SANDRA’S SENSATIONAL SWEDISH MINI-MEATBALLS APPETIZER

A heartwarming appetizer where you can

easily prepare the meatballs ahead of time

or the night before and store in refrigerator,

just bring to room temperature 30 minutes

prior to browning...

Yields: (Appx. 40 small 1” meatballs)

Prep: 15 Mins.

Cook: 25 to 30 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

Mini-Meatballs:

2 slices whole wheat bread, without the crusts, cut into small pieces

1/4 cup milk

1 lb. lean ground meat (I used venison-bacon burger)

--[Feel free to use beef, caribou, elk, moose, and so on]

1/4 yellow onion, finely minced

1 egg, slightly beaten

Pinch of ground allspice

Pinch of ground cardamom

Pinch of ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

-1 tablespoon unsalted butter

-1 tablespoon olive oil

Sauce:

4 cups low-sodium beef broth

1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or more if you prefer a thicker gravy)

2 teaspoons worcestershire

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons dried parsley

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup milk

METHOD

In a small bowl, soak the bread in milk until soft. In a large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients except butter and olive oil, and add the soaked bread. Combine meat mixture with clean hands; do not overwork. Shape into small 1” meatballs (I do so using a miniature scoop while scrapping it up the side of bowl to form uniform meatballs).

Heat butter and olive oil in a large electric skillet or saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs, and gently par-cook and brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove browned meatballs and place on a plate, and set aside.  Retain drippings in skillet.

Prepare gravy by deglazing skillet with 2 cups of stock; letting it simmer for 2 minutes while scraping bottom with a wooden spoon. Add remaining 2 cups of stock to a small bowl or measuring cup, and whisk in flour, onion powder, garlic powder, dried parsley, and pepper until smooth. Whisk spiced slurry mixture into warm gravy, while constantly whisking to prevent lumps, until thickened and boiling.  Reduce heat to simmer, about 3-5 minutes. Add milk, and stir to combine.  Return meatballs to low simmering gravy to reheat, about 10 minutes, while gently stirring (so as not to break apart meatballs), until fully cooked.

To serve, arrange meatballs in a shallow serving bowl, with toothpicks alongside. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA’S SENSATIONAL SWEDISH MEATBALLS over MASHED POTATOES

A heartwarming meal where you can

easily prepare the meatballs ahead of time

or the night before and store in refrigerator,

just bring to room temperature 30 minutes

prior to browning...

Servings: (4 to 6)

Prep: 15 Mins.

Cook: 25 to 30 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

Meatballs (Yields appx. 40 small 1” meatballs):

2 slices whole wheat bread, without the crusts, cut into small pieces

1/4 cup milk

1 lb. lean ground meat (I used venison-bacon burger)

--[Feel free to use beef, caribou, elk, moose, and so on]

1/4 yellow onion, finely minced

1 egg, slightly beaten

Pinch of ground allspice

Pinch of ground cardamom

Pinch of ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

Gravy:

4 cups low-sodium beef broth

1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or more if you prefer a thicker gravy)

2 teaspoons worcestershire

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons dried parsley

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup milk

Garnish:

1/4 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped

--Prepared mashed potatoes

--Prepared fresh salad and vinaigrette

METHOD

In a small bowl, soak the bread in milk until soft. 

In a large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients, except butter and olive oil, and add the soaked bread. Combine meat mixture with clean hands; do not overwork.

Shape into small 1” meatballs (I do so using a miniature scoop while scrapping it up the side of bowl to form uniform meatballs).

Heat butter and olive oil in a large electric skillet or saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs, and gently par-cook and brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. 

Use a slotted spoon to remove browned meatballs and place on a plate, and set aside.  Retain drippings in skillet.

Prepare gravy by deglazing skillet with 2 cups of stock; letting it simmer for 2 minutes while scraping bottom with a wooden spoon. 

Add remaining 2 cups of stock to a small bowl or measuring cup, and whisk in flour, onion powder, garlic powder, dried parsley, and pepper until smooth. Whisk spiced slurry mixture into warm gravy, while constantly stirring to prevent lumps, until thickened and boiling.  Reduce heat to simmer, about 3-5 minutes. 

