Raspberry Iced Tea

Summer is just around the corner.  This drink is easy to make, refreshing, and much better than the powdered iced tea mixes. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
8 1/4 cups of water (divided into 4 cups, 4 cups, and 1/4 cup)
2/3 cup -1 cup sugar (depends on your desired sweetness)
5 tea bags
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 cups raspberries

Directions:

In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Remove from the heat; add tea bags. Steep for 5-8 minutes. Discard the tea bags. Add 4 cups water.

In another saucepan, bring raspberries and remaining water to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Strain and discard pulp. Add raspberry juice and lemon juice to the tea mixture. Serve in chilled glasses over ice.  Enjoy!

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Zucchini Meatloaf

Do you cringe when you hear the word meatloaf because of its notorious dry texture and tasteless flavor?  This meatloaf will change your view on this homestyle dish. It's moist and flavorful and will become one of your favorite meals.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 medium zucchini
1 egg
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
salt
pepper
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons parsley

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Peel and grate the zucchini into a large bowl.  Add the egg and stir together.  Now add your meat of choice.  I used turkey this time.  Sprinkle in the parmesan cheese and bread crumbs.  Mix with your hands.  Then add the water, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and parsley.  Mix just until combined.  Form into a log shape on a baking sheet or in a loaf pan.  Making a long, thinner meatloaf will promote a juicy center with a crispy crust. 

Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes with aluminum foil on top.  Then take the foil off and continue to cook for 15 minutes.  Serve and enjoy!

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Mashed Potato Bake

This is a great way to dress up regular mashed potatoes.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

6 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cubed

1/2 cup warm milk

1/4 cup butter or margarine

3/4 teaspoon salt

Dash pepper

1 egg

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1 cup mozzarella cheese

2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

After potatoes have been peeled and cubed, place them in a saucepan and cover with water. Cover and bring to a boil. Cook for 20-25 minutes or until very tender. Drain well.

Warm the milk in another sauce pan on low.  Be care not to let the milk boil. 

After potatoes have been drained, mash them very well.  Then add the warm milk, butter, salt and pepper.  Continue to mash until desired consistency. 

Add the garlic powder, parmesan cheese, egg, and 3/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese.  Mix this all together.  Then place in a greased baking dish.  Top with bread crumbs and the remaining mozzarella cheese.  Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown on top.  Enjoy!

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Coconut Cake

I made this cake for my dad's birthday and even people that hate coconut loved it.  If you are short on time you can use a boxed white cake mix and add coconut flavoring and use the frosting recipe here!  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Cake:

1 c. butter, softened
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
3 c. all-purpose flour
Dash of salt
1 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. coconut flavoring
2 tsp. baking powder

 

Frosting:

3 egg whites
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
Pinch of salt
6 tbsp. cold water
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
3 tsp. white corn syrup

 

Directions:

 

Cake:

Cream butter; add sugar, and beat 10 to 15 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk beginning and ending with flour mixture.
Mix well after each addition. Stir in flavorings. Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pans 10 minutes. Remove from pans and let cool completely.

Frosting:
Put all ingredients, except vanilla, in top of double boiler, over boiling water. Beat with electric hand mixer for about 15 minutes, or until icing is stiff enough to stand in peaks. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Spread on cake immediately.

Sprinkle coconut generously between layers, top and side of cake. Enjoy!

 

 

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Crostata with Raspberry Jam

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons ice water
• Flour for dusting, as needed
• 1 jar (3/4 cup) raspberry preserves
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon sliced almonds, toasted
• Powdered sugar, for dusting, optional

Directions:

Mix the flour, sugar, and lemon peel, in a food processor. Add the butter. Pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add salt. Pulse in the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until moist clumps form. Gather the dough into a ball; flatten into a disk. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.

Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to an 11-inch round. Transfer the dough onto a heavy baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Stir the lemon juice into the preserve and spread the preserves on top of dough, leaving a 2-inch border. Fold the dough border over the filling to form an 8-inch round, pleating loosely and pinching to seal any cracks in the dough.

Bake the crostata until the crust is golden, 35 to 40 minutes. Allow to cool.

Sprinkle with the almonds and dustwith the powdered sugar, if you wish. Slide a spatula under the crust to free the crostata from the baking sheet and serve. Enjoy!

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Chocolate Caramel Fondue

Serve this easy and fun dessert at your next party.  Its great for a crowd and everyone loves picking what they want to dip.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

16 ounces semisweet chocolate, broken in pieces chocolate chips work fine 
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup caramel topping

Things to dip:

strawberries

pretzels

pound cake

marshmallows

pineapple

bananas

Directions:

Melt ingredients on stove top over med. heat, stirring until mixture is melted and smooth. Place in fondue pot and watch closely so that it doesn't boil or scorch.

Serve with strawberries, bananas, pretzels, pound cake, marshmallows, and pineapple for dipping.  Enjoy!

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Spaghetti Carbonara

This is one of the easiest pasta dishes and it uses ingredients that you probably always have in your refrigerator.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 lb spaghetti
2 eggs
3/4 cup parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 white onion or 3 scallions
4 slices bacon
salt
pepper

Directions:
After boiling a pot of water, salt the water and put in the spaghetti and cook for 7-8 minutes.

Slice the bacon and add to a small sauce pan with the chopped onion or scallions.  Allow the bacon to become brown and the onions to become translucent. 

In a small bowl beat the eggs and 1/4 cup of the parmesan cheese. 

Once the pasta is done drain the pasta.  Put the 2 tablespoons of butter into the original pasta pot.  Then add the pasta.  The pot should be off the heat by now.  Add the bacon and onions and stir the pasta.  Then slowly add the eggs in 3 increments.  After every increment of egg add more of the remaining 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.  Stir continuously until the cheese has melted and the egg has become a sauce.  Serve immediately.  Enjoy!

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