Delicious Dill Dip

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Food Junkie Favorites: Delicious Dill Dip! “Remember to eat your veggies.”  We’ve all ignored that inner voice that tends to remind us not to reach for a second cookie. So today we’re going to make eating vegetables FUN! This dip is so yummy, you can scoop it up with cucumber spears, celery sticks, baby carrots, snow peas, cherry tomatoes, or cauliflower. But don’t stop there. The fresh dill even complements a toasted bagel, which you’ll see later on. 

DELICIOUS DILL DIP

Ingredients:

1 cup Greek yogurt 

1 cup mayonnaise 

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon celery seed

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1 tablespoon celery flakes

1 tablespoon onion, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh dill

Instructions:

Mix thoroughly yogurt and mayonnaise. Add sea salt, celery seed, onion powder, celery flakes, and chopped onion; blend well. Fold in fresh dill. Refrigerate one hour before serving. 

Corned Beef Brisket

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Food Junkie Favorites: Corned Beef Brisket! Eating corned beef brisket isn’t just for St. Patrick’s Day anymore. However, it’s the best time to stock up when it’s popular and readily available at the nearby market.  Go from the traditional favorite dinner one day to corned beef hash and eggs the next morning and Reuben sliders for a late night snack. Are you getting the idea? Be creative and tell me yours!

CORNED BEEF BRISKET 

Ingredients:

3-pound corned beef brisket, boneless

1/8 teaspoon thyme

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 

1/8 teaspoon allspice

1 tablespoon peppercorns 

1 tablespoon bay leaves

1 cup ginger beer or water

1-pound baby carrots, peeled

4 tablespoons butter

1/8 teaspoon paprika 

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 300°. Place corned beef brisket, fat side up, in a covered roaster. Sprinkle spices on top. Add 1 cup of ginger beer or water. Cover and roast for three hours. The guideline is one hour per pound. After 2 hours add carrots to roaster. Cover and cook for 1 hour. At that time, the contents should be fork tender. Let the brisket rest for 15 minutes before slicing across the grain. Remove carrots and place in a bowl. Add butter to coat. Sprinkle with paprika. 

BOILED CABBAGE 

Ingredients:

1 head of cabbage

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons butter

Instructions:

In a deep pan, add 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil. Add cabbage quarters and salt. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes. Turn cabbage with tongs. Simmer 5 minutes longer until tender. Drain well. Add butter to coat cabbage thoroughly. 

PARSLEY BOILED POTATOES 

Ingredients:

3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into sections

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons butter

1/4 teaspoon parsley

Instructions:

Place potatoes in 2 quart saucepan. Pour in enough water to cover. Add salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook potatoes 15-20 minutes, or until tender. Drain. Add butter to coat. Garnish with parsley. 

Black Pepper Bacon

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Food Junkie Favorites: Black Pepper Bacon! Bacon, bacon, bacon.  Did someone mention Bacon? Nothing smells more amazing than the aroma of hickory-smoked maple bacon lightly wafting through the home. It has been known to make robust men weak in the knees and healthy women light-headed. By adding the spicy jolt of black pepper, it kicks the fragrance up a notch and awakens the taste buds. 

BLACK PEPPER BACON

Ingredients:

1 pound hickory-smoked maple bacon, thick cut

1 teaspoon black pepper 

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°. Place bacon strips on a baking sheet lined with a wire rack. Sprinkle black pepper over all. Bake 40-45 minutes or until crisp. Carefully remove pan from oven, being careful not to spill the hot liquid. Drain bacon on paper towels. Serve warm. 

Amaretto Strawberry Romanoff

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Food Junkie Favorites: Amaretto Strawberry Romanoff! Have you ever tasted vanilla extract? Well, amaretto tastes nothing like that. It has a smooth sweet hint of almonds with just a smidgen of apricot undertones. When you fold it into Greek yogurt, it transforms a dish of fresh strawberries into a light and elegant dessert you could easily find in a gourmet restaurant. 

