french onion soup

4 med. onions - sliced
2 Tbls. real butter
4 cups broth
1 Tbls. sherry - optional, but recommended
1 Tbls. worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 dash ground thyme

-In a 2-quart saucepan over low heat, cook onions in butter for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. -Add remaining ingredients to pot; increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.

optional: Once the soup is finished, divide into 4 soup crocks and top with sourdough or French bread cubes then shredded mozzarella or provolone cheese. Broil just until cheese has melted and browns slightly.  ~ A delicious soup for a cold night.

coconut cream cheesecake

2 1/2 cup grated fresh coconut
1 cup heavy whipping cream - scalded
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cold real butter - sliced
4 tsp. granulated sugar
20 oz. cream cheese
1 1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs
2 egg yolks
2 1/2 Tbls. coconut liqueur
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup cream of coconut
1/2 tsp. coconut liqueur
toasted coconut flakes - for garnish

-Puree coconut and cream in a blender for 4 minutes; set aside to cool.
-Cut butter into flour and 4 tsp. sugar until mixture resembles small crumbs.
-Press evenly into bottom of a greased 10" springform pan.
-Bake in a 325 degree oven for 25 minutes, or until golden; set aside.
-Cream together cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups sugar.
-Stir in cooled coconut puree, then eggs and yolks, then 2 1/2 Tbls. liqueur, lemon juice, and extracts.
-Pour mixture evenly over prepared crust.
-Bake in a 325 degree oven until sides of cake are dry and center is set, about 1 hour.
-Allow cheesecake to cool for 30 minutes.
-Beat together sour cream, cream of coconut, and 1/2 tsp. liqueur; spread over cheesecake.
-Bake in a 325 degree oven for 10 minutes.
-Allow cheesecake to cool for 30 minutes, then refrigerate for 4 hours.
-Sprinkle coconut flakes over top before serving.


~This will cheesecake will wow them all!!  It can be served after a dinner or take it with to a friends house for an evening of hanging out together.  

strawberry italian cream soda

• 3 tablespoons (1-1/2 oz.) Strawberry Syrup
• 3 tablespoons (1-1/2 oz.) heavy cream or half & half
• 1 cup ice
• 12 oz seltzer water (or your favorite carbonated water) , chilled
• 1 serving whipped cream

1. Stir together strawberry syrup and cream in 12 oz glass.
   
2. Add ice.
   
3. Fill glass with seltzer; stir. Garnish with whipped cream. Serve immediately.

onion blossom with dipping sauce

1/2 cup mayonnaise 
2 Tbls. grated horseradish
2 tsp.  ketchup
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 pinch dried oregano
1 dash black pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 pinch ground thyme
1 egg - beaten
1 cup milk 
1 lrg. Vidalia onion - flowered (see instructions, below)

-Stir together first 8 ingredients; cover and refrigerate until needed.
-Stir together flour, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp. black pepper, and thyme; set aside.
-Beat together egg and milk; set aside.
-Thoroughly cover flowered onion in flour mixture, shaking off excess; coat onion in egg wash; thoroughly cover onion in flour mixture, shaking off excess.
-Refrigerate coated onion for 30 minutes.
-Deep-fry in 350 degree oil for 10 minutes; drain on a brown paper bag.
-Serve fried onion with prepared sauce for dipping.
 

To flower an onion: Nifty gadgets that make these special cuts in one felt swoop are available at many kitchen stores and online. If you don’t have one, following is my attempt to describe the process of hand-cutting: Slice 1" off of the top of the onion, leaving the root end intact. Remove the papery skin. With a sharp chef's knife, make slices from the center of the onion outwards, cutting down to about 1/2" from the root end. Your cuts should look like the spokes of a wagon wheel. Make a total of 16 cuts, spaced evenly. Gently spread out the pieces of onions. What you will have is an onion which resembles a flower. Good luck!

apple martini

• 1 ounce vodka
• 2 ounces Apple Pucker liquor
• 1 green apple slice
• 1 maraschino cherry

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Pour in vodka and Apple Pucker. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with apple slice and cherry.

red high heels

2 ounces berry vodka

4 ounces tonic

Splash grenadine

Mix in a glass filled with ice and garnish with an orange slice.

lemongrass mojito

• 2 lemongrass stalks
• 6 large fresh mint leaves
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 6 tablespoons white rum
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• Ice cubes
• 1 cup chilled seltzer

Microwave lemongrass on high for 40 seconds. Cut bottom 7 inches from each stalk. Slice thinly (save tops for garnish). Combine sliced lemongrass, mint, and sugar in shaker; mash well with muddler or wooden spoon until all sugar dissolves. Add rum and lime juice.   Fill 2 highball glasses with ice; strain shaker mixture into glass and top with seltzer. Garnish with lemongrass top.

~ These will impress everyone at any kind of party.  I like to use these for a pool party or outdoor party.  They always seem to hit the spot!

tofu spinach pockets

1 pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
1/8 tsp ground coriander
1/8 tsp ground cumin
Salt/pepper to taste
1/4 pkg of silken tofu, drained
1/8 tsp nutmeg
oil for sauteing

-Saute onion in oil till soft.
-Add spinach and spices. Cook till excess water from spinach has evaporated.
-Add tofu and continue cooking for another 10 min.
-Set aside to cool completely, or refrigerate. The filling MUST be cool, or you'll run into problems when filling and folding.

**you can use pizza dough, phyllo dough or any kind of dough you like.


-Preheat oven to 350. Grease a baking sheet
-Roll out dough on a floured surface and cut 4.5" circles. Fill with a tablespoon of spinach mix. Fold over filling and press edges together.
-Brush pastry with olive oil
-Bake for 30 min.

puppy chow chex mix for humans

9 cups chex cereal
6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

-Measure cereal into a large bowl; set aside.
-Microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in bowl, uncovered, on high, for 1 minute.
-Stir, then microwave 30 seconds longer, until mixture stirs smooth.
-Stir in vanilla.
-Pour over cereal in bowl, stirring until cereal is covered.
-Pour into large zip sealed bag, add powdered sugar, and shake until well coated.


*******silly name - good party food

blue martini

• 1 oz. vodka
• 2 oz. Blue Hawaiian Schnapps
• 1/2 oz. coconut rum
• 2 oz. pineapple juice
• Pineapple wedge

Mix ingredients with ice in a martini shaker and pour into glasses. Garnish with pineapple wedge.