PASTOR Dip, Please – WRIGHT Away!
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 9:00pm

There’s nothing like a nice, fresh dip!! Unless, of course, you’re Barack Obama and have just suffered a major “dip in the polls.”

The unappetizing rhetoric of Obama’s pastor of 20 years, Jeremiah Wright, has caused some heartburn among Democrats who see their slice of the electoral pie shrinking by the hour.

Well, if your Democrat Poll Dip is causing you trouble, Epicurious has a recipe just for you! There’s no use worrying about acid indigestion when you’re serving up the famous Crab Rangoon Dip. No matter how far you’ve dropped in the polls, this Dip is sure to pick you right back up!

Even better Barack, if you’re feeling a little hungry after church – listening to all that Anti-Americanism is bound to make you starve – Crab Rangoon Dip is just perfect for you!

So, enjoy and don’t get too crabby about your political predicament!

Crab Rangoon Dip with Won Ton Crackers

20 Won ton squares
3 – 4 T butter, melted
Grated parmesan cheese
1 8-ounce package cream cheese
2 T milk
¼ t garlic powder
6 ounces crabmeat (if canned, rinse and drain)
1 T chopped parsley or green onion
Sweet-and-Sour sauce in a jar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly brush cookie sheet with melted butter. Cut won ton squares in half. Arrange rectangles in prepared pan. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake 5-7 minutes until golden brown. Cool on paper towels. Repeat with remaining won ton squares.

Place cream cheese in glass bowl and soften in microwave oven on high power 1-2 minutes. Stir in milk and garlic powder. When well blended, stir in crabmeat and parsley. Heat 1 – 3 minutes longer until thoroughly heated. Spread mixture in shallow serving dish. Top mixture with sweet-and-sour sauce, if desired.

Serve heated spread with won ton crackers

It’s A Rocky Road Out There
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 2:35pm

Poor Jay Nixon. He announced his candidacy for Governor way back in 1969 and has been campaigning against Matt Blunt ever since. Imagine the situation over at the Attorney General’s office as the news set in: all of their planning, all of their positioning, all of their rhetoric, all of their scheming – all of it had to go. There must have been alligator tears shed as the dart-board images of Governor Blunt were removed from the office walls.

The new reality for Mr. Nixon should be settling in by now. It’s going to be a very, very rocky road now. Suddenly thrust into the position of recreating himself yet again, let me suggest that a good period of intense thought and preparation is needed. Nixon and his campaign team need a nice, cold dish of Rocky Road Ice Cream to help focus their thoughts on the future.

The only concern about eating so much of the ice cream is that it might produce brain-freeze. Fortunately for Nixon’s old and tired rhetoric, he could suffer a little brain freeze and no one will notice!

So, when it appears that there’s a rocky road ahead for you, do like our favorite eternal candidate – Jay Nixon – and go for Rocky Road Ice Cream. It’s easy to make and it will keep your eye on the ball!

Rocky Road Ice Cream

Ingredients:
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup light cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup miniature marshmallows

Directions:
In a medium saucepan over low heat, cook and stir condensed milk and cocoa until smooth and slightly thickened, 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and allow to cool slightly. Stir in heavy cream, light cream, and vanilla. Refrigerate until cold.

Pour mixture into the canister of an ice cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer's directions. Stir in nuts and marshmallows halfway through the freezing process.

Cable Cuisine
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 4:00pm

What could be better than settling down for a nice dinner in front of the old Cable TV show? Perhaps you enjoy watching Fox News to see who is winning the Nevada Caucuses. Or maybe you’re a Democrat and are tuned into the Game Show Network. Regardless, one thing all cable viewers have in common is that they want their cable to work and they hope that they don’t have to file a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General’s office. It seems that Jay Nixon has been shaking down Charter Communications for campaign cash even though his office has hundreds of pending consumer complaints against the company. If your cable goes off at the wrong time or if you’re over billed, guess whose side Jay Nixon will be on?

But just in case your television viewing experience isn’t a pleasant one, here’s a great TV dinner that won’t break the TV screen should you happen to hurl it in an outburst of anger. Chicken Pot Pie may be soft, but it sure is tasty! You might even be able to funnel some campaign checks for Jay Nixon right through the Pie and have a decent shot at getting your consumer complaints investigated!

So, here’s to all of you great viewers out there. Enjoy a little news, sports or entertainment and enjoy a Chicken Pot Pie!

Chicken Pot Pie
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
4 tablespoons flour
4 cups chicken stock
2 potatoes, peeled and diced
2 cups shredded chicken
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 prepared pie crust
1 egg, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in saucepan and cook chopped onion until tender. Stir in celery and carrots and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Add potatoes and simmer until tender. Stir in chicken, parsley and peas. Pour mixture into casserole. Top with pie crust and brush with egg. Bake for 30 minutes until crust is golden.

