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Small bites, big tastes Starting things off right with easy appetizers
A common misconception holds that professional cooks throw great dinner parties with ease. I know firsthand it's not true. My first real hosting experience was several years ago, during my first vacation home from culinary school. Word spread quickly that I was cooking a holiday dinner.
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Attach each pretzel package to the line with more clothespins. A few fresh cherry baubles get clipped on for a flashy finish.
... the end
getting there
Pick a theme: Cherries, cherries, and more cherries. They're in season and covering everything from whimsical fabrics to ribbons to dishes. Of course, a handful or two of the real thing makes your decorating job all the easier. Plump fresh cherries also make great bribes for hungry helpers.
Embellish, embellish, embellish: If one is good, three is better, and more is, well, merrier. Jars piled with sunny lemons and jolly Granny Smith apples help set the table for the feast. Color is key for accoutrements too. Go with happy summer yellows, greens, and reds. Then search for fun new finds from the department store (check out the grassy green tote, below), mixed with old standbys from home, such as a vintage cherry-red cooler or bright yellow tablecloths.
Yummy stuff: Stay with the season's bounty and you'll be guaranteed standout flavor. Start in the garden patch or the farmer's market. Watermelon is showing up in great new colors. So are radishes. Grab some. Snip herbs to freshen up a salad. Or perk up old recipes with new spins.
Pitching the canopy
With an eager helper, some happy-go-lucky fabric, and six wooden shower rods (about 2 inches in diameter), you've got the fixings for an open-air party tent (see ours on page 232). You'll need a ball of twine, some perky ribbon, and 30 minutes or so.
Upward bound: For our canopy, we used about six yards of fabric. The 8-foot wooden rods go into the ground easily if you first saw a wedge-shaped piece from the bottom of each to form a rough point.
Use a hammer to pound one pole into the ground. Gather a corner of the fabric and place it over the pole. Secure the fabric to the pole by wrapping with plenty of twine. Camouflage the twine with a bright ribbon tied in a knot (see photo, below). Repeat with remaining poles positioned at appropriate intervals to form a canopy.
A Cherry Jubilee
Just Cherries
These lemongrass-infused cherries are refreshingly tart, so
they're wonderful paired with sweeter companions like
chocolate ice cream.
Prep: 45 minutes Cook: 35 minutes
2 1/2 lb. fresh tart red cherries or two 1-lb. pkg. frozen
unsweetened pitted tart red cherries
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
4 large stalks fresh lemongrass, trimmed and cut into
2-inch pieces, or 4 tsp. finely shredded lemon peel
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1. If using fresh cherries, rinse and drain cherries;
remove stems and pits. Measure 6 cups. In a large
saucepan combine cherries, sugar, water, and lemongrass
or lemon peel. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered,
for 35 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.
2. Ladle the fruit mixture into clean half-pint jars or
storage containers. Cover and store for up to 3 weeks in
the refrigerator; remove lemongrass, if using, after 1 week
or before serving. Makes 4 half-pint jars (4 servings per jar).
Nutrition facts per serving: 79 cal.,
0 g total fat (0 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol.,
2 mg sodium, 20 g carbo., 1 g fiber,
and 1 g pro. Daily Values: 16% vit. A
11% vit. C, 1% calcium, and 1% iron.
Hit-the-Spot Lemon Water
You'll be amazed at the subtle flavors
that pop out when you soak lemons and
fresh herbs in water for a few hours. It's
pure, thirst-quenching goodness--no
sugar needed.
Prep: 15 minutes Chill: 1 to 8 hours
4 lemons, sliced
1 1/2 cups firmly packed fresh mint
or basil leaves
6 to 8 cups bottled water or
tap water
6 to 8 cups ice cubes
Fresh mint or basil sprigs
1. Place lemon slices in a large
pitcher. Carefully rub the 1 1/2 cups
basil or mint leaves between the palms
of your hands to slightly bruise the
leaves. Add to pitcher with lemon.
Pour in water. Cover and chill for 1 to
8 hours. Strain lemon-water mixture.
