Saturday, December 26, 2009

Shrimp Cocktail

Usually we use shrimp size 36-40 (per pound), but the ones in this picture are some giant shrimp size 16-20 that we found on sale just before Christmas. Buy frozen, cooked shrimp and thaw them slightly. Squeeze the excess water out of them. They should still be quite cold, but not frozen.

Cocktail sauce - mix together:
1/4 c. catsup
1/4 t. Worchestershire sauce
1/8 t. dry mustard
1/2 t. lemon juice
2 t. horseradish

Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwich

Michael makes everything special.

Ham and cheese sandwich. A slice or two of deli ham, a slice of Swiss cheese (or your favorite kind), whole wheat bread, grilled just like grilled cheese. (Butter/oleo on both pieces of bread, meat and cheese inside. Butter side down in pan until golden brown, flip, repeat on other side).

That mushroom soup is Campbell's except Michael adds a can of drained mushroom stems and pieces. Even more mushroomy! Yum! Don't forget some fresh veggie sides for a low cal filler.

Home canned tomatoes (pressure cooker)

This picture is from our last October batch, picked green just before the first hard frost, and ripened in plastic bags on the kitchen counter. The recipe is the same for all fresh picked tomatoes. Roma tomatoes are the best for canning because they have less water content.

Wash your canning jars well in hot water. Be sure you have enough lids on hand.

1/2 bushel Roma tomatoes yields about 27 pints.

Canning is a labor of love - seeing the results is a pleasure. Eating summer's sun-kissed harvest in the middle of the winter is a joy.

Assemble clean jars, lids, screw rings, clean dish towels, pressure cooker, canning tongs (to lift jars), colander, paring knife, medium size bowl, medium size pan, ice, salt, 1/2t. measuring spoon, butter knife, measuring cup.

Wash the tomatoes off under running water, place in colander. Boil water in medium size pan, 2/3 full. Put 4 c. of water in bottom of pressure cooker, and put the rack in (upside down). Fill medium bowl 2/3 full with water and ice to make ice water. Spread clean dish towels on the counter top.

Dip tomatoes into boiling water a few at a time, for 1 minute. Immediately put them in the ice water to loosen the skins. Peel the skins off, trim out any bad spots, cut in half, place into jar. Press the tomatoes together tightly in the jar so that juice forms, filling to within 1/2" of the top, and using the butter knife around the sides to remove air pockets. Carefully wipe the edge of the jar clean, add 1/2 t. salt to each jar. Put on lid and screw band, firmly, but not over tight.
Place 4 jars at a time into the pressure cooker, at 5 lbs pressure. Process for 10 minutes after the pressure regulator jiggles. Important: cool the pressure cooker for 10 minutes before you gently test the regulator to expel any remaining steam.

Carefully remove the jars with the canning tongs, being careful not to touch the rings or lids, and being careful to avoid burns. Place the jars immediately onto the clean dish towels to cool, with about 2" of space in between the jars. You will probably hear the "ping" of the jars as they seal. Let them cool a few hours and then check the seals. Any unsealed jars should be reprocessed (after cleaning the top edge and lid), or placed in the refrigerator to be used.


Baked Cod

Michael bakes this in a Emile Henry ceramic baker. Shown here with Kraft's mac & cheese (made lite), beets, salad.

Ingredients:
12 oz frozen cod, thawed
1 carrot, sliced & halved
1 stalk celery, sliced and diced
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2 oz chicken broth
butter spray, cooking spray
salt & pepper


Spray the baking pan with cooking spray. Form a bed of the chopped vegetables in the baker. Add broth. Place thawed fish on the veggie bed. Spray with butter spray. Salt & pepper to taste. Bake at 400 degrees until fish flakes (15 to 20 minutes). Watch closely. Serve with veggies. Spoon broth onto fish and veggies.

Curried Turkey Burger with Pasta Gypsy

Shown here with Pasta Gypsy (see recipe Jan. 19, 2009 in this blog)







For 2 patties:

Mix together:
8oz ground turkey
1/2 tsp. to 1 tsp. curry powder
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. salt

Shape into patties. Saute in 1 tsp. olive oil or canola oil, turn, cook until done.


Aunt Helen's Cottage Cheese "salad" (dessert)

I love this! Easy to make and even easier to eat.

Be sure to drain the pineapple, or it will not set up!



In a medium bowl, stir together:
1 small carton cottage cheese
1 small box lime jello (or any other color)
1 small carton Cool Whip lite
1 small can crushed pineapple, well drained

Refrigerate for a few hours to let it set up. Eat!