Simple Recipes for This Labor Day Weekend

by | Sep 1, 2012

Woohoo!  Is it hard for anyone other than me to believe it is already Labor Day Weekend?  Where has the time gone?  I wish I were up in Northern MI so I could walk the bridge on Monday, but no such luck this year – it is an amazing walk!

Here are a few simple recipes to help get you through the weekend – let’s start with a simple, tasty appetizer:

Veggie Ranch Tortilla Pinwheels

Veggie Wrap Appetizers

Ingredients

  • 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
  • 5 green onions, chopped
  • 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, drained
  • 1 can (3.8 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
  • 1 celery rib, chopped
  • 1/4 cup chopped sweet red pepper
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons real bacon bits
  • 8 flour tortillas (10 inches)

Directions

  • In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and dressing mix until blended. Beat in the onions, green chilies, olives, celery, red pepper and bacon. Spread over tortillas. Roll up. Cut each into 1-in. slices. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: about 5 dozen.

Seafood Skewers

Seafood Skewers

Ingredients

  • 24 medium fresh mushrooms
  • 24 cherry tomatoes
  • 8 bacon strips, cut into thirds
  • 1 pound halibut, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 pound uncooked large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 pound sea scallops
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • CHIVE BUTTER:
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons minced chives

Directions

  • On 12 metal or soaked wooden skewers, alternately thread two mushrooms, two tomatoes and two pieces of bacon with four pieces of fish or seafood. Brush with melted butter.
  • Grill, covered, over medium-hot heat for 5-7 minutes or until shrimp turn pink and scallops are opaque, turning once. Combine butter and chives; serve with brochettes. Yield: 1 dozen.
Blueberry Carrot Muffins
Blueberry Carrot Muffins

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup finely shredded carrots
  • 3/4 cup grated zucchini
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen unsweetened blueberries
  • FROSTING:
  • 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 2-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional

Directions

  • In a small bowl, beat the sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla. In another large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into sugar mixture until blended. Stir in the carrots, zucchini and pineapple. Fold in blueberries.
  • Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 375° for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
  • For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Frost cupcakes. Sprinkle with nuts if desired. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 16 cupcakes.
I hope you have an incredibly blessed, extra long weekend!
God Bless,
Janet Scott

 

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