Discard herbs. Divide lemon slices
and additional fresh mint or basil
leaves equally among 8 pint-sized
canning jars (or plastic water bottles). For
each serving, add 1 cup of
ice cubes; fill with the lemon water.
Add lids when transporting the jars.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Nutrition facts per serving: 11 cal.,
0 g total fat (0 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol.,
8 mg sodium, 4 g carbo., 1 g fiber,
and 0 g pro. Daily Values: 0% vit. A,
34% vit. C, 1% calcium, and
1% iron.
Gingered Salt with Cakes
and Radishes
Candied ginger, which you can buy in
major markets or specialty stores, adds
a spicy snap to this dipping salt.
Prep: 10 minutes Stand: 24 hours
1/2 cup coarse-grained sea salt or
kosher salt
2 to 3 Tbsp. chopped crystallized
ginger
Baby cucumbers, halved lengthwise,
or medium cucumbers,
halved crosswise and cut
lengthwise into wedges,
peeled, if desired
Radishes
1. In a screw-top jar combine salt
and ginger. Screw on the lid. Shake
well to combine. Let stand for
24 hours or up to 1 month. Serve
salt with cucumbers and radishes.
Makes 2/3 cup (48 servings).
Nutrition facts per serving: 12 cal.,
0 g total fat (0 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol.,
804 mg sodium, 3 g carbo., 1 g fiber,
1 g pro. Daily Values: 3% vit. A, 10%
vit. C, 1% calcium, and 1% iron.
Peachy Baked White Beans
Tote these summertime baked beans
to the feast in an insulated carrier to
keep them hot.
Prep: 20 minutes Bake: 11/2 hours
Cook: 1 hour Stand: 1 hour
1 lb. dry white beans, such as
great Northern, cannellini, or
navy beans (about 2 1/3 cups)
1 to 1 1/2 lb. meaty smoked
pork hocks
3 medium peaches, pitted and
cut into wedges (about 3 cups)
1 cup chopped onion (1 large)
1 cup peach nectar or apple juice
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp. snipped fresh sage or
2 tsp. dried sage, crushed
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 or 2 medium peaches, pitted
and sliced
Fresh sage sprig
1. Rinse beans. In a large Dutch
oven or pot combine beans and
8 cups water. Bring to boiling;
reduce heat. Simmer for 2 minutes.
Remove from heat. Cover and let
stand for 1 hour. (Or, place beans in
water in Dutch oven. Cover and let
soak in a cool place overnight.)
2. Drain and rinse beans. Return
beans to Dutch oven. Add pork
hocks. Stir in 8 cups fresh water.
Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover
and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or
until beans are tender, stirring
occasionally. Remove hocks; set
aside. Drain beans. When cool
enough to handle, cut meat off
bones; coarsely chop meat.
3. Preheat oven to 300 [degrees] F. In a
2 1/2- to 3-quart casserole combine
the beans, meat, the 3 cups peach
wedges, and onion. Stir in peach
nectar, brown sugar, sage, salt,
and pepper.
4. Bake, covered, for 1 hour.
Uncover and bake 15 minutes more
or until desired consistency, stirring
occasionally. Before serving, top with
remaining peach slices and fresh sage
sprig. Makes 10 to 12 servings.
Nutrition facts per serving:
229 cal., 2 g total fat (1 g sat. fat),
6 mg chol., 139 mg sodium, 43 g
carbo., 10 g fiber, and 12 g pro. Daily
Values: 6% vit. A, 11% vit. C, 8%
calcium, and 12% iron.
Cantaloupe and Tomato Salad
For the freshest taste, carry dressing
and other ingredients in separate
containers or sealed plastic bags and
keep them in the cooler. Toss everything
together just before it's time to
summon picnickers to the table.