Substitution, Please
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 9:45 AM |

What do you do when you're missing a key ingredient for your Crustless Spinach Quiche? It's sort of like being a Missouri taxpayer and having to rely on the Attorney General to defend state laws that he and all of his donors oppose.

Such is the case with a pending case on the state's worker's compensation law (Nixon's Latest Courtroom Conflict). Not trusting Nixon to have the right "ingredients" to defend the law, Missouri business groups are adding their own lawyers to make sure the law stands up in court!

Well, that's exactly what you can do with the Spinach Quiche. Just add a few extra ingredients and all is well!

So if your Spinach Quiche ever gets compromised, help it out. And if your Attorney General often gets compromised, vote him out!

Enjoy the dish, it's the law...

Crustless Spinach Quiche

1 pound small curd cottage cheese

½ pound grated Swiss cheese

½ pound grated mild Cheddar Cheese

4 eggs, beaten

½ cup flour

½ cup milk

½ cup butter

1 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and well drained

1 teaspoon baking powder Dash of salt

Put all ingredients in large bowl and mix well. Spread into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

You may substitute the spinach with crabmeat, ham, bacon, sausage, broccoli, or shrimp.

These additional ingredients will make your Quiche even better!!

It’s GONE!!
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 3:35pm

Wasn’t I surprised to see that the Jay Nixon link we provided at Epicurious this past September had been removed and replaced by the Nixon campaign! It’s almost a “recipe for disaster!”

Here’s the deal. On September 16th, Epicurious wrote about Jay Nixon’s pledge to refund his over-the-limit campaign donations and his immediate backtracking on the issue. We linked to Nixon’s campaign statement that unequivocally said he was returning the donations. He even got press coverage that credited him for returning the donations based upon his statement. Well, that statement is now GONE! Nixon’s campaign replaced the link with an Associated Press story that provides the “reconfigured” Nixon position that he is “prepared” to return the donations – immediately after Governor Blunt returns his.

All of this disappearing statement scandal has caused me to think about my favorite reduction sauce! To create a perfect taste without leaving a trace, try Red Wine Reduction Sauce on your favorite Prime Rib recipe. Just like Nixon’s unequivocal statement, the wine simply disappears after you’ve cooked up a storm (or a story). Yet, just like Jay, the taste remains! The only difference is that the Nixon Reduction Statement leaves a very, very fishy taste after it’s gone!

So, if you’re looking for a way to make your wine disappear, try Red Wine Reduction Sauce. If you’re looking for a way to make your public record disappear, keep an eye on the Nixon campaign over the next twelve months.

Red Wine Reduction Sauce

1 onion, coarsely chopped
1 carrot, coarsely chopped
1 celery stalk, coarsely chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons oil
1 750 milliliter bottle Burgundy Wine
2 cups Port
1 cup chicken stock

In a medium saucepan, caramelize the onion, carrot, celery, apple, and garlic in the oil. Add the Burgundy wine and the Port and simmer over medium heat for 2 hours. Strain and place in a small saucepan with the chicken stock. Continue to simmer over medium heat for 1 hour, or until reduced to 1/2 cup.

Pro Choice
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 3:55pm

Choices – they’re what life is all about. Soup or salad? French Fries or Cole Slaw? Beef or Chicken? Driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants or no driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants? That was the question posed to New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in last week’s Democratic debate. And as many of us can relate, she was so hungry to please everyone, she chose BOTH options. Then, as her far-behind-in-the-polls opponent John Edwards pointed out, Clinton refused to answer questions on Iraq and Social Security as well… Choices, choices, more choices. What can you do?

Well, here at Epicurious, we want to help out. If you find yourself acting and talking like Senator Clinton and just CAN’T make a clear decision, we have some soup that is right up your alley! Red and Yellow Pepper Soup allows you to avoid making the tough choice between Yellow Pepper Soup and Red Pepper Soup. We’ll put them both in the same bowl! It’s sort of like answering a yes or no question yes AND no during the same debate!!

So, whether you’re embarrassing yourself on national television, or if you’re just hungry, enjoy this week’s recipe. Just remember, the choice is yours!

Red and Yellow Pepper Soup

3 large red bell peppers
3 large yellow bell peppers
1 1/2 cups onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
4 cups chicken broth, divided
salt and pepper to taste
sour cream

Roast peppers in oven on Broil until blistered and dark. (Continue turning peppers until all sides are black) Cool, peel off skins, remove seeds.

Sauté onion and garlic in oil.

Process red peppers in a blender. Add, 1/2 the onion and garlic, and 2 cups of the chicken broth until smooth. Remove to a pan to keep warm. Process the yellow peppers, and remaining onion/garlic mix and 2 cups of chicken broth until smooth.

Transfer to another pot. Bring each to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Carefully pour ½ to 1 Cup from both pots into individual serving bowls at the same time so each has one half red and one half yellow. Add dollops of sour cream if desired.

