Virgin Shake Rattle N' Roll Colada, Rydell High Cheerleader Cartwheel Sandwiches, Summer Nights Strawberry Cake, Moon Juice & More, excerpt from The Unofficial & Unauthorized Grease Is The Word Cookbook

 Virgin Shake Rattle N’ Roll Colada

Serves 4, ready in 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened fresh or frozen pineapple chunks

• 1/4 cup ice

• 3/4 cup unsweetened pineapple juice

• 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk

• 1 to 3 tablespoons brown sugar, optional

• Maraschino cherries, garnish

Directions: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend on medium speed for 15 seconds or until smooth. Makes four coladas depending upon the size of the glass. Garnish with  cherries.

Summer loving had me a blast

Summer loving happened so fast

I met a girl crazy for me

Met a boy cute as can be

Summer days drifting away

To, oh, oh, the summer nights

Well-a well-a well-a, huh

Tell me more, tell me more

Did you get very far?

Tell me more, tell me more

Like does he have a car?

She swam by me, she got a cramp

He ran by me, got my suit damp

I saved her life, she nearly drowned

He showed off, splashing around

Summer sun, something's begun

But, oh, oh, the summer nights

Well-a well-a well-a huh

Tell me more, tell me more

Was it love at first sight?

Tell me more, tell me more

Did she put a fight?

Took her bowling in the Arcade

We went strolling, drank lemonade

We made out under the dock

We stayed up 'till ten o'clock

Summer fling, don't mean a thing

But, oh, oh, the summer nights

Well-a well-a well-a huh

Tell me more, tell me more

But you don't gotta brag

Tell me more, tell me more

'Cause he sounds like a drag

He got friendly, holding my hand

She got friendly down in the sand

He was sweet just turned eighteen

Well, she was good you know what I mean

Summer heat, boy and girl meet

But, oh, oh, the summer nights

Tell me more, tell me more

How much dough did he spend?

Tell me more, tell me more

Could she get me a friend?

It turned colder, that's where it ends

So I told her we'd still be friends

Then we made our true love vow

Wonder what she's doing now

Summer dreams ripped at the seams

But, oh, those summer nights

Tell me more, tell me more

Songwriter credit: Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey

Summer Nights lyrics copyright Edwin H. Morris & Co. Inc.

Rydell High Cheerleader Cartwheel Sandwiches

1 package of hye roller cracker bread

4 ounces of cream cheese

1 Tablespoon of mayonnaise

1 Tablespoon of tomato ketchup

5-6 slices of turkey or ham

one layer of romaine lettuce, washed and patted dry

optional: sliced roma tomato

8 slices of sharp cheddar cheese

optional: bacon, avocado, salami, 

 Substitute: you may substitute hye roller cracker bread for flour tortillas

Directions: take one piece of cracker bread, mix cream cheese, tomato ketchup, and mayonnaise together and spread on the cracker bread. Next, layer the turkey, leaving four inches on the right side of the cracker bread with cream cheese only. Next layer the washed and dried lettuce, tomato, then layer the cheese slices. Starting on the left, roll tightly and using the remaining four inches with cream cheese to help seal the sandwich together. Makes 10 slices per roll. 

Summer Nights Strawberry Cake

1 box of white cake mix

1 box, 3 ounces of strawberry gelatin

1 cup of oil

½ cup of milk

4 eggs 

1 cup of strawberries, mashed sweetened, not drained

Frosting

1 stick of butter, softened, unsalted, ½ cup

1 box (1 pound) of powdered sugar 

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all cake ingredients together and pour into a 9 x 11 inch pan or two smaller pans, the bater should not fill pans to the top. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. 

Frosting: Cream butter and sugar together, add mashed strawberries until frosting is of spreadable consistency. Mix together frosting ingredients. It too thick, please add strawberries until it is the right consistency. You may also purchase strawberry frosting if you don’t want to prepare it. 

Moon Juice

 Almond Milk or regular 2 percent milk and desired food coloring or colored sprinkles, and voila, magic Moon Juice milk!

I'm just enough Irish to keep me lucky by Gina Meyers, Whole Grain Soda Bread, Corned Beef Recipe

 

I've always said that I'm just enough Irish to keep me lucky. As an American, I am a true melting pot of European and Native American goodness. My late Sicilian American grandmother used to call me, Heinz 57 Variety.

I didn't take offense to being called a ketchup, and hopefully you get the point of the analogy.

Thanks to my late Grandfather Harold Hill, not to be confused with lead character Harold Hill from The Music Man, he brought the musicality to my ethnicity.

And here's how I used to say it before everyone got so ethnically sensitive: I'm English, Irish, French Canadian, German and Indian Sioux!

So thank you Grandpa "Chig" for the ketchup. Nickname from the Navy.

Whole Grain Soda Bread

1 Tablespoon of Cornmeal

1 cup of quick-cooking rolled oats

1 ½ cups of buttermilk, divided

2 cups of all-purpose flour

1 cup of whole wheat flour

2 Tablespoons of packed light brown sugar

1 Tablespoon of baking powder

1 ½ teaspoons of caraway seeds

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon of salt

6 tablespoons of butter or margarine, chilled, cut into pieces.

