix lightly 1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. ground pork
1 C soft bread crumbs (use 1 slice of bread)
1 T grated Parmesan cheese
1 T minced parsley
1 egg, well beaten
1 t salt
1/4 t pepper

Shape meat mixture into balls about 1 inch in diameter

Heat in skillet
2 T olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced

Add meat balls and brown on all sides, turning occasionally. Pour off fat as it collects. Remove meat balls from skillet. Add meetballs to Tomato Meat Sauce (see my recipe from earlier month) about 20 minutes before sauce is done.

Recipe for Spaghetti Vongole

Spaghetti Vongole

4 cloves garlic, peeled
2 T olive oil
1/4 t chili-pepper flakes
24 littleneck clams, scrubbed
2 C white wine
1 1/2 lbs. spaghetti
2 T fresh lemon juice
1 C minced Italian flat-leaf parsley
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

1. In large pot over medicum heat cook the garlic cloves i olive oil until golden, about 1 minute. Add the chili-pepper flakes, clams and wine. Cover the pot and steam until the clams open, about 5-7 minutes. Strain, reserve th ebroth and set the clams aside to cool.

2. Boil the spaghetti in well-salted water until tender. White it is cookign, take the clams from the shells. Discard the shells. Put the reserved clam broth in a large saucepan over medium heat. When it is boiling, add the reserved clams. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add spaghetti, toss and serve.

4 Servings.

Best Recipe for Crabcakes

Florida Crab Cakes with Avocado Butter (adapted from Mark's Place)

1 lb fresh lump crab meat
1 egg, beaten
2 T minced Italian parsley
1 T chopped scallion
1 1/2 T grainy mustard
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
1/4 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
4 T mayonnaise
1/2 C fresh bread crumbs
2 limes
Freshly ground pepper and salt to taste
1 T olive oil
1 large ripe avocado, pitted and cut into chunks
24 thin slices French baguette, toasted (optional)

Pice over the crab meat and gently combine in bowl with egg, parsley, scallion, mustard, Worcestershire, hot pepper, mayo, bread crumbs, juice of 1 lime, pepper and salt.

Shape into 24 small patties and saute in hot oil in nonstick skillet until brown on both sies. Handle and turn gently so that crab cakes do not fall apart. Cakes will cook in 2-3 minutes.

In food processor, process avocado and 2 T lime juice until smooth. Add salt & pepper, to taste.

When crab cakes are cooked, arrange on toast (if desired). Top with a large dab of avocado butter and serve.

Crab cakes can be shaped 1 day earlier, but avocado butter should not be prepared more than 1 hour before serving.

Italian Recipe: S-Shaped Butter Cookies

2 sticks butter and 2 tsp.
1 C sugar
7 egg yolks
1 t lemon peel
4 C flour
1 egg white - dec. sugar

Cream 1/2 lb. butter and sugar with mixer.
Add egg yolks one at a time and lemon peel.
Add flour half a cup at a time.
Pat dough into roll 2" in diameter.
Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400F.
Coat baking sheets with 2 t butter.
Slice dough into rounds 1/3" thick.
Roll int oa rope 1/2 thick and 5 inches long.
Press rope flat to make strip 3/4" wide and 1/4: thick.
Form into S shape.
Refigerate 10 minutes.
Brush on beated egg white and confectioners sugar to each cookie.
Bake in middle of oven 10 minutes.

Recipe for Paella

Paella Ingredients:

This is an old and very easy recipe for delicious paella.

5 small chicken thighs, skinned
freshly ground black pepper
2 T, plus 2 t virgin olive oil
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
1 1/2 C finely chopped onion
1 C diced sweet red pepper
1 C long grain rice
2 1/2 C defatted chicken stock
1/4 t saffron threads, crumbled
1 1/2 C frozen peans
1 1/2 C frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and sliced
2 C steamed sliced carrots
10 uncooked medium shrimp, cleaned
10 clams in shell, scrubbed (or mussels)
10 scallops

Sprinkle chicken with a little pepper. In a large deep skillet with tight lid, brown chicken on all sides with olive oil. Remove chicken and drain on paper towel.
In skillet, saute garlic, onion and red pepper until onion is translucent. Return chicken to skillet and add rice, chicken stock and saffron.
Cover and cook over low heat about 20 minutes, or until rice is cooked.
Add peas, artichoke hearts, carrots and hellfish. Cover and cook over medium low heat, until clam shells open, about 5-10 minutes.

Risotto Primavera Recipe

This risotto my mother makes is better than anything in a restaurant. Be sure to use Arborio rice - it is the Italian short-grained rice that makes perfect risotto.

