Angels on Horseback...

Angels on Horseback, what a funny name for an oyster and bacon...I tried to find out how that name came about...couldn't find an answer, just that they originated in England and were very popular there and in Australia too. They were popular here in the 60's during the Kennedy administration. There are a couple of ways to cook these, you can par cook the bacon and then wrap the oyster, and finish them off in the oven. The oyster will then be about half cooked. I like mine more cooked. Well done oysters for me! I used the extra small Olympia oysters from Washington State. They are the perfect size. They are meant to be eaten in one bite. So small is better...

Take a half slice of bacon and wrap around an extra small oyster, secure with a toothpick...oh and be sure to line you baking dish with foil, make clean up a breeze...

I then sprinkled them with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and chipotle powder...before they went into the oven...

 cook for 15 minutes at 425 degrees and then turn and continue cooking for another 10 minutes...

out of the oven! they smell great...If you are making these for an appetizer I would plan about 4 per person...BUT I can and did eat about a dozen.... I promise not to come to your party...

 

A squeeze of lime over the top and you have heaven on a plate!

Enjoy!

 

Cheers to Happy !!

Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream...

 

They are finally here!! The first Strawberries of summer! They are such a welcome treat, valley vine ripened berries. I couldn't wait to make fresh homemade ice cream. My mother and father always made ice cream. Years ago it was with a hand cranked ice cream maker and then the old model got upgraded to an electric one. Now, the counter top models can't be beat. They are so easy to use with little to no mess. It is always such a treat. I think my Dad's favorite was strawberry because that is the one that we had the most. It is so simple to make and with just 6 ingredients...

Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream
quart fresh strawberries, washed, stemmed and quartered

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

4 cups half-and-half

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

6 egg yolks

Directions

In a food processor or blender, combine the strawberries and 1/2 cup of the sugar. Process until smooth. In a saucepan, over medium heat, combine the half-and-half and sugar. Bring to a simmer. In a small mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks until smooth. Add 1 cup of the hot liquid to the egg yolks and whisk until smooth. Add the yolk mixture to the saucepan of liquid and whisk until incorporated. Bring the liquid back to simmer and continue to cook for 4 to 6 minutes or until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat and stir in the strawberries. Whisk until smooth. Pour the mixture into a glass bowl and place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the mixture. This will prevent a skin from forming while cooling. Cool the mixture completely. Process the mixture according the ice cream machines instructions.

whirl your berries...

heat the milk and sugar...mix into the egg mixture..

return to the pan, heat until mixture is slightly thickened...do not boil...

add the berries and stir...cool in the fridge until cold and then process in your ice cream maker according to directions...at the very end I add a couple of cups of sliced fresh berries...

Place in a container in the freezer until ready to serve! 

 

The best way to spend those lazy, crazy days of summer....

Enjoy!

 

Cheers to Happy  !!

 

Quinoa Pizza Crust...

Say what? Quinoa Pizza Crust....Hmmmm, I wasn't so sure I would like this, or that it would even work out. Sounds strange, crust made out of quinoa...I am not a fan of Quinoa. I have a great big bag that I bought at Costco a while back...I know it is good for you, and that it is a super food... that is an ancient grain...it takes the place of rice in many dishes, but I like rice so why would I want to replace it? Any way this pizza crust got such good reviews I had to try it. And it is very good! kind of the texture of cornbread but a little denser. I would definitely serve it to pizza loving friends!
  
Quinoa Pizza Crust

Ingredients

• 1½ cups organic quinoa (uncooked)
• Water
• ⅛ to ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Basil (fresh chopped or dried)
• Oregano (fresh chopped or dried)
• 2 tbsp minced garlic (or more)

Instructions

1. Soak Quinoa overnight in a large mixing bowl filled with water.
2. Rinse quinoa well and drain.
3. Preheat oven to 450.
4. In your blender blend quinoa, egg, oil, and garlic. Blend in vinegar(I used 3 splashes from my bottle. It was between ⅛ and ¼ cups). Blend in spices to taste.
5. Grease skillet, pie pan, or cake pan. Pour in batter. Bake for 10 minutes. Flip. Bake for 10 more minutes.
6. Top and enjoy.

Soak the Quinoa overnight or all day long, at least eight hours...

drain...then put the Quinoa, oil, garlic and vinegar in the blender...

blend until smooth...add spices and blend some more, you will have to stop and stir it several times...I also added a little salt and pepper...almost the consistency of hummus, even smells like hummus...

I made mine in a cast iron skillet, next time I will make it thinner...maybe by half...so instead of a 10 inch pizza I would get 2/10 inch pizza's....or you could make several small personal pan pizzas on a cookie sheet....

after 10 minutes flip over,

I cooked the other side for 6 minutes, took it out and topped with the pizza sauce and meat, mushrooms and fresh mozzarella cheese..

another 10 minutes in the 400 degree oven and it was done!

I cut it and peppered it and it was ready to eat!

So good and healthy too!!! It doesn't get much better than this!!!

 

Cheers to Happy !!

Peach and Blueberry Salsa...

Did you know you are supposed to eat fish 2 times per week? Yep, that's right. I wish I did. And I don't.I bought some Copper River Salmon and grilled it. It is the best Salmon and only around for a few weeks in late spring. This great Salsa is good on this, but would be great on any fish or fish taco! I planted cilantro in my garden and this is my first picking. I love cilantro and the smell of it with the sun beating down on it.

Chop a peeled peach, add half a cup of fresh blueberries, a 1/4 cup of chopped onion, a 1/4 cup of chopped cucumber, a half a cup of chopped cilantro, a tsp of red dried pepper flakes. Then squeeze a half of a lime over the top! That's it!!!

So perfect and ready to go,

over the top of a piece of Copper River grilled salmon...

Heaven on a plate!!

 

Cheers to Happy !!!