Philly" Stuffed Mushrooms

"You'll Need:

2 lb Fresh mushrooms [med size] 6 tb PARKAY margerine 8 oz Philadelphia Brand Cream -Cheese [softened] 1/2 c Kraft Natural blue cheese -[crumbled] 2 tb Onions [chopped]

Procedures : Remove mushroom stems and chop of them to measure ? cup... Cook half of the mushroom CAPS in 3 Tb of margarine over medium heat for 5 min., and then drain... Repeate with remaining mushrooms & margarine... Combine cream cheese, blue cheese, mixing well until blended... Stir in chopped stems and onions, then fill mushroom caps... Place on cookie sheet and broil until golden brown..."

Neapolitan-Style Crostini

"You'll Need:

16 Slices of Italian bread, Cut 1/2-inch thick 1/4 c Extra-virgin olive oil 1/3 c Black or green olivada* OR 1/3 c (4 oz.) Calamata olives, Pitted or finely chopped 1/2 lb Fresh mozzarella cheese, Cut in 14 1/4-inch slices 1/2 lb Plum tomatoes, cut Lengthwise into 16 1/4-inch Slices 1/8 ts Salt 1/8 ts Freshly ground black pepper

Procedures : 1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Brush one side of the bread slices with some of the olive oil and arrange on a baking sheet oiled side up. Bake until lightly browned and crusty, about 4 minutes. 2. Spread the olivada or chopped olives on each toast, cover each with a slice of mozzarella and top with a slice of tomato. Brush the tomatoes with the remaining oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Bake until the cheese is melted, about 8 to 10 minutes. Serve at once. * Olivada is a puree of black or green olives packed in oil that is sold at specialty food stores. You can substitute tapenade or make your own. (Note from me: We have a batch of pesto in the refrigerator so I plan to use it instead of the olivada.) I also plan to use Creole or homegrown tomatoes. 16 servings"

African Chicken Wings

"You'll Need:

FOR THE WINGS----- 4 Garlic cloves 2 Shallots 1 1/2 ts Salt 1 tb Chinese 5 spice 2 ts Paprika 1 ts Dried rosemary -- crumbled 1/2 ts Cayenne -- or to taste 2 tb Vegetable oil 4 lb Chicken wings; about 20-24 Tips removed FOR THE SAUCE----- 1/3 c Natural style peanut butter 1/4 c Canned cream of coconut -- Well stirred 2 Garlic cloves -- chopped 1/4 c Water 1/4 c Red bell pepper -- chopped 1/8 ts Dried hot red pepper flakes Or to taste 1 ts Soy sauce Coriander sprigs -- for If Desired

Procedures : THE WINGS: Prepare the chicken wings: Mince and mash the garlic and shallots to a paste with the salt. In a large bowl stir the paste together with the 5 spice powder, paprika, rosemary, cayenne, and the oil. Mix well. Add the chicken wings. Toss and stir them until they are completely covered with the marinade. Let them marinate, covered and chilled for 4 hours or over night. Arrange the wings, skin side up, on the rack of a foil lined large broiler pan and bake them in the upper third of a preheated 425F oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until they are golden. The wings may be prepared one day in advance, kept covered and chilled and then reheated before serving. THE SAUCE: In a blender, blend together the peanut butter, cream of coconut, garlic, water, bell pepper, red pepper flakes and the soy sauce until the mixture is smooth, season the sauce with salt, to taste. THE PRESENTATION: Transfer the sauce to a serving bowl set on a platter. Arrange the wings around the bowl and garnish the platter with the coriander."

All-American Egg Rolls

"You'll Need:

1 qt Cooking oil 15 ea Cloves fresh garlic, peeled 1/2 c Real mayonnaise 1/2 c Softened cream cheese 2 tb Prepared mustard 4 ea Polish sausages 1 Egg 1/4 ts Milk 8 lg Egg roll wrappers Chopped parsely

Procedures : Heat oil in frying pan to medium-high, about 350 degrees. Combine garlic, mayonnaise, cheese, and mustard in blender until smooth. Remove from blender. Cut each Polish sausage into two shorter halves and score lengthwise. Beat egg and milk with fork until smooth. Place each sausage half at end of egg roll wrapper, add a dollop of mustard sauce and roll sausage into wrapper, sealing ends with egg mixture. Fry in hot oil until lightly browned on all sides. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with extra mustard sauce."

Almirah Boscotakia (Salty Biscuits)

"You'll Need:

3 c Flour 3 ts Baking powder 1 ts Coarse salt 1/2 c Kefalotiri cheese, grated 1/3 c Sweet butter or shortening 1 c Milk

Procedures : Sift dry ingreds. into bowl. Add butter (or shortening) and work butter into flour with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add cheese and milk, and work the whole together (dough will be soft). Lightly flour a marble-top table (or bread board) and your rolling pin. Roll out dough about 1/4 to 1/2"" thick. Using small biscuit cutter (floured), cut dough into round shapes about 1 1/2"" in diameter. Place on lightly greased (or buttered) baking sheet in preheated 375 F. oven for abt. 15 min., or until golden brown. Makes about 36 appetizer size biscuits."

Almond Fried Shrimp

"You'll Need:

1 c All purpose flour 1 pn Salt 2 c Milk 4 ea Eggs 12 ea Uncooked jumbo shrimp 1 1/2 c Sliced almonds (5 oz) 6 c Vegetable oil

Procedures : Peel, devein and butterfly shrimp, leaving tails intact. Line large baking sheet with waxed paper. Place flour in medium bowl; add salt. Whisk milk and eggs in large bowl. Dredge shrimp (not tails) in seasoned flour; shake off excess. Dip shrimp (not tails) in milk mixture. Press almonds over shrimp, coating all but tails. Place shrimp on prepared sheet. Curl tails up over shrimp. Freeze until firm, about 1 1/2 hours. (Can be prepared up to 1 day ahead. Cover with foil.) Heat oil in heavy large saucepan to 350~. Loosen shrimp from paper. Add frozen shrimp to oil in batches and cook until deep golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towels using slotted spoon. Let drain. Divide shrimp among plates. Serve with cocktail sauce, tartar sauce and lemon wedges."

Almond Mushroom Pate

"You'll Need:

2 tb Margarine 1 x Sm Onion, chopped (1/4 c) 1 x Clove garlic, minced 1 1/2 c Sliced Mushrooms (4 oz) 1/2 ts Tarragon 1 c Blanched Whole Almonds(6 oz) 1 tb Lemon juice 2 ts Soy Sauce 1 ds White Pepper 2 tb Cream Cheese, opt. *

Procedures : * or kefir cheese, or Neufchatel cheese GARNISH: slivered or finely chopped almonds, fresh parsley sprigs, pimiento strips, or sweet red pepper strips, optional In a large skillet, melt margarine. Add onion, garlic, and mushrooms. Saute until tender but not browned. Add tarragon, stir until it is softened. Pour mixture into a bowl of food processor. Add remaining ingredients. Process until mixture is smooth. Add cheese if you prefer a more spreadable consistency. Spoon into a serving bowl. Top with garnish of your choice. Makes 1 1/2 cups. People who do not like ordinary pate seem to love this one. Vary the herbs and substitute the vegetables as you wish. Serve with water crackers, thick slices of crusty French bread, thin slices of whole wheat bread, or unsalted whole wheat crackers. May be frozen. VARIATIONS: ~ Substitute other vegetables for the mushrooms (maybe broccoli.) ~ Substitute 1/2 t fennel for the tarragon and 1 c whole pecans for the almonds ~ vary the flavor by using other seasonings such as basil, oregano, dillweed, curry powder, or nutmeg."