Add milk, and stir to combine.  

Return meatballs to low simmering gravy to reheat, about 10 minutes, while gently stirring (so as not to break apart meatballs), until fully cooked.

To serve, arrange meatballs on serving plates over mashed potatoes, pour hot gravy over top, and garnish with fresh parsley. Place fresh salad drizzled with vinaigrette alongside. ~ Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tips:  You might alternatively wish to serve the Swedish meatballs over steamed rice or noodles.  

Another option is to serve the Swedish meatballs alone as an appetizer, with toothpicks...(See below)...

Sensational Swedish 
Mini-Meatballs Appetizer

SANDRA’S OVER-THE-TOP MEYER-LEMONTINI

A refreshing,
must-try Meyer-Lemontini
you're sure to enjoy 
(made with my home-
grown meyer lemons)...

Servings: (1)

Prep: 10 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

Cocktail:

2 ozs. Stolichnaya Vodka
--(aka Stolies; Russian Vodka)

½ oz. Triple Sec

½ teaspoon superfine sugar

¾ oz. freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice

Rimming:

Superfine sugar

Meyer lemon zest

Garnish

Superfine sugar

--Kitchen torch

METHOD

Cut one ½ slice meyer lemon to reserve for garnish, and set aside.

Cut a small wedge of meyer lemon to rim glass, and set aside.

Place superfine sugar and zest of meyer lemon on a saucer, and set aside.

Reserve the remaining meyer lemon to squeeze for the cocktail. 

Create the glazed meyer lemon slice by dipping it on both sides in the sugar/zest mixture, and use a kitchen torch to glaze.

Create a sugar-rimmed glass by taking a meyer lemon wedge and rub the rim of the glass so it is slightly moist. Dip the damp edge of the glass into the sugar/zest.

Mix the Stolichnaya Vodka, Triple Sec, sugar and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker half filled with ice cubes. 

Shake well to make sure sugar is blended, until the outside of shaker begins to frost.  

Pour strained liquor into the prepared sugar/zest-rimmed martini glass and garnish with the glazed meyer lemon wedge.

~ Enjoy, in moderation of course ~ Cheers!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tips:  If you are using regular lemons instead be sure to increase the superfine sugar to 1 teaspoon in the cocktail, as meyer lemons tend to be sweeter.  


You can also glaze your lemon slice (garnish) by broiling it on a tin foil-lined baking sheet for a couple of minutes if you do not have a kitchen torch.

SANDRA'S MOOSE SOS over STEAMED RICE with SAUTÉED GREEN BEANS

I grew up eating SOS and most
recipes I've tried from others in my hometown of
Yakutat, Alaska tend to be fairly similar -
simply a comforting soul food...

Servings (6)
Prep./Cook: 30 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

1 pound lean moose burger
--(Or venison, beef, or buffalo)
½ red onion, chopped
2 stalks celery with tops, sliced
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cube beef bouillon
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
2-1/4 cups milk
2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon dried parsley
--Par-steam, then sautéed Fresh Green Beans (Click here  for recipe: Sandra's Sauteed Fresh Green Beans)
--Prepared steamed rice

METHOD

Begin steaming rice so it is done the same time and the SOS and green beans.

Brown the burger ¾ the way in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the onions and celery, and continue cooking until the onions are translucent. Add the garlic powder, flour, bouillon, kosher salt and pepper; stirring while sautéing until all the flour has been incorporated and the flour flavor has cooked out, about 5 minutes. Gradually stir in milk and worcestershire sauce. Bring all to a gentle boil, and reduce heat to medium-low to simmer, uncovered, while stirring occasionally until thickened, about 7 to 10 minutes.

To serve, place the SOS over steamed rice, and the green beans along side. – Enjoy!

SANDRA'S BROCCOLI-CHEDDAR CHICKEN over RICE

This 15-minute dish is excellent for 
using up leftover chicken or turkey...

