Meat Loaf with Piquant Sauce

Published on by carol lou Category: Main dishes, Recipes

 This is my favorite meatloaf recipe.  The meatloaf is very moist and the topping carmelizes as it bakes.  Talk about the ultimate comfort food. 

meatloaf 2

Meat Loaf with Piquant Sauce
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Ingredients
  1. Meatloaf
  2. 2 eggs, beaten
  3. 1/2 cup milk
  4. 2/3 cup bread crumbs
  5. 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
  6. 1/4 cup chopped onion
  7. 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  8. 1 teaspoon salt
  9. Sauce
  10. 6 tablespoons brown sugar
  11. 1/2 cup ketchup
  12. 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  13. 2 teaspoon dry mustard
Instructions
  1. To prepare meatloaf, beat eggs in a small bowl. Add milk and bread crumbs. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine meat, onion and seasoning. Add bread mixture. Combine.
  3. Pat mixture into a loaf pan. Mix sauce ingredients and pour over meat.
  4. Bake 350 for 1 hour.
  5. I drain my meatloaf as it bakes, carefully drain any liquid from the pan approximately 45 minutes into the baking time. This allows the topping to set during the last 15 minutes. Pour off liquid very slowly or you might pour off the wonderful sauce.
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Panko Parmesan Shrimp Appetizer

Published on by carol lou Category: Appetizers, Recipes

What to do with one pound of shrimp and only thirty minutes?  That was my thought the other night when friends called at the last minute to come for dinner and I had one pound of shrimp in the refrigerator.  I quickly said “I’ll bring the appetizer”, the pressure was on.  We were leaving in thirty minutes for their house;  The following dish I put together with what I had on hand.  Let’s just say the dish was ‘licked clean’.  The combination of butter, garlic, shrimp and the crunchy topping was a show-stopper.

 Parmesan Panko Shrimp

 

Panko Parmesan Shrimp Appetizer
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Ingredients
  1. 1 pound of shrimp, peeled and deveined
  2. 3/4 cup butter
  3. 1 clove of garlic, minced
  4. 1/3 cup white wine
  5. 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  6. 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
  7. 1/3 cup grated parmesan
  8. 1 tablespoon chopped parsley (fresh or dried)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Steam shrimp just until pink - do not overcook
  3. Put butter, garlic, wine, and red pepper flakes in a small casserole and put in the oven. Once the butter has melted, stir and add shrimp. Combine panko, parmesan and parsley. Spoon over the top of the shrimp. Bake 12 minutes. Broil until golden brown. Serve hot.
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Irish Coffee Ice Cream Pie

Published on by carol lou Category: Desserts, Recipes

Ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?  Here is a pie that you can keep in the freezer until ready to serve.  With a hint of coffee liqueur and Irish whiskey, this is a killer combination.  What better way to toast the Irish than with a wonderful ice cream pie loaded with flavor and easy to make. 

Irish Coffee Ice Cream Pie

 

Irish Coffee Ice Cream Pie
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Ingredients
  1. Chocolate Cookie Crust
  2. 1 1/4 cup chocolate wafer cookie crumbs
  3. 5 tablespoons melted butter
  4. 3 tablespoons sugar
  5. 1 tablespoon coffee liquor
  6. Filling
  7. 1 quart coffee ice cream, softened
  8. 1 cup chilled whipping cream
  9. 2 tablespoons sugar
  10. 1 tablespoon Irish Whiskey
  11. 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
  12. Chocolate covered espresso beans or chocolate covered almonds, for garnish
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350
  2. Mix crumbs, butter, sugar and coffee liqueur. Press into one 9 inch pie pan. Bake for 8 minutes.
  3. Cool. Freeze for 1 hour.
  4. Spread ice cream (softened) over cooled crust. Freeze until set. Beat cream until soft peaks form. Add remaining ingredients, except espresso beans (garnish). Continue beating until stiff peaks form. Pipe or spread over ice cream layer. Garnish with espresso beans or chocolate covered almonds. Freeze for at least 8 hours or overnight prior to serving.
Notes
  1. I used chocolate covered almonds, chopped for garnish. You can also dot the top with the whole chocolate covered espresso beans. Chocolate curls would also be a great garnish.
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Spicy Roasted Potatoes

