ZELDA RECIPES

This is not low calorie but for Christmas morning, it would be special.

Ingredients

2 c flour

2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

1 cup softened butter

8 ounces cream cheese

1.5 cups sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

4 eggs

1.5 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 c chopped pecans or other nuts

Preheat oven 350 degrees and grease two 9 x 5 bread pans.

Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar and vanilla until fluffy.

Add eggs one at a time, blend well.  In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.

Gradually combine the dry ingredients with the wet, mixing only until blended.  

Fold in cranberries and nuts.

Divide the batter between your two pans.

Bake 45-65 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 

Slice and enjoy this delectable bread.

*I made it, easy recipe, the most important thing is to just forget the calories this one time!

Enjoy!

Example Text

It is fall and football.  This soup is hearty and served with cornbread, it just doesn't get any better.

1 Tbsp Butter

1 Tbsp olive Oil

Onion, medium, chopped

Celery, 2 stalks

3 cups chicken broth

8 c broccoli florets-fresh

1 medium potato sliced thin   *optional

Melt 1 Tblsp butter and 1 Tblsp olive oil in stock pan., saute onion and chopped up celery til almost transparent.

Add broccoli, thin sliced potato, and broth, cover and simmer 15 minutes til tender

Pour the contents of the stock pan in the blender, I do half at a time.  Hold the lid with a hand towel so it doesn't seep out.  Be careful, it is hot.

Blend by pulsing until smooth. Then pour into a clean pot. 

3 Tblsp butter

3 Tblsp flour

1 Tblsp yellow curry powder*

2 c milk

In a small saucepan, medium heat, 3 Tblsp butter, melt,  stir in flour and add milk.  Stir until thick and bubbly. Pour into soup.  Stir over low heat.  Ready to serve.

* I like to add 1 Tblsp curry, optional, salt and pepper to taste. 

Add a dab of sour cream before serving.

Enjoy!

A nice change from tortillas, easy!  Just a nice variation.

3 large russets potatoes

2 T. olive oil

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 1/2 c Mexican cheese mix

1 (15 oz) can black beans drained and rinsed, or homemade, rinsing

6 large eggs

Salsa to your taste

Avocado slices

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

While waiting, pierce potatoes and microwave 12 minutes.

Halve the potatoes lengthwise and scoop out the potato flesh. except for a 1/2 inch border around the potato for stability.

Brush the potatoes inside and out with olive oil.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Place facing up on cookie sheet.

Put cheese inside of potato boats, then layer black beans.

Crack the eggs, one per boat, bake until eggs whites are firm but yolks are still soft. 15-20 minutes,

When potatoes boats are cooled add salsa and avocado chunks.

The potatoes you scooped out can be added as a side dish or saved for a later meal.

 Thanks to *Simply Vegetarian Cookbook

 (Before They Are Out of Season)

Anyone that knows me knows I love to make things out of fruit, thus my prior vineyard and orchard.

I made fig jam but changed it a little bit to enrichen the flavor. Hope you try it.  One batch, 3 lbs. makes about 7 jars, 6-8 oz, cost $6.  That is the price of one jar at the grocery, plus sooo much better.  Need an appetizer?

Brie cheese, good crackers and fig jam, delicious and super easy.

3 lbs figs, stemmed and washed

2 cups brown sugar

1 tsp lemon juice

1 box pectin

1-2 tsp vanilla    ( I love vanilla)

Clean figs, remove stems, cut in half.

Put in a heavy pot, slowly add the sugar, medium heat, stirring constantly. I stir with a whisk to break the fruit up.  Bring to a boil for 2 minutes.

Stir in vanilla well.

Have 6-8 jars cleaned and ready, last rinse in very hot water.  Ladle in the fig jam.  

With a moist paper towel, clean the edges of the jar.  Cap the jar.

When cool, put in freezer.  

*You can process in a hot water bath as in canning, but I choose to freeze.

Label and date.

Then, be prepared.  Delicious!

*You probably don't want to give too many away.  Too good! :)

This was given to me by my friend Rosemary.  She loves it!

Fresh lime juice-1/4 cup

Olive oil-2 Tbsp

Red wine vinegar  1 Tbsp

Sugar -1 tsp

Kosher salt -1 tsp

Black pepper-1/2 tsp

Garlic, fresh-1 clove

Canned black beans-1 1/2 cup rinsed and drained, 15 oz

Canned pinto beans-1 1/2 cup rinsed and drained, 15 oz

Uncooked corn-1 1/2 cups

Grape tomatoes-1 cup chopped

Red onion-1/2 cup, finely chopped

Cilantro-1/2cup

Jalapeno pepper- 2 medium, seeded if desired

Orange bell pepper  one medium or one red pepper, diced

Whisk all together and enjoy.

This is one of my favorite recipes and it is delicious.

Salad-very fresh lettuce, I use an Italian blend, amount dependent on your appetite.  Prepare as a salad on a plate.

On the edge of the plate, sliced mango and slices of fresh avocado.

Tuna- 4-6 oz pieces of Ahi Tuna-preferably fresh, can use frozen-thawed

          Approximately 1/4 c black pepper mixed with 1 T. sesame seeds, roll the outsides of the tuna to coat.

          2 T olive oil in skillet, very hot

          Sear the tuna 1 1/2-2 minutes on each side, needs to be slightly pink inside

          Set on top of the lettuce mixture

Dressing-2 Tbsp fresh olive oil, mix in measuring cup with 4 T Balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp sugar, salt and pepper to taste.  Drizzle over the the Ahi tuna and salad.  May need to double the amount for 4 steaks.  It depends on your taste preference.

Serve with Edamame and a light fruit salad.

Very quick to prepare, light, delicious and low calorie.

Enjoy!

And I won't be like my grandmother and leave out part of the ingredients.  She was famous for that.

