A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....08/15/03....Cooking With FReepers - Carlo3b

dansangel; Billie

[dansangel]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, dansangel, dutchess, Mama_Bear, Aquamarine ~

Several Finest FReepers have requested a thread whereby they would have the opportunity to exchange favorite recipes. Our motto around here is (among other things), "We Aim To Please." With that said, it is a pleasure to present to you ~

design by Billie
"the other stuff" by dansangel

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There are two schools of thought about eating. Many of us "eat to live" - that is, consume food instinctively to sustain life. Then there are others who "live to eat." I definitely fall into the latter category!

Toss some mixed salad greens with a luscious balsamic vinaigrette dressing, add Greek olives and feta cheese and I am sighing with delight. Pour expertly created Italian-style tomato sauce over carefully hand-made pasta and I am quivering with anticipation. Serve (almost) anything covered in decadent chocolate and I am purring like a kitten.

Blame it on my ethnic Italian upbringing, but eating is more of an event than an exercise in survival.

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FReeper Carlo3b has graciously agreed to co-host today's thread. For those of you who are not familiar with Carlo, he is a Master Chef and the one behind compiling and publishing "The Clinton Legacy Cookbook" ~ a collection of FReeper recipes traded online in celebration of the Klintoons exiting the White House. Our very own Billie is credited with some of the illustrations used in the book. For those of you interested in owning a copy of this entertaining and useful cooking aid, please send a FReepmail to Carlo3b for details.

Carlo3b

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Before getting underway with the flurry of recipe exchange, I'd like to start you all out on some favorite recipes of mine~



Baked Stuffed Mushrooms - Italian Style

Ingredients:

24 mushrooms (approx. 1 and 1/2 - 2 inches in diameter)
2/3 c shredded provolone cheese
1/4 c seasoned bread crumbs
1 clove garlic
1/4 c chopped onion
3 tbsp chopped green pepper
3 tbsp margarine

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Wash mushrooms and remove stems from the caps. Chop the stems.
~ Sautee onion, garlic, green pepper and 2 c chopped mushroom stems in margarine until tender.
~ Remove from heat and stir in bread crumbs and cheese.
~ Press mixture into the mushroom caps.
~ Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes.
Enjoy!





Chicken and Artichokes

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts cut into 2-inch chunks
2 jars marinated artichoke hearts
1 small jar marinated mushrooms
1/2 c seasoned breadcrumbs
1 egg beaten
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp grated parmesean cheese

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Dip chunks of chicken in egg and then roll in bread crumbs.
~ Heat olive oil in frying pan and lightly fry coated chicken pieces. Set aside.
~ Partially drain artichoke hearts and mushrooms.
~ In a small-medium baking dish, layer chicken pieces on the bottom. Then, layer artichokes and mushrooms. Top with parmesean cheese.
~ Bake at 350 degrees until chicken is cooked thoroughly.
Enjoy!





Chocolate/Butterscotch "Brownies"

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 c graham cracker crumbs
1 can Borden's condensed sweetened milk
1 c Nestle's semi-sweet bits
1 c Nestle's butterscotch bits
1 c coarsely chopped walnuts

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~ Mix all ingredients well.
~ Press mixture into a well-greased 9" square pan.
~ Bake @ 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes.
~ Cool 45 minutes.
~ Cut into 1 and 1/2 inch squares.
Enjoy!

Have fun trading recipes. Above all,

Mangia! :-)

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-11-03 Military Monday 08-12-03 High Road To China 08-13-03 FReeper Pets - Mama_Bear's "Boyz" 08-14-03 Dems: Vote No on Recall

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

God Bless Our Military

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Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Dansangel; Dutchess; Mama_Bear; Aquamarine and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son The Mayor........................niece LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.....................nephew ValerieUSA................2 sons Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................activve duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear...........nephew gator girl............husband severa................husband MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Diver Dave................niece deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.................son

[dansangel]

((((((jwfiv))))))

Hope you didn't burn those pancakes *too* badly!

;-)

[sweetliberty]

"I'm toying with the Atkins diet for our new book"

Are you only using Atkins diet type recipes or are you gonna use FReeper recipes again?

[dansangel]

Mornin' dansy. Oh, the unfairness of it all. I can't participate cuz I don't cook.

Don't give me a second thought, just go along and continue exchanging recipes.

:-)

Oh *Skinny Dude*! ***Can't*** cook or ***won't*** cook - there's a big difference!

Carlo has provided us with some wonderful and *uncomplicated* recipes. Try them, you'll like them! LOL!

(((((((The Thin Man)))))))))))

PS....perhaps in a few months we'll be calling you "The Plump Man."

:-)

[dansangel]

((((((Cal)))))))

You may shake your tail feathers anytime the mood hits you!

Have a gander at all of the wonderful recipes being traded here today.

:-)

[dansangel]

No one ever cooks like your Mom!

That is *so* true. I just love going back home to visit. I miss my family so much that I am trying to move back to FL to be closer to them. The only obstacle right now is finding employment for .45MAN and myself, but we are working on it!

Then, more of Mom's home cooking! LOL!

[dansangel]

Thanks Calpernia. I hope the power becomes more stable for you!

