Roasted Red Grapes With Blood Orange EVOO

1 T seedless red grapes, left on the stems and cut into small clusters
2 T Blood Orange EVOO
2 T Real maple syrup or honey
Sprinkle of sea salt

Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Place grape clusters on foil lined baking sheet and roast until juicy and somewhat caramelized (about 15 minutes). Transfer grapes to serving plate with a dollop of the sweetened mascarpone.

½ C Mascarpone
1 ½ T Rum
1t finely grated orange zest

Mix together.

Lychee Nuts, Raspberries and Pineapple

1 Can unsweetened lychee nuts
1 C fresh pineapple chunks
1 Package fresh raspberries
1/4 C Golden brown toasted unsweetened coconut (300 degree oven for 3-5 minutes -- watch carefully since it has tendency to burn)
Candied ginger, finely chopped for garnish, optional

Place in large bowl

Coconut Splash
1/4 C Coconut White Balsamic Vinegar
1 - 2 T Honey

Dissolve honey in vinegar. Pour over fruit and gently mix. Serve with toasted coconut and chopped ginger (optional).

Note: Can add some Pocky (Japanese biscuit) as a garnish

This recipe comes from my friend, Carol Genovese.

Blueberry Sangria

1 Bottle Blueberry Cider (Whole Foods)
1 Bottle Riesling
1/4 Cup Blueberry Balsamic Vinegar (Blue Sky Oil and Vinegar Shop)

Orangies

Ingredients
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure orange extract
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1 recipe Orange Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe follows

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan.

Orange Brownies:
Stir together flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a bowl. Add butter, eggs, orange extract, and orange zest. Using a handheld electric mixer, beat until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until light golden brown and set. Remove from oven, allow to cool and pierce entire cake with a fork. Spread the Orange Cream Cheese Frosting over completely cooled brownies. Cut into squares.

Orange Cream Cheese Frosting:
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 4 tablespoons softened butter
• 1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons orange zest
• 2 tablespoons orange juice

In a large mixing bowl, whip the butter and cream cheese together with a hand-held electric mixer. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until it is all combined and smooth. Beat in the orange zest and juice. Spread over brownies.
Yield: enough frosting for 1 batch of brownies
Prep Time: 10 minutes

From http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/orange-brownies-recipe2/index.html

Taco Salad

Head lettuce (consider 1/4 head per person)
Ground beef (consider 1/4 lb per person)
Chili powder, salt, pepper, cajun seasoning, ground cumin
Onion
Tomato
Avacado
French dressing
Tortilla chips
Shredded cheddar cheese

Dice onion and saute in a bit of oil.
Brown the ground beef in with the onion.
Add about 1/2 tsp each of the seasonings while browning.
Slice up enough of the lettuce head for the number of people.
Dice the tomato and the avacado.
Mix the salad and add the ground beef mixture.
Add about 1-2 TBS of French dressing.
Crumble up torilla chips and mix well.
(I used Dorito Spicey Tortilla Chips.)
Shred some cheddar on top for effect.

I got this recipe from Ted Harris and below is what he sent me. It serves about six people.

one lb. ground beef
one head iceberg lettuce shredded
4 tomatoes
one onion, chopped
1/2 lb shredded cheddar cheese
one, 1-lb can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 bag nacho , taco or tortilla ships
one bottle French dressing

Saute beef until brown, drain well and let cool while preparing other ingredients.
Toss meat with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, cheese, beans.
Refrigerate until ready to serve. Toss with salad dressing.
Crush chips and add to salad. Toss again.
Serve immediately so chips don't get soggy.

Rolo Pecan Caramel Candies

Mini pretzels -1 pkg. (63)
Rolo candies -1 13-oz. bag (there are exactly 63 pieces)
Pecan halves -1 pkg (need 63 pieces, will have 25-30 pieces left)


Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Put pretzel rings in single layer on sheet.
Unwrap Rolos and put one Rolo on each pretzel ring.

Bake 4 minutes, or until the candies are softened.
Take out of oven and quickly place a pecan half onto each Rolo and push down to squish the chocolate into the pretzel and flatten out.

Cool on sheet for 15-20 minutes, then place in refrigerator for 10-20 minutes until candy
is firm. Transfer to plate or container.

Source: http://thepartyworks.com/rolo-pecan-caramel-candies-photo-a-697.html

Thai Ground Pork Salad

1 lb. ground pork
2 TBS water or chicken stock
2 shallots, finely sliced
2 green onions, finely sliced
3 TBS fish sauce
3 TBS lime juice
1/2 tsp sugar
2 TBS ground toasted sticky rice
1/2 c chopped fresh mint leaves
1/2 c chopped cilantro
1/2 tsp ground roasted dried Thai chilies
1 cucumber, peeled and cut into sturdy spears
mixed baby greens

Toast rice in dry pan over medum heat until brown.
Grind until it turns to powder.

Brown pork in medum pan with water or chicken stock until cooked.
Set aside to cool.

Mix with the other ingredients and serve on lettuce with cucmber spears.