April 2013 Newsletter

The recipes that are in this month's newsletter are from a cookbook/CD project that DonD and I were working on at his passing...never published the Salads for Two Cookbook/CD of poetry that I compiled, nor the CD that Lucy was recording.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT...
SPOKEN WORDS
by Paula 2001
Our spoken words bring joy, love, happiness, and smiles to those around us...
Yet underlying meanings and interpretations of the same spoken words...
Bring sorrow, hate, sadness, and frowns to those around us...
Little words when taken wrong or spoken incorrectly can destroy relationships...
Many things are better left unsaid, letting our actions express our feelings...
Spoken words are often received as daggers; piercing the depths of hearts and
Souls...
Never to be forgotten and many times never to be forgiven...
Let your life radiate through your actions giving joy, love, happiness and
smiles to those around you...
Building relationships, expressing your feelings,
Striving to radiate the positive and keeping
Those negative thoughts and words within...
Then a life most beautiful will be remembered...
Not forgotten...
As a friend that didn't always have to be forgiven...

RECIPES:
B.L.T. SALAD
Paula George

Ingredients:6 strips of bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled (can use pre-cooked
Bacon, heated and crumbled or ½ jar of Hormel Real Bacon Bits)
3 cups red leaf lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
1 large Brandywine Heirloom tomato, cut into thin wedges
1/3 cup grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 cup Sourdough croutons (purchased or homemade)
Homemade: Cubes of bread, drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper;
Sautéed in skillet over medium heat for 10-12 minutes until golden.
Thick Ranch Dressing, about ½ cup (Purchased in the Produce Section)
Directions:Divide lettuce on two plates. Arrange tomato wedges around edges.
Spoon large dollop of Ranch dressing in center of lettuce. Working from
Center out, arrange cheese, bacon bits and croutons.
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BLOODY MARY ICE
Paula George

Ingredients:
1 lb. Brandywine Heirloom tomatoes (about 3 medium),
Peeled and cut into eighths
¼ cup Vodka
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoon tomato paste
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
A few dashes of Tabasco or hot sauce
¼ teaspoon celery salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Directions:
Press tomatoes through a sieve, discard seeds. Gently stir
In remaining ingredients. Pour mixture into an 8”x8” glass
Dish. Let stand at room temperature for about 15 minutes
Until foam subsides. Stir gently with a fork. Freeze mixture,
Uncovered 30 minutes; stir gently with a fork; cover and
Freeze until solid (about 3 hours). To serve, scrape surface
With fork to break up ice crystals into a granular consistency.
Spoon into large cocktail or martini glasses. Garnish rim with
A lime slice.
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A TASTE OF CAPRI…A LIGHT SALAD DINNER
from the kitchen of Paula George
TAPANADE
Ingredients:
1 cup Kalamata pitted, ripe olives
2 Tablespoons capers, drained
1 Tablespoon fresh garlic (3-4 cloves)
2 teaspoons anchovy filets
½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
1 Tablespoon lemon zest
2 Tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
Directions:
Combine above ingredients in a blender or food processor;
Pulse until thoroughly combined, chopped but not smooth.
Place in small serving bowl and let sit at room temperature
Until ready to serve with Insalata and Crostinis.
A TASTE OF CAPRI
Ingredients:
1/3 pound fresh Mozzarella Cheese, sliced ¼” thick
2 Brandywine Heirloom tomatoes, cut in ¼” thick slices
¼ to ½ cup fresh torn basil
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
3 Tablespoons “good” Extra-Virgin Olive oil
Directions:
Arrange Mozzarella and Tomato slices on oblong serving
Platter…alternating and overlapping slightly. Season with
Salt and pepper. Sprinkle torn basil over Mozzarella and
Tomatoes. Drizzle with olive oil.

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TERIYAKI CHICKEN SALAD
Paula George
Ingredients:
1 6-8oz. Package Teriyaki seasoned chicken strips (available
Pre-cooked in the deli section of grocer.)
½ red onion, sliced ¼” thick, separated into rings
½ red or yellow sweet bell pepper, cut into ¼” strips
¼ cup sliced almonds, toasted (see note below)
1 Tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (see note below)
Sweet-Sour dressing (Recipe Follows)
2 cups red leaf lettuce, torn in bite size pieces
1 medium Brandywine tomato, coarsely chopped
Purchased Croissants


Directions:
1) Spread sliced almonds and sesame seeds on baking sheet,
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 5-6 minutes until
Lightly toasted, stir once during baking. Set aside to cool.
2) Prepare Sweet & Sour Dressing. Whisk together the following
In a small bowl:
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon celery seed
½ teaspoon dry mustard
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon grated red onion or shallots
¼ cup sugar
½ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup white wine vinegar
After whisking together, place in small serving bowl to serve .
Refrigerate until ready to use.
3) Arrange torn lettuce on 2 serving plates.
4) Divide onion rings over lettuce.
5) Sprinkle with red/yellow pepper strips and chopped tomatoes.
6) Arrange ½ of the chicken strips on each salad.
7) Garnish with toasted almond/sesame seed mixture.
8) Place croissant on each serving plate, serve
Sweet-Sour dressing on the side.
Optional: add fresh pineapple chunks to salad

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INSALATA NICOISE
Paula George
Salad Ingredients:
2 Brandywine Tomatoes, seeded and quartered
1 small Wethersfield onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 yellow or orange pepper, sliced thin
1 stalk celery, sliced thinly diagonally
1 pkg. foil-pack tuna (purchased) broken-up
4 leaves of Bibb lettuce
4 anchovies (for garnish)
2 hard-boiled eggs, quartered (for garnish)
½ cup ripe pitted olives, drained (for garnish)
Basil Honey Dressing (recipe follows)
1. Boil eggs to hard boil stage. Peel & Quarter. Set aside.
2. Prepare dressing. Set aside.
3. Place lettuce on 2 dinner plates.
4. Arrange tomatoes, onions, peppers, celery on lettuce bed.
5. Divide tuna on 2 dinner plates. Serve with a side of the dressing.
6. Garnish with anchovies, eggs and ripe olives. Serve with slice of crusty baguette.
Dressing:
¼ cup white balsamic vinegar
¼ cup honey
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
¼ tsp. kosher or sea salt
¼ tsp. fresh ground pepper
Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar; cover tightly and shake vigorously. Set aside.