Carnival of the Recipes #33

Welcome back my friends, to the show that never ends. We're so glad you could attend! Come inside, come inside!

Introducing the "Karn Evil" of the Recipes 33. We've a sight to make you drool, so keep it cool, keep it cool...

Drinks
Nothing uses up alcohol faster than political argument.
-- Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Oddybobo at Bobo Blogger presents Another Tight Sweater for the Blog Warriors. Kahlua, Frangelico, Amaretto, whipped cream. Yum.

On a much less refined note, I must offer up my own Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster recipe. Drink at your own risk.

I never thought of making my own root beer. But Michele at Meanderings passes along a recipe for Marge's Root Beer too easy to pass up.

Peter the Wizard at Down For Repairs was too late to get a recipe in, but offers some helpful advice on finding the right wine to accompany your food.

Appetizers
How about rousing your lazy carcass and finding a little snack for lunch? Say about four thousand calories each.
-- Lazarus Long in Heinlein's Time Enough For Love

Mostly Cajun provides a recipe to help us keep those leftover Easter eggs from going to waste: Pickled eggs. (Just what kind of "Cajun" would even consider this heretical notion of making the hot peppers "optional" in this recipe??!) Elizabeth at Harelipfrog tried this recipe and has pictures documenting the preparation of the eggs.

Donna at PajamaPundits has a recipe for Butterflied Party Franks that she suggests be dubbed Space Cadet Franks to fit the Heinlein theme around here. OK. Space Cadet Franks they are.

My blogchild Owlish passes along this recipe for Caviar Dip. Looks downright sinful.

The Glittering Eye offers a Spinach Souffle in 3's, which would make a really good brunch dish.

Bothenook at A Geezer's Corner offers this appetizer that makes my arteries feel harder just reading it: Bacon Wrapped, Pecan Stuffed Dates. <homer voice>Mmmm. Bacon.</homer voice>

Entrees
Like a perfect dinner, a revolution has to be "cooked" so that everything comes out even.
-- Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Ted at Rocket Jones, who kindly sponsored my membership in the Munuvian clan, gives us two choices of Tamales this week -- Chorizo Apricot and Poblano Jack. He has made the recipes almost idiot-proof, even offering diagrams on how to put the tamales together in the corn husks:

I'm a multi-generation native Texan who loves tamales, but I've never tried to make them myself. Now I have no excuse but to do so.

Ith is organizing a Gathering of the Blogs around Tartan Day on April 6. As a proud owner of Scots blood (about 75%), I would love to participate, but I'm doing this Carnival instead. I guess I'll have to try some of her Bonnie Prince Charlie Chicken instead.

Allan found a recipe for Southwestern Stir-Fried Shrimp that is low in fat and calories, but not in flavor. Cumin, bell peppers, and lime will keep this one interesting, though I suspect I would increase the Cayenne pepper from 1/8 to 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon to get the heat where I like it.

Sissy Willis made a Crown Roast of Pork with Apple and Sausage Stuffing and Gravy for Easter dinner. Check out her variation on Sweet Potato Casserole, below.

VW offers up an easy and yummy recipe for Garden Chicken and Stuffing. Looks like quick and easy comfort food for the whole family.

One of the joys of cooking is learning presentation techniques. Caltechgirl at Not Exactly Rocket Science gets creative with her Meatloaf Cake recipe, which I would love to make just to see the looks on my kids' faces.

Chris Byrne - The AnarchAngel presents Recipes for REAL men - Volume 2, featuring "MusclecarBonara," a very rich-looking sauce for pasta.

Newwavegurly at The mental pukings of a pop culture junkie sends along another savory pasta recipe: Quick Shrimp Marsala.

Shawn at Everything and Nothing provides this delicious-looking recipe for a Mediterranean Vegetable-Cheese Pie, perfect for the warmer months ahead. I couldn't decide whether to put this under side dishes or entrees, but it had so many yummy things in it, I thought it could go here.

Joan, guestblogging at Booklore, passes along a recipe for homemade Macaroni and Cheese. This looks really rich.

Rory at What not to do in Asia presents What not to cook - Olive and Kimchi Omelet. Add a Bloody Mary and this would be a great hangover remedy.

Elisson at Blog d'Elisson presents Daffy, Donald, and Me, a complete spread featuring roast duck.

Feisty Christina simplifies Shrimp Etouffee for the masses. Secret ingredient: cream of celery soup. Be sure to check out her cake recipe down below, too.

BJ at Quite Early One Morning presents a devilish bastardization of two Italian pasta dishes to create Le Frutta del Diavolo del Mare. This looks really good, folks.

