Mint Julep

4 cups water

4 cups sugar

5 1/3 cups lemon juice

1 Quart tightly packed spearmint

Green food coloring

Boil water and sugar until the sugar melts. Stir in lemon juice then add the mint leaves. Cover and let sit in fridge overnight. Strain leaves from syrup and add a few drops of green food coloring. Store in fridge or freezer. Mix with ice and Gingerale, Sprite, or lemonade. Perfect for summer parties!

Crepes- viva la france!!

this is as close to gourmet as I get

My Momma always made these for us for breakfast as a special treat. They are easy, and so friggin good, and your family will fall at your feet and cry with joy because you are such a wonderful chef. Win/Win.

Crepes:

3 eggs, beaten
1/3 t. salt
1 1/2 C. milk
2 T oil
1 1/2 C. flour
blend until smooth (a few lumps are okay, I can't get it really smooth unless I use electric beaters). Pour about a half cup of batter in a hot non-stick fry pan. Tilt pan to spread thin. Flip like pancake, stack in layers to cool.

Filling:
1/3 C. sugar
1 (8 oz) cream cheese
3/4 C. sour cream
mix together, spread in middle of crepe and roll

Top with strawberries (frozen works fine) in Danish Dessert (you can find this in the jello isle), and whipped cream (go for real whipped cream, not the stuff out of a can or tub, it's so worth it).

Pizza Crust, a la Kelli

Use the recipe based on the size of pizza pan you have.

12 inch 14 inch 16 inch 18 inch

Warm water: 2/3 cup 3/4 cup + 2Tbs 1 cup + 2 Tbsp 1 1/2 cup

Sugar: 1 Tbsp 4 tsp 5 tsp 2 Tbsp

Olive Oil: 3/4 tsp 1 tsp 1 1/2 tsp 2 tsp

Active Dry Yeast: 1 tsp 1 tsp 1 tsp 1 tsp

High Gluten Flour*: 1 1/2 cup 2 cups 2 2/3 cups 3 1/2 cups

Salt: 1/2 tsp 1/2 tsp 3/4 tsp 1 tsp

* Or use Bread Flour

Measure the warm water and pour into the bowl of an electric mixer with a dough hook or a bread maker that is large enough to hold your dough. This recipe uses a high gluten flour that is too difficult to knead by hand and develop the gluten adequately. Add the sugar, oil, and yeast. Add the flour and begin mixing. When the dough comes together, add the salt. Knead the dough on low speed for about 3 minutes and then stop to assess the moisture content. The dough should be sticky to the touch, but not stick to your hands. It should clean the sides of the bowl, but may stick slightly to the bottom. If the dough is too sticky add a few tablespoons of flour and knead it 8 minutes more.

Form the kneaded dough into a ball. Place into a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap (oil the plastic wrap) and let the dough sit on the counter for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.

Can of crushed tomatoes in puree for pizza sauce and add spices.

Baking Pizza

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees and place your rack on the bottom rung. I put cornmeal on the pan. Roll out the dough. Spread olive oil around the edges. Top pizza as desired. Bake 8-15 minutes until crust is golden brown.

Croque Monsieur

French for "Grown-Up Ham and Cheese"

Bread, I used Texas Toast
Ham
Cheese, I used Cheddar/Jack 'cause I have kids, but you can use Gruyere
Butter
Flour
Milk

Melt some butter in sauce pan
When just bubbling, add some flour to make a paste-looking substance.
Whisk until smooth
Add some milk and keep whisking for a minute or two, until pasty looking.
Remove from heat.

Take paste mixture and spread it on one side of bread.
Put cheese, ham, then more cheese, top with another slice of bread, and coat the top with more paste mixture.
Broil at 500 until brownish, then flip and broil summore.

Eat.

Sorry the measurements aren't exact. I just sorta made this up as I went, but it turned out yummy and it does feel more grown up. Sean and I loved it, and so did the kids. That never happens.

Chocolate Mint Poke Cake

Bake a chocolate fudge cake according to directions on box in 9x13 pan. Cool 15 minutes then poke holes with end of wooden spoon every 1/2 inch.

Mix together 1 small box white chocolate instant pudding and pie filling with 2 cups milk, and 1/2 t. peppermint extract. Stir for 2 minutes and pour over cake. Chill for 2 hours.

Mix 1/4 t. peppermint extract into a 12 oz container of whipped mild chocolate frosting. Spread over cake and top with chopped Junior Mints.

Let's Kebab!! (or is it Kebob?)

Okay first of all, don't pee your pants because I actually posted on here.
2nd of all, maybe do pee your pants because you will want to after eating these. So good.

you will need:
steak (london broil works good)
crushed garlic (I keep a jar around, because that's how roll)
garlic salt
soy sauce
Worcestershire sauce
bowl or container with lid
asparagus
sea or kosher salt (you can use regular but big chunky salt works best)

Steak Kebab's and YUM Asparagus

1. Get yourself some steak, I chose a London Broil cut because the butcher told me it marinated well, and he was right.

2. Slice your steak (that's right I said slice) into thin strips lengthwise. The thinner you can get it, the better. It helps if you put your meat in the freezer a few hours before you cut it because it makes it easier to slice (my mom told me this and she's a genius). Cut off any big fatty chunks, they are gross.

3. Put your steak slices in a bowl and douse thoroughly with soy sauce. Enough so that you have a little puddle in the bottom of the bowl. Do about 5 or 6 shakes of the Worcestershire sauce as well, but not as much as the soy sauce. Add a couple spoonfuls of the crushed garlic, and sprinkle generously with garlic salt. Mix it all up and make sure your meat is thoroughly coated. Put it in the fridge. I marinated mine overnight and well into the next day stirring every now and then.

4. Skewer the steak strips kebabs accordian style (email me if you have questions about this) pushing the meat closely together. Several strips will go on a skewer.

5. Grill 'em up! Takes about 10 min till done.

Asparagus
1. Turn your oven on to broil.
2. Wash and trim the ends off your asparagus
3. Put asparagus in a gallon plastic bag
4. Douse with olive oil, shake in some sea or kosher salt.
5. Close bag and shake around to thoroughly coat asparagus with oil and salt
6. Lay asparagus out on a cookie sheet, give it another shake of salt
7. Broil for 5 or 6 minutes until tender but not overcooked (till you can stick a fork through it easily). Watch carefully so you don't burn them!

And that's it! Enjoy!

Spicy Cilantro Seafood Cakes

Ok, I can't take credit for making these, but I supervised. :) I originally ate them at a Christmas party, but then some friends and I got together one night and whipped some up. They are FABULOUS! The recipe makes a lot, so we actually halfed it and there were plenty.

1 Pound Crab Meat
1 Pound Rock Shrimp, roughly chopped
1 Pound Scallops, roughly chopped
1 Pound Salmon Filet, roughly chopped
1 cup Mayonnaise
1 Egg
1/2 cup minced Bell Pepper
1/2 cup minced Green Onion
1/2 cup minced Celery
1 cup chopped Cilantro
1 1/2 Tbsp. Dry Mustard
1/2 Tbsp. Cayenne Pepper
1 Tbsp. Tabasco
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
1 Tbsp. Emeril's Essence (apparently Emeril has his own spice, hmm)
1 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard
6 cups Panko (Japanese) Bread Crumbs

Directions:
Combine all ingredients except bread crumbs. Add 2 cups of breadcrumbs and let rest in fridge to absorb liquid. Form into 3" x 1" disks and then coat with remaining bread crumbs.

Fry in a skillet in medium heat with a 1 to 1 mixture of butter and olive oil for a few minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy.