Sloppy Jose'

Sloppy Jose'
Mike Simonsen

This is an original recipe that occurred to me after several shots of Cuervo Gold chased down with Margaritas. It's a cross between nachos and Sloppy Joe's. I actually wrote the recipe before I ever made it. Then adjusted to taste after a bit of experimentation. The best thing about it is it's a new way to utilize leftover Sloppy Joe meat.

I confess, I'm not a big fan of leftovers. I put things away in containers and fully intend to eat it the next day, but more often than not, I make something fresh and eventually the leftovers go in the trash on garbage day.

Sloppy Jose assembled and ready for the microwave

Ingredients
20-30 Taste of Lime nacho chips
1/3 lb of leftover Sloppy Joe meat
1/4 red onion diced
1/4 red or orange bell pepper diced
6-12 Jalapeño slices
3/4 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend

Directions (single serve)
1. Arrange nacho chips in a single layer on a microwavable plate
2. Distribute Sloppy Joe meat evenly across chips
3. Sprinkle cheese over chips and meat
4. Add onion, bell pepper and Jalapeño slices
5. Microwave for two minutes
6. Consume with your favorite beverage

I don't eat it with salsa. I think the Sloppy Joe meat adds enough tomato-based flavor.

Pineapple Gin Punch

Recipe courtesy of Geoffrey Zakarian from Food Network's "The Kitchen"

Hint: Use triple sec in place of Cointreau. It's 10% the cost, and this is a mixed drink featuring gin and pineapple juice.

Ingredients
3 cups pineapple juice
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice, plus lemon twists, for garnish
12 ounces gin
4 ounces orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
1/2 teaspoon allspice
Champagne or sparkling wine, chilled, for serving

Directions
Combine the pineapple juice, lemon juice, gin, orange liqueur and allspice in a pitcher filled with ice. Stir to combine. Pour into ice-filled highball glasses, top with champagne and garnish each with a lemon twist.

Trisha's Baked Apples

This is basically apple pie without the crust. It's brilliant and tastes like a million bucks.

Adapted from "Trisha's Table: My Feel-Good Favorites for a Balanced Life" by Trisha Yearwood
© Clarkson Potter 2015.

Ingredients
4 large baking apples, such as Honeycrisp
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

1. Wash and core apples, leaving enough of the core at the base of the apple to contain the filling.

2. Combine the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and chopped pecans in a small bowl. Roll log shapes of the mixture and press enough into each apple to fill the core.

3. Fill a 2-quart baking dish with about 3/4 cup water, or enough to cover the bottom. Place the apples upright in the dish. Bake until the apples are soft and the filling is browned, 1 hour.

Chicken with Cherry Pineapple Salsa

This is a relatively inexpensive, easy to prepare dish that also happens to be an excellent diabetic meal. This is becoming a 'go to' dish for me. I keep the dried cherries and pineapple chunks in stock as a pantry item all the time now. Serves 4 and takes about a half hour to make.

Ingredients:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, halved
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 8oz. can unsweetened pineapple chunks
1/2 cup sweet and sour sauce
1/2 cup dried cherries
2 green onions, sliced

Directions:
1. Sprinkle garlic salt and ginger over chicken.
2. Brown chicken in oil, in a large non-stick skillet.
3. Drain pineapple, saving 1/4 cup of the juice in reserve.
4. In a small bowl, combine reserved juice, sauce, and cherries; pour over chicken.
5. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer, turning once, 8-10 minutes or until a thermometer reads 170 degrees internal temperature.
6. Stir in pineapple and onions, heat through.
7. Serve over rice or with salad or veggies on the side.

Mediterranean Shrimp

from Katie Lee (The Kitchen)

This dish is easy, tasty and healthy. 
Serves four and takes less than an hour from start to table.

Ingredients

In the serving dish with the feta cheese on top.

Vegetables:
3 tablespoons dry white wine
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
12 ounces jarred artichoke hearts, drained
8 ounces fresh green beans, trimmed and cut in half
1 pint grape tomatoes
1/3 cup kalamata olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons capers, drained and coarsely chopped
1 red onion, cut into chunks
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Shrimp:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 pound cleaned large shrimp
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 baguette, cut in half lengthwise and then crosswise into 4 pieces total
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
4 ounces crumbled feta cheese

Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

For the vegetables: In a large bowl, whisk the white wine, olive oil and garlic. Add the artichokes, haricot vert, tomatoes, olives, capers and onions and toss to coat. Season with about 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Transfer the mixture to a baking sheet and evenly spread out. Roast until the tomatoes begin to release their juices, 10 to 12 minutes.

For the shrimp: While the vegetables are roasting, use the same bowl and mix together the olive oil, oregano, red pepper, garlic and lemon zest and juice. Add the shrimp and toss to coat. Season with about 1/4 teaspoon salt and a pinch of black pepper.

Drizzle the baguette pieces with olive oil.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and add the shrimp. Stir and evenly spread out the shrimp and vegetables. Add the pieces of baguette around the perimeter. Roast until the shrimp is pink and opaque, 8 to 10 minutes.

Transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle with the crumbled feta and serve with the bread.

Yes, it looks this good straight out of the oven. OMG