Ed's BBQ Pulled Pork

• 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
• 2 Tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 pork tenderloin (do not trim fat)
• 2 teaspoons Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 Tablespoon chili powder
• 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
• 1 bottle Bill Johnson's Hot & Spicy BBQ sauce

Preheat oven to 265 degrees.

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and brush both sides of the tenderloin with the mixture.  Place in a roasting pan, with the fat side up.

Slow roast the tenderloin for about 4-6 hours.  Add a small amount of water to the pan if the juices begin to dry up.

When the internal temperature of the tenderloin reaches 150 degrees, add 1/2 cup of water to the roasting pan and increase temperature to 300 degrees for 20 minutes.

Remove the tenderloin from the pan and cut into quarters.  Place the quartered tenderloin in a large crock pot, along with the juices from the pan and 1/4 cup of water.  Cook on high for 1 hour and lower to low for one more hour.  Turn the meat over every 1/2 hour or so.

Allow the meat to cool for about 15-20 minutes, unless you enjoy burning the crap out of your fingers.  Using two forks, shred the meat and put into large bowl.  Remove the fat and give to the dog.

In a separate bowl.  Mix 1 bottle of Bill Johnson's Hot & Spicy BBQ sauce.  Slowly add the juices from the crock pot, but taste the sauce constantly to make sure it does not taste too salty.  Mix thoroughly and blend into the shredded meat until completely covered.  Note: Tasting the meat during blending is required to get your fill before the rest of the gang digs into it.  So, eat up.

Serve on buns with cole slaw.  Add Louisiana Hot Sauce to spice it up a bit.

Jerk Chicken

Ingredients

• 8 scallions, chopped 
• 4 large garlic cloves, chopped
• 3 Habaneros, chopped
• 2-3 Jalapeños, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons chopped thyme
• 2 tablespoons ground allspice
• 1-1/4 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/4+ cup vegetable oil
• Freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Mrs Dash Extra Spicy Seasoning
• Three, 4-pound chickens, each cut into 8 pieces 

Directions

1. In a food processor, combine all of the ingredients (except the chicken) and process to a paste. Put the chicken pieces in a very large bowl and pour the marinade on top. Toss to coat the chicken thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate overnight. NOTE: Since, the ingredients are put into a food processor and pureed, you don't need to slice and dice them very much. Just toss them into the food processor.
2. Light a grill. Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade, leaving on a coating of spice paste. Grill the chicken over moderately high heat, turning often, until the skin is nicely charred and the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes.

Chipotle Maple Baby-Back Ribs

• 1 rack baby-back ribs
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 can chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
• 1/2 cub maple syrup
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 cup Bill Johnson BBQ sauce

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.

Season the ribs with salt, pepper and Mrs Dash Extra Spicy on both sides.  In a blender combine chipotle chiles, BBQ sauce, maple syrup and butter and puree until smooth.  Baste ribs with the sauce and roast directly on oven rack, with a drip pan below, for 6 hours.  Baste every hour.  The last 1-1/2 hours, loosely cover ribs with aluminum foil.

Preheat the grill to medium hot and grill the ribs the for 30 minutes.  Watch carefully so they do not burn.  The glaze should darken to a crust, but do not burn.

Citrus Soy Glazed Salmon

• 1-/2 cups Soy Sauce
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup grapefruit juice
• 2 cups honey
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 4 scallions finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon Mrs Dashes Garlic and Herb
• 4 salmon filets
• Cajun seasoning
• Mrs Dashes Extra Spicy

Mix and Whisk all ingredients (except salmon of course). Reserve 1 cup of marinade.

Place the salmon in a glass casserole dish and pour marinade over.  Cover and refrigerate and 4-6 hours.

Remove salmon from marinade before grilling.

Set grill to medium heat.  Season salmon with Cajun seasoning and Mrs Dashes Extra Spicy seasoning.  Spray grill with cooking spray so the salmon will not stick to it.  Place salmon on grill, presentation side down first.  Cook for 4 minutes and carefully turn over with spatula.  Cook an additional 4 minutes, rotate salmon filets 1/4th turn and cook another 4 minutes (12 minutes total).  The honey in the marinade will darken the salmon rapidly as it cooks.

Serve with reserve marinade drizzled over top.  Goes good with cucumbers and vinegar and curry rice with peas.

Chorizo and Potato Tacos

Ingredients
2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
1 1/2 pounds ground pork
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
2 tablespoons chopped chipotles in adobo
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
12 corn tortillas, warmed
Tomato salsa, chopped white onion, cilantro and lime wedges, for serving

Directions 

In a large saucepan, cover the potatoes with 4 inches of cold water and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes, until tender. Drain and let cool slightly. Peel the potatoes and coarsely mash them in the saucepan.

In a large bowl, knead the pork with the salt, garlic, paprika, chipotles, coriander, oregano and vinegar. Gently knead in the potatoes, leaving some chunks of potato.

In 2 large skillets, preferably cast-iron or nonstick, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the chorizo-potato mixture to the skillets and press into an even layer. Cook over moderately high heat undisturbed until a crust forms on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Turn the mixture in sections and cook until browned and crusty on the bottom, about 5 minutes longer.

Transfer the chorizo-potato mixture to a bowl and serve with the tortillas, salsa, onion, cilantro and lime wedges.

