Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Remoulade Sauce




OK wife hates cooks.com since they took over recipe Zaar but we do have to hunt for recipes on there and we found this kick a$$ sauce now if you are afraid of the heat look for something milder but we like the heat. Thanks Rite at Recipe Zaar (this was posted there when it was the Zaar.)
We had some fried shrimp and I found a box of Calamari which we love. Hate that the favorite place to get this has closed down. But this will do in a pinch.
1cup mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons whole grain mustard. (we used Creole)
2 Tablespoons ketchup
1 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup scallions
1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley (we can not tell you how much a difference this herd makes from the dried kind)
1 stalk chopped celery
2 cloves garlic minced
2 teaspoons hot sauce
1/4 ground black pepper
dash of horseradish to taste.
Blend all together and chill for 1 hour. Even better the next day.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Crystal Springs



Here are two of wife's paintings that was at the Crystal Springs Tomato Festival this year. The green tomatoes won honorable mention in their show. Wife found out from Ms Redneck we just missed each other at one of the vendors that we both bought goods from like the eggplant.
We ate the green tomatoes and they sure were good.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Eggplant Parmesan





We really hated to have to use our oven with the temps so high but we got some egg plants at the farmers market and this recipe was one we had to give a go and boy were we glad we did.
1 egg plant (we used two small) cut into 3/4 inch slices
1 1/2 Tablespoons salt
8 Tablespoons olive oil
8 oz ricotta cheese (we used cottage cheese and we thought it needed more than what was called for.)
6 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg beaten
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
4 cups pasta sauce. (We used left over spaghetti sauce we had in the freezer
we also added mushrooms
We also did a flour, egg wash and pan fried the egg plant.
1. Sprinkle both sides of eggplant with salt and place in colander over paper towels or in sink
Allow this to sit for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350
3. In a bowl mix ricotta,mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, mix in egg and Basil
4. Rinse eggplant till salt is removed and pat dry (here we did the pan frying like above)
heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil and brown eggplant on both sides
5.We buttered a 8 x 13 baking dish then put a 1 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce layer the eggplant over sauce. Top with 1/2 cheese mixture, repeat layering till eggplant and cheese is used. Pour remaining sauce on top and we used extra Parmesan cheese.
6. Bake 30 to 40 minutes till sauce is bubbly.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Sunday Cats


Its a triple decker bunk. The boys enjoy lounging on the porch even in this heat.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Watermelon smoothie



We also had a watermelon for the 4th and had way more than we could eat so we made a smoothie and froze the rest.
fill the blender with watermelon chunks

3 Tablespoons honey
8 to 10 ice cubes.
1 cup yogurt
Pulse till blended wife likes it thick so may need to add more ice.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Tn Pork Loin with Nashville Barbecue Sauce




This past 4th weekend we were watching TV and the show Barbecue University and they cooked this dish. I went to bed that night and all I could do was think about this piece of meat and cooking it. Luckily we had a last loin in the freezer and I knew I had to give this a try and boy was it worth it! I may cook this again it was so good and try it on some ribs.
It does have a lot of steps but don't let it scare you its not hard.

1 center cut pork loin about 21/2 to 3 pounds
5 Tablespoons Tn whiskey like Jack Daniels
2 Tablespoons Cold Mt. Rub or favorite barbecue rub (we used the Cold Mt Rub
6 Tablespoons Dijon mustard.... we used creole
1/2 cup firmly packet brown sugar + 4 Tablespoo
4 slices bacon
Nashville Sweet Barbecue sauce
Butcher's string
2 cups wood chips preferably hickory soaked for 1 hour in water then drained
Cold Mt Rub
1/2 cup kosher or sea salt(we used about 1/4)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup fresh ground black pepper (we used about 1/4)
1/2 cup paprika
Glaze
3 Tablespoons salted butter
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
3 Tablespoons Dijon mustard(we used creole)
3 Tablespoons Tn. Whiskey
Nashville Sweet Barbecue Sauce (separate ingredients from top)
2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
6-8 fresh lemon juice about 3 -4 lemons
1 teaspoon grated lemon juice
2 Tablespoons molasses (we did not have any so left this out)
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 liquid smoke
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
we added a dash or a tiny pinch of cloves.
Combine everything together in a nonreactive pan and whisk to mix. Let the sauce gradually come to a simmer over med. heat and simmer till thick about 8 to 10 minutes.
Let cool to room temp and put in jar and refrigate until serving. Will keep for several weeks.
This was a great sauce we really liked it
A. Make the rub: place all ingredients in a bowl and mix using fingers. Store in airtight jar away from heat or light and will last 6 months
B. Make the glaze: Combine butter,brown sugar,mustard and whiskey in a saucepan and boil until syrupy, 4 to 6 minutes and set aside.
C. Using a sharp knife cut the roast almost in half lengthwise stopping about 1 inch from edge. Open like a book. Take a Tablespoon of whiskey and sprinkle over roast and let it sit for 5 minutes. Sprinkle a third of the rub on the inside of roast. Take 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard and rub on inside over the rub with spatula or spoon. Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon brown sugar over rub.
Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon of whiskey over rub. and close. sprinkle remaining rub over meat on the outside.
D. Cut the butchers string into 4 pieces about 13 inches long. Position the pieces of string on work surface about 2 inches apart. Place a slice of bacon across the strings so that it is perpendicular to and in the center of strings. Set roast on top and place slices of bacon on each side and on top. Tie string starting at each ends and going to the middle last (May need two people to do this.) Set aside.
E. Set up the grill for indirect grilling and preheat to medium. We used a charcoal grill grill. Place a drip pan in the center and place wood chips on coals
F. When ready place roast on hot grate and over the drip pan away from the heat and cover the grill.
We used a meat thermometer (best gadget I ever bought)
Cook the roast about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. the thermometer should read 160 to 165
Start basting roast after 30 minutes with the glaze every 15 minutes.
G. Transfer roast when done to cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes then remove strings and slice the roast and drizzle any remaining glaze over it. Serve with Barbecue Sauce on side

Monday, July 11, 2011

Still Here






It has been so hot down here this summer that we have been eating mostly sandwiches. A good thing I cooked the pork buts but they are about all gone now. we have had lots of tomato sandwiches, chicken and tuna.


