BBQ Corn on the Cob

We love corn on the cob!

This is an easy and delicious way to prepare it.

BBQ Corn on the Cob

Corn

Tin Foil

Seasonings of choice (butter, salt and pepper, cumin, etc.)

Husk corn and remove hairs.

Season with butter, salt, pepper, and other seasonings (optional).

Roll up each ear in a piece of tin foil, and pinch the ends together to form handles.

Place on a medium-low grill, rotating 1/4 turn every 5 mintues.

** Tate and I both LOVE corn on the cob plain.  I just enjoy the freshness of it.  You can obviously mix and match whatever seasonings you like.

Beef and Wheat Burgers

This is a perfect way to sneak some wheat into your diet.

And I promise - you won't even know it is there!

 

Beef and Wheat Burgers

1 lb. 80-85% lean ground beef

1/3 c. cracked wheat

1/2 Tbsp. dehydrated onion

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. seasoning salt

1-2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 tsp. dried chives

1 egg

Stir all ingredients together, but do not overmix.

Divide into 4 patties.

Grill for 3-4 minutes per side, or until done.

Top with your favorite fixings.

Try them with 30 minute hamburger buns!

Mixed Italian Grilled Vegetables

This is one of my favorite ways to prepare veggies.

Especially in the summer when we grill often.

Mixed Italian Grilled Vegetables

1/2 red onion, thick chop

2 carrots, crinkle cut

1/2 head brocolli

1/2 head cauliflower

1 summer squash

1 zucchini

Italian Dressing

Stir all veggies together in a large bowl.

Pour Italian Dressing over veggies (enough to coat thinly).

Grill vegetables on BBQ in a grilling bowl.

Bottled Cherries

Bottled Cherries 

In each quart mason jar put ¼ c. sugar.

Pour about 1 c. boiling water into each and shake bottles around to dissolve sugar.

Rinse cherries and cut off any bad parts; but do not remove skin. 

**You can remove the pits, but I don't; I think it takes too long.

Fill mason jars with cherries, leaving 1/2"-1" headspace.

Pour hot or boiling water over cherries until jar is full.

Remove air bubbles with a knife or plastic spatula by running it down the sides of the bottle.

Make sure rim of bottle is clean and free of cracks.

Place new lids on bottles and screw on bands.

Steam quarts for 25 minutes, pints for 20.
Remember to adjust for altitude - Utah time is 35 minutes for quarts, 25 for pints.

(Do not start timer until steam is consistently coming out.)

Strawberry Lemonaide

I love strawberry lemonaide.

Especially when it has chunks of real fruit in it... YUM!

I made this for my latest dinner group and it was fabulous!  Definitely will be doing this again...

Strawberry Lemonaide

1 can frozen pink lemonaide concentrate

4 c. fresh strawberries (or 1 bag frozen)

1/4 c. sugar

4 c. sprite

2 c. chopped frozen strawberries

Place 4 c. strawberries and sugar in a blender and puree until smooth (you may need to add some water).

Prepare lemonaide according to package directions.

Add pureed strawberries and sprite to lemonaide and mix thoroughly.

Divide frozen chopped strawberry chunks into glasses and top with lemonaide.

Serve and ENJOY!  (Because it is totally delicious!)

French Bread

We've been making bread over here for years and years now, and this recipe continues to be one of our continual go-to's.

Not only does it make the most amazing french bread, but you can modify this to make just about anything; hamburger or hot dog buns, crescent rolls, dinner rolls, etc.  Anytime I make a sandwich like this one I use this recipe.

The inside is soft and flexible, the outside is chewy and delicious.

I seriously cannot express how happy I was when I first made this!
And of course every time I've made it since...
YUM!

This recipe comes from Confessions of a Bake-a-Holic.  She uses a food processor to make hers, as well as regular yeast.  I used my mixer and instant yeast, cutting the time down to 1.5 hours instead of 2, so I will be writing the instructions that way.  If you want the original recipe, click on the above link.

