Fresh Fruit and Herb Cocktail Pitcher May 9, 2008

Ingredients
4 C. Fresh Fruit (i.e., Peaches, Strawberries, etc.)
3 T. Sugar
5 Sprigs Fresh Basil
3/4 C. Vodka
1 Bottle Sparkling Wine

Beef Brisket

Ingredients
3 Onions (Cut Into Rings)
5 lb. Beef Brisket
1-12 oz. Bottle Chili Sauce (Sweet Asian Chili Sauce Would Be Yummy!)
1 Pkg. Onion Soup Mix
1/2 Bottle Merlot

Method
1. Spread half of onions in bottom of crock pot and place brisket on top
2. Mix sauce, soup and wine, then pour over meat and top with onions.
3. Cook all day on low or 1/2 day on high

Notes: This is good with broccoli cole slaw in a tortilla!

Kim’s Summer Salad May 7, 2008

Ingredients
10 oz. Spinach
1 Qt. Strawberries
1 Pint Blueberries
1/2 lb. Bacon (Cooked and Crumbled–omit or put on side if making for a vegetarian)

Dressing:
2 T. Sesame Seeds
1 T. Poppy Seeds
1/4 C. Sugar
1/2 C. Olive Oil
1/4 C. Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 t. Paprika
1/4 t. Worcestshire Sauce
1 T. Red Onion (Minced)

Method
1. Combine dressing ingredients in lidded jar and shake. Refrigerate a few hours or overnight.
2. Pour dressing over salad ingredients and serve.

Notes: I first had this salad at a Kowalski family dinner where Marc’s girlfriend Kim brought it. It was amazing and I couldn’t stop eating it! I asked her for the recipe and she verbally gave it to me, but I was missing some of the ingredients. After some searching around on the internet, I found enough similar recipes to tweak and recreate hers. This is great for a BBQ or just in the early Spring when the strawberries first come out and you want to pretend it’s not snowing in Colorado 🙂

Kielbasa Potato Salad March 16, 2008

Ingredients
9 Potatoes (cut into 1 inch chunks)
8 oz. Kielbasa (cooked and cut)
1 C. Celery
1/2 C. Red Onion (Sliced)

Dressing:
1/2 C. Light Mayo
1/2 C. Reduced Fat Sour Cream
1/4 C. Water
2 T. Dijon Mustard
1 t. Salt
1/2 t. Pepper

Method
1. Boil potatoes and combine in bowl with kielbasa, celery and onion.
2. Mix dressing ingredients and combine with potatoes. Cover and chill

Notes: This recipe is excellent–I’ve had people who tell me they HATE potato salad request seconds of this. It’s great for a BBQ.

Gorgonzola Burgers

Ingredients
1-8 oz. Pkg. Cream Cheese (softened)
1/3 Lb. Gorgonzola Cheese (crumbled)
3 Lbs. Ground Beef
Salt and Pepper

Method
1. Combine cream cheese and gorgonzola. Season beef with salt and pepper.
2. Form patties very thin. Top with cheese mixture, then another thin patty. Grill to desired doneness.