Kathy R's Shrimp Dip

Last night I added a recipe called "Kathy R.'s Shrimp Dip". Kathy is actually my former husband's. niece. She has become a good friend and she gave me this recipe 40 years ago. Yikes!!!! 40 years!!! Where in the hell did they go??

Anyway one of the reasons I think this dip is so good is because the shrimp is mashed so it is mixed throughout the whole dip. It puts the flavor of shrimp in every bite.



Whenever I take this dip to a gathering, I am always asked for the recipe. It is a definate keeper!!





And, as you can see.....it looks good too!!

Next Food Network Star - Part 4

And the good news is: my cable connection is back and I actually got to watch this episode.

Ok, the first challenge - the technique video. I personally thought it was somewhat unfair to expect the contestants to give an instructional video on a technique they had no idea about. I understand the "step up with confidence " goal, but, hey if you've never cleaned a squid before....how is that possible?? They were mostly right in their evaluations, Jennifer did apologize, Arron was wooden, and Adam was silly. Kelsey did do the best job with this challenge and she was rightfully chosen as the winner. So look for her "technique" video to be on the home page of the Food Network website tomorrow.

Now the next challenge. Cooking fish with a weird ingredient for 30 Coast Guard members. Some of the combinations were really odd. I mean fruit loops, marshmallow cream, jelly, and caramels. I can understand why some of those dishes didn't work!! I do have to say that Adam kept up with his silliness and so did Nipa during her presentation. Again, Aaron was wooden, but the surprise here was his food. His food in past episodes has been among the best.....that was a let down, I had come to expect his food to excell. And predictably, Jennifer was apologizing and the judges are right, she looks great on camera. Very appealing and friendly, it is a shame she wrecks it by her lack of self confidence. Again, Lisa was more likable and actually fun. She handled landing on her ass very well and turned a negative into a positive. It also showed what she is made of....and she is made of finer stuff.

While I couldn't taste any of the food, I think once again the judges picked the correct winner-Kelsey. And her reward is awesome.....her recipe on the menu of Red Lobster for a limited time. How cool is that???

I was wrong with my guess last week. I predicted Jennifer to be the contestant going home and of course it was Nipa. After watching tonights episode, I agree that Nipa needed to go and my prediction for next week??? I feel it is a tie between Jennifer and Adam. Can't wait to see who goes home next Sunday!!

Lake Tahoe Farmer's Market, Again

Tuesday I went to the Farmer's Market again. I really love fresh produce....you just can't beat it!! Although, as I mentioned before, the Farmer's Market at Lake Tahoe is just so much more than produce.....



Vino!!! This wine is produced at the Boeger Winery in Placerville CA. They make several types of wine but my favorite by far is their Riesling. In talking to the gentleman in the picture, I learned that they only put up 140 cases of Riesling a year. Since they only put up that small amount, he doesn't bring Riesling to the Farmer's Market. That being the case I asked him to bring me a bottle this week and he did....so now I have a bottle of Boeger Riesling to enjoy!! Of course the per bottle price is up $2 since last summer...



Lake Tahoe has it's share of artisans and this potter is one of them....beautiful stuff here!!



This beautiful plant is lavender. It smells great!!!! Along side this plant is made up wreaths and sachets. I have read that lavender is good to have in the bedroom as it's lovey scent helps one fall asleep...ya if Rex would go for that I would try it...but I don't think THAT is going to happen!!



Oh my goodness, what would we do without Placerville CA??? All of this wonderful cheese can be found at Derrick's Cheese Shop in Placerville. I have been there and in addition to cheese they have olive oils, vinegars, candy, baked goods, crackers, and flat breads...it is a wonderful shop and I am looking forward to seeing it again in August when Chad and I go to Placerville.

Well that is another glimpse at the Tuesday Lake Tahoe Farmer's Market...

Mary

Pretzel Bread

A few days ago, I said I was going to be making one of the bread recipes out of the "Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook". Well I did and here is a picture of it:



This bread is soooooooooooooo good I can hardly believe it. Of course a bread with ingredients like beer and pretzels certainly has a lot going for it!! The recipe (which is in the recipe section) calls for thin pretzel sticks broken in half. You would think that there would be chunks of pretzels throughout the bread but there isn't so do yourself a favor....if you are looking for a new bread to try in your bread machine, make pretzel bread!!!