Serves (4)
Prep/Cook: about 15 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

2 bags of boil in bag rice (recommend Uncle Ben’s)
2 tablespoons light olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
1 bunch of broccoli, cut into small florets
¼ teaspoon each of onion and garlic powder
pinch of red pepper flakes
kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste
2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
1 (10.75 oz.can) low-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup (recommend Campbell’s Healthy Request)
1/2 (empty soup) can of milk
1 teaspoon dried parsley
2/3 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

METHOD

Bring 8 cups water to a boil in a 4-qt. saucepan, and add bags of rice, and boil, uncovered for 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet with the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, broccoli florets, garlic and onion powder, red pepper flakes, and saute until onions are translucent and the broccoli florets are crisp-tender, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the chicken cubes; stirring to combine. Add can of cream of chicken soup, milk, and dried parsley; mixing to combine. Add the shredded cheddar cheese, and fold, just until melted. Taste for seasonings, and add additional kosher salt and ground pepper, if desired.

Rice should be done right about now, so using tongs remove the bags of rice, and drain. Cut open bags, and place rice onto a serving platter while fluffing with a fork, and top with cheesy chicken sauce – Enjoy!

SANDRA'S COCONUT MILK RICE PUDDING over RASPBERRY CINNAMON PUREE

An elegant and luscious twist 
to a classic dessert ~ It's superb!

Servings: (6)
Prep: 15 Mins. |
Bake: 1 Hr. |
Stand: 10 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

***Rice Pudding:
2 cups cooked rice
3 eggs, beaten
½ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of fine-grain kosher salt
1 (13.5 oz. can) coconut milk
½ cup whole milk
½ cup raisins

***Raspberry Cinnamon Puree:
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup frozen raspberries

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9x9x2 casserole dish by spraying it with baking spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and kosher salt. Gradually add the coconut milk, and whole milk; whisking to combine. Fold in the rice and raisins; mixing to combine. Pour into a prepared 9x9x2 square casserole dish. Place casserole inside of a larger baking pan. Pour hot tap water 1-1/4” deep around casserole into larger pan (for even cooking of rice pudding). Bake for 1 hour. Remove casserole from water and place on cooling rack, letting it stand for 10 minutes to set before serving.

Meanwhile, whisk together all the puree ingredients, except the raspberries, in small saucepan over medium heat until sugar and cornstarch are dissolved. Add the raspberries and constantly stir with wooden spoon until mixture boils, and then reduce heat to simmer for 5 minutes, while occasionally stirring. Carefully pour the hot mixture into a blender and remove center of lid. Place a clean kitchen towel over the hole of the lid, and puree until smooth, and then strain through a sieve using a spoon to push the puree through to remove most of the seeds. (Please use a cheesecloth to strain the puree instead if you want to remove all of the seeds.)

To serve, spoon the raspberry sauce onto serving plate, and dampen an ice cream scoop with tap water (to prevent sticking) to scoop a mound of rice pudding on top of puree (see above photograph). – Enjoy!

SANDRA'S CHECKERBOARD RED KING SALMON and HALIBUT over GARLIC FETTUCCINI

An eye-pleasing and tasty
creation that turned
out to be heavenly
in its deliciousness...

Servings: (4 to 6)

Prep: 15 Mins. |
Bake: 15 to 20 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

***Fish
1 lb. skinless and boneless red king salmon fillet
1 lb. skinless and boneless halibut fillet
1 cup low-sodium chicken stock
1 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small cubes
Kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste

***Pasta
½ lb. roasted garlic fettuccini (prepared according to pkg.), reserving 1/3 cup of pasta water for sauce

***Béchamel Basil Sauce
2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup onion, finely minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
A tiny pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
1-1/2 cups half-and-half
1 teaspoon dried sweet basil
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1 bay leaf
1 whole clove
Kosher salt and ground pepper to taste
1/3 cup reserved pasta water (See above)

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9”x9x2” square baking dish, and set aside.

Slice the fillets evenly into 2” cubes, and arrange in a checkerboard fashion in square baking dish, (alternating salmon and halibut cubes next to each other – see photo), and sprinkle with kosher salt and ground pepper to taste. Pour 1 cup of chicken broth over fish cubes, and dot tops of fish with butter pieces. Cover baking dish, and bake in oven for 15 to 20 minutes, just until fish flakes.