Mother of All Appetites
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 5:50pm

Hungry? Well, if you haven’t gotten to eat for a looooong time, chances are you get very, very hungry. It’s kind of like the Congressional Democrats. They had been out of power for over ten years – not even one chance to pass a big tax increase. All of those years not being able to feed off the tables of American taxpayers must have really built up quite a taxing appetite. That’s why it came as no surprise this week to see Congressional Democrats offered the “Mother of All Tax Increases.”

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, put forward a $1.3 TRILLION tax increase package this week! Imagine the pent up taxation appetite that could devour so much from the paychecks of hard-working Americans. Never before in US History has any politician suggested such a massive tax increase that, if passed, would leave our economy weak and dizzy.

In honor of our tax-happy friends in Washington, D.C., this week’s Epicurious aims to satisfy your appetite for a hearty meal! Sage and Garlic Rubbed Steaks are sure to take care of your insatiable appetite without raising your taxes or your blood pressure (well, maybe your blood pressure…). If you eat enough of the Steak you might even be able to enjoy a nap and sleep through the hare-brained, tax-raising schemes of Rangel and his fellow liberals. Regardless, go ahead and enjoy the Steak – just remember, like the tax-raisers in Washington, you may find that you can never get enough!

Sage & Garlic Rubbed Steaks with Gorgonzola Butter
2 rib-eye steaks (8 oz each)
Flat leaf parsley for garnish

Garlic Rub:
¼ cup garlic powder
¼ cup cumin
1 T ground dried sage
1 T dried basil leaves
1 ½ t. onion powder
1 ½ t. cumin seed
1 ½ t. dry mustard
1 t. Kosher salt
1 t. cracked black pepper

Gorgonzola Butter:
½ cup butter
¼ cup shallots
1 T minced garlic
3 ounces gorgonzola cheese
Salt and pepper

In small bowl, mix together all garlic rub ingredients. Rub over steaks, and set aside. Best if done the night before and let sit for a day.

In food processor or blender, combine gorgonzola butter ingredients, and process until smooth. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve.

Place steaks on grid over medium-hot coals; grill to desired doneness. Place on warm serving plates, top with slice of gorgonzola butter and garnish with parsley. Serve with your favorite mashed potatoes.

Serves 2.

Mmmwhut You Say??
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 3:50pm

Sometimes, the food is so good that you just can’t talk! You know the feeling… Someone asks you a question, but you’re in the middle of a REALLY good bite!! What to do?

Well, one thing you can’t do is focus on something other than the question asked – it will get you in trouble!! Take, for example, the recently-exposed case of our Attorney General Jay Nixon. He must have been eating a “World Class Caramel Apple” when the State Auditor stopped by last year. Nixon was most likely taking the first bite or two of the apple as he was meeting with officials from the State Auditor’s office, who were reviewing his use of his official state vehicle – that super-fast Crown Victoria with the super-dooper police-style radio in it. Imagine the conversation as Nixon chomped on that really sticky apple:

State Auditor Official: “Tell me about your official state car, Mr. Nixon. Do you only use that for official transportation as required by state law?”

Poor Jay Nixon, with that caramel-encrusted apple swishing around in his mouth, surely MEANT to say, “I use the car for official purposes and often take it to political fundraising events because, after all, I’m the Attorney General 24/7 and it doesn't matter what the law says.” But, instead, he must have been thinking about a recent vacation, so he said (through a mush-mouthed, caramel-induced, sticky-tongued, apple-inhibited haze) the following:

”Fishin’ Hole. Usually lonely.”

Inexplicably, the State Auditor Officials wrote in the official state audit, “Official Uses Only.”

Thus, it must have been taking a bite of the apple that led Mr. Nixon to commit the crime of “lying” to the State Auditor. How tragic that a treat such as the “World Class Caramel Apple” would create such a mess in the office of the Attorney General of Missouri. So, this week, Epicurious presents our recipe with a warning: “You can eat anything you wish, but do NOT eat the caramel apple while the State Auditor’s office is inquiring about your official state car.” If only Jay Nixon had heeded this advice, he wouldn’t be in his current predicament.

Properly warned, though, this caramel apple is bound to please young and old – just don’t break the law while you’re enjoying yourself!!

“World Class Caramel Apple”
1 14 oz package Caramels
Wooden Sticks
5-6 Medium Apples
2 T Water

Wash and dry apples. In a small, heavy saucepan over low heat, melt Caramels with water, stirring frequently, until mixture is smooth. Spoon caramel mixture over each apple until it is completely covered. Insert wooden stick into stem end and place apple on greased waxed paper and chill until set.

