Margarita Jell-O Shots

I was at a parade a couple years ago where the revelers were passing out Jell-O shots in actual syringes, but this is just as much fun and not as scary!

Margarita Jell-O™ ShotsMakes 12 (2-ounce) shots

1 (3 ounce) box lime Jell-O™ sugar free gelatin powder (or other flavor of your choice)
1 cup water
¾ cup white tequila
¼ cup Triple Sec
12 (2 oz.) sample containers with lids (get these at P&J Sales in Lancaster on Memorial Park Rd.)

Place water in 2-cup glass measuring cup and microwave till boiling. Remove from microwave and stir in Jell-O™ powder till dissolved. Cool to room temperature and stir in tequila and Triple Sec. Pour into cups, seal, and refrigerate till set. Transport in large zippy bag on ice till ready to serve.

Note: To eat, run your finger around the edge and pop the shot into your mouth. Please eat responsibly! Make fruit-filled, non-alcoholic “shots” for children and others who don’t want the alcohol.

Foxy Chicken Chili for Tailgating

Here's a super easy and money-saving recipe for you to try and your friends and family to enjoy! Use all store-brand canned goods and there's no need to invest in a lot of bottles of spices, because you use pre-mixed seasoning packets. If you make your own chicken stock (as I do), that will save even more of your food budget dollars. If you buy stock, make sure that it is a good quality. That is one thing I don't skimp on. As an experiment, I've tried store brand stock and it doesn't have much flavor. Get Swanson or Kitchen Basics stock or broth.

Foxy Chicken Chile
(If you’re a Gamecock fan, just substitute turkey or lean ground beef.)
Makes 1 gallon & freezes well

2 pounds ground chicken, turkey, or 95% lean ground beef
1 cup chopped white onion
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup chopped zucchini or yellow squash
2 envelopes original ranch dressing mix (the powder)
2 envelopes 40% reduced-sodium taco seasoning mix
1 can (14 ½ oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14 ½ oz.) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14 ½ oz.) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (14 ½ oz. each) diced tomatoes with green chiles
2 cans (14 ½ oz. each) whole kernel corn, drained
3 cups reduced-sodium chicken stock
Garnishes: shredded Cabot reduced fat cheddar cheese, Greek-style nonfat yogurt, sliced green onions, baked tortilla chips, pickled jalapeno slices

In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed stock pot, cook meat, onion, pepper, and squash, stirring frequently, until meat is cooked through with no pink remaining. Add remaining ingredients except for garnish. Cover and bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally.

Fill insulated containers with boiling water and allow to set for 15 minutes. Drain water from containers and fill with piping hot chili; seal and transport. Transfer any leftovers to smaller containers and place in ice-filled cooler to keep cold till you get home.

Spicy Veggie & Bean Quesadillas~Another healthful, easy, and inexpensive meal!

This sure doesn't taste like health food: a plate full of delicious quesadillas!

What do we do with all the tomatillos our two little garden plants are producing? I got in the kitchen yesterday to start figuring that out and ended up with a plate full of really delicious quesadillas. The recipe is at the end of this post, but I wanted you first to see how lovely fresh tomatillos are.

A close up of chopped tomatillos.

This is my "mise en place" for the quesadillas.
All these vegetables are so good for you!

Et Voila!!! (or maybe I should exclaim ¡Y Aquí!)

Spicy Veggie Quesadillas

Serves 6 as a main dish or 12 as a snack
1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained (about 10 ounces of cooked beans)

1 cup chopped bell peppers, any color

1 cup chopped onion (yellow, white, purple, or Vidalia)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 medium jalapeno pepper, seeded, ribs removed, and minced (add more or less to suit your taste)

1/2 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

Canola oil spray

1 c. chopped tomatoes (cut them in half first across the equator and gently squeeze out seeds before chopping)

1 c. chopped tomatillos

1/4 c. fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped

Juice of one lime

3 c. shredded cheese of choice (reduced fat Cabot's cheddar is delicious in this)

12 whole grain flour tortillas, about 8 inches (I used Harris Teeter brand, each is 100 cal. & 5 g. protein)

Spray nonstick skillet with canola spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add pinto beans, bell pepper, onion, jalapeno pepper, and garlic to pan. Saute until vegetables begin to soften. Stir in chile powder, cumin, and salt, and saute for 2 more minutes. The vegetables should be crisp/tender.Spoon vegetables into a bowl. Stir in tomatoes, tomatillos, cilantro, and lime juice.

Heat a dry skillet or griddle over medium heat and place tortillas on surface. Distribute 1/4 c. of the shredded cheddar cheese over the surface of each tortilla. Spoon 1/4 c. of the vegetable mixture on one half of each tortilla. When the cheese begins to melt on the tortilla, gently fold that side over the vegetable side and lightly press down.