Prep: 25 minutes
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 green onion, finely chopped
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cups lightly packed watercress
1 medium cantaloupe, halved,
seeded, peeled, and cut into
thin wedges
2 cups red and/or yellow pear or
cherry tomatoes, halved or
quartered
4 oz. crumbled goat cheese with
garlic and herbs
1. For dressing, in a screw-top jar
combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar,
green onion, salt, and pepper. Shake
well to combine.
2. In a large bowl carefully toss
together watercress, cantaloupe
wedges, and tomatoes. Sprinkle with
goat cheese. Drizzle with dressing.
Toss gently to coat. Makes 8 servings.
Nutrition facts per serving: 149 cal.,
11 g total fat (4 g sat. fat), 11 mg chol.,
160 mg sodium, 9 g carbo., 1 g fiber,
4 g pro. Daily Values: 62% vit. A, 70%
vit. C, 6% calcium 4% iron.
Potato Gnocchi Salad
Look for potato gnocchi in specialty
food shops. We liked the small fresh
gnocchi found in sealed plastic pouches.
Larger gnocchi tends to be heavy
in this refreshing summer salad.
Prep: 25 minutes Cook: 5 minutes
Chill: 4 to 24 hours
2 cups sugar snap peas (8 oz.),
ends trimmed and halved
crosswise
8 oz. potato gnocchi or small
new potatoes, quartered
1/2 of a 4-oz. pkg. (1/2 cup)
crumbled garlic-and-herb
feta cheese
1/4 cup thin wedges red onion
1 recipe Herb Vinaigrette (page 245)
1. In a large saucepan cook sugar
snap peas in lightly salted boiling
water for 1 minute. Using a slotted
spoon, transfer peas to a colander.
Rinse peas under cold water; drain
and set aside.
2. Add gnocchi to the boiling
water remaining in saucepan. Cook
according to package directions or
until tender but firm; drain. Rinse
with cold water; drain again. Or, add
the potatoes to the boiling water and
cook, covered, for 10 minutes or
until just tender. Drain and rinse
with cold water; drain again.
3. In a large bowl toss together
sugar snap peas, gnocchi or potatoes,
feta cheese, and onion. Cover and
chill 4 to 24 hours.
4. Prepare Herb Vinaigrette.
Cover and chill 4 to 24 hours. Before
serving, shake dressing. Pour over
salad. Toss lightly to coat. Makes
8 servings.
Herb Vinaigrette: In a screw-top
jar combine 3 tablespoons olive
oil, 3 tablespoons lemon juice,
1 tablespoon snipped fresh dill,
1 tablespoon snipped fresh garlic
chives or chives, 1/4 teaspoon salt,
and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cover and
shake well. Makes 1/2 cup.
Nutrition facts per serving: 114
cal., 7 g total fat (2 g sat. fat), 6 mg
chol., 282 mg sodium, 12 g carbo.,
1 g fiber, 3 g pro. Daily Values: 1% vit.
A, 19% vit. C, 4% calcium, 2% iron.
Salmon Picnic Sandwiches
Avoid last-minute scurrying by putting
these two-fisted sandwiches together
in advance. Keeping them wrapped in
the fridge adds to the incredible flavor.
Prep: 30 minutes Cook: 10 minutes
Chill: 1 hour
1 lb. fresh or frozen skinless
salmon fillets, cut 1 inch thick
1 cup Chardonnay or other dry
white wine, or chicken broth
1 medium Vidalia or other
sweet onion, cut into thin
wedges (1/2 cup)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt or coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
2 sprigs fresh oregano
1 recipe Olive-and-Onion Relish
(page 246)
1 8- to 12-oz. loaf ciabatta or
baguette Italian bread
Olive oil
Lemon wedges
1. Thaw fish, if frozen. Rinse fish.
In a large skillet or fish poacher
combine wine or broth, onion, salt,
pepper, and oregano. Bring to
boiling; add salmon. Reduce heat and
simmer, covered, for 10 to
12 minutes or until fish flakes easily
when tested with a fork. Use a slotted
spatula to transfer salmon and onions
from cooking liquid to a large bowl or
shallow dish. Discard cooking liquid.
