Gourmet Cookie Bouquets Recipe Blog

Archive for July, 2008

When it comes to truly tasty gourmet desserts, one drinkable option is the tangerine smoothie. You can substitute pina colada frozen yogurt for the yogurt in this recipe, or a combination of 1/4 cup vanilla yogurt and 1/2 cup of coconut and/or tropical fruit sorbet.

If you use frozen yogurt, you might want to omit the sugar, depending on how sweet you like your smoothies.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup crushed ice
• 3/4 cup pina colada yogurt
• 1 cup orange-tangerine juice
• 1/2 cup non-fat milk
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Directions:

Place ice in a blender. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.

If you like this recipe, you'll love Homemade Orange Julius.

If you're anything like me, you never realize that you're out of something until it's too late. When company is coming over, it's easy to get sidetracked in wrapping holiday gifts, or handling guest phone calls. In most cases, it's okay. But when you really need something (such as salad dressing), then you are left to concoct something up! Here is a fool-proof recipe for creating your own salad dressing.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped fine
• 3 tablespoons red whine vinegar

Directions:

Put all the ingredients in a bottle with a top. Seal top tightly and shake. Pour over your favorite salad.

If you love salad, then you're in luck! Try these delicious recipes for something unique!

• Fruit Cup Salad (Whashai)
• Holiday Fruit Salad
• Raspberry Lemon Gelatin Salad
• Tomato and Cucumber Salad
• Vegetable Salad - Gado Gado
• Salads and Entremeses - Hors D'oeuvres
• Tomato and Cucumber Salad

If you're looking for unique and edible Summer wedding favors, then you might consider these steak kabobs. Sure, they're not cutesy or anything they can bring home, but can you imagine how much your guests would love these? They're simple, yummy, and pretty cost effective! So don't overlook these beauties as just another food item, when they're so much more.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into 1 inch cubes.
• 1/2 pound of fresh mushrooms
• 2 medium onions cut into wedges
• 1 medium sweet red pepper cut into wedges
• 1 medium green pepper, cut into wedges
• Hot cooked rice

Directions:

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the first 6 ingredients; add the steak. Seal the bag and turn to coat, put in fridge over night. Drain and discard marinade. On 12 skewers, put meat then vegetables, one at a time. Grill, uncovered, over medium heat for 12 to 14 minutes until meat is done. Serve with rice.

For more delicious steak, try these options:

• Summer Steaks with Fresh Berry Salsa
• Broiled Steak
• Fried Steak - Koon Ko Ki

Have you ever wanted something salty and tart but at the same time longed for the same sweet treats? Well here's a recipe that gives you the best of both worlds.

Chicken:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup condensed milk

Salt sauce:

• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/2 sugar
• 1 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 teaspoon Soya sauce

Cook chicken and cut into pieces. Beat flour, egg, salt, and milk together and coat chicken. Cook in fat. Be careful as the fat can get quite hot. When brown, take out and put into sauce. Combine all ingredients (well) in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Pour over chicken and bake for 1 hour.

Creamy Dip

• 1 package cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped green onion
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red peppers

Mix softened cream cheese with sour cream. Stir in onion and red peppers. Chill for 2 hours. Make about 1 2/3 cups.

Banana Bread

• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 egg whites
• 1 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (ripe)
• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4  cup baking powder
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease loaf pan. Beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add both sugars, beat well: add egg, egg whites, and vanilla. Beat until well blended. Add bananas on high for 30 seconds. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Add dry mix to wet mix. Alternately with cream, ending with flour mix. Pour into loaf and bake for about 1 hour 15 minutes.

For more tasty chicken recipes, visit the following links:

• BBQ Chicken Quesadillas Recipe
• Lemon Chicken
• Chicken Kiev

There are no cookie bouquets involved in the following recipe, but you can always have them for dessert! Enjoy!

For the sauce

• 3 or 5 ripe tomatoes, organic if possible, peeled, seeded, and chopped
• 1 small onion, finely sliced
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne

For the ground beef

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the garnishes

• 2 avocados, sliced
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, organic if possible, chopped
• 3 cups shredded romain lettuce
• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese

For the tacos

• 1 dozen corn tortillas
• Oil for frying

1. To make the sauce: Simmer the tomatoes, onion, cider vinegar, garlic, chili powder, salt, and cayenne in a medium saucepan over low heat until the tomatoes and onions are soft. Remove from heat.
2. While sauce is simmering, brown the ground beef in a skillet. Drain fat and add salt.
3. To prepare the garnishes: Arrange the avocado, onions, cilantro, tomatoes, and shredded romain on a plate, or place in individual bowls.
4. To make the tacos: Heat a few tablespoons of oil in a small skillet. Fry the tortillas for 1 to 2 minutes, turning once.
5. Drain the tortillas on paper towels and fold over to form a taco shell.
6. To assemble the tacos: Place the cheese, meat, and sauce in the taco shells and add garnishes.

Check out these other 'south of the border' recipes:

• Mexican Red Salsa
• Authentic Mexican Salsa & Guacamole