Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

I got some rhubarb at the West Side Market this week, and strawberries were on sale at the Giant Eagle last week. The strawberries were starting to go soft, so I thought this was the perfect solution. Recipe at FoodNetwork.com.
You will need
2 lbs starwberries, 5 stalks rhubarb, 1/2 C orange juice, 1 orange, flour, sugar, butter, and 1/2 C. Quaker Quick Oatmeal.

Pickles

I did up some pickles a little early this year because everyone ate the 2011 pickles.  I was unable to get the flowering dill heads that are traditionally used for canning. Those usually come in August.  I hope these turn out to be just as delicious. (The secret ingredient is lots of garlic)

Broccoli Stir Fry

Broccoli was on sale last week. I like to make mine into stir fry. (Low Sodium)Soy sauce, oyster sauce, and corn starch make the thick glaze. Garlic, pepper, and ginger are great seasonings to pep up any assortment of vegetables. I serve mine over rice with toasted sesame seeds (but not too many or my insides itch).

Hummus and Pita chips

I bought a bag of dried chick peas at the store the other day, convinced they were cheaper than buying the kind in the can. After soaking and rinsing and boiling them, I do not feel they were a substantial savings. I turned the chickpeas into hummus, which reminds me I need a new food processing bowl (the one of the side latches is broken). Hummus is really easy to prepare. You add the peas, a little salt, garlic, and I like lemon and pepper. I am not a fan of olives in it or red peppers, but the varieties are endless. Because this was a dinner entree, I served the pita chips with a marinated pork loin (rosemary and cracked peppercorn). Now, garlic sauce is a must. If you have never made it, I challenge you. It is a Lebanese tradition, and I posted a blog article on it before. It is garlic pureed with olive oil and salt. IT IS GARLICKY! It is so garlicky I can still taste it today, it is so garlicky it can make your tongue hurt. Use caution, that's all. Arrange pita chips on plate, top with tahini, hummus, garlic sauce, meat cubes, and then garnish. This is a super fast meal to make. This is a great meal to use the leftover pork loin on. If you are making hummus, it takes 5 minutes or so.

Pork Loin and Sweet Potatoes

Get a marinated pork loin, and throw it in the oven at 425*. It need about 20 minutes per pound and it cooked at 160*. While pork is in the oven, toss Sweet Potatoes in olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast in oven along with pork 30-40 minutes. remember to toss potatoes about every 10-15 minutes to keep from sticking.

MP

We went to 100th Bomb Group for champagne brunch today with the family. What a beautiful day! They have all sorts of old trucks and planes in the yard. How fun.

CONGRATS!

Lamb Shanks

Lamb was on sale for $3.50/lb so I got some shanks. I adorned them with cracked pepper and fresh rosemary. I served them with mashed potatoes.

Im funny

Cupcakes

Pink and white frosting with pink sprinkles and blue and white frosting with sugar sprinkles. Real butter cream frosting makes these extra special.

Happy Birthday Margaret

Harry Potter style. I attached a letter of acceptance to Hogwarts School of Magic. I stamped it in red wax. I am including two messenger owls, because nothing says "Happy Birthday" like owls?

Corn Bread

1 C. flour	1 C. corn meal
1/4 C. sugar	4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt	1 C. milk
1 egg	1/4 C. oil (I like corn oil)

Measure oil in a 2 C. mixing cup, then add milk to 1 1/4 line, then add egg and beat well. Add to dry ingredients taking care not to over mix. Pour corn mix in greased pan 400* for 20-25 minutes.

Couscous

Grilled mushrooms, tomatoes, and zucchini served with sauteed chicken, and tahini on top of couscous.  Very quick meal to put together, only takes about 12 minutes.

Graduation Gown

Black robe with felt stripes, purple cape with green lining, purple tassel.

Flax Seed Crackers

1/4 C. flax seeds	1/2 C. ground flax seed
1 1/2 C. flour	1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbs. brown sugar	1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 C. milk	4 tsp. butter

Method: Preheat oven to 325-degrees. Mix flax seeds, ground flax seeds, flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and butter together in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add milk and continue mixing until it forms a ball. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 10 minutes (to allow gluten to relax). Split the dough into two portions and roll one out until it reaches a thickness of approximately 1/8” or less. Cut into 2” squares (a pizza or pastry wheel works for this). Sprinkle with salt and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until slightly brown. Let cool and store in an airtight container.

Butter Chicken

This is that butter chicken mix you can get in the Indian section of the grocery store.  I served mine with wild and Basmati rice and cooked the black beans along with the chicken in the butter sauce.  It was a little on the spicy side, and if I drank milk, milk tea would be a great beverage choice.

Mushroom Bisque

After playing Minecraft for so long, your health bar will go down.  One of the only food items available in the game is mushroom soup.  I've been talking a lot about mushroom soup with D. Au Bon Pain delivers a mushroom soup to CSU, and is one of the few items that is available at the coffee carts.  So, D has been in the mood for mushroom bisque lately.  I think I did a fairly good got duplicating the recipe.

1 lb crimini mushrooms     1/2 lb Shitake mushrooms
4 Tbs. butter                          pepper
water                                        beef stock/bullion (Who has consomme laying around??)
2 medium carrots                  a leek
garlic                                         onion powder
fresh herbs                              a splash of heavy cream/half and half helps carry the flavor, you don't need much

Saute half the mushrooms in your skillet. In your saucepan, saute the chopped carrots and leek.  When both are soft, add them to your food processor with a little water, and puree until smooth and light brown.  This becomes your soup base.  Add as much water and cream as you like to achieve your soup consistency.  Saute the other half of the mushrooms and add them (whole) to the soup.  While your soup is simmering, add all the herbs, stock, and spices.