Cajun Spice, Very Nice

Grilling season's not just near, it's here!

This is perfect for grilling or anytime.

You can adjust the amount of spices used according to taste.

1/ 2 - 1 tsp. each: granulated garlic, onion powder

1/8 - 1/4 tsp. each: paprika, red pepper flakes, black pepper, cayenne pepper, white pepper

Into a clean spice jar spoon ingredients.

 Screw lid on jar and shake for a few seconds to mix. 

Serves 4 - 6.

Lavender Fest Ice Cream

This weekend is the Michigan Lavender Festival.

This is perfect whether you're celebrating the festival or anytime. 

I've used premade lavender syrup, you can find it online.

2 - 3 c. heavy cream

1/8 - 1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 - 1/4 c. honey

1/2 - 2 tsp. vanilla

1 - 3 T. lavender 

In 4 clean jars combine: cream, salt, honey, vanilla, lavender syrup.

You can adjust amounts of honey, lavender, vanilla to taste. 

Screw lid on jars and shake jar for 5 min. ,  place jar in freezer to chill for a few hrs. 

Serves 4.

Olive Burger

 What's more American than getting loved ones together to watch the Detroit Grand Prix.

There's nothing better than a burger to enjoy it with

 I've used ground round beef for this recipe. 

1 lb. lean ground beef (ground round)
1/4 tsp each: salt, pepper, olive brine
1 T. Worchestshire sauce (adjust to taste)
1/2 tsp. each: onion powder, granulated garlic (adjust to taste)

1/8 tsp. each: red pepper flakes, hot sauce 
 2 T. oil 

1/2 c. mayo

1/4 c. each: cream cheese, chopped olives

1 tomato sliced 

1 onion cut into slices

4 lettuce leaves rinse and dried

4 hamburger buns

Rinse, slice tomatoes.

Peel, rinse, slice onions

Rinse, pat dry lettuce leaves.

Chop green olives, set aside.

In a bowl combine mayo, cream cheese, hot sauce, half of olives, olive brine, Worcestershire sauce, spices. 

Mix with a clean fork and place in refrigerator until ready to serve.

In a bowl combine meat, red pepper flakes, and half of the salt, pepper, chopped olives, garlic, olive brine, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce. 

Mix ingredients together with clean hands.

 Form beef into 4 patties. 

Heat grill pan over medium high heat. 

Reduce heat to medium, add oil. 

Add burgers and cook on 1 side for 6 - 10 min or until done. 

Flip burgers over and repeat cooking process until done. 

To serve:

Remove olive sauce from refrigerator.

Remove hamburger from grill pan and place burger on bun. 

Drizzle sauce over burger with a clean spoon and top burgers with your favorite fixings.

Serves 4.

Recipe To Help London Kentucky, Missouri

Prayers, thoughts for the residents of  London Kentucky, and Missouri as they continue to clean up from a tornado that struck tge states earlier this week 

The  E F 4 tornado swept through the area, destroying homes, devastating families and 19 loved ones lost. 

On this website there are links to organizations that are helping in the relief efforts. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Melon Salsa

 This is perfect for spring or anytime.

 I've used cantaloupe & watermelon but you can use honey dew melon too.

2 c. melons (watermelon, cantaloupe)

1/4 c. each: chopped bell pepper, chopped onions 

1/4 tsp. each: pepper, salt

1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/2 - 1 tsp. each: chopped poblano, lime juice

Seed, chop melons, place into a clean bowl.

Seed, rinse, chop peppers, place into bowl.

Peel, rinse, chop onions, add to bowl

Add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes to salsa. 

Squeeze some lime juice over salsa. Toss to mix.

Let chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Makes 8 servings.

Thai Pork Chops

This is perfect for Mothers Day or anytime.

1 lb. pork chops

1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper, granulated garlic

1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes

2 - 3 T. oil

1 T. each: sesame oil, lime juice

1 - 2 T. teriyaki sauce

In a dish place pork chops.

Add some of the salt, pepper, garlic, red pepper flakes, sesame oil, lime juice, teriyaki sauce on 1 side of pork chops. 

Turn over pork chops and repeat process on the other side.

Cover dish with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator to marinate for a few hours. 

Remove pork chops from refrigerator.

Preheat skillet to medium high heat, lower heat to medium, medium low, add oil.

Place pork chops in skillet and cook on 1 side for 8 - 11 min. depending on thickness of pork chops. 

Turn pork chops on other side and cook for 8 - 11 more or until done.

Serves 4.

 

Mid Spring Mushrooms

This is perfect for a quick spring side dish or anytime. 

I used shelled snap peas, but you can use shelled sugar peas or frozen peas if needed.

1- 2 c. each: mushrooms, chopped, snap peas shelled

1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper

2 - 3 T. olive oil

Rinse, chop mushrooms, set aside.

Shell, rinse peas. 

If using frozen peas, open bag & rinse peas. 

Preheat skillet to medium high heat. 

Lower heat to medium, add oil. 

Add peas, mushrooms, salt, pepper. 

Sauté for a few minutes until done. 

Serves 4.