Raisin Pound Cake

Ingredients:

 • 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter

 • 3 cups sugar

 • 5 eggs

 • 3 cups all-purpose flour

 • 1 cup raisins

 • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

 • 1 cup milk

 • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Cream butter, milk, and sugar together in a mixer. Add eggs, 1 at a time. Turn mixer to low setting and add in flour, baking powder, raisins, and vanilla extract. Turn mixer to medium setting and mix for 5 minutes. Pour batter into a greased cake pan or bundt cake pan. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. Test cake by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake, if it comes out clean then it's ready. Garnish with powdered sugar and serve.

Prosciutto & Ham Panini

Ingredients:

• 4 slices of fontina cheese
• 2 slices of ciabatta bread
• Butter
• Salt and pepper
• 5 fresh baby spinach leaves
• 4 slices of prosciutto
• 2 slices of ham
• 1 tomato, sliced

Directions:

1. Spread butter on bread slices. Place 2 slices of fontina cheese on top of each bread slice. Season with salt and pepper then add spinach, prosciutto, ham, and tomato. Add remaining slices of fontina cheese. Top with the second bread slice. Brush both sides of the sandwich with melted butter.
2. Heat a grill pan and grill the sandwich until the bread is golden brown and cheese melts which is about 4 minutes per side.

Candied Pecans

Ingredients:

• 1 pound pecans
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 sea salt
• 6 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Spread pecans over a baking sheet. Roast for approximately 8 to 10 minutes or until pecans start to turn brown.
2. Stir sugar, cinnamon, sea salt, and milk together in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat for 8 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla immediately.
3. Combine pecans with the syrup mixture. Stir and coat very well. Spoon nuts onto a sheet of waxed paper and separate nuts with a fork. Store in an airtight container after pecans are completely cool.

Crunchy Chicken Tenders

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders (about 17)
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and black pepper
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup Italian-style seasoned bread crumbs

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 500º.
2. Brush 1 tablespoon of oil over each of 2 heavy large lined baking sheets. Place the buttermilk in a large bowl. Add the chicken tenders and stir to coat. Let stand at least 15 minutes and up to 30 minutes.
3. Mash the garlic in a medium bowl and whisk in the vinegar then the remaining 1/2 cup of oil. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the vinaigrette to a small serving bowl.
4. Remove the chicken tenders from the buttermilk and dredge them in the bread crumb to coat completely, pressing to adhere. Arrange the coated chicken tenders on the prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil over the chicken tenders and bake until they are cooked through and golden brown, about 15 minutes.
5. Transfer the chicken tenders to a platter and serve the vinaigrette alongside for dipping.

Brisket with Veggies

Ingredients:

• 6 pounds beef brisket
• Salt and black pepper
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
• 1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
• 8 stalks celery, cut into large chunks
• 6 yellow onions, peeled and sliced
• 6 dried bay leaves
• 1 (46-ounce) can tomato juice

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350º.
2. Place the brisket in a heavy roasting pan. Combine the salt, pepper, garlic, and oregano. Rub the mixture on the brisket. Pile the carrots, celery, onions, and bay leaves on the brisket and pour in enough tomato juice to come about 3/4 of the way up the meat and vegetables. Cover the top of the pan with 2 sheets of parchment paper then with aluminum foil. Don't skip the parchment paper because the tomato juice will react with the aluminum foil. 
3. Bake for 4 hours or until the meat is tender. Remove the meat from the pan then place the pan on 2 burners and boil the vegetables and sauce over medium heat for another 30 minutes or until the sauce is thickened. Keep the meat warm and serve when the sauce is ready.