Sardinian-Style Paella

INGREDIENTS

• Large pinch of saffron threads
• 6 1/2 cups warm water
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 pound fregola (2 1/4 cups)
• 1/2 pound chorizo, thinly sliced
• 1 cup canned diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 cup dry white wine
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 pounds large shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 2 pounds red snapper, cod or monkfish, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 pound mussels, scrubbed and debearded
• 1 pound cockles, scrubbed
• 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl, crumble the saffron in 1/2 cup of the warm water and let stand for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a very large, deep sauté pan. Add the onion and garlic and cook over high heat, stirring, until lightly browned, 2 minutes. Add the fregola and chorizo and cook, stirring, until the chorizo releases some of its fat and starts to brown, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, white wine, saffron and its soaking liquid and the remaining 6 cups of warm water to the sauté pan and bring to a boil. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, cover and cook over low heat until the fregola is very chewy and soupy, about 10 minutes.

Season the shrimp and red snapper with salt and pepper and add them to the pan along with the mussels and cockles, nestling them into the fregola. Bring to a boil. Cover the pan and cook over low heat until the fregola is al dente, the fish is just cooked through and the mussels and cockles have opened, about 12 minutes longer.

Remove the pan from the heat and let the paella stand for 5 minutes; the fregola will absorb a bit more of the liquid, but the dish should be a bit brothy. Discard any mussels and cockles that haven't opened. Sprinkle the fregola with the chopped parsley and serve right away.

Fregola, the pearl-size Sardinian pasta that is quite similar to couscous, makes a terrific substitute for rice in this paella-style dish; it soaks up a lot of the cooking liquid from the seafood, tomato and chorizo stew and still stays nicely chewy. For such an impressive main course, it can be prepared surprisingly quickly.

Pork and Chile Stew

INGREDIENTS

• 6 pounds baby back ribs, membranes removed, cut into 3-rib sections
• 4 teaspoons salt
• 2 white onions, coarsely chopped
• 6 garlic cloves
• 4 serrano chiles, stemmed
• 4 poblano chiles—roasted, skinned, stemmed, seeded and chopped
• 4 white-corn tortillas, toasted and torn into small pieces
• 1 bunch of cilantro, finely chopped
• Crumbled feta cheese, sliced radishes, lime wedges and cilantro sprigs, for serving

DIRECTIONS

• In a large, deep pot, cover the ribs with 10 cups of water and add the salt. Bring to a boil, then cover partially and simmer over low heat until the meat is tender, 1-1/2 hours.
• Transfer the ribs to a large plate; keep warm. Skim off excess fat from the cooking liquid; you should have about 6 cups of liquid. Add the onions, garlic and serranos to the pot and bring to a boil. Simmer over moderately low heat for 20 minutes. Add the poblanos and tortilla pieces; let cool. Working in batches, coarsely puree the cooking liquid.
• Return the liquid to the pot. Add the ribs and simmer over moderately low heat until the stew is slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in the chopped cilantro and serve with the cheese, radishes, lime wedges and cilantro sprigs.

Korean Sizzling Beef

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Lite soy sauce
• 1/4 cup Kikkoman soy sauce
• 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons sugar
• 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons dry white wine, plus one glass for the cook
• 4 large garlic cloves, very finely chopped
• 1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 2 teaspoons Mrs Dash Extra Spicy
• 1 teaspoon Mrs Dash Garlic & Herb
• 1-4 oz can diced jalapeños
• About 5 pounds thin cut beef (flank steak OK), cut across the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 16 scallions
• Vegetable oil, for rubbing
• Steamed rice, for serving

Directions

• In a large, shallow dish, combine the soy sauce with the sugar, white wine, chopped garlic, toasted sesame oil, vinegar, jalapeños and spices, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the sliced flank steak and coat thoroughly in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate the steak for at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Light a grill or heat a griddle. Rub the scallions all over with vegetable oil and grill them over high heat, turning once, until the scallions are just softened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt.
• Working in batches, grill the steak over high heat until the slices are richly browned and medium-rare, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer the steak to a serving platter and serve with the grilled scallions and steamed rice.

 This recipe could also be used for Beef Jerky.

Creole Chicken Gumbo

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• Olive oil
• 1 large white onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 3 large celery ribs, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 6 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
• 6 ounces andouille links, thinly sliced
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons prepared jerk paste or 1 tablespoon ground jerk seasoning
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon smoked hot paprika
• 3/4 pound fresh or thawed frozen okra, sliced 1/4 inch thick
• One 3 1/2-pound rotisserie chicken—meat shredded, skin and bones discarded
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• Tabasco
• Steamed rice, for serving
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced

Directions

• In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, whisk the flour with 1/2 cup of oil until smooth. Cook the roux over moderately low heat, whisking often, until deep brown, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Add the onion, celery, bell peppers and garlic and cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until the onion is translucent, about 20 minutes.
• In cast iron skillet, brown the andouille.
• Gradually add the stock to the casserole, whisking until smooth. Add the andouille, bay leaves, jerk paste, thyme and paprika and bring to a simmer. Cook over low heat for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the okra to the casserole and simmer until tender, 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken meat and season the gumbo with salt, pepper and Tabasco. Discard the bay leaves, ladle the gumbo over rice, garnish with the scallions and serve with Tabasco.

Creole Shrimp

Ingredients

• 1 pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 1-1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning
• 1 teaspoon Mrs Dash Garlic and herb seasoning
  
• 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and finely chopped
  
• 1 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 stick butter
  
• Juice of 1 lemons
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Directions

• In a bowl, toss the shrimp with the garlic, Creole seasoning and bell pepper.
• In a skillet, sauté the shrimp in the oil and butter over moderately high heat, turning the shrimp once, until just white throughout. Add the lemon juice and parsley and serve.

