Top Ten Recipies

Roquefort Pear Salad (6 servings)

INGREDIENTS:
1 head leaf lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
3 pears - peeled, cored and chopped
5 ounces Roquefort cheese, crumbled
1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and diced
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup pecans
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
fresh ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:
In a skillet over medium heat, stir 1/4 cup of sugar together with the pecans. Continue stirring gently until sugar has melted and caramelized the pecans. Carefully transfer nuts onto waxed paper. Allow to cool, and break into pieces.
For the dressing, blend oil, vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar, mustard, chopped garlic, salt, and pepper.
In a large serving bowl, layer lettuce, pears, blue cheese, avocado, and green onions. Pour dressing over salad, sprinkle with pecans, and serve.

Pastry Cream (3 cups)

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups milk
1/2 cup white sugar
1 vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
6 egg yolks
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 pinch salt

DIRECTIONS:
Place the milk, half the sugar and the vanilla bean in a saucepan over medium heat.
Combine the egg yolks and the remaining sugar in a bowl and whisk until light in color. Add in the flour and the salt, mix to combine.
When the milk just begins to boil, remove from heat and remove vanilla bean. Very slowly dribble the hot milk into the yolk mixture, stirring all the time. When about half of the milk has been added, place all of the yolk mixture into the saucepan over medium heat. Using a spatula or a whisk, mix the pastry cream as it heats, making sure to reach all of the corners of the pan when you stir. Bring the mixture to a boil. Let boil for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. The mixture will be thick.
Remove from heat and add the butter. Strain if you wish for a smoother cream. Place into a bowl and cover directly with plastic wrap to stop a skin from forming on the cream. Chill and use within a few days.

Cranberry Salad (8 -10 servings)

INGREDIENTS:
2 (3 ounce) packages cherry flavored gelatin mix
1 (16 ounce) can whole cranberry sauce
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon mayonnaise

DIRECTIONS:
Drain crushed pineapple and save 1/4 cup of the juice. Dissolve gelatin in 2 cups of hot water. Stir in cranberries and crushed pineapple. Pour 1/2 of the mixture in a bowl and leave at room temperature, set the other 1/2 in the refrigerator until firm.
In a separate bowl mix together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, reserved pineapple juice and chopped pecans. Spread mixture over chilled gelatin. Place in refrigerator for 10 minutes. Pour the room temperature gelatin over the top of the cream cheese layer and refrigerate until set.

Strawberry Torte (8 or 9 inch springform pan)

INGREDIENTS:
11 ounces cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 pint heavy whipping cream
2 (12 ounce) packages ladyfinger cookies
1 (16 ounce) package frozen strawberries
1 tablespoon cornstarch

DIRECTIONS:
Strain strawberries and set aside, reserving juices. In a saucepan bring cornstarch and strawberry juice to a gentle boil. Remove from heat and let cool.
Whip cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together.
In a separate bowl beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.
Arrange ladyfingers around sides and bottom of the 8 or 9 inch springform pan, standing ladyfingers lengthwise around sides of pan. Pour 1/2 of the filling into the pan, then place a layer of ladyfingers on top of filling. Pour remaining filling over ladyfingers.
Spread strawberry sauce over top of cake and place the whole strawberries on top. Refrigerate and remove from pan once thoroughly chilled.

Sarah's Applesauce (4 servings)

INGREDIENTS:
4 apples - peeled, cored and chopped
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:
In a saucepan, combine apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon. Cover, and cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until apples are soft. Allow to cool, then mash with a fork or potato masher.

Mendocino Chicken Salad (6 servings)

INGREDIENTS:
1 (6 ounce) package smoked chicken breast, skin removed, cubed
1 cup seedless grapes, halved
1/2 cup diced red onion
3 stalks celery, diced
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips
1 cup blanched slivered almonds
3/4 cup mayonnaise

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, combine the smoked chicken, grapes, red onion, celery, basil, almonds and mayonnaise. Mix well; chill and serve.

Wilderness Place Lodge Cookies (5 dozen cookies)

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups butter
2 cups white sugar
2 cups packed brown sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
6 cups quick cooking oats
2 cups chocolate chips
2 cups chopped and toasted walnuts
1 cup coconut
1 cup raisins

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
In a very large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, salt and baking soda; stir into the sugar mixture until well incorporated. Mix in oats, then stir in the chocolate chips, nuts, coconut and raisins. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown. Let cookies cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheets before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Note: Make sure to soften the butter and get the eggs to room temperature before starting! For plumper raisins, boil in water for a few minutes and cool before adding to batter. If you want to play around with different flavors of chips, feel free. I've found I like milk chocolate morsels better.

Garlic Croutons (1 1/2 cups croutons)

INGREDIENTS:
4 tablespoons butter
1 clove garlic, minced
3 (3/4 inch thick) slices French bread, cut into cubes

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large saute pan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in garlic; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add bread cubes, and toss to coat. Spread on a baking sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes, or until crisp and dry. Check frequently to prevent burning. Cool.

Raw Vegetable Salad (18 to 20 servings)

INGREDIENTS:
6 slices bacon
3 cups chopped broccoli
3 cups cauliflower, chopped
3 cups chopped celery
1 (10 ounce) package frozen green peas, thawed
1 cup sweetened-dried cranberries
1 cup raw Spanish peanuts
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons grated onion
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

DIRECTIONS:
Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, cauliflower, celery, peas and cranberries.
Wisk together the sugar, salt, vinegar, grated onion, cheese and mayonnaise. Pour dressing over the salad; add nuts and bacon and toss well.

Fresh Broccoli Salad (8 to 10 servings)

INGREDIENTS:
2 heads fresh broccoli
1 red onion
1/2 pound bacon
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup sliced almonds
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

DIRECTIONS:
Place bacon in a deep skillet and cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Cool and crumble.
Cut the broccoli into bite-size pieces and cut the onion into thin bite-size slices. Combine with the bacon, raisins, your favorite nuts and mix well.
To prepare the dressing, mix the mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar together until smooth. Stir into the salad, let chill and serve.