Mo’s Famous Granola Bars…

Slowly heat on stovetop: 16 oz. of smooth peanut butter, 8 oz. honey & 1/2 cup coconut oil until smooth. Set aside to cool. In a separate (large) bowl toss 32 oz. gluten-free oats, 2 tablespoons cinnamon & 1 cup diced walnuts. Blend the peanut butter mixture into the oats and stir until it looks like “cookie batter.” Blend in 1 12 oz bag of chocolate chips. Press into a cookie sheet and chill in the refrigerator for two hours. Take them out and carve out the bars~yum!

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Spring Cleansing Roasted Vegetables with Cranberry compote:

Line 3 cookie sheets and chopped kale, chopped onion & butternut squash, and brussel sprouts.  Drizzle with olive oil, freshly ground pepper and kosher salt.  Bake in oven at 400 for 12/15 minutes (kale cooks fast so take this out first…)  Allow everything to cool and put into individual containers with sprinkled (frozen) edamame and corn.  Pack in your lunch and it will defrost in your lunchbox or microwave it with grilled chicken for dinner!

Cranberry compote:
Put 1 bag or fresh cranberries in bowl with a splash of water and squeezed lemon (about 1 lemon).  Microwave for 4 minutes.  Stir and/or mashed it a bit so that some cranberries stay whole or just a little cut up.  Then stir in 1 chopped green apple, and 1 orange slices.  The hot cranberry "sauce" will slightly cook the orange and apple to give it a tangy sweetness.  No sugar at all is necessary….

I put 1/2 cup cranberry compote with the salty roasted vegetables and then even a little parmesan cheese.  It was delicious!!!  

Pulled Pork

Put 2/3 pork tenderloins into crockpot.  Sprinkle 1 chopped yellow onion, and 1 bottle of BBQ sauce.  Cook slow and low overnight.  Serve it up with some mixed greens and/or cole slaw:)

The Easiest Fish Chowda "EVA"
Sauté a large chopped onion in 3T butter....add 6/7 cups of chicken broth.  Once boilibg add 2.5 lbs cod, sliced into huge chunks.   Bring back to summer for 5 minutes.   Turn off stove and pour in 1/2 pint fat-free half n'half.   Serve it up with (optional) oyster crackers.   You can also add in chopped potatoes or 1 small bag frozen corn.
PS: my kids love this!!;)
 

The Best Cornbread:

2 boxes Trader Joes cornbread, made according to the box directions,
Add in 1 16 oz. can sweetened "cream corn" ...cook @ 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Just delicious!

Orzo Salad: a crowd pleaser

Cook 1 pound orzo
mix with roasted vegetables: eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, onions and peppers
when it cools, add in toasted pine nuts or walnuts and feta cheese.

Butternut Squash Soup:

Roast 1 large container of cubed butternut squash with drizzled olive oil, kosher salt & pepper
let it cool and add to food processor
put in medium-sized pot with 1 large (box) of chicken broth
add cinnamon, dash of nutmeg

Chicken Marbella:  This is a winner for a Fall gathering with friends...

mix these ingredients and marinate overnight
8-10 chicken breasts
1 head of garlic, minced
1/4 cup dried oregano
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup pitted prunes (YES!)
1/2 cup (or more) pitted green olives
1/2 cup capers and their juices
6 bay leaves
~ the next day, put in a big roasting pan, sprinkle with 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup white wine
.....and cook for 20 minutes @ 350 degrees, until golden brown
~ serve with brown rice, and mixed greens

Memorial Day Weekend BBQ

Jewel Rice Salad: gluten free.....always a big hit at a party!
2 cups brown rice; cook and cool on a cookie sheet
mix 1/3 cup canola oil, 6-8 tablespoons lemon or lime, 1/2 t kosher salt, 1t garlic powder, 1T honey
Stir and pour over rice in a big bowl and ten toss in:
     4/6 chopped scallions
     1/2 cup fresh parsley (its worth it)
     1 cup toaste pine nuts, or walnuts
     2 cups red and green grapes, sliced in half (lotsa chopping here)
     1 cup cooked chick peas

Swordfish rub:   I served this at a dinner party once and it was out-of-this-world!
     2T minced parsley
     2T oregano (or 2t dried)
     1 1/2 t minced rosemary (or 1/2 t dried)
     1 1/2 t minced thyme (or 1/2 t dried)
     1T minced garlic
     1T chick boullion
     1 1/2 t kosher salt
     1 1/2 freshly ground pepper
     1 t cayenna pepper
Mix all ingredients and rub on swordfish at room temperature.  Grill 10 minutes on each side on low, in tinfoil.

Corned Beef like your mother never made: Erin Go Bragh!

buy a flat cut of corned beef, put it into slow cooker
make a paste of:   1/2cup grey poupon, 3/4cup brown sugar, and 1teaspoon ground cloves
spread paste on top of meat
cook for 6 hours
serve with cole slaw or mixed greens salad, oatmeal bread and your choice of drink:)

Salmon Marinade ~ I have served this at dinner parties before: it's awesome!!

melt in small pot: 1/2 stick butter, 4 shakes steak sauce, 3 shakes worcestershire, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, a little soy sauce and 1/2 cup ketchup 
cool and spread over 2 lbs. of salmon
grill in tin foil on high 7 minutes each side, and let cool (and still cook) for 10 minutes 

Overnight Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe:

For years, my sister (the one who posted her menu!) cooked this recipe 2 nights in a row, for her annual Thanksgiving gathering of 40 people.  That way, when her guests arrived she could enjoy their company and not have to work in the kitchen the entire time.   When you wake up in the morning, your whole house smells of delicious turkey....

(From "Cooking Brilliantly")
Preheat your over to 525 degrees
Butter, salt and pepper your bird, and add a few handshakes of thyme, marjoram or spices you like.
Add a few shakes of A1 steak sauce and red wine, plus a can of chicken broth around the pan.
Cook uncovered for 45 minutes ~ it may get a little smoky, do not be afraid!

Remove from oven and cover with cheesecloth or dishtowel. Pour 1/2 bottle of red wine over turkey.
Cover tightly with reynolds wrap 2x.  Cook in oven for 90 minutes at 450 degrees.
***Turn off oven and do not open the over door until the next morning.***

When you wake in the morning, remove from oven and unwrap everything, and the turkey will literally fall off the bone.  Use the juices for a delicious gravy...:)

Enjoy!

Mo's famous turkey chili:

2 lbs. Shadybrook Farms Italian style ground turkey (or regular turkey if you cannot find that)
1 large bag of grilled onions and peppers from Trader Joe's

2T chili powder
1T garlic powder
salt and pepper
2T ground cumin
1/2 bag roasted corn from Trader Joe's
2 small jars Marinara sauce from Trader Joe's
1 can baked beans
Optional: chopped butternut squash, or other beans

Brown turkey meat, then add in other ingredients.  Simmer on low for 1/2 hour.  *The baked beans was a mistake from years ago and it it delicious!!  Enjoy!