SHE VOTES Meatloaf

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/06/12/concerned-women-for-america-kicks-off-voter-campaign/

SHE BE WHITE!!!  

SHE VOTES Meatloaf


Comfort food, comfort voting.

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 lb. lean ground pork
4 cloves garlic
1 shallot, minced
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 egg
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt


Heat oven to 375°F.

Place ingredients in large bowl and mix until blended.  Shape into loaf in 13x9-inch baking dish.

Bake 1 hour or until done (160ºF).

Tip:

Serve with mashed or boiled potatoes.

Jeb "G-O-PECULIAR" Bush Babaganoush

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/us/politics/jeb-bush-takes-aim-at-fellow-republicans.html?_r=1&ref=politics

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/06/11/could-ronald-reagan-lead-todays-gop/

He actually doesn't scare me.  He's way smarter than 43.

Jeb "G-O-PECULIAR" Bush Babaganoush


This dip is as distinctive as a Republican who goes against the GOP.

4 small eggplant (about 1-3/4 lb.), pierced all over
3 cloves garlic
Juice of 1 lemon (1/4 cup)
3 Tbsp. tahini
1 cup lightly packed parsley leaves
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper


Heat grill to medium-high heat.


Grill eggplant, turning every 5 minutes, until the skin is blackened and the eggplant is soft, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove eggplant from grill and let cool 15 minutes.

Peel skin and discard.  Let eggplant drain in colander 10 minutes.


In bowl of food processor fitted with steel blade, combine garlic, lemon juice, tahini and parsley; pulse to combine. Add eggplant, salt and pepper; pulse 10 to 15 times or until well-combined.


Serve with pita chips.


Oven-Roasted Babaganoush
Heat oven to 400°F.  Roast eggplant on baking sheet lined with foil 30 minutes.  Cool 15 minutes and continue as directed.
 

Kids and Crime, NOT A DIME! Deviled Eggs

http://thehill.com/video/campaign/231975-obama-campaign-hammers-romney-on-funding-for-teachers-police

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/obama-camp-steps-up-attack-on-romneys-remarks-on-teachers-police-and-firefighters/2012/06/11/gJQAnPzdUV_blog.html


Kids and Crime, NOT A DIME! Deviled Eggs


The devil is in the details.
24 deviled eggs

1 dozen large eggs, hard cooked (see note)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh oregano
1/4 tsp. salt, freshly ground pepper


Peel eggs and cut in half lengthwise. 


Carefully remove yolks and place in medium bowl.  Add mayonnaise and olive oil; beat with electric mixer until smooth and creamy.  


Stir in remaining ingredients.  Fill egg white halves with yolk mixture.  Garnish with oregano leaves.


How to hard cook eggs:
Place eggs in saucepan large enough to hold in single layer.  Add cold water to cover eggs by 1 inch.  Heat over high heat until just boiling.  Cover and remove from burner.  Let stand 14 minutes (adjust standing time up or down if using smaller or larger eggs).  Rinse with cold water. 

Phrase Foul-Up Farmer's Market Salad with Beets and Orange Vinaigrette

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-struggles-to-find-his-political-footing-on-the-economy/2012/06/08/gJQAqDBzNV_story.html


Oops!  Open mouth, insert foot.  Six words can dog you in a political campaign.


Phrase Foul-Up Farmer's Market Salad with Beets and Orange Vinaigrette


You can't go wrong with this flavorful salad.

6 cups assorted greens
2 cups arugula leaves
2 red beets, cooked, sliced
2 yellow beets, cooked, sliced (see note)
1/2 cup red onion wedges
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. orange juice
• 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. honey
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp. orange zest
• 1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper

Mix greens and arugula; place on serving platter.

Arrange beets and onion wedges over greens.  Sprinkle with cheese.

Whisk together remaining ingredients; drizzle over salad.

Note:
I found all of the salad ingredients at my local farmer's market, grown in Woodstock, IL.  I used Maytag blue cheese (my favorite) produced in Iowa.  Don't be surprised if this salad surfaces again as the All-American!

To cook beets, trim greens and boil 20 to 30 minutes or until fork tender.

Vacation Call-Off Caprese Salad

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/112647-house-may-cut-recess-short-to-move-26b-state-aid-package

It's time that the loudest critics of the President's jobs numbers ought to be voting for bills to create jobs that improve American infrastructure and extend the middle-income tax cuts.


Vacation Call-Off Caprese Salad


This simple salad is perfect after a hard day's work.

3 balls (4 oz. each) fresh mozzarella
4 ripe tomatoes, sliced 3/8" thick (6 slices/tomato)
24 fresh basil leaves
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp. salt and pepper


Slice each mozzarella ball into 8 slices.


Arrange cheese, tomatoes and basil leaves on platter.  


Whisk together remaining ingredients; drizzle over salad.  Sprinkle with additional ground pepper, if desired.


Tip:
Add 2 oranges, peeled, halved and sliced, to salad for a sweet addition.

Swing State Ad Blitz Spritz

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/08/us/politics/9-swing-states-are-main-focus-of-ad-blitz.html?_r=1&ref=politics

Swing State Ad Blitz Spritz

Makes 60 cookies

You'll be convinced these cookies are fabulous without any interruptions to your normal TV viewing schedule.

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

2-1/4 cups flour

1/4 tsp. salt

Heat oven to 375°F.

Beat butter and sugar until fluffy in large bowl.  Add egg and vanilla; beat 1 minute or until well blended.  Gradually beat in combined flour and salt on low speed until flour is completely incorporated.

Spoon batter into cookie press fitted with decorative disk and press cookies onto ungreased baking sheet.  

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until just brown on edges. Place red and blue candies in center of cookies while still warm, if desired. Transfer to wire racks using metal spatula.  

Tip:

Red and blue M&M's work well for the centers.

Grilled Fruit Salad Sluice

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/07/florida-voter-purge-legal-fight_n_1576255.html?ref=politics&ir=Politics&ref=politics


Florida's response cited a medley of laws governing voting and used language strikingly similar to that of conservative advocacy groups claiming widespread voter fraud threatens the integrity of national elections.

It's a new kind of Selma...VOTER CLEANSING.

Grilled Fruit Salad Sluice

Makes 4 servings

A salad with integrity, composed of perfect ingredients.

2 halved pitted nectarines

2 fresh pineapple slices

6 large strawberries, halved

6 cups mixed salad greens

1 small shallot, thinly sliced

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp. olive oil

¼ tsp. each salt and pepper

Heat greased grill to medium-high heat.

Grill fruit 8 min. or until lightly browned on both sides, turning after 4 minutes (see tips, below).

Arrange greens on platter.  Top with grilled fruit and shallots.  Whisk together remaining ingredients and drizzle over salad.

Tips:

To prepare pineapple, slice off top and bottom; slice 1" thick and remove rinds.  Cut pineapple from around core after grilling (discard core); this makes it easier to turn with tongs on the grill.  You will have about half of a pineapple remaining to use however you would like.

Slice nectarines vertically after grilling.

To grill strawberries, thread onto skewers.