Cooking Dish By Dish

Mint Julep

The official drink of the Kentucky Derby.

2 tbsp Simple Syrup (recipe below)
6-8 Mint Leaves
1/4 c bourbon
Crushed Ice

Add 1/4 cup of water to a glass measuring cup. Add 1/4 cup of white granulated sugar to the measuring cup. Mix with a fork. Put in the microwave on high for one minute. Stir again. Put back in the microwave on high for one minute. Stir again. If the sugar is not dissolved, repeat the last two steps until it is. Then set this aside to cool down.

Put mint leaves in a derby glass or a small 8 ounce glass. Add a tablespoon of simple syrup. Muddle. I used the back of a wooden spoon. Just tap on the mint and syrup for about 30 seconds or so.

Then fill the glass with crushed ice. I didn’t have any, so I put my ice cubes in a sealable plastic bag, covered with a pot holder, then smashed with a meat tenderizer.

Add the bourbon and stir.

Add a bit more ice to have a little mound. Garnish with mint leaves.

Lemon Ricotta Spaghetti with Baby Spinach

Serves: 4
Total Time: 25 minutes

1 lb Spaghetti
15 oz Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
3/4 c Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 c Olive Oil
2 cloves Garlic, Halved
1 Lemon, Zest and Juice
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
Pinch or two Crushed Red Pepper
5.5 oz Fresh Baby Spinach

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook to al dente according to package directions.

In a blender, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, olive oil, garlic, lemon zest and juice, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Process for 1 to 2 minutes, or until smooth.

Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta water, drain and return the pasta to the pot.

Add 1/2 cup of pasta water to the ricotta mixture, and mix into the pasta. Add spinach and mix together. Set on low heat and cook until the spinach has wilted, about 2 minutes. Add more pasta water as needed until you reach your desired consistency.

Caprese Tomato Boats

Easy Prep, no cooking

Roma Tomatoes
Mozzarella Cheese, Thin Sliced
Fresh Basil
Balsamic Vinegar
Salt

No exact quantities for this one, because you can make as little or almost as much as you want.

Cut the tomatoes in half lengthwise and using a melon baller or a pairing knife and spoon, remove the seeds.

Arrange on a plate drizzle about 4 drops of balsamic and a small pinch of salt.

Cut each cheese slice into 9 equal-ish pieces. Put 4 pieces into each tomato.

Take just the leaves of fresh basil, about 4 to a pile. Roll lengthwise and cut into thin strips (chiffenade). Sprinkle some on each tomato.

Homemade Cheese - Mock Mozzarella

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes

1/2 gallon Whole Milk
1/2 cup Vinegar
1/2 tbsp Salt

Add milk to medium sized pot on medium heat.
Stirring frequently. Heat milk to 120*F.
Remove from heat. Add vinegar and stir for at least 30 seconds. You should see the curdling almost immediately.
Put the lid on and let it sit for about 15 minutes.
Using a spoon, transfer the curd to a bowl.
Using cheesecloth, or a clean dish towel, add the curd and squeeze the whey out.
Then put in the microwave for about 30 seconds until it’s warm.
Then pull the sides out and fills into the center, like closing a book.
Turn a quarter of a way and repeat the pulling and folding.
Add the salt.
Repeat the turning, pulling, and folding until it’s nice and smooth.
If needed, put it in the microwave for about 30 seconds during this pulling process.
Once it’s smooth, form it into a ball, or a log shape and put it in ice water for 15 minutes.

Caprese Risotto

Servings: 8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes

7 c Vegetable Stock
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 c Onion, Minced
4 cloves Garlic, Minced
15 oz can Diced Tomatoes, Undrained
Pinch Sugar
1-1/2 c Arborio Rice
3/4 c Dry White Wine
1 c Cherry Tomatoes, Halved
1/3 c Fresh Basil, Chiffonade
8 oz Mozzarella Pearls
1/2 c Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
Salt and Pepper To Taste
Balsamic Glaze For Drizzling (Optional)

Bring broth to a simmer over low heat.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add onion and a large pinch of salt. Saute until softened, about 6 minutes.
Add rice and garlic and cook 5 minutes. Stir in sugar and canned tomatoes.�Add the wine and stir until it evaporates. Add the stock, one ladle at a time.
Cook, stirring often, until the stock is absorbed. Add another ladle of stock and repeat this process until all of the stock has been added and absorbed, about 20-25 minutes.�Remove from heat and stir in the tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, and parmesan.
Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Drizzle with balsamic glaze, if desired.

