The Original Singapore Sling Recipe

From Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails by Ted Haigh. Makes one drink.

2 ounces gin

3/4 ounces Cherry Heering

2 teaspoons Benedictine

2 teaspoons Cointreau

2 ounces pineapple juice
3/4 ounce fresh lime juice

2 dashes real pomegranate grenadine

1 dash Angostura bitters

Soda water

Real maraschino cherry, for garnish

Pineapple wedge, for garnish

Orange wheel or twist, for garnish
Combine all except soda and garnishes in a shaker full of ice.

Shake, and strain into a tall glass (highball or Collins) with a few lumps of ice. Top with a splash of soda water.

Garnish with a cherry, a pineapple slice, and orange wheel.

The Singapore Sling: Shortcut Recipe

makes one drink

2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce cherry Brandy
1/2 ounce grenadine syrup (less if you don't want it sweet)
1 ounce sweet and sour mix
Club soda

Add all of the ingredients except the club soda and maraschino cherry to a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a tall glass filled with ice.

Top with a splash of soda and a cherry.

BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Yield: 4 sandwiches

Ingredients:

2 chicken boneless, skinless breasts, approx 1 lb, cut down the middle into 4 cutlets
2 Tbsp BBQ rub seasoning, I used McCormick Grill Mates Barbecue
1/2 cup bbq sauce
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
8 slices of sandwich bread
1/2 stick unsalted butter

Directions:

Prepare gas at high heat. Add rub seasoning to both sides of chicken breasts. Add chicken breasts to grill and turn heat down to medium high.
Grill for 3-6 minutes or until dark grill marks appear. Using grill safe tongs, turn the chicken over and use a grill brush to slather bbq sauce on the chicken. After about 3-6 minutes, turn the chicken again and add bbq sauce. Turn over once again and remove chicken from the grill after 1-2 minutes. Place chicken on a plate and allow to rest for at least 5 minutes. Slice chicken into thin pieces or cut into 1 inch thick cubes.
Melt about a 1/2 stick of butter and set aside along with a brush.
Add a little bit of butter to a non-stick skillet and heat at medium. Once butter is completely melted and about to brown, 2-3 minutes, take one slice of bread and brush with melted butter. Add the bread to the pan and top with 1/4 cup of cheese, add 1/4 of the chicken. Brush the second piece of bread with melted butter and add to the top of the sandwich.
Using a spatula, smash the sandwich down ever so slightly. Paying attention to the cheese and the bread (don't let it burn), flip the sandwich over after about 2-4 minutes or when the bottom piece of bread is golden or dark brown. Again, using the spatula, smash the sandwich down a little. Remove from skillet after 3-5 minutes. Place on a plate lined with a paper towel so the bread doesn't get soggy.

California Sandwich

SERVES 2

¼ cup buttermilk

¼ cup sour cream

¼ cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp. finely chopped chives

1 tbsp. finely chopped parsley

½ tsp. garlic powder

¼ tsp. onion powder

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

4 slices multigrain sandwich bread

2 slices Monterey Jack cheese

½ cup alfalfa sprouts

1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced lengthwise

1 ripe tomato, cored and thinly sliced

Whisk together buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, chives, parsley, and garlic and onion powders in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper, and spread on all bread slices. Place 1 slice cheese each on 2 slices of bread and top with sprouts, avocado, and tomato. Season with salt and pepper, and cover with remaining 2 slices of bread.

Ham, Cheese, Egg, and Lemon Sandwiches

SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE LEMON CURD:
¾ cup sugar
4 egg yolks
12 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
Zest and juice of 3 lemons, preferably Meyer

FOR THE SANDWICHES:
8 (1"-thick) slices brioche
Unsalted butter, melted, for brushing
2 oz. soft goat cheese
4 eggs
1 tsp. finely chopped fresh thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
16 slices black forest ham
4 oz. mâche

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make the curd: Whisk together sugar and yolks in a 2-qt. saucepan; add butter, zest, and juice, and whisk until smooth. Place over medium heat, and cook, stirring, until curd is the consistency of loose pudding, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour curd through a strainer into a bowl, and press a piece of plastic wrap on the surface of the curd; chill for 2 hours.

