Friendship Fruit Starter
This is really two recipes in one – 6 cups of brandied fruit, and 2 cups of starter for the Thirty Day Friendship Cake.

In a large glass jar combine drained pineapple chunks drained apricot slices drained sliced peaches drained maraschino cherries brandy and sugar.

Stir gently with wooden spoon.

Cover and let stand at room temperature for 3 weeks stirring at least twice a week.

Drain and reserve the liquid – This liquid is your starter for the Thirty Day Friendship Cake.

ArnoldGreg August 31, 2024

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How to Make Chocolate Truffles
Adapt Chef John’s easy chocolate truffle recipe to any flavor whim you like, including his favorite gingerbread spice version for the holidays.

Add chocolate chips to a heat-proof mixing bowl; add ginger cinnamon black pepper salt and cayenne.

Heat cream over medium heat until it just starts to simmer.

Immediately remove from heat and pour hot cream over chocolate.

Shake bowl slightly to fully cover the chocolate; let sit for 2 minutes.

Slowly whisk until well combined and a thick glossy ganache forms.

Cover ganache with plastic wrap and let cool to room temperature or until firm enough to scoop about 15 minutes.

Form about 2 teaspoons of the ganache into balls using a small sorbet scoop or roll by hand.

Place balls onto a baking sheet lined with silicone or parchment paper.

Refrigerate until cold and firm about 15 minutes then re-roll as needed to smoothen.

ArnoldGreg August 30, 2024

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Easy Grilled Chicken Drumsticks
For a kid-friendly flavor, these quick and simple grilled chicken drumsticks first marinate in a zesty ranch dressing mix blend.

Place chicken drumsticks into a resealable bag; add olive oil to coat.

Add ranch dressing mix cayenne pepper salt and black pepper.

Close the bag and mix until drumsticks are covered.

Let marinate in the refrigerator 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.

Remove chicken from the bag; discard marinade.

Cook on the preheated grill until an instant-read thermometer inserted into a drumstick reads at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) 20 to 25 minutes.

Remove from the grill and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

ArnoldGreg August 29, 2024

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Smoked Maple Syrup Bacon
This is my brine and smoking method for maple syrup bacon; it makes enough for one pork belly.

Pour water sodium nitrate curing salt coarse salt brown sugar and maple syrup into a large kettle.

Bring to a boil over high heat and cook for 10 to 15 minutes until everything is well dissolved.

Pour brine into a 5 gallon plastic bucket and cool to room temperature 6 to 8 hours.

Leaving the skin on the pork belly cut against the grain into 4 to 6 slabs so they fit inside the bucket and inside your smoker.

Place into the bucket of brine and weigh down with a glass or ceramic dish to keep the pork submerged.

Cover and refrigerate for 5 to 7 days rearranging the pork in the brine daily.

ArnoldGreg August 28, 2024

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Sweetheart Cupcakes
Use food coloring to make festive layered cupcakes for Valentine’s Day or any occasion.

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Line a standard muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.

Beat the cake mix water vegetable oil and egg whites together on low speed for 30 seconds then on medium for 2 minutes until smooth.

Fill cupcake liners 1/3 full with white batter; set aside.

Stir 4 drops of red food coloring into the remaining bowl of batter to make the batter pink.

Stir in the raspberry oil.

Pour 1/3 of pink batter into a resealable plastic bag and set aside.

ArnoldGreg August 27, 2024

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Kale and Mushroom Stir-Fry
Try this vegetable-rich, healthy stir-fry with kale and mushrooms. It takes less than 30 minutes to prepare if you have leftover sweet potatoes.

Set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees C).

Just enough olive oil should be applied to the bottom of a glass or nonstick baking dish to coat it.

Turn the sweet potatoes in the baking dish to cover them in the oil before baking.

Add a small amount of salt and pepper.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 60 minutes, or until soft.

In a wok, heat grapeseed oil over medium-low heat.

Cook the kale and collard greens for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until they are wilted.

Include ginger, garlic, onion, and peppers.

For about five minutes, stir-fry.

Add the mushrooms and sweet potatoes, then cook for 5 minutes.

Stir in Thai peanut sauce after removing from heat, then serve.

ArnoldGreg August 26, 2024

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Mushroom Soup Without Cream
This mushroom soup without cream is made with various mushrooms and vegetables in a light, clear broth seasoned with fresh thyme and green onions.

Melt butter in a stock pot over medium heat.

Add carrots onions leeks and celery.

Cook and stir until vegetables are tender but not browned about 10 minutes.

Stir in mushrooms and thyme; cook until mushrooms are soft about 5 minutes.

Pour chicken stock into the pot; season with salt and pepper.

Cover and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.

Ladle into bowls; serve with green onions sprinkled on top.

ArnoldGreg August 25, 2024

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Cheesy Baked Cauliflower
A delectable dish of whole cauliflower baked with cheese for a stunning appearance and mouthwatering flavor. Excellent as a vegetable side dish or entree.

30 minutes of steaming a whole head of cauliflower.

Place the drained food on a pie plate.

Set the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees C).

Mayonnaise and mustard are combined in a bowl; the mixture is then spread over cauliflower and topped with pats of butter.

Put a lot of Parmesan cheese on top.

30 minutes or until cheese is browned in the preheated oven, uncovered.

ArnoldGreg August 23, 2024

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Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Buffalo sauce is tossed with chicken wings that have been air-fried. Get crispy chicken wings right out of the air fryer and forego the oil!

Set an air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees C).

Place the chicken wings in a sizable bowl, add oil, and massage until the chicken is thoroughly coated.

Place half of the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer.

Cook for 25 minutes in the preheated air fryer.

After 5 minutes, flip the wings with tongs and continue cooking until the outsides are crisp and golden brown.

Place cooked wings in a big bowl and cover with a lid to keep warm.

Continue with the remaining wings.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine hot pepper sauce, butter, vinegar, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper while the second batch is cooking.

Stir until the wings are cooked, then keep warm.

Cooked wings should be drenched in sauce, then coated.

ArnoldGreg August 22, 2024

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The Best Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Sweet and sour meatballs made with ground beef and ingredients you probably have in your pantry! A delicious appetizer or main dish served over rice.

In a medium bowl, combine beef, onion, egg, and bread crumbs; stir to thoroughly combine.

Form into balls that are 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

In a sizable nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook the meatballs for about 10 minutes, or until they are evenly browned.

ArnoldGreg August 21, 2024

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