Cranberry Whipped Potatoes

Servings: 8

2 lbs Russet Potatoes, Peeled & Chopped
3 tbsp Butter, Softened
1/3 c Milk
14 oz can Cranberry Sauce
Salt to Taste

Put potatoes in a pot with enough water to cover them with an inch. Bring to boil.
When fork tender, about 10 minutes, drain water.
Add butter, milk, cranberry sauce, and a pinch or two of salt.
Using a hand mixer, mix until well blended. Taste and add salt if necessary.

Carrot Cake Cocktail

Serves: 2

2 oz Vanilla Vodka
3 oz Cream
3 oz Carrot Juice
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/8 tsp Nutmeg

Garnish
1 tbsp Cream Cheese Frosting
1 tbsp crushed Walnut
Carrot Slices

Add some ice and all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, or 16 ounce cup.
Shake/mix well.
Smear 1/3 of the outside edge of each martini glass with frosting.
Roll frosting glass in walnuts.
Strain cocktail evenly into each glass.
Sprinkle nutmeg on top.
Add carrot slices, optional.

Easy Sausage Gravy

Yields: 8 biscuits worth

1 lb Seasoned/Mild Ground Pork (aka Jimmy Dean or Bob Evans)
1/3 c All Purpose Flour
2-1/2 c Milk
1/2 tbsp Thyme
Salt and Pepper to Taste

In a large skillet on medium-high heat, add pork. Break up into small pieces using spatula.
When cooked through, about 5-7 minutes, lower heat to medium and stir in flour.
Once the pork is coated with the flour, add the thyme. Add 1/2 cup of milk. Stir until thickened. Continues adding milk 1/2 cup at a time.
Season with salt and pepper.

I usually serve with store bought biscuits.

Deviled Potatoes

Yields: 24
Cook Time: 30 min
Prep Time: 35 min

12 New Potatoes (Small Red Potatoes)
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons Mustard
1 Tablespoon Vinegar
1/4 Cup Chopped Green Onions
Salt And Pepper To Taste
Paprika For Garnish
Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
4 strips Bacon, Cooked and Chopped

Boil potatoes until fork tender, let them cool.
Cut the potatoes in half and scoop out a small portion. It should resemble an egg half when making deviled eggs.
In a bowl, mix the scooped potato with mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, green onions, salt, and pepper.
Fill the potato halves with the mixture.
Sprinkle paprika, cheese, and bacon on top to garnish.
Chill before serving.

Easy Corned Beef and Cabbage

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 35 minutes

3 lb Corned Beef Brisket with Spice Packet
1 Bay Leaf
1 lb New Potatoes, cubed
1/2 head Cabbage, cut into 8 Wedges

In a large stock pot, add the brisket, spice pack, and bay leaf with enough water to cover with about an inch of water.
Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer for 2 hours.
Add potatoes, ensuring there’s enough liquid to cover them. Simmer for 20 mins.
Add cabbage, ensuring there’s enough liquid to cover them. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until potatoes and cabbage are fork tender.
Discard bay leaf and liquid.

Breakfast Spiral

Serving size: 2
Time: 30 minutes

6 sheets Rice Paper
2 Eggs, Whisked
5 Eggs, Scrambled
4 Bacon Slices, Cooked and Chopped
1/2 c Cheddar Cheese
Everything Bagel Seasoning

Preheat the oven to 375*F.
Put the whisked eggs on a plate the is just big enough to dip the rice paper into.
One at a time, dip 3 rice paper sheets into the whisked eggs on each side then place on counter. Over lapping each sheet by about 1.5 inches.
Spread evenly down middle from end to end, add half of the scrambled eggs, bacon, and cheese.
Fold half of each paper over the egg mixture. Then continue rolling the paper, encasing the egg mixture, until the paper is a long tube.
From one end of the tube, roll into a spiral, like a cinnamon roll.
Place parchment paper to a sheet tray. Add each spiral to sheet tray and sprinkle generously with the Everything Bagel Seasoning.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until crispy.