Anne's 12 Days of Christmas Recipes
On the fourth day of Christmas, for myself, I cooked...
~ Four Calling Birds ~
Anne presents...
Quartet of Turkey Rings Spilling the Beans
and Dishing the Dirt (Cake)
and Dishing the Dirt (Cake)
Hah! I'm so clever. :D This is an Anne original idea. 4 Calling Birds. I thought to myself, "What would happen if 4 birds made a telephone call?" Well, you'd hear four rings, with those gossipy birds spilling the beans and dishing the dirt. hahaha. I crack myself up.
I just cut the centers out of turkey breast to make "rings", and then I made 4 different colorful bean combinations to spill out of each ring: Green Beans; White Beans with Spinach, Garlic, and Tomatoes; Yellow Beans with Roasted Red Peppers and Parmesan; and a Black Bean Mango Salsa. I enjoyed each component of the bean medley. It was both healthy and tasty, and I was pleased with the presentation. I just wish I had sliced the turkey a little thinner because it was way too much food for me to eat. I had to leave half the plate untouched.
And then I made cute little individual dirt cake pudding cups, complete with a gummy worm. I ate one and took the rest to work for my coworkers to enjoy.
Anne's Fun Facts:
Price of 4 Calling Birds (2010 Christmas Price Index) = $599.96
Did You Know?? The original intent of the song was not 4 CALLING birds, but 4 COLLY birds, which means 4 black birds. I thought about doing a recipe based on Sing a Song of Sixpence, but I really didn't want to cook any blackbirds in a pie.
Recipes:
Black Bean Mango Salsa
Ingredients:
Note: I just threw stuff in the bowl. The measurements of these ingredients are approximate)
1 can black beans, drained
1 cup corn
1 cup corn
1-2 tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
1/4 cup diced green pepper
1/4 cup diced green onions
1/2 cup diced mango
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced (optional)
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
Juice of 1/2 lime
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup diced green onions
1/2 cup diced mango
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced (optional)
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
Juice of 1/2 lime
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon Cayenne pepper Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour.
****
White Beans with Spinach, Garlic, and Tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 plum tomato, seeded and diced
2 cups cooked or canned white beans, well rinsed and drained if canned
1/3 cup vegetable stock
2-3 cups torn spinach leaves
ground black pepper
Directions:
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes and saute, tossing often, until the tomatoes are soft, about 7 minutes. Stir in the beans and stock and bring to a simmer. Pile on the spinach, cover the pan, and cook until just wilted, about 3 minutes. Sauce should have thickened. If not, cook a little longer. If too dry, add more stock. Season with black pepper.
2 cups cooked or canned white beans, well rinsed and drained if canned
1/3 cup vegetable stock
2-3 cups torn spinach leaves
ground black pepper
Directions:
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes and saute, tossing often, until the tomatoes are soft, about 7 minutes. Stir in the beans and stock and bring to a simmer. Pile on the spinach, cover the pan, and cook until just wilted, about 3 minutes. Sauce should have thickened. If not, cook a little longer. If too dry, add more stock. Season with black pepper.
****
Yellow Beans with Roasted Red Peppers and Parmesan
1/2 medium red bell pepper, seeds removed
1/2 pound yellow wax beans, trimmed
2 quarts water
1-2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon olive oil
grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Place bell pepper half, skin side up, on a foil-lined baking sheet; flatten with hand. Broil pepper 10 minutes or until blackened. Place in a ziplock plastic bag, and seal. Let stand 15 minutes. Peel and cut into strips.Bring 2 quarts water and 1-2 teaspoons salt to a boil in a large saucepan. Add beans; cook 4 minutes or until beans are crisp-tender. Drain; place in a large bowl. Add bell pepper strips, tomatoes, onions, and parsley; toss to combine.
Combine 1/4 teaspoon of salt, cider vinegar, and remaining ingredients except Parmesan, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle over beans; toss gently to combine. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
****
Dirt Cake Cups
Yield: 13 servings; 200 calories/serving (without worm)
Ingredients:
1 package Oreo Reduced-Fat Cookies
8 oz Fat-Free Cool Whip
8 oz Fat Free Cream Cheese, softened
1 Box Jello-O Fat Free Chocolate Fudge Instant Pudding Mix
2 cups Skim Milk
Gummy Worms (optional)
Directions:
Make the pudding, following standard directions on the box. Add the cool whip and cream cheese and mix well. Crumble 39 oreos (3 per cup) in a large resealable plastic bag. Evenly divide 1/2 the crumbled oreos into 13 small plastic cups. Evenly divide the pudding mixture into the cups, then top with the remaining crumbled oreos. Garnish with a gummy worm if desired.
(I will be posting one per day from Dec 26 thru Jan 6th, 2010). Feel free to comment!
1st Day: Partridge in Pear Tree 7th Day: Seven Swans a-Swimming
2nd Day: Two Turtledoves 8th Day: Eight Maids a-Milking
3rd Day: Three French Hens 9th Day: Nine Ladies Dancing
4th Day: Four Calling Birds 10th Day: Ten Lords a-Leaping
5th Day: Five Gold Rings 11th Day: Eleven Pipers Piping
6th Day: Six Geese a-Laying 12th Day: Twelve Drummers Drumming
Yield: 13 servings; 200 calories/serving (without worm)
Ingredients:
1 package Oreo Reduced-Fat Cookies
8 oz Fat-Free Cool Whip
8 oz Fat Free Cream Cheese, softened
1 Box Jello-O Fat Free Chocolate Fudge Instant Pudding Mix
2 cups Skim Milk
Gummy Worms (optional)
Directions:
Make the pudding, following standard directions on the box. Add the cool whip and cream cheese and mix well. Crumble 39 oreos (3 per cup) in a large resealable plastic bag. Evenly divide 1/2 the crumbled oreos into 13 small plastic cups. Evenly divide the pudding mixture into the cups, then top with the remaining crumbled oreos. Garnish with a gummy worm if desired.
*****
Anne's 12 Days of Christmas Recipes (I will be posting one per day from Dec 26 thru Jan 6th, 2010). Feel free to comment!
1st Day: Partridge in Pear Tree 7th Day: Seven Swans a-Swimming
2nd Day: Two Turtledoves 8th Day: Eight Maids a-Milking
3rd Day: Three French Hens 9th Day: Nine Ladies Dancing
4th Day: Four Calling Birds 10th Day: Ten Lords a-Leaping
5th Day: Five Gold Rings 11th Day: Eleven Pipers Piping
6th Day: Six Geese a-Laying 12th Day: Twelve Drummers Drumming
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