Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Deb's Corn and Chicken Chowder

 This is my friend Deb's recipe.  She's a great cook and this chowder is fantastic!  I like to make this in the summer during "corn season" (late July - early September) with corn I purchase from the farm stand near our lake place. 

Corn and Chicken Chowder

6 ears of fresh corn, husked and silks removed (or 2 16 oz bag frozen corn, I prefer TJ roasted corn)

6 slices bacon, chopped

8 scallions

3 medium potatoes

2 Tbsp flour

3 cups whole milk (or 2 12 oz cans evaporated milk)

2 cups chicken stock

2 tsp Old Bay seasoning

1 tsp dried parsley

1/2 tsp dried thyme (or 1/2 tsp Herbes de Provence)

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 small can (4 oz) chopped green chiles

2 cups roasted chicken shredded (rotisserie works great and I ususally use a little more)

salt and pepper to taste

grated cheddar for garnish

In a large stock pot, fry the bacon until crisp.  Remove from pan, but leave the grease.

Peel and chop the potatoes into bite-size pieces slice the scallions very thin; only use the white part of the scallions.  Place potatoes and white scallion pieces into the grease in the stock pot and cook over medium heat until softened.  About 3 minutes.  

Sprinkle with flour and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 1 minute.

Pour in the milk, chicken stock, Old Bay, thyme, parsley, cayenne, salt and pepper.  Over medium heat, stir occasionally and bring to a boil. 

Reduce heat to low and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft.  Meanwhile, use a sharp knife to cut corn from the cobs.  Drain excess juice from green chiles.  Add corn, chiles, bacon, and chicken to the pot.  Cook over low heat until heated through, about 5 minutes.  Garnish with cheddar cheese. 

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

My favorite summer spritz cocktails: French 75 and Aperol

 I like a bubbly drink.  I really like sprtizy cocktails.  I've been returning to Aperol Spritz and French 75 all summer.  Serve the 75 in a Champagne glass if you have it and the Aperol Spritz in a wine glass.  Or if you're at the cabin, throw it in a red solo cup and call it a day.   These cocktails call for Prosecco or Champagne.  I use neither.  Instead, I purchase canned sparkling white white 4-packs at Trader Joes.  Each can will make 3-4 drinks.  Perfect!

Aperol Spritz

3 oz (1 part) Aperol

3 oz (1 part) Procecco (TJ sparkling white wine)

1 oz (splash) of club soda or LaCroix water

In glass filled with ice, add Aperol and equal amount of Procecco.  Top with club soda and garnish with an orange slice if you want to fancy.


French 75

1 oz gin

1/2 oz lemon juice

1/2 oz simple syrup

3 oz Champagne (or TJ sparkling white wine)

Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Strain into a Champagne flute.  Top with Champagne and garnish with lemon peel if you want to impress someone (or for a good Insta pic). 

Bootleg...official summer cocktail of Minnesota

 Bootlegs are one of my favorite summer cocktails.  Helps that they're served at every country club and restaurant in the Twin Cities!  It's citrusy and minty and a little sweet.  Perfect for the porch or pool or boat!  We make bootleg mix with mint from our garden when we arrive at the cabin and enjoy it all weekend!

Bootleg Mix

1 can frozen lemonade

1 can frozen limeade

2 bunches mint

1/4 cup simple syrup

1 frozen lemonade can almost full of water


Add frozen lemonade, limeade, simple syrup and mint to regular sized (not Vitamix sized) blender.  Puree until the mint is in little pieces.  Add the can of water to the blender and blend again.  This is your mix.  Keep in a sealed container in the fridge up to a week.


Bootleg Cocktail

2 parts booze (vodka or gin)

3 parts bootleg mix

2 parts club soda. 

Fill tall glass with ice.  Add booze, bootleg mix, and top with club soda.  Garnish with mint and serve.  

Watermelon, Cucumber and Basil Salad

 I love watermelon salad.  Usually, I make Paula Deen's recipe.  Stumbled across this one and like it even better!  In addition to watermelon, feta, and onion (like Paula's recipe) it also includes basil and cucumber with a lime/honey dressing.  I used cukes and basil from the garden.  It was delicious when I made it and the day after!  

Watermelon Salad

4-5 cups cubed watermelon (about 1/4 of regular sized whole, seedless watermelon)

1/4 small/medium red onion, sliced

2 cucumbers, peeled and seeded

1/2 cup feta cheese crumbles

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, sliced in thin strips


Honey Lime Vinaigrette

2 Tbsp honey

2 Tbsp fresh lime juice (about 1/2 a lime)

2 Tbsp olive oil

pinch of salt 

pinch of pepper


Combine salad ingredients in large bowl. In small bowl, whisk together vinaigrette ingredients, then pour over salad.  Gently stir to combine.