Kitchen Products

 Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp pine nuts
• 2 cup basil leaves, fresh
• 1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 medium garlic clove(s), peeled
• 1/2 tsp table salt

Instructions
Place pine nuts in a small skillet and set pan over medium heat. Cook until nuts are golden, shaking pan frequently to prevent burning, about 3 minutes. Transfer nuts to a plate to cool.

In countertop appliances such as a blender or food processor, combine nuts, basil, broth, cheese, oil, garlic and salt; process until smooth and thick.  This recipe yields about 1/4 cup per serving.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1 cup white sugar, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 6 tablespoons white sugar
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon

Directions
Lightly grease an 8 inch square bakeware dish. Place the blueberries into the bakeware and mix with vanilla and lemon juice. Sprinkle with 1 cup of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of flour, then stir in the tablespoon of melted butter. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, stir together 1-3/4 cups of flour, baking powder, and 6 tablespoons sugar. Rub in the 5 tablespoons butter using your fingers, or cut in with a pastry blender until the mixture is in small pieces. Make a well in the center, and quickly stir in the milk.

Mix until just moistened. You should have a very thick batter, or very wet dough. You may need to add a splash more milk. Cover, and let batter rest for 10 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spoon the batter over the blueberries, leaving only a few small holes for the berries to peek through. Mix together the cinnamon and 2 teaspoons sugar; sprinkle over the top.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is golden brown. A knife inserted into the topping should come out clean (of course there will be blueberry syrup on the knife). Let cool until just warm before serving. Very Best Blueberry Cobbler can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 days.

A friend of mine makes the best Banana Bread that is great with coffee, served warm with butter or just eaten as a snack. I asked her for the recipe and told her that I wanted to share it with others.  Well, here it is.

 Susie’s Fantastic Homemade Banana Bread

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup melted margarine or butter

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

3 Tablespoons milk

2 Tablespoons vinegar

1 teaspoon baking soda

3  very ripe bananas

1 cup walnuts or pecans (optional)

2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix sugars, margarine, salt, vanilla & eggs together.  In separate small bowl mix milk, vinegar & baking soda (will foam up).  Mix all these items together. Then mash and add bananas and nuts to your batter.  Slowly add flour a little bit at a time until all the batter is moist. 

Pour into nonstick loaf pan or into lightly greased loaf pan.  Depending on how hot your oven gets bake from 50 min. - 1 hr. Done when you test it with toothpick and it comes out clean.  Do not over bake.  Let stand to cool for at least 30 mins., then slice and enjoy!  It’s the best I’ve ever had!

This Montreal Flat Iron Steak recipe is great on an indoor or outdoor grill. Flat iron steaks are the second most tender piece of beef next to the filet. Just follow these instructions for a tender, juicy and flavorful steak.

• 4- 8 oz Flat Iron Steaks
• 4 tablespoons Pure Olive Oil
• 3 tablespoons Montreal Steak Seasoning (available in most supermarkets)

Place the steaks on a large plate and lightly rub both sides with olive oil. Infuse both sides with Montreal Steak seasoning. Cover and let rest at room temperatur for 30 minutes. Cook immediately. Place steaks on medium heat grill for approximately 5 minutes. Turn only once and cook another 5 minutes until steaks reach the desired doneness. (145 degrees for medium). Note: To create grill marks rotate 90 degrees after cooking for 2-3 minutes on each side. Enjoy!!