Sunday, February 28, 2010

CHEERS! FAREWELL FEBRUARY (MONTH) SEA BREEZE COCKTAIL/GRAPEFRUIT & AVOCADO SALAD/PEPPERED WHITE CHEDDAR MUFFINS

"Life ... is like a grapefruit. It's orange and squishy, and has a few pips ..."

~ Douglas Adams

~ 'GRAPEFRUIT' FULL MOON
_______________


SEA BREEZE COCKTAIL
(for each cocktail)
*
2 ounces vodka
1/3 cup fresh grapefruit juice
1/3 cup cranberry juice
lime wedge

  • Shake vodka, grapefruit juice and cranberry juice.
  • Strain over tall highball glass filled with ice.
  • Finish with lime wedge.



GRAPEFRUIT & AVOCADO SALAD

4 large ruby red grapefruit

4 ripe avocados

1 bunch baby spinach

1 thinly sliced red onion


  • Divide grapefruit into sections. Slice avocado into 1/2-inch strips. Toss together to prevent avocado from discoloring. Keep airtight until serving time.
  • To serve: Place spinach on plate. Arrange alternate grapefruit andavocado slices. Top with red onion. Sprinkle with Poppy SeedDressing. (8 servings)
  • Serve with SPICY PEPPERED WHITE CHEDDAR MUFFINS.

POPPY SEED DRESSING

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp. dry mustard

pinch salt

1/3 cup white wine vinegar

2 Tbsp. chopped green onion

1 cup vegetable oil

2 Tbsp. poppy seeds


Place sugar, mustard, salt, vinegar & chopped onion in blender. Slowly blend in oil. Stir in poppy seeds.

____________

PEPPERED WHITE CHEDDAR MUFFINS

2 cups unbleached flour

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. coarsely ground pepper

1 cup shredded white cheddar cheese

1 1/4 cups milk

1 large organic egg

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil


  • Stir together first 6 ingredients in large bowl; make well in center.
  • Stir together milk, egg, and oil until blended. Add into well of dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Spoon batter into greased muffin tins, filling two-thirds full.
  • Bake at 400-degrees for 18-20 minutes or until golden. Cool in pans 2 minutes before removing. Serve warm with plenty of sweet butter. (1 dozen)


16 comments:

Gatsbys Gardens said...

I think I've got a great start on dinner. Grapefruit's in the frig and I was headed to the grocery store anyway.

Thanks for helping us MARCH into spring!

Eileen

RURAL said...

I am going to have to stop reading your blog before breakfast. Here I am desperately searching for ingredients......everything looks so yummy.

Gorgeous shot of the moon.

Jen

Anonymous said...

Dear Joey, I am, as always, captivated by your postings and this one no less so. I am going to have a go at this, well, the cocktail!!

Everything you write and picture is so beautifully done that I do hope that you are well on the way to your first, if not second, cookery book. Even non cooks like me would snap it up!

donna said...

Joey, this post makes me want to eat and drink! The muffins sound easy and delicious.

donna

D said...

Joey, you got to see the moon!!! LOL What a great shot. Now I must go to the grocery and get some grapefruit. ;)

joey said...

Enjoy Eileen. For some reason, grapefruit seems especially wonderful this month and perhaps exactly why Feb is National Grapefruit Month! Happy 'on the cusp' March :)

Thanks Jen ... not a last night moon shot since the sky was overcast. Just thought it would be fun to merge the moon and a grapefruit ... only you might understand why ... Mr. Ho-Hum scratched his head :)

Thank you, dear Edith, how kind. Someday, perhaps ... it would be a dream! It's afternoon here and that Sea Breeze cocktail does sound good! Perhaps watching Olympic hockey :)

Go for it, Donna ... enjoy and toast the last day of February!

No, I didn't see the moon last night, Di. Unlike your lovely shot, this is a fake ... forgive me but thought is would be fun :)

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Love your grapefruit moon, and I love Douglas Adams...it's been a looong time since I've read anything by him!

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

Looks yummy as always Joey. I love that photo of the moon and wish I knew how to take one so beautiful.~~Dee

F Cameron said...

I shouldn't read your food posts when I'm hungry! I want to make those muffins.

Cameron

Shady Gardener said...

Joey, Do you create all these great recipes?? (Another way to ask: Are you in the kitchen All Day, Every Day??) ;-) I suspect otherwise, as you'd not have time to take photos and garden! ha.

Rose said...

I rarely drink alcohol, but I'll definitely toast to the end of February with you, Joey:)

Rob (ourfrenchgarden) said...

The moon's so bright it's like daylight outside now.

That's a terrific moon shot.

Talking of shots, that sea breeze cocktail doesn't strike me as a breakfast drink.

Carol said...

Gorgeous grapefruit/moon shot Joey! I love the combination of avocado and grapefruit but never thought to add spinach.

Nutty Gnome said...

It's a good job I've just had my dinner or I'd be rampaging around the kitchen trying to gather up all the ingedients!(mind you, if your cocktail is as lethal as my cranberry vodka jellies were, it's perhaps as well that, at 1.45pm, it's too early to make one!)

joey said...

Thanks Monica ... it's often enlightening to revisit old books/friends.

This is a multiple exposure photo, Dee, but thanks. Yea, Happy March :)

They are surprisingly delicious and easy, Cameron. Welcome March :)

I post my seasonal favorites, Nutty, and indeed do cook ... lots ... and lots :) Even though the children are gone, they return often/weekly, hungering for simple suppers. We also enjoy entertaining both here and at the lake. (If you 'cook' it, they will come :)

Cheers, Rose! Farewell February ... hello March!

Thanks Rob! You are fortunate to see the moon. It has been very overcast here. Perhaps tonight ... this sunny March morning is amazing ... hope for spring and melting snow! Actually, the cocktail is quite tasty with brunch :)

Hello, Carol, and thank you. Spinach compliments the 2 ingredients for a taste treat. Do hope this finds you feeling chipper. Happy March!

*Hugs* Nutty ... mind you, the Sea Breeze does go down easy, a bit like your cranberry vodka jellies :)

Marysol said...

Yes, yes. Good Riddance February!

You know Joey, I have been making grapefruit and avocado salads throughout this winter.
The dressing I used was just a basic grapefruit vinaigrette, but your Poppy Seed Dressing sounds pretty wonderful.
And the Cheddar Muffins recipe, killer!

Consider them stolen.

Happy March!