Onion Smothered Pork

• 1 6-7 lbs Pork Roast
• 2 large onions, sliced thin
• 8 cloves garlic
• 1 Tablespoon dried Thyme
• 1 Tablespoon dried Rosemary, crumbled
• 1 Tablespoon Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb seasoning
• 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
  
• salt and pepper
• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 lemon juice

Trim fat off of roast. Season pork generously with salt, pepper, chili powder and Mrs Dash Garlic & Herb seasoning. Let the roast sit for about 1 hour at room temperature.

In a mixing bowl, combine the onions, garlic, thyme and rosemary and mix.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (F). Add olive oil to a large Dutch Oven on high heat and brown the meat on both sides until brown and crusty (10-12 minutes). Remove meat to a plate. Reduce temperature to medium and add the butter. When melted, stir in the flour, stirring constantly until it it turns a peanut butter brown (about 10 minutes). Add the onion mixture and coat the ingredients and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth and stir continuously. Bring to a boil.

Return the pork to the Dutch Oven and coat all side with the onion mixture. Cook at 300 degrees for 3 hours, turning the meat every 1/2 hour. The final hour, reduce the temperature to 275 degrees.

Remove meat from Dutch Oven and put the Dutch oven on the stove on medium heat. Remember the pot is hot!!! Simmer and reduce by 1/3 and skim off fat. Add lemon juice and adjust seasoning.

Serve over rice.

Galumpkis (Pigs in the Blanket)

• 2 lbs Ground Beef
• 1 lbs Ground pork
• 2 large Onions chopped
• 3/4 cups partially cooked rice (otherwise it will soak up the meat juices and that's not good!)
  
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
  
• salt and pepper to taste
  
• 1/2 capful of Mrs Dash Garlic & Herb
• 2 Large Whole Cabbages
  
• 1 large can Whole Tomatoes or petite diced
  
• 4 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
• 2-8 0z cans Tomato Sauce
• Olive oil
  

To partially cook the rice, cover the rice with water in a pan and bring to a boil. Remove heat and cover.

Brown onions and last 1 minute add the garlic. Cook 1 minute and add the drained rice and stir fry for about 1 minute on high heat. Remove heat and allow to cool. Mix the meats together and add the onion/rice mixture, spices and mix until well blended in a large bowl. Optionally, add some cayenne pepper to kick it up a notch.

Place cabbage in a plastic bag, add 2 Tablespoons of water and cook each cabbage 12-14 minutes in microwave to soften leaves. Do not close the plastic bag! Wait for cabbage leaves to cool, unless you enjoy burning your fingers. Wrap the meat using the larger cabbage leaves. Place about 1-2 Tablespoons of meat in middle of cabbage leave and roll it like a burrito. OK, so I lost a major portion of the American population on that one. Most Americans just don't know how to roll a burrito. Starting from the thick end of the cabbage, wrap the end up, then the sides folded in and finally roll it towards the top, OR the bottom up, the top down and the sides next, or just squinch it up in a pile if you just-don't-care anymore. I prefer the first method. If the last method appeals to you, put down the knife and go lay down until the voices stop talking.

Line the bottom of a very large pot with the outer large, broken cabbage leaves or cut up stalk pieces, so that the Galumpkis don't burn on the bottom of the pot. Place the Galumpkis in the pot and it's OK to stack them if you run out of room. Pour the can of whole tomatoes, with the juice and tomato sauce over the top of the Galumpkis and sprinkle with the brown sugar.

Bring to a boil and then lower heat to very low and cook about 2 hours. Put on the polka music and sip on some vodka while it's cooking. Serve with friends, more polka music and vodka.

Na zdrowie!

Cranberry Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

• 8 sweet potatoes, scrubbed
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 large firm but ripe pear, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
• 4 teaspoons minced and peeled fresh ginger
• 4 teaspoons (packed) light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 1-1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon Mrs Dash's Table Blend seasoning

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Place a cooking sheet below the sweet potatoes on lower rack to catch drippings. Pierce potatoes in several places with fork. Bake until potatoes are tender when pierced with fork, about 55 minutes. Cool slightly.

Meanwhile, place cranberries in small bowl; pour enough hot water over to cover. Let stand 5 minutes to soften. Drain well. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pears and sauté until tender and golden, about 4 minutes.

Stir in cranberries, pecans, ginger, and brown sugar; sauté 1 minute. Mix in 2 teaspoons vinegar and seasoning.

Cut off top quarter of each potato lengthwise; discard tops. Using fork, gently mash pulp inside each potato. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in small saucepan over low heat. Whisk in remaining 1-1/2 tablespoons vinegar. Drizzle about 1 teaspoon butter-vinegar mixture into each potato; mix with fork to blend.

Mound cranberry mixture in sweet potatoes.

Cover loosely with plastic wrap; let stand at room temperature.

Sweet Potato Casserole

• 6 large sweet potatoes—about 5 pounds
• 7 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup half and half
• 1/2 cup Madeira or dry sherry
• 1 tablespoon grated orange rind
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• chopped pecans for topping
  

1. Jab the potatoes in several places with a fork and lay them on the rack of a 375 degree F oven for about an hour (put a cookie sheet on the rack below to catch drips). They are done when a knife slips in and out easily. Meanwhile, butter the 9-cup baking dish and set it aside.
2. When the sweet potatoes are done, hold them under cold water and pull off the skin. It will come off in wide strips. Use an electric mixer or food processor to whip the potatoes with the butter, half & half, Madeira, orange rind, and spices. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
3. Plop the mixture into a buttered baking dish, level with the back of a spoon and top with chopped nuts or dot with slivers of butter.
4. When you are ready to cook this, bake uncovered for 25 minutes at about 350 degrees F.

