Cooking with Mary

June 13

Mayor Andy Ezard’s recipe:

This one is very simple!

Ingredients:

Shrimp, raw, peeled and deveined (tail on or off)

Soy sauce

Black’s Magic Cajun or Original Seasoning (I use Cajun)

Notes: Marinate shrimp for at least 30 minutes but not much more. Grill the shrimp. Add seasoning when you put them on the grill and close to getting done.  It doesn’t take long. Add a nice sauce if you would like.

If you have any question please feel free to give me a call at the Mayor’ s Office (217) 479-4610 or if you ever run out of the savory Black’s Magic Seasong please call Bob Black (217) 248-1665.

Enjoy

Cooking with Mary

June 13

Mayor Andy Ezard’s recipe:

This recipe really doesn’t have any measurements….you have to experiment. Some like a lot ot mayonnaise and some don’t. Some like a lot of green onion and some don’t or not want any at all. The key is to get Black’s Magic T’soning. That is what makes it delish!

Ingredients:

Shredded chicken

Mayonnaise

Celery

Green onion

Hard boiled eggs

Honey Crisp apple

Black’s Magic T’soning.

Mix to your liking and taste.

Note: Please try new thing and let me know. I use Honey Crisp apples but I’m sure different varieties as well as grapes would be great too. Light Mayo could be used but I need the calories (lol). Have fun with it. My good friend Colin Dobson and the Dobson family have always called me Mayor McCheese from the McDonald’s character in the 70’s and 80’s…look him up (lol).

If you have any question please feel free to give me a call at the Mayor’ s Office (217) 479-4610 or if you ever run out of the savory Black’s Magic Seasong please call Bob Black (217) 248-1665.

Enjoy

Cooking with Mary

April 3, 2019

4 Boneless, skinless Chichen Breasts, trimmed

Salt and Pepper

1 Twenty ounce can Pineapple chunks in juice

1/4 c of Honey

1 Tbs Cider Vinegar

1 Tbs Soy Sauce

1 Tsp Tabasco

1 Tsp Cornstarch

1 Tbs Water

1/3 c Sliced Almonds

Adjust oven rack to upper position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Pat chicken dry with paper towel and season with salt and pepper. Lay chicken in 13×9 baking dish coated with cooking spray.

Drain pineapple juice from chunks reserving 1/2 cup juice. Whisk pineapple juice, honey, vinegar, soy sauce and Tabasco together in medium saucepan over med-high heat. simmer, whisking often until mixture thickens, about 8 minutes. Dissolve cornstarch in water and whisk into honey mixture. Stir in pineapple chunks. Pour over chicken and sprinkle with almonds.

Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until chicken registers 160 degrees on as instant read thermometer. Serves four.

Cooking with Mary   2/28/19

Cooking spray

1 tbs Oil

1 lb Roast, cut into bite-sized pieces

2 Cups Carrots, cut into “coins”

2 Cups Celery, thinly sliced

1 med. Onion, thinly sliced

1 jar Beef Gravy or one can beef broth

1 jar sliced mushrooms, drained or fresh, sauteed in olive oil

1 can Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls

1 tbs sesame seed (optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 11 x 7 glass baking dish

Saute Pot Roast in nonstick skillet with oil, cook 5 – 7 minutes, stirring frequently until browned. Remove meat from skillet and cook celery, carrots and onion until crisp tender. Return beef to skillet. Stir in gravy and mushrooms. Cook 2 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Pour into prepared baking dish.

Separate dough into 8 triangles. Arrange over filling, overlapping about ¼ inch to create a braided appearance. Spray triangles with cooking spray and add sesame seed.