What a Week It Was
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 3:45pm

Just in case you spent the last week driving around – in a state-owned car – we wanted to make sure you got the news. It seems that Attorney General Jay Nixon has been using his taxpayer-provided car to travel to political rallies and fundraisers all across Missouri for the past several years in violation of state law. Now that he’s been found out and called out by Missouri’s media, Nixon has decided to quit breaking the law. That’s a good start! But not to worry, Nixon will still use his really fast Crown Victoria to traverse the state; but he’s now going to do the right thing and reimburse the taxpayers for the political use of the car.

Here at Epicurious, we know all of that driving can really make you hungry! And we learned that the speedy Crown Vic has at least three hungry men in it at all times. Fast cars… Taxpayer-funded… Fancy radios... Hungry men… What in the world can you do about those BIG appetites?

Well, rather than a recipe this week, we thought some good Epicurean advice might be in order for some FAST food! You know you feel greasy because you are doing something you shouldn’t be doing, so to counterbalance that you might need something healthy to fill that pit in your stomach. Also, you shouldn’t eat too fattening or heavy with all those security threats buzzing around. You need a mobile car AND you need a mobile security force in place just in case things get a little dicey out there. To keep you fit and trim for those high-speed escapes, take a look at this “healthy” fast food list that is sure to keep you secure and comfortable in your police-style car!

Don’t let all that leg room lull you into a sense of complacency, though… There are some BAD menu items out there that are designed to SLOW YOU DOWN!! You must avoid them and you must keep from spending too much at the drive-thru – because the taxpayers are looking for their reimbursement!

Here’s a list of healthy drive-thru choices for anyone, whether they’re in a state-funded Crown Vic or not. But remember, if you take a whole week to do the right thing, you’re going to ingest some calories that are very hard to lose!

McDonalds
Ceaser Salad with Grilled Chicken
Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich

Burger King
BK Veggie Burger
TENDERGRILL Chicken Sandwich

Taco Bell
Ranchero Chicken Soft Taco
Chicken Fiesta Burrito

Sonic
Grilled Chicken Wrap
Santa Fe Grilled Chicken Salad

“Insure” the Perfect Dish
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 9:35pm

This week’s B-I-G news was the announcement of Governor Blunt’s “Insure Missouri” plan to provide health coverage for thousands of Missourians. In a bold move to provide health care coverage and maintain fiscal responsibility, Governor Blunt wins this week’s Epicurious Award for leadership and vision. I was inspired to find a healthy dish that was “insured” to be a success…

After culling through recipes, Epicurious is proud to announce that, indeed, we have found the perfect healthy entrée that is “insured” to please your guests and, just as important, it will also cover your appetite! Baked Salmon may not be as exciting as taking 1/3 of your campaign donations from lawyers– and it may not be as appetizing as talking about payday loan reform after 14 years of inaction, but it’s still tasty!

If you’re looking to insure a good response from your diners, try Baked Salmon. And if you’re looking to seriously and responsibly address health care access, try Governor Blunt’s “Insure Missouri” plan while you’re at it!

Baked Salmon with Mustard

¼ c. Dijon mustard
¼ c. olive oil
2 T dry white wine (or white grape juice)
2 T chopped fresh dill
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
1 ½ - 2 pounds salmon fillets, skin on, preferably cut from center

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the mustard, olive oil, white wine, dill, pepper and garlic. Mix well with a wire whisk. Set the fish in the center of a large baking dish. Brush with half the marinade and bake until cooked through, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush with the remaining marinade just before serving. Makes 4 servings.

Be Prepared
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 7:50pm

Jay Nixon announced this week that he was returning his over-the-limit contributions and that his campaign had no "hardship" claims with the Missouri Ethics Commission, making it clear that he was fully committed to returning the contributions. Then, suddenly, he reversed himself through his spokesman Oren Shur.

It now appears that Nixon is "prepared" to return the funds depending on what everyone else decides to do. It's almost like saying that Nixon is "prepared" to host a dinner party for all the statewide elected officials, so long as Governor Blunt brings the appetizers, entrees and dessert.

In keeping with the theme of "being prepared," Epicurious is pleased to announce a massive new recipe for the ULTIMATE Dinner Party! This week, Epicurious is "prepared" to release a recipe for Chateaubriand that is "Shur" to leave your guests eating an over-the-limit amount of fine cuisine! Since we're "prepared" to provide this recipe, it doesn't matter whether or not we will actually share it with our devoted readers or not!

Being "prepared" to do something is almost as good as actually doing it - at least according to Missouri's Attorney General. But just in case our preparation for the Chateaubriand doesn't quite go as planned, we are "prepared" to go to our fallback recipe - Peanut Butter and Jelly.

Regardless, here's our recipe for the week - in honor of Missouri's decisive Attorney General. And remember, your dinner party guests won't mind whether or not you actually do what you promised. They will eat whatever you serve and be "Shur" to thank you for it!! Here's the plan for Chateaubriand Peanut Butter and Jelly, unless, of course, you decide to do something different.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Briand

Two slices of White Bread
One Jar of Peanut Butter (smooth)
One Jar of Grape Jelly

Spread evenly on one piece of white bread two ounces of Peanut Butter (spread over the entire slice)

Spread five dollops of grape jelly on top of the peanut butter (make sure the jelly is represented evenly over each region of the bread)

Place the other piece of bread on top of the one with the peanut butter and jelly. Slice the bread in a diagonal direction (upper left corner to lower right corner) to create two different pieces.