Ingredients:
12 thin, very green fresh asparagus
1 1/2 C shelled fresh peas
6-8 ripe plum tomatoes
6 tender white stalks of celery
1 T chopped parsley, flat Italian
6 fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
2 1/2 sticks butter
1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
3 C rice, short-grained Arborio
2 T dry white wine
5-6 cups hot chicken consomme or 3 131/4 oz. cans of chicken consomme
Dash of grated nutmeg; freshly ground pepper
3/4 C freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Peel asparagus and cut into 1-inch pieces. Shell peas. Cut plum tomatoes into 4 wedges easch, then cut wedges in half. Scrape celery, cut into 2 inch pieces, then cut pieces into thin julienne strips. Chop parsley and basil leaves.

Bring a saucepan of water to boil and parboil asparagus for 2 minutes, celery sticks for 2 minutes and peas for 4 minutes. Run cold water over vegetables and drain lightly.

Add butter to a large skillet, add chopped parsley and basil. Add onion and saute.
Add te consomme. Add the rice. This will take 25 minutes for the liquid to absorb.

When the rice is cooked, the consistency should be creamy but not overly moist. Sprinkle with nutmeg and pepper. Add half the grated cheese to rice and stir gently to blend.

Turn the rice into a large bowl. Add the sauteed vegetables and toss gently. Sesrve with remaining grated cheese and additional freshly grated pepper, if desired.

Asparagus Quiche Recipe

Pastry:
1 1/2 C flour
1 t salt
9 T butter
2-4 T ice water

Put flour & salt in bowl; pulse in butter until butter looks like peas. Add enough water until it quick balls. Chill. When workable, roll out; place in 9 or 10" pan.
Bake 10 minutes in a 400F oven.

Filling: 1 small onion
1 C fresh asparagus tips
1/4 - 1/2 lb. ham (processed with steel blade)
3 t butter
4 eggs
1 1/2 C medium cream
1/2 C grated cheese (Swiss, Gruyere, parmesan)
1 T Dijon mustard
Salt & pepper

Place asparagus tips in bottom of shell in pan. Dot with butter. Process cheese, then onion. Blend with ham. Process egg and cream briefly and blend with cheese, onion and ham mixture. Mix in mustard and salt/pepper. Pour half of mixture into shell and bake at 350 F for 15 minutes. Add the other half of mixture and bake at 350F for another 15-20 minutes.

Delicious Recipe: Eggplant, Tomato, Cheese Casserole

2 medium-size eggplants
1/4 C plus 2 T olive oil
2 onions
2 cloves garlic
2 zucchine
1 qt. fresh ripe tomatoes
2 ribs celery
1 T chopped fresh basil, or 1/2 t dried
1/2 C Parmesan
1/4 C chopped parsley
1 1/2 C bread cubes (not crumbs)
1 oz. mozzarella

Chope up all vegetable and combine all ingredients except the Mozzarella in a large casserole dish.
Bake uncovered in oven at 325 F for 50 minutes. At 50 minutes sprinkle the mozzerarella pieces on top and bake 5 more minutes.

Variations for Cauliflower Puree Recipe: Cauliflower Souffle (or Loaf)

For a cauliflower loaf or souffle, insert shredding disk into processor and shred 1/4pound Cheddar cheese, cut in strips to fit feed tube. Remove shredding disk and insert metal blade. Proceed with Cauliflower Puree recipe from previous day, adding ingredients to cheese in beaker.
Add 2 T Dijon mustard with other seasonings. Remove to a large blow.
Fold in 4 egg whites, beaten stiff but not dry.
Pour into a buttered 4-cup loaf pan or souffle dish. Place in a shallow baking pan and fill pan with boiling water to depth 1/2 way up sides of loaf pan or souffle dish.
Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour.

Recipe for Cauliflower Puree

Some people don't like cauliflower but once they have this dish they change their mind! You just need a food processor.

1 medium head cauliflower
2 t lemon juice
6 T sweet butter, cut in pieces
1 t salt
1/8 t freshly ground black pepper

Drain cauliflower after cooking it in salted water until tender. Let cool to room temp., then cut in piees. With the metal blade in place, add 1/3 cauliflower pieces and the lemon juice to the beaker. Process until finely chopped, about 3-4 seconds. Repeat 2 times, adding 1/2 remaining cauliflower pieces each timme to chopped cauliflower in the beaker. If necessary, stop processing and scrape down sides with spaturla. Add butter, salt and pepper.
Process until smooth, about 10 seconds.
Makes 4-6 servings.

Award Winning Irish Soda Bread Recipe

I find it hard to find a good Irish Soda Bread in the store so I made this one I found on-line and it is very good.

(Copied below as found on-line).