Soups and Stews
"What would you say to a Kansas City cut, rare, with baked potato, Tycho sauce, green salad, coffee ... and a drink first?"
"Heavenly!"
"I think so too, but we'll be lucky, this hour in this hole, to get algae soup and burgers."
-- Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Jeff at Trub (pronounced Troob) passes along his recipe for New England Clam Chowder. Mmm. Soup is good food.

Here's some Nordic Stew from El Capitan. It looked like the contents of a cirrhotic liver patient's bedpan, but it smelled wonderful. Caveat: most things taste and smell better when camping, much less while, ahem, in a chemically-altered brainstate.

More stews, this time of the Ethiopian variety, from fellow Dallasite Kevin the Technogypsy. He offers recipes for both Vegetable Stew and Chickpea Stew here.

Amanda the Aussie Wife submits a spicy recipe for Thai Style Chicken Soup. I would probably use a dried red chili or two as garnish, but I like things insanely hot. Your mileage may vary.

Punctilious at Like News But Tasty prepares a Fine Soup from the Easter dinner Cornish hens. Two meals for the price of one!

Be at Bebere.com gives us another spicy soup perfect for warming any lingering chills in this early Spring (and for keeping any of our friends Down Under warm as their calendar moves toward Winter): Caldo Verde (Portuguese Kale Soup).

Sandwiches, Sides, Salads, and Sauces
That'll be three beers--Coors--and three sirloin steaks, one rare, one medium rare, one medium. With the usual garbage. Baked potato, fried promises, whatever. The usual limp salad. Hot rolls. All the usual. Dessert later. Coffee.
Steve the Truck Driver in Heinlein's Job: A Comedy of Justice

Kris at Anywhere But Here "hearts" avocados, and so do I, so this recipe for Avocado and Cheese Sandwiches looks like a keeper.

Jay at Accidental Verbosity shares a recipe for the crockpot: Barbecue Shredded Beef. He uses London Broil; I have used Brisket in a very similar way to make shredded Barbecue sandwiches. A great recipe for when you're too busy to fire up the grill or smoker and make "real" BBQ.

One of Marybeth's Random Thoughts is a simple sandwich recipe: Silver Morning Sandwiches. She suggests rye or wheat bread, but I bet pumpernickel would work really well with the Russian dressing and slaw.

FrazzledDad figured out a way to make a decent Shortcut Mole (generically, a complex sauce or gravy used in Mexican cooking). Jim uses apricot in the sauce, so this might make a real nice complement to Ted's Chorizo Apricot tamales, above.

I've never much liked sweet potato casseroles at holiday dinners, but I may have to change my mind after looking at Sissy Willis' Easter creation: Pureed Baked Sweet Potatoes topped with Peeps. If nothing else, the presentation was perfect for the holiday. Great job!

Though I'm a third-generation Texan (second-generation native) and my wife is a relative of Sam Houston, I've never been able to acquire a taste for grits. Too "southern" and not "Texan" enough for my taste. David at Third World County has a recipe that may change my mind, however: Chilis and Cheese Grits. He suggests (but hasn't tried) substituting chorizo for the bacon. Sounds perfect, and I may just have to try them that way.

Triticale - The Wheat/Rye Guy has created a Peach Salsa that might possibly impress a Texan. Apparently the recipe burned the tender palates of some Wisconsin salsa judges, but I wouldn't give them much credibility. Let a panel of Texans judge this one. Kidding aside, I bet this would really complement Ted's Chorizo Apricot Tamales (above).

Deborah at Eat Your History has put together a really great-looking Mediterranean Orzo and Roasted Vegetable Salad.

Dessert
Son, crying in your drink is bad enough; crying into a hot fudge sundae is disgusting.
-- Jerry in Heinlein's Job: A Comedy of Justice

The Thomas at Food for the Thomas submits this made-from-scratch angel food cake recipe: Aunt Lil's Sunshine Cake.

Fellow Texan Prochein Amy forwards her mother-in-law's recipe for Chocolate Dream Cake. This is my kind of dessert!

Munuvian Jordana at Curmudgeonry offers her recipe for Ginger Chocolate Chip Cookies. Yum.

Feisty Christina helps us finish things off with Gooey Cake, a simple but delicious-looking recipe.

It has been my pleasure to host this Karn Evil. I have had a great time reviewing your recipes, and can't wait to try them all out. Please feel free to drop by my blog anytime.

Update: Where are my manners? Thanks, Beth, for giving me the opportunity to host this week! Everyone can view earlier Recipe Carnivals here.

Posted by JohnL at April 1, 2005 01:05 AM