Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

SPINACH SALAD WITH WARM BACON DRESSING
Ingredients:

Dressing:

5 Slices Bacon

1 ½ Tbsp Shallots, finely chopped

½ Cup Red Wine Vinegar

2 Tbsp Honey Mustard

Salt & Pepper to Taste

Salad:

8 Cups Fresh Spinach Leaves, stems removed

8 oz White Button Mushrooms, thinly sliced

½ Red Onion, thinly sliced

In skillet add the bacon and cook over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon and transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Roughly chop and set aside.

Pour off all but 2 Tbsp of fat from skillet. Heat the remaining fat over med-high heat and add shallots. Cook about 2 minutes. Whisk in vinegar, mustard, and salt & pepper. Scrape bottom brown bits from skillet and bring to a simmer. Remove skillet from heat.

For the salad: In large bowl, toss together spinach, mushrooms, bacon and onion. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Serve warm.

Nutty Monk

NUTTY MONK
Ingredients:
1/2 Shot Franjelica
1/2 Shot Amaretto
1/2 Shot Dark Cream de Cocoa
2 Scoops Vanilla Ice Cream

Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until mixed well. Pour into chilled martini glass or glass of your choice.

Meatballs

MEATBALLS
 

Ingredients:

Meatballs:

1 Lb Ground Turkey

1 Lb Ground Beef

4 Slices of White Bread, crust removed (put in food processor to make bread crumbs)

¼ Cup Italian Bread Crumbs

2 Tbsp Parsley, Chopped

½ Cup Grated Parmesan

2 Tsp Salt

½ Tsp Pepper

¼ Tsp Nutmeg

1 Egg

¼ Cup Vegetable Oil

¼ Cup Olive Oil

Sauce:

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 Onion, Chopped

1 ½ Tsp Garlic, Minced

½ Cup Red Wine (regular or cooking is fine)

1 (28 oz) Can Crushed Tomatoes

1 Tbsp Parsley, Chopped (Use ½ Tbsp if dried and not fresh)

1 ½ Tsp Salt

½ Tsp Pepper

½ to 1 Tbsp Sugar

Sprinkle of Garlic Powder, Tony Chachere, Italian Seasoning, Oregano, Basil (optional)

Meatballs: Place both meats, both bread crumbs, parsley, parmesan, salt, pepper, nutmeg, egg and ¾ cup warm water into a large bowl. Combine well and form into 2 inch meatballs. You will have 16. You can roll them smaller if you want more bite sized meatballs.

Add vegetable oil and olive oil to pan. Heat oil and brown meatballs on all sides over med-low heat. Remove from heat. Add meatballs to sauce and cook 25-30 minutes.

Sauce: Heat oil and add onions and saute until cooked. Add garlic and cook another minute or so until soft. Add wine and cook on high until almost all liquid evaporates about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, parsley, salt,  pepper and sugar. Of course, I typically also use a bunch of other seasonings like Garlic Powder, Tony Chachere, Italian Seasoning, Oregano, Basil whatever I have on hand.

Place browned meatballs into sauce and cook on medium-low for 25-30 minutes until meatballs are fully cooked. 

Ham and Cheese Scones

HAM AND CHEESE SCONES - Great for your left over Ham
Ingredients:

2 Cups Flour

1 Tbsp Baking Powder

½ Tsp Salt

½ Cup Butter, cut into pieces

3-4 oz Ham, Chopped

1/3 Cup Grated Cheddar

1 ¼ Cup Heavy Whipping Cream

1 Egg, lightly beaten

Preheat oven 450

Combine first 3 ingredients in food processor. Add butter and pulse until crumbly. Add cream and pulse until combined.

Place ham and cheese in separate bowl and fold in dough until well mixed.

Place dough in scone pan or press and pat dough into 8 inch round and cut into 8 wedges and place wedges onto baking sheet.

Brush tops with egg wash. Bake 12-15 minutes until golden brown.