Shower Door Cleaner

Ingredients:

2 C. Original blue Dawn

2 C. white vinegar

Also need a spray bottle

Directions:

1. Pour Dawn and vinegar in a glass bowl, stir.
2. Heat for 4 minutes in the microwave.
3. Remove and stir again.
4. Using a funnel, pour the solution into the spray bottle.
5. Shake well to mix the solution.
6. Use as needed on the shower doors.

Note:  This can also be used on a glass stovetop.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

 A very simple recipe that just takes time...a year is good!

Ingredients:

5-6 vanilla beans

8 oz. vodka

Also needed, an airtight glass bottle or jar.

Directions:  

1. Slit the vanilla bean pods down the center and submerge in the vodka. 
2. Be sure the vanilla beans are covered.
3. Store at room temperature, out of sun light.
4. Shake the jar once a week or so.
5. Let vodka infuse for a minimum of six months, ideally a year.
6. Remove bean pods from vodka and use as normal.

Ham and Potato Casserole

Ingredients:

2 lbs. Russet potatoes

2 C. cubed ham

1 ½ C. shredded sharp white cheddar cheese, divided

3 T. unsalted butter

¾ C. chopped yellow onion 

3 garlic cloves, minced

¾ t. salt

½ t. fresh ground pepper

½ t. smoked paprika

½ t. ground mustard

1 t. dried parsley (or 2 t. fresh chopped parsley)

3 T. all-purpose flour

2 C. whole milk

optional, for garnish: chopped fresh parsley, green onion, chives, or hot sauce

Directions:

1. Peel potatoes, cut into ¾-inch pieces. You’ll have just over 6 cups chopped potatoes. 
2. Cover with water in a medium pot. 
3. Bring to boil. Once boiling, boil for just 5–6 minutes. Potatoes should be only slightly softened.
4. Drain. 
5. Grease a 9×13-inch or any 3–4-quart oven-safe dish. 
6. Add warm drained potatoes, ham, and 1 cup of shredded cheese. 
7. Gently stir together. 
8. Set aside.
9. Preheat oven to 375°F.
10. Melt the butter in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. 
11. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions have softened, about 3 minutes. 
12. Stir in salt, pepper, smoked paprika, ground mustard, parsley, and flour until combined and flour has absorbed any liquid. 
13. Reduce heat to low, and then slowly stir in the milk. 
14. Simmer for 3–5 minutes or until thickened into a gravy consistency. 
15. Remove from heat. 
16. Taste and, if desired, add more salt, pepper, paprika, mustard, or parsley to taste.
17. Pour warm sauce over ham and potatoes. 
18. Toss gently to coat.
19. Bake, covered with aluminum foil, for 30 minutes. 
20. Remove aluminum foil, sprinkle remaining cheese on top, and return to the oven for 5–10 more minutes or until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbling around the edges.
21. Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh parsley, green onion, chives, or a drizzle of hot sauce.

Sweet and Spicy Pickled Radishes

Ingredients:

1 lb. radishes, sliced thin

¼ C. cilantro, chopped

1 jalapeno, stem removed, finely diced

1 C. distilled white vinegar plus more as needed

2 T. sugar

2 T. kosher salt

1 t. red pepper flakes, optional

1 T. mustard seed

Directions:

1. Wash and dry the radishes.
2. Thinly slice the radishes and add to a large bowl along with the chopped cilantro and diced jalapeño, set aside.
3. In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar with the sugar and salt and stir until dissolved. 
4. Bring mixture to a low boil on the stove, then turn off and allow to cool completely. 
5. Pack a quart canning jar to the top with the radish/cilantro/jalapeño mixture. 
6. Pack tightly. 
7. Sprinkle the red pepper flakes and mustard seed on the top of the packed radishes.
8. Pour the cooled vinegar mixture over the top of the mixture in the jar, if needed, top off with additional vinegar and a pinch of salt.
9. Place the lid and ring tightly on the jar and allow to sit at room temperature for 24 hours before placing in the refrigerator.
10. Consume within 7-10 days.

Cheese and Pepperoni Pizza Stromboli

Ingredients:

Pizza Crust Dough

Pizza or spaghetti sauce

Mozzarella cheese

Pepperoni

Note:  Thinly sliced toppings work the best.  Also toppings that do not produce a lot of moisture also work better.

Directions:

1. Make the pizza dough and roll it out into a thin rectangle.
2. Preheat the oven to 400° F.
3. Cover ⅔ of the dough (left side) with a thin layer of pizza or spaghetti sauce; make sure to leave a 1-inch edge without sauce and the ⅓ of the dough (right side) without sauce to allow the dough to seal properly.
4. Sprinkle with an even, yet thin layer of cheese.
5. Layer on the pepperoni or other toppings.
6. Starting with short edge of rectangle on the left side of the dough, roll the dough up and pinch the edges closed to seal in the ingredients.
7. Place the Stromboli seam side down on a foil lined baking sheet.
8. Bake for 15 minutes, until the crust is golden brown.
9. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing.

Homemade Pickled Ginger (Gari)

 Ingredients:

8 ounces fresh young ginger root, peeled

1 ½ t. sea salt

1 C. rice vinegar

⅓ C. white sugar

Directions:

1. Slice ginger into paper-thin slices. 
2. Place in a bowl, sprinkle with sea salt, and stir to coat. 
3. Let stand for about 30 minutes.
4. Rinse most of salt from ginger slices, then transfer to a clean lidded jar.
5. In a saucepan, stir together rice vinegar and sugar until sugar has dissolved. 
6. Bring to a boil, then pour the boiling liquid over ginger slices in the jar.
7. Seal the jar. 
8. After a few minutes, the liquid may change to a slightly pinkish color; don't be alarmed. 
9. Store in the refrigerator for at least 1 week.

Tamale Pie

 Ingredients:

1 box corn muffin mix (such as Jiffy)

1 large egg

½ c. sour cream

½ c. canned creamed corn

1 T. extra-virgin olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 t. ground cumin

1 t. chili powder

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded.

½ c. red enchilada sauce

1 c. shredded cheddar

1 c. shredded Monterey Jack

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. 
2. Grease a large oven-safe skillet with cooking spray. 
3. In a large bowl, whisk together corn muffin mix, egg, sour cream, and creamed corn. 
4. Transfer to prepared skillet and bake until golden, 20 minutes. Let cool.
5. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. 
6. Add onion, cumin, and chili powder and season with salt and pepper. 
7. Cook until soft, 5 minutes. 
8. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute more. 
9. Add chicken to onion and garlic mixture.
10. Add ⅓ cup of enchilada sauce.
11. Poke entire surface of cornbread with a fork and pour over remaining enchilada sauce. 
12. Spread chicken mixture over crust.
13. Sprinkle with cheeses.
14. Cover with foil and bake until cheese is melty, about 20 minutes. 
15. Switch oven to broil, remove foil, and broil until cheese turns golden, about 5 minutes.