2. To make each sandwich, heat a 10" nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brush one side each of 2 slices brioche with butter, and place in skillet, buttered sides down, and toast, about 1 minute. Transfer slices to a plate, toasted sides down, and spread ½ oz. goat cheese over one slice and 2 ½ tbsp. lemon curd over the other slice.

3. Meanwhile, whisk 1 egg in a bowl, and add to skillet; sprinkle with ¼ tsp. thyme and salt and pepper, and cook, flipping once, until just set, about 2 minutes. Fold up omelet and place on top of the goat cheese. Place 4 slices ham in skillet, and cook, flipping once, until heated through, about 35 seconds; place on top of omelette. Place 1 oz. mâche on top of ham, then top with the bread slice slathered with lemon curd. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 3 more sandwiches.                                                                                                                          

Lasagna Roll Ups

Yields 12

Ingredients:
4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
1/2 lb lean ground beef
1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes (I'd recommend Contadina Brand)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 Tbsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste


1 (15 oz) container Ricotta Cheese
1 large egg
1/3 cup fresh flat leaf parsley (aka Italian Parsley, its about 1 small handful), chopped
2 1/4 cups freshly grated Mozzarella Cheese, divided
3/4 cup freshly, finely grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
1/3 cup freshly, finely grated Romano Cheese
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper


12 uncooked lasagna noodles


Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Drizzle one tablespoon olive oil into a large non-stick fry pan.  Heat over medium high heat, crumble ground beef over oil, add chopped onions and cook mixture stirring occasionally and breaking up meat, until browned.  Drain fat from beef.  Pour beef mixture into a food processor and pulse for about 5 seconds until it is ground into fine pieces.  Pour beef mixture back into fry pan and add crushed tomatoes, minced garlic, basil, oregano and 1 tablespoon olive oil and stir.  Season sauce with salt and pepper to taste then cover with a lid and simmer over low heat while preparing pasta and cheese mixture.
Cook lasagna noodles in a large pot of boiling water along with 1 tsp salt and 2 tablespoon olive oil to al dente according to directions listed on package.  Once noodles are cooked, drain and immediately line noodles in a single layer on waxed paper or cookie sheets.  
Prepare cheese mixture (I do this while pasta is cooking) by stirring together Ricotta cheese, egg, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper with a fork in a large mixing bowl until well combine.  Stir in chopped fresh parsley.  Add in 1 3/4 cups grated Mozzarella Cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese and 1/3 cup Romano Cheese, stir mixture until well combine.
Stir meat sauce and spread 1/3 cup evenly into a 13x9 inch baking dish by tilting pan back and forth.  Spread 1/4 cup cheese mixture evenly onto each cooked lasagna noodle, then spread 1 heaping tablespoon meat sauce along the top of cheese covered noodle.  Roll noodles up jellyroll style and arrange seam side down in baking dish.  Cover rolled noodles with remaining meat sauce (about a heaping 1/8 cup over each) then sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese evenly over roll ups.  Tent lasagna roll ups with foil (don't allow foil to rest on cheese or it will stick you just want to loosely tent to prevent the cheese from browning) and bake for 35 minutes in preheated oven.  Serve warm garnished with additional chopped fresh parsley.

