Cold Shrimp Soup

This is a little odd but it is very tasty and a summer favorite around here :)

1 bottle Clamato
Lemon juice
Worcestershire sauce
Celery salt
Fresh ground pepper
Peeled, cooked shrimp
1 pkg cream cheese, cut into small cubes (about 1/2" or so)
2 avocados, cubed

Chill the Clamato and pour into a large bowl. Add all the other ingredients (lemon juice, Worcestershire, celery salt, and pepper are all to taste... it's like making a big caesar) and chill until serving (eat within an hour or so.. the shrimp turns red after a while.)

Very yummy with crusty bread!

Easy Peasy Soft Granola Bars

From one of the moms on DIP!

GRANOLA BARS

41/2 cup rolled oats
1 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 c butter
1/2 cup honey
1/3 c packed brown sugar
2 cups mini semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 F . Lightly grease 1 9X13 in rectangle pan.

In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, flour, baking soda. Set aside. In a microwave safe container melt the butter until liquid. Stir in honey, vanilla and brown sugar until incorporated and smooth. Add to oat mixture. Add in chocolate.

Pour mixture mixture into prepared pan and press down until flat. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until the edges are starting to brown. Let bars cool completely before cutting and removing from pan. Store in a container with a lid. Makes 18 bars.


NOTES:

You can mix up the recipe to suit what you have on hand, use whole wheat flour or a nice 7 grain flour, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, etc. The combinations are endless. Can substitute corn syrup instead of honey and quick oats work just as well as regular oats.

Rhubarb Nectar

This one is for Sam :) This is sooo tasty when mixed with 7-up or soda water!

Ingredients:

10 cups (2.5 L) chopped rhubarb (about 3 lb/1.5 kg)
3 cups (750 mL) water
1 strip each orange and lemon rind
2 cups (500 mL) granulated sugar

Preparation:

In large saucepan, combine rhubarb, water and orange and lemon rind; bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until rhubarb is broken up.

Strain through cheesecloth-lined strainer into clean saucepan. Stir in sugar and bring to boil. Pour into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch (5 mm) headspace. Top with lids and screw bands; process in boiling water bath for 5 minutes. Shake or stir before using.

Bavarian Apple Torte

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
8-oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups peeled, sliced apples
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 450 Fahrenheit.

Cream butter and 1/3 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in vanilla. Add flour; mix well. Spread on bottom and sides of a springform pan. Combine cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar, mixing until well blended. Blend in egg and vanilla. Pour in pastry lined pan. Toss apples with combined sugar and cinnamon; spoon over cream cheese layer. Sprinkle with nuts. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes. Reduce temperature to 400 and continue baking 25 minutes.

Unbaked Cookies

I had a craving for these and whipped up a batch during E's nap this afternoon...

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup coconut

Directions

Mix rolled oats and coconut together in a large bowl. Set aside. Mix butter, sugar, cocoa, milk, and salt together in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper and let cool.