Halushki (Polish Cabbage and Noodles)

• 2 large yellow onions sliced and cut in half
• 1 large head cabbage sliced (core discarded)
  
• 6 cloves garlic
• 1 capful of Mrs Dash Garlic & Herb seasoning
• 1 link kielbasa or 2 pkgs Hot Italian Sausage - cut into 1" pieces
• 2 sticks of butter
• 2 pkgs Egg Noodles
  

In a frying pan, brown the kielbasa or sausage until done.

In a large pot, melt the butter. Brown the onions and add the garlic. Mix in the seasoning and meat and cook 1 minute. Increase the heat to high. Pour the egg noodles on top of the meat and add the cabbage on top of that. Do not mix! Add 1-1/2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium, cover and allow to steam for 5 minutes. Mix well and test if the noodles and cabbage are soft. Check water level and add if it has all evaporated. Continue to cook, covered until the cabbage and noodles are soft and cooked. Adjust seasoning. Stir at regular intervals to avoid the haluski from burning on the bottom of the pot.

Pork Stew with Ancho Chiles and Lime Juice

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 4-1/2 pounds trimmed boneless pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch pieces
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb seasoning
• Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy seasoning
  
• 2 medium white onions, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 8 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 pound baby carrots
• 3 fresh Poblano chiles, seeded and cut into very thin strips
• 3 Jalapeños sliced
  
• 3 bay leaves
• Pinch of ground cloves
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1 32oz can Dices Tomatoes
• 4 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• Steamed white rice and sliced jalapeños, for serving

1. In a very large cast-iron frying pan , heat the vegetable oil until hot. Season the pork with salt, pepper and Mrs. Dash spices and add half of it to the frying pan. Cook over moderate heat, turning, until browned all over, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a plate. Brown the remaining pork.

2. Meanwhile, in a large casserole pot, stir in the onions, garlic, carrots, chiles, jalapeños, cloves along with some olive oil and heat until the onions are translucent. Season with salt, pepper and more Mrs. Dash seasoning.

3. When all of the pork has been browned, place it into the casserole, with all of its drippings and add the chicken stock, bay leaves, lime juice and tomatoes. Mix and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat until the pork is very tender and the carrots are cooked through, about 2 hours. Discard the bay leaves and stir in the cilantro. Serve with rice and sliced jalapeños.

Sesame and Soy Salmon

• 1 teaspoon chives
  
• 4 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb seasoning
• 1 pound center-cut salmon fillet

Stir chives, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, brown sugar and ginger in a medium bowl until the honey is dissolved.

Preheat grill. Place salmon on a double sheet of aluminum foil cut large enough to fold over the salmon. Season salmon lightly with Mrs Dash's Garlic and Herb seasoning and drizzle sauce over it. Fold foil to seal the salmon. Place on grill over low heat for 15 minutes. Open foil and drizzle remaining sauce over salmon and cook 5 more minutes over medium-low heat. Garnish with sesame seeds.

To toast seeds: Cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

Pork Chop Chile Burros

• 6 pork chops - fat removed and cut into small pieces
  
• olive oil
• approx 1 Tablespoon flour
  
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Mrs Dash Extra Spicy seasoning
• 1 (16 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (7 oz) small can green chile salsa
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 (7 oz) small can Herdez salsa verde

Brown pork chop pieces in olive oil until cooked. Coat with flour and put everything in crock pot, stir and simmer on low for at least 4 hours. Server with pinto beans, shredded cheese, extra salsa and of course ice cold beer.

Honey-Glazed Baby Back Ribs with Whiskey Marinade

• 3 racks baby back ribs (about 5 pounds)
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons whiskey
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger
• 1-1/2 teaspoons freshly ground white pepper
• 1 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Honey Glaze Dipping Sauce

• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons hot water
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup red pepper flakes, preferably Korean
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 tablespoons sugar

1. Marinate the ribs: Arrange the rib racks in a large glass or ceramic baking dish, overlapping them slightly. In a medium bowl, whisk the soy sauce with the whiskey, honey, ginger, white pepper, sesame oil, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour the marinade over the ribs and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.
2. Make the glaze and dipping sauce: In a small bowl, combine the honey with the hot water. In a medium bowl, combine the lime juice with the fish sauce, soy sauce, pepper flakes, cilantro and sugar; stir until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Preheat the oven to 300°. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Arrange the ribs on the baking sheet, meaty side up. Roast for about 2 hours, until tender. Baste the ribs with the honey mixture and roast for another 15 minutes, until browned and glossy. Remove the ribs from the oven and baste again with the honey mixture.
4. Preheat a grill. Grill the ribs over moderately high heat, turning once, until lightly charred, about 4 minutes. Transfer the racks to a cutting board and cut into individual ribs. Arrange the ribs on a platter and serve the dipping sauce alongside.

Adapted from recipe on www.foodandwine.com

Bucatini Carbonara

• 6 ounces bucatini or perciatelli
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 ounces pancetta, sliced 1/4 inch thick and cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 shallot, very finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, very finely chopped
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus more for serving
• 4 large egg yolks
• Salt
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped parsley
• Freshly ground pepper

1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain, reserving 3 tablespoons of the cooking water.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the oil. Add the pancetta and cook over moderate heat until most of the fat has been rendered, 7 minutes. Add the shallot and garlic and cook over moderate heat for 1 minute. Add the cream and simmer over moderate heat until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Add the hot pasta to the skillet and stir to coat, 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Stir in the reserved pasta cooking water, the 2 tablespoons of grated cheese and the egg yolks. Season with salt. Divide the pasta into bowls and sprinkle with parsley and pepper. Serve, passing more cheese at the table.

Adapted from recipe on www.foodandwine.com.

