Cheesy Almond Appetizers

What You Need:

2 tbsp butter, softened
1 C of sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 C of flour
1 dash cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp celery seed
1 (3-oz.) pkg. hickory smoked almonds

How to Make It:

Place the butter and cheese into a bowl and stir until smooth.
Place the flour, cayenne pepper and celery seed into the mixture.
Knead the mixture with your hands until it forms a firm ball.
Form a spoonful of the cheese around each almond to complete cover the almond.
Place the appetizers on a microwave save plate in a circle of 9 appetizers.
Heat the appetizers on high for 2 minutes turning the plate 1/4 turn after 1 minute.
When done these appetizers should be puffy and dry.
Repeat the cooking process until all the appetizers have been used.
Cool slightly before serving.

Makes 3 dozen

Use any type of almonds you prefer such as regular, barbecued or even cheese flavored. It’s a sure bet these appetizers won’t be around long as they are quite tasty. Who could ask for a simpler fare to feed those hungry guests?

Marinated Summer Garden Salad

tomscukespep

What You Need:

2 Tbsp vinegar
2 Tbsp salad oil
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp celery seeds
1 cucumber, peeled, halved and sliced thin
1 sweet onion, sliced thin
1 C cherry tomatoes, halved
1 green bell pepper, cut into strips

How to Make It:

Place the vinegar, oil, sugar, salt and celery seed into a bowl and whisk until combined.
Gently stir in the cucumber and onion slices.
Add the tomatoes and bell pepper strips and stir gently to coat.
Cover and chill 4 hours or longer being sure to stir occasionally to evenly marinate.

Makes 6 servings

By using those extra vegetables from the garden this salad will keep well under your budget. Use red, yellow or orange bell peppers if you want to give your salad a little color. Make this salad ahead of time as it can be chilled for up to 24 hours before serving.

Preparation Time: approximately 15 minutes
Chilling Time: approximately 4 hours
Total Time: approximately 4 hours 15 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per serving)
Calories 54; Fat 5g; Saturated fat 1g; Carbohydrates 3g; Fiber 1g; Protein 0g;
Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 195 mg

White Beans with Sausage and Tomatoes

beansuasage

beansuasageWhat You Need:

1 onion, halved and sliced thin
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 (14 oz.) cans of Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
2 t dried thyme
1 t celery seeds
1/2 t of salt
1/4 t of pepper
6 (1 ½ lbs.) sausage links
1 zucchini, sliced thin
2 (14 oz.) cans diced tomatoes, drained

How to Make It:

Spray the bottom and sides of a cast iron Dutch oven pan with cooking spray.
Place the oven temperature at 450 degrees and allow the oven to preheat.
Spread the onions and garlic over the bottom of the pan.
Spread the beans out into a smooth layer over the onions and garlic.
Evenly sprinkle the thyme, celery seeds, salt and pepper into the pan.
Place the sausage in a single layer over the beans.
Spread the zucchini over the sausage then add the tomatoes.
Cover and bake for 35 minutes until the sausage is cooked through and the beans are soft.

Makes 4 servings

5 or 6 fresh tomatoes, chopped may be used in place of the canned tomatoes if you prefer.
You may also use cooked coarsely crumbled sausage in this dish instead of the links.

Preparation Time: approximately 10 minutes
Baking Time: approximately 35 minutes
Total Time: approximately 45 minutes

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per serving)
Calories 373; Fat 19g; Carbohydrates 29g; Cholesterol 40g; Sodium 875 mg; Protein 24g;
Fiber 9g

Pressure Cook Old Favorites

potato_salad

potato_saladFamily favorites are hard to put by the way side even when trying new styles of cooking. These old favorites taste just as great when cooked in a pressure cooker and it takes a fraction of the time.

Country Potatoes

Ingredients:
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1/4 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced, stems trimmed
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup chicken stock or water
• 4 cups potatoes in 1/2” slices
• 2 tbsp. minced parsley

Preparation:

In the pressure cooker, heat the oil and sauté the mushrooms and onions until the onions are wilted. Mix in all the remaining ingredients. Lock the lid and bring to pressure. Lower the heat and cook for 3 minutes at 15psi. Allow pressure to drop by quick release or auto release method and remove lid.

Serves 4

Potato Salad

Ingredients:
• 4 slices of bacon
• 4 tsp. sugar
• 3 tbsp. vinegar
• 1 tsp. mustard
• 4 med.-large potatoes, cut in 1/4” slices
• 1 med. Onion thinly sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp. celery seed

Preparation:

Fry bacon in the pressure cooker until crisp, then remove and drain on paper towel and crumble. Reserve 1 tbsp. of the drippings and wipe out the pressure cooker. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, vinegar, mustard and bacon drippings. Pour 1-3/4 cups water into the pressure cooker. Layer the potatoes, onions, all of the seasonings above, the sugar and vinegar mixture, and the crumbled bacon in the pressure cooker basket. Lower the basket into the pressure cooker. Lock the lid into place and cook for 2 minutes at 15psi. Release pressure using the natural release method or the auto release method, remove the lid and serve.

Serves 4

Sesame Broccoli

Ingredients:
• 2 tbsp. sesame oil
• 1 large garlic clove peeled and crushed
• 1 slice of fresh ginger, quarter size and peeled
• 1 bunch of broccoli, cut into flowerets
• 6 tbsp. chicken or vegetable stock or water
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

In the pressure cooker, heat the oil until very hot. Stir fry the garlic and ginger until the garlic is golden. Add the broccoli and stir fry until it’s bright green. Sprinkle with salt and transfer the broccoli to the pressure cooker steamer basket. Pour the stock and soy sauce into the bottom of the pressure cooker and lower the basket into it. Lock the lid in place, bring to pressure, then lower the heat and cook for 2 minutes. Release pressure using the quick release method or the auto release method and remove lid. Remove the basket and serve using some of the soy sauce liquid.

Serves 4

Other vegetables such as green beans, asparagus and bell peppers can be used in place of or added to the broccoli.