Come On Up To The House

January 6, 2024
by Ashley
Comments Off on Yogurt Sauce

Yogurt Sauce

2 cups plain yogurt
1 cup chopped cucumber
salt, to taste
1 tbsp dried mint
1 clove garlic, minced

Combine everything and stir.

January 6, 2024
by Ashley
Comments Off on Grapeleaves

Grapeleaves

This is a recipe that is from Paul’s mom. We have made this so many times and love them. Serve with yogurt sauce.

2 cups rice
2 lbs ground beef
1 lb ground lamb
Salt & pepper, to taste
1 tsp Onion powder
1 tsp Garlic powder
2 – 3 tbsp butter
16oz grape leaves

Empty grape leaves with liquid into a bowl then throw liquid away. Unroll a little and strain under water briefly. Squeeze any extra liquid unroll & separate leaves. Snip some of stem, rough side up to stuff. Pointy end away, stem towards you. Stuff so you can fold/envelope style, leaf over. If leaf is torn, patch with more leaf. After stuffed, extra stems or torn pieces put in bottom of pot. If using, put zucchini, put grape leaves laid in tight – out to in – then rows up with leaves. Put a plate or glass lid in pot to keep leaves pressed down into liquid. Pour chicken stock over to cover (9 cups) and 1 cm above leaves. Start on low heat for about 45 minutes. After 30 minutes check to see if rice is cooked through. Prep time, 2 hours. After finished cooking, squeeze lemon into pot & swirl so juices mix.

January 6, 2024
by Ashley
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Ginger Vanilla Liqueur

12 oz water
about 4 inch piece ginger
1 vanilla bean
1 cup sugar

peel from an orange
400ml brandy

This is Paul’s recipe that he has made several times. Peel ginger with a spoon and cut into small pieces.
Cut vanilla bean in half lengthwise. In a small pot bring water, ginger, vanilla, and sugar to boil. Stir, turn off heat and let cool.
Put the cooled liquid plus brandy and orange peel into a ball jar and close the top. Put on your counter and shake randomly whenever you think of it. Let sit for 24-36 hours, then strain liquid though a sieve.

If you want really clear liqueur, strain through a coffee filter after the sieve (this is what I do).

November 26, 2023
by Ashley
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Seasoned Cottage Cheese

This is a breakfast item that we have once in a while. Recipe from Amira.

1/2 cup Cottage Cheese
1 – 2 tsp dried mint (to taste)
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp onion powder
Pinch of Kosher salt

Season the cottage cheese and stir together. Taste to make sure there is enough seasoning. Serve with green onions and pita bread.

November 26, 2023
by Ashley
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Rodillo

These were first introduced to us while I worked for Carr Valley Cheese. We have started to use different cheese than the original recipe, but they always turn out good.

Ingredients
4 slices prosciutto
12 artichoke heart quarters (from a jar)
3 oz – 4oz white cheddar

Cut the prosciutto into thirds. Slice cheese into larger chunks the length of the artichoke. Wrap an artichoke and piece of cheese in each third of prosciutto making 12 Rodillos. Bake at 400oF for 5 minutes.

November 26, 2023
by Ashley
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Bacon Wrapped Chestnuts

2 cans whole chestnuts
1 lb bacon
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup ketchup
1 tbsp worchestershire sauce (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350oF. Drain chestnuts. Slice bacon into thirds and wrap chestnuts in the sliced bacon. Stick with a toothpick to hold in place. Place in a baking dish in one layer. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Drain grease.

Stir brown sugar and ketchup together. Cover with the ketchup and brown sugar mixture. Bake another 30 minutes or until bacon is done. Serve hot.

This recipe is from Aunt Jan.

November 26, 2023
by Ashley
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Spite & Malice

It is hard to remember different games we are taught by friends. We like playing cards once in a while, but can’t seem to remember the rules. Spite and Malice is really very simple, once the rules are known.

Use 4 – 5 decks of cards. Shuffle them all really well together. This is called your stock.

Deal each player 13 cards that they DON’T look at. This is your pay-off pile. Set the 13 cards aside. Deal each player 5 cards. These will be the cards in your hand.

Now return the stock to the center of the table. The goal is to get rid of your pay-off pile before anyone else. In the center of the table, you may create up to 4 building stacks starting with Ace. Once each deck is finished with a King (Jokers are wild), remove from play. This creates an open building stack for someone else to start over. You can also discard into 4 stacks in front of yourself to reserve for play in the future.

Each turn the goal is to get rid of your pay-off pile or cards in your hand. If you get rid of all 5 cards by building a stack, you can take 5 off of the stock deck and continue your play. If you can’t go again, you must discard one card into your discard stack in front of you. You are not to replenish your hand up to 5 cards, until it is your turn to play again.

The game ends when you or one of the other players plays all 13 cards in their pay-off pile.

November 26, 2023
by Ashley
Comments Off on White Sangria

White Sangria

1 cup cherries, pitted and halved
1 cup blueberries
1 cup strawberries, quartered
1/2 cup peaches, chopped
1/3 cup brandy
1 cup pineapple juice
1 bottle prosecco

Combine fruit and brandy in a pitcher and chill. Stir in the pineapple juice and prosecco just before serving. Don’t make more than 1 hour ahead. Serve in a champagne glass with a few ice cubes and a sprig of mint.

November 26, 2023
by Ashley
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Paloma

2 oz gold tequila
Lime wedge (1/4 lime)
Jarritos Toronja (Grapefruit) soda
pinch of salt

Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour in the tequila and squeeze the lime in. Toss the spent lime into the drink. Fill the rest of the glass with jarritos soda. Enjoy!