Indulge your taste buds with an explosion of summer flavors! Discover a collection of recipes crafted by Creative Arts ribbon-winning home cooks. From irresistible candied jalapeños to heavenly angel peach melba – there’s something for everyone to bring the taste of summer into your kitchen.
ANGEL PEACH MELBA
Lynn Wilford Grand Prairie, TX 1st Place–Speedy Dishes Contest
Ingredients:
4-6 lg. peaches, washed, sliced & chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 c. raspberry jam, divided
8 oz. fruit-flavored cream cheese (strawberry or raspberry works)
Whipped cream
Crumbled coconut cookies (like Thinsters or Nate’s brand)
Prepare peaches (wash and chop). Add 4 tablespoons of jam to peaches. Stir and place to side. Prepare sweet cheese if making your own. Mix ½ cup raspberry jam with softened cream cheese (put in microwave 15 seconds to help soften). Blend until smooth. Cut cake into slices. Spread layer of jam (2 teaspoons) on top of each cake slice. Spread thick layer (1-2 tablespoons) of sweet cream cheese on top of jam. Place generous ½ cup of peaches on top of sweet cream. Cover peaches with mound of whipped cream and top with teaspoon of jam. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of crushed cookies on top of whipped cream and serve.
Candied Jalapeños
Cheryl Thornton Whitney, TX 1st Place–Canning
Ingredients:
20 jalapeño peppers, sliced
2 c. sugar
²⁄3 c. cider vinegar
1 T. mustard seed
¼ tsp. turmeric
¼ tsp. celery seed
¼ tsp. garlic powder
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
Bring all ingredients except peppers to a quick boil, lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add sliced peppers and simmer 5 more minutes. Pack in your jars and seal with a 5-minute water bath.
PAULA’S FRESH STEWED TOMATOES WITH BACON AND ZUCCHINI
Paula Skelton Haltom City, TX 3rd Place-Farm to Fork
Ingredients:
12 lg. tomatoes, peeled, cored & chopped
1 orange bell pepper, cored & chopped
1 yellow bell pepper. cored & chopped
1 lg. onion, chopped
2 T. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 T. lemon juice
Place tomatoes. bell peppers, onion, sugar, salt and lemon juice in large heavy stewpot. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and simmer until tomatoes have broken down and peppers are tender. Fry 2 pieces bacon in skillet, add 1 chopped shallot and 1 small sliced zucchini. Cook until zucchini is tender. Add tomatoes, simmer. Serve.
PEACHES & CREAM PIZZA
Marisa LeCour Rockwall, TX 2nd Place–Pizza Cook-Off
Ingredients:
½ c. butter, room temp.
¼ c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 c. flour
¼ c. quick oats
8 oz. cream cheese, room temp.
½ c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
15 oz. sliced peaches, drained
¼ tsp. cinnamon
¹⁄8 c. chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 400°. Cream together butter and brown sugar. Mix in egg, flour and oats until thoroughly blended. Oil baking sheet or pizza pan. Press dough flat onto baking pan. Bake 6 minutes, then allow to cool. Mix cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Spread over cooled crust. Layer peaches on top of cheese. Sprinkle with cinnamon and walnuts. Broil on high until cheese is golden.
SNICKERS SALAD
Mary Ehrenberger Dallas, TX 1st Place–Speedy Dishes
Ingredients:
1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
1 (12-oz.) ctn. original Cool Whip, thawed
6 Granny Smith apples, cored & cut in chunks
6 Snickers bars, cut into bite-size chunks
Mix cream cheese and powdered sugar together until blended thoroughly. Fold in Cool Whip; add apples and chopped Snickers bars to cream cheese mixture and stir to combine. Chill for 1 hour before serving. Hint: Do not mix and refrigerate overnight as cream cheese mixture will turn soupy. Recipe can easily be cut in half.