(o: Secret Sister Swap #2 Travelin' Recipes!! You gotta see this one to believe it!!(July '06 - Dec. '06) :o)

Here we go again! As I did for the very first Secret Sister Swap, I collected recipes from the participants of the second Secret Sister Swap to compile into yet another cookbook of treasured T & T Faves!!!! I begged! I nagged! I begged and nagged some more, and a majority of those wonderful Sisters came through for me yet again with a veritable plethora of awesome recipes! This second cookbook actually has 6 separate sections with well over 500 recipes collected! My initial foray into the archives to collect hidden treasures like I did for the first SS cookbook proved to be far too difficult a task, as we all know how well the infamous 'search feature' has been working these past months!! ! :o) NOT!! Anyway...... here again, is the end result of all my persistent nagging! Were it not for the generosity of all those awesome ladies, this cookbook would never have come to be! If you saw the first one I did, either by requesting a copy of it or on the 'Favorite' thread I posted here on Recipes, you'll find this second one to be quite different! AND, dare I hope, just a bit more FUN because of all the extras I included!!

Again, special thanks to ALL the SS's who contributed recipes!! As in the first, there were several ladies I dubbed as 'Honorary Sisters' because they were not actually a part of the swap, but DID share a few of their Faves!!

Extra special Thanks to two fantastic moderators HDMac (Marcia) and cllw (Linda), who did a really bang up job with this second group!! As great a job as you did on the first swap, you did an even more awesome job on the second one!! You know, you two could make this your full time jobs!! Oh!! Sorry!! You already HAVE!! :O) Seriously, you two are the bestest!!!

This is dedicated to ALL of you Awesome Sisters and Fantabulous Cooks!!

† God's Special Blessings on EACH of you †

This cookbook project definitely will take a few days to complete. Because there are well over 500 recipes total, I think I'll post each section separately to make it easier to find specific recipes!! Each thread will start out the same as this one to tie them all together! Each thread will be categorized and the recipes and their contributors listed alphabetically at the beginning of each thread. At the very end, I will, as is becoming my habit with these rather lengthy threads, make a page by page index of all the recipes in THAT particular thread. Perhaps you may want to print a copy of it to make it easier to find a particular recipe or two!! Just a thought! :O)

The 6 sections are:
Secret Sisters Favorite Recipes! (167 recipes)
Secret Sister Swap #2 Summertime Faves!! (67 recipes)
Secret Sister Swap #2 Popcorn Recipes!!! (This was a LOT of fun!) (66 recipes)
Secret Sister Swap #2 Fall Favorites!! (99 recipes)
Secret Sister Swap #2 Holiday Favorites!! (94 recipes)
Secret Sister Swap #2 Travelin' Recipes..... (You gotta see this one to believe it!:O) (16 rec.)

And so it began..................

Secret Sister Swap #2 Travelin' Recipes........

........this special section is dedicated to:

Linda a.k.a. cllw
  Karen a.k.a. beecuzican_PA
   Sandra a.k.a. Catrinka
   Laurie a.k.a. zaiahsgramma
     Sandee a.k.a. Sandee1
      Samantha a.k.a. sam0904
       Marcia a.k.a. HDMac_WA

  These ladies contributed much to our "trips" in the way of refreshments and entertainment!! :o)

But it is "Specially" dedicated to our Australian Sister:

Malkimus a.k.a. - Katie.......

Without her wonderful contributions to THIS section, NONE of them would have been included in this cookbook!! (Besides, she sort of dared me to put the "really weird" recipes in a special section!! Being the obedient Sister that I am...........)

My special thanks to YOU, Katie!! 

Take a peek at this just a small sampling of the "Sister chatter" and you'll understand just a little better why this section earned it's place here........

