Deer Repellant

I bought a gallon of hot pepper sauce a couple of years ago to make up an animal repellant for my garden.  I still have about a gallon left.  This recipe puts a dent in it. 

Franks's Red Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip
From Frank's
Makes 4 cups

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup blue cheese or ranch salad dressing

1/2 cup FRANK'S® REDHOT® Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce or FRANK'S® REDHOT® Buffalo Wing Sauce (I added half the amount)

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese or shredded mozzarella cheese

2 cans (12.5 oz. each)  white premium chunk chicken breast in water, drained

HEAT oven to 350°F. Place cream cheese into deep baking dish. Stir until smooth.
MIX in salad dressing, Frank's RedHot Sauce and cheese. Stir in chicken.
BAKE 20 min. or until mixture is heated through; stir. Garnish as desired. Serve with crackers or vegetables.  Triscuits are great.  (I just served cold.  Wow. I totally missed the bake directions.)

1/4  cup serving: 144 calories

TIPS: Reduced Calorie Recipe: Substitute neufchatel cheese for the cream cheese, and low fat options for the salad dressing and blue cheese.
Microwave Directions: Prepare as above. Place in microwave-safe dish. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 5 min. until hot, stirring halfway through cooking.
Slow Cooker Method: Combine ingredients as directed above. Place mixture into small slow cooker. Cover pot. Heat on HIGH setting for 1 1/2 hours until hot and bubbly or on LOW setting for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Stir.
Tailgating Tip: Prepare dip ahead and place in heavy disposable foil pan. Place pan on grill and heat dip until hot and bubbly.
Tip: You may substitute 2 cups shredded cooked chicken.

 

Bubbly Buttermilk

Don't throw it out.  It makes a great dressing or dip.

Buttermilk Dressing

From Betty Crocker

 

1/3 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or 1 t.  dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon instant minced onion

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/8 teaspoon salt 

1 garlic clove, crushed or 1/8 t. garlic powder

 

Shake all ingredients in tightly covered container. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Shake before serving. About 3/4 cup dressing.

Aged Velveeta

You know, like aged to perfection.  Not like something that has been sitting around for years.  Wait, that is aged.  Oh yeah, so Velveeta, only better. 

Cheesy Dip or Potato Topper
Great served with Fritos

1 stick butter or margarine 
1 small package Mexican Velveeta (16 oz)
1 box broccoli, cooked according to directions. (10 oz)
1 small can mushrooms (4 oz)
1 can cream of mushroom soup

Melt butter in saucepan.  Add cheese and melt.  Stir in soup.  Stir in broccoli and mushrooms.  Serve warm. Crock pot works well. 

If I can't find Mexican Velveeta or I am using what I have dug up on hand, I will use regular Velveeta and add one jar of salsa or one can of stewed tomatoes per 2 pounds of cheese used or to taste.  

Fresh Salsa for Wimps

After planting 200 red onion bulbs and listening to the jeers about how all that onion that was going to ruin everyone's lives, I ended up with little or no onion. The poor little things were dug up by woodchucks, trampled by the cable guy, the electric guy, the gas guy and a million other workers. I manage to salvage a few puny ones.
Fresh Salsa for Wimps (i.e. not hot, no peppers)

Tomatoes, seeded and chopped
Red onion, chopped
Garlic, minced
Cilantro, minced
Lime juice
Salt

The amounts really depend on taste.
These are the amounts I used. Oooo, just got the thumbs up from the Arizona guy.

2 pounds tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 c. red onion, chopped (use more if desired)
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
3 T. fresh cilantro, minced (can use 1 T. dried)
1 T. lime juice
Salt to taste

Combine all the ingredients. Let sit at least for an hour. If the onion flavor is too strong, add less or let the onion sit in boiling water for a minute.

A Pilgrim and a Closed Door

Here are two tantalizing turkey recipes for your left overs. Turkey leftovers are fondly referred to as turk around here. Was that sarcasm or socratic irony? Please limit your response to 50 words or less.

Pilgrim Sandwich
From The White Gull Inn
Serves 4

8 slices dark rye bread
4 T. mayonnaise
1 pound sliced or shaved cooked turkey breast
3/4 c. cranberry orange relish
4 oz. Cheddar cheese, sliced
8 lettuce leaves

Place slices or rye bread on work surface. Spread mayonnaise on 4 of the slices. Top with turkey, relish, cheese and lettuce. Cover with remaining 4 slices rye bread and cut in half to serve.
Closed Doorwich
Adapted from The White Gull Inn
Serves 4

8 slices dark rye bread
softened butter
12-16 oz. sliced turkey
1 recipe caramelized apples
4 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese, more if desired
Smoked mayonnaise

Pre-heat skillet on medium low heat.

