ROMANTIC MONDAY
SWEET POTATO PIE

1 9-INCH, PIE SHELL
4 LARGE SWEET POTATOES
1/3 CUP BUTTER
1 CUP BROWN SUGAR
2 EGGS, BEATEN
1/4 EVAPORATED MILK
1 TEASPOON VANILLA
1 TEASPOON ALLSPICE

1.PREHEAT OVEN TO 325 DEGREES. POKE HOLES IN THE PIE SHELL WITH A FORK & BAKE FOR 5 MINUTES.

2.PEEL & CUT SWEET POTATOES INTO LARGE PIECES. BOIL THEM IN A LARGE POT OF WATER FOR 15-20 MINUTES. DRAIN & PLACE THEM IN A MEDIUM BOWL. WITH AN ELECTRIC MIXER, BEAT POTATOES UNTIL SMOOTH. STIR IN THE BUTTER, BROWN SUGAR, BEATEN EGGS, EVAPORATED MILK, VANILLA & ALLSPICE.

3.POUR MIXTURE INTO PIE SHELL & BAKE FOR 1 HOUR. LET COOL BEFORE CUTTING.

SERVINGS: 8 / PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES / COOK TIME: 1½ HOURS

 

QUALITY TIME TUESDAY
BBQ TURKEY SLIDERS

1½ POUNDS GROUND TURKEY
½ TEASPOON GARLIC POWDER
½ TEASPOON ONION POWDER
½ TEASPOON SEA SALT
½ TEASPOON PEPPER
¼ CUP OLIVE OIL
1 CUP CHEDDAR CHEESE, SHREDDED
12 SOFT ROUND DINNER ROLLS
6 PIECES GREEN LEAF LETTUCE
3 PLUM TOMATOES, SLICED
1 CUP BBQ SAUCE

1.IN A LARGE BOWL, COMBINE GROUND TURKEY, GARLIC POWDER, ONION POWDER, SEA SALT & PEPPER. FORM MEAT INTO THICK 2½-INCH WIDE PATTIES.

2.IF GRILLING, BRUSH BOTH SIDES OF BURGERS WITH OLIVE OIL. GRILL BURGERS OVER MEDIUM HEAT FOR 4-5 MINUTES ON EACH SIDE. IF FRYING, HEAT OIL IN A LARGE SKILLET OVER MEDIUM-HIGH HEAT. COOK PATTIES FOR 4-5 MINUTES ON EACH SIDE. TOP EACH BURGER WITH CHEESE DURING THE LAST MINUTE OF THE COOKING TIME.

3.SLICE ROLLS IN HALF, TO RESEMBLE HAMBURGER BUNS. CUT LETTUCE LEAVES INTO SMALL PIECES. ARRANGE EACH BURGER WITH A PIECE OF LETTUCE, TOMATO & BBQ SAUCE.

SERVINGS: 12 / PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES / COOK TIME: 10 MINUTES

 

WAISTLINE WEDNESDAY
COLE SLAW WITH A KICK - VEGETARIAN

1 LARGE BAG SHREDDED CABBAGE
1 CUP CARROTS, SHREDDED FINE & CHOPPED
½ CUP GREEN ONION, FINE CHOPPED
¼ CUP MAYONNAISE
¼ CUP SOUR CREAM
¼ CUP HEAVY CREAM
2 TABLESPOONS SUGAR
1 TABLESPOON VINEGAR
1 TEASPOON SEA SALT
½ TEASPOON CAYENNE PEPPER

1.IN A LARGE BOWL, COMBINE CABBAGE, CARROTS AND GREEN ONION.

2.IN A SMALL BOWL, COMBINE MAYONNAISE, SOUR CREAM, HEAVY CREAM, SUGAR, VINEGAR, SEA SALT & CAYENNE PEPPER.

3.TOSS EVERYTHING TOGETHER & REFRIGERATE FOR AT LEAST 3 HOURS.

SERVINGS: 10 / PREP TIME: 20 MINUTES / COOK TIME: 0

THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY
MOTHERS SMOTHERED CHICKEN

8 CHICKEN PIECES
1¼ CUP FLOUR
½ TEASPOON ONION POWDER
½ TEASPOON GARLIC POWDER
1 TEASPOON SEASONED SALT
1 TEASPOON PEPPER
1 CUP SAFFLOWER OIL
1 CUP ONION, DICED
1½ CUPS CHICKEN BROTH, HOT
¼ CUP HALF & HALF

1.IN A LARGE PLASTIC BAG, COMBINE FLOUR, ONION POWDER, GARLIC POWDER, SEASONED SALT & PEPPER. SET ASIDE ¼ CUP OF THE SEASONED FLOUR FOR GRAVY. IN A LARGE SKILLET, HEAT OIL ON MEDIUM-HIGH HEAT.

2.SHAKE CHICKEN IN THE BAG OF FLOUR, ONE PIECE AT A TIME. ADD CHICKEN TO HOT OIL & FRY 7 MINUTES ON EACH SIDE. WHEN CHICKEN IS DONE, REMOVE IT FROM THE PAN & LAY IT ON PAPER TOWELS TO DRAIN.

3.REMOVE ALL EXCEPT ¼ CUP OF OIL FROM THE SKILLET. ADD ONION & SAUTÉ FOR 5 MINUTES. ADD ¼ CUP OF RESERVED SEASONED FLOUR TO THE SKILLET & BROWN UNTIL GOLDEN. ADD THE HOT CHICKEN BROTH & HALF AND HALF TO THE PAN. ADDITIONAL BROTH &/OR HALF & HALF CAN BE ADDED FOR DESIRED THICKNESS OF GRAVY. STIR UNTIL SMOOTH & SEASON TO TASTE.

4.RETURN CHICKEN TO PAN, COVER & SIMMER ON LOW FOR 30-40 MINUTES.

SERVINGS: 4 / PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES / COOK TIME: 60 MINUTES

 

FUN FRIDAY
BROWN SUGAR BBQ BABY BACK RIBS

2 SLABS BABY BACK RIBS
1 TEASPOON GARLIC POWDER
1 TEASPOON ONION POWDER
1 TEASPOON SEA SALT
1 TEASPOON PEPPER
1 TABLESPOON BROWN SUGAR
1 CUP BBQ SAUCE

1.REMOVE THE MEMBRANE FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE RIBS (TOUGH WHITE SKIN). IN A SMALL BOWL COMBINE, GARLIC POWDER, ONION POWDER, SEA SALT, PEPPER & BROWN SUGAR. RUB SEASONING MIXTURE ALL OVER RIBS. PLACE IN A GLASS PAN & COVER WITH PLASTIC WRAP. REFRIGERATE FOR 1 HOUR.

2.WHEN GRILLING, BRUSH RACK WITH OIL TO PREVENT STICKING. LAY THE RIBS, MEATY SIDE UP OVER LOW COALS. COVER THE GRILL & COOK SLOW ON LOW FOR 75 MINUTES.
3.WHEN COOKING IN THE OVEN, ADD 1 CUP OF WATER TO THE PAN THEN COVER THE PAN WITH FOIL. BAKE ON 325 DEGREES FOR 90 MINUTES.

4.BRUSH ON BBQ SAUCE 10 MINUTES BEFORE RIBS ARE DONE. IF COOKING IN THE OVEN, DRAIN ALL LIQUID BEFORE BRUSHING ON BBQ SAUCE.

SERVINGS: 8 / PREP TIME: 1 ½ HOURS / COOK TIME: 75-90 MINUTES