Place on a paper plate. Serve with potato chips and LARGE glass of milk!

If the Hsu Fits…
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 4:15pm

Imagine this: It comes to your attention that your campaign has taken a ton of dirty money ($21,000, to be precise) from a fugitive who is on the lam. Then, many of your colleagues who took the same dirty money are giving it back or giving it to charity. You deny having taken any of the dirty money, even though you happen to have received MORE of it than almost anyone else…

Let’s see, dirty money from Norman Hsu’s illegal funnels (check). Friends giving it back (check). You are defiant (check). You hope nobody notices (check TBD). If you checked 3 or 4 of the preceding, two things are certain: 1) You are Claire McCaskill and 2) You must be hungry!!

Dealing with all of that dirty money and keeping up with Norman Hsu’s whereabouts, creates the kind of appetite that you’ve just got to feed! So this week, Epicurious has the perfect dish for those dirty-money-fugitive-fleeing-law-breaking hunger pangs that hit you at the worst possible time. A little Dirty Rice is just what the doctor ordered to feed an insatiable political appetite for campaign funds. But you’d better get a lawyer, because you may just get “Hsu’d” by the FEC for keeping those illegal funds!

And whether you’ve taken the dirty money like Senator McCaskill, or if you’re just looking for a new recipe, try making Dirty Rice. It tastes great and nobody will every ask you to give it back!

Dirty Rice

2 cups enriched rice
4 cups chicken stock
4 cloves minced garlic
1 1/2 cups diced white onion
1 cup diced green bell pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Salt and pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 pound pork sausage meat
1/4 pound ground beef
1/2 pound chicken giblets
1 bunch green onions, chopped

In colander, rinse rice several times until water runs clear. Place rice in pot and add chicken stock. Bring to a boil then cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Do not overcook. Saute garlic, onions and bell peppers in vegetable oil until soft for about 15 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, thyme, bay leaf, and cayenne pepper and add to rice. Cook sausage and ground beef together in sautepan and add to rice. In separate pot place giblets, cover with water and simmer for 30 minutes with green onions, salt and pepper. Let cool enough to chop into small pieces then add to rice mixture. Mix rice well and let simmer on lowest heat for an additional 30 minutes, stirring continuously, until flavors meld.

Come Together. Right Now!
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 2:30pm

This week produced some really bad news for the liberal activist group, America Coming Together. For the past two election cycles, ACT has been functioning as one of those ubiquitous “527” organizations – the kind that aren’t subject to most federal campaign finance limits.

Despite their “special” status, the Federal Elections Commissions dealt a blow to the now-defunct ACT by issuing a huge fine against them for violating federal election laws. The $775,000 fine may have to be paid by the likes of George Soros and other left-wing money bags. It seems that, in their effort to elect John Kerry, ACT ignored the law – and now they will have to pay!

So, for ACT, George Soros and the others who not only lost an election, but have now lost a bundle of dough, Epicurious has a recipe that won’t cost an arm and a leg! Though it may be difficult for the folks at ACT, it is VERY important to follow the instructions when making Homemade Bread. But, if you can manage to comply with the recipe, in the end you’ll have made some bread instead of lost some!

For all of you who have committed some bad ACTs that have cost you valuable resources, work it through with this thrifty dish – Delicious Homemade Bread. But, remember: the instructions are there for a reason!

DELICIOUS HOMEMADE BREAD

5 to 6 cup flour
3 T sugar
2 t. salt
2 pkg. dry yeast
2 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil

In large bowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Blend well. In small saucepan, heat water and oil until very lukewarm (120 to 130 degrees). Add warm liquid to flour mixture. Blend until moistened, then beat with beater 3 minutes. Stir in 2 1/2 to 3 cups flour until dough pulls cleanly away from side of bowl.

Knead 10 minutes, adding a little flour at a time, if dough feels sticky. Grease lump of dough. Put in bowl to rise and cover with towel. Let rise until double, then punch down. Divide dough into 2 parts and shape into balls. Let rise on counter covered with inverted bowl for 15 minutes.

Shape into loaves and place in 2 greased pans. Let rise in warm place about 1 hour or until it has risen about 1 inch above pans. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow. Remove from pans and brush top with butter. Makes 2 loaves.

What’s in a Name?
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 1:35pm

Has anybody out there been using the nifty new website Attorney General Nixon unveiled this week? It’s a site that he created all by himself to help consumers with product recalls. With one click of the mouse, you can go straight to Nixon’s recall site! Never mind that it is identical to a four-year-old federal consumer protection site (www.recalls.gov), the attorney general of Missouri likes to take all the credit he can get! Just as Al “Internet Inventor” Gore had done a decade ago, Jay Nixon wins this week’s “Look What I Did” Award for shameless credit-claiming.

