Around our house political Debates are a big-big deal. We plan parties, make special recipes, and gather around the T.V. to watch. We have so much fun. For this debate we are making Navy bean soup in honor of Mr. McCain's Navy service. We will also be making our family's favorite cheesecake recipe. There are so many recipes on the internet for Obama's chili recipe and McCain's rib recipe, so get creative. We are also making cookies in the shape of McCain's service metals (purple hearts etc). For the younger kids we are serving red and blue Kool-Aid. We also decorated the house with red white and blue streamers, and we will serve drinks and food in red or blue cups and bowls. Martha Stewart's website is a huge resource for decoration ideas, just check out her Fourth-of-July section. Also look for political pinata's they are awesome. If you are interested in grilling steaks check out these Democrat and Republican steak brands at Groom Stand.
Navy Bean Soup
2 (16 ounce) packages navy beans
10 C unsalted vegetable stock
3 Pounds of ham hocks
1 small diced onion
3 stalks celery
3/4 cup chopped smoked ham
Salt and Pepper
2 bay leaves
chopped parsley
Wash and sort beans with cold clean water, In a large pan add beans and enough stock to cover beans with about 2 to 3 inches. Bring to a brisk boil for 2-3 minutes (do not add salt) take off heat and soak for a hour. Place the pan back on the heat with 2-3 inches of stock and boil continue to stir occasionally and add stock when it gets low until the beans can be mashed with a fork takes around a hour.
Add the ham hocks bay leaves and, water ,celery, onion. Cook for 15 minutes then add smoked ham and pinch of salt and pepper cook for 10 minutes more remove ham hocks and bay leaves and serve.
Red White But Not Blue Cheese Cake
Crust
11 whole graham crackers
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. egg white
2 tsp. melted butter
2 tsp. apple juice
Filling
12 ounces (1 1/2 C.) reduced fat cream cheese
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs (separated)
1 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. salt
2 Cups fat free vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup all purpose flour
Topping
2 pints fresh strawberries halfed
1/2 cup strawberry peserves
Brush a 8 inch spring pan with vegetable oil. Place graham crackers in a plastic bag and smash into fine crumbs with a rolling pin. Add to a bowl, graham cracker crumbs, sugar, egg white, melted butter and apple juice mix until the crumbs are moist and they hold together. Place crumbs in the greased pan along bottom and up the side about one inch. Set aside
Filling
With a electric mixer and a large bowl, beat cream cheese till smooth, add one cup sugar, salt, vanilla ,and 2 egg yolks. Beat until smooth, add yogurt and flour.In a separate bowl beat egg whites till soft peaks form add the remaining sugar and whip until stiff. Fold the cheese mixture and egg whites together.
Pre heat oven to 300 F.
With filling in the pan bake for 50 -60 minutes, turn off oven and leave cheesecake in oven for thirty minutes. Cover and cool completely in fridge, cover with glaze and serve.
Purple Heart Cookies
In a bowl with a electric mixer, beat 1/2 pound of room temp butter, 1/2 C. sugar, on medium until smooth. Beat in 2 large egg yolks and one teaspoon pure vanilla extract, Stir in 2 1/2 Cups all purpose flour until well blended.
Roll out dough to 1/8 inch disk on a lightly floured board, cut out in shape of purple hearts bake in a 300 F. oven for 15 minutes until golden brown cool and frost.
No comments:
Post a Comment