Indeed! Blueberries, too! Yummy!

Oh dear, I had a terrible night of cooking yesterday. First, I made vegetarian chili, which called for 1/2 tsp of cumin and 2 Tbsp of chili powder. Did the cumin, then put in only 1 Tbsp of chili powder because two seemed like an awful lot. Tasted it, was a little weak (I think my chili powder is old), so I put in the second. Still a little weak. So I decided to put in the teensiest amount of cayenne pepper - like just a quarter tsp. I tasted it after it had been simmering for 15 minutes and...holy crap! 5 alarm chili!!! I was sort of able to salvage it by putting in more tomatoes, some black beans, and a little water, but it was still pretty spicy.

Then, when I was making the cornbread...*sigh*...the recipe said you could make it with either white or whole wheat flour, and brown or white sugar. I usually go with white flour and sugar, but this time I tried the alternatives because I'm on a bit of a health kick. But the whole wheat flour and the brown sugar must've altered it too much, because it cooked strangely - it was starting to burn on the edges, but the inside was still gooey! Argh! It set a little better after I took it out of the oven, but it still wasn't as good as the standard recipe.

*sigh* So there's my kitchen trauma. I swear, I really am I good cook! *lol* ^_^;;;

Here are some recipes that include various berries. To help you in your quest to fight cancer.

Summer Fruit Punch

Ingredients:
- 1 x 250 g punnet strawberries, hulled, washed, thinly sliced.
- 1 x 150 g punnet blueberries
- 1 x 120 g punnet raspberries
- 1 just-ripe slipstone peach, halved, stone removed, cut into thin wedges
- 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves
- 185 mL (3/4 cup) peach schnappes
- 1 x 750 mL bottle of pink sparkling wine, chilled

Method:
- Place the strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peach, mint and schnappes into a large jug. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least one hour for the flavours to develop.
- Add wine and serve

Alternative:
- Use strong Cordial (I suggest a cordial that is apple or pineapple flavoured) instead of schnappes and Pink Lemonade instead of wine for a fruity punch ideal for children's parties.

~~~~~

Cream Rice Puddings

Ingredients:
- 750 mL (3 cups) coconut milk
- 200 g long-grain white rice
- 4 1/2 tbs caster sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 250 g fresh or frozen raspberries
- 150 g fresh or frozen blueberries
- vegetable oil, to grease

Method:
- Combine coconut milk and rice in a large non-stick sausepan over a medium heat. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered. Stir occasionally and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the rice is tender and the mixture thickens.
- Remove from heat. Add 2 tbs sugar and the vanilla. Stir until just combined. Cover and set aside for 5 minutes and allowed to cool.
-Place about half of the raspberries and the rest of the sugar in a food processor or blender, blend until smooth. Press puree through a fine sieve into a bowl. Add remaining raspberries and blueberries. Stir until combinded.
- Brush four ramekins with oil to lightly grease. Spoon creamed rice into prepared ranekins. Turn rice pudding onto serving plates, drizzle each with berry sause.

oh..that sounds really yummy...

Mmmmm, cooking club. I can get behind that.
I really should use the dorm kitchen sometime, make something better than the cafeteria food. T__T

Bloody Mary Oyster Shots

Ingredients:
- 1 dozen oysters
- 6 celery items, roughly 10-12 cm long
- 2 cup tomato juice, chilled
- 2/3 cup vodka, chilled
- 2 tbs lemon juice
- 2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
- tabasco sauce, to taste
- salt and pepper
- crushed ice

Method:
- Remove oysters from thteir shells. Place 2 oysters and a celery stalk in each of the shot glasses.
- In a jug, combine tomato juice, vodka, lemon juice and sauces.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add ice and stir well.
- Strain tomato mixture over oysters.

~~~~~

Lemon Sauce

Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole-egg mayonnaise
- rind of 1 lemon, finely grated
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- salt and pepper

Method:
- Mix mayonnaise, rind and juice.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Stir until well combined.

~~~~~

Tartare Sauce

Ingedients:
- 1 cup whole-egg mayonnaise
- 2 gherkins, finely chopped
- 1 tbs capers, finely chopped
- 1 tbs chives, finely chopped
- 1 tbs parsley, finely chopped
- salt and pepper

Method:
- Combine mayonnaise, gherkins, capers, chives and parsley.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Stir until well combined.

not a big fan of oysters, I wish I had a full kitchen so I could cook more. I will be getting one soon though. i am moving into a place where i can have a small kitchen, so I can now help post food stuff, there are a couple favorites amongst the groups, but most of ours is budget based. One example is Spam musubi. maybe I'll post the recipe later, all condensed, the ones online are huge and silly, they don't take that long.

Okay here's My signature recipe! My family has been handing down this recipe since atleast the 50's and it's my absolute fave!

Liz’s Famous Chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies

2 Cups sugar

2 sticks butter

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 Cup Peanut butter

2 cups quick oats (More if necessary but do not exceed 4 cups)

Start out by softening the butter for a bout twenty minutes to an hour

then mix the butter, sugar, and cocoa powder together and stir until thoroughly blended

Spoon in the peanut butter and stir until blended completely with the chocolate. stir in the oats.

once all the ingredients have been thoroughly mixed together you can either roll it into tablespoon sized balls Or spread it out on a cookie sheet so it can be cut into bars later (I recommend doing it that way). Place the refrigerator and let chill for 1 hour then enjoy!

I finally got this recipe out of my grandmother.

Her mother's recipe for Maccaroni Pudding.

My Great Grandmother's Maccarroni Pudding

Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cups maccarroni, cooked
- 3 eggs
- 2 tbs sugar
- 2-3 cups milk
- powdered cinnamon or nutmeg

Method:
- Pre-heat oven to 170 C (150 C fan-forced).
- Place eggs and sugar into casserole dish and mix well. Add maccorroni and then milk.
- Stir well. Sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg.
- Place casserole dish onto a baking tray half filled with cold water.
- Place tray into oven. Cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until firm.
- Allow to stand. Place in fridge to cool.