Spicy Pickled Cucumbers

I made this last night as a side to kung pao chicken, and it was excellent. The origonal recipe calls fior a Thai hot pepper, but I used red pepper flakes instead. IT was still just as goo.

Ingrediants:

2 pickling cucumbers sliced thin
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup rice vinegar
handful of fresh mint
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt

Mix all ingrediants in bowl and chill for an hour. Serve.

Portobello Mushroom Bruschetta

I got this recipe from Tyler Florence and changed it up a little bit. I think it's great for a party, or even for a light meal

Ingredients:
8-10 pieces of french bread sliced thin
3 portabello mushroom caps, scales removed, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic

Tomato Relish:
2-3 vine tomatoes chopped
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
fresh basil shredded

Preheat oven to 350. Put sliced bread on baking pan and bake for 10 min. When done rub a piece of garlic on slices of bread.Heat oil in pan until hot. Add mushrooms and cook until soft. Add garlic and heat about 5 min. While that is cooking mix tomato, onion, vinegar, oil and basil in a separate bowl.

Top bread with portobello and relish mix and serve.

Cilantro Lime Vinagrette

I found this recipe on Eating Well website, and fell in love with it. This salad dressing is excellent for summer or anytime you want something light and refreshing. This goes great with a chopped chicken salad, or a shrimp salad.

Ingrediants:

Dressing:
1 cup packed cilantro
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Pinch of minced garlic

Puree cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, orange juice, salt, pepper and garlic in a food processor until smooth.

Grilled Tomato Basil Pizza

This is our new find, it is so easy and tastes like those gourmet pizza places with the brick oven. Our favorite is Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella but we also have done BBQ chicken and white pizza. Manga!


Ingredients:

1 lb fresh or frozen pizza dough (we like Trader Joe's wheat pizza dough)
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 can of Hunt's fire roasted tomatoes
1/2 lb of fresh mozzarella cheese
Fresh Basil
Salt and Pepper to taste


Heat grill to medium-high heat. Roll pizza dough out on a cookie sheet and cut in to four equal pieces. Take the olive oil and brush on each piece of dough. Take dough and place on the grill, olive oil side down. Let cook 2-3 minutes, and flip over. Once flipped over add tomatoes, and cheese, grill another 2-3 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Take off grill and add fresh basil.

Strawberry Noodles

This recipe is courtesy of my mother-in-law. She tells me this is a popular treat in Poland and can also be served as a meal. The strawberries with the noodles are amazing.
(image courtesy of boxedberries.com)

Ingredients:

1 lb of Kluski noodles
20-25 medium strawberries
2 teaspoons of sugar, or more to taste

Preparation:
Boil noodles until tender (about 8-10 minutes). In food processor, puree sugar and strawberries. When noodles are done, pour strawberry mixture over noodles and serve.

Tomato Basil Pasta

This is an old favorite of our family. It's basic, but always a hit at parties. I actually like to serve this pasta cold rather than hot, but it tastes great either way.

Ingrediants:

1 pound bow tie pasta
1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
3 Roma tomatoes, chopped in small pieces
1 cup torn fresh basil
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

Boil pasta in boiling water.
While pasta is boiling mix oil, garlic, and tomatoes. Add mixture to pasta when done boiling. Add basil, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.

Key Lime Pie

Key lime pie is my absolute favorite dessert. Especially in summer. It is refreshing and won't ruin your diet. This is my version of key lime pie using chocolate crust. It's a great spin on traditional key lime pie. I use a store bought chocolate pie crust, but you can make your own oreo one. (image courtesy of prweb.com)

Ingredients:

• 9" chocolate Oreo pie crust
  
• 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
• 3 egg yolks (whites not used)
• ½ cup Key Lime Juice

Preparation:

Combine milk, egg yolks and lime juice. Blend until smooth. Pour filling into pie crust and bake at 350� for 15 minutes. Allow to stand 10 minutes before refrigerating. Just before serving, top with freshly whipped cream, and garnish with lime slices.