Grilled Chicken with Plum Salsa

Did you wonder what to do with all of those yummy little plums in your Bountiful Basket? Well...here is one idea. Now, having never really had plums, and I am not sure I am a huge fan to just sit and EAT one...this recipe was WONDERFUL!!!

My husband wasn't too sure what to think of it, so only timidly took some of the salsa. Once he took a bite, he reached for the salsa bowl and scooped another spoonful onto his plate! This was so good!

4 tsp brown sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp garlic powder

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1) heat 2 tsp veggie oil in a grill pan or nonstick skillet over medium heat.

2) combine first 4 ingredients. Rub chicken with brown sugar mixture.

3) add chicken to pan and cook until done.

Plum Salsa (or peaches, nectarines, pineapple)

1 cup chopped ripe plum

2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

2 tsp cider vinegar

1/4 to 1/2 tsp hot sauce (your preference)

1/8 tsp salt

Combine in a bowl. Serve with chicken.

Enjoy!!

Spiced Apricot Jam

5 C blended apricots (or peaches)
1 tsp butter
1/4 C lemon juice
1 box pectin - (I used Surejell pectin)
1/2 tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnoman
1/8 - 1/4 tsp annise extract
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg

prepare Jam per the pectin instructions - Adding these spices adds so much to this jam you will not believe it!

Serving ideas:
*on bread with butter and jam of course!
*glaze on a ham
*glaze over cooked carrots
*disolve a Tbsp into a cup of hot water for a yummy cup of spiced tea
*cook in a crockpot over meatballs and veggies, serve over rice
The possibilities are endless! Be creative!

Cherry Clafoutis

What to do with all of those cherries?!!! Well let me tell you about one idea that I came across. Cherry Clafoutis "cla-foo-tee". The only thing that would have made this recipe prep easier is if I had a cherry pitter. (my fingers seem to be died a dirty red color LOL)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a blender, blend on high for 1 minute:

1 1/4 C milk

1/3 C sugar

3 eggs

1 TBSP vanilla extract

pinch of salt

1/2 C flour

pour 1/4 inch of batter into a pie plate or baking dish. If a pie plate is used, make sure it is a deep dish! Set the dish on your stove top on a medium heated burner for 1 to 2 minutes to allow to set just a bit.

Add halved and pitted cherries to the top of the batter in pan, then sprinkle with 1/3 C sugar. Pour remaining batter over cherries and sugar. Smooth top and bake for about an hour until it is puffy and browned. Clafoutis is done when knife in center comes out clean.

Serve warm with ice cream or whipped topping. YUMMY

Bounty...

This week's Bountiful Baskets was incredibly wonderful - AGAIN!!! I volunteered this time and was surprised at how fun it was. My brother in law went with me and we helped sort produce into the baskets then were asked to stay and help traffic people as they came to get their bounty. It was so much fun! Standing and stooping sure made my rear end sore LOL it is the good pain though. For volunteering, we were able to pick some extra items to add to our loot. YAY! So this is what I had in my basket - including what my extras were...I will mark with an * which included extras...

3 Cantaloupe *

2 bags red grapes *

2 bags cherries *

1 bunch broccoli

2 heads Romaine lettuce *

1 bag baby carrots

16 plums

3 tomatoes

13 peaches

2 avocados

small brown bag full of green beans

6 bananas

I am super excited to get busy and make some yummy dishes with my bounty this time. Stay tuned for more. :)

Enchilada Casserole

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1 onion

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

1 Tbsp Chili powder

1/2 to 1 tsp cumin (I like cumin so I used the full tsp)

1 can tomato sauce (8 oz)

1 small can chopped olives (optional)

1 can diced chili peppers (small can)

6 flour tortillas

8 oz grated Mexican blend cheese

1/2 c water

Preparation:

Brown burger and onion until meat is browned. Drain. Stir in salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, olives, tomato sauce, and peppers. Bring to boil.