Ginny's Award Winning Irish Soda Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour 1

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt 4 Tbsp sugar

1 1/2 Tbsp caraway seeds

1 cup raisins or currants

1 3/4 cups well-shaken buttermilk

1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 375 degree. Butter and flour a large baking sheet, shaking off excess flour. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Stir in sugar, caraway seeds, and raisins. Add buttermilk and stir just until dough is evenly moistened but still lumpy. Transfer dough to a well-floured surface and gently knead with floured hands about 8 times to form a soft but slightly less sticky ball. Halve dough and form into 2 balls. Pat out each ball into a domed 6-inch round on baking sheet. Cut a 1/2 inch deep X onto each loaf with a sharp knife, then brush with butter. Bake in middle of oven until golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped about 35-40 minutes. Transfer loaves to rack to cool completely.

The recipe for Ginny's Award Winning Irish Soda Bread taken from the first edition Donovan Family Cookbook. During the holidays our family always gets together and often will have bake-offs. This is one of the recipes that won one of those bake-offs.

Recipe for Carrot Souffle or Loaf

Use Carrot Puree recipe from prior day. For a carrot loaf or souffle, leave pureed carrots in beaker of food processor and add 3 egg yolks and 1 slice white bread, cut in pieces. Process, turning on and off, until smooth. Fold in 4 egg whites, beaten stiff but not dry.
Pour into butterred 1-quart loaf pan or souffle dish. Place in shallow baking pan and fill pan with boiling water to depth 1/2 way up sides of loaf pan or souffle dish.
Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour.

Recipe for Carrot Puree

So delicious!

10 - 12 carrots, about 1 1/2 lbs, cut in pieces
1/4 C butter, cut in pieces
1 t salt
1/4 t pepper
2 T heavy cream
1 T Cognac (optional)

cook carrots in boiling, salted water until tender; drain. With the metal blade in place, add 1/3 the carrot pieces to the beaker. Process until finely chopped. Repeat 2 time, adding 1/2 remaining carrots each time to chopped carrots in bowl. If necessary, stop processing and scrape down sides with spatula. Add butter, salt and pepper.
Process until smooth, about 30 seconds. Add cream and Cognac. Process again until combined. Taste for salt and pepper and perhaps additional Cognac or butter. To make an absolutely smooth puree, process for an additional 30 seconds, then press through a fine sieve.
4 servings.

How to Make Cashew Butter

So expensive in stores but cheaper made at home! Here's how:

2 C cashews
2 T butter
1 t salt (can use less)

In food processesor, add cashews to the beaker. Process, turning on and off rapidly, until cashews are very finely ground and have begun to crawl up the side of beaker. Add butter and process until smooth. Taste and add salt as needed. Process for a few seconds and taste again.

Makes 1 C.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich - Goat Cheese and Thyme

I love goat cheese and discovered this new sandwich.

Blend together goat cheese and a few sprigs of fresh thyme, chopped.

Spread between 2 pieces of bread of choice (I used white country) and grill in buttered frying pan to perfection!

White Clam Sauce Recipe for pasta

Salsa alle Vongole

Heat in skillet until garlic is lightly browned
1/4 C olive oil
1 clove garlic, sliced thin
Stir in slowly
1/4 c water
Stir in
1/2 t chopped parsely
1/2 t salt
1/4 t oregano
1/4 t pepper
Add slowly
1 c (8 ox. can) little neck whole clams with juice

Cook until clams are heated through. Serve with linguini.
About 1 1/2 c sauce.

Dessert Recipe: Flourless Almond Chocolate Torte

Chocolate Almond Torte

Ingredients
1 cup whole toasted almonds
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup whipping cream
4 (4-ounce) bittersweet bars, finely chopped
6 large eggs, separated
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons Frangelico
Toasted sliced almonds for garnish

Butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan. Line with wax paper; butter paper.

Blend 1/2 cup whole almonds and 2 tablespoons sugar in a food processor until ground. Put in bowl and set aside

Blend remaining 1/2 cup whole almonds and oil in a food processor 3 minutes or until a thick paste forms.

Bring butter and whipping cream to a boil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat, and whisk in chocolate until smooth. Stir in almond mixtures; cool slightly.

Beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy. Add 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form and sugar dissolves.

Beat egg yolks until thick and pale. Gradually add chocolate mixture to yolks, beating until blended. Fold in one-third of egg whites. Gradually fold in remaining egg whites. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until almost set. Cool on a wire rack. Run a sharp knife around edges to loosen. Remove sides of pan. Cover and chill up to 3 days.

Beat cream at medium speed with an electric mixer until foamy; gradually add 2 tablespoons sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Stir in liqueur. Serve with torte.

Green Sauce Recipe - Sauce Verde (American style)

This is a great sauce with subtle flavors of green hers combined to make a sauce for fish, pasta and vegetables.