We have not been able to grow any of our own tomatoes this year. We have three plants that have blooms but have never set tomatoes. Wife read that it has been too hot. We took some seeds of the ones we grew last year and have planted them and we were so surprised to see them sprout up in about 2 days. so we hope to plant them and maybe have a fall crop of our own. Thank goodness the farmers market still has some. Maybe the heirlooms are a little more picky.


We also have put up a little corn and asparagus and figs are cumming in but we are hoping to have pecans this fall as last year they didn't produce. The patio has little nuts buds (Is that what one would call them) falling off, maybe because it is so dry and hot so we will see if we have a fall crop or not.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Sunday Cat







This is our cat Tigger, He is a strange cat as he has this real long body like a dachshund. He is real sweet and likes to sleep on my head at night. Here he is on wife's drawing table and if you look at the photo on the porch he looks a little off but is the long body he has.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sunday Cat


This is the stool in our kitchen and the babies think it is theirs.
Frosty is under the stool defending his position and Stinker is trying to take it away. Notice the ridge down Stinks back. He is the only cat we have that does that.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Crystal Springs Tomato Fest




Just wanted to let everyone in the area know to come on down to downtown Crystal Springs Sat June 25 for the Tomato Festival starting at 8 to 2.... rain or shine.
There will be a Flea Market, Farmers Market, Food and Drinks, stone ground corn meal and much more.


Over at the air conditioned Tomato Museum the Crystal Springs Art association is having a art competition.


Wife will have some paintings in the show and some for sell come by and check it out.


This Tomato panting has sold but she will have two new ones in the show.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Scallops and Shrimp bake



Well I guess I should call it Imitation crab and shrimp bake.
we didn't have any scallops and a little of the imitation crab left so we used that instead. It was good but I bet with the scallops it would have been really good.
This was really fast and easy to do something we are looking for in this heat.

1/2 lb sea scallops( I bet the bay would be better they are sweeter just my opinion.)
1/2 lb shrimp pealed.
1/2 chicken or vegetable stock.
1/2 cup white wine
3 Tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic chopped
3 Tablespoons onion or one shallot chopped
1 lemon calls or Meyer but we used regular.
1 Tablespoon chopped cilantro
1 Tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
8 oz linguini (we only had spagetti
salt and pepper to taste
3/4 cup crumbled feta.
red pepper to taste (optional)

Saute in skillet onions and garlic over med heat. Then add stock,wine,lemon juice,parsley and cilantro. Bring to boil.
Add sea scallops first if using. then shrimp a couple minutes later.
If using shrimp and fake crab add together and cook till shrimp turn pink. Do not over cook or shrimp will be like rubber.
Salt qand pepper to taste we also threw in some red pepper
Pour in to a casserole dish (we used a small one)
Crumble feta over top and place in oven on broil for about 5 minutes or till cheese is browned.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Sunday Cats


Here are our babies a lizard was spotted on the air conditioner. They think they can entice him in the house. We have had Sweetie Pie sit at the back door when open and some how he can catch one this way. Poor lizard.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Basil,tomatoes


Our Tomatoes are just staring to take off we have plenty of blooms but only two baby tomatoes. Sure hope they get going soon. We could not wait and got some from the farmers market, Our Basil is growing like gang busters.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Flat iron steak


Have you heard about a steak cut called a flat iron?
Wife had read how this cut was developed to be a tender cut out of a tougher piece of meat. Its all in how it cut. Well we have known about it for at least 6 months but have not seen any in the stores. Well about a month ago Kroger had some and they were on sale so we got a few. One steak is just enough for the both of us.
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup Italian dressing
1 clove crushed garlic
Place in bag with steak and refrigerate over night.
Its to hot to get the grill out so we used the George. (we know it must be good on a grill because it turned out great with the George)
We like our steaks med rare and 6 minutes it was perfect.
We must say this was as good as the T bone we had a while back.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Chicken Salad



Ok its time for the hot weather to let up now. I am dreading my electric bill. We bought a roasted chicken from the grocery store. That is the best thing they have done. In this heat it is so easy to pick up a chicken and bring home and not have to heat up the kitchen. It is just the long drive home with the smell killing you.
We will eat half and shred the rest to put up to use in another dish.
I know everyone also has a chicken salad recipe but this is the one we are using.
2 cups diced or shredded chicken (roasted chicken)

3/4 cup celery
3/4 cup seedless grapes (we added a few more more)
1 Tablespoon and 1 teaspoon of fresh chopped parsley
salt to taste we also added a dash of Greek seasonings
3/4 cup mayonnaise we felt it was not enough so we added more about a Tablespoon
you could also add a little yogurt
1/2 lemon juice
If we had any pecans we would have added them so any nut almonds walnuts also could be added.
combine all together and enjoy as a sandwich