Posted by: malkimus  -  Posted on: 8/29/2006

Malkimus (Katie) says, "KC, if that recipe for earthworm patties is NOT included in the cookbook I'm going to be hurt!! It's not often that I sit down and diligently copy out word for word, recipes with esoteric ingredients. Earthworms apparently are a huge source of protein as are crickets (see recipe for chocolate chirpie chip cookies) and while I feel we have plenty of cookie recipes, I know we haven't got a single one for earthworms. Now I don't deny that I have not made it. I can only say in my defense that I don't even like fish patties or potato patties and I need what earthworms I have to help my poor tragic plants to grow, BUT, it is a very interesting recipe and I'm proud to have had it at my fingertips to share with you all.

(Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I guess I'll go eat worms!)"

Hugs to all my sisters!!!
Katie


Posted by: beecuzican_PA  -  Posted on: 8/29/2006

 Karen says,

"Big fat juicy ones
Tiny little squiggly ones
Watch them wriggle and squirm..."

Posted by: Catrinka  -  Posted on: 8/29/2006

Sandra says,

"Down goes the first one, down goes the second one,
Oh how they wiggle and squirm.
Up comes the first one, up comes the second one,
Oh how they wiggle and squirm."

Posted by: beecuzican_PA  -  Posted on: 8/29/2006

Karen says,

"Long thin slimy ones slip down easily
Short fat juicy ones stick
Short fat juicy ones stick between your teeth
And the juice goes slurp, slurp, slurp."

Posted by: Catrinka  -  Posted on: 8/29/2006

Sandra says,

"Big fat juicy ones, Eensie weensy squeensy ones,
See how they wiggle and squirm.
Nobody knows how I survive
On worms three times a day."

Posted by: beecuzican_PA  -  Posted on: 8/29/2006

Karen says,

"Nobody loves me
Everybody hates me
Going to the garden to eat worms
Long thin slimy ones
Short fat juicy ones
Gooey, gooey, gooey, gooey, worms."

Posted by: Catrinka  -  Posted on: 8/29/2006

Sandra says,

"The littlest worm you ever saw
Got stuck inside my soda straw
He said to me, "Don't take a sip,
'Cause if you do, you'll get real sick."
I took a sip and he went down
Right through my pipe, he must have drowned
He was my pal, he was my friend
There is no more, this is the end.
sniff......
sniff....
sniff...

Now don't you fret, now don't you fear,
That little worm had scuba gear. :)

*********

Kay says,  "See what I mean? These Sister's have been at the Kahlua too long!!"

Alligator Recipes? :O)
         Alligator Balls Recipe - cllw - (SSFall Trip)
         Alligator Chili - beecuzican_PA - (SS Fall Trip)
         Alligator Pickles - KC10 - (SSr Fall Trip)
         Alligator Sauce Picante - Catrinka - (SS Fall Trip)
         Alligator Soup - beecuzican_PA - (SS Fall Trip)
         Alligator Stew - zaiahsgramma - (SS Fall Trip)

Travelin' Recipes !! :O):O)
         Cinnamon Wine - sam0904_mi - (SSFall Trip)
         Jell-O Pumpkin Balls - KC10 - (SS Fall Trip)
         Kahlua Balls - sandee1 - (SS Fall Trip)
         Pumpkin Seed Popcorn Balls - sandee1 - (SS Fall Trip)
         Pumpkin Spice Popcorn - HDMac (also in Popcorn Section) -                 (SS Fall Trip)
         Pumpkin Wine - KC10 - (SS Fall Trip)
         White Wine Cake - cllw - (SS Fall Trip)

Truly Weird Recipes !!!!! :O):O):O):O)
         Chocolate Chirpie Cookies - malkimus - (SS Fall Trip)
         Earthworm Patties - malkimus - (SS Fall Trip)
         Jellyfish Salad - malkimus - (SS Fall Trip)

ALLIGATOR............................... 

Alligator Balls Recipe
(Secret Sister Fall Trip)

Posted by: cllw  -  Posted on: 8/21/2006

cllw (Linda) says, "I don't know nuthin' about a missing alligator!! (that'll teach him to chase me!)"

