Shrimp Toast

• 12 fresh uncooked large shrimp
• 1 egg
• 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Pinch pepper
• 3 slices sandwich bread
• 1 hard−cooked egg yolk
• 1 slice cooked ham (about 1 ounce)
• 1 green onion
• 2 cups vegetable oil

1. Remove shells from shrimp, leaving tails intact. Remove back veins from shrimp. Cut down back of shrimp with sharp knife. Gently press shrimp with fingers to flatten.

2. Beat 1 egg, cornstarch, salt and pepper in a small bowl until blended. Add shrimp to egg mixture and toss until shrimp are completely coated.

3. Remove crusts from bread. Cut each slice into quarter. Place one shrimp, cut side down, on each bread piece. Gently press shrimp to adhere to bread. Brush or rub small amount of egg mixture over each shrimp.

4. Cut egg yolk and ham into 1/2 inch pieces. Finely chop onion. Place one piece each of egg yolk and ham and a scant 1/4 teaspoon chopped onion on each shrimp.

5. Heat oil in wok over medium−high heat until it reaches 375F. Fry 3 or 4 shrimp−bread pieces at a time in the hot oil until golden, 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Drain on absorbent paper.

Cashew Chicken

• 3 Chicken breasts, boned and skinned
• 1/2 lb. Chinese pea pods
• 1/2 lb. Mushrooms
• 4 Green onions
• 2 cups Bamboo shoots, drained
• 1 cup Chicken broth
• 1/4 cup Soy sauce
• 2 tb Corn starch
• 1/2 ts Sugar
• 1/2 ts Salt
• 4 tb Salad oil
• 1 pack Cashew nuts (about 4−oz)

Slice breasts horizontally into very thin slices and cut into inch squares. Place on tray. Prepare vegetables, removing ends and strings from pea pods, slicing mushrooms, green part of onions, and the bamboo shoots. Add to tray. Mix soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar, and salt. Heat 1 tbls of oil in skillet over moderate heat, add all the nuts, and cook 1 min shaking the pan, toasting the nuts lightly. Remove and reserve. Pour remaining oil in pan, fry chicken quickly, turning often until it looks opaque. Lower heat to low. Add pea pods, mushrooms, and broth. Cover and cook slowly for 2 mins. Remove cover, add soy sauce mixture, bamboo shoots, and cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Simmer uncovered a bit more and add green onions and
nuts and serve immediately.

Chocolate Fondue

• 8 ounces good quality chocolate
• 8 ounces heavy whipping cream.
• 1 shot grand mariner or liqueur of choice.

Heat cream and liqueur in dessert fondue pot on medium heat. Add chocolate and stir until chocolate is melted. Place dessert pot over a tea candle to keep warm. Serve with a seasonal fruit plate, marshmallows and pound cake or cookies.

Chicken Pate

• 3 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
• 1/2 cup onions, finely chopped
• 1 (8 oz.) whipped cream cheese
• 1/4 cup mayonaise
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 cup sherry
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• juice of 1 lemon

Cook chicken breasts in boiling water for 30 − 45 minutes. When cooled cut up chicken into cubes. In medium bowl combine all ingredients. Place mixture into small jello mold or small loaf pan. Make sure to coat pan with oil so mixture will come out smoothly. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours. Serve with crackers.

Cheese And Artichoke Fondue

• 1−1/2 cups diced processed American cheese
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon all−purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1−1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 1/4 cup roasted red peppers, drained and diced

Mix American cheese, milk, Worcestershire sauce, flour and mustard in a 3−quart saucepan. Cook over medium−low heat, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted. Stir in Cheddar cheese until melted. Stir in artichoke hearts and bell peppers. Transfer cheese mixture to fondue pot. Keep warm over low flame. Serve with dippers.

Cheese & Olive Bruschetta

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise (or salad dressing)
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
• 2 medium tomatoes, seeded,finely chopped
• 1/4 cup black olives, chopped
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (preferably freshly grated)
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon basil
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 baguette, fresh, about 2 1/2" round and 27" long
• 1/3 cup butter, softened

Mix the first 8 ingredients (this can be done the day ahead and refrigerated). Cut the baguette into 1" slices. Butter one side. Arrange on a cookie sheet, buttered side up. Divide the mixture among the slices and spread. Bake in 350F oven for about 15 minutes and the cheese has melted.

Caramel Snack Mix

• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup white corn syrup
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup almonds
• 1 (12 ounce) package crispy corn and rice cereal

Preheat oven to 275F. Spray a large roasting pan with non−stick cooking spray. In a medium−size microwave safe bowl, mix butter, white corn syrup and brown sugar. Place the mixture in the microwave and cook 2 minutes, or until butter melts. Place the cereal, pecans and almonds into the prepared roasting pan. Pour the melted butter mixture over the cereal and nuts and mix gently until the cereal and nuts are coated. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. As the snack mix is cooling, be sure to continue to stir so that the mix will not harden into one big lump.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

• 3 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cubed
• 1 cup hickory flavored barbecue sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon molasses
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 (12 inch) pre−baked pizza crust
• 1 cup smoked Gouda cheese, shredded
• 1 cup thinly sliced red onion

Preheat oven to 425F. In a saucepan over medium high heat, combine chicken, barbeque sauce, honey, molasses, brown sugar and cilantro. Bring to a boil. Spread chicken mixture evenly over pizza crust, and top with cheese and onions. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Bacon And Tomato Cups

• 8 slices bacon
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 3 ounces shredded Swiss cheese
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 (16 ounce) can refrigerated buttermilk biscuit dough

Preheat oven to 375F. Lightly grease a mini muffin pan. In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until evenly brown. Drain on paper towels. Crumble bacon into a medium mixing bowl, and mix with tomato, onion, Swiss cheese, mayonnaise and basil. Separate biscuits into halves horizontally. Place each half into cups of the prepared mini muffin pan. Fill each biscuit half with the bacon mixture. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.