Tamale Pie

Corn meal mixture

• 3/4 cup Yellow Cornmeal
• 1/4 cup Milk
• 1 egg beaten until it screams

Tamale Pie

• 2 pounds ground turkey (or beef, if you want to die from clogged arteries)
• 1 small onion chopped
• 16 oz Canned Chopped Tomatoes
• 2 cups whole kernel corn (frozen or canned)
• 1 cup Pinto Beans cooked
• 1 ea jalapeño diced (for pussies) or 1 - 4 oz can diced jalapeños
• 1/2 cup Black Olives drained and sliced
• 6 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons Chili Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 7 oz can Green Chiles diced
• 1 teaspoon Mrs Dash Extra Spicy seasoning
• Sharp Cheddar cheese for topping (kinda like icing on a cake)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix cornmeal, milk and egg and set aside.

Brown meat and add onions and garlic. Saute until onions are soft and transparent. Stir in remaining Tamale Pie ingredients and cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes and mix thoroughly.

Stir in cornmeal mixture and again mix thoroughly.  Place in 2-1/2 quart casserole and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven and sprinkle on sharp cheddar cheese and bake 5 more minutes.

Serve Green Chile salsa.

Chicken Mexicana

Ingredients

• 4 Chicken (skinless/boneless) Breast cut into 1" cubes
• 3-4 sliced jalapenos
  
• 1 - 7oz can Embasa Salsa Mexicana
• 1 - 7oz can diced Green Chiles
• 2 teaspoons Mrs Dash Extra Spicy
• 1 teaspoon Mrs Dash Garlic and Herb
• 1 Tablespoon chili powder
• 4 cloves garlic diced
• 1/2 bunch Green Onions (use both green and white parts)
• salt and pepper to taste
• olive oil for frying

Directions

Heat olive oil in large frying pan on high and add chicken. Turn so that chicken does not stick to pan. Reduce to medium high and cook the chicken until almost done.  Add garlic, jalapeños, green onions, green chiles, salsa, and all seasonings, cover and cook 1 minute on high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover. Stir chicken regularly. Cook for about 20 minutes. Remove cover and cook for about 5 minutes on medium-high. Wasn't that easy??

Server with yellow rice.

Polish Dinner

The Meat

• Rump (shoulder) Roast 4-5 pounds or Chuck Roast
  
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 large yellow onion - diced
  
• 2 cups water
• cider vinegar
• 1 Teaspoon Mrs Dash Herb and Garlic
  

Mix flour, salt and pepper in a large plastic bag
If using a Shoulder Roast, cut meat into 1 to 1-1/2 think slices, otherwise remove excess thick fat or stringy white connective tissue, but leave some fat on the meat.
Rinse each piece of meat with cider vinegar and place into the flour mixture in the bag. Tumble around until the meat is coated. Remove it and place it into a large pot. Do the same with all of the meat. Cover the top of the meat with the diced onions, spices and slowly add the water to cover the meat. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer 1 hour. Turn meat over and simmer another 1/2 hour until meat is tender.

The Gravy

• 1/4 cup flour
• Kitchen Bouquet or other gravy darkening flavoring

Dissolve the flour in warm water and add it slowly to thicken the gravy while stirring constantly. Add the Kitchen Bouquet for darken the gravy to your preference. Optionally add a few sprinkles of Smoke Flavoring. Season to taste.

The Cabbage

• 1 large head of cabbage shredded
  
• 1 large onion diced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon pepper
• 1 stick of butter
• 1-1/2 cups of warm water
• 4 Tablespoons Sour Cream
• 3-4 Tablespoons Cider Vinegar

Place cabbage in pot and the the onions and spices on top of the cabbage. Add the warm water. Bring to a boil. Simmer 30 minutes. Add the Sour Cream and Vinegar and mix. Cover and continue to simmer on very low heat until ready to serve.

3 Minute Chocolate Cake

1 Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour(that's plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
Small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well . Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips and vanilla, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high.

The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to share! yea- right!)

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all less than 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

From Valerie

Turkey Gravy

• Pan juices - scrape pan to get stuck on pieces loose
  
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 4 Tablespoons butter
• 4 Tablespoons flour
• Dash of Liquid Smoke
• 1/4 teaspoon Mrs Dash Garlic and Herb seasoning
  

Heat the pan juices in the roasting pan. Skim off fat and remove any large leftover pieces. Pour juice into measuring cup and add chicken broth to make 2 cups.

Melt butter in saucepan. Whisk in flour and whisk until it browns slightly (2-3 minutes). Whisking constantly, pour in the broth until the gravy thickens. Season with Mrs. Dash, Liquid Smoke, salt and pepper (if needed).

Broccoli Salad

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5-6 cups fresh broccoli florets (about 1 pound of florets)
• 1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
• 1/2 cup cooked, crumbled bacon
• 1/4 cup of red onion, chopped
• 1 cup of frozen peas, thawed (or fresh peas if you can get them)
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup honey

Bring a large pot of water, salted with a teaspoon of salt, to a boil. Add the broccoli florets. Cook 1-2 minutes, depending on how crunchy you want the broccoli. 1 minute will turn the broccoli bright green, and leave it still pretty crunchy. 2 minutes will cook the broccoli through, but still firm. Set your timer and do not cook for more than 2 minutes, or the broccoli will get mushy. Drain the broccoli and immediately put into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Let cool and drain.

Combine broccoli florets, almonds, crumbled bacon, chopped onion, and peas in a large serving bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, cider vinegar and honey. Add dressing to the salad and toss to mix well. Chill thoroughly before serving.

