Candy Cane Marble

Ingredients:

1 pound dark chocolate
1 pound white chocolate
30 small peppermint candy canes


Instructions:

Put dark chocolate in a microwave bowl and heat on high setting in microwave 2 to 3 minutes or until chocolate is melted and smooth.  Stir chocolate about every 30 seconds to make sure lumps are melting.  Put white chocolate in microwave bowl and heat like dark chocolate.  Put candy canes in a large freezer bag. Using a rolling pin break the candy canes into different size pieces. Place half the crushed candy canes in a strainer and shake small crumbs into dark chocolate.  Place the remaining crushed candy into strainer and shake crumbs into white chocolate.  Line a 9X9X9 baking pan with heavy aluminum foil.  Spread dark chocolate out into bottom of pan.  Spread white chocolate over the dark chocolate in pan.  Sprinkle the rest of the crushed candy canes over the top.  Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours.  When hardened break up pieces of candy by dropping straight down on the counter.  

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Thai Fried Rice

Fried rice is always a versatile dish because you can 

incorporate any meats and vegetables you have on hand. This is our version of Thai Fried Rice…feel free to modify it as needed.


Ingredients

•    1 tablespoon vegetable oil
•    1 diced onion
•    2 cloves of crushed garlic
•    2 cups cooked rice
•    1 tablespoon soy sauce
•    1 tablespoon fish sauce
•    2 sliced tomatoes
•    1 tablespoon vegetable oil
•    4 eggs

Garnish:

•    Chopped green onion  
•    Cucumber slices (we also cook some into the rice, but it’s traditionally a garnish)
•    Lime wedges

This recipe makes 4 servings.

Preparation

Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan or wok at medium high. When it’s hot, add the garlic and onions and cook until tender.

Next add the rice and stir to heat all the way through. Add the soy and fish sauce and continue to stir until everything is fully combined.

Next, you can remove the rice from your wok or pan too cook the egg. Or if you prefer, simply heat up a new pan on medium high heat with vegetable oil.

Cook the egg until the white is cooked, but the egg yolk is still a bit soft. When the egg is ready, add it to the rice. You can also add the tomato and cucumber slices at this time. Of course, if cooked cucumber slices sounds a little strange (even though they are delicious!), you can reserve the cucumber for a garnish only. You can also add the green onion at this point, but not everyone in our house likes it, so we add it when serving.

Keep stirring until all the ingredients are fully combined. Get your chosen garnishes ready including the cucumber slices, green onion (if you didn’t cook it into the rice) and a lime wedge.

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Put a Bow On It Corn Bake

Ingredients:

1 box corn muffin mix
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (14.75 ounce) can cream-style corn

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Pour muffin mix into a large mixing bowl.  Add eggs and milk. Blend until muffin mix is just moistened.  Add butter, salt and pepper and mix well.  Fold in both cans of corn.  Grease a 2-quart casserole dish.  Pour corn mixture into casserole.  Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until knife comes out clean when inserted in the center of casserole.

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Applesauce/Banana Bread

Ingredients:
4 ripe bananas
1 cup of sugar
¾ cup of applesauce
2 eggs
2 cups of bread flour
½ teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of vanilla

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9” x 5” loaf pan. In a large bowl, slice the bananas and use an electric mixer to mash. Add the sugar and blend. Let mixture stand for 15 minutes. Add applesauce and eggs and mix well. Blend in the remaining ingredients. Pour into the greased loaf pan and bake for 55 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand again for 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

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Gyoza Dipping Sauce

Gyoza dipping sauce is easy to make and all it takes is two ingredients. Serve with homemade gyoza for a delicious appetizer that’s sure to please.
   
Ingredients

•    ½ cup soy sauce
•    ¼ cup rice vinegar

Preparation

Heat the sesame oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot and cabbage and sauté, stirring occasionally, for a few minutes. Serve with hot gyoza.

For recipe on how to make Homemade Vegetable Gyoza, click here!

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