Cover and refrigerate salmon and
onions for 1 hour or until chilled.
2. Meanwhile prepare the Olive-and-Onion
Relish. Cut bread into
quarters. Slice each quarter in half
horizontally. Drizzle the cut sides
lightly with olive oil. Remove salmon
from refrigerator. Cut salmon fillet
into 4 equal pieces. Place a piece of
salmon on bottom of bread. Top
with Olive-and-Onion Relish. Add
top piece of bread. Wrap securely
in plastic wrap. Refrigerate up to
4 hours. Squeeze lemon wedges over
salmon and relish before serving.
Makes 4 sandwiches.
Olive-and-Onion Relish: In a small
bowl combine reserved onion
wedges (from poaching liquid);
1/2 cup pitted green olives, halved;
1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved;
2 tablespoons snipped fresh flat-leaf
parsley; and 2 teaspoons snipped
fresh oregano.
Nutrition facts per sandwich:
398 cal., 17 g total fat (2 g sat. fat),
70 mg chol., 1,269 mg sodium,
32 g carbo., 3 g fiber, and 29 g pro.
Daily Values: 7% vit. A, 6% vit. C,
7% calcium, and 15% iron.
Lumpy PB&J Roosters
Thick slices of firm bread work best to
support the lollipop sticks. Pile finished
sandwiches on a "nest" of shoestring
potatoes (which come in a variety of
kid-pleasing flavors). We've found kids
immediately pull the birds off their
roosts and devour the filling.
Prep: 25 minutes Chill: 1 hour
1 10-oz. jar raspberry or
strawberry spreadable fruit
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
1/4 cup shredded coconut
3 Tbsp. orange juice
12 slices firm-textured white or
whole wheat sandwich bread
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup chopped strawberries,
bananas, and/or pineapple
6 4- to 5-inch lollipop sticks
6 dried currants or miniature
semisweet chocolate pieces or
3 raisins, snipped in half
1. In a small bowl combine spreadable
fruit, chopped peanuts, coconut,
and orange juice. Set aside.
2. Cut 12 shapes from bread slices
using 3- to 4-inch rooster or other
shaped cutters. (Reserve bread
you've cut away for another use.)
3. Spread 1 tablespoon of the
peanut butter on one side of each
shape, making sure that shapes will
match up when placed together.
Sprinkle chopped fruit over peanut
butter on 6 of the shapes. Top each
fruit-covered shape with matching
top, peanut butter side down. Press
shapes together, forming a sandwich.
Insert a lollipop stick into the filling
of sandwich. Press slightly to secure
lollipop stick. Repeat with remaining
shapes and sticks.
4. Spread a small amount of
peanut butter on bottom of a currant.
Place a currant "eye" on each rooster
sandwich. Wrap and chill up to
1 hour. Serve with spreadable fruit
mixture as a dipping sauce. Makes
6 sandwiches.
Nutrition facts per sandwich:
486 cal., 24 g total fat (5 g sat. fat),
0 mg chol., 421 mg sodium,
64 g carbo., 3 g fiber, and 14 g
pro. Daily Values: 0% vit. A,
18% vit. C, 6% calcium, and
13% iron.
Carrots with Dried Fruit Confetti
You can cut the get-ready time to
nearly nothing by using purchased
carrot sticks.
Prep: 15 minutes Chill: 1 to 4 hours
12 small carrots with tops or
6 medium carrots (1 lb.)
1 8-oz. tub of flavored cream
cheese, such as honey-nut or
apple-cinnamon
2 to 3 tsp. milk
1 1/2 cups dried blueberries, dried
cranberries, and/or golden
raisins
1. Peel carrots. If using small
carrots, serve whole. Cut medium
carrots into sticks about 3 inches long
and 1/2 inch wide. Pat dry. with
paper towels.
2. In a medium bowl combine
cream cheese and milk, stirring until
smooth. Spread the cream cheese
mixture to cover half of the carrot.
3. Sprinkle dried blueberries over
the cream cheese mixture. Cover
and chill 1 to 4 hours. Makes
12 snack servings.