Serves 4 to 6

Marinated Greek Salad

• 2 cups cauliflower florets
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives
• 1/2 cup green olives
• 1 pint grape tomatoes
• 1 cup Italian or Greek salad dressing
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese (to ruin it)
  

In large glass bowl, combine all ingredients, cover and refrigerate 4-6 hours to blend flavors. Makes 8 serving

Scalloped Potatos

• 4 cups sliced raw potatoes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
• 8 ounces shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups milk

Place half the potatoes in a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with half the salt, pepper, flour, onion, and cheese. Dot with bits of butter. Repeat layer then add milk to cover potatoes. Cover with foil or lid and bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes, or until tender. Take the lid off near the end of cooking to brown, or put under broiler for a few minutes.
Serves 4 to 6.

Spring Rolls Dipping Sauce

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons chili paste with garlic

Combine 5 ingredients in heavy small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and reduce until syrupy, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and add chili paste. Allow to cool. Can be made up to 3 days before needed.

Green Goblin

• 16 ounces Citrus Vodka
• 8 ounces Midori Melon liqueur
• 32 ounces white Cranberry juice
• Maraschino cherries for garnish
• Ice
• dry ice (optional)

Combine vodka, liqueur and juice into a glass pitcher, fill with ice and stir. Drop small chunk of dry ice into pitcher for the foggy effect.

Garnish with cherries.

Blood Orange Martini

• 2 ounces Citrus Vodka
• 1 ounce Clear Orange liqueur (Cointreau)
• 2 ounces fresh squeezed Blood Orange juice
  
• 1 ounce cranberry juice
• Blood Oranges for garnish
• ice

Combine everything into a shaker with the ice and shake until your hand freezes to the outside of the shaker (Note: metal shaker required). Strain into martini glasses and garnish with blood orange slices.

Must exclaim, "Brooohhhh Ha Ha Ha HA ha ha" before the first sip. This is better done with a group of people all doing it together. The louder the better.

Witches Brew

Just in time for Halloween.

• Brut Champagne
  
• 1 ounce Vodka
• 1 ounce Black Raspberry liqueur (Chambord)
• Blackberries for garnish

Fill double Old Fashion glass with ice and add vodka and raspberry liqueur. Swish around in the glass for 10 seconds. Top off with the Champagne and stir. Stir counterclockwise with every 7th stir in the clockwise direction. This is important for your potion to work properly. Garnish and drink.

Valerie's CROCK-POT BRATS & KRAUT

• 2 packages any brand of bratwurst - (Johnsonville is good)
• 1 Jar of Libby's shredded sauerkraut (or Claussen)
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1 cup water (bottled water)

Open packages of bratwurst and rinse brats under cool water (you can buy both packages the same flavor) or buy a couple of different types, to mix up the taste

Place the brats in the bottom of crock-pot, pour/spoon the entire jar of sauerkraut on top and sprinkle the brown sugar on top.

Turn crock-pot on HIGH for about 7 hours.

Serve w/potato salad, mashed potatoes or boiled potatoes

Honey Chipotle Baked Beans

• 1/2 cup minced shallots (about 5 ounces)
• 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
• 2 Tablespoon minced Garlic
• 1/2 cup tomato puree
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons molasses
• 1/2 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (option - or to taste)
• 2-3 Chipotle Chiles in Adobo Sauce, chopped
• 2 (28 ounce) cans Baked Beans

Preheat oven to 300 deg F.

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add shallots, saute for 4 minutes. Add tomato paste and garlic. Cook 2 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly. Add honey, and remaining ingredients, except the baked beans. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Combine beans and shallot mixture in a 2- quart baking disk. Bake at 300 deg F, for 1 hour or until thick and bubbly.

Anejo Mahattan

• 1/4 cup anejo tequila (Like El Tesoro Anejo)
• 1 Tablespoon sweet Vermouth
• 1/2 Tablespoon Licor 43
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• 1 dash Regan's No. 6 orange bitters

Combine all ingredients in a pint glass. Fill the glass 3/4 full and add ice. Stir swiftly for 30 seconds and strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with something.

Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon Sauce

• 1/4 cup Kentucky Bourbon (or kick it up a notch and use Jack Daniels for a special treat)
  
• 1/4 cup light Soy Sauce
• 1/4 cup packed Brown Sugar
• 4 large cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/4 cup Dijon Mustard
• 1 teaspoon finely minced Ginger
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/4 cup Olive Oil
• Hot Sauce to taste
• 1/2 capful Mrs Dash Garlic and Herb seasoning
  
• 2 Pork Tenderloins (about 1-1/2 pounds)

In blender, combine bourbon, soy sauce, brown sugar, spices, garlic, mustard, ginger, Worcestershire Sauce, hot sauce and oil. Pulse until smooth. Place tenderloins in a food storage bag and marinade to 4 hours to 24 hours.

Light one side of your grill on high and place the tenderloin on the unlit side. Close cover and cook for 45 minutes. No peeking!

Anzac Cookies

I used to make these cookies when we used to go backpacking. They will sustain you for days!

• 1 cup Whole Wheat flour
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut shredded
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 Tablespoons water
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 Tablespoons honey
• 1 Tablespoon molasses

Combine flour, coconut, sugar, oats in a large bowl and mix well. In a small saucepan, melt the butter with the water, soda and syrups. Add this to the dry ingredients and mix well with your hands. Shape into cookies and bake on an oiled cookie sheet at 350 deg F for about 20 minutes or until the cookies are nice and brown. Cool on a rack. Place in zip lock bag or vacuum sealed bag to keep fresh.