These scones are foolproof, you can change the flavors with ease.  I will give you ideas at the end.

I never thought I would share them, selfish, right?  I have made these for 40 years.

3 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar or 1 cup confectioners sugar

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter (cut up in slices before mixing)

1 cup buttermilk or whipping cream or half and half (you have to decide how naughty you want to be)

One egg for egg wash-beat one egg with one tsp milk

Use a pastry brush to apply the egg wash prior to baking.

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt together.

Cut in butter until coarse.  Add to flour mixture with the fruit of your choice, one cup.

Mix well.  Turn onto floured board and knead 5-6 times.

Use a rolling pin to make a 10 inch circle,  Flatten to 1/2 inch thick.  Cut in 1/8ths.

Brush egg mixture.  Bake 375 degrees for approximately 20 minutes.

*my fruit combinations:  dried apricots are stand alone, my favorite.

Dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.

Apples thin the mixture out too much.  Try something dry before you play around with really moist fruits.

Best Ever Ahi Salad

I accidentally discovered this but have to  post it! My invention, but "try it, you will like it".

1 head of Butter Lettuce, chopped for bite size pieces, this is a sweet lettuce, set aside, keep cool

4 pieces of tuna, ahi, lightly salt and pepper, very hot skillet, 1 Tblsp olive oil,  sear on both sides for 90 seconds

While searing, or before, peel and cut up a red papaya in bite sized pieces, plus cut up artichokes in their own oil, mine were Costco, maybe 1 cup for 4 salads.

The dressing, separately mix 1/3 c olive oil, 1/4 c balsamic vinegar, 1 Tblsp sugar, salt and pepper, stir well, keep chilled

Put salad together, first lettuce, then ahi in center of individual bowl, with artichokes and papaya around the sides of the ahi.  Maybe even consider slices of avocado, thought it doesn't need it.  Drizzle the dressing over the salad. 

The ahi will still be a little warm.  Delicious!

A specific picture? I will try to find one, but remember, it was so good I ate it before considering sharing, lol. 

AKA, Sis's stuffedmushrooms

Approximately 20 cleaned and dried mushrooms Flip them over to see the flesh is still connected to the stem to check for freshness. 

Pop off the stems and throw away.

One 12 oz block cream cheese.  (not tub type as it is too thinned and watery) 

1/4 red bell pepper, place in food processor with cream cheese. 

If you like salsa, La Victoria is great, 2 Tblsp. or Pace Picante 1/4 cup, mix thoroughly.

Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet to bake mushrooms.

Put a mound of filling in each mushroom. Don't skimp!

Then sprinkle heavily with Parmesan Cheese. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes til golden.

*Hint-this mixture is also good on bagels

Turn oven on to 400 degrees, 

This is the best recipe I have found for carrot cake.  Found it when I owned a bakery in 1983.  Easy!!

2 c sugar

2  tsp baking soda

2 c flour

1 tsp salt

1-2 tsp cinnamon depending on your liking

4 eggs, beat well first til frothy.

1 1/2 c vegetable oil

3 c grated carrots  (this is when you buy a mini food processor, lol)

Add dry ingredients to the frothy eggs.  Mix slowly and do not overmix.

Add carrots slowly. 

Add nuts of your choice 3/4 cup and or 1/2 c raisins, tastes great even without these additions.

Two choices.  In a hurry? Use a 13 by 9 glass baking dish that has been sprayed with Pam. OR, feeling fancy?

   2-9 inch cake pans, sprayed with Pam. Use baking strips on outside of pan, more even cooking.

Bake 25-30 minutes, 350 degrees, test with toothpick.

Next-  Cream Cheese Frosting

3/4 c real butter

l large cream cheese, mix with butter til creamy

2 tsp vanilla, 

1 lb Confectioners Sugar

Sprinkle with ground nuts after cake iced.  Feeling fancy? Pastry tube flowers as the icing.

Never said it was low calorie so just enjoy and wait for the compliments.

One of my favorite recipes for spring and summer.  It makes a lot so there are leftovers for an easy lunch or dinner.

Rigatoni or any larger pasta, boil 10 minutes then check, may need 2 more minutes

Strain and rinse.

Once cool add:

8 oz crab or fake crab if you chose, or shrimp,  separate until stringy OR cut in half inch pieces

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

3/4 to 1 c finely chopped celery

5 hard boiled eggs, medium chop

1 c peas, can use frozen, thaw first

1/2 c lite mayo, plus add plain yogurt if needed

1/2 c sliced black olives

1 T curry powder

minced or powder garlic to taste

salt, pepper to taste

Some chopped up arugula just adds to the flavor and visual appeal.

I love this easy recipe.  Very tasty on a warm evening. Try it, you will like it!

This recipe is perfect for warmer nights and can be expanded with pasta noodles if needed.  This is simple and fast.

Buy a rotisserie chicken, cut in half.  Save the rest for another meal or use the entire chicken,  If the whole chicken is used double everything.  It is also cost effective as the chickens are usually $8-$9 per chicken.

Half of 2-3 lb rotisserie chicken.

4 hard boiled eggs, cut up.  (Idea, at beginning of week, boil a dozen eggs while doing other things, keep around for just this sort of thing}

3 stalks of celery, thinly sliced

onion, 1/4 medium so not overpowering

one cup sliced red seedless grapes

salt, few dashes, with pepper

1 tsp curry

1/2 tsp garlic powder

4-5 T mayo, adjust as needed

Stir, serve on Romaine lettuce leaves, bread, buns or crackers.  I prefer the lettuce leaves as adds to a more refreshing meal.  Before eating, sprinkle a few peanuts on top for added crispness.  Delicious.

Bonus-this meal is under $6 if only using half.  Debone the rest of the chicken and create the next meal.