French Macaroons

These are difficult to make, but worth it.  Made with almonds that I ground in a food processor, powered sugar, egg whites, and granulated sugar.  I followed a recipe from a book.  Next time I will make other flavors.

Tip: let the macaroon rest BEFORE putting them in the oven and only pipe the macaroon ONCE, don't add more filling to already piped macaroons.  The macaroon forms a film and dries, if you pipe on top, it will create an air pocket in the macaroon.

Peach Kolache

Peach Kolache, so so so good, made with store bought dough, half a peach for each kolache.  Lay the dough out, put a tablespoon or 2 of cream cheese on top, then place half the peach, sliced, on top, cover with sugar.  Wrap the dough around so completely covered.  Bake in the oven at 350 deg, until brown.

Chicken and Orzo

Sauteed Chicken paired with Orzo.  Marinade the chicken and saute until cooked through.  For the Orzo, saute the orzo in olive oil until just brown.  Then add required amount of water for amount of orzo cooking.  Once the orzo is aldente, add 1/4 Parmesan cheese and chopped basil (mine was fresh from my garden, yum).

Beef Wellington or Pork Carlington

This is a lot like a beef wellington, but made with Pork instead of Beef and Cream Cheese instead of Pate.  I used a store bought refrigerated dough, rolled out.  Cover the dough with the sauteed mushroom mixture and the cream cheese.  Lay the seared pork tenderloin on top and wrap the dough around it, cut off any excess.  I followed the recipe I found in This Old House with the above two substitutions.

Peach Cobbler

Made from ripe peaches drenched in sugar and covered with leftover dough from the pork wellington.  Baked at 350 deg until brown.

White Cake, Chocolate Chip, and Strawberry Icing Cupcakes

Made these cupcakes for a birthday with White box Cake mix that I added mini Chocolate Chips too, and topped with Strawberry Icing.  For the decoration, I added strawberries and chunks of chocolate.

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

My butternut squash has taken over my patio.  I decided to make a creamy butternut squash soup from the first butternut squash I picked.  I sauteed one onion, small dice, until tender, then added the butternut squash, small cube dice, sauteed until brown.  Then I added just enough chicken stock to cover the squash.  Let it simmer until the squash was tender.  Then I pureed the mixture in a blender in batches.  Add the end, I added cream cheese to make it creamy.

Father's Day Flank Steak, Asparagus, Cauliflower, and Potato Pancakes

For Father's Day, I made Flank Steak, Asparagus, Cauliflower, and Potato Pancakes.  I marinaded the flank stead all day in the fridge in soy sauce, lime juice, garlic, and fajita seasoning.  It took an hour to cook in the oven, broiled on high.  The asparagus was baked in the oven with soy sauce balsamic vinegar and garlic.  The cauliflower was baked in the oven with butter, garlic, and parmesan cheese.  The potato pancakes were made with shredded potatoes, small diced onion, eggs, and flour.  Mix all ingredients and fry each side in a skillet with crisco.

Crab Rangoon

Great easy appetizer.  Made with won ton wrappers filled with cream cheese, salt, Worcestershire, and garlic salt, these are blended together, then top with piece of crab meat.  Fold in sides of won ton wrapper, place in cupcake tray and bake until brown.

Biscuits and Gravy

Super easy biscuits and from scratch gravy.  Cooked pork sausage in a skillet, once cooked, move pork to one side of pan, use fat drippings and flour on the other side of the pan to make a roux.  Once the roux is thoroughly mixed, add whole milk and stir everything together.  Let the gravy simmer to thicken while the biscuits cook in the oven, I used packaged biscuits, either frozen or refrigerated.