In honor of this week’s theme of “who can we rip off next,” Epicurious is proud to present a recipe that’s as individual as you! By simply modifying the first part of “Aunt Ellie’s Meat Loaf”, you, too, can have a dish of your very own!

Let’s say, for example, that your name is Jay Nixon – here’s how it works: Step 1) Delete “Aunt Ellie’s” from the recipe name. Step 2) Insert something like “Jay Nixon’s” in the recipe name. Step 3) Suddenly, Auntie Ellie’s Meat Loaf has magically become “Jay Nixon’s Meat Loaf.” It’s really just that simple!!

So whether your name is Al Gore, Jay Nixon or even Aunt Ellie, here’s a recipe for fantastic Meat Loaf that will always live up to it’s name!!

[Insert Name Here]’s Meat Loaf

1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
5 celery stalks, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 slices bread
1/3 cup milk
3 eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
3 pounds ground beef
¾ cup chili sauce
3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Saute onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic until tender. Soak bread in milk in a mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly. Beat in sauteed vegetables and eggs. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well. If mixture is too moist, adjust consistency by adding bread or cracker crumbs. Form into loaves. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes.

Home Cookin’
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 5:00pm

There’s a lot of need for home cooking in the political world this week! Karl Rove is heading back to his beloved Texas soon to write, lecture and make public appearances. Chris "Imposter" Koster is getting settled into his new home, too. But we wouldn’t advise him to eat any "home cooking" from Jeff Harris or Margaret Donnelly. Then there was the annual "Ham Breakfast" at the Missouri State Fair this week. The Fair has already witnessed the “secret” meeting between Jay Nixon and his new buddy, "Imposter" Koster, highlighted on this site.

All this talk of going home and ham breakfasts has inspired this week’s Epicurious recipe – Farmer’s Casserole. Just think, in the time it takes Jay Nixon to thumb his nose at the state’s Sunshine Law, you could whip up a tasty casserole. And, by following the instructions below, I can guarantee that your "meal approval rating" will far exceed the Democrat congress’ measly 25%!

So for a little home cookin’ and a fine, filling dish, take a shot at the Farmer’s Casserole. You’ll be glad you did!

Farmer’s Casserole

3 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
¾ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup diced fully cooked ham
¼ cup sliced green onions
4 beaten eggs
1 12oz can evaporated milk
¼ t. pepper
1/8 t. salt

Grease a 2-quart-square baking dish. Arrange the potatoes evenly in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle with cheese, ham, and green onions.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, pepper, and salt. Pour the egg mixture over the potato mixture in dish. Bake uncovered, in a 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes or until center appears set. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Make 6 servings.

Epicurious
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 8:00am

Corn is an A-MAIZE-ing all-american dish and it is really quite versatile. So, in honor of Saturday’s Ames, Iowa Straw Poll, Epicurious is pleased to present Sauteed Fresh Corn.

Sauteed Fresh Corn is a winner - a dish you can really sink your “Mitts” into after removing the “husk-abees”. And as the steam wafts through the air, it gives off a very pleasing a-Romney!

Romney's impressive win yesterday gives his presidential campaign some summer momentum and positions him as the front runner to win Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus next January.

But between now and then, Iowans will produce LOTS of corn for us, so try out this simple, yet tasty, dish!

Sauteed Fresh Corn

8 ears corn on the cob
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Remove the husks and silk from the corn and cut off the kernels as close to the cob as possible. You should have about 7 cups of kernels.

Melt the butter in a large, heavy saute pan over medium-low heat. Add the corn, salt, and pepper and saute, uncovered, for 8 – 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until all the starchiness in the corn is gone. Taste for salt and pepper and serve.

Epicurious
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 1:50pm

Dinner Parties. Sometimes they are great fun and you hate to leave… Sometimes, you just don’t fit in…

You know, you go to a Party and just wish to find trial lawyers and Big Labor bosses there to schmooze with; but all the attendees turn out to be effective, conservative leaders. What to do? You could leave, but then what do you do about the dish you’ve prepared? If you just bolt, you may never get your favorite serving tray back and you might be rude to the host and the attendees.

It is for just such occasions that this week’s Epicurious is going to address. Here’s a recipe for a good summer Koster Salad that you can take to the Party and create using all of the host’s dishes, utensils and appliances. After you’ve used all the host’s stuff, it is no problem to simply get up and leave whenever you want! Just think; you can leave the Party and be discourteous to the host and go to where you really want to be – where you think you’ll fit in better. And you can do it all without leaving anything of value behind!!

