… Cape Cod Potato Chips produces 30,000# per day?
… Yellow onions are grown in “muck” soil?
… Frito Lay Company makes 40,000# of Cheetos’ an hour?
… Churro’s were invented in the 1500’s?
… Asparagus grows wild in Europe, Africa and Western Asia and has been cultivated as a vegetable for centuries?
… In 1932, Charles Elmer Doolin bought the recipe for Frito’s corn chips in Huston Texas?
… Doolin’s mother, Daisy, pawned her wedding ring for $100 to buy that recipe?
… Kentucky Fried Chicken stared in the Heartland with Colonel Sanders cooking for his siblings?
… Sanders was given title as Kentucky Governor in the mid 1930’s?
… Frito means “fried” in Spanish?
… “Tremblege” is a creamy pudding made with coconut milk that “trembles” when it is turned out of its mold?
… Spatula means a small elongated intrument?
… The hotter the peppers, the higher the antioxident content?
… Grapefruits are high in Lycopene (a cancer fighting agent)? The Lycopene becomes more easy for the body to absorb when the grapefuit is put into a blender.
… In 1885, Daniel E. Salmon discovered the first strain of salmonella in the intestine of a pig?
… When your body feels the burn from eating hot peppers, it releases endorphins which make you feel happy?
… In ancient Rome “Flan” was made from lambs blood & eel?
… Warming eggs in hot tap water for 3-5 minutes makes a better omelet?
… “King Cake” – a Mardis Gras must have, is a sticky coffee cake covered in purple, green & gold sugar?
… Avocado’s are also known as “alligator pears?”
… The ancient Greeks used mussel “beards” to make work gloves & they had to be stored in sea water?
… Tartuffo means truffle in Italian?
… Beans cause gas due to the carbohydrates that the small intestine cannot break down; so the large intestines “good bacteria” attacks those carbs & release methane & hydrogen gasses = SMELLY?!
… The French word saute literally means jump?
… The English Muffin dates back to 10th century Windsor?
… Mussels are Bi-valves which means 2 shells?
… The first food dehydrator was created by French inventors Chalet & Mason in 1795?
… The difference between a chowder & a bisque is chowders are chunky & bisques are smooth?
.. The basil, mozzarella & tomato on a margherita pizza represent the Italian flag?
… Mussels were first introduced in quantity during WWII as an alternative protein?
Tuaca is a specific apricot flavored liquor. If you cannot find it, just use apricot brandy instead.
4 T Butter, divided
2 tsp Lemon Juice
½ tsp each
– Ground Nutmeg, Ginger & Cinnamon
3/4 c. Tuaca Liquor
1½ c. Arborio Rice
1½ qt. Apricot Juice
4 oz. Mascarpone Cheese (Italian cream cheese)
½ c. Sugar
2 c. Apricots
Caramel Sauce
Toasted Pine Nuts
Melt 2 T butter and add lemon juice, spices, Tuaca liquor & rice.
Let rice absorb liquid.
Slowly add apricot juice ½ c, at a time and let absorb each time.
Remove to a bowl.
Add remaining 2 T butter, masacapone, sugar & apricots.
Spoon onto serving dishes and garnish with caramel sauce & pine nuts.
I used to have these when I visited my grandmother. I couldn’t get enough of them!
1/2 c. + 2 T Pecans, chopped fine
1/4 c. Flour
1/2 stick Unsalted Butter
1/4 c. Packed Dark Brown Sugar
1/4 c. Light Corn Syrup
Combine first 2 ingredients in a bowl.
Set aside.
In a sauce pan, bring remaining ingredients to a boil.
Add flour mixture and let sit 25 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°.
Roll dough into 1” balls & place on HEAVY cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake 12 minutes or until no longer “bubbly”
Cool 4 minutes and shape around rods & cones for “cigarette” cookies & “ice cream” holders.
Place on juice glass for a “basket”
If cookies begin to stiffen, return to oven for 1 – 2 minutes until pliable.
NOTE: You don’t have to “form” them. Just leave round – they taste the same!
This single serve version of “Baked Brie” will make your guests feel special in that they each have their own personal wedge of cheese to enjoy.
1 Wheel Brie Cheese**
1 Pkg. Puff Pastry
1 Egg, beaten
4 – 6 T. Raspberry Jam
½ c. Raspberry Liquor
Fresh Raspberries
Fresh Mint Leaves
A small wheel = 4 servings. **
A large wheel = 8 servings. **
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cut cheese into single serving wedges.
Roll out 1 sheet of pastry & cut into 4 squares (use both sheets for 8 servings)
Wrap wedges in pastry squares.
Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Brush with a little beaten egg.
Bake 20 minutes until golden brown.
While cheese is baking, whisk together jam and raspberry liquor.
– be sure not to make it too soupy.
Heat to just boiling in sauce pan.
To Serve:
Ladle sauce onto a serving dish.
Place cheese wedges on top of sauce.
Garnish with fresh raspberries & mint.
I call these “Chocolate Somethings” because I really don’t have a name for it. What I can tell you is they are delicious!
¾ c. Water
12 oz. Butter
6 oz. Sugar
2 c. Semi Sweet Chocolate, chopped fine
5 Eggs
5 Egg Yokes
Powdered Sugar
White Chocolate, shaved
Fresh Raspberries
Preheat oven to 350°.
Lightly grease 6 custard cups with non-stick cooking spray.
Place on cookie sheet and set aside.
Combine water, butter & sugar and bring to a slow boil.
Remove from heat and whisk in chocolate.
In a bowl, whisk together eggs & egg yokes.
Whisk into chocolate mixture.
Pour into custard cups and bake 6 – 8 minutes.
Cool, loosen with a knife around the edges and invert onto serving dish.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar & garnish with white chocolate & raspberries.
Ever since my 8th grade home economics class, where I made boxed tacos for the first time, I knew cooking was in my blood. I've had the honor of having my recipes published in New Hampshire Magazine, Taste of Home, the Nashua Telegraph and several cookbooks.