~*~ Creamy Fruit Salad ~*~

Ingredients:
1 (15 oz) can pineapple chunks, drained (save juice)
1/2 c. sugar
2 T. flour
1 egg, beaten
3 bananas, sliced
2 (11 oz) cans mandarin oranges, drained (save juice)
3 medium apples, chopped (unpeeled)
1/2 lb. red seedless grapes, halved
pecans (optional)

Directions:  Place reserved pineapple juice in a small saucepan; add sugar, flour and beaten egg.  Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth and thickened.  Allow to cool.  In a large bowl, combine pineapple chunks, bananas, orange segments, apples and grapes.  Pour cooled dressing over the fruit mixture; toss gently, making sure everything is well coated. Add pecans to the top and chill before serving.  ~ Chef ~

~ Squash, fresh from the Garden ~

How is everyone's garden coming along?

Picked my first (and only) squash.

There are more on the vine just slow growing.

Tomatoes are not doing very well.

Cucumbers - they'll bloom, grow then dry up.

Nothing much to do with ONE squash,
 except ... pray for more.

~ Chef ~

~ Wordless Wednesday ~

~ Chef ~

~Mountain Mama Oatmeal Raisin Cookie~

Ingredients:

3 eggs, beaten

1 cup raisins

2 teaspoon pure vanilla 

1 cup butter, room temperature

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon table salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 cups oats

3/4 cups toasted pecans, chopped

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Directions: Combine beaten eggs, raisins and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand for one hour. *DON'T SKIP THIS STEP* Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. In a small bowl, sift the flour, salt, cinnamon and soda together; set aside. Cream the butter and both sugars together. Add flour mixture to butter and sugar and mix well. Dough will be stiff. Slowly add the egg/raisin mixture and mix until fully incorporated. Stir in oats and pecans. Bake cookies on cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely. This recipe sounds AMAZING! Can't wait to try it. Recipe and photo courtesy of Mountain Mama Cooks. ~ Chef ~

~ Salsa Burgers ~

Ingredients:

2 lbs. ground chuck

1/2 onion, grated

3 Tbsp. Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise

3 Tbsp. Worchestershire Sauce

1 Tbsp. chili powder 

1/2 cup Salsa

8 hamburger buns
 

Directions:  Combine ground chuck, onion, Hellmann's, worchestershire sauce and chili powder in medium bowl. Form into 8 patties. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Grill patties to desired doneness. Top with salsa and your favorites (lettuce, tomato, onion, etc.) and serve on buns. Great for 4th of July grillouts. ~ Chef ~

~ Squash - Zucchini Fritters ~

Ingredients:
1 c. of grated zucchini
1 1/2 - 2 c. of grated squash
1 tsp. of salt
1/2 tsp. of pepper
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 tsp. of dried thyme
a pinch of grated garlic
1/4 c. of bread crumbs
vegetable oil and butter, for frying

Directions:  Squeeze the grated squash and zucchini to remove excess water. This will prevent the fritters from turning soggy. The best way to do this is to place the grated vegetables in a piece of cheesecloth and wringing the cheesecloth.  If you don’t have cheesecloth, just take the grated vegetables in your hand and squeeze out as much of the liquid as you can.  Place the squeezed vegetables in a bowl and add the remaining ingredients, except the vegetable cooking oil and butter. Now heat 2 T. of cooking oil and 2 T. of butter. Form the zucchini and squash mixture into patties and fry.  Flip when the underside is nicely browned and crisp, about three minutes. Cook the opposite side until browned and crisp as well. Add more vegetable oil and butter to the pan as needed.  These go well with any meal or as an appetizer.  Enjoy!  ~ Chef ~

~ Too Hot to Cook ~

Too Hot to Blog.

Stay cool, if you can.

~ Chef ~