[dansangel]

I don't know about you fungus munchers. Takes all kinds I guess. ;-)

Them thar's *fightin'* words, missy!

(((((((sweetliberty))))))))

:-)

[carlo3b]

Thanks for asking.. I have 2 new books on tap.. "Soup, Sex, and the Single Man"... LOL and "Chef Carlo Cooks ..Kids" Check out our website for the news on the release dates http://www.CookingWithCarlo.com for the Freeper Cookbook you can find it here.. http://www.inservers1.com/~clintonl/index.html

[MeekOneGOP]

Mmmm-mmmmmmm !! Ya'll are makin' me hawngry !! Thanks for that recipe ...

Hey, Billie ! My latest, btw ...

[.45MAN]

Must be time for desert..........

Bourbon and Chocolate Pecan Pie

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter -- melted
3 eggs -- slightly beaten
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons bourbon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 (9-inch) pie shell

Cream sugar and butter. Add eggs, syrup, salt, bourbon, and vanilla. Mix until blended. Spread pecans and chocolate chips in bottom of pie shell. Pour filling into shell. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 40 to 50 minutes. Yield: 6 to 8 servings.

This should keep everybody happy....

[Feiny]

This one is EASY and fabulous on a hot summer night especially with some champagne:

LEMONADE PIE

INGREDIENTS:
6-ounce can frozen lemonade concentrate
1 pint vanilla ice cream
3 ½ cups whipped topping
1 graham cracker crust

EASY PREPARATION:
Place lemonade in large mixing bowl and beat about 30 seconds. Gradually blend in ice cream. By hand, fold in whipped topping until smooth. Spoon into pie crust. Place in freezer for 4 hours before serving.

[dansangel]

Bourbon and Chocolate Pecan Pie

Holding out on me, are you? ;-)

This should keep everybody happy....

Works for me! :-)

[dansangel]

(((((((feinie))))))

Thank you for sharing that delightful recipe!

This one is EASY and fabulous on a hot summer night especially with some champagne:

Is there anything that *isn't* fabulous with champagne? LOL!

[Feiny]

I love champagne....it has been very difficult for me to boycott French products when I love Vueve Cliquot so very much. It has saved me quite a bit of money though....

[kitkat]

Fawnn, you're gonna love this thread featuring Carlo3B.

Any recipes to share?

[Feiny]

Skewered Lamb with Red Wine Vinagrette
(recipe from Chef Bobby Flay)

Makes 8 appetizer portions.

Red Wine Vinaigrette

* 1 bottle red wine
* ¼ cup red wine vinegar
* 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
* 1 teaspoon honey
* 1 cup olive oil
* Salt and freshly ground pepper

Skewered Lamb

* 4 pounds lamb loin, cut into 2-inch cubes
* 2 heads garlic, peeled and crushed
* 1 ½ cups pure olive oil
* 4 sprigs rosemary
* 32 roasted pearl onions

To prepare the vinaigrette, in a medium nonreactive saucepan over high heat, reduce the wine to ¼ cup. Place it in a blender with the vinegar, mustard and honey and blend until combined. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil until emulsified. Season to taste with salt and pepper. May be refrigerated up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before using.

To make the lamb, soak 8 six-inch long bamboo skewers in water for 2 hours or overnight. In a large bowl, combine the garlic, olive oil, rosemary and lamb and let marinate 4-6 hours in the refrigerator.

Thread the lamb cubes and roasted onions on the skewers and season with salt and pepper. Grill until rare to medium-rare (about 3-4 minutes on each side). Place the skewers on a serving platter and drizzle the vinaigrette over them.

[Feiny]

Got a great Gazpacho recipe? I wanted to make that for a pool party, but the cucumbers I bought were too bitter. So, I made seafood pasta salad.

This is a good one for a pool party:

WATERMELON SALSA

1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons (packed) golden brown sugar
3 cups chopped seeded watermelon
1 cup chopped seeded honeydew melon or cantaloupe
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, chopped
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger
2 tablespoons minced seeded jalapeño chilies

Whisk lime juice and sugar in large bowl until sugar dissolves. Add watermelon and all remaining ingredients; toss gently. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Cover and chill.)

Makes about 4 cups.

[dansangel]

There must be some California or some other domestic Champagne that could substitute for the Vueve Cliquot. Maybe not "exactly" up to par. I know the French grapes have some quality from the soil that the CA grapes can never attain, but gee whiz....

The lamb recipe you shared sounds absolutely delicious! The red wine vinaigrette sounds perfect for the meat. Thank you!

[lonestar]

Vote for Weinie gimmick - "A pear in every partridge tree"

I like it! Anything to buy another vote.

Keep up the good work!

Weinie

[Aquamarine]

I'll try this one also. Sounds delicious. Serve with sliced tomatoes!!

This is one of those dishes where you go to bed and then somehow find yourself back in the kitchen at midnight heating up one more serving to eat before you can go to sleep. Haha!

Sometimes I serve it with sliced tomatoes and ranch dressing. Ranch dressing really compliments this dish.

BTW...Know I always say this but this dish freezes well IF there is any chicken pot pie left over. :)