Flavor Water

 

FLAVOR WATER

1 apple, cored and thinly sliced

1 lemon, thinly sliced

2 cinnamon sticks

1 tsp whole cloves

2-3 trays ice cubes

Water

 

Place the fruit on the bottom of jug and sprinkle with cloves and cinnamon stick.  Cover with ice and top with water.  Keep in fridge for a refreshing tall cool beverage during the hot days of summer.  Refresh ice and water 2-3 more times before changing fruit and spices.

 

© Crackerberries 2014







Eggs Bennie Cheese Burger

Eggs Bennie Cheese Burger

 

½ lb. ground beef

2 onion hamburger rolls

4 slices cooked bacon

2 slices Asiago cheese

2 poached eggs

½ cup Duke’s mayonnaise

¼ tsp. ground turmeric

½ tsp. lemon juice

½ tsp. garlic salt

½ tsp. onion powder

¼ tsp. fresh ground pepper

1 tsp. basil or other Italian seasoning

Form ground beef into two patties.  In small platter combine garlic salt, onion powder, basil and pepper.  Roll outside edges of burgers in mixture.  Heat cast iron skill on medium heat and cook burgers until done, (about 4-5 minutes per side).

In small pan or metal bowl, combine mayonnaise, turmeric and lemon juice.  Set on burner on low heat to barely warm mixture.

Toast hamburger buns.  Build by layering cheese, cooked bacon, burger, poached egg.  Top with warmed sauce and serve with fresh fruit and Jon Hunter’s favorite drink, a Bloody Mary made with V8 juice and garnished with a carrot. 

 

 © Crackerberries 2014

Southeastern Pita Breakfast Pockets

Southeastern Breakfast Pita

 

2 pita pockets

4 eggs

½ cup chopped onions

½ cup chopped red peppers

¼ cup chopped fresh tomato

¼ cup canned mushrooms, drained

2½ oz. turkey sausage

2 slices Gouda cheese

Cook turkey sausage until no long pink, (5-7 minutes).  Stir in onions and peppers and cook two more minutes. Stir in tomatoes, mushrooms and eggs.  Cook until eggs are fluffy, (3-4 minutes).

Meanwhile, preheat cast iron skillet on medium high heat.  Place one pita in at a time and grill until the bottoms are nicely browned.  Working with one at a time, place a slice of cheese on the center of the pita.  Fill with half of the egg mixture.  Fold over and hold in place to secure.  Continue with the second pita.

 
Serve with hot sauce and yogurt, or fresh fruit.

 

 

© Crackerberries 2014

Turtle Soup

 

 

I've never had turtle soup before.  Never even thought about eating a turtle.  Maybe joked about it in a blog about a turtle soup.  See what happens when you joke about things?  This big guy or girl (not sure how you tell the sex of a turtle) was hoofing it across the drive-way when I went out to get the mail.  It was about eight feet from the road when I ran back for my camera.  As you can see, it was not afraid of me at all because it didn't retreat to it's shell like other turtles I've tried to photograph. 

Just to give you an idea of how big it was, the claws on it were as long as my pinky finger, maybe longer, which is about 2½ inches long.  Well, I was certain it was going to cross the road, and this road is unforgiving.  I grabbed a stick and started pushing it along.  Made it to the center line, this all the while traffic is coming, and I'm running out of the road as to not get hit.  The traffic was pretty good at first, going around the turtle not to hit it. 

The next round of helping it along didn't go so well.  A truck came and drove right over the top of the turtle, cleared it completely, but scared the be-geesus out of it I'm sure.

I went to give it another boost with the stick, and it surprised me with a giagantic jump and open mouth towards my hand, leg, foot, most likely whatever it could get those big jaws around.  That time the poor thing had turned around, and was in the middle of the road.  Traffic was coming and I had no choice but to leave it.  I couldn't bare the thought of seeing it get mashed into the pavement, so I headed back to my house.  A few minutes later I heard a car smack it.  There were no cars coming in the other direction so I know it was purposeful.  Hurt my heart.  I couldn't bare the thought of going back to look.  But then, a van stopped and two men jumped out. 

 

I ran across the lawn and yelled, "Did it make it?" 

