Rumaki

Supposedly, Rumaki is an hors d'oeuvre of mock-Polynesian origin (whatever that means!). For me, the origin was a work party at my bosses house in the south suburbs of Chicago! I skip the chicken livers and don't miss them at all. Let's face it, anything wrapped in bacon is going to be a hit at any party.

Ingredients

2-3 cans of water chestnuts (whole)
1 small bottle of ketchup
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1-2 lbs bacon
1 t. worcestershire sauce

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut each water chestnut in half. Slice the bacon strips in halves or thirds (depending on length to start).
Roll a strip of bacon around each water chestnut half and secure with a toothpick. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
 

In a mixing bowl combine the ketchup and sugars well.
At the end of initial 30 minute baking period, remove bacon wrapped chestnuts and turn them to ensure even cooking on both sides. Pour ketchup/sugar mixture over the bacon wrapped water chestnuts and continue baking for 1/2 hour longer (total baking time, 1 hour).
 

Serve hot.

Picnic Deli Sandwich

One of the best memories I have is a drive I took with my brother and his family into the Arizona mountains.  We took one of these sandwiches along for lunch and it will forever remind me of that day.

Ingredients:

1 loaf (1 lb.; about 4 1/2 in. wide, 14 to 16 in. long) sourdough bread 

1/2 cup vinaigrette-style salad dressing, homemade or purchased 

1/2 cup finely chopped cucumber 

1/2 cup finely chopped tomato 

2 tablespoons thinly sliced chives or green onion  

3 to 4 ounces thin-sliced Swiss cheese 

12 thin green bell pepper rings, seeds removed (or not)

6 ounces to 9 ounces thin-sliced cooked turkey breast

12 pieces thin-sliced salami (about 3 oz. total) 

3 thin red onion slices, separated into rings

Preparation:

With a serrated knife, horizontally slice 1 inch off the top of the loaf. Pull soft center from bottom half of loaf, making a shell with 1/2-inch-thick walls. Reserve soft bread for other uses. 

In a bowl, mix vinaigrette dressing, cucumber, tomato, and chives. Brush or spoon about half the dressing evenly over interior of the hollowed shell. Also spoon enough dressing on cut side of loaf top to moisten. 

Layer cheese, bell pepper, turkey, salami, and onion in shell. Drizzle remaining dressing over filling. Set bread top over filling. Wrap sandwich in foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours or up to 1 day. 

Unwrap; cut into equal portions.

You can substitute the vegetables and meats/cheeses to your personal taste. 

Fresh Cranberry Relish

We just got back from the Cranberry Harvest Celebration in Wareham, MA with about 5 lbs. of fresh cranberries. I used this recipe to make a side to go with our Turkey Pot Pie dinner and definitely want to save this recipe for Thanksgiving celebrations to come!

Ingredients:

1 cup white sugar 1 cup orange juice 1.5 cups of fresh cranberries zest of 1 orange   Directions:   In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the sugar and the oranze zest to the orange juice.   Dissolve the sugar in the orange juice. Stir in the cranberries, and cook for around 15 minutes until most of the cranberries have 'popped' and the mixture has begun to thicken.  Remove from heat, and transfer to a bowl. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.  I like this best as a cold side. This can be made ahead & refrigerated which also allows the flavors to combine nicely and the texture to thicken.