In greased 2 1/2 Qt casserole dish, alternately layer tortillas, meat mixture and cheese, ending with cheese sprinkled on top. Add water and cover with lid or foil. Bake 400 for 30 minutes. Top with olives, green onions and fresh chopped tomatoes.

ENJOY!

Heavy Cream Substitute

Ok, here is another tip that my little sis shared with me...if you don't have Heavy Cream that is called for in the recipe and you don't want to go to the store...try this.....

3/4 C milk
1/3 C butter (or margarine works as well)

Preparation:
1. melt the butter
2. Pour into the milk and stir
3. Use in place of one cup of heavy cream.

Tip: if you use low-fat milk, add a TBSP flour to the mixture to thicken.
*can not be used to make whipped cream (cooking or baking only!)

Buttermilk Substitute

Have you ever wanted to make a recipe and then find that you aren't going to be making THAT one because you don't have all of the ingredients? Well I found myself doing that with a couple of recipes this week. My little sister is so resourceful, she was kind enough to share a couple of substitutes for some ingredients:

Buttermilk Substitute...

Milk (just under one cup)
1 TBSP white vinegar or lemon juice

Preparation:
1. Place a TBSP white vinegar OR lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup.
2. Add enough milk to bring the liquid to the one cup line.
3. let stand for five minutes. Then use as much as your recipe calls for.

TADAAAAA ~ HAPPY COOKING

Jenner's Yummy Apple Crisp

Every time my In-laws come over and want a desert, or when my DH is craving something sweet... most of the time, this is what they request ... Enjoy this yummy version of Apple Crisp.

1/3 C all-purpose flour

1/2 C packed brown sugar

2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided

1/2 C butter, melted

1 C rolled oats

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

6 large apples peeled and chopped

1/2 C granulated sugar

* Pre-heat oven to 375. lightly coat 9x9 pan with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, melted butter, oats, salt and nutmeg.

In a large bowl, combine apples, granulated sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon; pour into pan. Cover evenly with topping, pressing firmly onto apples.

Bake for 35 minutes, or until lightly browned. Serve warm with whipped topping or vanilla ice cream.

ENJOY!!

Oriental Bok Coy Salad

*Recipe courtesy of a FB post as well as from Cooks.com with a little twist of my own :)

1/2 C butter
2 T white sugar
1 oz sesame seeds
2 pkgs Ramen noodles crushed - do not use flavor packets
10 oz coarse chopped pecans (you could also use sunflower seeds or slivered almonds)
2 lbs bok choy lettuce chopped coarsley
5 green onions chopped tops and all
Mandarine Oranges

In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add sesame seeds, noodles, pecans and sugar. Stir constantly until lightly browned. This mixture will burn quite easily - so constant stiring is necessary. Poor into another dish to cool to room temperature.

Toss bok choy and onions together and chill until ready to use.

Dressing:
3/4 C vegetable oil
1/4 C red wine vinegar
1/2 C white sugar
2 T soy sauce
Mix well and chill until ready to use.

Just before serving, break up the crunchy mixture and add to bok choy. Pour dressing over, mix and enjoy!

Some fun additions to this yummy salad could be: Blue Cheese or Feta cheese crumbles, strips of chicken or pork, fried wontons, craisins - be creative!

We all enjoyed this salad and I am quite excited to make it again in the future.

Divine French Apple Cobbler

5 Cups chopped apples
3/4 Cup sugar
2 Tbsp flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup water
1 Tbsp butter, softened
*combine ingredients and pour into buttered 9-inch square pan. Dot with butter.

Cobbler crust:
1/2 c flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp butter, softened
1 egg, slightly beaten
**combine ingredients. beat with spoon until batter is smooth. Spoon batter in 9 portions, over the apples, spacing evenly. The batter sill spread out during baking.

Bake 35-40 minutes at 375 or until apples are tender and crust is golden brown. Enjoy warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream YUM YUM!!