Spaghetti Meat Sauce

Ingredients:
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef (85% or 90%)
1 medium carrot, finely grated (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 medium yellow onion, finely diced (about 1/2 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 (28 oz) cans crushed Roma tomatoes (I recommend Contadina)
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
3/4 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried marjoram
1/2 tsp dried sage
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 - 1 cup chicken or beef broth, to thin sauce if desired
freshly, finely grated Romano and Parmesan cheese or Mizithra cheese for serving


Directions:
In a large non-stick sauce pot, heat 1 Tbsp olive oil over medium high heat. Crumble ground beef into pot (approximately 1 inch pieces). Brown beef, stirring occasionally (I was always taught to stir constantly but this makes your beef gray, let it brown on bottom and only stir occasionally), until cooked through. Drain ground beef, reserving 1 Tbsp fat in pot. Place browned beef in a food processor and pulse until finely ground, about 15 seconds, set aside. 
Saute carrot, onion and garlic in reserved fat over medium high heat until golden, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat (this will reduce splattering) and stir in 2 cans crushed Roma tomatoes, remaining 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme, oregano, marjoram, sage, bay leaves, salt, pepper and browned beef. Return pot to low heat and simmer uncovered, 5 - 8 hours (yes minimum of 5 hours), stirring occasionally. 
Add broth to sauce to thin sauce if desired (at about 4 hours sauce will be pretty thick so if you want it any thinner just add broth to desired consistency. Also, once it reaches the thickness you want you can cover it with a lid to reduce further condensation). Remove bay leaves and serve sauce warm over pasta garnished with grated cheeses and additional chopped fresh parsley or basil if desired.

Pumpkin Foogath

Cooking Time: 15-20 mintues
Servings: 4

Preparation Time: 10-15 minutes
 Category: Veg

Ingredients

•	Red pumpkin (bhopla/kaddu),cubed	700 grams
•	Olive oil	1 tablespoon
•	Black mustard seeds (radhuni)	1/4 teaspoon
•	Curry leaves	10-15 leaves
•	Onion ,chopped	2 medium
•	Green chillies,chopped	3
•	Salt	1/2 teaspoon
•	Coconut,grated	1 tablespoon
•	Lemon juice	1 tablespoon

Method

Heat the oil in a kadai and add the mustard seeds and curry leaves. When the mustard seeds start to splutter, add the onions and chillies. Stir on a high heat for 1 minute. 

Add the diced red pumpkin and salt. Cook, covered, on a low heat for 5–7 minutes, or until the pumpkin is cooked.

Add the grated coconut and lemon juice and mix well. 

Tomato Stack Salad with Corn, Bacon, and Avocado

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 10 min.

Cook Time: 8 min.

Total Time: 20 min.

Ingredients:

2 slices of bacon, cooked & crumbled
2 ears of corn
2 red tomatoes, thickly sliced
1 yellow tomato, thickly sliced
1 orange tomato, thickly sliced
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Basil for garnish
Creamy buttermilk ranch dressing (see link above for recipe)

Directions:

Make the Creamy Buttermilk Ranch Dressing. Click here for the recipe.
Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Coat the corn with cooking spray then place into the grill pan and cook for 8 minutes or until well marked, turning occasionally. Remove from the grill pan; cool slightly. Cut the corn kernels from the cobs; set aside.
Slice the tomatoes and sprinkle them with salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Alternate layers of tomatoes and avocado on the serving plates. Side Note: I used two slices of the avocado together to make an even layer in between the tomatoes. Scatter the corn and bacon crumbles evenly between each tomato stack. Drizzle each tomato stack with the ranch dressing and garnish with basil leaves. Serve immediately. Enjoy.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich

3 cups good quality chopped milk chocolate
4 tablespoons shortening
12 halved graham crackers
2 cups creamy peanut butter


1.  Melt chocolate and shortening over a double boiler, stirring to melt.  I use a small saucepan, boil water, reduce heat to low and place a heat proof bowl over the saucepan then add my chocolate, stirring until melted.