Mash with a fork to make a smooth paste:

1 T chopped parsley
1 T chopped watercress
1 T chopped capers
1/2 clove garlic, chopped
1/4 t salt
1/8 t pepper
Add, 1 T at a time:
6 T olive oil
Beat vigorously with fork or spoon after each addition. Add slowly and beat
3 T lemon juice.

Serve with artichokes, cooked pastas, shrimp or any fried dish.

About 1/2 c. sauce.

Lemon Chicken Recipe

Lemon Chicken

1 lb. boneless chicken, cut into large cubes
Cook chicken until browned in saucepan.

Lemon Sauce Recipe:
1/4 c. sugar (can use less)
1 T cornstarch
1/8 t salt
1/4 t fresh nutmeg
1 C boiling water
1 t grated lemon zest
1 lemon, juiced

Stir together in saucepan the sugar, cornstarch, salt and nutmeg. Gradually stir in boiling water, then simmer over low heat until thick, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat; stir in butter, lemon zest and lemon juice.

Blend together with chicken pieces. Serve immediately over rice.

Found Recipe: Grandma's Baked Beans

This recipe was found years ago. Sure can't get baked beans tasting like this from a can!

Grandma's Baked Beans (unknown)

Soak 1 package dried navy beans overnight, cook 20 minutes, rinse and rain. Place in pot with 1/2 lb. bacon. (okay to use less but flavor lessens)
Add: 4 T brown sugar, 1 or 2 whole onions, 2 t. salt, 2 C hot water,
1/3 C molasses, 1 t. dry mustard, 1/4 t. pepper

Cover and bake 5-6 hours at 350 degrees. Take cover off to brown. Water may be added if beans dry out.

The Best Cole Slaw Recipe - in the world

There used to be this old restaurant in The Hamptons called John Duck. They had the best cole slaw in the world. Everyone I know who went here said this. Ever have KFC's cole slaw? It was similar to that but MUCH better. Here is John Duck's recipe:

2 carrots, trimmed, peeled and chopped coarsley
1 medium sweet onion such as a Vidalia, peeled and chopped coarsely
1/2 each red bell pepper and green bell pepper, seeded, chopped coarsely
1 head cabbage (about 2 lbs), outer leaves discarded, cored and shredded
2 T sugar
2 T distilled white vinegar
1 T kosher salt
1 T celery seed or caraway seed
1 1/2 C Hellmann's mayonnaise or more to taste

In batches, pulse carrots, onion, peppers, and cabbage separately, until each is finely chopped. Do not over process. Combine ingredients in a bowl.
Combine sugar and vinegar in a pan and stir over low heat until sugar mels. Pour over vegetables and mix. Add mayo andmix. Add more salt and/or mayo if desired.
Chill for 1 hour and serve. About 10 cups.

Recipe for easy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip BArs

OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP BARS

1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 c. flour
1 c. oatmeal
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients together; batter will be thick. Pour into an 8 or 9 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Huevos Rancheros - at home!

I've been to a few restaurants for brunch in the city and am always disappointed with the huevos rancheros dish. It is easy and much cheaper to make at home. You can also add cooked ground sausage meat to the beans if you like.

This is how I make it.

1 can of black beans

1 medium onion; chopped

Cook black beans and diced onion together in a greased frying pan.

Add 1 t chili powder.

Cook 4 corn tortillas in 150 degree oven until slightly browned.

Fry 4 eggs in pan (or cook them the way you choose).

Make up some fresh tomato salsa or use your favorite tomato salsa brand.

Creme fraiche or sour cream dollop.

Place the beans under the corn tortillas. Place 1 egg on top of each corn tortilla. Top with salsa and sour cream or creme fraiche.

Delicious at 1/4 of the price of a restaurant!

A New Twist on Grilled Cheese

To make grilled cheese I usually butter a frying pan, and put American cheese in white bread. After seeing this recipe on Food Network I'm making it this way from now on. I use tomato in place of the bacon. Alter as you like.

Ingredients
8 slices country-style white bread, sliced 1/2-inch thick
12 ounces farmhouse Cheddar, sliced
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 slices bacon, cooked to desired doneness
1 green apple, thinly sliced
Dijon mustard

Heat griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat. Alternatively you can use your panini press if you have one.
Assemble sandwich: Generously spread Dijon on 4 slices of bread. Top with slices of Cheddar, 3 pieces of bacon, apple slices and additional Cheddar. Place the remaining bread on top and spread with butter. Place on skillet buttered-side down and butter the remaining side. Cook until cheese is slightly melted and bread is browned. Flip the sandwich and continue to cook until cheese is thoroughly melted and sandwich is golden brown.