Sandwich Spread - (Tail of the Garden)

An old recipe handed down from my mother, which she received from my grandmother.  Excellent on burgers, hotdogs, or really any sandwich.  Can also stand alone or eaten on crackers.  You can substitute any relish type condiment with this spread. 

1 Doz. Green Peppers
1 Doz. Red Peppers
1 Doz. Green Tomatoes
5 Lg. Onions
1 Tbsp. Salt
3 C. Sugar
1 C. Cider Vinegar
½ C. Corn Starch
6 – 8 oz. Yellow Mustard
1 Qt. Miracle Whip

Finely grind peppers, tomatoes and onions.  Place in large bowl and cover with boiling water.  Let stand 10 minutes.  Add salt.  Let sit 5 minutes, then drain.  In a very large saucepan, combine sugar and vinegar.  In separate bowl, combine cornstarch with enough water to make a paste.  Add to the vinegar mixture.  Bring to a boil.  In sauce pan, stir in mustard and cooked vegetables.  Cook until blended, stirring frequently abut 20 minutes.  Remove from heat and add Miracle Whip.  Pour into clean canning jars.  Hot water bath jars for 15 minutes for jars to seal. 

Swiss Cheese Fondue

This recipe was given to me by my sister, who spent several years living in Switzerland.  This was the recipe given to her by the locals.  The Gruyere is a must, but you can substitute the Jarlsberg for Emmenthaler.  The first time I tried this recipe it was a failure.  I overheated the cheese which turned it into a gooey mass.  Do not overcook or overheat the cheese; it will rebel against you.  Keeping a constant eye on the heat and stirring constantly will prevent this.  Once this dish is smooth and velvety, don’t hesitate to start dipping.  It won’t wait on you.  Truly a great dish for those who love cheese, bread and wine. 

 



Cut bread and place into bowl.  Let the bread openly sit and lose some of its moisture for 2 – 3 hours to dry out slightly.  Peel and cut a garlic clove and thoroughly rub the entire inside of the fondue pot.  Use more garlic if necessary.  Add the white wine to the pot and heat gently over medium heat.  Alternately add the cheese by small handfuls, stirring constantly after each addition to melt the cheese.  Once all of the cheese has been added and melted, dissolve the cornstarch in a small additional amount of white wine or brandy.  Add the cornstarch to the fondue stirring constantly to incorporate.  Serve with the cubed bread.

**If you do not have a fondue pot, you can use a thick walled small kettle.  Keep the kettle on the stove over low heat to keep the cheese in a smooth consistency.

Za'atar Dip

Excellent dip for bread.

 

1/3 C. Olive Oil

3 Tbsp. za’atar

6 Garlic Cloves, minced

1 Bunch Cilantro, Minced

Salt

Pepper

Combine all ingredients.  Mix well, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.  Let sit for 6 hours or overnight for flavors to develop.  Bring to room temperature before serving.  Serve with crusty bread to dip. 

Olive Dip

Use your favorite type of olive in this recipe.  If you want to tone the taste of olives down, use less juice.  Letting the dip sit in the fridge overnight really lets the flavors develop.

 

8 Oz. Cream cheese
½ C. olives, chopped
¼ C. olive juice
¼ C. mayo

Have the cream cheese at room temperature. In large bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix with blender until creamy. Season with pepper. Cover tightly. Refrigerate at least 2 hours up to overnight.

Guacamole

The grocery stores now sell the tubes of chopped herbs.  What a time saver!  This time of year, when my herb garden is no longer an option, it is a great alternative.  Use fresh lime and when covering the dip, press the plastic wrap lightly on top to keep out the air.  Otherwise, it will turn a darker color on top.

 

4 avocados
2 medium tomatoes
1 lime, juiced
½ onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 - 2 Tbsp. Cilantro, minced
1 jalapeno, minced

Remove skin and pits from avocados. Dice tomatoes, removing some of the pulp if the tomatoes are not “meaty”. In large bowl, place all ingredients. With a large wire whisk, smash until you have the desired consistency. Season with salt. Cover tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.