CUTTERS 'N' STUFF
Here's the gear you need to make Lumpy PB&J
Roosters (recipe, left) and Wild Blueberry Pies
(recipe, page 248). Our Cutters 'N' Stuff Pack contains
a rooster cookie cutter (4 inches high and
21/2 inches wide), 6-inch lollipop sticks (bag of 50),
and a set of six graduated flower-shaped cookie
cutters. The six graduated flowers range in size
from 11/2 to 33/4 inches in diameter. From Off the
Beaten Path, Make 'N Mold, and Ateco, the complete
Nutrition facts per serving:
139 cal., 5 g total fat (3 g sat. fat),
18 mg chol., 76 mg sodium, 21 g
carbo., 2 g fiber, and 1 g pro. Daily
Values: 192% vit. A, 6% vit. C,
4% calcium, and 3% iron.
Cheery Cherry-Lemon Cake
Tote the frosting separately in a cooler
until you're ready to serve this lemony
cake flecked with chopped cherries.
Then just plop a big spoonful of the
fluffy stuff onto each serving of cake
and add a jaunty cherry.
Prep: 40 minutes Bake: 30 minutes
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pitted
sweet cherries
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
2 tsp. finely shredded lemon peel
1 recipe Cream Cheese Frosting
Red sweet cherries with stems
Fresh mint leaves
oven to 375 [degrees] F. Grease
a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside.
Pat the coarsely chopped cherries as
dry as possible with paper towels to
prevent bleeding. In a medium bowl
combine flour, baking powder, and
salt; set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl beat
butter with an electric mixer on
medium to high speed for
30 seconds. Add sugar and vanilla;
beat until well combined. Add eggs,
one at a time, beating 1 minute after
each. Add dry mixture and milk
alternately to beaten mixture,
beating on low speed after each
addition just until combined. Stir
lemon peel into batter. Pour batter
into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the
chopped cherries evenly over top
of batter. (The cherries will sink
during baking.)
3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or
until a wooden toothpick inserted
near center comes out clean. Place
cake in pan on a wire rack;
cool thoroughly.
4. To serve, cut cake into 12 pieces.
Top each piece with a generous
dollop of Cream Cheese Frosting.
Add a cherry and mint leaf to each
piece. Makes 12 large servings.
Cream Cheese Frosting: In a large
bowl beat together until light and
fluffy, one 8-ounce package cream
cheese, softened; 2/3 cup butter, softened;
2 teaspoons finely shredded
lemon peel; and 2 tablespoons lemon
juice. Gradually add 3 cups sifted
powdered sugar, beating well.
Gradually beat in about 1 1/2 cups
additional sifted powdered sugar to
reach a consistency that will dollop.
Nutrition facts per serving:
676 cal., 32 g total fat (20 g sat. fat),
138 mg chol., 498 mg sodium, 94 g
carbo., 1 g fiber, and 8 g pro. Daily
Values: 26% vit. A, 8% vit. C, 12%
calcium, and 10% iron.
Wild Blueberry Pies
Prepare the pastry first and have the
cutouts ready before making the fruit
filling, or the filling becomes too juicy.
Prep: 30 minutes Bake: 18 minutes
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 cup shortening
6 to 7 Tbsp. cold water
1 recipe Wild Blueberry Filling or
Raspberry Filling (page 250)
1 beaten egg
Coarse sugar or sugar
1. Line a large baking sheet
with foil; set aside. In a medium
mixing bowl stir together flour,
cardamom, and salt. Using a pastry
blender, cut in shortening until
pieces are pea-size.
2. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the
water over part of the mixture; gently
toss with a fork. Push moistened
dough to side of bowl. Repeat, using
1 tablespoon water at a time, until all
the dough is moistened. Divide
dough in half. Form into two balls.
3. On a lightly floured surface
flatten 1 ball of dough. Roll dough
into a 16x8-inch rectangle. Use a
3 3/4- to 4-inch scalloped or round
cutter to cut out eight circles from
dough. Stack cutouts between pieces
of waxed paper. Repeat procedure
with remaining dough ball. You will
have a total of sixteen 4-inch cutouts.
