SHIVERING STRAWBERRY ICE

If real strawberry ice cream contains way to much fat and calories for your diet, then try this light and delicious strawberry ice. It weighs in at only 55 calories per serving.

2 cups fresh strawberries
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons unsweetened orange juice
2 egg whites~room temperature
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
pinch of salt

Combine strawberries through orange juice in container of electric blender. and process until smooth. Pour into a medium saucepan and cook over low heat 5 minutes, stirring every now and then. Allow to cool, then pour into a mixing bowl and freeze until slushy, checking after 45 minutes.
Combine egg whites with cream of tartar and salt and beat until soft peaks form.
Beat strawberry mixture until fluffy and smooth. Fold in egg whites; freeze until firm.
Yield: 6 servings

Upon the Nipples of Julia's Breast: Have ye beheld (with much delight) A red rose peeping through a white? Or else a cherry (double graced) Within a lily? Center placed? Or ever marked the pretty beam A strawberry shows half drowned in cream?

NANNIE'S STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM

When I was growing up in my grandparents home in Newland, NC, my mothers sister, Nan Vance Hamwey, made absolutely the best homemade ice cream EVER! She made a homemade custard and loaded it with fresh, ripe strawberries that we had picked ourselves, and then all the grandchildren got to take turns cranking the ice cream maker. Those where the days my friends, at the time our youth made us believe that they would never end.

2 (3 oz.) pkgs. strawberry-flavored gelatin
2 cups boiling water
2 big eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 (13 oz.) can evaporated milk
6 cups whole milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 quart fresh strawberries~mashed

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water; cool slightly then set aside.
Beat eggs with an electric mixer until frothy, gradually add sugar, beating until thick. Add gelatin mixture, milk, and vanilla; mix well. Stir in strawberries.
Pour mixture into freezer can of a 1-gallon hand-turned or electric ice cream freezer. Freeze according to manufacturer's directions. Allow to ripen at least one hour.
Yield: 1 gallon

“Like the strawberry wives, that laid two or three great strawberries at the mouth of their pot, and all the rest were little ones.”~Francis Bacon, Sr.

FIRE-IN-THE-HOLE PISTACHIOS

Chipolte chile pepper dances a whirl around the 'healthy' pistachio, lending a spicy two-step twang that will make your taste buds literally stand up and sing!

Stir together 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce, 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1 teaspoon McCormick's ground chipolte chile pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 8 cups shelled dry-roasted pistachios in a single layer on a lightly greased 15X10-inch jellyroll pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Arrange in a single layer on wax paper; allow to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Yield: 4 cups

"I never met a pistachio that I did not like."~Adele Forbes

ADELE'S 'KILLER' SWEET & SOUR BEAN SALAD

Here is yet another by-product of that journey I take to my pantry to find ingredients that sing out to me to 'pick them'. Yesterday the sing song came from cans of black beans, cannellini beans, and good old kernel corn. Visions of red, orange and yellow bell peppers in my fridge called out to me along with Zima brand 'Seriously Sweet' tiny yellow tomatoes. A quick whisk of oils, sugar and apple cider vinegar took the shape of a quick, simple, and oh so delicious dressing.
The rest as 'they' say is history.

My husband came in the door after I had finished putting it all together and his nose tracked him straight for the kitchen to ask "what on earth is that smell?" He has always been a sucker for anything sweet & and sour!

Place in a large bowl 1 (15 oz.) can each of black beans, cannellini beans and kernel corn; all rinsed and drained well, separately. Add 1/4 each of a red, yellow, and orange bell pepper which has been finely diced;  and about a dozen or so of halved Zima Seriously Sweet little orange tomatoes (or other grape-style tomatoes).

In a separate bowl whisk together 1/4 cup each of canola oil and extra-virgin fruity olive oil and 1/2 cup each of sugar or Splenda and apple cider vinegar. Pour over bean mixture, mix well, then place in fridge to chill well.
About 8 cups....has not lasted long here in squaller.....

"Adele, that is killer, that is the best thing that you have ever made!"~Larry Forbes

Thus the name: Adele's 'Killer' Sweet & Sour Bean Salad...by Larry

THE BEST GERMAN CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES EVER

It's poker night in Carey's Flat and tonight the game is at my house, that means I have been cooking because I like for who ever shows up to have something good to eat. I made a huge pot of my potato soup and added shredded cheddar and bacon to the finished product.

Next came my much admired German Chocolate Cupcakes which actually started out as my GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE FROM HELL....need i say more about that? I think not as they speak for themselves. This recipe stems from my 'making do with what I had.' Hang on tight because it is a wild ride!! And may the best WO-MAN win......

1 pkg. (18 oz.) German chocolate cake mix
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup water
3 big eggs
1/3 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup Ghirardelli semisweet chocolate chips

Combine cake mix through vanilla in mixing bowl and beat with electric mixer for a good 2 to 3 minutes until batter is smooth. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour into paper-lined muffin cups and bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature.

BUTTERSCOTCH COCONUT PECAN FROSTING

2 cups Smucker's Butterscotch Ice Cream Topping
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
2 cups chopped pecans

Combine all ingredients and place a large glob on top of each cupcake.

Although the name would lead one to believe that the cake is of German origin, you may be surprised to know that the cake actually gets its name from the creator, Englishman Samuel German. The name, which was originally German's Chocolate cake, was reprinted with a typo, leaving out the 's, giving us the name we have today, German Chocolate Cake.

BRAISED CABBAGE

Wake up your sweethearts tastebuds with this easy to make dish of cabbage, bacon, apples, and onions. You will have him eating out of your hand.

1 small head cabbage, chopped
1 medium sweet onion, sliced
3 slices bacon, diced
3 Gala apples, sliced

Fry out bacon and onions in wok or large skillet until nice and golden. Add cabbage and apples and cook stirring occasionally until cabbage and apples are tender, should take about 20 minutes all together.

Serves 6

"If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?"~Author Unknown

FISH HOUSE PUNCH

Our good friend and neighbor, Robert Barr, with his Rainbow trout....an excellent day!

3 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 cup simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water boiled)
6 cups brandy
2 cups peach schnapps
2 cups light rum
2 cups strong tea
4 cups club soda
2 cups sliced fresh peaches (preferably white peaches)

Mix all ingredients together except for the fresh peaches; chill well. To serve: Pour mixture over peaches in your best pitcher.

"I am reminded of the advice of my neighbor. "Never worry about your heart till it stops beating." ~E.B. White