I think the biggest event of this past week (well, maybe not, but it seems that way…) was the visitation of the wild turkey. I was talking with a friend in one of the offices and she suddenly jumped up and said “there’s a wild turkey!” and ran out the door. He appeared in the entryway to our common, and proceeded to climb up onto the guest house patio, as if he belonged there. What a handsome fellow! I had never seen one close up, and it was a real treat to see him strutting back and forth, admiring himself in the windows.
For a recent brunch type reception, I was asked to come up with a mini egg dish that was similar to quiche, but not heavy. We tried a number of things, and discovered a delicious breakfast option. We tried it first in pastry, which is nice, but then switched it to a ham cup and…oh my!!! Here they are in a breakfast-sized form, which we made for a retreat this past weekend, but you can also do them mini-size, which are delightful for a brunch reception!
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Fluffy Breakfast Eggs in a Ham Cup
SERVINGS6servings
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COOK TIME25mins. |
PREP TIME |
READY IN |
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Spray 6 ramekins with cooking spray.
- Line with ham, trimming so you don’t have too much overhang — just a little border of ham over lip of ramekin.
- Saute red pepper and onion until soft.
- Divide cheeses and pepper/onion mixture among ramekins.
- Whip eggs and egg whites with salt until frothy, then add chives and sour cream.
- Divide among the ramekins evenly.
- Bake in a 375 degree oven until puffed and golden, about 25 minutes.
Notes:
You can use any kind of cheese or fresh herbs, according to your preference. Have fun!
Spring is officially here. It’s a lovely day, sun shiney, a bit cool, but leaves are starting to come out. I am keeping a close eye on all of the perennials I planted last fall, and almost all have come up. And of course we have been babying our vegetable seedlings in our grow-tent, which will start to go into the ground any minute now. It’s a very hopeful time of year, full of new beginnings and promise.
We have been hosting special receptions each month as a part of the celebration of our choir’s 25th anniversary. Each month I am faced with the challenge of beautiful finger food that fits in a budget, and isn’t the same every time. I often use ingredients I’ve popped into the freezer. Cheese and crackers are always a good staple. We tried out two different recipes of cheese balls, and ended up combining elements of both to make a really classy cheese ball with lots of flavor. It’s a cheddar/Parmesan with port wine-soaked craisins folded into the mixture. Really delicious, and everyone loved it!
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Cheddar/Parmesan Cheese Ball with port wine soaked craisins
SERVINGS
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COOK TIME |
PREP TIME |
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Ingredients
Instructions
- Soak craisins in port wine.
- In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheeses, lemon zest, onion, garlic, pepper, cayenne until well combined, adding craisins at the end.
- Put chopped pecans on a piece of waxed paper.
- Remove cheese mixture from bowl, form into a ball, and roll in the chopped pecans.
- Can be refrigerated, but fine to serve right away.
I happen to be one of these people who have a natural love for vegetables and never had to be coaxed or made to eat them – I realize that this is not the case with everyone. Just recently I overheard two mothers talking about this. One was telling the other that the only way she can get vegetables into the family diet is to blend them into spaghetti sauce. Of course a good Bolognese sauce already has carrots, onions, and celery in it. I suppose one could slip a little green vegetable in if they were careful not to overdo it.
The other mother maintained that her trick was to always serve them with tasty dips and sauces. I would like to offer another suggestion that works especially well with broccoli, the widely acclaimed miracle food, medically proven to be a nutritional super star. Hidden within each stalk and floweret is a powerful substance effective in lowering cholesterol and preventing cancer and contributing to overall health in general.
Try my Broccoli Bake and see for yourself if you don’t immediately feel stronger, healthier and more satisfied than you ever have after eating this nutrient rich vegetable!
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Broccoli Bake
SERVINGS5servings
|
COOK TIME5minutes |
PREP TIME |
READY IN |
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
- Fold in mayonnaise.
- Stir in cheese, parsley, and lemon peel.
- Arrange cooked broccoli in oven-proof serving dish.
- Pour melted butter over broccoli.
- Top with egg white mixture.
- Sprinkle with paprika.
- Bake 5 minutes or until puffy and lightly browned.
One of the things I most look forward to early every morning is seeing the young Sisters come back from the garden with their overflowing crates of freshly picked vegetables… an absolutely gorgeous sight! As they sort them out before taking them into the convent kitchen I look to see what has come in today- chard, beets, golden onions, tomatoes, eggplant, big bunches of basil, lots of green beans and of course as always, an abundance of zucchini and yellow squash.
Summer squash is perhaps the most prolific and versatile of all vegetables. You can count on it to faithfully keep producing all season long and there is no end to the many ways in which it can be cooked and enjoyed
Both are great sautéed, roasted or grilled. Yellow squash, when simply steamed, mashed and seasoned with a little butter, onion salt and pepper can be mouthwatering.
For something with a little more zest simmer it into a tasty ratatouille with green peppers, onions and tomatoes – always a favorite!
But there is still another way that is excellent but often overlooked and that is fritters – these crispy little patties are similar to potato latkes but much lighter – simple to make, they are perfect for a light lunch or a side dish with dinner. I think they are fantastic! Try them and see if you don’t agree.
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Zucchini Fritters
SERVINGS
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Ingredients
Instructions
- Mix together and drop by tablespoons into a fry pan of hot oil and cook until golden brown on both sides.
- If desired serve with a dollop of sour cream.
