Tasty Tuesday - Black & White Sundae

Why wait until Sunday to have a Sundae?

Here is a recipe for a perfect pick-me-up during the middle of the week.

1 -2 chocolate wafer cookies (or use a couple Oreos or mint cookies)

2-3 Tablespoons of Hershey's Syrup

1 scoop (about 1/2 cup) of chocolate ice cream, softened

1/2 cup of Hershey's Mini Kisses

1 scoop (about 1/2 cup) of vanilla ice cream, softened

1 Tablespoon Hershe's Cocoa or Special Dark Cocoa (optional)

1 Tablespoon powdered sugar (optional)

CRUSH cookies; place on bottom of ice cream dish. Cover cookies with syrup.

COMBINE 1 scoop of chocolate ice cream with chocolate pieces; place on top of cookies and syrup. Top with scoop of vanilla ice cream.

STIR together cocoa and powdered sugar,if desired. Sprinkle over ice cream. 

Garnish with whipped cream and cherry. Just make sure you have plenty of whipping cream left over in the event you may need it after you finish your sundae.

This is yummy to consume alone and perfect to share with a special someone.

Tasty Tuesday - Simmering Soup on Freezing Day

We have a house guest

 who is on a gluten free diet and I found this delicious soup everyone enjoyed. 

 It's perfect with sandwiches on a cold winter day.

Lentil & Sweet Potato Soup

·         2 tablespoons canola oil

·         1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

·         2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped

·         2 medium celery ribs, chopped

·         1 bay leaf

·         1 garlic clove, minced

·         1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder

·         2 cups dried brown lentils, picked over and rinsed

·         2 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 pound), peeled and cut in 1/2-inch dice

·         1 package (9 ounces) frozen cut green beans

·         1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes in juice

·         1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

·         Coarse salt and black pepper

·         Plain low-fat yogurt, for serving

Directions

1.     In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion, carrots, celery, and bay leaf. Cook, stirring, until vegetables are softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and curry powder and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more.

    Add 7 cups of water and lentils. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook 10 minutes. Add potatoes and continue to cook, covered, until lentils and potato are just tender, about 15 minutes.

   Add green beans and tomatoes with juice. Cook until warmed through, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Add cilantro; season with salt and pepper. Serve with yogurt.

Tasty Tuesday - Greek Pizza with John Quinlan

Greek pizza is a favorite dish of Romance Cover Model John Quinlan. Yes, ladies... this hot guy enjoys cooking AND is willing to get up early in the morning to wash the dishes.  Great fun with the kids or for a date night simply add a nice white wine and some candles to this for a romantic evening.

Ingredients

• prepared pizza crust, uncooked
• 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
• 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/4 cup Greek olive, pitted or halved
• 6 -8 pepperoncini peppers, sliced ( pickled peppers)
• 1/2 red onion, sliced thinly
• 1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• extra virgin olive oil

Garlic Oil Sauce

• 1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves

Directions

1. Puree ingredients for garlic sauce in a blender and store in a small covered jar.
2. Top dough crust with garlic sauce, mozzarella cheese, feta cheese, olives, pepperoncini, onion, mushrooms, and oregano. Drizzle with oil.
3. Bake in preheated 500° F oven on pizza stone for 8-10 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly.
4. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for 2-3 minutes before cutting into wedges and serving

 

Tasty Tuesday - New Years Eve Dinner for Two

 

So, you’ve decided to skip the crowds and spend New Year’s Eve at home with your honey. These suggestions should go well with most types of champagne (in general, when serving champagne, it’s best to stick with lightly spiced Cantonese cuisine, particularly seafood dishes). If you’re serving wine, a German Riesling would be a good choice.

Start with some Spring Rolls as an appetizer. Feel free to nibble on them with some wine while preparing the main dish together.

Main Dish – Shrimp in Lobster Sauce

Ingredients:

• Fresh shrimp, deveined and butterflied, 10 - 15 per person
• 4 to 8 spring onion (green onions, scallions), chopped
• 2 large garlic cloves, chopped or minced
• 2 cups of chicken stock (2 cups water with chicken bouillon powder, or chicken broth)
• 4 tablespoons of sweet white wine, such as sweet Glen Ellen White Zinfandel
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 1/2 tablespoons of Cornstarch and 1/2 cup of water
• 4 egg whites, beaten with 1/4 cup of water
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil for stir-frying
• 1 to 2 cups pork fried rice (1 cup for 2 people, 2 cups for 3 or more)
•  

Preparation:

Rinse the shrimp in warm water and pat dry. Rinse the spring onions, drain and chop. Chop or mince the garlic cloves.
Combine the chicken stock, white wine, soy sauce, and sugar and set aside. In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch into 1/2 cup water. Whisk the egg whites into 1/4 cup water and set aside.
  Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok, large pot, or frying pan or skillet on medium high to high heat.
Stir fry the garlic and spring onions for about 30 seconds to a minute, taking care not to burn the garlic.
Add the shrimp and stir fry for 2 minutes.
Add the chicken broth mixture, bring to a boil and boil about 1 minute.
Re-stir the cornstarch and water mixture and stir it into broth. Immediately afterward, slowly pour in the egg whites, breaking them up by gently stirring them with a fork (the author recommends stirring them twice across and then twice across again in a tic tack toe pattern). Be careful not to over stir the egg whites.
 

The dish is ready when the sauce begins to boil and thicken. Serve over the pork fried rice and steamed Snow Peas.

Be sure to have some Fortune Cookies for after the meal.