Oh, and don’t worry about bringing a dish to the other party. They’re not expecting you to contribute anything to the cause! In fact, you may find that your mere presence is creating a divisive primary conflict…

So here’s to the great Koster Salad! Follow these simple instructions, use up the host’s things and feel free to skip out on the Party whenever you wish!

Koster Salad

Dressing:
¾ cup olive oil
6 T Balsamic Vinegar
3 teaspoon Honey
3 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
3 Tablespoon Finely Chopped Green Onions
Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper

Salad:
10 cups mixed greens
5 ripe pears, cored, peeled and thinly sliced
6 oz shredded asiago cheese
1 ½ cup unsalted cashews, toasted

At Host Home:
Ask for a cruet (or small bowl), cookie sheet, 350 degree oven, large bowl, tongs, salad plates, corer, cheese shredder, measuring cup, teaspoons and tablespoons, and paring knife. Combine dressing ingredients in cruet, shake well and set aside. On the cookie sheet, toast cashews in oven for 5-6 minutes. In the large bowl, combine greens and two thirds of the dressing. Divide among individual plates. Arrange pear slices over greens in a spiral pattern. Drizzle with additional dressing. Top with Asiago and Cashews. Serves 10.

Epicurious
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 2:00pm

I know. I know. It’s the middle of summer and here’s a recipe for White Chicken Chili! That’s because it will be a COLD DAY before the Democrats stop playing politics with campaign contribution laws. And when that cold day comes (if it ever does), here’s a phenomenal recipe that you can enjoy while considering these facts that have come to light in just one week:

• Jay Nixon’s conflict of interest was exposed as he accepted a $20,000 campaign donation from his buddy, Chuck Hatfield, on the SAME DAY Nixon and Hatfield were on opposite sides in court arguing the state’s campaign finance law.

• Nixon’s brief to the Missouri Supreme Court made the incredible argument that Governor Matt Blunt should have to return campaign contributions but that Claire McCaskill should be allowed to pay off her old campaign debt taking unlimited donations from any and all special interest groups.

By providing a campaign finance “shortcut” for his fellow Democrat, Jay Nixon earns the Golden Chili Spoon Award for thinking Missouri voters won’t know beans about his brazen partisan application of law.

Enjoy the chili, my friends. I’ve even included a “shortcut” of my own in keeping with this week’s theme!

White Chicken Chili

1 pound large white dried beans
6 cups chicken broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium onions, chopped
1 Tablespoon oil
2 4-ounce cans chopped green chilies
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1½ teaspoons dried oregano
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 cups diced cooked chicken breasts
3 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese

Combine beans, chicken broth, garlic and half of the onions in a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until beans are very soft, 3 hours or more. Add more chicken broth, if necessary. In a skillet, saute remaining onions in oil until tender. Add chilies and seasonings and mix thoroughly. Add to bean mixture. Add chicken and continue to simmer 1 hour. Serve topped with grated cheese. You can all serve with any or all of the following condiments – chopped tomatoes, chopped ripe olives, guacamole, chopped scallions, sour cream, crumbled tortilla chips, or salsa.

*shortcut: purchase 2 large cans of northern beans instead of soaking beans. Add rinsed and drained beans with chicken broth, garlic and half of the onions and bring to a boil. Continue to follow recipe.
**shortcut 2: purchase pre-chopped onions and other condiments as well as Tyson pre-cooked diced chicken breasts

Epicurious
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 5:45pm

This week, Epicurious has been considering the “burn rate” of the Nixon for Governor campaign. In his 2nd quarter campaign finance report, Jay Nixon “burned” 48-cents for every dollar he raised. A 48% burn rate is horrible for any campaign and a poor indication of campaign management. Compared to Governor Blunt’s “burn rate” of 30% for the same period, Nixon will continue to lag on cash on hand and find himself in real trouble unless these problems are corrected.

Here’s a recipe that has a much lower burn rate than Jay Nixon, but you’ll have to watch it carefully. Crème Brulee goes from outstanding to ruined very quickly if you’re not on your toes! And if you burn in the kitchen the way Jay Nixon burns through his cash, you may not want to risk making the Crème Brulee until you are a legitimate contender for “Chef of State.”

Crème Brulee
2 cups heavy cream
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large egg yolks
1/4 cup, plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1/3 to 1/2 cup white granulated or light brown sugar
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

In a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan, heat cream with vanilla over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring to ensure it does not burn; do not let boil. Remove from heat and let steep for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, beat egg yolks with an electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar. Add about half the cream mixture, a little at a time, to the egg mixture, whisking until well blended. Then pour the egg mixture into the remaining cream mixture. Stir until completely blended. Pour the custard into 4 (9-ounce) ramekins or custard cups. Place the dishes in large baking pan.

Pour enough hot water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the mixture is set in the center (it should still wiggle when shaken). Carefully remove the dishes from the baking pan. Let cool to room temperature and then refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 24 hours. Let creme brulee stand at room temperature 20 minutes before serving.