Bake 22-25 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Cooking with Mary
Aug. 22, 2018

1 ½ lbs boneless Pork Loin Roast cut into 1 inch pieces
1 tbs Chili Powder
2 cloves Garlic, minced
½ tsp ground Chipotle Chile Pepper (optional)
½ tsp ground Cumin
¼ tsp Salt
1 tbs Canola Oil
2 14.5 oz cans unsalted Diced Tomatoes, undrained
1 15 oz can unsalted Black Beans, rinsed and drained
1 8 oz can unsalted Tomato Sauce
1 cup frozen whole kernel  Corn
1 medium Mango, halved, seeded, peeled and chopped
¼ cup fresh Cilantro
¼ cup Red Onion slivers (optional)

In a medium bowl combine pork, chili powder, garlic, ground
chile pepper, cumin and salt; toss to coat meat. In a large
nonstick skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook half
the pork in hot oil until browned on all sides, stirring
occasionally. Transfer pork to a 3 1/2 or 4 quart slow cooker.
Cook remaining pork and place in slow cooker.

Add tomatoes, beans, tomato sauce, and frozen corn to pork in
slow cooker. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 4 to 5
hours or on high-heat setting for 2 to 2 ½ hours.

For topping, combine mango, cilantro and onion and spoon
over each serving.

Cooking with Mary
May 16, 2018

1 Baked pie shell (Bake 425 to 450 degrees for 9 to 11 minutes)

First layer:
1 lb lean Ground Beef
Brown in large skillet then add;
2 pkgs Taco Seasoning Mix
1, 15 oz can Diced Tomatoes with juice
1 small can Green Chilies (optional)
Stir all together.

Second layer:
1 c Ricotta Cheese or may substitute small curd cottage cheese
2 Eggs
Blend together until smooth

Once assembled in pie shell, bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes
Remove from oven and top with
1 c Cheddar Cheese
Return to oven and bake for 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned

Allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
May be served with fresh lettuce, tomato and sour cream as well as salsa of your choice.

Cooking with Mary
March 28, 2018

1 lbs ground Ham
1/2 lbs ground lean Pork
1/2 lbs ground lean Beef
1 cup Cracker crumbs
2 tbs chopped Onion
2 tbs chopped Celery
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
2 Eggs, beaten
1 cup Milk
Shape into loaves and place in a large baking dish.

Basting Syrup
1 cup brown Sugar
1/4 cup Vinegar
1/4 cup Pineapple juice
1 Tbs dry Mustard

Bake 1 1/2 hours at 325 degrees

Cooking with Mary
February 21, 2018

1/2 cup Soy Sauce
2 tbs Honey or Brown Sugar
2 tbs Vinegar
1 tbs Ginger Root or Powdered Ginger
2 cloves Garlic, crushed
1/4 cup Oil

Combine above ingredients and pour over 1 1/2 lbs Steak in shallow pan. Marinate 6 hours or more. Grill outside or use broiler inside. Broil 7 – 10 minutes each side for medium rare. Slice diagonally when serving. Also make delicious sandwiches when cold.

cooking with Mary
February 7, 2018

1 lb Ground Beef
1 cup Pasta, uncooked (macaroni or other)
1 jar Pizza Sauce
1 can (small) Tomato Sauce
1 can (small) Tomato Paste
1/2 tsp each: Garlic Powder, Basil, Oregano, Italian Seasoning
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
8 oz Mozzarella Cheese
May also add Green Peppers, Black Olives, Mushrooms, Onion, etc.

Brown ground beef, (if using green pepper and onion, brown in skillet with beef). Cook pasta and drain. Mix beef and all other ingredients together. Sprinkle with Parmesan, bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, then place Mozzarella cheese on top. Bake about 10 minutes longer.

Cooking with Mary
January 3, 2018

4 Boneless, skinless Chicken Breast halves, 4 ounce each
1 envelope Italian Salad Dressing mix
1/4 cup Water
1 8oz package Cream Cheese, softened
1 can (10 3/4 oz) Cream of Chicken Soup, undiluted
1 can (4 oz) Mushrooms and Stems, drained
Hot cooked pasta or rice

Place chicken in 3 Qt. slow cooker. Mix salad dressing mix and water and pour over chicken and cook for 3 hours.
In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and soup until well blended. Add mushrooms and pour over chicken. Cook 1 hour or until meat thermometer reads 170 degrees.
Serve over rice or pasta. Garnish with oregano if desired.