Butter Milk Syrup

You have to try this recipe. I will NEVER spend money to buy commercial syrup again. This stuff is evil, it is super sweet and I would drink it if no one was looking! Use a large pot when making this because the syrup expands.

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup butter
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
In a saucepan, stir together the sugar, buttermilk, butter, corn syrup, and baking soda. Bring to a boil, and cook for 7 minutes. Remove from the heat, and stir in the vanilla.

Best Pancakes EVER!

These are so easy, healthy and a big crowd pleaser! Enjoy.

INGREDIANTS:
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup canola oil
2 cups buttermilk
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
Optional: 2 Ripe Bananas smooshed
1/2 - 1 cup chopped Pecans

DIRECTIONS:
In a medium bowl, mix eggs with oil and buttermilk. Stir in baking soda, wheat germ, salt and flour; mix until blended.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides, turning once.

Butter Milk

Because the next two recipes I will be posting call for butter milk I thought I should post an easy way to make it from regular milk.

1 Cup Milk
1 Tbs Lemon Juice or Vinegar or Cream of tarter

Stir together and let sit at room temp. for about 10 minutes.

Homemade Baking Powder

If you don't like the metallic undertones that commercial baking powder has then why not start making your own. Its very simple.

1/4 cup cream of tarter
2 Tbs baking soda

Sift ingredients together 3 times. Place in air tight jar and store up to 6 weeks.

Basil Shrimp

First let me say a few things about Basil. I have tried growing basil for several years. Last year was my most successful year. In previous years I have tried growing it my kitchen window and out my deck. I only get a little basil from my plants and then I am left with a small stump. But last year I bought a small basil plant and rather then keeping it were I normally do I took it to an upstairs bedroom where no one sleeps and left it it on the window seat. I would go up and water it every day or other day, just a small amount of water. When I needed basil I would go up and rip off its biggest leaves. I had read on line before doing this that ignoring your basil plant will give you the most success and for me it was true. Not sure why but this worked wonders.

OK now to the recipe. I found this on allrecipes and it is wonderful. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does.

2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 lemons, juiced
3 tablespoons mustard
1/2 cup minced fresh basil
3 cloves garlic, minced
salt to taste
white pepper
3 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
skewers

In a shallow, non-porous dish or bowl, mix together olive oil and melted butter. Stir in lemon juice, mustard, basil, and garlic, and season with salt and white pepper. Add shrimp, and toss to coat. Cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat grill to high heat. Remove shrimp from marinade, and thread onto skewers. Discard marinade.
Lightly oil grill grate, and arrange skewers on preheated grill. Cook for 4 minutes, turning once, or until opaque.

Coleslaw

I never liked Coleslaw until I tried my mother in laws. Her recipe is very basic, just tweak the ingredients to get the flavor and texture you like.

1 head of green cabbage
3 carrots
2 celery sticks
salt and pepper to taste
mayonnaise

Shred the cabbage, carrots,and celery. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add enough mayonnaise to coat all the other ingredients. You don't want it runny.

Fish Taco Sauce

Here is a great recipe for the white sauce that goes on fish tacos. If you have never made fish tacos don't be timid about it they are very easy to make. I prefer using Halibut or Mahi Mahi. All you need to do is grill the fish or bake it in the oven. When the fish is done chunk it up into bite size pieces. I use flour tortillas and fill them with the fish. On top of the fish pour a little of the white sauce on. Then for a little more texture put a little bit of cabbage and carrot slices. To do this you can either buy the pre made mixture which is green and purple cabbage and carrots sliced super thin. You can obviously make this your self and use the left overs to make cole slaw. I will post a recipe for cole slaw later. Now onto the white sauce. Enjoy!!! Oh and one last note...VERY important... DON'T get the jalapeño in your eyes. I have made this mistake and its a fiery burn you will not want to experience! Wear gloves if you can when handling the jalapeño.

1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 lime, juiced
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

To make white sauce: In a medium bowl, mix together yogurt and mayonnaise. Gradually stir in fresh lime juice until consistency is slightly runny. Season with jalapeno, oregano, cumin, dill, and cayenne.