FoodAskew |

Submitted by Vicki Johnson
Serves 6-8

Ingredients

Directions

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.

Submitted by Jen Goode
Serves 5

Ingredients

Directions

1. In a large skillet, brown the sausage.  Drain the grease.  Put it in a food processor & chop to fine pieces.  Set aside.
2. Add 4 c. of milk to the skillet, stirring in the beef bouillon, seasoned pepper, and garlic herb seasoning.  Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes.  Stir in sausage, add the remaining milk, & simmer for another 5-10 minutes.
3.  In a separate bowl, mix 1 c. of warm water with 1 tbsp of flour.  Stir until well mixed.  Continue to add flour, 1 tbsp at a time, until the consistency of the mixture is that of a thick cake batter.  Pour the flour/water mixture into the skillet & stir thoroughly until the gravy begins to thicken.
4. Remove from the heat & pour generously over freshly baked biscuits.  Serve.

Chef’s Note: We like the Jimmy Dean brand of sausage and prefer Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits.  If the gravy ends up too thick, add more milk.

Submitted by Heresy

Ingredients

Directions

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.

Submitted by Ruth
Serves 2

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.

Submitted by randilicious
Serves 6

1. Coat bottom of saucepan with canola oil.  Mix in mushrooms & saute.
2. Add onions, garlic, & red wine.  Mix well until wine boils off.  The onions should cook off until they are tiny.  All that should be left are the mushrooms, tiny bits of onion & garlic, & just a bit of the oil.
3. Mix in the flour.  Stir well & often until it becomes a paste-like mixture.
4. Add chicken broth.  Stir often to keep mushrooms from burning onto the surface.  As the broth boils, the gravy should thicken.
5. Add water to the desired consistency.
6. Add salt & pepper to taste.

Chef’s Note: I use baby bella mushrooms. I like mine thick, so I only use ½ cup of water in step 5.