Last Saturday we went to the Rendevous in Carson City. As you know all of those types of things are full of vendors. One vendor had a knife that interested me because I do use a bread machine. The lady told me she also uses a bread machine and that this knife will even cut the bread while it is warm. That little tidbit got her a sale:





This fiddle bow knife for cutting bread can be found at www.mountainwoods.com. And it DOES cut hot bread right out of the bread machine!!

Next Food Network Star - Part 3

Once again I have to base my comments of this competition on whatever videos and comments I can see on the Food Network website. While this is sort of OK, I feel that I am probably missing a great deal. But here goes:

Jeffery was sent home. My opinion of him was of a person that was somewhat shy and reserved....but very tall. On a video I did get to see his potato challenge...Sophisticated Home Fries....not really inspired is it?? Also his on camera presentation was lacking, he didn't make eye contact and seemed aloof. And "salt" in a bottle....it's been done. So I am confident the judges made the correct decision. I have since watched Jeffery's exit interview and I feel if he would have been able to project that personality in the competition, he would still be in the running, but that didn't happen.

I know that next winter I will be able to watch this whole season on either the Fine Living network or the Food Network but it is really frustrating now that I can't see them. I will look forward to seeing them and see if I feel the same way about these contestants..who knows??

So who is my pick for the next eliminated contestant?? My pick is Jennifer.....she just doesn't do anything for me.

The Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook

How is that for a title to my blog?? Actually it is the title of a cookbook authored by John Schlimm. John Schlimm is the great-great-grandson of Peter Straub, who founded the Straub Brewery in the 1870s. I had the good fortune to meet John today at a cooking demonstration and sampling of three of his recipes. Not only did I get to sample some of his recipes, I got a copy of his cookbook "The Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook". And, I might add he graciously autographed it. How cool is that???

I found John to be a very intertaining speaker and an obviously accomplished "beer chef". The recipes he made today were "Beach Party Punch", Blazing Hot Wing Sauce, and Blue Cheese Dip. They were all great. Oh and the punch.....let me just run down the ingredient list for you: rum, vodka, amaretto, gin, beer (of course), Sprite, orange juice, pineapple juice, and ice. WOW....it REALLY packs a punch!! (No pun intended!!).

The Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook lives up to it's name....there is 27 chapters. John has recipes for any and all occasions. His recipes range from appetizer, breads (one of which I will be making tomorrow), soups, salads, vegetables, sandwiches, poultry & eggs, pork, freshwater fish, seafood cookies, pastries, ice cream, chuggers, shots & shooters, chasers, milkshakes, and beer on fire. In fact, one of the recipes in the "Beer On Fire" chapter is called the "Burning Bush"--(I don't think he means George W) and it goes like this:

1 ounce Hot Damn 1/2 glass beer 1/2 glass apple cider

Pour the Hot Damn into a shot glass. Pour the apple cider and beer into a tall glass. Light the shot on fire and drop it into the glass. Making SURE that the flame is extinguished, chug.

Use extreme caution with the fire!!

As you can tell, John Schlimm has a great sense of humor and I thourouly enjoyed his talk!

Also at the bottom of every page or two John has a quote so I will put one at the bottom of this blog:

"Some guy is claiming that a tonic of beer and urine will improve your garden. Come on if that was true, wouldn't frat houses be like tropical rain forests?" --- Jay Leno

Bob's Red Mill Bread Mix

Remember a few days ago when I blogged about my "Breadman Bread Machine"? In that blog I mentioned that I bought a book with bread recipes and that I really had never found a "store bought" bread mix that I liked. Well now I have to eat my words!!

Since I am spending the summer in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, I must confess to having several bread machine failures due to the high altitude. The other day, I noticed a package of "Bob's Red Mill" bread mix so I decided to give it a try. Couldn't be any worse than what I have been getting using my own ingredients. And it was in a grocery store in Lake Tahoe so if it sells here it must work in higher elevations. That is what I thought anyway.





I can't believe how much I loved this bread and how well it worked here. The first mix I bought was a rye mix and boy was it good. So as soon as the rye bread was gone, I made another trip to the store and got the 100% whole wheat mix. I am in heaven...in past summers we have eaten only english muffins because we couldn't get bread to turn out right, well we now have the option for great bread. I AM a "Happy Camper"!!