Continue to cook the tortilla till it is golden brown on the pan side, then turn it over to lightly brown the other side.
When golden brown on both sides, remove tortillas to a cutting board.
Cut each tortilla into 3 wedges and serve with a garnish of 1 teaspoon sour cream mixed with 3 tablespoons of tomatillo salsa (salsa verde). Salsa verde is very low calorie, and by combining the salsa with a tiny bit of sour cream, you get the satisfaction of both without the giant dollop of sour cream.


Nutrition (per two, as prepared here; your choices of cheese and tortillas will affect the nutrition content): 406 cal., 10g fat (23% cal from fat), 28g protein

Foxy Tomatillo Sauce

Add abundant flavor to grilled chicken breasts, lean pork tenderloin, and seafood, or use as a very healthy dip for tortilla chips.

Lovely fresh tomatillos in their husks. When peeled, they look like green tomatoes,
but they are not in the tomato family. They are easy to find in grocery stores.

They also are very easy to grow in the garden and are prolific producers.

Peel the husks back to reveal the fruit, then wash it in cool water to remove the
sticky residue on its surface. There is no need to core these little beauties.

Tomatillo Sauce
1 pound tomatillos, husks removed, quartered
1 medium onion, quartered

2 cloves garlic
1/2 medium jalapeno pepper, seeds removed if desired (omit this entirely if you don't like the heat)
1 handful cilantro (I use the stems only since they are full of flavor and will be pureed anyway)
1/2 cup of filtered water (preferred over tap water)
1 rounded teaspoon of powdered chicken bouillon

Combine all of the above (except the lime juice) in a saucepan; cover and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until the onions are soft. Allow to cool a bit and then puree in a blender. Cool and refrigerate or freeze till ready to use.

Use this as a dip, as a flavoring ingredient in soups and stews, or as a sauce for chicken, pork, seafood, and eggs. This entire quantity contains only about 200 calories, so enjoy all this guilt-free flavor!

Enjoy!

Foxy Pimiento Cheese: The Perfect Condiment for Perfectly Ripe Tomatoes

Foxy Pimiento Cheese is a delicious blend of sharp cheddar and mild bleu....and a "secret" ingredient that nobody will ever guess!

Top perfectly ripe tomatoes or stuff cherry tomatoes with this delicious pimiento cheese
that is a quick, make-ahead dish for entertaining or every day sandwiches and snacks.

Foxy Pimiento Cheese
(Makes about 4 cups)

12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated (may use a good brand of pre-shredded cheese)
4 ounces mild bleu cheese, grated (mild bleu cheese will not have many bleu veins, I use the Harris Teeter Fresh Foods Market Brie)
4 ounce jar of chopped pimientos, undrained (see tip below)
3/4-1 cup good quality mayonnaise (such as Hellman's)

1/4-1/2 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper (restaurant grind, to taste)

1/2 teaspoon Texas Pete hot pepper sauce, or to taste

1 teaspon A-1 Steak Sauce (this is the secret ingredient!!)

-In a large bowl, combine cheeses and pimientos and stir till combined.
-In a small bowl, combine 3/4 cup mayo and remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
-Fold mayo mixture into the cheese until completely incorporated.

-Mixture should be very creamy and not dry. Add the remaining 1/4 cup mayo if necessary.
-Refrigerate overnight for best flavor. The cheese spread will tighten up with refrigeration. If you find that it is too
  thick because you didn't add the extra 1/4 cup of the mayo, just go ahead and stir it in.

 

Pimiento cheese and pickled okra are a tradition in the South.

Our favorite brand of pickled okra (next to our homemade) is Talk 'o Texas.

 
 

Find jarred pimiento cheese on the vegetable ailse in your grocery store, instead of the pickle aisle. You can substitute roasted red peppers if you can't find pimientos, but the flavor will be different.

Enjoy!

Foxy Focaccia....Seriously!

This quick focaccia bread takes only about one hour from start to finish, making it an easy accompaniment for any dinner, and an easy homemade bread for sandwiches.

We love to eat at Buca di Beppo, for the salads, pasta, and seafood, the fun and quirky atmosphere, and probably most of all for the focaccia bread dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. After much experimenting, I finally came up with a recipe that we can all make often and enjoy. It is really delicious, tender, yeasty, and  quick to put together.

The dimpled surface of focaccia is one of its signature traits. After you've put the dough in the oiled pan, drizzle it with a bit of olive oil and dust it with herbs and coarse salt, then use your fingers to press the oil and herbs into the bread. There should be lots of lumps and bumps. If you have children in the house, this is a perfect job for them to do!

Foxy Focaccia
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour, divided
1 envelope quick-rising yeast (such as Fleischmann's Rapid Rise Yeast)
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt, plus more for dusting
1 cup very warm water
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Desired dried herbs (I like the Victoria Taylor Tuscan or Sicillian blends.)

(This is a cinch to make using a stand mixer (like Kitchenaid's Artisan) but you can certainly do this by hand; it will just take a bit longer and use more muscle power.)

