Peanut Butter Balls

Almost every Christmas I make these cookies for our family get together.  I got this recipe from my
 Mom.  I usually triple it, 9 adults and 9 nieces and nephews and a ton of Gillooly sweet tooth's. 

1/2 Cup Crunchy Peanut Butter
11/4 Cup Powdered sugar
1 Tbsp Butter

Mix well, roll into balls and chill in refrigerator for at least an hour.

6oz. Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1 Scant Tbsp Paraffin Wax

Heat on a double boiler.

Dip balls in chocolate mixture and drain on wax paper.

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!!

Shrimp Fra Diavolo

This recipe comes from my good friend Tom, who I met when I was 18 years old going into my freshman year of college. 


1 Lb Large Shrimp, Peeled Deveined, Uncooked
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Crushed Red Pepper
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Medium Onion
1 14.5 oz Can Diced Tomatoes
1 Cup Dry White Wine
3 Garlic Cloves Chopped
1/4 tsp Dried Oregano Leaves
3 Tbsp Chopped Parsley
3 Tbsp Chopped Basil

In a bowl, toss shrimp with 1 tsp salt and red pepper.  In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.  Add shrimp and saute until just cooked (2 minutes).  With slotted spoon, transfer shrimp to bowl leaving oil in skillet.  Add onion to skillet and saute until translucent.  Add tomatoes (with juice), wine, garlic, oregano, and simmer until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.  Return shrimp to tomato mixture and toss to coat.  Remove from heat and stir in parsley and basil.


Enjoy!!  Merry Christmas!!!

SANGRIA!!

I just realized I never posted this recipe.  I'll be making it today, so what better time to post it!  Hopefully, I won't forget to take a picture, but I think we all know what Sangria looks like :)  This recipe comes from Carolyn Coleman who was like my second Mom when I was a kid growing up in Cumberland.  She gave me this recipe a few years back, as we sat out on a deck of a beach house they had rented in Narragansett. 

Bottle of Red Wine (or White)

1 1/2 Cup No Pulp Orange Juice

1 1/2 Cup Clear Soda (7 UP, Sprite, Ginger Ale)

1/2 Cup Brandy

1/2 Cup Triple Sec

Slices of fruit (berries, lime, lemon, oranges, peaches)

Thank you Carolyn!!  Happy Summer!!

Cranberry Nut Granola

I believe everything in moderation, so I have decided to start putting some of my sweeter recipes on here too. This recipe is from Giada De Laurentiis, but of course, I changed it up a bit.

 Ingredients:

3/4 Cup Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
1/2 Cup Sunflower Seeds
1/3 Cup Maple Syrup
2/3 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
1 1/2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
3 Cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
1 Cup Chopped Roasted and Salted Almonds
1/4 Teaspoon Fine Sea Salt 1 Cup Dried Cranberries

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds on a baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly toasted. set aside to cool.

Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.

In a small saucepan, combine the maple syrup, brown sugar, cranberry juice, and cinnamon over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved.

In a medium bowl, mix together the oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and salt.

Pour the maple mixture over the oat mixture and stir until combined. Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Stir in the cranberries and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until the mixture begins to brown. Cool completely. Store airtight in a plastic container for up to 1 week.

Enjoy!!