French Bread

7 c. flour
2 Tbsp. instant yeast
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. salt
2 1/2 c. hot tap water
1/3 c. oil
1 egg, beaten
Put flour, yeast, sugar and salt in mixing bowl; stir to combine.
Add the oil and the hot water.
Mix with a kneading blade until a soft dough forms (6 minutes for white flour, 8 for wheat).

Leave dough in the mixer.
Every 5 minutes, turn on the mixer and let it run for a few seconds.  (Do this every 5 minutes for 25 minutes).

Divide dough in half and form into two elongated loaves.
Place on cookie sheets dusted with cornmeal.
Slash tops on a diagonal with a knife.
Brush each loaf with the beaten egg (pour it on there - don't be shy!!!).
Let loafs rise for 25 minutes.
Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes.

Crepes

Easily one of my favorite breakfasts!

Crepe's

2 large eggs
2 tsp. sugar
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. vanilla
pinch salt
2 Tbsp. butter
1 c. milk
1/4 c. water

Place the eggs, flour and salt in a glass bowl and beat with whistk.
Add milk and water, stirring.
Add sugar and vanilla.
Melt 2 Tbsp. butter in frying pan.
Pour melted butter into crepe mix.
Blend well.

Strain the batter, pushing any solids thoruhg with a spatula.
Pour small amount of batter into greased frying pan and swirl it around to completely cover the bottom.
Cook over moderately high heat 30-40 seconds, or until lightly brown.
Turn and cook the other side until browned.
Fill with fruit and whipped topping.

Sausage, Pea and Pepper Pasta

My whole family liked this dish.

Even my husband, who isn't a huge sausage or "white sauce" fan.

It was pretty simple to make, too.

Sausage, Pea and Pepper Pasta
Recipe modified from Our Family Treat

1 lb. pasta of choice (we used mini bow-tie)
1 lb. mild Italian Sausage
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 c. chopped red onion
1 c. frozen peas
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. basil
pinch red pepper flakes

Cook sausage while pasta is boiling.
Add peppers, onions and seasonings to sausage and cook until veggies are soft.

Serve with one batch of Alfredo Sauce, found here.
Toss together and serve!

Fruit Pizza

By far one of the best looking desserts... and so delicious!

Fruit Pizza
1 stick butter, softened
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. almond extract
1 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. water
1 can refrigerated pizza crust (or you can use my pizza dough recipe found here)
Fruit of choice.  I've used:
mandarin oranges
kiwi
raspberries
bananas
strawberries
peaches
pears
blue berries

Preheat oven to 425 degrees (if using store bought pizza crust - 400 if using my recipe)

Roll out dough, forming a 9x13" rectangle, or the size of your cookie sheet.
Combine honey and water in a small bowl, stirring until honey is dissolved.
Brush dough with honey mixture and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until crust turns golden brown.

In a mixing bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, sugar, and almond extract.
Beat with hand mixer on low until smooth and creamy.
Spread cream cheese mixture on crust.
Use a pizza cutter or knife to cut into desired portions, and arrange fruit on top.

Serve immediately.
Refrigerate any leftovers.

Beef Tacos

Tacos

1 lb. hamburger

2 cans beans (pinto, kidney, black, or a combination)

1/4 c. diced onion OR 2 green onions, chopped

3 Tbsp. taco seasoning (packets contain ~2 Tbsp.)

2 Tbsp. water

Hard or soft flour/corn tortillas

Optional Extras:

Refried Beans

Shredded Cheese

Lettuce

Tomatoes

Salsa

Guacamole

Sour Cream

Brown hamburger and onions in skillet until no longer pink; drain.

Drain and rinse beans, and add to skillet.

Add taco seasoning and water, heat through.

Fill taco shells with meat and desired toppings.

Banana Plum Spinach Smoothie

I ended up with a massive amount of plums this past week in my food co-op basket.

I ended up making this for breakfast a few times.

It was flavorful and satisfying.

Not to mention healthy!

Banana Plum Spinach Smoothie
1 banana
3 plums (skin on)
1 handful spinach leaves (about 1 cup)
splash of apple juice
1-2 tsp. honey
6 ice cubes

Remove pits from plums.
Place all ingredients in blender and pulse until smooth.
Serves 1.