Strawberry Shortcake Muffins

Recipe exchanges bring new ideas. This muffin recipe (page 41 in Tastes & Treasures) takes the one from Garland's Oak Creek Lodge to a different level with the addition of heavy whipping cream instead of sour cream. Great to make with either Strawberries, Cranberries or Blueberries .
Tobe Daum made the Blueberry Muffins for a League meeting. Yummm.
Strawberry Shortcake Muffins from recipe exchange

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1 cup heavy whipping cream or 1/2 cup whipping cream and 1/2 cup orange juice (I prefer the cream and juice)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup fresh strawberries diced

Directions:
Mix flour, baking powder, and sugar in medium bowl. Cut in butter.
In another bowl, mix egg, vanilla, whipping cream, and orange juice.
Add egg mixture to flour mixture and mix with a spoon. Gently fold in strawberries.

Spoon batter into greased muffin tin or use paper liners. Bake at 350 for 20 t0 25 minutes. Check at 18 to 20 minutes. Tops of muffins remain light. Cool before removing from pan.
Makes 12 muffins.

Cookbook in Croatia

Didn't know I could buy Tastes & Treasures with Croatian money but found this on a website. And the cookbook only costs 158,68 kn (21,44 € or 29,94 USD). www.superbookshop.net/index.php?page=book&ean=9780976836308

Amazing how this book has traveled the world. I especially love it when we ship to one of our armed forces serving in a remote post overseas. It brings a little of "home" to them when they are so far away. They may not be able to prepare the recipes but they can read the history of our wonderful state.

Caprese Corn Salad

A pretty side dish with cheese and corn - my favorite foods all in one recipe. Oh My.

Ingredients:
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1 ear corn, husked and cleaned
8 ounces tomatoes or 1/2 pint grape tomatoes or 1 chopped tomato (drain the excess water after chopping)
3 ounces fresh mozarella (we used shredded)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Directions: You can boil the corn cob but we love the extra flavors when it is grilled. Scrape corn kernels into a medium bowl.
Cut tomatoes, drain and add to bowl.
Cut cheese into dice a little larger than corn kernels (or use shredded cheese). Add to bowl.
Toss with oil and basil. Season with salt and pepper.

Makes 2 servings.

Note: Grilling corn brings out such nice flavors. The recipe for grilling vegetables is on page 100 Tastes & Treasures cookbook. Lon's at Hermosa Inn share easy instructions for Grilled Fennel. It works for most vegetables.

White Pizza

White Pizza makes a very impressive presentation when topped with fresh sliced tomatoes and basil. And basil is so healthy, full of Vitamin K.

Ingredients:

1 large low-fat, high-fiber, burrito-size tortilla (about 100 calories)
1/3 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
1 tbsp shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup thinly sliced onion
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp salt
Dash black pepper
4 thin slices plum tomato
4 fresh basil leaves

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Put tortilla on a baking sheet sprayed lightly with nonstick spray. Bake in the oven until slightly crispy, 3 - 5 minutes per side. Leave oven on.

In a small bowl, mix ricotta cheese with mozzarella cheese. Set aside.

Bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat on the stove. Add onion and, stirring occasionally, cook until softened and slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Immediately stir onion into cheese mixture. Add garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and mix well.

Spread cheese-onion mixture evenly on top of the tortilla. Top with tomato slices and basil leaves. If you like, sprinkle with a dash of salt.

Return pizza to oven and bake until hot, about 5 minutes.

Makes 1 serving.

PER SERVING (entire recipe): 200 calories, 3.25g fat, 930mg sodium, 33g carbs, 7g fiber, 7g sugars, 17g protein

Silent Auction of Phil Mickelson Pin Flag from 2010 Masters

What a wonderful silent auction item. Phil Mickelson has been very generous to donate a signed Pin Flag from the 2010 Masters. It will be available to bid on at the Children's Holiday Party on Dec 17 at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel.

The Historical League always has wonderful silent auction items but this is one of the most popular in the 29 years it has held the Children's Holiday Party. For more information www.HistoricalLeague.org. Thanks to John and Leslie Christiansen for getting this one-of-a-kind auction item.

Shrimp and Corn Fandango Salad

Shrimp & Corn Fandango Salad

Love the spicy dressing, it adds a nice kick.

Tastes & Treasures cookbook has a Green Salad with Shrimp recipe on page 174 but it is a little heavy. My favorite is to combine ingredients from both of these and make it your own special dish.


Ingredients:
3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 cup dry coleslaw mix
1/2 cup chopped tomato
1/2 cup chopped cucumber
1/3 cup chopped red onion
2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1 tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 tbsp. lime juice
1 tsp. Mexican hot sauce
1/2 cup frozen yellow corn (or grill some of that wonderful fresh corn on the cob)
3 oz. cooked and chilled ready-to-eat shrimp (since you have the grill on, roast some shrimp for an even better flavor)

Directions:
Combine lettuce and slaw mix in a large bowl. Top with tomato, cucumber, onion, and cilantro. Set aside.

To make the dressing, combine vinegar, lime juice, and hot sauce in a small bowl, and mix thoroughly. Set aside.

Bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to high heat on the stove. Add corn and cook until thawed and slightly blackened, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the large bowl.

Add shrimp to the large bowl and drizzle dressing over the salad.

MAKES 1 SERVING

PER SERVING (1 salad, entire recipe): 260 calories, 2g fat, 622mg sodium, 39g carbs, 8g fiber, 15g sugars, 24g protein

Yummy additional ingredient: Toss 1/4 cup chopped avocado onto this dish. (Adds 320 calories, 7.5g fat, and 10.5g fiber). Recipe from www.hungry-girl.com.

What to do with left-over salmon?

Who likes left-over salmon? . . . but I hate to throw it away. This recipe on page 166 of Tastes & Treasures is delicious and impressive for company. Just remember to make ahead of time to chill 6-8 hours. The flavors blend and it tastes so much better.

The recipe is a little rich for our tastes so we modified it to be a little more health conscious. Try it both ways. It's good . . .

Smoked Salmon Pate

Ingredients:

2 (7 ounce) cans smoked salmon, or 1 pound hot smoked salmon (We used the left-over salmon and cut it up fine. The potato masher worked really well to produce a fine consistency.)

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted (We used about 2 tablespoons butter, melted.)

1 cup sour cream (We used Chobani low-fat sour cream.)

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoon dried dill weed

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:Combine the salmon, butter, sour cream, lemon juice, dill weed, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl and beat until combined. Chill, covered, for 8 to 10 hours. Bring to room temperature and garnish with lemon slices. Serve with seasoned crackers. You may store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.