Nut-Free & Dairy-Free (but not Taste-Free) Pesto

Nut-Free & Dairy-Free (but not Taste-Free) Pesto
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Sauces
Cuisine: Italian
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 4 c. basil, stems removed
  • ¼ c. sunflower seeds
  • 1 tbsp pumpkin butter (heaping)
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • ¼ c. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic salt
  • ½ tps lemon pepper
  • Juice of ½ lemon
Instructions
  1. Combine ingredients in a blender or food processor & blend well.
  2. If you need to thin out the sauce, add more extra virgin olive oil.
  3. To really make this an allergen-free dish, serve over cooked rice pasta.

Photo Courtesy of Yannic Meyer

Preserved Lemons

Homemade preserved lemons make wonderful gifts, so we suggest that you check out the wide variety of useful & decorative glass storage jars available from Wares of Knutford.

Preserved Lemons
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Condiments
Ingredients
  • Lemons
  • Lemon Juicce
  • Kosher Salt
  • Colander
  • Deep pot with lids
  • Canning mat
  • Quart preserving jars
  • Dishtowels
  • Canning towels
  • Lids
  • Canning tongs
  • Rings
  • Platter
Instructions
  1. Wash your lemons thoroughly & set them in a colander in the sink to drain. You will need 8-10 lemons for each 1 quart canning jar that you use.
  2. Place your canning mat in the bottom of a deep pot. If you don’t have a canning mat, line the bottom of the pot with a clean cloth dishtowel. This will keep the jars from bumping against each other when you sterilize them.
  3. Stand the quart jars in the pot with their open ends facing up.
  4. Fill the pot with water so that the jars are completely covered. Bring the water to a boil. Lower it to a rolling simmer & cover the pot. Let the jars sterilize for 10 minutes without disturbing them.
  5. Lay a folded dishtowel on the counter. Remove the jars from the water with your canning tongs & place them on the towel, open side up. Never put hot jars directly onto a cool surface like a bare counter because they may shatter.
  6. Drop the lids and rings into the boiling water & turn off the heat.
  7. Slice both ends off of each lemon & cut the lemons into 4-6 wedges each.
  8. Lay the wedges out on a platter or a length of waxed paper & lightly salt them with the Kosher salt.
  9. Fill the bottom of the jars, once they have cooled enough to touch, with ½ c. Kosher salt.
  10. Fish the lids & rings out of the hot water with the canning tongs & set them on the dishtowel with the jars to cool.
  11. Squeeze each lemon wedge gently as you pack them snugly into the jars.
  12. Fill the jars with lemon juice so that the lemons are just covered. Sprinkle another layer of salt on top.
  13. Wipe any excess salt or lemon juice off of the mouths of the jars with a clean dishtowel. Seal the jars with the sterilized lids & rings.
  14. Let the jars sit at room temperature for 24 hours & then turn them upside down. Let them sit for another 24 hours, then turn them right-side up & place them in the refrigerator.
  15. Leave the jars in the refrigerator for three weeks, occasionally turning them upside down for a day or two.
  16. To use the lemons, pick one out & wash off all of the salt. Discard the seeds & pulp & grate or finely chop the lemon rind.
  17. Add visual interest as well as flavor by adding mint sprigs, rosemary, sage, thyme, peppercorns, whole cloves, whole coriander seeds, or cinnamon sticks to your preserved lemons when you pack them into the jars. Experiment by adding different combinations of herbs & spices.

Photo Courtesy of Daniella Segura

Uncle Jim’s Alfredo Sauce

Alfredo sauce is one of the best sauces – good on all kinds of pasta!

Uncle Jim's Alfredo Sauce
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Sauces
Cuisine: Italian
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 c. cream
  • 1 c. chicken broth
  • 1 c. Mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • ½ c. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
  • 3 tbsp fresh parsley, finely minced
  • 5 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • ¼ c. dry white wine
  • salt & black pepper
Instructions
  1. On medium heat, melt butter & add flour. Cook 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to cook flour completely.
  2. Add cream & broth together, blending well. Add cheeses, parsley, garlic, & wine, stirring until cheese is completely melted.
  3. Add salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Photo courtesy of DenisenFamily on Flickr

Nancy’s Hot Dip

Nancy Says: You can use any range of heat level with the salsa, depending on your tastes.

Nancy's Hot Dip
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Appetizer
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 16 oz. cream cheese, firm
  • 32 oz. salsa
  • 14 oz. black olives, sliced
  • 4 oz. green chilies, diced
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 4 green onions, finely chopped
  • 1 box Wheat Thins
Instructions
  1. Depending on the shape of your serving plate, arrange cream cheese side by side or one on top of the other.
  2. Pour chilies, salsa, olives, avocado, & onions (in that order) over the cream cheese.
  3. Arrange Wheat Thins around outer edge of plate.

Photo Courtesy of Steven Lilley on Flickr

Marie Edler’s Taco Dip

Marie Says: Green onions are optional.  May be served at once, however, it should be partitioned & refrigerated if not served all at once.  We love serving it with Tostitos Scoops Tortilla Chips

Marie Edler’s Taco Dip
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Appetizer
Ingredients
  • 2 pkg. taco seasoning
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 pt sour cream
  • 1 medium head iceberg lettuce
  • 4 medium tomatoes
  • 1 bunch green onions
  • 1 bag Tostitos Scoops Tortilla Chips
Instructions
  1. Mix 1 package of taco seasoning with the sour cream & set aside in the refrigerator. Brown the ground beef with the second package of taco seasoning, drain well & reserve.
  2. Evenly chop iceberg lettuce to a medium chop & reserve. Dice tomatoes to approximately ½" dice, drain & reserve.
  3. Slice green onions to a small slice (approximately ¼") & reserve.
  4. On a large serving platter, evenly spread ground beef mixture. Spread seasoned sour cream evenly on top of ground beef. Top evenly with the chopped lettuce, then diced tomatoes, then the green onions.
  5. Cover with plastic wrap until ready to serve.

Photo Courtesy of midnightcomm on Flickr