Pickled Beets

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PICKLED BEETS
My mother brought this recipe back from China in the late 1940s. My father was stationed there while he was in the Air Force.
6 cups cooked, sliced beets or 3 cans sliced beets
1 cup sugar
1 cup vinegar (white or apple cider)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
24 whole cloves
3 tablespoons ketchup
3 tablespoons cooking oil (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Dash of salt

1. Drain the beets, reserving 1 1/2 cups of the beet liquid. Place the beets in a medium saucepan with the reserved liquid and the remainder of the ingredients.
2. Mix well, then cook for 3 minutes over medium heat, or until the mixture thickens. Let it cool, then store it in the refrigerator.

Strawberry Fruit Smoothie Recipe

Image by Dalboz17 via Flickr

Made with yogurt, milk, or ice cream, fruit smoothie recipes
are the perfect summer treat.

Ingredients:

2 cup vanilla ice cream
1 1/2 cup fresh strawberries
2 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 cups crushed ice


Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until smooth.

Goat Cheese Stuffed Tomatoes

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
4 large fresh tomatoes
4 ounces goat cheese
1 tablespoon chopped bottled roasted red peppers
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons bread crumbs
1 tablespoon torn fresh basil leaves
kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste


DIRECTIONS
1.Preheat the oven broiler.
2.Slice the tops off of the tomatoes and hollow out by removing the seeds.
3.In a bowl, mix the goat cheese and chopped red peppers together. Spoon an equal amount of the cheese mixture into each hollowed out tomato. Place stuffed tomatoes upright in a baking dish. Top each tomato evenly with the bread crumbs and torn basil. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
4.Place under broiler for 5 to 10 minutes until bread crumbs are lightly browned.

Apple Goat Cheese Bruschetta

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
1 Fuji apple - peeled, cored, and chopped
3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
8 thin slices French bread

..DIRECTIONS

1.Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack 3 to 4 inches from the heat source.
2.Toss together the goat cheese, apple, thyme, oregano, and pepper in a bowl; set aside. Arrange the bread slices on a baking sheet; toast the bread under the broiler until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
3.Sprinkle the goat cheese mixture evenly over the bread slices. Return bread to oven to broil until cheese is softened, about 1 minute more.

Goat cheese roll Recipe

Ingredients:
If possible, obtain Johnny's Garlic Spread and Seasoning. (Or blend your own herbs and garlic powder, parmesan cheese, basil, parsley oregano and salt.)

Directions:
Roll the goat cheese in the above mixture in a seal tight plastic bag to coat all sides. Marinate overnight in the refrigerator. Serve with crackers.

Creamy Goat Cheese and Honey

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
4 ounces fresh goat cheese
2 ounces finely chopped pecans
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, minced

..DIRECTIONS

1.Divide the goat cheese into 12 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball. Combine the crushed pecans and cinnamon in a bowl. Roll each goat cheese ball in the pecan mixture until covered. Gently pat the balls into patties; transfer to a serving plate. Drizzle honey over the patties and sprinkle rosemary on top. Serve immediately.

Fennel with Rosemary, Shallots and Goat Cheese

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
8 baby fennel bulbs, trimmed
1 tablespoon butter
4 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
4 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
1 shallot, quartered lengthwise
2 cups dry white wine
salt and pepper to taste
6 ounces goat cheese, crumbled

DIRECTIONS
1.Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add baby fennel, and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes, then drain.
2.Butter the bottom of a shallow baking dish, and sprinkle with garlic, rosemary, and shallots. Arrange the fennel in the baking dish, and pour in the white wine. Season with salt and pepper.
3.Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 30 minutes, basting occasionally. Set the oven to Broil, then sprinkle the fennel with crumbled goat cheese. Broil for a few minutes until the cheese has melted.