Aunt Jemima's Pancake House and Tapas Bar

Apologies to all handkerchief wearers, but when I tie one around my head,  I just get a hankerin' to flap jacks.  So, you might appreciate the disconnet when I greeted my friends at the door (chemo head tied in a bandana) the evening they came to enjoy Spanish hors d'oeuvers known as "tapas"  Here are some tapas recipes to try

Truth be known, in our house, we only serve one flavor of flap jacks:  Chocolate chip.. 

(Mostly) Healthy Tapas and Small Bites

A tapas table usuallly includes a small plate each of

• Spanish ham (jamon),
• manchego cheese, and
• green manzanilla olives
• plus a crusty bread with olive oil for dipping

Colorful Pinwheels

     Sliced lean turkey

     Sliced swiss cheese

     Fresh guacamole

Place one slice of swiss cheese on a slice of turkey, spread fresh guacamole over cheese, roll up and slice into one-two inch sections for a healthy and colorful pinwheel. 

Spinach and chicken ciabbata

     Slice a ciabatta roll in half lengthwise, drizzle very lightly with olive oil

     Cut fresh spinach and fresh basil leaves into small pieces, toss  together and pile high on ciabatta

     Add a slice of roasted turkey or chicken breast (not deli, but the real thing)

     Top with a sprinkling of white cheddar, gruyere, or mozarella

     Broil until cheese is just warmed

     Slice into finger-food bite sizes.

     Serve with fresh sliced apples or pears

A selection of open faced melted cheese sandwiches from Martha Stewart Living

     Use a single thin slice of whole grain bread and thin sliced high quality/high flavor cheese to get the most impact for fewer calories than a normal grilled cheese. 

     Broil the sandwich lightly to melt the cheese.

     Slice into finger-food bite sizes

1. Rye bread, thin sliced apples, fresh or ground sage, Gruyere cheese
2. Rye bread, sliced red or sweet onion, prosciutto, Gruyere cheese and fresh ground black pepper
3. Rye bread, spicy chutney, sliced pear, and fontina cheese
4. Sourdough, Dijon mustard, sliced tomatoes, avocado and fresh ground black pepper (add one slice of crumbled cooked bacon if desired)
5. Whole grain white bread, cherry preserves, sharp white cheddar and fresh basil
6. Rye bread, water packed tuna, pickle relish, fontina cheese

Herb Roasted Potatoes

     Scrub Yukon Gold Potatoes until clean.  Cut into large bite size pieces.

     Arrange on cookie sheet, in one layer.

     Spray lightly with olive oil cooking spray.

     Sprinkle with fresh herbs:  rosemary, thyme, crushed garlic or a mixture of dried ehrbs of choice

     Bake until just soft enough to pick up with a fork, but still crunchy

Gambas al ajillo (Prawns in Garlic)

     Whole uncooked prawns, washed and peeled

      Olive oil

     5 crushed garlic cloves

     4 small pieces of red chilli pepper

Pour 12 tablespoons of oil into a ftying pan with chopped garlic and red pepper until garlic is soft, not browned.  Add prawns and cook, stirring until the prawns  turn pink.  Serve very hot.

Maria and Terry's Irresistable Margarita Cake

    

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Ingredients:

     Margarita mix from Williams & Sonoma

     Yellow Cake mix (I used Betty Crocker’s Super Moist)

     Mix cake following package directions. Substitute the margarita mix for the water.                     

     Bake as directed. Cool.  Frost with icing.

Icing:

     1 cup powdered sugar

     ½ teaspoon vanilla

     1 tablespoon butter, softened

     3-4 tablespoons lemon juice

     ½ teaspoon grated lemon rind

Combine powdered sugar, vanilla, butter, lemon juice, and lemon rind until mixture has consistency of a glaze. Spread over cake.

Garnish with fresh lime slice twist.

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Good eating!

Love, Jemima