Recipes

Camp 55 Recipes

Hello Camp 55 (and other visitors)! Below are some recipes for the Zoom cooking demonstration on Friday. Enjoy!

Ramaki:

2 strips of bacon (uncooked)

6 dates stuffed with almonds

6 toothpicks (optional)

Directions:

1) Cut bacon strips into thirds

2) Roll the date around the date. You can use the toothpicks to hold the bacon in place.

3) Bake at 350 for 15 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy.

Roasted Cauliflower Soup:

1 large head of cauliflower

1 cup diced yellow onion

1 Russet potato, peeled and diced

3.5 tablespoons flour

3 cups milk

1/2 cup heavy cream

sharp white cheddar cheese (optional)

1 carton (32 ounces) of vegetable or chicken broth

1 clove garlic, minced (1 teaspoon of jarred minced garlic)

3 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1 bay leaf

salt and pepper

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 425.

2) Cut cauliflower into medium pieces and place on baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper and toss evenly.

3) Bake for 25 minutes, or until tender.

4) While the cauliflower is roasting, in a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and sauteè until tender (4-5 minutes).

5) Add flour to pot. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Then add garlic and cook 30 more seconds.

6) Slowly add milk, then add 2 cups chicken broth, whisking while pouring both into the pot.

7) Add thyme, parsley and bay leaf. Then add the potato.

8) Bring the pot to a boil and reduce the heat to low once it has boiled. Cook for about 15-20 minutes to soften the potato.

9) Once the cauliflower is done roasting, put that into the pot. Cook for 5 more minutes over low heat.

10) Put everything in the pot into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. If the soup is too thick, add some chicken broth to thin it out.

11) Return the soup back to the pot and add the heavy cream.

12) Add salt and pepper to taste.

13) Optional: top the soup with sharp white cheddar or cheese of your choice.

Sauteed Chicken and Chorizo:

1 pound chicken breast or thigh, diced

1/4 cup green bell pepper, diced

1/4 red onion, diced

handful of cherry tomatoes, cut in half

4 ounces Spanish chorizo, or your favorite cooked sausage

2 cloves garlic, diced (2 teaspoons)

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more if you like dishes spicy)

olive oil

Directions:

1) Mix paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, salt and pepper in a bowl.

2) Coat diced chicken in the spice mix and let rest for 15 minutes.

3) Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Then place diced chicken into pan and cook until browned.

4) Place chicken into a baking dish and cook at 350 for 10 minutes.

5) While the chicken is baking, place onions and bell peppers in the sauté pan and cook for 5 minutes, until tender. Add chorizo. Cook on low heat for another 5 minutes.

6) Add the chicken back into the sauté pan once it is finished baking. Sauté on low for 10 minutes.

7) Add the cherry tomatoes.

8) Pair with Elote dip (below), rice or orzo pasta, and a cucumber and tomato salad.

Elote Dip:

1 tablespoon butter

3 ears of fresh corn or 1 can of corn

2 cloves garlic, minced (2 teaspoons)

1 jalepeño, seeded and finely chopped

1/4 red onion, finely chopped

3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

1/4 teaspoon chili powder

juice of 1 lime

salt and pepper

2 tablespoons cotija cheese (optional)

Directions:

1) Boil ears of corn in salted water until tender.

2) Remove kernels from cob.

3) Melt butter in a frying/sauté pan over medium-high heat.

4) Add corn to pan. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden-brown and caramelized.

5) Add garlic to pan and sauté for an additional 2 minutes, until fragrant.

6) Put the corn mixture into a mixing bowl. Add chili powder, red onion, jalepeño. Mix together.

7) Add lime juice and cilantro to the bowl and mix together.

8) Add salt and pepper to taste.

9) Top with cheese, if desired.

10) Enjoy with your favorite chips, or topped on the chicken and chorizo recipe above!

All of these recipes pair well with a nice glass of wine and good company. We hope that you enjoy them.

Cranberry, Orange and Mint Orzo Pasta Recipe and THANK YOU HEALTHCARE WORKERS!

Like many of us, Jeff and I had been feeling helpless during these unprecedented times, wondering aloud to each other, “how do we help these healthcare workers who are going through so much to keep us all safe?” Both of us have had our lives shaped in one way or another by healthcare workers. Back in the 1980s, my parents, both LVNs, met at Woodland Memorial Hospital, where years later, I was born. As I grew up, I watched both of my parents work tirelessly to give each patient their full heart and attention. I don’t know how healthcare workers do it day in and day out.

Jeff’s healthcare appreciation journey is more recent: last May, he was diagnosed with Stage 3 Lymphoma. Thanks to the wonderful healthcare providers at Sutter Davis, and surrounding Sutter campuses, he completed his last rounds of chemotherapy and radiation right before Christmas. Through every part of his cancer journey, the healthcare providers we interacted with were gracious and comforting. If you or a loved one has been through a similar journey, you can appreciate just how much that meant to us. I am a control freak, which can come in handy in my job, but is not a recommended trait when a loved one is facing a health crisis. Thanks to the wonderful Sutter staff, though, I always knew that everything was going to be okay. We are both forever grateful for the care and treatment in saving Jeff’s life.

In the middle of our feeling helpless, we were contacted by a local financial advisor, Nicole Davis, with whom we had worked before. Nicole was also trying to think up ideas of how to help our local healthcare workers. She generously offered to foot the bill for some meals to be donated to our local hospitals and asked if we wanted to be involved. Through her generous donation, we were able to feed over 750 meals to Sutter Davis and Woodland Healthcare combined. Seeing these hardworking healthcare workers, all with great attitudes and smiles on their faces really was a magical experience for us. One of the dishes we made was one of Jeff’s favorite to make, a Cranberry, Orange and Mint Orzo Pasta. It is a great addition to any Summer BBQ, as it is light and delicious.

Please enjoy the recipe below:

Cranberry, Orange and Mint Orzo Pasta:

Ingredients:

1 package of orzo pasta (Jeff insists that Trader Joe’s is the best)

2 cans of Mandarin oranges

1 cup of Crasins (or any dried fruit that you like)

1 bunch of mint leaves

1/2 red onion

1/2 cup White Balsamic vinegar (from Trader Joe’s if available)

1 cup canola or vegetable oil

1 teaspoon olive oil

Salt and Pepper (to taste)

Directions:

1) Boil the orzo pasta according to the package

2) While the pasta is cooking, dice the red onion

3) Sautee the onion in one teaspoon of olive oil until translucent

4) Chop the mint leaves

5) Mix the canola/vegetable oil with the vinegar to make a light vinaigrette.

6) When the pasta is finished cooking, drain and rinse it

7) Add 1 can of oranges, with the juice not drained and 1 can of oranges with the juice drained

8) Add the sauteed red onions

9) Add half of the vinaigrette and set the other half aside

10) Add the crasins and mint and stir until mixed

11) Salt and pepper to taste

Notes:

This dish is best if prepared at least 1 hour ahead of time so that the flavors can soak into the pasta.

Refrigerate any leftovers, and use the leftover vinaigrette to moisten the pasta if necessary.

Enjoy!