Begin making the pasta according to directions.

Meanwhile, start the béchamel basil sauce by placing a medium saucepan over medium-heat. Add 2 tablespoon of butter to melt, add the onions and cook until translucent. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds longer. Add 2 tablespoon of flour and whisk for 1 minute more (to cook out flour flavor). While whisking, add the basil, cayenne, bay leaf, whole clove, nutmeg, half-and-half, and 1/3 cup of pasta water and continue whisking until sauce comes to a boil. Remove from heat, and discard bay leaf and whole clove.

Drain the roasted garlic fettuccini in a colander, and place in serving dish, pour the béchamel basil sauce over the top. Remove the fish from the oven and lay it out on top of pasta in a checkerboard fashion (again, refer to photo). – Enjoy!


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[Credit:  I was inspired by a suggestion made by a friend named Casey Mapes in Yakutat, Alaska - Thank you buddy!]

SANDRA'S BLUEBERRY CHEESE-FILLED CREPES over CUSTARD

A very decadently delicious dessert
that once mastered I'm sure you'll be often making
using many variations of 
fillings, toppings, and sauces to your heart's desire...

Servings: (8 total = 2 ea.)
Prep: 30 mins. |
Stand: 30 mins. |
Cook: 30 mins.

Posted: by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

***Custard
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Pinch of kosher salt
3/4 cup milk
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

***Filling
1 lb. container ricotta cheese
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg

***Blueberry-Cinnamon Sauce 
--[click here for optional: Apple Walnut Filling]
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 cup fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

***Sweet Crepes
1 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch kosher salt
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
½ teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
2 egg, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup club soda
3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, plus 3 tablespoons for cooking the crepes

METHOD

In a small mixing bowl, add the flour and salt and make a well in the center. Add the remaining ingredients, including 3 tablespoons of melted butter, and whisk together to combine. The mixture should be a loose batter. If the mixture is too thick, whisk in a bit of milk. Set batter aside for 30 minutes at room temperature.

Meanwhile, make the custard in a small saucepan, by whisking the sugar, cornstarch and salt together until well blended. Whisk in the milk and cook over low heat until almost boiling, then remove from the heat. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and vanilla until well blended. Add a couple of tablespoons of the hot milk from the saucepan and whisk to temper the egg, and then add the tempered egg mixture to the rest of the warm milk in the pan, whisking to combine. Cook over low heat until the sauce begins to thicken (do not boil). Let the sauce cool slightly while making the filling, sauce, and assembling the crepes.

For the blueberry sauce, whisk together sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the remaining ingredients and stir with spoon constantly until mixture boils, and then reduce heat to simmer for 5 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Set aside to let cool.

For the cheese filling, mix all ingredients together in a small bowl, and set aside.

Melt the 3 remaining tablespoons of butter in a small glass bowl in the microwave. Place a small non-stick skillet over medium heat, and with a paper towel dip into butter and swipe lightly to butter skillet. Keep the buttered paper towel close by, as you will need it for making further crepes.

Begin making crepes. Fill a ladle, almost about 3 tablespoons full, with batter and pour it into the preheated pan, while tipping and rolling the pan to evenly coat the bottom. When the edges of the crepe begin to pull away from the edges of the pan and the bottom begins to brown a little, about 1 minute, use a spatula to loosen the crepe, and turn over to cook for about 1 minute more on the other side. Remove the crepe from the pan between parchment-lined squares stacked on platter to let cool. Repeat this process, until all the batter is used, wiping the pan with your buttered paper towel, as needed.

To make individual crepe desserts (allowing 2 per serving), spoon 2 tablespoons of the custard sauce on each dessert plate, spread 2 tablespoons of the cheese filling in a line down the center of each crepe with the same amount of blueberry filling and roll up, and place 2 crepes on top of custard. Drizzle remaining blueberry sauce over the crepes. Repeat until all 8 plates are finished, and serve. – Enjoy!