Basil Flatbread

1 11-ounce refrigerated thin crust pizza dough

1 1/2 T. olive oil

1/2 t. crushed red pepper flakes

1 mince garlic clove

2 T. thinly sliced basil

1/4 c. grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Unroll dough onto a 10 x 15 inch baking sheet. Combine olive oil, red pepper flakes, and garlic. Brush over dough. Bake at 350 for 11 min or until browned. Remove from oven and sprinkle with basil and cheese.

Tomato Cucumber Salad

Ingredients:

One Red Onion, thinly sliced
One English (seedless) cucumber, cut into strips
5-6 Roma Tomatoes, seeded and cut into wedges
Olive Oil and Red Wine Vinegar for drizzling
Salt and Pepper to taste

Technique:

Combine all ingredients, serve.  Like I said easy!!


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Deconstructed Summer Chili

Not a heavy chili, light and delicious summer meal! 

 

Ingredients

1/3 cup lime juice
1/4 cup cilantro chopped
1/3 cup olive oil
2 ears corn, cooked and cut from stalk
2 cups elbow pasta, cooked and cooled
1 red onion, half finely chopped, half thinly sliced
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 pound lean ground beef
One 15-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed
4 Roma tomatoes, cut into wedges
Salt and pepper to taste


Technique

In a saute pan add 2 tsp of olive oil and chopped onions, wait about 2 minutes and add beef cooking thoroughly adding chili power and cumin right at the end.  Allow meat to cool.  Whisk together lime juice, olive oil and cilantro and add remaining ingrediants.  Buon appetito!



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Gabe's Gyros

Ingredients
Whole Wheat Pitas
1 Cucumber Sliced
Cherry Tomatoes Halved
Red Onion Sliced
Fresh Basil
1 lb Thinly Sliced Beef or Lamb
Yogurt Sauce:
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1 tsp. Lemon Juice
1 tsp. Dill
1 tsp Garlic
salt and pepper to taste

Technique
Lightly salt the meat.  Grill it on each side for 1-2 minutes each, you want it to be no more than medium.  Slice the meat into thin strips.  I like to lightly grill the pitas, 1 min each side, just to get the grill marks.  Whisk together all the ingredients for the yogurt sauce.  Combine your gyro to your hearts content!  Buon appetito!

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Rice Pudding

Ingredients
3 cups cooked rice
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp lemon juice

Technique
Cook rice according to package directions.  I recommend arborio rice.  Once rice is done and is still warm in the pan, add the milk until it's absorbed.  Mix in the remaining ingredients and chill overnight.   Buon appetito!

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Egg and Tomato Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

Ingredients
3-4 hard boiled eggs sliced
3-4 roma tomatoes in wedges
4 cups mixed greens
1 cup croutons
1/4 cups Mustard Vinaigrette (see below)

Technique
Coat the mixed greens with Mustard Vinaigrette and layer the other ingredients on top.  Buon appetito!


Mustard Vinaigrette
Whisk together...
1/2 cup olive oil
3 tbs. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste

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Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Ice Cream

From Ben and Jerry themselves :) 

came out super creamy and delicious!!

Ingredients

2  ounces  unsweetened chocolate

1/3  cup  unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2  cups  milk

2  large  eggs

1  cup  sugar

1  cup  heavy cream, or whipping cream

1  teaspoon  vanilla extract

Technique
Melt the unsweetened chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot, not boiling, water.  Gradually whisk in the cocoa and heat, stirring constantly, until smooth. (If the chocolate clumps , don't worry - the milk will dissolve it).  Whisk in the milk, a little at a time, and heat until blended.  Remove from the heat and let cool.  Whisk the eggs in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.  Whisk in the sugar, a little at a time, then continue whisking until completely blended, about 1 minute more.  Pour in the cream and vanilla, and whisk to blend.  Pour the chocolate mixture into the cream mixture and blend.  Cover and refrigerate until cold, about 1 to 3 hours, depending on your refrigerator.  Transfer the mixture to an ice cream maker and freeze following the manufacturer's directions.  Makes 1 quart. Buon appetito!


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Potato Salad

Ingredients
5 lbs.  yukon gold potatoes
2 cups mayonasse
2 tbs.  mustard
3 tbs. chopped onion
3 tbs. chopped celery
2 tbs. sugar
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. celery salt
1 tsp.  dill
Salt to taste

Technique
Boil potatoes until tender, about 25 min.  While the potatoes are boiling combine all the other ingredients in a large bowl.  Once the potatoes are done drain them and run them under cold water to stop them from cooking.  Peel the potatoes and roughly chop.  Fold gently into other ingredients.  Buon appetito!
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Nutella Filled Cupcakes with Milk Chocolate Frosting

* First Picture finished product, Second Picture filled cupcakes cooling...

Ingredients
(Cupcakes)
1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4  tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter (room temperature)
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup milk

(Frosting)
1/2 stick butter (melted)
 3 large Tbs. cocoa
1/2 lb. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup milk

(Filling and Garnish)
1/2 jar Nutella
chocolate covered Peanuts

Technique
Mix flour, baking powder and salt.  Cream together sugar, butter eggs, vanilla and milk and add to flour.  Spoon into greased muffin tins or paper cups.  Bake for 20 min at 400*.  While they're cooking you can make the frosting mix together all ingredients until well blended.  Once cupcakes are cooked remove from the oven and use a doughnut filler or pastry bag to fill the still warm cupcakes with 1tsp of nutella.  Let the cupcakes cool completely.  Once cool cover with frosting and garnish with chocolate covered peanuts.  Buon appetito!

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Bumps on a Log

Ingredients
Celery
Raisins
Peanut Butter or Cream Cheese

Technique
Clean and cut celery to desired length (2 inches).  Spread pb or cream cheese on the celery.  Place the raisins in the peanut butter to look like bugs.  Yum!! Buon appetito!


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