Published on by carol lou Category: Recipes, Vegetables

These potatoes are the perfect side dish to serve with poultry, meat, or fish.  They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  This combination of ingredients makes these potatoes additive.  They are so full of flavor, you can’t eat just one.  Your guests will be asking for this recipe.

spicy roasted potatoes

 

Spicy Roasted Potatoes
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Ingredients
  1. 1 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
  2. 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  3. 2 tablespoons olive oil
  4. 1 clove of garlic, minced
  5. 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  6. 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
  7. 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (add more if want additional heat!)
  8. 4 cups cubed unpeeled potatoes, approx. 1 inch cubes
Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl mix dry mustard, Dijon mustard, olive oil, garlic, paprika, tarragon and red pepper flakes. Cut potatoes (potatoes need to be dry prior to cutting) into cubes, toss with mustard mixture. Arrange on a lightly greased baking sheet in a single layer. Bake 425 for 30 - 35 minutes, until tender. Toss every 10 minutes.
  2. If the potatoes look too dry, drizzle with a small amount of olive oil.
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Double Berry Sauce

Published on by carol lou Category: Desserts, Recipes

Perfect to serve on ice cream, yogurt, or your favorite pound cake.  The makes one spectacular ice cream dessert.  You could also fill a graham cracker crust with softened ice cream and freeze.  When ready to serve, slice pie and put a generous spoonful of double berry sauce on each slice.  Top with a dollop of whipped cream and one whole strawberry.  What a great dessert with very little effort!

 Double Berry Sauce

Double Berry Sauce
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Ingredients
  1. 1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
  2. 1 1/2 cups blueberries
  3. 1/2 cup Crème de Cassis
  4. 1/4 cup sugar
  5. Squeeze of one lemon
  6. Reserved strawberries to add to sauce
Instructions
  1. Put sliced strawberries, blueberries, Crème de Cassis and sugar in the blender. Blend a few pulses. Add lemon juice.
  2. If desired add additional sliced strawberries or reserve whole strawberries for topping.
  3. Refrigerate remaining sauce.
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Olive Oil Orange Bread

Published on by carol lou Category: Breads, Recipes

I was introduced to Greek olive oil this past weekend while visiting Union Market in Washington, DC.  Pericles (Perry) Konstas is a local importer of olive oil from his families orchards in Greece.  I was inspired after I returned home to develop a bread recipe that would highlight  this olive oil.  I used his Spartan Oil and the results were great.  He told me about a friend who had made bread with nuts, oranges, olives and his olive oil.  I decided time to experiment and here is my version using oranges and Greek olive oil.  Delicious!

Greek Oil                                                                                                      Union Market – Washington DC

 

olive oil orange bread

 

 

Olive Oil Orange Bread
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Ingredients
  1. 3 1/2 cups flour
  2. 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast
  3. 1/2 cup warm water
  4. 1/2 cup orange juice
  5. 2 tablespoons honey
  6. 3 tablespoons olive oil
  7. 1 egg
  8. 11/2 teaspoon salt
  9. Zest of 1 orange
  10. One orange thinly sliced for the top
Instructions
  1. Dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside for 10 minutes.
  2. Combine the flour, honey,olive oil, egg, salt, and orange zest and orange juice in mixing bowl with dough hook attachment. Add water with yeast mixture slowly until dough forms. If too dry, add additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time. If the dough appears too wet, add additional flour 1/4 cup at a time. Combine until dough forms. Turn dough out onto lightly floured board and knead for 5 minutes. Put in a greased bowl, cover and let rise for 1 hour. Punch dough down. Brush baking pan with olive oil, add dough. Pat dough into greased pan ( I used a 10 inch springform pan) - top with thin slices of orange and brush with Greek olive oil. Cover and let rise 1 1/2 hours. Bake 350 - 35 - 45 minutes until golden brown and when tapped sounds hollow.
Notes
  1. Delicious dipped in olive oil
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Ginger Steak

Published on by carol lou Category: Main dishes, Recipes

This recipe is a family favorite recipe.  Always met with rave reviews and anticipation.  My husband grew up with this recipe; one that his mom used to make.  I have been making this recipe for years and it is just too good not to add to your recipe rotation.  Serve with plenty of rice.

