Festive Fruit Salad

Suggested Piece: 6.5 Qt. Insulated Bowl + 1 Qt. Saucepan

Ingredients
2 lbs. strawberries, halved
1 (6 oz.) container raspberries
2 c. seedless green grapes
2 kiwi, peeled and thinly sliced

Mint-Lime Dressing
1 c. sugar
1 c. fresh mint leaves
1/4 c. fresh lime juice

Directions
Prepare dressing by stirring together sugar, mint, and 1 c. water in 1 Qt. Saucepan over medium heat. Cover and cook until Vapo-Valve clicks, then reduce temperature to low for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice and cool 30 minutes. Pour mixture through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a bowl. Prepare salad by gently tossing strawberries, raspberries, grapes, and kiwi in 6.5 Qt. Insulated Bowl. Drizzle with 1/2 cup mint-lime dressing and gently stir to coat. Serve immediately, or cover and chill up to 2 weeks.

Summer Pasta Salad

Suggested Piece: 5 Qt. Wok

Ingredients
8 oz. farfalle pasta, cooked
1 zucchini (#3 cone)
2 yellow squash (#3 cone)
2 nectarines, chopped
1/3 c. parsley, chopped
1/4 c. sliced almonds, toasted
Salt & pepper to taste

Lime Vinaigrette Dressing
1 tbsp. lime zest
2 tbsp. lime juice
2 tbsp. white balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp. Creole mustard
1 1/2 tsp. honey
1 garlic clove (#1 cone)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil

Directions
Rinse prepared pasta with cold water, and drain well. Gently fold together pasta, zucchini, yellow squash, nectarines, and parsley in 5 Qt. Wok. Whisk together lime zest, lime juice, mustard, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Add olive oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until smooth. Drizzle dressing over salad. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.

Suggestions: Add shredded chicken to salad for a protein boost! For a gluten-free option use quinoa or rice pasta.

Zucchini Carpaccio

Suggested Piece: 12" Deep Dish Griddle

Ingredients
1 lemon
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
2 large zucchini (#4 cone)
1 avocado
Pine nuts (or salted roasted almonds)

Directions
From 1 lemon, finely grate 1/2 tsp. zest and squeeze 2 tbsp. juice into a small bowl. With wire whisk, stir in extra virgin olive oil, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Process zucchini on #4 cone and arrange slices on large serving plate with overlapping layers with avocado. Drizzle lemon dressing all over vegetables and top with almonds or pine nuts.

Super Simple Vanilla Ice Cream

Suggested Piece: 3.5 Qt. Insulated Bowl

Ingredients
2 c. heavy cream
2 c. whole milk
1 c. sugar
3 tbsp. vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Directions
Blend all ingredients in a blender until ingredients are completely combined and sugar is dissolved. Pour batter into ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's directions to freeze the ice cream.
Pour ice cream into 3.5 Qt Insulated Bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 1 - 3 hours before serving to allow the ice cream to firm up a bit. Grab a spoon and enjoy!

Peggy's Quick Beer Bread

Suggested Piece: 11” Skillet

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
¼ cup sugar
1 – 12 oz can beer (Budweiser)
¼ cup butter

Directions
Preheat skillet on medium-low heat. Mix together all dry ingredients in large bowl. Pour in beer and mix well, batter will become sticky. Melt butter in bottom of skillet to coat and pour excess butter into small dish. Empty dough into skillet and drizzle with remaining butter. Cover and bake on medium-low for approximately 30-35 min. or until baked through. (Skillet should never click when baking dough!)   

Honey-Beer Braised Ribs

Suggested Piece: 12" Electric Skillet (EOC)

Ingredients
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. pepper
3/4 tsp. salt
6 lbs. pork baby back ribs
1/4 c. honey
1 bottle (12 oz.) dark beer
1/4 c. apple cider vinegar
1 bottle (18 oz.) barbecue sauce

Directions
Combine the brown sugar, pepper, and salt; rub over ribs. Place ribs bone side down in 12" EOC. Drizzle with honey. Combine beer and vinegar; pour around ribs. Cover and set temperature to 350F until Vapo-Valve clicks. Reduce temperature to 185F for 2 hours, or until tender. Pour off excess liquid and cover with barbecue sauce.

Brazilian Beer Marinated Chicken

Suggested Piece: 11" Large Skillet

Ingredients
4 garlic cloves (#1 cone)
2 tsp. ginger root (#1 cone)
1 onion (#4 cone)
1 tbsp. sweet paprika
1 tbsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. caraway seeds
1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
1/4 c. Dijon mustard
2 c. dark lager or stout
1/4 c. avocado oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 tbsp. butter
1/4 c. cilantro, chopped

Directions
In gallon Ziploc bag combine garlic, ginger, onion, paprika, salt, black pepper, caraway seeds, green pepper, mustard, beer, and oil. Add the chicken, seal bag, and refrigerate for 4 hours. Preheat skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken to skillet and brown on both sides (approx. 5 min per side) until cooked through. Brush with butter and sprinkle cilantro over the top.

Beer-Braised Beef

Suggested Piece: 12" Gourmet Chef Skillet & Multipurpose 5 Qt.

Ingredients
3 bacon strips
2 lbs. beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1 onion (#3 cone)
1 tsp. garlic (#1 cone)
1 bay leaf
1 can (12 oz.) beer
1 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. thyme, dried
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/4 c. water

Directions
In large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels; drain, discarding drippings. Sprinkle beef with pepper and salt. In the MP5, brown beef over medium-high heat. Add the bacon, onion, garlic, and bay leaf. In a small bowl, combine the beer, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and thyme. Pour over beef mixture. Cover and cook over medium heat until Vapo-Valve clicks, then reduce temperature to low. Cook over low heat until meat is tender. In small bowl, combine flour and water until smooth. Gradually stir into MP5. Cover and cook on medium heat until thickened. Discard bay leaf. Serve over noodles or mashed potatoes.

Strawberry Cheesecake Bites

Suggested Piece: Double Burner Griddle

Ingredients
1 lb. strawberries
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 c. graham cracker crumbs (#1 cone)

Directions
Cut off tops of the strawberries and set aside. In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer. Process graham crackers on food processor creating crumbs into a separate small bowl. Dip the wide end of the strawberry in the cream cheese mixture, then roll it around in the graham cracker crumbs.

Herb Cucumber & Tomato Salad

Suggested Piece: 3.5 Qt. Insulated Bowl

Ingredients
3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. fresh oregano, chopped
3 English cucumbers (#3 cone)
1 c. grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 c. red onion, (#4 cone)
2 tbsp. fresh mint, chopped
2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
2 tbsp. fresh dill, chopped
1/2 c. feta cheese
Salt & pepper to taste

Directions
Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, and oregano in bowl. Toss together with cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, mint, parsley, and dill. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with feta.