4. Preheat oven to 375 [degrees] F. Prepare
desired filling. Place eight of the
pastry cutouts 2 inches apart on the
prepared baking sheet. Spoon about
2 tablespoons filling onto each of the
cutouts. Moisten edges with water.
Top with remaining pastry cutouts.
Seal edges with tines of a fork.
5. Prick tops of pies two or three
times with a fork to allow steam to
escape. Brush with beaten egg and
sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 18 to 20
minutes or until golden brown.
Remove from pan; cool on a wire
rack. Makes 8 pies.
Wild Blueberry Filling: In a
medium bowl stir together 2 to
3 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon
all-purpose flour, and 1/2 teaspoon
finely shredded lemon peel. Stir in
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen wild or
cultivated blueberries. (If berries are
frozen, do not thaw before using.)
Raspberry Filling: In a medium
mixing bowl stir together 3 to 4
tablespoons sugar, 4 teaspoons
all-purpose flour, and 1/2 teaspoon
finely shredded lemon peel. Stir in
1 1/2 cups raspberries.
Nutrition facts per serving: 305
cal., 17 g total fat (4 g sat. fat), 27 mg
chol., 156 mg sodium, 33 g carbo.,
2 g fiber, and 4 g pro. Daily Values:
1% vit. A, 7% vit. C, 2% calcium,
and 11% iron.
Turtle Pretzels
Enjoy these pretzels the same day
they're prepared, especially the
rods, because the pretzels may soften
on standing.
Prep: 45 minutes Chill: 20 minutes
Butter
1 14-oz. pkg. vanilla caramels
(about 48)
1 Tbsp. water
15 to 20 large pretzel twists (about
4 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick)
or pretzel rods
4 oz. bittersweet or semisweet
chocolate, chopped
1 tsp. shortening
Chopped pecans, snipped dried
cranberries or dried
blueberries, or miniature
candy-coated semisweet
chocolate pieces
1. Lightly butter a large cookie
sheet; set aside. In a small saucepan
combine unwrapped caramels and
1 tablespoon water. Cook and stir
over low heat until caramels are
just melted and smooth. Remove
from heat.
2. Dip the top portion of pretzel
twists or three-fourths of each
pretzel rod into the caramel mixture,
tilting pan as necessary to help coat
each pretzel. Let excess caramel drip
off of pretzels. Place pretzels on
prepared cookie sheet. (If caramel
mixture is running off of pretzels
onto the cookie sheet, wait a few
minutes before dipping remaining
pretzels. The caramel mixture will
cool slightly and thicken a bit,
clinging to pretzels better.) Cool
until caramel is set.
3. Place chocolate and shortening
in another small saucepan. Cook and
stir over low heat Until chocolate is
just melted and smooth. Cool
slightly. Spoon melted chocolate
mixture into a small plastic bag. Use
scissors to snip a small hole in one
corner of the bag. Drizzle chocolate
from the bag onto pretzels, forming
decorative lines. Sprinkle with nuts,
dried fruit, or chocolate pieces. Chill
pretzels in refrigerator for about
20 minutes or until chocolate is firm.
Transfer to waxed paper or cellophane
bags. Makes 15 to 20 pretzels.
Nutrition facts per serving:
283 cal., 10 g total fat (3 g sat. fat),
4 mg chol., 503 mg sodium, 46 g
carbo., 2 g fiber, and 5 g pro. Daily
Values: 0% vit. A, 0% vit. C,
6% calcium, and 5% iron.
Low-Country Shrimp Boil
Some South Carolinians call this
recipe Beaufort Stew or Frogmore
Stew, although it's known in general
terms as a low-country boil.
Start to finish: 45 minutes
16 cups water
1/4 cup Old Bay seasoning or
crab boil seasoning
2 to 3 tsp. ground red pepper
2 lb. cooked smoked sausage,
cut in 1 1/2-inch chunks
2 lb. tiny new potatoes, halved
if large
10 small onions, peeled (about
3 lb.)