Bag it Salmon and Shrimp

• 2 lbs peeled and deveined large shrimp
• 1 medium sized side of Salmon
  
• 2 medium Squash, sliced
  
• 1 medium Zucchini, sliced
  
• 1 yellow Onion cut in bit-sized chunks
• large handful green beans, ends trimmed and cut in half
• 5 carrots, cut in bite-sized pieces
• 3 cloves of garlic minced
  
• 1 can beer
• 2 Tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
• 1 capful Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb
• 1/2 capful Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 oven bag

Place the flour in the oven bag and shake until sides of bag are covered.
Pour the beer in a bowl and allow to de-foam. Add all spices to the beer and stir. Let sit while preparing the bag.

Place the Salmon inside the bottom of the bag. Add the vegetables and Shrimp. Pour the beer and spice mixture into bag. Loosely tie off the end of the bag with a tie wrap and mix the contents around until well distributed, without moving the salmon off of the bottom of the bag. Wrap in Aluminum Foil and place on a cookie sheet. Place on grill on low heat for about 20 minutes. Once the beer mixture starts to boil, allow it to cook for an additional 5-7 minutes. Remove from grill and place contents in a large bowl. Break the salmon into pieces. Serve with rice, good friends and plenty of white wine.

Chinese Pepper Steak

1 lb. steak cut into 1/4"x2" slices

l large green pepper, cut into strips

3 tbsp. vegetable or olive oil

3 medium fresh tomatoes, cut into pieces (you could also use canned tomatoes if you wish but I like the taste of fresh better)

1 can beef gravy (I use two packages of brown gravy mix instead)

1 tbsp. soy sauce

Heat oil in skillet. Add meat, peppers and onions.
Brown quickly over med-high heat, turning and stirring constantly.
Lower heat to simmer and add tomatoes, soy sauce and gravy.
Simmer 8-10 min. Serve over rice.

By Linda Coffin

Ed's BEST Ribs!

For BBQ sauce

• 1/4 lbs center-cut Bacon - cut into 1/4 inch pieces – trim off fat
• 1 cup Onions – diced
• 1/2 (or more) head of Garlic – diced fine
  
• 1-1/2 bottle dark beer
• 1/4 cap of Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle seasoning
• 1/2 cap Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb seasoning
• 1/8 cup Mrs Butterworth's maple syrup
• 2 cups very strong coffee
• 1 bottle Bill Johnson's Hot and Spicy BBQ sauce
• 1/4 cup ketchup

For Ribs

• 2 or 3 racks of Baby Back Ribs
• 1/2 cap Mrs. Dash's Garlic and Herb seasoning
• 1 Tablespoon Chile powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and pepper (optional)
  

Cook Ribs in Oven

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put ribs in large shallow pan, meat-side up
• Pour bottle of beer in pan - drink the leftover beer
  
• Sprinkle salt, pepper, Chile powder garlic powder and Mrs Dash seasoning on meat side of ribs
• Cover tightly with foil and cook 1-1/2 hours.

Make BBQ sauce

• In a large frying pan, cook bacon until completely cooked, but not crispy. Do NOT remove bacon or fat from the frying pan.
• Turn up the heat to high and add olive oil if there is not enough bacon fat. Saute onions until translucent. Add garlic. Cook on high heat until garlic is cooked, but not brown (about 2 minutes).
• Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a full boil., stir and lower heat to low. Reduce sauce until thick. Simmer on low for about 20 minutes.
• Pour mixture into a blender and puree until smooth.
  

Grill Ribs

• When ribs are finished in the oven, place them on hot grill meat side down first and cook 4 minutes on each side on high heat then reduce heat to low and cook until ribs are nearly completely cooked (about 10-15 minutes).
• Brush with BBQ sauce mixture on both sides and continue to cook. Brush on BBQ sauce every few minutes and do not let it dry out or burn. Don't over cook.

Cholesterol Reducers

I need to reduce my cholesterol, so here's some site and articles that talk about that subject:

1. Cholesterol Reducing Foods
   
2. Boost HDL
3. Eat More Chiles
   

Christmas Prime Rib

This was my first time cooking Prime Rib and I was very nervous. I always overcook my steaks and I wanted to make sure they were just right. The whole fam-damily was coming over for Christmas Dinner and it would have to be perfect.

I started out with 18 pounds of Prime Rib that I was able to get a second mortgage on my house to cover the cost. :| I removed them from the refrigerator 1 hour before I planned on starting cooking them and let them warm up to room temperature. In the meantime I removed the fatty layer and separated the bottom ribs from the top roast. The fat that I cut away and the bottom bones I used as a natural rack in the pan so the roast wasn't sitting directly on the bottom on the pan itself. I pre-heated the oven to 450 def F. I seasoned the roast portion on all sides with lots of pepper, garlic powder, Mrs Dash's Table Blend Seasoning and a little Mrs Dash's Extra Hot Spicy seasoning.

Once the oven reached temperature I placed the pan into the oven and cooked for about 20 minutes and them reduced the heat down to 325 deg F for 1 hour. The meat thermometer registered about 90-100 degrees F in the meat center. I transfered the pan to the pre-heated grill outside and cooked on high heat for 15 minutes and reduced it down to low for 45 minutes. The last 20 minutes I placed soaked Apple Wood Chips in aluminum foil in the grill on the flame so they would heat up and burn fast. Once the chips started to ignite, I turned off the grill and let the smoke from the chips saturate the meat for the next 30 minutes while the meat was cooling down inside the grill.

I was hoping to make a grave from the drippings in the pan, but it was pure fat. It immediately became an additive to the dog food that I make weekly for Buster the Wonder Dog. This dog is so dumb, its a wonder he's still alive! I'll have to add a blog about dog and cat food. The Vet thought our 13 years old cat was only 4 years old. She doesn't eat "cat" food other than friskies to keep the tartar off of her teeth. Anyway... Back to the Prime Rib...