Alligator Balls Recipe

1 lb. Chopped alligator meat
1 Egg
1 Tb. finely chopped onions
1 Tb. finely chopped celery
1 Tb. finely chopped parsley
2 Tb. finely chopped shallots
2 tsp. Lemon pepper
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 c. Bread crumbs
1 c. Cooking oil
Flour to dredge

 Combine all ingredients, form 1 inch diameter balls, allow to set one hour. Dredge in flour and fry till brown. Serve hot.

Alligator Chili
(Secret Sister Fall Trip)

Posted by: beecuzican_PA  -  Posted on: 8/21/2006

Alligator Chili

3 lbs alligator meat, diced
1/2 cup oil
2 cups diced onions
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced bell pepper
2 tablespoons diced garlic
2 tablespoons diced jalapeños
1 (16 oz.) can pinto beans
38 oz. cans tomato sauce
1 cup chicken stock
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
salt and black pepper to taste

 In a heavy Dutch oven, heat oil over medium high heat. Add alligator and sauté twenty minutes to render juices. Add onions, celery, bell pepper garlic and jalapeños. Sauté until vegetables are wilted, approximately three to five minutes. Add pinto beans, tomato sauce, and chicken stock, bring to a low boil and reduce to simmer. Add chili powder and cumin, stir well into mixture and allow to cook one hour, stirring occasionally. once alligator is tender, season to taste using salt and black pepper. This dish is always served at hunting camp dinners over spaghetti.

Serves 6

 Alligator Pickles (Pickled Gator) :O)
(Secret Sister Fall Trip)

Posted by: KC10  -  Posted on: 8/22/2006

KC10 (Kay) says, "I know I'm gonna get in trouble for this BUT.......................... I just couldn't resist this one!!"

Pickled Gator

2 pounds alligator meat
2 teaspoons paprika
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup chopped red onions (large pieces)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons minced garlic

 Cut meat into bite-sized pieces and sprinkle with paprika. Coat skillet with cooking spray and cook meat on medium for 6 to 7 minutes. Remove meat from skillet and let cool. When meat is cool combine with vinegar, onions, oil and garlic.
Refrigerate overnight, stirring occasionally. Remove meat and onions from marinade and serve with salad greens or pasta.

1 cup chicken stock
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
salt and black pepper to taste

 In a heavy Dutch oven, heat oil over medium high heat. Add alligator and sauté twenty minutes to render juices. Add onions, celery, bell pepper garlic and jalapeños. Sauté until vegetables are wilted, approximately three to five minutes. Add pinto beans, tomato sauce, and chicken stock, bring to a low boil and reduce to simmer. Add chili powder and cumin, stir well into mixture and allow to cook one hour, stirring occasionally. once alligator is tender, season to taste using salt and black pepper. This dish is always served at hunting camp dinners over spaghetti.

Serves 6

Alligator Sauce Picanté/Grilled Cajun Style Gator Tail
(Secret Sister Fall Trip)

Posted by: Catrinka  -  Posted on: 8/22/2006

Catrinka (Sandra) says, "Here's my recipes.....So Linda says it tastes like chicken. I still wont eat it."

Alligator Sauce Picanté

4 lbs. alligator meat
4 Tb. flour
3 med. onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 cans Rotel® tomatoes
1 (8 oz.) can tomato paste
4 ribs celery, chopped
Salt, red pepper, black pepper
4 Tb. oil
1 1/2 bunches green onions, chopped
4 bay leaves
1 stick butter
1 slice lemon (thin)
1/4 c. parsley

 Roux: Make roux with oil and flour. Add onions, celery, and bell pepper. Simmer for about 3 minutes. Then add tomato paste and Rotel® tomatoes; simmer 30 minutes. Add garlic, meat, and chicken stock; simmer 25 minutes. Add green onions, bay leaf, salt, red pepper, and black pepper; cook 20 minutes. Add parsley, butter, and lemon slice. Simmer 20 minutes and serve over rice.
Prepare Meat: Get meat other than from tail. To prepare, first place in boiling water for 5 minutes. The fat that gives the alligator that "fishy" taste will rise to the top. Remove meat and rinse in clean water. Add a little oil to the bottom of the black pot and lightly brown. Remove meat and discard oil. Meat is now ready for cooking.

