Coffee Break Ice Cream

 Adult need treats too.

I used almond milk, but you can use what milk or cream you like.

I’ve used Irish cream, but you could also use coffee liqueur instead.

2 - 3 c. almond milk

Pinch of salt

1/8 - 1/3 c. sugar

1 - 2 tsp. each: vanilla, espresso powder

1 - 2 T. each: cocoa powder, Irish cream

In a clean jar combine ingredients.

Screw lid on jar and shake jar for 3 - 5 min and place jar in freezer to chill for a few hrs. 

Serves 4.

Hollandaise Sauce

This week Bastille Day occurs. 

It’s considered a national holiday in France.

This sauce is perfect for a French inspired dinner, with vegetables or with eggs for brunch.

4 eggs

1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper

4 c. water

1/4 c. butter

2 tsp. lemon juice

Crack 3 - 4 eggs and carefully separate yolks into a large heat proof bowl or a double boiler.

 Add lemon juice, salt, pepper. Whisk until well blended. 

Bring water to boil in a medium pot or bottom of the double boiler. 

Lower heat to simmer. 

Place bowl with eggs over pot, add butter, keep whisking and cook for 5 - 8 minutes or until sauce is thickened. 

Serves 4.

Grilled Watermelon

 This is perfect for summer or anytime.

8 slices watermelon

4 T. oil

1/4 tsp. salt 

Brush melon on both sides with oil.

Preheat grill pan to medium heat. 

Place melon slices on grill and cook on 1 side for a couple of minutes.

Flip melon over and cook on other side for a couple of minutes more or until done.

Sprinkle melon with salt

Serves 4 

Taco Salad

This is perfect for a get together or anytime.

1 lb. ground round beef
2 - 3 T. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper, chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
1 c. salsa
1 clove garlic (chopped, crushed)
1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes, chili powder
1 lime, juice and zest
1 - 2 c. nacho cheese tortilla chips

1 c. shredded cheese, chopped, chopped bell pepper, chopped tomatoes

2 - 3 c.  torn romaine lettuce

1/4 c. sliced black or green olives

Zest & cut lime in half. 

Peel, rinse, chop onions.

Heat saute pan over medium high heat. 

Reduce heat to medium and add oil.

Peel, rinse, crush, chop garlic.

Add meat and some of the onions

Brown meat and onions for 8 - 10 min. 

Add salsa, garlic, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, cilantro, lime zest to meat. 

Cook for another 4 to 6 min. or until done. 

Squeeze some lime juice over meat mixture.

Rinse, dry lettuce with a clean kitchen towel or salad spinner.

Tear lettuce and place in a clean bowl. 

Rinse, seed, chop pepper.

Rinse, chop tomatoes.

Add tomatoes, onions, peppers to bowl.

Add meat to salad, sprinkle cheese and olives over salad.

To serve:  Add nacho chips.

 Serves 4. 

Easy Fattoush

This is perfect for summer or anytime.

Salad

1 head romaine lettuce

1 cucumber, chopped

1/2 c. radishes, sliced

2 roma tomatoes, chopped

3/4 c. pita bread cut into pieces

2 T. oil

1/4 c. green onions, chopped 

1 lemon halved

Dressing

1/4 c. olive oil

1 T. lemon juice

1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper, dried parsley

1 clove garlic, crushed, chopped

Cut pita bread into pieces, set aside.

Cut ends from, rinse lettuce. 

Crush, peel, chop garlic, set aside.

Cut lemon in half, set aside. I’m

Dry lettuce in a clean kitchen towel or use a salad spinner.

Cut lettuce into pieces and place lettuce in a salad bowl.

Rinse, cut ends from, chop remaining vegetables,  place in salad bowl, set aside.

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

Add pita pieces to skillet and fry on 1 side for a couple of minutes. 

Flip pita pieces over to fry on other side for a couple of minutes more.

Add pita pieces to salad. 

In a clean measuring cup, combine oil, salt, pepper garlic, parsley. Squeeze some of the lemon into oil mixture, stir with a clean fork to mix.

Drizzle some of the dressing over salad if desired.

Serves 4.

Kitchen Jar Ice Cream

Summer’s coming.

What’s a better way to celebrate summer than enjoying ice cream. 

2 - 3 c. heavy cream

Pinch of salt

1/8 - 1/3 c. sugar

1 - 2 tsp. vanilla

1 - 2 T. cocoa powder

1/4 - 1/2 c. chopped fresh strawberries 

Rinse, remove stems from and chop strawberries.

In 4 clean jars combine majority of ingredients except for cocoa & strawberries. 

Screw lid on jars and shake jar for 5 min. 

Remove lid from jar and add strawberries or cocoa powder if desired. 

Screw lid back on jar and place jar in freezer to chill for a few hrs. 

Serves 4.

Grilled Melon

This is perfect for summer or anytime.

1 melon (cantaloupe or honey dew)

4 T. oil

1 - 2 T. rum

1 T. sugar

Cut melon into slices, brush melon with oil, then with rum.

Preheat grill pan to medium heat. 

Place melon slices on grill and cook on 1 side for a couple of minutes.

Flip melon over and cook on other side for a couple of minutes more or until done.

Sprinkle melon with sugar.

Serves 4 - 6.