Homemade Cranberry Sauce

 Ingredients

12 ounces fresh cranberries

1 cup white sugar

1 cup orange juice

Directions

In a medium sized saucepan over medium heat, dissolve the sugar in the orange juice. Stir in the cranberries and cook until the cranberries start to pop (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and place sauce in a bowl. Mash cranberries with a potato masher. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.

Pineapple Salsa

Mix together the follow ingredients until combined (can use a food processor or salsa maker):

• 2 cups finely-diced fresh pineapple
• 1/2 cup finely-chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup finely-diced red onion
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely-diced
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Nauvoo Potato Casserole

Ingredients

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• 32 oz bag of frozen shredded hash browns
• 2 (10 3/4 oz) cans cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup melted butter or margarine
• 1/2 c. chopped onion
• 2 cups finely crushed corn flakes
• 2 Tbs butter or margarine, melted

How to make it

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• Grease 9x13 baking dish and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In large bowl combine soups, sour cream, cheese, onions, and the 1/2 cup of melted butter.
• Gently fold hash browns into mixture.
• Pour mixture into pan.
• Combine crushed corn flakes and the 2 Tbs. of melted butter and sprinkle on top of potato mixture.
• Bake for 30 minutes.
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Mema's Mashed Potatoes

This is Mema's famous potato recipe. These are absolutely delicious--people who taste them always ask for the recipe!

1 c. sour cream
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 - 3/4 TB. salt
6 TB. butter, melted
Sprinkle minced onions

Boil 10 peeled potatoes. Mash. Add salt and minced onions. Add sour cream, cream cheese, and 3 TB. of the melted butter. Mix until light and fluffy. Place in greased, covered 9 x 13" pan and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 40 min. Uncover and pour remaining melted butter on top.

Jumping in the Food Frenzy

OKeeDoKee food friends...I'll try to contain myself, but I have a plethora of interesting recipes and food thoughts. We've been eating very healthy for some time, as Duwayne has been working out like CRAZY and I, of course, need to shed some poundage. We've made a game out of eliminating virtually all cholesterol from our diet which basically means all things animal related. We've been pretty red meat free for several years and have chicken or fish, occasionally. Duwayne quit eating ice cream several years ago (and I mean QUIT!!). For cheese, we use soy/casein products without cholesterol, that are good. We aren't extremely obsessive (we did have a beef hamburger last week and enjoy feta on our greek salads), but have made significant changes in our food philosophy. I also had Duwayne read Fast Food Nation after I read it, which prompted some shifts in our eating habits. We make a serious effort to use organic produce and products and are relying on our garden for much of our produce now and enjoying all of our berries. I use tofu in many dishes, for a protein boost. Here is a great recipe from one of our favorite books that my doctor recommended (SUPER FOODS Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life by Steven Pratt M.D., and Kathy Matthews). I make these weekly, and you'll notice the interesting use of the entire orange in this recipe. Gma Anderson's muffin recipe reminded me of these. Disclaimer: We are not above committing food sins at parties and family get-togethers!

Orange Bran Flax Muffins

1 1/2 c. oat bran 1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. ground flaxseed (or meal) 1 c. natural wheat bran
1 Tbl. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt
2 washed oranges, quartered & seeded 3/4 c. brown sugar
1 c. buttermilk 1/2 c. canola oil
2 eggs (I use egg substitute) 1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 c. raisins (optional, or even white chocolate chips)

In large bowl mix oat bran, flour, flaxseed, bran, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In blender or food processor, combine the oranges, brown sugar, buttermilk, oil, eggs and baking soda. Blend well. Pour the orange mixture into the dry ingredients. Mix until well blended. Sir in raisins. Fill paper-lined muffin tins almost to the top. Bake in a 375 F oven for 18-20 minutes, or until tooth pick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean. Cool in tins for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.

Green beans are coming on and this is our favorite way of eating them.

Green Beans a la D & L

1. Briefly steam fresh green beans in a steamer (or colander over boiling water) till "al dente". Set aside.
2. In hot skillet add several crushed garlic cloves and about 3 Tbl. of balsamic vinegar. Blend for about a minute, then add the blanched green beans and toss for several more minutes. You're done! A few slivered toasted almonds are great on top.

Parmesan Pasta With Artichokes

Again, this is what happens when you watch too much food network, you get all creative in the kitchen and have to start cooking pseudo gourmet things -- haha!

2 cups cooked rotini pasta (farfalle would also work well)
1 can artichoke hearts (or marinated if you prefer)
3 T capers (optional)
1 clove minced garlic
1 T fresh/frozen parsley
1 chopped shallot
2 T butter
1/4 c grated parmesan cheese (more if you want!!)
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Cook pasta before hand and have it waiting. On the stovetop melt the butter and add shallots and garlic. Sautee for 1-2 mins and then add the artichoke and capers. Cook till all are heated thru. Combine pasta with the artichoke/capers/shallots and mix well. Drizzle olive oil on top and garnish with the cheese and parsely.
Serve with your favorite chicken or fish.