Pulled Pork

This recipe was given to me by my friend Cathey. I am so pleased to share it with all of you!

You will need:

8 lb. whole pork shoulder

1 tablespoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
12 ounces good ale or dark beer
4 cloves garlic (chopped)

Preheat oven 425 degrees:

Combine rub ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Cut the skin on the back of the pork and rub the dry rub on, then replace the skin. Let the pork sit in the refrigerator from one hour to overnight.

Place the pork in a roasting pan with sides about 2 inches high.

Cook for about 1 hour until dark browned and even blackening in places. Remove from oven. Lower the oven to 325 degrees. Pour beer over the top and add chopped garlic around the pork. Cover tightly with heavy duty aluminum foil or twice with regular foil. Poke about 10 holes all over the top of the foil.

Cook pork about 3 hours longer until so tender that it comes away very easily from center bone.

Place the meat on a plate and pour the pan juice over the pork.



This pork is so very good! You are certain to bring smiles to the faces of your family and guests!

Enjoy!

Oven Roasted Peppers

You will need:

4 sweet red peppers (sliced)
1 long hot green pepper (sliced with seeds)
1 yellow onion (sliced)
5 cloves garlic (crushed and chopped)
1 tablespoon capers plus 1 tablespoon caper juice
½ tsp. red pepper flakes
¼ tsp black pepper
1 tsp. dried oregano
4 tablespoons olive oil

Preheat oven 350 degrees:

In a baking pan place all of the above ingredients and drizzle with olive oil.

Bake in the oven for about 45-50 minutes.

Let theses peppers cool and serve them with crusty Italian bread and a good piece of sharp cheese.

Enjoy!

Graham Cracker Crumb Apple Pie

You will need:

For the Crust:

8 tablespoons butter
½ cup sugar
1 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 4-5 sheets of graham cracker sheets)

Preheat oven 350 degrees:

In a food processor combine the above ingredients and press into a pie plate.

Bake for about 8 minutes and then cool.

For the filling:

You will need:

7 or 8 apples – peeled and sliced
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp corn starch
¼ cup golden raisins

Combine all of the above ingredients in a large bowl and toss.
Place the apples into the pie crust that has just finished cooling.

For the Graham Cracker Crumb Topping:

1 cup Graham cracker crumbs (4-5 sheets of graham crackers)
½ cup of brown sugar
½ stick of sweet butter

Combine the above ingredients in a food processor until it is crumbly and sprinkle over the apples.

Bake in the oven for about 30-35 minutes.

This is one of the wonderful ways to celebrate the fall apples.

Enjoy!

Fresh Tomato Veggie Soup

You will need:

1 large onion (diced)
1 green bell pepper (diced)
4 cloves garlic (chopped)
1 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
2 large tomatoes (chopped)
2 carrots (chopped)
2 stalks celery (chopped)
3 tablespoons olive oil
5 scallions (chopped)
1 tablespoon dried oregano
½ tsp red pepper flakes
½ tsp black pepper
3 cups water
1 cup of your favorite macaroni
Grated Romano cheese for garnish

In a large saucepan place the olive oil and all the veggies. Sauté the veggies until the onion becomes clear.

Add the spices and the water and continue to simmer on low for about another 15 minutes while preparing the macaroni.

Turn heat on the soup off and with a potato masher, carefully mash the veggies in the soup.

Add the macaroni to the soup and garnish with a little extra olive oil and grated cheese.

This is a simple and delicious soup that is so satisfying.

Enjoy!

Ricotta Cheese Pie with Cream Cheese

Adapted from Richard Simmons Deal-A-Meal

You will need:

For the Crust:

8 tablespoons of butter
½ cup of sugar
1 cup of Graham cracker crumbs (about 4 – 5 sheets of graham crackers)

In a food processor combine the above ingredients.

Press into a pie plate and bake in a 350 degree oven for 8 minutes.

Let cool before filling.

For the filling:

3 eggs
9 ounces of part-skim Ricotta cheese
8 ounces of cream cheese
½ cup sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
¼ tsp grated lemon peel
¼ tsp grated orange peel
1 tsp lemon juice

Topping for pie:

¼ cup almonds
¼ cup graham crackers (about 2 sheets of graham crackers)

In a food processor combine graham crackers and almonds and give a few good chops.

Preheat oven 350 degrees:

Using an electric mixer with a large bowl, combine eggs, Ricotta, cream cheese and sugar. Beat until smooth.

Stir together cornstarch and baking powder. Add to cheese mixture along with vanilla, lemon peel, orange peel and lemon juice.

Pour into cooled pie crust and top with almond and graham crackers crumbs.

Bake for about 55 minutes, or until firm.

This cheese cake is so good! If you are a cheese cake lover please try this cheese cake and indulge!

Enjoy!

Honey Mustard Sauce

You will need:

½ cup mustard (your favorite)
¼ cup vinegar (your favorite)
1/8 cup water
4 tablespoons honey
¼ tsp. red chili paste

Mix together all of the above ingredients.

This goes great with any meat or fish or on salad!

Enjoy!

Raw Apple Bread or Cake

Adapted from James Beard’s
American Cookery

You will need:

½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
2 tsps. baking powder
1 ½ tablespoons sweet or sour milk
1 cup coarsely ground or finely chopped unpeeled raw apples
1 tsp vanilla or 1 tablespoon rum
½ cup broken nut meats

Often served as a tea bread but really sweet enough to be a cake.

Cream the butter, then cream in the sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time if mixing by hand: add both at once if using an electric mixer. Sift the dry ingredients together. If mixing by hand, add the egg mixture alternately with the combined milk, flavoring, apples, and nuts. With a mixer, put them all in together, turn the spatula while turning, just long enough to mix. Do not over mix. Turn into a well greased loaf pan or into a
9 x 9 inch greased and floured square pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven about 35 minutes for the square pan, about 55 minutes for the loaf. Test for springiness with a fingertip. Let the cake cook in the pan on a rack for about 5 minutes, then loosen and turn out onto the rack to finish cooling.

Vanilla Glaze:

1 cup powered sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 tsp vanilla

Combine above ingredients in saucepan and stir until a thickened glaze forms. Drizzle over the cake.

Enjoy!

Oven Baked Chicken Strips

You will need:

2 boneless chicken breasts
½ cup oats
½ cup rice krispies
½ cup bread crumbs
½ inch piece of fresh ginger
1 cup flour
3 eggs (beaten)
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp paprika
olive oil

Preheat oven to 375 degrees:

In a food processor combine the rice krispys, oats, bread crumbs and the piece of ginger. Give this a few good chops.

Slice the chicken breasts into thin strips.

Add the oregano and paprika to the flour and in 3 separate bowls place the bread crumb mixture, flour and eggs.

Dip the chicken breast strips first in the flour then in the egg wash and finally in the bread crumb mixture.

Place in baking pans and drizzle with olive oil.

Bake for about 30-35 minutes.

This recipe is light and tasty and goes great with a honey mustard sauce.

Enjoy!

Cranberry Sauce with Fresh Ginger

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You will need:

1- 14oz. can whole cranberries
1- 14oz. can jellied cranberry sauce
1- 6.1oz. can Mandarin orange segments (drained)
1- 8oz. can crushed pineapple (drained)
1 inch piece of fresh ginger (grated)
zest of 1 orange
zest of 1 lemon
3 tablespoons honey

Combine all of the above ingredients.

Chill before serving.

This is a fresh twist on an old favorite!

Enjoy!