AMARETTO STRAWBERRY ROMANOFF 

Ingredients:

1 quart fresh strawberries

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1-2 tablespoons amaretto liqueur 

Fresh mint sprig

Instructions:

Wash strawberries; pat dry. In a small bowl gently stir yogurt and brown sugar until no lumps remain. Fold in amaretto liqueur. Transfer to a decorative dish, garnish with fresh mint, and place on a serving platter. Arrange strawberries around sauce. Serve with frilled toothpicks. 

Food Junkie Favorites

Hello, my name is Gail and I’m a Food Junkie. I confess that I eat to live and enjoy the ride. I like fresh ingredients, garden herbs, rich chocolate, and French butter…to name just a few. But I’m in good company. Some of my posts have been favored by the “Food Network” on Twitter as well as Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa) on Instagram. Come along with me for “Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: Food Junkie Favorites! This remarkable journey of the palate is special because it gives me a few moments with you. Thanks very much to all of my guests and followers on http://snapshotsincursive.com for the uplifting support, award nominations, and moving words of encouragement. What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? It’s as simple as reciting your A-B-Cs. One of my passions is being at home in my own country kitchen.   I love to cook, and my husband loves that I do it often.  Now more than ever, since I am retired, I relish the thought of creating something delicious from scratch.  I adore time-honored traditions using tried-and-true recipes. Yet, I often never think twice about tweaking old favorites or modifying others to suit the inner craving of the moment.  Most of the recipes serve 2-4 people, but can be altered in any direction.  The leftovers are golden morsels to be eaten again later or shared with others.  And I love to share.  To me, seeing a smile in gratitude is thanks enough. The recipes you will find here in the next several weeks can be prepared very easily.  Feel free to contact me with questions.  Now take a deep breath, inhale the aromas, and join me on a tasteful journey entitled, “EATING MY WAY THROUGH THE ALPHABET: FOOD JUNKIE FAVORITES!”

Zinfandel Balsamic Reduction Sauce

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Grocery List Ideas: Zinfandel Balsamic Reduction Sauce. By now you’re probably very familiar with that finishing touch to garden salads, grilled meats, roasted veggies, and creamy desserts. Look for glossy, syrupy, deep dark brown swirls that taste sweet and smell tangy. It’s the final garnish that stands alone. Pretend you’re writing in cursive or freeform as you drizzle it atop foods. The natural sugars in red wine and raw honey create a thick fine stream that makes any food sit up and take notice. We call it balsamic reduction sauce. 

ZINFANDEL BALSAMIC REDUCTION SAUCE 

Ingredients: 

1 cup Zinfandel red wine 

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 

1 tablespoon raw honey

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cold 

Sea salt & black pepper, to taste 

Instructions: 

In a stainless steel tapered sauce pan over high heat, place the Zinfandel wine, balsamic vinegar, and raw honey. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. In 15-20 minutes it will reduce by half, and thicken. It should coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat. Allow the mixture to cool slightly. Whisk in the cold butter until melted for a glossy finish. Season with sea salt and black pepper. 

Your Team Tailgate Cheeseball

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Grocery List Ideas: Your Team Tailgate Cheeseball. Elevate your next adventure in tailgating at home or in the parking lot at the stadium. I guarantee when you show up with this festive “football” cheeseball, heads will turn to take notice. If you really want to show off your team pride, wear colorful  jerseys or temporary tattoos. By the time the party’s over, you’ll be leaving with heightened expectations, good vibes, and a full stomach. That is, until the game begins and the munchies return. 

YOUR TEAM TAILGATE CHEESEBALL 

Ingredients: 

8 ounces Neufchâtel cheese, softened 

4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 

1 green onion, snipped 

1/4 cup pickled jalapeños, diced

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1 sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled 

1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped

1 slice mozzarella cheese 

Instructions: 

In a medium bowl, combine Neufchâtel cheese, cheddar cheese, green onion, pickled jalapeños, and garlic powder. Use a hand mixer to beat until well mixed. Shape the cheese mixture into the shape of a football. Place on a sheet of parchment paper. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Sprinkle the Cheeseball with crumbled bacon and chopped chives, pressing firmly to coat. Transfer cheeseball to a serving dish. For the laces, cut the mozzarella cheese into thin slices. Leave one long piece for the center of the football. Arrange smaller slices in rows for the laces. Place the long strip horizontally over the top, down the middle. Press lightly. Serve with crackers and pretzels.