FoodAskew |

Recipes, Tips, & Reviews from home cooks better than I am.

Fig & Olive Tapenade

Tuesday Aug 17, 2010

Submitted by Heresy

1 c. chopped dried figs ½ c. water
1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dried rosemary 1 tsp dried thyme
¼ tsp cayenne pepper 2/3 c. chopped kalamata olives
2 cloves garlic, minced 1/3 c. chopped toasted walnuts
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese Salt & pepper to taste

1. Combine figs & water in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil & cook until tender, and liquid has reduced. Remove from heat & stir in the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, thyme, & cayenne. Add olives &  garlic, & mix well. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Cover & refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to allow flavors to blend.

2. Unwrap cream cheese block & place on a serving platter. Spoon tapenade over cheese, & sprinkle with walnuts. Serve with slices of French bread or crackers.


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Michelle’s Classic Salsa

Friday Aug 6, 2010

Submitted by Michelle Fawver
Makes approximately 10 pints

12 c. tomatoes 6 c. onions
2-10 jalapenos peppers (to taste) 5 cloves garlic
2 c. green bell peppers 3 tbsp non-Iodized salt
¼ c. sugar 1 c. apple cider vinegar

Chop each ingredient with a food processor, being careful not to chop too finely or chop by hand.  Mix all ingredients together.  Test for degree of “hotness” by adding chopped jalapenos one at a time.  Pack in hot, clean canning jars; seal & water bathe can for 25 minutes for pints & 30 minutes for quarts.

Chef’s Note: Use real apple cider vinegar – the flavored stuff is not the same.  Make sure to have plenty of tortilla chips on hand, as the salsa is even better fresh than canned!  Wear rubber gloves when handling the peppers.


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Basic Tomato Sauce

Sunday Nov 29, 2009

Submitted by Ruth
Serves 2

5 truss tomatoes, skinned, diced, & crushed 2 tbsp tomato paste
large handful of oregano large handful marjoram
small handful parsley small handful basil
small package pine nuts ½ c. button mushrooms, diced
1 medium onion, quartered salt
pepper 1 c. vegetable stock or broth

1. Slit the skins on the tomatoes & put them in boiling water for a minute to get the skins off.  Once skinned, put them in the blender to crush them.  Add tomato paste to thicken it.  Set aside.
2. In a food processor, pulse the onion, herbs, & pine nuts until neatly smooth.
3. In a nonstick pan, cook the mushrooms & onion/herb mixture with a bit of vegetable stock until translucent, then add the tomatoes.  Cook for about 1 hour on a very low simmer until reduced by about ¼.

Chef’s Note: When serving I add a chicken breast with all fat removed, thinly sliced & dry grilled, & some heart healthy bacon dry grilled.


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Maker’s Mark Grilled Chicken Marinade

Wednesday Jul 15, 2009

Submitted by Maker’s Mark Distillery
Serves 6-8

1 oz. soy sauce ½ c. brown sugar
½ tsp garlic powder 1 tsp powdered ginger
2 tbsp dried minced onion ½ c. Maker’s Mark bourbon

Mix all the marinade ingredients and pour over chicken pieces in a ziplock bag, removing as much air as possible before “zipping.” Let stand (turning often) for several hours (best overnight.) Grill away!


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Stromboli

Tuesday Jun 23, 2009

Submitted by movidude74
Serves 8-12

1 lb. pizza dough ¼ lb. Swiss cheese
¼ lb. sharp provolone ¼ lb. tavern ham
¼ lb. hard salami ¼ lb. slicing pepperoni
1 egg Italian Seasoning
Flour Sweet or Hot Peppers, drained

1. Thaw pizza dough according to directions on package.  Roll out dough to about 14-16″ square (if you can only get one side squared, then have that away from you).
2. Beat one egg & add Italian seasoning to taste.  Brush top of rolled dough.
3. Layer the deli selections meat, then cheese, then meat, etc.  You can overlap the layer closest to you, but you want to leave an inch or so on the right & left, & 2″ at the edge farthest from you.
4. The peppers are optional.  If you are adding them, liberally spread a layer just above or below the middle layer of cheese.
5. Roll or fold the layers of food away from you.
6. Brush on egg mixture on the exposed dough as you go.
7. Fold the last bit towards you over the roll of food; fold the loose dough at the sides in to the center.  Coat with egg & flip onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
8. Coat all remaining surfaces, even if you slop some on the paper.
9. Cut 3 or 4 slices into the top of the loaf about half way deep.
10. Bake at 350
°F for about 45 minutes or until the dough is browned & cheese is bubbling out of the slices.
11. Let the dish rest a few minutes before serving.  Slide into 1″ wide slices to serve.


Chef’s Note: Pizza dough is often sold as 2-1 lb. balls of dough, so you might as well make 2. In step 6, I prefer to fold about 3 times, leaving the top edge of dough that you don’t layer exposed.  You can freeze the leftovers and reheat it later.


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