Nervously I sliced off the end piece of the Prime Rib and I saw a nice pink middle. It turned out perfect with the middle pieces being rare. No steak knives were placed on the table, just regular dining knives that melted through the meat. My Prime Rib cherry was popped and it felt good!

Ed and Liz's Fun Night Chili con Carne

This is a recipe where we each participated and had a fun time making it together. 

• 6 dried Ancho chile, stems and seeds removed
• 6 dries New Mexican chiles, stems and seeds removed
• 2 Tablespoons ground Cayenne pepper
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 pound stew meat, cut into small pieces
• 1 pound ground pork
• 2 medium onions
• ½ head garlic, chopped
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 3 - 4 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 cap full Mrs Dash's Extra Spice seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 small cans tomato sauce
• 1 – 28 oz can Hunts diced tomatoes (garlic and oregano flavor)
• 2 – 14 oz cans Hunts diced tomatoes (roasted garlic flavor)
• 1 – small can diced jalapeños
• 2 small cans diced green chiles
• 3 – 14 oz cans Red Kidney Beans

Wash off dried chiles well and then cover dries chiles with hot water and soak at least 15 mines to re-hydrate. Removed stems and seeds and put in blender and slowly add the water they were soaking in until pureed smooth and paste-like.

In a large pot, saute meat until browned. While browning, saute the onions until translucent and add the chopped garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and onion mixture to the browned meat and cook until the water (that the meat companies add to meat to make it weigh more) from the meat is reduced (or just spoon it out).

Stir in all ingredients, except the chile paste and Red Kidney Beans. Simmer one hour stirring occasionally. Stir in the Red Kidney Beans and ½ of the Chile paste mixture. Simmer 15 minutes and taste. Adjust the flavor by adding more chile paste, salt and pepper and simmer 15 minutes.

Serve over rice or with corn bread.

Salmon and Chimichurri Sauce

For the Chimichurri (pronounced chimichurri):

• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup chopped cilantro
• juice from 2 lemons
• juice from 1 lime
• 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 Tablespoons Chili Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Chimayo Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Mrs Dash Extra Spicy
• 1 can 12 oz tomato sauce
• 1 can 7 oz Green Chile peppers, diced or 3 roasted Green Chiles, peeled and chopped
• salt and pepper to taste

For the fish (pronounced fish):

• 1 Tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 4 - 6 ounce salmon steaks
• 1 Tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce

Prepare the Chimichurri: Stir in all ingredients, season with salt and pepper to taste and coarsely blend (pulse a few times) in a food processor. Set aside. This could be made teh day before so that the ingredients blend.

Spray grill with non-stick spray. Heat grill to medium-high heat.

Prepare fish: combine the oil and peppers and brush on to the salmon steaks. Grill the salmon steaks 6 minutes on each side.

Top the salmon with generous servings of the chimichurri sauce. Garnish with lime slices and winning lotto tickets. Serve with yellow rice and Pinot Noir wine.

Shrimp Jambalaya

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 pounds medium shrimp - peels and deveined
• (Optionally) Add bay scallops, mussels or cut up Cod fish
• 1/2 Tablespoon extra-virgin Olive oil
• 4-6 jalapeños sliced
• 1 Tablespoon Cayenne pepper
• 1 Tablespoon Mrs Dash Extra Spicy seasoning
• 1 Tablespoon Tabasco sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 pound well cooked and drained bacon
• 1 package of Hot Sausage links, sliced
• 2 bunches green onions sliced
• 6 cloves garlic
• 1 large red Bell pepper
• 1 large Orange pepper
• 2-16 ounces canned diced tomatoes (with Garlic and Oregano)
• 1 Tablespoon fresh Basil chopped
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup vodka

•  Brown rice
• Texas Toast or French bread

Directions

In a large (8 quart) pot, saute bacon and sausage until well cooked and bacon is crispy, but not burnt. Place bacon and sausage on a paper towel to drain and cool. Leave the bacon grease in the pot and scrape the bottom to loosen any bacon droppings.

Add olive oil (if needed) to the bacon grease and add the white parts of the green onion. Cook over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add the garlic, jalapeños, bell pepper and cook about 1 minute.

Slowly add the diced tomato with its sauce, chicken broth and basil and bring to a boil stirring occasionally. As soon as it begins to boil, Stir in shrimp (and other seafood), all chile powders and sauces and cook until shrimp turn pink and are cooked (about 2-3 minutes) - stir occasionally. Add the vodka (to the pot and not to your glass) and sausage, 1/2 of the remaining green onion tops and crumble the bacon on top. Cook 1 minute stirring constantly and remove from heat. Add Tabasco and salt and pepper to taste. Add remaining green onion tops as a garnish.

Serve over rice and with french bread for dipping in the sauce.

Greek Salad

• 4 ounces frozen Artichoke hearts
• 1 Tablespoon water
• 1 large cucumber
• 1 large tomato cut into wedges
• 1/2 yell bell pepper sliced into rings
• 1/2 cup red onions sliced into rings
• 5 large green olives halved
• 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1-1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 1/4 cup cheese (I'm not a cheese person, so Feta or Blue is fine in your salad - just not in MY salad)

Cook artichokes with water in microwave for about 2 minutes. Drain and cool.

Stripe the cucumber (peel the skin lengthwise in stripes). Cut the cucumbers lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and then flip them over and cut them into half moons.

Arrange the artichokes, cucumbers, tomatoes, pepper, onion and olives in a large bowl.

Whisk oil, vinegar, oregano and lemon peel together and pout dressing evenly over the salad. Sprinkle (or not) the cheese on top.