 

By then one of the men, a big man with a healthy appetite, had the turtle by it's tail and was hauling it towards the van.  "Nope, didn't make it.  You gotta box?" 

 

"Awwe, I think someone hit it on purpose.  Hold on, I'll get a box."

 

At that time I didn't know why he wanted the box.  Me in my little fairy-tale land that I live in most days, led me to believe he was being a good citizen and was going to take the poor thing home to give it a good burial, or something like that.  I finally found a box, figuring it would hold the turtle until he got home with it.  When I brought it down to the men, I noticed the turtle was still alive because he was moving and there was only a little bit of blood on the top of his shell and front foot.

 

"Oh, maybe he'll be okay," I said as I handed the box to the skinny younger man.

 

The big man says, "Oh he'll be fine.  Long's we get him cleaned out tonight, he'll be good eatin'"

 

"Oh, okay, have a nice day."

 

What else could I say?  The turtle was just minding his own business and now he's supper.

 

 

© Crackerberries 2014

Strawberry Margarita Jell-O Shots

 

I stole this recipe from a website. It cracked me up, but I love Strawberry Margaritas so had to try.
http://youtu.be/ziHCAvMsfRs

 STRAWBERRY MARGARITA JELLO SHOTS
1 Cup Water
Box of Strawberries
Packet of Strawberry Jello
3/4 Cup Tequila
1/4 Cup Triple Sec

I found that if you cut the bottoms off the strawberries after they set, it works better.  The Jell-O doesn't tend to seep out.  :)

© Crackerberries 2014

Apple Coffee Cake

Apple Coffee Cake

 

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 cups brown sugar

¾ cup shortening

1 tsp baking soda

1 egg

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp maple extract

1 cup hot coffee

2 apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced

1 tbsp lemon juice

 

Preheat oven to 350º

 

Toss apples with lemon juice and set aside.

 

Combine the brown sugar and flours together.  Cut in shortening until mixed well, (it will be lumpy).  Take out one cup of mixture and set aside.

 

Dissolve baking soda in hot coffee and add to remaining flour/sugar mixture.  Add the egg, vanilla and maple extract and mix quickly.  Do not over mix.

 

Pour batter into a rectangle glass baking dish.  Layer sliced apples over top.  Sprinkle with crumb topping.  Bake at 350º for 45 minutes.  Can sprinkle with powdered sugar and served warm or cold.

 

 

© Crackerberries 2014

Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary

4 oz. vodka

10 oz. tomato juice

1 tbsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. horseradish

½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Couple shakes Texas Pete or Tobasco sauce

1 stalk celery, halved

Dash cayenne pepper

Dash celery salt

Salt and fresh ground black pepper

Build over ice in a large mixing glass.  Add spices first,(salts, peppers,  hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce) then vodka, followed by tomato juice, lemon juice and top with a dollop of horseradish.  Garnish with fresh celery and lemon slices if desired.

“Hey, Dalton!  Bloody Mary?  Some breakfast?”  Anyone know what movie that is from?

© Crackerberries 2014

Sausage Potato Salad

Sausage Potato Salad

4-5 potatoes, peeled, cubed, and boiled

4 oz. bulk sausage, cooked and drained

1 stalk celery, chopped

1 small onion, diced

1½ cup frozen peas

1 carrot, finely diced

3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

1 tbsp. sweet pickle relish

 

1 cup light mayonnaise

1 tbsp. prepared mustard

1 tsp. paprika

½ tsp. fresh ground black pepper

½ tsp. kosher salt

 

Combine potatoes, sausage, celery, onion, peas, carrot and relish in large bowl and stir to mix.  In small bowl, combine mayo, mustard and spices.  Add to potato mixture.  Gently fold in eggs.  Refrigerate for several hours before serving.  It’s actually better the second day.

 

 

 

© Crackerberries 2014

Chili Taco Pie

Chili Taco Pie

4 8-inch flour tortillas

5 5½-inch corn tortillas

1 lb. ground beef

1 cup frozen corn

1½ cups red kidney beans, drained

½ cup chopped onion

1 can diced tomatoes with green Chile peppers

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. ground cumin

¼-½ tsp. ground cayenne pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup shredded cheddar

Shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, sour cream

In large skillet cook ground beef until brown.  Drain off grease, add garlic and onions and cook 5 minutes.  Add tomatoes with Chile peppers, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper and corn.  Cook until aromatic and heated through.  Gently stir in red kidney beans.  Remove from heat.

