Sugar Cookies

This is a recipe from a package of cookie cutters I bought a few years ago. It is from a famous woman who had a TV show, magazine, books and many other lines of business (she spent some time in jail for insider trading).

1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add flour and baking soda and mix until combined. It will be quite stiff, use your hands if you have to. Roll on a lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Refrigerate for 15 minutes, then bake at 325F for 10-12 minutes.

The refrigeration step is very important. If you don't do it, the cookies will spread and not look at all like the shapes you cut. You can decorate these cookies with icing, or just serve them naked. I have a modest collection of cutters, so I can make cookies for various holidays.

Guacomole

I love this simple recipe for Guacamole. We serve it with tortilla chips as an appetizer, but will use it with the main course, if there is any left over. It's tasty on a burger or with pork.

1 ripe avocado
2 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
1/4 lime's juice
about 1/3 cup finely chopped red pepper, tomato and onion
about 2 tbsp sour cream

mash the avocado and mix with everything else.

To tell if the avocado is ripe, it should be dark green and yield just slightly when gently squeezed. If it is black or really soft, it probably is over ripe. When you cut it, the flesh should be green. The easiest way to cut it (I find), is to slice it to the pit vertically all the way around, then give it a twist and it separates. Then I get the pit out by pushing the edge of a sharp knife right into the pit (just a bit in), then twisting it. You have to be careful getting the pit off the knife. I use a spoon to scoop the flesh out of the skins, it usually comes out in one piece if it is ripe.

Blueberry Muffins

I love summer, when the fruit and berries are a reasonable price. I got a big container of blueberries the other day, but realized today I can't eat them fast enough, so I'm making muffins. This recipe is not overly sweet, nor cake-like as many bought muffins are. It makes a dozen regular size, or 2 dozen mini muffins.

1 3/4 cups flour (I use half whole wheat and half white)
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup cooking oil (canola or corn)
1 cup fresh (or frozen) blueberries

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix wet ingredients separately, then add all at once to dry. Mix just until combined (never over-mix quick bread batters, they get tough). Stir in blueberries. Fill muffin cups (greased or lined with paper baking cups) 2/3 full. Bake at 400F for 18-20 minutes for full size or 10-12 for mini.

This is easily doubled, which I did today, and they freeze well.

Veggie roll-ups

My mom made these for a get-together recently while I was visiting, and they disappeared pretty quickly. Fairly simple to make, they do take a bit of planning and chopping.

1 package of cream cheese, at room temperature
2 tbsp mayonnaise
3 cups finely chopped vegetables (she used red, green and yellow peppers, broccoli, green onions, olives and mushrooms, but you could use anything, really)
15 large tortillas

Mix cream cheese with mayonnaise. Cut sides off tortillas to make them more square, then spread with a medium-thin layer of cheese mixture. Spread a layer of vegetables on top, then roll up tightly. Wrap in saran wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Unwrap saran and slice into 3/4 inch pieces. Mom used whole wheat tortillas and tomato ones, and arranged them alternately on a plate. Make sure the veggies aren't too big, and I wouldn't use anything too juicy (like tomatoes).

Pancakes

This is almost as easy as buying pancake mix. It makes about 15 pancakes of about a 3 inch diameter.

1 1/2 cups flour
4 tsp sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 large eggs
2 tbsp cooking oil
1 1/4 cup milk

Mix dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, add milk and oil. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix just until combined. Cook in frying pan on medium high heat by dropping large tablespoonfuls, flipping when edges appear dry and there are bubbles on top.

Waffles

In honour of Father's Day, I made waffles for brunch today. This fairly simple recipe makes 5 Belgian waffles (the big round ones). Terrific with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and fruit.

1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup cooking oil
1 cup sour cream
1 1/4 cup milk

Stir dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, add oil, sour cream and milk and mix well. Pour into dry ingredients and stir just until moistened. I use about 3/4 cup batter in my waffle iron, but it depends on the size and type.

Hot German Potato Salad

I'm not a big fan of potato salad with mayonnaise, so was very excited to find this variation made with vinegar.

4 cups hot, cooked diced potatoes
6 slices bacon
1 small onion
2 tbsp flour
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup water
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp fresh parsley
1 tsp dry mustard
pepper to taste

Fry bacon til crispy, then crumble.Fry onion in bacon fat. Stir in flour, then add vinegar and water. Stir until thickened. Add seasonings and pour over hot potatoes. Serve warm.

I like this when its cooled down, too, but not refrigerated. You can substitute red wine vinegar for the balsamic for a milder taste.