Meal Of The Month: February

Apricot-glazed Cornish hens for two

2 Servings

Prep: 15 min. Bake: 65 min. plus standing time

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

2 Cornish game hens (20 to 24 ounces each)

2 tbsp butter, melted, divided

1/4 cup apricot preserves

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp grated onion

1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Method of preparation:

Combine the salt and cayenne. Rub a third of the mixture inside hens.

Brush 1-tablespoon butter over hens; sprinkle with remaining seasoning mixture. Place on a rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350 F for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the preserves, honey, onion, nutmeg and remaining butter. Cook and stir until preserves are melted.

Brush over hens. Bake 35-40 minutes longer or until golden brown and a meat thermometer reads 180 F. Cover and let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.

MEAL OF THE MONTH: MAY

This month's meal isn't really a meal at all but rather an introduction to the meal: DIP! The staff at CELEBRATE have curated some of the best dip recipes to help you take advantage of the fresh, bounty of crunchy summer produce heading our way!

Chablis Cheese Dip

8 oz Liederkranz cheese

8 oz softened cream cheese

1/4 tsp celery salt

1/4 tsp garlic salt

1/4 Chablis wine 

Use mixer to blend first four ingredients.  Add Chablis a little at a time and beat for three minutes.  Place in a very clean container.  It will keep for about a week.  The flavors meld the longer it sits.

Tuna Cream Dip

6 oz cream cheese

1/4 tsp Tabasco

3 tbsp mayo

1 can Tuna (approx 6 oz), drained.

1 tbsp lemon juice

Mix well and refrigerate until served.

Calico Dip

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup salad dressing (such as Miracle Whip)

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tbs minced scallions

2 tbsp minced radishes

2 tbsp minced cucumber

2 tbsp minced green pepper

1-2 cloves garlic

Mix well, refrigerate, and serve.

Embassy Dip

1 lb cream cheese

1 can condensed black bean soup

1/2 tsp oregano

1/8 tsp chili powder

1 tsp grated onion

1 tsp salt

2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

Blend and refrigerate.  Increase oregano and chili powder to taste if you desire.

Hot Crab Meat Dip

8 oz cream cheese

6.5 oz can crab meat

Dash of Worcestershire Sauce

Lemon juice to taste

Sherry to taste if desired

Mix all ingredients and place in small casserole.  Bake at 350 until cream cheese is gooey (approx 20-25 minutes).  Serve warm.

Curry Dip

1 cup mayo

1/4 cup sour cream

1/8 tsp turmeric

1 tbsp curry powder

1 clove, crushed garlic or 1/2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

1/8 cup minced, fresh parsley or 1/2 tsp dried.

Mix well and let "ripen" in refrigerate for a few hours.

Easy Curry Dip

2 cups mayo

3 tbsp ketchup

1 tsp curry powder

2 tbsp of honey

8 drops Tabasco

3 tsp minced onion

Mix and refrigerate.

Cucumber Dip

1 small cucumber. peeled, seeded, and minced

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 pint sour cream

2 tbsp minced chives

1 tbsp each, lemon juice and minced fresh dill weed.

1/4 tsp white pepper

Sprinkle cucumber with salt.  Let stand for an hour and drain in a strainer.  Combine with remaining ingredients and chill.

Red Caviar Dip

8 oz softened cream cheese

1 cup sour cream

4 oz red caviar (salmon roe)

2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

Mix and chill.

Basil Cottage Cheese Dip

2 cups cottage cheese

2 tbsp vinegar (such as red wine or apple cider)

1/4 cup chopped scallions

2 tbsp chopped parsley 

6 -8 fresh basil leaves or 1 tsp dried, crumbed. 

Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Mix in blender and chill.

Painless Paper Projects 3.0

Here is an incredibly easy way to bring style to your porcelain Nile! You're probably thinking, "What the hell are they talking about?"... why tissue boxes of course!

Take an unfinished wooden tissue box (available at most good craft stores or if you are brave construct your own out of heavy press board) and:

Choice One: Paint the box your favorite color. Next, apply a thin layer of glue or Mod Podge to the box's surface. Then take tissue paper, crumple it, and stick it onto the glue. This will achieve a textured surface with a variety of depth of color. Finish with a coat of spray varnish or Mod Podge.

Choice Two: Without painting the box, cover it with glue and crumpled tissue as above. Once it is dry you can give it a coat or two of your favorite paint. You could even gilt it with silver or gold leaf!

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

Holiday Centerpiece Idea

Here is a great idea for a quick and festive holiday centerpiece with items you have lying around the house. Collect a few glass vessels. We used a small cylindrical vase, an over sized martini glass, and an unused trifle bowl. Next we gathered up all the left over glass Christmas balls that didn't make it on the tree. Next, we filled each of the vessels with ornaments. Finally, we arranged the trio on a circular silver place mat to add a modern touch. See what you have laying around the house and have fun being creative!