2.  Dip each graham cracker into chocolate and let set up on wax or parchment paper.  Stick in the freezer for a few minutes to speed this up.  Spread 2 tablespoons (or a cookie scoopful) of peanut butter over the top of each dipped graham cracker then place in the freezer for 10 more minutes.  This step is important.   While the peanut butter is freezing, remove chocolate from heat and stir, so it cools slightly and thickens up a touch.  Slowly and carefully spoon melted chocolate over tops and sides of peanut butter.  This is where the patience and work comes in.  Use a small spoon working the chocolate around the edges and sides.  You’ll then use a little plastic knife to run the chocolate around the edges and clean it up a little.  Let set up, (stick back in the freezer for another 10 minutes) then with a spoon, drizzle chocolate over top to get the “lines” you see in the pictures above.  (If your chocolate is too thick at this point, set it back over the double boiler so it melts a little bit).


My reviews…Definitely keep these chilled just like Disneyland does, they melt rather quickly once your fingers get on them.  It was tricky to get mine to look quite as pretty as the Disneyland ones, but with a little patience you can do it!  Have fun and keep them chilled!
Makes 12 “sandwiches”

Chicken Chow Mein

In China, chow mein is made with soft noodles. For crispy chow mein noodles, add more oil than the recipe calls for and cook the noodles longer to dry them out. You can also follow these basic photo instructions show how to make chow mein noodles. Feel free to use shrimp or pork instead of chicken.

Serves 4 to 6

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 pound mung bean sprouts
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 7 to 8 ounces each
• .
• Marinade:
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 small piece (less than 1 teaspoon) cornstarch
• .
• Sauce:
• 1/4 cup water or low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 4 tablespoons water
• .
• Other:
• 1/2 pound dry wonton noodles
• 2 medium ribs celery
• 1 pound bok choy or broccoli
• 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1/2 red onion
• 1 green onion (scallion, spring onion)
• Vegetable oil for frying and stir-frying, as needed
• 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds

Preparation:

One or 2 hours before cooking, rinse the mung bean sprouts so that they have time to drain thoroughly.

Cut the chicken into thin strips. Add the marinade ingredients, adding the cornstarch last. Marinate the chicken for 20 to 25 minutes.

The following 3 steps can be completed while the chicken is marinating:

To prepare the sauce, in a small bowl dissolve the 1 tablespoon cornstarch with the 4 tablespoons water. Whisk the water or chicken broth with the oyster sauce, soy sauce, salt, pepper and cornstarch and water mixture and set aside.

Soften the noodles by placing them in boiling salted water. Plunge into cold water to stop the cooking process and drain thoroughly.

Wash all the vegetables as needed. Cut the celery and the bok choy into 1/2-inch pieces on the diagonal. If substituting broccoli for bok choy, peel the stalks until no more strings come out, and slice thinly on the diagonal.  Wipe the mushrooms clean with a damp cloth and slice. Cut the red bell pepper in half, remove the seeds and chut into chunks. Peel and chop the onion. Dice the green onion.

Heat a wok or frying pan over medium-high to high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the noodles. Fry in batches until golden. Remove the noodles from the pan.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil. Add the onion and the meat. Let the meat brown briefly, then stir-fry until the redness is gone and the meat is nearly cooked through. Remove the cooked meat and onion from the pan.

Cook the rest of the vegetables separately, except for the green onion, seasoning each with a bit of salt while stir-frying if desired. When cooking the bok choy or broccoli, add 1/4 cup of water and cover while cooking. Remove each of the vegetables from the pan when finished stir-frying. Add more oil as needed.

Give the sauce a quick restir. Add all the ingredients back into the wok, making a "well" in the middle if the wok for the sauce. Add the sauce, stirring quickly to thicken. Mix everything together. Stir in the green onions. Pour the cooked vegetable and sauce mixture on top of the noodles. Garnish the chow mein with the toasted sesame seeds. Serve hot.
Nutritional Breakdown based on 4 servings, Calories 434, 54 g Carbohydrates, 14 g Protein, 20 g Total Fat, 2 g Saturated Fat, 10 g Monounsaturated Fat, 5 g Polyunsaturated Fat, 5 mg Cholesterol, 7 g Fibre, 685 mg Sodium, 900 mg Potassium.