Happy 4th! Flag cake, cupcakes, and red sunflowers...oh my!

layers of angel food cake with homemade whipped cream with 4 oz of cream cheese

8" round pans...18 minutes @ 350 degrees F

success!

-Alyssa

Pie Party

appetizer and palette cleanser

Voting ballots

* The Savory Contestants *

Pork Belly Chicken Pot Pie
* WINNERS: MICHELLE AND AUSTIN! *

Smoked Gouda Pizza with Sweet Pepper and Sausage

Vietnamese Meat Pie and dipping sauce

Pulled Pork Pie

* The Sweet Contestants *

Lemon Chiffon Pie
* WINNER: CHRISTINA *

* The Winners *

take home containers/ favors

Thanks everyone for the yummy pies!  Best friends ever. :)

Sweet Pepper, Sausage, and Gouda Pizza with Spicy Sauce

Recipe from Gourmet Pizza Made Easy by Jennifer Boudinot (2011)

Spicy Pizza Sauce

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 cup chopped Spanish onion (about 1 large)
• 1 tablespoon diced jalapeno pepper 
• 1 (28 oz) can pureed tomatoes
• 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• fresh ground pepper
• kosher salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat olive oil in large skillet on medium-high heat.
2. Add garlic, onion, and jalapeno-- saute until soft, about 1 minute.
3. Add tomatoes, broth, oregano, chili powder, and cayenne.  Cook, stirring occassionally, until reduced by half, about 15-20 minutes.
4. Add pepper and salt to taste.
5. Refrigerate unused sauce in an airtight container for 2-4 weeks.

Sweet Pepper, Sausage, and Gouda Pizza

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup smoked Gouda cheese, grated
• 1 yellow pepper, cooked and chopped
• 8 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup sweet Italian sausage

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven and pizza stone to 450 degrees F.
2. Brush dough with olive oil and bake for 4-5 minutes. 
3. Remove from oven and add desired amount of sauce, cheese, bell pepper, and basil.
4. Cook until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbling, about 10 minutes.  

-Alyssa

Boiled Chix Lobsters and Homemade Clam Chowder

Boiled Chix Lobster

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 chix lobsters
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• kosher salt

Add kosher salt to large pot of simmering water.  Once the water is just below boiling, add the lobsters. Keep water just below boiling for 8-10 minutes.  In a small sauce pan over low heat, melt butter.  Serve on the side with your lobster.

Homemade Clam Chowder

from The Oprah Magazine Cookbook (2008)

serves 6

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 medium russet potatoes (about 1 lb.), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup diced white onions
• 2/3 cup diced celery
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 (6 1/2 oz) cans chopped clams, juice and clams reserved separately
• 2 (8 oz.) bottles clam juice
• 1 oz piece salt pork
• 1 cup light cream
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. Put the potatoes and enough water to cover in a large saucepan; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook 10 minutes, until tender; then drain and set aside.
2. In another large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.  Add the onions and celery; saute until tender, about 4 minutes.  Stir in the flour.  Reduce heat to low and cook 10 minutes, until the flour is just golden; remove from heat.
3. In the same pan used fro the potatoes, mix the clam juice from the drained clams, the bottled clam juice, and the salt pork and bring to a boil.  SImmer the mixture 1 minute.  Gradually whisk the hot clam juice into the flour-and-vegetable mixture until smooth.  Return the pan to medium-high heat.  Add the potatoes, cream, and salt; bring to a boil, stirring often.  Stir in clams and just heat through, about 1 minute.

-Derek

Pepperoni & Swiss Bites

Recipe found here

Pepperoni & Swiss Bites

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 12 x 12 sheet of puff pastry
• pepperoni or other sliced deli meat
• 6 slices swiss cheese (or any other cheese)
• 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (dried works too)
• 4 Tbl honey mustard

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut the puff pastry in half so you have 2 strips. Lay them out in front of you so that the long side is perpendicular to your body.  
2. Spread 2 Tbl of honey mustard (more if you love mustard) on the pastry leaving a 1 inch strip bare along the top. 
3.  Sprinkle about 1/2 tsp thyme on each section. Cover the mustard with a single layer of pepperoni or other meat. 
4.  Place 3 slices of cheese on each strip. 
5.  With your fingers, carefully roll the pastry away from you so you have two long tubes. Cut them on the diagonal into 1 inch pcs and place on a cookie sheet. You can also cut them thinner and make pinwheels. 
6. Bake at 375 F for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 22 – 24 pcs. You can serve them with extra honey mustard for dipping if you like.

-Alyssa

Strawberry Jam & Brie Bites

Recipe found here

Strawberry Jam & Brie Bites

INGREDIENTS:

• Wedge/Circle of brie cheese, cut into 32 bite-size pieces
• 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
• 1/2 cup of your jam of choice (I used my homemade black raspberry & strawberry jam)
• Turbinado Sugar
• Water
• Spray bottle with water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray 2 cookies sheets with cooking spray. Cut each pastry sheet into 16 squares (for a total of 32 squares). I did this by cutting each sheet in half, then I cut each half in half. Repeat in opposite direction and you will end up with 16 squares. 
2. Place one piece of brie in the center of each square, then top each with about a teaspoon of the jam. Wet your finger and run it along all four edges of a square, then bring the four corners together in the center and pinch together. You also want to pinch along the edges to seal.
3. Once all my little bundles were done, I sprayed them with fresh/clean water – just lightly, don’t soak them. If you don’t have a spray bottle, you could gently brush them with a little water. Sprinkle each with the turbinado sugar. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.

-Alyssa

Leg of Lamb

-- Derek