Preheat oven to 375º.

Lightly grease pie plate.  Place corn tortilla around the outside edges so that about one inch over-flaps.  Place one flour tortilla in the center.  Spread one third of the meat mixture over the top, cover with flour tortilla and repeat the process.  Spread shredded cheddar over top and bake about 30 minutes until cheese bubbles and corn tortillas are crunchy and brown.

Cool slightly before serving with shredded lettuces, tomatoes, olives, sour cream, guacamole, etc.

 

© Crackerberries 2014

Sweet Potato Cranberry Muffins

Cranberry Sweet Potato Muffins

 

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 tsp. baking powder
½ cup sugar
¾ cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 cup mashed sweet potato
¼ cup cranberry sauce

Heat oven to 400º

Spray bottoms of 12 muffin tins or line with paper baking cups.  Mix dry ingredients together.   Combine milk, egg and vegetable oil and add to dry ingredients stirring just to moisten.  Stir in sweet potato.  Divide have of ingredients amongst muffin cups. Spoon one teaspoon or so of the cranberry sauce in the center of each muffin.  Cover with remaining batter.

Bake 400º 18-22 minutes.  Cool 1 minute before removing from pan.

© Crackerberries 2014

Cajun Chicken Reuben Sandwich

When the leftover corned beef reubens are not enough, these can be enjoyed anytime!

Cajun Chicken Reubens

 

4 slices pumpernickel bread

4 slices Swiss cheese

2 slices Cajun chicken deli meat

1 cup sauerkraut*, drained

2 tbsp. Thousand Island** dressing

1 tbsp. margarine

 

Heat griddle or large cast iron fry pan to medium heat.  Spread each slice of bread generously with Thousand Island dressing.  Top with one slice of cheese, divide sauerkraut between the two slices, top with a slice of deli meat and end with another slice of cheese.  Cover with remaining bread slices.  Spread margarine on both sides of each sandwich.  Place on griddle; grill each side (3-4 minutes each side) until golden brown and cheese is melted.

 

Remove from grill and let stand 2-3 minutes before cutting and half and serving.

 

• To thoroughly drain sauerkraut, place in strainer to drain liquid.  Place drained sauerkraut in 2-3 layers of paper towels and squeeze gently until no more liquid is visible.
• Homemade Thousand Island dressing: ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp. sweet relish, 2 tbsp. French dressing or ketchup, 1 tbsp. finely chopped onion.  Combine all ingredients together and stir well.  Store remaining dressing in fridge for one month.

 

© Crackerberries 2014

English Muffins

English Muffins

1 cup warm milk

1 TBSP honey
2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp. active dry yeast


* Additions to try: ½ cup raisins + 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1 cup finely chopped cranberries + ½ cup chopped pecan, 1 cup blueberries, the options are endless, depending on what flavor you wish to have.

Combine all ingredients together in bread machine in order given, and select the dough setting. 

Once cycle completes, place dough on lightly flour surface and pat into a ¾-inch thick circle.  Dust top lightly with flour.  Using a 3-inch cookie cutter (a drink tumbler works excellent also) cut the dough into circles.  Use scraps to re-pat into more circles.  (Should make 11-12 English muffins)

Preheat oven to 300º.

Heat griddle to medium high.  Brush muffins with melted salted butter on both sides.  Grill muffins until light brown.  (3 minutes per side)

Slide muffins onto cookie sheet.  Bake 300º for 8-10 minutes.  Use fork to poke around the edge of the muffin, toast, butter and eat with your favorite toppings.

© Crackerberries 2014

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

 

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

3½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

¾ cup milk

½ cup vegetable oil

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Heat oven to 400º

 
Spray bottoms of 12 muffin tins or line with paper baking cups.  Mix dry ingredients together.  Gently stir in blueberries.  Combine milk, egg and vegetable oil and add to dry ingredients stirring just to moisten.  Divide amongst muffin cups.  Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar (optional).  Bake 400º 18-22 minutes.  Cool 1 minute before removing from pan.

 

© Crackerberries 2014