5 fresh ears corn, shucked and
halved
2 lb. fresh or frozen large shrimp
in shells
1/4 cup butter, melted (optional)
1/4 cup snipped fresh herbs, such
as thyme, oregano, and/or
basil (optional)
Cocktail sauce (optional)
Bottled hot pepper sauce
(optional)
1. In a 10-quart Dutch oven combine
water, Old Bay seasoning, and
ground red pepper. Cover and bring
to boiling. Once water is boiling,
carefully add sausage, potatoes,
onions, and com. Return to boiling;
reduce heat. Cover and simmer for
10 minutes. Add shrimp. Cover and
cook for 2 to 3 minutes more or until
shrimp turn opaque. Remove from
heat; let stand for 5 minutes.
2. Carefully drain in a large colander.
Combine melted butter and
herbs; drizzle over shrimp and vegetables.
Serve with cocktail sauce and
hot pepper sauce. Makes 10 servings.
Nutrition facts per serving:
520 cal., 29 g total fat (13 g sat. fat),
131 mg chol., 1,039 mg sodium,
38 g carbo., 5 g fiber, and 28 g pro.
Daily Values: 5% vit. A, 39% vit. C,
7% calcium, and 21% iron. A
EASY CHERRY PITTING
A cherry pitter works best to remove that hard seed, but if you don't have this tool, use a clean paper clip. Slide the wide end of the clip into the top of the cherry. When you feel the pit, hook it and give it a tuggy flip; it will pop out. (It takes some practice and, beware, is slightly messy.)
CAMPBELL'S[R]
2-Step Beefy
Taco Joes
1 lb. ground beef
1 can (10 3/4 oz.)
CAMPBELL'S[R]
Tomato Soup
1 cup Pace[R] Chunky Salsa
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
8 round sandwich rolls, split
Brown ground beef. Add can
CAMPBELL'S[R] Tomato Soup and
cup salsa. Heat through. Top
with shredded cheddar cheese.
Serve on rolls.
Serves 8
NESTLE[R]
Famous
Fudge
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup NESTLE[R]
CARNATION[R]
Evaporated Milk
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 cups (9 oz.) NESTLE[R]
TOLL HOUSE[R] Semi-Sweet Chocolate
Morsels
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts or
pecans (optional)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Line an 8-inch square baking
pan with foil.
Combine sugar, evaporated milk,
butter and salt in medium,
heavy-duty saucepan. Bring to full
rolling boil over medium heat,
stirring constantly. Boil, stirring
constantly, for 4 to 5 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Stir in marshmallows, morsels,
nuts and vanilla extract. Stir
vigorously for 1 minute or until
marshmallows are melted. Pour
into prepared pan; refrigerate for 2
hours or until firm. Lift from pan;
remove foil. Cut into pieces.
Makes 49 pieces
SURE-JELL[R]
Raspberry
Peach
Freezer Jam
3 1/2 cups prepared fruit (buy
about 1 1/2 pt. fully ripe red
raspberries and about
1 1/4 lb. fully ripe peaches)
7 cups sugar, measured into
separate bowl (See tip
below.)
3/4 cup water
1 box SURE-JELL[R] Fruit Pectin
Rinse clean plastic containers
and lids with boiling water.
Dry thoroughly.
Crush raspberries thoroughly, one
layer at a time. (Press half of pulp
through a sieve to remove some of
the seeds, if desired.) Measure
exactly 2 cups prepared raspberries
into large bowl. Peel and pit
peaches. Finely chop or grind fruit.
Measure exactly 1 1/2 cups prepared
peaches into bowl with raspberries.
Stir in sugar. Let stand 10 minutes;
stir occasionally.
Mix water and pectin in small
saucepan. Bring mixture to boil on
high heat, stirring constantly.
Continue boiling and stirring
for 1 minute. Stir pectin mixture
into fruit mixture. Stir constantly
until sugar is dissolved and no
longer grainy, about 3 minutes.
