Kid's cooking birthday party

"Thank you for doing Tanisha's party. She and her friends had an amazing time.”

Amita R., Westborough, Massachusetts

Chicopee Public Library

"I was so glad you could come. The patrons who took part were thrilled with the program and loved being able to taste the recipes. Thanks so much for making such delicious food for us.”

Carol L., Chicopee Public Library, Massachusetts

Red Potato Salad a la Moutard

© "So Easy, So Delicious"
 
1½ lbs red potatoes
2 scallions, chopped
2 T Dijon mustard
1 T Pommery mustard
¼ C olive oil
2 T red wine vinegar
3 T parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste

Scrub the potatoes and cut in half. Boil just until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and cool well. Slice into ½-inch pieces. In a jar, combine both mustards and oil. Add red wine vinegar, scallions and parsley and shake well. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Pour this mixture over the potatoes and toss until potatoes are coated with dressing. Serve at room temperature or chill for a few hours or up to 2 days before serving.

Hint: This potato salad is low in fat and is very flavorful!

Grilled Tuscan Salmon

 
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder or finely minced fresh garlic
(4) 6 oz salmon filets
4 tsp olive oil

In a small bowl, combine spices. Brush each skinless side of fillet with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Sprinkle a quarter of the spice mixture on each fillet and press into oil. Allow this to stand for about 15 minutes. Place salmon, skin side up on a well-greased grill. Cover grill and cook over high heat for about 3 minutes. Flip over and cook, skin side down, for about 5 to 6 additional minutes, or until done. Grilling time depends on the heat of the grill and the thickness of the fillet.

Hint: To prevent fish from sticking to the grill, before cooking make sure the grill grids are very clean. Scrape grids with a brush and then wipe with a damp cotton rag. Then apply oil to the grids before heating the grill.

German Blueberry Kuchen

© "From Ellie's Kitchen to Yours"
 
1½ C flour, sifted
Dash salt
4 C (1½ to 2 pts) blueberries
3 T quick-cooking tapioca
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1 C sugar, divided
1/2 C butter or margarine, softened
1 T fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
Whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or vanilla frozen yogurt

Combine flour, 1/2 cup sugar, dash salt and butter or margarine. Mix with pastry blender or fork until crumbs form. Measure 3/4 cup of mixture and set aside. Press remaining crumbs over bottom and about 3/4-inch up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Combine blueberries, lemon juice, 1/2 cup sugar, tapioca, salt and cinnamon. Let stand for 15 minutes. Spoon blueberry mixture into crumb-lined pan. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes. Then sprinkle with 3/4 cup reserved crumbs. Bake 20 to 25 minutes longer, or until crumbs are golden. Serve warm or at room temperature. Serve with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or vanilla frozen yogurt.

Hint: Although this looks like a very fancy tart, it is simple to make!

Natalie's Cooking Party

Korean Flank or Skirt Steak

 
2 lbs flank or skirt steak
1/3 C low sodium soy sauce or tamari
1/4 C packed dark brown sugar
2 T fresh lime juice
6 cloves fresh garlic, minced
4 scallions, chopped
2 T toasted sesame seeds d
1/4 C sesame oil
2 tsp coarse salt

Place steak in a large enough pan to keep pieces of meat flat. Mix remaining ingredients together, stirring until sugar dissolves. Pour marinade over steak and turn steak over so that all sides are coated. Cover dish and marinate in refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or up to 24 hours. Bring steak to room temperature before grilling or broiling. Grill over high heat for 3 to 4 minutes, per side, turning once for medium-rare or grill until desired doneness is reached. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for about 10 minutes. Thinly slice against the grain.

Baked Salsa Dip

 
16 oz cream cheese, softened
2 lbs salsa
12 oz Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
Nachos, for dipping

Spread cream cheese in a 9”x13” pan. Cover with salsa. Sprinkle Monterey Jack cheese over salsa. Bake at 350° for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve with Nachos.

Hint: Vary the taste and spiciness by using whatever salsa you like best. For a small group, cut the recipe in half and bake in a 9-inch pie plate or square dish.

Kid's cooking birthday party

"Thanks again - Caroline has been enjoying cooking for us out of your cookbook! The Greek Lemon soup was a big hit, and she made a shrimp stir-fry as my birthday dinner this year.!”

Leah D., Grafton, Massachusetts

Yogurt Pancakes

© "From Ellie's Kitchen to Yours"
 
1¼ C flour
1 T sugar
½ tsp salt, if desired
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1¼ C plain yogurt or buttermilk
1 egg
2 T canola oil

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Add yogurt, egg and oil. Mix until just combined. Drop by tablespoons onto a slightly greased skillet and cook until tiny bubbles appear. Turn over and brown on the other side.

Yield: 14 pancakes

Hint: Leftovers may be frozen and reheated in the toaster oven. You may add 1 cup diced apples, cranberries, blueberries, etc. to the batter before cooking. These pancakes are both low cholesterol and low fat if you use nonfat yogurt, egg substitute or 2 egg whites instead of a whole egg.

Roasted Red Potatoes and Green Beans

© "So Easy, So Delicious"
 
8 small red potatoes (approx. 1¼ lbs), unpeeled and cut in quarters
24 whole garlic cloves, peeled
2 to 3 T olive oil, divided
1 lb green beans, ends removed and cut in half
¼ C parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste

Scrub and quarter potatoes. Place in a shallow roasting pan. Add garlic and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes, stirring once or twice. Toss green beans with 1 tablespoon olive oil and add to potatoes and garlic. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring 2 or 3 times. Remove from roasting pan and place in a bowl. Toss with parsley, salt and pepper. Add the last tablespoon of oil, if desired. Serve either hot or at room temperature.

Hint: Don’t be shocked at the amount of garlic in this recipe. As garlic cooks, it develops a nutty, almost sweet flavor.

Chocolate Macaroons

© "From Ellie's Kitchen to Yours"
 
2 oz semi-sweet chocolate
2 T butter or margarine
⅓ C sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
2⅔ C (7 oz pkg) coconut

Melt chocolate and butter or margarine in a double boiler over low heat. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat and blend in sugar, eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Stir in coconut. Drop by teaspoon onto greased, or parchment-lined, cookie sheets leaving 1½ inches between each. Bake at 350° for 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Yield: 3 dozen macaroons

Hint: These are quick to make and quick to disappear!

Griffin Electric lunchtime seminar

Mini-Reuben Sandwiches

© "From Ellie's Kitchen to Yours"
 
2 loaves cocktail rye bread
3/4 lb Swiss cheese, thinly sliced
1½ lbs corned beef
16 to 24 oz sauerkraut, well drained
6 to 8 oz Thousand Island or Russian salad dressing
Butter or margarine

Spread several pieces of bread on counter at a time. Spread one side of each sandwich with salad dressing. Top with cheese, sauerkraut and corned beef. Place other half of sandwich on top. Place in frying pan or on grill and cook in butter or margarine until cheese melts and sandwich is crispy. Instead of grilling these, they may be baked at 400° for 5 to 7 minutes, or until sandwiches are hot and the cheese melted.

Yield: 42 to 44 mini sandwiches

Mini-Rachel Sandwiches

© "From Ellie's Kitchen to Yours"

Make these the same way as the Reubens except substitute turkey breast for corned beef. To make the Rachels lower in cholesterol, fat and sodium, substitute low fat Swiss cheese, low salt turkey breast and low calorie or fat free Thousand Island or Russian salad dressing.

Hint: The sauerkraut that is packed in jars or Cryovac, usually kosher or deli style, is much tastier to use in this recipe than a canned sauerkraut. Use coleslaw as an alternative to sauerkraut.