POLITICAL THEATER Patriotic Sangria

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/10/02/a-better-approach-to-presidential-debates/moderators-must-not-be-subservient

Something to charge you up when the moderators give the incumbent and the challenger a "soft ride".

POLITICAL THEATER Patriotic Sangria
Makes 8 servings

1/2 cup each freshly 
squeezed lemon juice and
orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
2 oz. orange liqueur (triple sec or Grand Marnier)
2 oz. brandy
1 bottle (1500 ml) white wine (pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc or chardonnay)
1 cup blueberries
1 cup quartered strawberries or raspberries
1 starfruit, sliced

Mix together juices, sugar, liqueur and brandy in large pitcher 2 min. or until sugar is completely dissolved. Stir in wine; cover and refrigerate.

Add fruit just before serving.

HANDOUTS FOR BILLIONAIRES Hobo Stew

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/02/opinion/mr-romneys-government-handout.html?ref=politicd&_r=0

Why is it only called a handout when it benefits the poor?

HANDOUTS FOR BILLIONAIRES Hobo Stew
Makes 4 servings

Something for them, and something for the rest of us.  Heck, this simple dinner is fit for a king!

4 large pieces aluminum foil (heavy duty if using grill)

1 lb. ground beef

1 can (14 oz.) seasoned diced tomatoes (pick your favorite)

2 potatoes, scrubbed, sliced

4 carrots, peeled, sliced on bias

1 red onion, halved, cut into wedges

1/4 tsp. salt and pepper

1 cup shredded cheese (look for something to complement the tomatoes – see note)

Heat oven to 375°F, or prepare grill for indirect medium heat.

Shape hamburger meat into thick discs. Place in center of foil sheets lightly sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Top evenly with tomatoes (avoid using all of the juices). Surround meat and tomatoes with remaining vegetables and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Fold foil over meat and vegetables securely leaving room for air circulation. Place on baking sheet.  Bake in oven or grill on indirect medium heat for 1 hour or until vegetables are tender. Carefully open packets.  Top each with 1/4 cup cheese and re-close packets for 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Serve immediately. Note:   Here are a few good diced tomato/shredded cheese combinations. Diced Tomatoes Shredded Cheese Fire roasted with garlic Mozzarella or an Italian cheese blend With basil, garlic and oregano Mozzarella or an Italian cheese blend With spicy red pepper or with diced green chilies Colby and Monterrey Jack or a Mexican cheese blend

CLINTON CRUTCH Kale with Bacon & Beets

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81794.html?hp=t1_3

CLINTON CRUTCH Kale with Bacon & Beets
Makes 6 servings


Bittersweet. 

6 slices bacon, diced
1 large bunch kale (about 1 1/2 pounds), washed, stemmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/3 cup low-sodium chicken stock
1 Tbsp sugar
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, divided
2 beets, cooked, cut into cubes (see tip)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup crumbled feta, goat or blue cheese

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until medium-crisp. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Discard all but 2 Tbsp. drippings. Increase heat to high and add kale, stirring to coat with rendered fat. Cover and cook for a few minutes, and then add the chicken stock, sugar and 2 tablespoons of the vinegar. Stir to combine, reduce heat to medium, cover and cook 6 to 8 minutes or until just wilted.

Add beets, remaining vinegar and bacon. Stir to combine with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving platter and sprinkle with crumbled cheese; serve immediately.

Tips:
How to cook beets:  Trim greens and ends.  Place in pot with water to cover by 1 inch.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer.  Cook until tender (30 minutes or longer, depending on size).  Cool until you are able to handle them, then rinse under cold water and rub gently to remove skins.

For a more colorful dish, use 1 red beet and 1 golden beet.

EARLY VOTING Vidalia Onion Spread

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/27/with-start-of-early-voting-election-day-becomes-election-month/?ref=politics

Instead of election day, now we have election MONTH.

EARLY VOTING Vidalia Onion Spread
Makes 32 servings, 2 Tbsp. each
This is so easy, you don't have to make it ahead of time.  Just mix it up and bake it. 

2 cups chopped Vidalia onions
1-1/2 cups reduced fat mayonnaise

8 oz. (2 cups) shredded Swiss cheese

2 Tbsp. shredded Parmesan cheese

Plain water crackers, mini toasts or French bread for serving

Heat oven to 325°F.

Mix onions, mayonnaise and Swiss cheese in 9-inch glass pie plate; spread evenly with spatula. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 min. before serving with crackers, toasts or bread.

Rural Romney-Love Lemon Bars

http://www.dailyyonder.com/romney-14-points-rural-swing-states/2012/09/22/4453

According to this article, rural swing state voters favor Romney.

I guess this group (84% white) doesn't consider farm subsidies government assistance.  

