Sweet Super Bowl Popcorn

When I discovered this popcorn recipe many years ago, I made a mental note to use it for special movie nights and Super Bowl parties    It has a sweet – smoky taste and can be made without butter if you choose     In a small skillet over medium heat combine 2 Tbsn sweet paprika with 1 Tbsn onion powder, 1 Tbsn garlic powder and 1/4 tsp kosher salt    Stir spices briskly while toasting until fragrant – about four minutes    Scrape into a small bowl or cup to cool    Add sugar and stir    Sprinkle seasoning over popped popcorn in a large bag and shake    Serve while still warm in a neutral colored serving bowl    make Super Bowl Sunday a special day

Green Frisee Dressing

Whisk together 2 Tbs of cold pressed oil oil    2 Tbs sherry vinegar or red wine    1 Tbs Dijon mustard    2 tspn of chopped capers    with salt and pepper to taste    Drizzle over 8 cups of frisee or bitter greens    add a slice of some very good toasted bread and perhaps some pieces of cooked turkey or another meat of your choice    Toss the greens –  dressing and additional add ons and serve    Tell me if the dressing works for you or is too strong

Chipolte Horseradish Sauce

Once this sauce is completed, it is best to refrigerate it at least one hour before serving    To begin mix 2/3 cup ketchup with 3 Tbsp horseradish in a bowl    Add 2 tsp of finely grated shallot and 1 1/2 tsp chipolte hot sauce or chipolte pepper    add 1 tsp apple cider vinegar and 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce    salt and pepper to taste    my favorite is to serve chipolte horseradish sauce as a side with seafood

 

Carmelized Brussel Sprouts and Onions with Ham

In three Tbsn of cold pressed oil saute four oz ham – sliced thin – remove and let drain on a paper towel    Add about two lbs of trimmed and halved brussel sprouts to the skillet and saute until lightbrown crisp and tender – toss with salt    Transfer to another bowl    Heat remaining oil, about 2 Tbsp, over medium heat and add 2 lbs of onions – cook until lightbrown and tender (about 15 or 20 minutes)    Stir in 1/4 cup of honey and add 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp red pepper and 1 tsp salt    Add the brussel sprouts and cook 1 – 2 minutes until all is heated well    Top with ham and make ready to serve it to the guests.

Soy Ginger Dipping Sauce

This is a great sauce for dipping raw vegetables and is also good as a sauce for steamed or pureed vegetables    It is a simple mixture and quick to put together    Start by mincing about 3 Tbsp of cilantro, one scallion and 1/4 garlic clove –  to be placed on the side in a serving dish        Mix 1/3 cup of soy sauce with 1 tsp sesame oil and the juice from a lemon or lime and add 1/4 tsp of sugar to the mix    Pour the soy ginger sauce over the cilantro – scallion    add 1/4 tsp of minced ginger and stir with a spoon    Let it set for 15 minutes before it is served

Banana’s Flambe’ed

As we shove off into the New Year, this flamboyant dessert can serve as a reminder that we can all be bright lights this coming year. Let’s start with a banana for every two people    Peel and slice in half    In a medium size sauce pan, melt 1/3 cup of brown sugar and 3 Tbsp unsalted light butter –  with an added touch of 1/2 tspn cinnamon and 1/4 tspn nutmeg    Once the sugar is liquified, place the banana in the pan and cover with the sugar, cinnamin, nutmeg mixture    When the banana is heated – turn off the heat and let simmer for a minute    Add 2 Tbsp of Dark Rum alcohol   Light a long match and light the Rum with awareness that the flame will engulf the pan and bananas for a moment    The banana’s flambe’ed are now ready to be served    The fruit can be eaten as is, or on top a scoop of vanilla ice cream with the mixture spooned over it    Some people serve it as a special dessert to embrace the new year.

A Complicated Bloody Mary

For those who live a simple life…. some spicey V8 juice with some added Worcestershire Sauce – lemon juice and black pepper may be all you need before the ice and vodka are added. For those who like things complicated we can start with 32 oz of clamato juice added to 46 oz of Spicey V8 juice plus 5 Tbsp of lemon juice, 3 Tbsp dill pickle juice, 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 Tbsp lime juice, 1 Tbsp black pepper, 2 Tbsp green olive juice, 1 tsp celery salt, 1 tsp garlic powder, a dash or two of hot pepper sauce and 8 to 12 oz vodka stirred and poured over ice. Some people may want to add an additional Bloody Mary mix for a more spicy horseradish flavor. However, for me it will always be the simple Bloody Mary mix.  Happy New Year to All!