Herbed Soda

I first had this served to me by a lovely, grandmotherly coworker. I believe she said she got the idea from Martha Stewart, but I might be misremembering. Anyway, this recipe is available many places online, but that's not going to stop me from putting it here.

Simple Syrup Herb Soda
Basically, you make a simple syrup, which is a one-to-one ratio between sugar and water. Let's say a cup of each. Bring that to a boil, and toss in, oh, a third of a cup or so of fresh herbs that you've crushed a bit to bring out the oils. So far basil is my favorite. I've also tried lavender (a little too floral/sweet, but I think it would be awesome if you also mixed in some lemon zest) and lemon verbena (YUM!). Anyway, turn off the heat under the water, cover, and let steep for 5-10 minutes depending on how strong you want the herb flavor to be. (I usually go 10.) Chill.

To serve the sodas, put some ice in a glass, fill about 1/5 to 1/4 with the syrup, then top off with club soda. If you want to be fancy, you could garnish with a sprig of whatever herb you used.

This is a fantastically refreshing summer beverage, and there's lots of flexibility around creating it to taste.

Wednesday Fun #100!!! - P.S. Mmmm... bacon!

Did you know that last Saturday was International Bacon Day? No? Me, neither, or you know I would have totally used that as last week's Wednesday Fun! So, go ahead and have an extra serving of bacon today, anyway!


Speaking of Wednesday Fun, I'd like us to take this 100th WF to do a little assessing/revising. I started doing these posts so that we'd have a regular reason to check back in. Our recipe posting often goes in streaks, based on theme, or having time, or just finally getting around to posting, or whatever. But unless we click over here to Recipeeps on occasion, we just might not notice there've been new recipes put up. So, I figured a regular weekly post would be a good idea.

Bearing that in mind, what do you think? I do still think we need some sort of regular post/feature/whatever, but I'm open as to what it could/should/might be. Do you enjoy the WF questions? Or links? Or polls? Are there other things you'd like to see - maybe restaurant reviews (esp for the TC area or chains, since more Recipeeples are TC-based than anywhere else), maybe trivia-type info on specific foods, maybe ????? Would you be ok with the CSA post being the regular feature for the summer months rather than WF or would you rather something more than just that? Also, how interested/willing would you be to maybe take a month, or something like the third Wed of every month, or do a restaurant review (single or series), or introduce a favorite food blog?

Let us know! Of course, I know you'll keep comments constructive and helpful, but you are still welcome to leave your comment anonymously if you'd like. Thanks so much for your input!!!

Ratatouilli

This is yummy and makes a lot. Uses one eggplant!

1 Eggplant
4 Zucchini
1-2 onions
3-4 Green Peppers
1 Jalapeno
3 cans Diced Tomatoes (Italian Style - Basil, Oregano, Garlic)
1 can small Black Olives
3-4 cloves Garlic Minced
2 T. Chicken base

Saute garlic in Olive Oil. Add rest of ingredients and simmer for 1-1.5 hours until tender. Top with Parmesan Cheese

CSA Year 2 Week 13

So, yeah, a few more tomatoes this week again. Guess I'll need to freeze 'em or make marinara sauce again (& then freeze it). Also, guess I'm going to actually have to do something with these eggplants & the ones in the frig or they'll start taking over. I've gotten a couple of ideas, from baba ganoush (sp?) to Alton Brown's Eggplant Steaks to just throw 'em on the grill. So we'll see how that all goes.

Caramel Dips for your Apples

Here are three great dips to eat your apples. We usually make the cream cheese one but they are all good! I have also dipped popcorn in so do not stop at just apples. Enjoy!!

Caramel Dip
1 jar Mrs. Richardson's Caramel ice cream topping
1 small jar marshmallow cream
Pour Mrs. Richardson's in a microwave safe bowl and heat to warm. Mix in marshmallow cream and serve.

Caramel Apple Dip
1 block Cream Cheese
¾ cup Brown Sugar
¼ cup white sugar
½ tsp vanilla

Mix together and warm. I serve in a small crock pot. If I am in a hurry I warm in the microwave first. Otherwise I just put everything in crock pot let warm and mix.


Autumn Apple Dip
1 cup cottage cheese
1 tsp brown sugar
¼ tsp vanilla

Mix together. Can also serve with graham crackers or ginger snaps.

Apple Cinnamon Turnovers

We make this with the kids and they enjoy helping. Everyone get their own little "pie".

Ready in 30 minutes or less

1 medium tart apple, peeled and chopped
½ cup applesauce
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
Dash ground nutmeg

1 tube (7 – ½ ounces) refrigerated biscuits or large crescent rolls
1 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
In a bowl, combine the apple, applesauce, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon and nutmeg. Separate biscuits; roll out each into a 6-in circle. Place on greased baking sheets. Place a heaping tablespoonful of apple mixture in the center of each. Fold in half and pinch edges to seal. Brush with butter. Combine sugar and remaining cinnamon; sprinkle over tops. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Serve warm.

Apple Berry Salsa

Yields: 3 cups (16 servings)
2 med. Granny Smith Apples
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 pint strawberries, diced (about 1 ½ cups)
2 tablespoons apple jelly or apricot jam
2 kiwi, peeled and diced
Baked Cinnamon Chips (see recipe)
1 small orange

Peal, core and slice apples. Coarsely chop apple slices. Dice strawberries and kiwi. Put fruit in bowl. Zest orange to measure 1 teaspoon. Juice orange to measure 2 tablespoons full. Add orange zest, juice, brown sugar and jelly to fruit mixture; mix gently. Spoon into serving bowl. Serve with Baked Cinnamon Chips.


Baked Cinnamon Chips
Yields: 64 chips (16 servings)
8 Flour tortillas
1 tablespoon Sugar
¼ teaspoon Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spray tortillas with water. Combine 1-tablespoon sugar and ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar evenly over tortillas. Cut each tortilla into eight wedges. Bake 8 – 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and crisp. Remove from baking sheet; cool completely.

Greek Salad

3-4 Roma Tomatoes

1/2 Red Onion

1-2 Green Peppers

2+ Cucumbers

Feta Cheese (we like lots)

Kraft Greek Salad Dressing



Chop into bite size pieces. Pour the Greek Salad Dressing over and mix.



Enjoy! I meant to post this in August and it did not happen.

Wednesday Fun #99 - Name Those Apples!

Since September's theme is apples, it reminded me of the many, many, many varieties of apples there are. So today's question is...

How many varieties of apples can you name?

P.S. Don't forget to be thinking about changes you might like to see with WF (or other regular posting feature). I'll be asking what you like/dislike/enjoy/don't enjoy about WF, if you'd be willing to take a month, suggestions for WF ideas, suggestions for improvement, other ideas that could take the place of WF or alternate with it, with the purpose of having a regular post/reason for people to come by. Thanks!

September Theme - Apples for the Teacher

...or you, or me, or whomever! What yummy dishes/ideas do you have for apples? This reminds me I've got a favorite Dutch Apple Pie recipe I should share.

We already have

• Apple-Raisin Breakfast Bread Pudding from All-Knowing Jen (featuring our friend, Heavy Cream!)
• Syl's Apple-Rhubarb Crisp (stolen from Pampered Chef, she says!)

and heck, my Butternut Squash Soup with Curried Horseradish Cream uses an apple, too!

So, c'mon, let's have your apple recipes!