Rural Romney-Love Lemon Bars
Makes 24 bars

As sweet as a subsidy!

1 cup softened butter

2-1/4 cups flour, divided

2 cups sugar, divided

3 eggs

Zest of 1 lemon

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

Heat oven to 350°F.

Mix butter, 2 cups flour and ½ cup sugar in medium bowl.  Press firmly onto bottom of foil-lined 13x9-inch pan.  Bake 20 min. or until edges are lightly browned.

Mix remaining flour and sugar.  Whisk in eggs, lemon zest and lemon juice until well blended.  Pour over crust.

Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until center is set and edges are golden brown.  Cool completely on wire rack.  Quickly lift out of pan to flat cutting surface by grasping ends of foil.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.  Cut into bars to serve.

Tip:

If you refrigerate the bars for an hour they are easier to cut.  Bring to room temperature before serving.

EVERY VOTE APPLIES Apple Pie

I have studied the Electoral College system and it comes down to this:  

• if you live in Illinois and vote for Romney, your vote will not matter.  
• If you live in Texas and vote for Obama, your vote will not matter.  
• If you were living in Florida in 2000 and were one of the 50% who voted for Al Gore, your vote did not matter. 
• If you live in Maine or Nebraska, electoral votes are awarded proportionally to the number of votes within the state for each candidate, so your vote counts. 

Why is is that every time the Maine-Nebraska method comes up for a vote in Congress, it is shot down?  I'll tell you why.  Because the system as it is serves those who care about it the most, that is, the do-nothing senate and congress.

I believe that the country needs to adopt a new method for counting votes.  I also believe that this is what causes voter apathy and low numbers at the polls. I believe that this is one of the reasons that people are so angry.


EVERY VOTE APPLIES Apple Pie
Makes 8 servings


When you apply yourself to the task of making a pie, make this one and your effort will count.

Crust
2-1/4 cups flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
10 Tbsp. butter, cut up
8 Tbsp. butter-flavored shortening
4 to 5 Tbsp. ice water

Filling
1 cup sugar 
1/4 cup flour
3/4 tsp freshly ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
8 apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced (about 8 cups, 3/16" slices)
3 Tbsp. butter, cut up
1 egg, beaten with 1 Tbsp. water
Coarse sanding sugar

Combine flour, sugar and salt in large bowl.  Add butter and shortening; blend into flour mixture with pastry blender or gloved hands until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Sprinkle water over mixture and press with spatula or hands until mixture comes together in a ball.  Knead 1 or 2 times, then wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in large bowl until combined.  Add apples; toss gently to completely coat apple slices with sugar mixture.  Let stand 15 to 20 minutes.

Heat oven to 400 ºF .

Divide dough in 2 pieces, one a little more than half and the other slightly less than half.  Roll larger dough into 10-inch circle between 2 sheets of waxed paper that are lightly dusted with flour. Peel back top sheet. Place 9-in. pie plate on top of crust and flip over.  Peel back 2^nd sheet of waxed paper, pressing crust gently into dish and allowing extra crust to hang over edges.  Fill crust with softened fruit. Dot with butter. Roll smaller dough portion in same manner, peeling back top layer of waxed paper and flipping over fruit-filled pie before peeling back second layer of waxed paper.  Turn edges under and crimp as desired.  Cut 4 small slits in top of pie for steam to escape. 

Use a soft-bristled pastry brush to brush pie crust gently with egg and water mixture.  Sprinkle liberally with coarse sugar and lightly grate nutmeg over top, if desired.

Place pie on foil-lined baking sheet on bottom rack of oven.  Bake 30 min.  Reduce temperature to 350ºF and continue baking 30 min, covering edges of crust with foil if necessary.

Let cool 2 hours before slicing.  

 Tip:
I usually weigh the pie crust before I divide it, using 60% for the bottom crust and 40% for the top crust.

POINTLESS BLUSTER Belly Buster

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/tax-reality-check/notax.html?hpid=z2

In the end, only 1 percent of non-working households making more than $20,000 paid NO federal taxes.

POINTLESS BLUSTER Belly Buster

There will be no loud complaints when THIS arrives at the dinner table!

1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
4 cloves minced garlic

2 cups  elbow macaroni (8 oz.), cooked as directed, drained 
1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes (do not drain)
1 can (10-3/4 oz) cheddar cheese condensed soup

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Cook beef and onion in large skillet on medium high heat until no longer pink, adding garlic during last minute cooking time; drain.  Return to skillet and stir in macaroni, tomatoes, cheese soup, pepper and 1 cup of the shredded cheese.  

Cook on medium-low heat 5 minutes or until heated through and bubbly.

Remove from heat.  Top with remaining cheese; cover. Let stand 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.