(A few sugar crystals may remain.)
Fill all containers quickly to within
1/2 inch of tops. Wipe off top edges
of containers; quickly cover with
lids. Let stand at room temperature
24 hours. Jam is now ready to use.
Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks
or freeze extra containers up to 1
year. Thaw in refrigerator.
Makes about 7 (1 cup) containers.
Important Tip: 70 get exact level cup
measures of sugar, spoon sugar into
dry metal or plastic measuring
cups, then level by scraping excess
sugar from top of cup with a straight-edged
knife.
RELATED ARTICLE: Three great picnic wines.
Pull the cork from any of this trio and you'll be treated to a juicy, fruity glass of deliciousness that lifts moods and brings a sense of occasion to any outdoor meal.
Yellow Tail 2001 Chardonnay $6: Keep it icy cold, and this peachy-flavored Australian white will keep you and your guests company from the time you first peek into the picnic basket to that slightly sad moment when you head for home.
Firesteed 2000 Pinot Gris $10: A white wine that gives you the same refreshing experience as biting into a crisp green apple. That Potato Gnocchi Salad on page 244? This is the wine to serve with it--or any of the other dishes in this story.
Clos Du Bois 2000 Pinot Noir Sonoma County $17: A smooth-drinking red wine that's perfect with a big, rare roast beef sandwich or a grilled anything. Keep cool--but not cold--and you'll be rewarded with flavors of cherry and plum.
--Richard Swearinger
CUTTERS `N' STUFF
Here's the gear you need to make Lumpy PB&J Roosters (Recipe, left) and Wild Blueberry Pies (recipe, page 248). Our Cutters `N' Stuff Pack contains a rooster cookie cutter (4 inches high and 2 1/2 inches wide), 6-inch lollipop sticks (bag of 50) and a set of six graduated flower-shaped cookie cutters. The six graduated flowers range in size from 1 1/2 to 3 3/4 inches in diameter. From Off the Beaten Path, Make `Nmold, and Ateco, the complete set costs $, which includes shipping, handling, and applicable sales tax.
TO ORDER with your MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express card, call 800/881-4066. Or, visit our Internet site at .com.
INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER
Tiny wild blueberries and their plumper cultivated cousins can be used interchangeably in recipes. The wild berries have an intense blueberry flavor. If you can't find fresh berries, frozen blueberries work well too. However, when using in pie recipes, do not thaw the berries before baking.
EASY WAYS TO FIVE A DAY
Enjoy our "Nutrition In No Time" feature on pages 282-284. Here are sources for more information on this timely topic. Prices include shipping, handling, and applicable sales tax.
Better Homes and Gardens[R] Eating for Life is a 192-page hardcover cookbook that explains how the naturally occurring properties of ordinary foods--tomatoes, nuts, garlic, fish, oats and other grains, most teas, and even chocolate--can improve mood, boost immunity, and combat diseases. Find out the latest about antioxidants, free radicals, functional foods, phytochemicals, and phytoestrogens. A chart accompanies each of the 115 recipes indicating the health concern(s) that the recipe targets, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or PMS. (Better Homes and Gardens Books, $)
5 a Day: The Better Health Cookbook shows you how simple and delicious eating for better health can be. Besides offering more than 150 delicious recipes your family will love, the book gives tots of ideas for making small changes or additions to family favorite recipes to help you reach the 5-a-day goal. Fruit and vegetable servings are shown in an at-a-glance format with every recipe. Also included are a 7-day menu plan and 7 power menus. (Rodale, $)
The healthy benefits of eating fruits and vegetables is the simple premise behind the book The Color Code: A Revolutionary Eating Plan for Optimum Health. While we all know that healthful eating is one key to a long life, few people understand why the natural pigments that make fruits and vegetables so colorful can help protect your body. (Time Warner Books, $)
TO ORDER books with your Visa, MasterCard. American Express,or Discover card, call toll free 800/881-4066
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