................  Now this sounds kind of yummie................

 Grilled Cajun Style Gator Tail Recipe

4 To 6 lb. Gator Tail
Lemon wedges

Cajun Seasoning Mix:

12 Tb. Paprika
6 Tb. Garlic powder
3 Tb. Salt
3 Tb. White pepper
3 Tb. Oregano, crushed
3 Tb. Black pepper
2-1/2 Tb. Thyme
1 Tb. Cayenne pepper

 To make seasoning mix, combine paprika, garlic powder, salt, white pepper, oregano, black pepper, thyme and cayenne pepper in jar with tight fitting lid. Shake well to combine. Mixture may be stored for up to 3 months. When ready to cook, cut gator tail meat into 1/2" cubes. Roll each cube in 1 tablespoon of the mixture. Cook over high heat on an outdoor barbecue grill or under the oven broiler for 4 to 6 minutes, or until gator tail meat is white and firm to the touch. Serve warm with lemon wedges. The seasoning mixture will coat up to 24 (4 oz.) servings of gator tail.

 Alligator Soup
(Secret Sister Fall Trip)

Posted by: beecuzican_PA  -  Posted on: 8/21/2006

beecuzican_pa (Karen) says, "But, I found this one for you Kay!!"

Alligator Soup

3 lb. Alligator Tail, diced
2 cup Onions, chopped
1 cup Celery, chopped
2 (8 oz) cans of tomato Sauce
3 Garlic Pods, mashed, chopped
Cayenne Pepper to taste
Salt to taste
pinch of basil
1 cup bacon drippings'
1 cup flour, all purpose
3 quarts (96 oz) water
1 lemon
1 oz Sherry

 Get you out them Dutch Oven, build them fire, medium hot, make them Roux by using them Bacon Drippings' and them flour, brown them flour until golden brown. Clean and prepare them ingredients for them pot, take them tomato sauce out of them cans, throw them cans in them garbage cause they taste bad in them soup, and add to them Roux, stir well, then stir some more. Now add them water, bring to a high boil, reduce them fire and simmer, closed up. Now find them skillet, brown them Alligator until dark brown, be careful not to burn them. Add them to them simmering soup. Put them cover back on and simmer for about 3 hour. Add some water to keep them pot the same fullness. Taste for tenderness, then add them Sherry. Open them lemon, squeeze them juice into them pot, throw them hulls away. Serve right a way, is so goooood! for sure!
Bon Appetite!

Alligator Stew
(Secret Sister Fall Trip)

Posted by: zaiahsgramma  -  Posted on: 8/21/2006

zaiahsgramma (Laurie) says, "Missing gator?? Gator balls??? Has Linda been driving the RV again? Well, I have another recipe for you to use the rest of the unbruised meat."

Alligator Stew

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 quart cut up alligator meat
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons minced parsley
1 (10-ounce) can tomatoes with green chilies
salt and pepper
1 cup cooked rice

 Put vegetable oil and alligator meat in heavy 4 quart cooking pot. Add chopped vegetables, parsley and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Cover pot and cook over medium heat for one hour. Serve over hot cooked rice. Preparation time: 1 hour, 15 minutes.

 That'll teach those gators to crash our party!!!

 Now off to find a pattern for a popcorn skirt before the flatbed makes it's rounds.

LindA - Hope your back is feeling better - remember to use a back brace when alligator wrestling though! AND.....you don't have to tell ALL my secrets....I was supposed to be on that road the horse WASN'T!!!

 Have a great evening sisters!

TRAVELIN'...............


Cinnamon Wine
(Secret Sister Fall Trip)

Posted by: sam0904_MI  -  Posted on: 9/2/2006

sam0904_MI (Sam) says: "got another wine to go with those apple fritters and carmel apples. - Man oh man my sisters gonna think I'm a wine lush lol"

Cinnamon Wine.