Divide 1/3 to 1/2 cup white or light brown sugar in a thin, even layer over each custard, covering it completely. To caramelize the sugar, light a propane torch* and hold it so the flame just touches the surface. Start at the center and spiral out toward the edges of the ramekins. If the sugar begins to burn, pull the torch away and blow on the sugar to extinguish the flame. Serve immediately.

Cook's Note: A propane torch can be bought at your local hardware store. If you don't have one, caramelize the topping under the broiler, watching carefully so as not to burn it as this happens very quickly!

Epicurious
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 9:00pm

This week’s recipe is a tribute to that great environmental crusader, Al Gore. What with the “Earth in the Balance” and all, Al Gore and hundreds of musicians are flying all over the world today (burning jet fuel and using massive amounts of electricity) to bring attention to global warming. It’s almost like serving fast food, milkshakes and vats of lard to draw attention to the problem of obesity… but, I digress.

On this day of the Great Green Global Gore Galas, Epicurious whips up a little “Environmentally-friendly Antipasti (Anti-Energy) Salad” Antipasti Salad can be made without burning any fossil fuels, without squandering precious electricity, without producing any carbon emissions and without releasing those pesky little greenhouse gasses! It’s the perfect thing to eat while you ponder with Al Gore the things you might do to singlehandedly save our planet!

So here’s to you, Al Gore! Thanks for the music and have a great 7-7-07!

“Anti-pasti (Anti-Energy) Salad”
1/4 lb Genoa salami, sliced thick
1/4 lb Cooked ham, sliced thick
1/4 lb Provolone cheese slices
15 Cherry tomatoes, halved
8 Pepperoncini peppers
1 Red onion, sliced thin
1 jar Marinated artichoke hearts, sliced
8 oz bottle Italian salad dressing
3 tsp Italian seasoning
15 oz can Black olives, drained
1 jar Green olives, drained

Cut the meat and cheese into bite-size pieces. Combine all ingredients into a gallon size ziplock bag. Toss to coat and then refrigerate for at least 1 hour but if you have time, let it marinate overnight. Periodically toss to distribute the dressing evenly. Serve alone or on a bed of greens.

Epicurious- “In Your Face”
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 9:40am

As we celebrate America’s Birthday, Epicurious has just learned of Jay Nixon’s newest “reform” of the Missouri Housing and Development Commission. Under Nixon’s plan, no statewide elected official is allowed to receive any free baked goods from anyone with a pending MHDC proposal...

That means, of course, that Nixon won’t taste the offerings of low-income housing developers so as not to be improperly influenced as he casts his vote for each project. Too bad – because this week, Epicurious is pleased to offer a true Fourth of July Favorite – the Epicurious Apple Crumb Pie!

We recommend that you whip up one or two of these for your holiday guests and discuss the “reform” ideas of Attorney General Nixon who, after 14 years of inaction, has decided that a huge state government largesse needs a little attention.

This pie works great at a party with friends, as a pleasant family dessert, or as a nice pie-in-the-face to any elected official who tried to pull the wool over the eyes of Missouri voters!

Bon appetit!

Apple Crumb Pie
9” pie crust
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup flour
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Dash salt
6 cups thinly sliced apples (about 5 medium)

Topping:
1 cup flour
½ cup firm butter
½ cup brown sugar – firmly packed

Crumb the topping. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Stir sugar, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt together. Mix lightly with apples. Pour into pastry. Sprinkle with crumb topping. Bake 40-50 minutes. If top browns too quickly, cover with foil during last 15 minutes.

Epicurious
Posted by: Sandy Koller | 9:15am

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich serves as the inspiration for this week’s Epicurious! The Governor of our neighbor-to-the-east has been running up a $6,000 a day taxpayer tab flying from the State Capitol in Springfield to his home in the Chicago area. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Air Blagojevich may be nearing the $100,000 mark in taxpayer fare.

In what must be all of a 30-minute flight, we have decided to identify a recipe that can be made and eaten in the time it takes to sit down, buckle up, sit back and fly from Springfield to Chicago. Perhaps the Governor can get his taxpayer-funded chef to whip this up in his taxpayer-funded oven to serve it aboard the taxpayer-funded airplane. In a different time, a different leader said “Let them eat cake!” To the taxpayers of Illinois, we say “Let them eat Grilled Airline Chicken!”

Oh, by the way, hats off to Missouri Governor Matt Blunt for sticking to his pledge not to waste state tax dollars by flying the state airplane all over creation! Thank you, Governor!

Now for an item that’s right for the flight in the night, we proudly present Grilled Airline Chicken with Fresh Tomatoes and Thyme

Grilled Airline Chicken with Fresh Tomatoes and Thyme
2 chicken breasts, airline cut*
1 1/2 cups red and yellow cherry tomatoes, cut in half
2 tablespoons chopped sun dried tomatoes
2 teaspoons cape