Very Lemon Bread from Rancho de la Osa

Rancho de la Osa gave us this wonderful recipe for Tastes & Treasures cookbook. The fascinating history of the Guest Ranch is told in the cookbook. It began as a Jesuit mission outpost in the late 1600s. If only those walls could talk . . .

The Very Lemon Bread was almost gone by the time I got to take a photo of Mariamne Moore with her tasty treat. Also volunteering at our cookbook booths, Mariamne has been a tremendous help in promoting Tastes & Treasures and the Historical League.

Our January Historical League meeting was packed and the luncheon was well received.

Very Lemon Bread

Bread Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter, melted

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Lemon Glaze Ingredients:

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions:

For the bread, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Sift the flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl. Mix the sugar, butter and lemon extract in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs. Add the flour mixture and milk alternately, beating until just blended after each addition. Fold in the lemon zest and pecans. Pour into greased and floured 5 X 8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

For the glaze, blend the lemon juice and confectioners' sugar in a bowl until smooth. Drizzle over the cracks int he warm bread that form while baking.

Makes 1 loaf. Decorate with slices of fresh lemons and blueberries. Yummm.

Note: Before adding glaze, it really helps to take a fork and make deep punctures from the top of the loaf pan. Then the glaze flows down through the entire loaf.

When using fresh lemons instead of lemon extract, you need to cut back slightly on the liquid (milk) used since fresh lemons are not as concentrated. We used 1/3 cup milk.

Steelhead Trout with Honey Glaze

We all know eating fish is healthy for us. There are fish several recipes in Tastes & Treasures cookbook and here is another one to enjoy. I served it for a company dinner and it was a big hit, even with those who usually don't eat fish.

Steelhead Trout with Honey Glaze

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
2 garlic cloves
2 TBSP honey or maple syrup
2 TBSP brown sugar
2 TBSP rice vinegar
2 TBSP Dijon mustard
2 TBSP Soy sauce

Directions:
Melt the butter in a small sauce pan over low heat. Whisk in the ingredients.
Place the fish in the center of a rectangle of foil. Pour the glaze over the fish and fold the packet around the fish to allow it to marinate.

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Bake for 10 minutes + 10 minutes for each inch of thickness. So, a one inch thick fillet would bake for twenty minutes. 1.5″ would be 25 minutes.
The recipe makes enough glaze for a little over two pounds of fish.

It  could be done on the grill, but remember to not cook the fish over direct heat.
 On the grill it can be done in a foil packet as described.  Or a grill basket with top is very helpful. Spray the grill basket with Pam first. Place it skin side up, first. Once the fish has cooked, it falls apart, the skin sort of holds it together, making transfer a little bit easier.

Thanks to Home Ec 101 for this recipe.

Salmon Pate

Fresh parsley, dill weed, and cilantro are growing in the garden right now. Lemons are ripe for picking. We have left over salmon from grilling last night. Perfect time to make Salmon Pate from Tastes & Treasures cookbook page 166.

This recipe calls for cans of Smoked Salmon but I find that fresh grilled salmon is equally as good. The cilantro is an extra ingredient but my family loves the fresh taste.

Smoked Salmon Pate
Ingredients:
2 (7 ounce) cans smoked salmon, or 1 pound hot smoked salmon
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
1 cup 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.

Makes 3 cups

Crunchy Coleslaw from Karen

Karen Swanson brought a delicious salad to the Historical League annual Christmas meeting. It was so refreshing and easy to make.

COLESLAW WITH RAMEN NOODLES

1 lb. bag shredded cabbage
1 bag Oriental Flavor Ramen Noodles

Mix:
3 tbsp. vinegar
2 tbsp. sugar
Salt and pepper
1/2 c. oil
Ramen seasoning packet

Brown:
3 tbsp. sesame seeds
1 c. slivered almonds

Toss together 1/2 hour before serving with 4 chopped green onions.

Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

The Cottage Place in Flagstaff is wonderful for fine dining. They gave us several recipes for Tastes & Treasures cookbook including this one for Roasted Red Potatoes.

Finding a fabulous selection of mini potatoes at the local Farmers Market, I couldn't resist making this delicious dish. The rosemary grows great in our Arizona climate and it's flavor works so well with vegetables. Festive and flavorful - it is perfect for New Year's Day dinner.

Roasted Red Potatoes from Cottage Place Restaurant page 24 in Tastes & Treasures cookbook. 

Ingredients:
2 pounds red potatoes, cut into wedges
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Combine the red potatoes, rosemary, olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl and toss to coat. Place in a baking pan. Roast for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serves 4

Easy Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Muffins

More great recipes with pumpkin in Tastes & Treasures Cookbook.

Easy Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Muffins

Ingredients:
1pkg.(18.25 oz) spice or carrot cake mix
1 can (15 oz) 100% pure pumpkin
6t. Egg substitute or 3 large white eggs
1/3 cup water
2/3 cup raisins

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease or paper line 24 muffin cups

Combine cake mix, pumpkin, egg substitute, and water in large mixer bowl until moistened. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds; scrape bowl. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in raisins. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 2/3 full.

Bake for 18-22 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Store muffins in covered container.

Thanks to recipesfilledwithlove.com

Successful Children's Holiday Party

Karen Swanson has never seen a talking Christmas tree before! She likes his shoes.

Kassie Walters invited the Snowman, Elf, Christmas Tree and Gingerbread man to pose with Santa.

Co-Chair and Elf Bonnie Newhoff

The 30th Annual Children's Holiday Party was enjoyed by all. Held Saturday, December 15 at Arizona Biltmore Resort, adults and children were entertained before, during and after the fabulous luncheon. Thanks to the hard work of the chairs: Bonnie Newhoff, Nina Filippi, Nancy Evans and Mary Parker for continuing this Historical League tradition.