Tuesday Try A New Taste – Midsummer Feast

Today I am going to post the makings of a full Midsummer meal or feast – appetizer, main course, breads, dessert & beverage : ) This way, if you decide to use them, it’s all in one place *grin*

Appetizer

Ginger-Scented Tomato and Cabbage Soup with Fresh Mint
Source unknown

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces small pasta, such as alphabets
• 2 onions, coarsely chopped
• 3-5 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 small carrot, diced
• 2 cups diced fresh tomatoes
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 10-15 fresh mint leaves
• salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper to taste

Cook the pasta, drain and set aside. Lightly sauté the onion and garlic in butter until softened. Stir in the ginger and carrot and cook for a few moments; add tomatoes, broth and cabbage. Cook over medium heat until the vegetables are tender (15-20 minutes). Adjust seasoning. Ladle the soup over several spoonfuls of pasta per person. Season each portion with a sprinkling of fresh mint and serve immediately.

Main Dish:

Summertime's Bounty Pie
found at Recipe Source

Ingredients:

• 1 Envelope Soup Mix (Choose one of the following soup mixes to use in the recipe: Onion, Onion-Mushroom or Beefy Onion)
• 1 1/2 lb Lean Ground Beef
• 2 c Fresh Bread Crumbs
• 8 oz Sour Cream or Plain Yogurt
• 1 Large Egg
• 1/4 t Thyme or Basil Leaves
• 1 T Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 6 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 3 1/2 c Hot Cooked Assorted Veggies

Conventional Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In large bowl, combine soup mix, ground beef, bread crumbs, sour cream or yogurt, egg and thyme or basil. Sprinkle flour into 9-inch pie pan. Press ground beef mixture onto bottom and sides of prepared pan, shaping edges 3/4 inch above pan and forming a center "well." Bake 40 minutes, drain. Fill with 3/4 cup cheese, then vegetables and remaining cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Microwave Directions:

In 9-inch glass pie plate, prepare ground beef mixture as above. Heat, uncovered at HIGH (Full Power) 9 minutes, turning plate every 3 minutes; drain. Fill as above and heat 3 minutes on HIGH (Full Power) 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand covered 5 minutes before serving.
Makes 6 Servings.

With Bread : )

Solstice Herb Bread
Found at Ashling’s Enchanted Forest

Ingredients:

• 3 C. flour
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 pkg. dry active yeast
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh chives
• 2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 tsp. fresh thyme
• 1 1/4 C. hot water
• 2 tbsp. Crisco

Preheat oven to 375 F. Mix 2 cups of the flour, sugar, salt and yeast in a large bowl. Add herbs, water, and Crisco. Beat slowly, stirring in remaining cup of flour until smooth. Scrape batter from sides of bowl and let rise in a warm place for 35 minutes or until it doubles in bulk. Punch down and beat with a spoon for about 15 seconds. Place dough in a greased loaf pan, patting down and forming a loaf shape with your hands. Cover and let rise again for about 30 minutes or until it again doubles in bulk. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Brush top with butter or margarine and remove from pan to cool.

Dessert:

* Mocha Cream Icebox Pie *
Found at CD Kitchen

It's summertime - when everyone looks forward to the season's festive, holiday, outdoor picnics and barbecues. There's no better way to prepare for summer celebrations than with an array of simple desserts guaranteed to dazzle and delight. If you're looking for something really different, try a delicious Mocha Cream Icebox Pie. It makes a spectacular treat that is sure to have them asking for seconds.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup strong coffee, espresso, or coffee liqueur
• 1 half-gallon vanilla ice cream, softened
• 2 chocolate premade cookie crusts
• whipped topping
• liquid chocolate topping

Blend strong coffee with softened ice cream. Divide ice-cream mixture into two premade cookie crusts. Top with whipped topping, cover with plastic lid and pop into the freezer. When guests arrive, cut out a wedge and drizzle with liquid chocolate topping.

And every good meal needs an accompanying beverage:

Iced Apple Jasmine Tea
unknown source for recipe, Sarah the SwampWitch added the magical attributes from her BoS

Magical attributes of Jasmine: Love, prosperity, meditation, psychism, Moon.
Magical attributes of raspberries: Protection; love.
Magical attributes of Apples: Love, good luck, Wise choices, Health, Insight.
Magical attributes of honey: attraction, solar magic. (Additional Honey uses can be found here, here & here.)
Magical attributes of lemons: Longevity, Purification, Marriage, Joy, Faithfulness.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. cold Jasmine tea
• 1/2 c. fresh raspberries
• 1/2 c. apple juice
• 1 c. ice
• 1 tsp. honey
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice

In a blender, combine all ingredients.Blend until smooth and serve over ice in a tall glass.
Makes four 6-ounce servings.

And as an after dinner relaxer – ok, it probably won’t relax you, but you know what I mean lol:

Capaleeno
From Cook’s Recipes

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup malt or frappe powder
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 cup ice
• 1/4 cup espresso
• 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup

Place ingredients into blender, blend until smooth and serve.
Makes 1 serving.

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from `this blog.