Butter one side of each slice of rye bread. Place one slice, buttered side down in pre-heated skillet. Top with turkey, warm caramelized apples and cheese. Top with remaining slice of rye bread, buttered side up. Cook until bread is hot and toasted. Turn over. Press down on sandwich with a spatula. Cook until bread is toasted and cheese is melted. If cheese doesn't melt, remove from heat and cover briefly until the cheese is melted. Remove from skillet and cut in half. Serve immediately with smoked mayonnaise for dipping.

Variation: Used smoked turkey and apple cider mayonnaise (see below)


Caramelized Apples
Serves 4

5 large apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
2/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. butter

Placed prepared apples in mixing bowl. Add sugar and gently mix. Melt butter in a skillet over medium high heat until bubbly. Add apples. It is best if they are in a single layer. Allow the sugar to melt and apples to brown. Gently check with a spatula. Once they have browned, turn them over with a spatula. Keep cooking them until the apples are browned and the sugar is caramelized. Total cooking time is about 30 min. Be careful not to burn the apples. Reduce heat if necessary. Serve immediately.

Smoked Mayonnaise
1 c. mayonnaise
1/2 to 1 t. liquid smoke (start with 1/2 t. adjust to taste)

Blend until smooth. Can add 1 T. apple cider or apple juice or frozen apple juice concentrate.


Apple Cider Mayonnaise
1. c mayonnaise
1 T. apple cider (can use apple juice or frozen apple juice concentrate)

Blend until smooth.

Overripe or Unripe Cucumbers

You pick. This recipe works with both. Which, oddly, I have.

Sour-Cream Cucumber Sauce
Adapted from Southern Living

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, cut into large chunks
8 oz. sour cream
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 t. dried dill
1/2 t. salt

Place ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth. Chill at least 30 min.

Great on salmon burgers or with Easy Greek Flank Steak. Also, great on hamburgers seasoned with Greek seasoning.

Grrrrr

Ok. Who left the sour cream container in the fridge with barely any left? Oh yeah. Me.

Vegetable Dip Mix

From Linda Larsen

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup dried chopped chives
• 2 tsp. dried dill weed
• 1 tsp. garlic salt
• 1 tsp. onion salt
• 2 tsp. smoked paprika

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl: blend well. Spoon mixture into a small glass container and store in a cool, dry place. Label as "Vegetable Dip Mix". Use within 6 months.
Vegetable Dip: Combine 1 Tbsp. lemon juice, 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 cup sour cream, and 2 Tbsp. Vegetable Dip Mix. Chill at least 1 hour before serving. Makes about 2 cups of dip.

Do You Say Brown Ketchup or Brown Catsup?

What? Yours is red? It hasn't turned brown? Lucky. I used my brown ketchup in my version of J-Dawgs sauce, a sweet southern style hot dog sauce. Sometimes I eat it without the hot dog. Or the bun. Note: the picture below is for photographic styling purposes only. It is not an actual representation of the amount of sauce that is generally used.

T-Dawgs Sauce
(copy-cat version of J-Dawgs sauce)

1 c. ketcup
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 T. apple cider vinegar

Combine ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and gently boil/simmer for 3 minutes, stirring often.

This recipe is a basic one that I often vary. Most times I make it even sweeter by adding an extra 1/2 to 1 c. of brown sugar. Sometimes I find it too vinegary and reduce the vinegar.

This can be used as a no-fat dressing on salads, cottage cheese, avocados, etc. Or as a bbq sauce. Add it to baked beans as well.

Jackpot!

I found this recipe and get to use 3 old/moldy things from my fridge! Cuban black beans from one month ago (that long?), sun-dried tomatoes from years ago and some salsa from months ago. Obviously I changed it a little to accommodate my needs. I heeded my advice and went easy on the marinated tomatoes.

Warm Black Bean Dip

SERVINGS

Servings

INGREDIENTS

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 (15 ounce) can BUSH'S® Black Beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven broiler.
2. Heat oil in an oven proof skillet over medium heat. Cook garlic until tender. Stir in BUSH'S® Black Beans, and corn; cook until heated through. Mix in tomatoes, and season with cumin, salt, and pepper. Top with cheese. Transfer the skillet to the oven.
3. Broil dip 3 to 4 inches from the heat for 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.

This is much better with the salsa. It isn't so dry.