Ginger Steak 

Ginger Steak
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Ingredients
  1. 1 inch ginger root, peeled and grated
  2. 1 1/2 to 2 pounds, sirloin steak, sliced diagonally, very thin
  3. 1 tablespoons butter
  4. 1/4 cup red wine
  5. 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped slivered almonds
  6. 1 teaspoon chili powder
  7. 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  8. 1 medium onion, chopped
  9. 8 oz. sliced mushrooms (optional)
  10. 2 cups beef broth
  11. 2 tablespoon plum jam
  12. 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  13. 1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
  14. 2 tablespoons sherry
  15. Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
  1. Brown meat in butter in a large saucepan or dutch oven. Remove beef from pan, add onions, ginger and mushrooms to pan and saute for 5 minutes over medium heat. Add red wine and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, stirring to get all of the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add broth, almonds, chili powder, garlic powder, plum jam, red wine vinegar and almonds. Stir well to combine. Return browned beef to pan with any juices. Simmer slowly covered for 40 minutes. Add cornstarch mixture, increase heat to medium and stir until thick, (if you would like a thicker sauce, repeat cornstarch mixture). Add sherry, check seasoning, add salt and pepper, to taste.
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Puffed Pancake

Published on by carol lou Category: Breakfast, Recipes

If you asked my husband what his favorite breakfast is, he would tell you a Puffed Pancake.   We love pancakes, however they can be heavy and so filling.  This pancake is thin and crispy.  The best part about this pancake is how easy it is to make.  It takes more time for the oven to preheat than to combine the ingredients.  Next time you are looking for a new breakfast treat, try a Puffed Pancake. 

 puffed pancakde

 

Puffed Pancake
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Ingredients
  1. 3 tablespoons butter
  2. 2 eggs
  3. 1/2 cup flour
  4. 1/2 cup milk
  5. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  6. Confectioners sugar
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425
  2. Combine eggs, flour, milk, and cinnamon. Whisk until smooth.
  3. Put ovenproof 10 inch skillet in oven, after 4 minutes, put the butter in the skillet to melt.
  4. Watch carefully, swirl pan to coat with the butter. Pour the batter into the skillet.
  5. Bake 15 -20 minutes, until golden brown and puffed. Do not open oven door while baking.
  6. Remove from oven, dust with confectioners sugar. Serve with maple syrup.
Notes
  1. This would also be a wonderful dessert, omit syrup and serve with a warm fruit compote.
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Avocado Orange Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Published on by carol lou Category: Recipes, Salads

 This is a very light and refreshing salad.  Even though an unexpected combination, you will find that the flavors are spectacular together.  Use the dressing sparingly, you can always add more.  I find that drizzling the dressing over each plated salad makes a beautiful presentation.  You can also add grapefruit, blood orange slices or any other citrus combination you prefer.

Avocado Orange Salad

 

Avocado Orange Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
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Ingredients
  1. Salad ingredients to include lettuce varieties, avocados and citrus slices.
  2. Poppy Seed Dressing
  3. 1/4 cup honey
  4. 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  5. 1 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  6. 2 tablespoons poppy seed
  7. 1/3 teaspoon salt
  8. 2/3 cup canola oil
Instructions
  1. Combine all dressing ingredients in a screw top container. Shake vigorously until the dressing thickens. Refrigerate. Shake well before using.
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Guinness Cheese Toasts

Published on by carol lou Category: Appetizers, Recipes

What does everyone focus on during the month of March?  March Madness and St. Patrick’s Day.  Here is a recipe that is perfect for both occasions.  Perfect with a cold beer while watching the games and a great appetizer for a St. Patrick’s Day dinner.  Easy to make and the hot bubbly cheese makes this a recipe that you will probably use time and time again.  I think this would also be great grilled appetizer for a summer BBQ.

Guinness Cheese Toasts

Guinness Cheese Toasts
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Ingredients
  1. 1 pound extra sharp cheddar cheese cut into 1 inch cubes
  2. 3/4 cup Guinness Stout
  3. 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  4. 2 cloves of garlic
  5. Tomato slices
  6. Baguette, cut into 1/3 inch slices
  7. Olive oil
Instructions
  1. Put the cheese, Guinness, cayenne pepper and garlic in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth.
  2. Preheat broiler.
  3. Lightly brush bread slices with olive oil, put under the broiler until just golden brown.
  4. Spread cheese mixture on each bread slice, boil an additional 2 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Watch closely.
  5. Serve with tomato slices, if desired.
Notes
  1. If you do not have a food processor, finely grate the sharp cheddar cheese and mix in the Guinness, cayenne and garlic. Stir until all is combined.
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