In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour, dry yeast, and salt. Attach the dough hook, and stir together the flour, yeast, and salt while slowly adding the water and oil. Scrape the sides of the bowl as you go. Add the remaining flour while running the dough hook on low, and increase the speed as the dough gets thicker. Run it for a few minutes till the dough is smooth and not sticky. Cover lightly with a clean kitchen towel and allow to rest for 10 minutes or so while you prepare the pan.

Lightly oil a nonstick baking pan. Use an 8x8-inch or 9x9-inch for square loaves, or a 9-inch round for round loaves. Place the dough in the pan and spread it out with your fingers. Drizzle a couple of tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over the top and sprinkle with herbs of your choice. Using your fingertips, push the herbs and oil into the surface of the dough. Cover lightly with a clean towel and allow to rise in a warm spot until it's about doubled in size. That should take 20-25 minutes.

Bake in upper third of preheated 400 degree oven for 25 minutes or until puffed and golden brown on top. Immediately remove from the pan and set on a wire rack or your cutting board. Give it about 10 minutes before you cut into it or, to serve later, cool to room temp, wrap in foil, and heat in 375 degree oven for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Other toppings for focaccia can be anything you would put on a pizza: cheese, diced cured meats, diced vegetables, caramelized onions, etc. You are limited only by your imagination!




Slice and serve with good olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping. A great way to make sandwiches is to bake this bread in a round pan, slice horizontally, layer meats, cheese, veggies, and condiments of choice, then put the top of the loaf back on. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Unwrap, cut loaf into wedges, and serve.

Note: Use water that feels warm to the touch. If your water is too hot, it will kill the yeast and your bread won't rise. If the water is too cool, it will rise, but will just take longer to do so. Be kind to your yeast!

Shrimp Scampi, an Easy Make-Ahead Meal to Freeze and Heat

This dish goes together quickly; the greatest effort is in cleaning the shrimp. While it is heating, quickly boil the angelhair pasta, drain, and combine with the shrimp and the delicious broth to make a mouthwatering dinner for the special people in your life.

There are times when it is just not acceptable to take shortcuts: freshly squeezed lemon juice instead of the squeeze bottle, freshly minced garlic rather than the jarred, leafy green parsley instead of dried, and wild-caught shrimp in the shell. Don't compromise ingredients in this dish. As a matter of fact, don't ever use the squeeze bottle lemon juice or jarred minced garlic for anything!

I have reduced the amount of fat traditionally used in this dish and added more flavor by using shrimp stock, made from the shrimp shells. I know you will enjoy this change.

Shrimp Scampi with Angelhair Pasta

Serves 4

1 1/2 pounds large wild-caught shrimp, with shells on, frozen unless you have access to just off-the-boat shrimp
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup minced garlic
1/4 cup white wine
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Grated zest of 1/2 lemon
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
Salt & Pepper TT (to taste)

8 ounces angelhair pasta, cooked, drained

Peel shrimp, leaving the tails intact. Place shells in a small saucepan and just cover with water, about 2 cups. Bring to a boil and then remove from heat. Allow to steep while you prepare the rest of the ingredients, then strain and reserve shrimp stock.

Remove the sand vein (a.k.a. shrimp poop) from shrimp by making a shallow incision down the length of the back to expose the vein. Scrape it out with the tip of your paring knife.

Combine olive oil, garlic, and hot pepper flakes in a cold saucepan. Place over medium-high heat and add butter. Stir occasionally until butter is melted, then add shrimp and cook, turning frequently, just until shrimp is opaque and pink-rimmed. Remove the shrimp from pan, but leave the garlic-butter-oil mixture in the pan.

Increase heat, and add lemon juice, zest, and white wine to skillet. When hot and bubbling, add 1/2 or more of the the shrimp stock. Taste and add more salt if needed.

Combine the shrimp and pasta in the skillet with the stock. Toss in chopped parsley, grate pepper over, and turn, using tongs, until pasta is coated with stock and shrimp are distributed. Remove from heat and serve.

Nutrition per serving: 483 Calories; 15g Fat (28.2% calories from fat); 36g Protein

To freeze for later use: Prepare shrimp as instructed. Cool quickly by placing in a stainless steel bowl and then setting that in a larger bowl of ice water. Spoon shrimp and its stock into a container, seal, label, and freeze. When ready to prepare and while pasta is cooking, defrost and heat the shrimp mixture in the microwave at 50% power just until hot. (Don't overdoDrain the pasta, return it to the pot and add the shrimp mixture. Toss with tongs until shrimp and pasta are combined. Serve.

Note: To thaw frozen shrimp from the market, place in a bowl in the sink. Fill the bowl with cold water and place it under trickling cold tap water. The shrimp will thaw in just a few minutes this way and will remain cold and safe from bacteria growth. Drain and pat dry with paper towels. Refrigerate if not using immediately. Never thaw shrimp in the microwave or by leaving it lying out on the counter. Never purchase previously frozen, thawed shrimp from the market showcase. Request frozen shrimp and have the attendant wrap it tightly with ice so it will remain frozen till you get it home.