Cinnamon Wine (1)
12 six-inch cinnamon sticks
3 lb. granulated sugar
7-1/2 pints water
1 tsp yeast nutrient
1/8 tsp tannin
3 tsp acid blend
1 crushed Campden tablet
Champagne wine yeast

 Put cinnamon sticks and one quart water in a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Bring to a simmer and hold for 10 minutes with the lid on, turn off heat, and let steep for two hours. Strain the water into a secondary and discard the cinnamon sticks. Add sugar to remaining water and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add all remaining ingredients to secondary except Campden and yeast and then pour in the sugar-water. Cover with a napkin held in place with a rubber-band and allow to cool. Add Crushed Campden, stir, and allow to sit 24 hours covered. Add activated yeast and recover. Ferment 5-7 days, or until specific gravity falls below 1.030. Fit with airlock and continue fermentation 30 days. Rack into sanitized secondary, top up, and refit airlock. Ferment another 3 months, rack again and ferment additional 3 months. Stabilize, sweeten to taste, and let sit under airlock additional 10 days. Rack into bottles and store in dark place.




 

 JELL-O Pumpkin Balls
(Secret Sisters Fall Trip)

Posted by: KC10  -  Posted on: 9/2/2006

Kay says, "Hey Joanie! You talking about a recipe for pumpkin balls? or what? LOL Sort of like this one?"

JELL-O Pumpkin Balls
PLACE 1/4 cup butter and 6 cups JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows in large microwavable bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 11/2 to 2 min., or until marshmallows are puffed.

ADD 1 pkg. (3 oz.) Orange JELL-O Gelatin, dry; stir until well blended. Pour marshmallow mixture over 12 cups popped popcorn and 1 cup peanuts (optional). Stir quickly to coat well.

SHAPE into balls with greased hands. Decorate with candies, licorice.

"Kahlua Balls"!
(Secret Sisters Fall Trip)

Posted by: sandee1  -  Posted on: 9/2/2006

Sandee says, "Couldn't find my recipe for pumpkin popcorn balls, but I'll bring the:"

"Kahlua Balls"!

17 Oreo® cookies (do not use double-stuffed)
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
3 tablespoons Kahlua
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
chocolate, for dipping (optional)

 Chop or crush cookies quite fine. Measure out 1-1/2 cups of crushed cookies and mix with remaining ingredients except dipping chocolate. Form into small balls, about one inch in diameter. Roll balls in remaining cookie crumbs (for best results, have the crumbs crushed very fine)...

OR, refrigerate balls for 1 hour and then dip in melted chocolate.

Return to refrigerator to set chocolate. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

NOTE: If you want to make a non-alcoholic version, just substitute Kahlua flavored syrup, which can be found in the coffee section of most supermarkets.
Change the liqueur/syrup flavor to make Amaretto Balls, Irish Cream Balls, or whatever suits you.

Sandee (middle name Love That Kahlua)

Pumpkin Seed Popcorn Balls
(Secret Sister Fall Trip)

Posted by: sandee1  -  Posted on: 8/23/2006

Pumpkin Seed Popcorn Balls

2 cups of raw pumpkin seeds
1 large egg white
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla

 Lightly beat egg white and vanilla together. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper, Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl add egg white to seeds until just coated. Add sugar and toss. Spread seeds on sheet toast for 10 minutes. Stir and separate then continue toasting until light golden brown. Let cool.

9 cups popped popcorn
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup light-colored corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

 Remove all unpopped kernels from popped popcorn. Put popcorn in a greased baking pan. Keep popcorn warm in a 300 oven while making syrup. For syrup mixture, butter the sides of a heavy 2-quart saucepan. In saucepan combine sugar, water, corn syrup, vinegar, and salt. Cook and stir over medium-high heat till mixture boils, stirring to dissolve the sugar (about 6 minutes). Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan. Reduce heat to medium, boiling at a moderate, steady rate, stirring occasionally, till thermometer reaches 250 (about 20 minutes). Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Pour syrup mixture over hot popcorn and stir gently to coat. Cool till the popcorn mixture can be handled easily. Mix in pumpkin seeds. Buttered hands and shape the mixture into 3-inch diameter balls. Wrap each ball in plastic wrap.

Yield about 10 popcorn balls.