Basil Quesadillas

Basil Quesadillas

flour tortillas
sliced mozzarella
thinly sliced tomatoes
salt
black pepper
couple handfuls chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
olive oil

Heat grill to medium.

On half of the tortillas place the cheese and tomato slices. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add nuts, basil and then drizzle with oil. Top with remaining tortillas; press gently to flatten slightly.

Cook the quesadillas on the grill until the cheese melts and the tortillas are crisp and golden, about 2 minutes per side. Cut into wedges and serve piping hot.

Veggie Grill Sandwich

We eat a lot of these around here during the summer!

Veggie Grill Sandwich

1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup sliced red bell pepper
1 small zucchini, sliced
1 red onion, sliced
1 small yellow squash, sliced
Italian bread, split horizontally

Preheat the grill to medium heat.Combine all ingredients except bread. Place veggies in a grill basket and cook on grill for 3-5 minutes, or until veggies are cooked through.

Drizzle bread with additional olive oil and place on grill. When bread is hot, remove from grill and spread veggies on bread.

Eat while it's hot, and be prepared to make a second sandwich! It's that good!

Bourbon Apple Pie

Bourbon Apple Pie

4 cups peeled and sliced apples
1 cup granulated sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. nutmeg
½ t. ginger
1 stick butter
1 cup bourbon
3 t. orange zest

In a large bowl, toss apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.

Melt the butter in a large skillet. Place apples in skillet and saute for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the bourbon and continue cooking for an additional 10-15 minutes. Apples should be tender and the liquid should be syrupy. Add the orange zest and set aside to cool.

Use any favorite pie crust recipe for this pie. Place apple mixture in bottom crust of pie pan and cover with a top crust. Crimp the edges to seal and vent the top crust.

Place in a pre-heated 375-degree oven for 55-65 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

Pecan Balls

I'm in a cookie mood. What about you?

Pecan Balls

1 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar (plus more for topping)
1½ t. vanilla
2¼ cups flour
1 cup finely chopped pecans
¾ t. salt

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine butter, 1 cup powdered sugar and vanilla.

Add flour, nuts and salt and mix.

Shape into balls.

Place about on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 18 minutes

or until set but not brown.

Roll in powdered sugar
while warm.
Cool.

Roll in powdered
sugar again.

Scones

This is a very basic scone recipe. It comes together quickly and the results are delicious. Try adding nuts, fruit or cinnamon for a change of pace. Enjoy!

Basic Scones

2 cups flour
1 T. baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, very cold
1 cup whipping cream

Combine first 4 ingredients. Cut butter into mixture with a pastry blender until crumbly. Add whipping cream and stir until moistened.

Turn onto lightly floured board. Knead gently.

Roll dough to a half-inch thick circle. Cut into wedges.

Place on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Peachy Pound Cake

One of my favorite recipes!

Peachy Pound Cake

1 cup butter
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
2 t. vanilla
3 cups flour
¼ t. baking soda
½ t. salt
½ cup sour cream
2 cups ripe peaches, peeled and chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour a bundt pan.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet.

Fold in sour cream and chopped peaches.

Pour into prepared pan.

Bake for 1½ hours.

Easy Bean Soup

It doesn't get much easier than this. Add a loaf of warm, crusty bread and you've got a fast meal. Enjoy!

Easy Bean Soup

1 pound Great Northern beans, washed and sorted
2 1/2 quarts cold water, divided
3 carrots, sliced
3 stalks celery, sliced
2 medium onions, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups stewed tomatoes
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Soak beans overnight in 2 qts. water.

Add remaining water to softened beans and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.

Add all remaining ingredients; simmer 60 minutes or until beans are tender. Remove bay leaf before serving.