2 eggs, lightly beaten, divided

1 cup of currants

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle large baking sheet with cornmeal. In a bowl, combine oats with ½ cup of buttermilk; let stand ten minutes. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine all-purpose and whole wheat flours, sugar, baking powder, caraway seeds, baking soda and salt. With a pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs: set aside. Reserve 1 Tablespoon of egg; combine remaining egg with remaining buttermilk (1 cup). Stir into oat mixture; stir in currants. Stir buttermilk mixture into flour mixture until stiff dough forms. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead dough until smooth, 1-2 minutes. Shape dough into round loaf; place on baking sheet. Brush top of dough with remaining egg. With serrated knife, cut an “X” in top of bread, extending cut over sides of loaf down to baking sheet. Let stand in warm place for fifteen minutes. Bake 40-45 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped on bottom. Cool slightly on pan on wire rack before serving. 

Mustard-Herb Corned Beef with Cabbage

 

1 teaspoon of olive oil

2 ribs of celery, chopped

1 onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, garlic, minced

2 Tablespoons of dried thyme, divided

1 ½ teaspoons of cracked black pepper, divided

¼ cup of beef broth (substitute whiskey at home)

2 bay leaves

4 pounds of corned beef

1 head cabbage, about 2 pounds, cut into wedges

2 Tablespoons of mustard

1/3 cup of minced fresh parsley

 

Add celery, onion, garlic and 1 Tablespoon of thyme. Cook until onion softens, ten minutes. Add ¼ cup of beef broth, ¼ cup of water, ½ teaspoon of pepper and bay leaves. Simmer, covered, fifteen minutes. Increase heat to high. Add corned beef and enough water to cover meat by 1”. Cover; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, skimming fat, 3-3 ½ hours. Remove meat from pot: set aside. Over high heat, bring liquid in pot to a boil. Add cabbage; reduce heat to low. Simmer until cabbage is tender, 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, position oven rack 6” from heat source; preheat broiler. In bowl mix mustard with remaining beef broth; set aside. Combine parsley with remaining thyme and pepper. Trim fat from meat. Spread mustard mixture over meat; sprinkle with parsley mixture. Transfer to rack set in broiler pan; broil until browned, 2-3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, remove cabbage from pot, serve with the meat. http://www.ginameyers.com

Corned Beef, Chocolate Mocha Cheesecake & Papagni Wine

 

Get into the Saint Patrick's Day Spirit with this easy Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe with Papagni Zinfandel and as a special bonus, Chocolate Mocha Cheesecake. If you'd like more recipes, please purchase on Kindle or Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Class-Potluck-Saint-Patricks-ebook/dp/B00JFHZV0S

Mustard-Herb Corned Beef with Cabbage

 

1 teaspoon of olive oil

2 ribs of celery, chopped

1 onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, garlic, minced

2 Tablespoons of dried thyme, divided

1 ½ teaspoons of cracked black pepper, divided

¼ cup of beef broth (substitute whiskey at home)

2 bay leaves

4 pounds of corned beef

1 head cabbage, about 2 pounds, cut into wedges

2 Tablespoons of mustard

1/3 cup of minced fresh parsley

 

Add celery, onion, garlic and 1 Tablespoon of thyme. Cook until onion softens, ten minutes. Add ¼ cup of beef broth, ¼ cup of water, ½ teaspoon of pepper and bay leaves. Simmer, covered, fifteen minutes. Increase heat to high. Add corned beef and enough water to cover meat by 1”. Cover; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, skimming fat, 3-3 ½ hours. Remove meat from pot: set aside. Over high heat, bring liquid in pot to a boil. Add cabbage; reduce heat to low. Simmer until cabbage is tender, 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, position oven rack 6” from heat source; preheat broiler. In bowl mix mustard with remaining beef broth; set aside. Combine parsley with remaining thyme and pepper. Trim fat from meat. Spread mustard mixture over meat; sprinkle with parsley mixture. Transfer to rack set in broiler pan; broil until browned, 2-3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, remove cabbage from pot, serve with the meat. http://www.ginameyers.com

 2015 ZINFANDEL
RED WINE
Our 2015 Zinfandel is grown at our Papagni Vineyard in Madera. Rich aromas of raspberry, black cherry, and dried fruit compliment a bouquet of anise, allspice, cedar and black pepper. Luscious flavors of plum and raspberry are wrapped in silky tannins and a smooth, warm finish. Serve with black-pepper steak, carnitas, or rosemary braised lamb shanks. 750 ML ALC 14.5% BY VOL http://www.papagniwines.com

Chocolate Mocha Cheesecake 

 

2 teaspoons of espresso powder 

1 package of cream cheese, softened 

2/3 cup of sugar 

3 Tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted 

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract 

1 container of whipping cream  

1 graham cracker pie or chocolate pie crust 

 

Directions: With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, espresso powder, sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla extract, mix until smooth. Fold in the whipping cream, mix well. Spoon mixture into prepared chocolate pie crust. Refrigerate for three hours. Dust with cocoa powder or powdered sugar.   

What Unusual Holidays Will You Be Celebrating in April 2021?

 

April 

April 1 – International Fun At Work Day 
April 1 – Reading Is Funny Day 
April 1 – St. Stupid Day 
April 1 – International Tatting Day
April 1 – National Sexual Assault Awareness Day Of Action 
April 1 – National Burrito Day 
April 2 – National Peanut Butter And Jelly Day
April 2 – International Children’s Book Day 
April 2 – National Ferret Day
April 2 – Walk To Work Day
April 2 – National Love Your Produce Manager Day 
April 2 – World Autism Day 
April 3 – Don’t Go To Work Unless It’s Fun Day
April 3 – Tweed Day
April 3 – World Party Day
April 3 – National Film Score Day 
April 3 – Find A Rainbow Day 
April 3 – Weed Out Hate Day 
April 3 – National Handmade Day
April 4 – Walk Around Things Day
April 4 – Tell A Lie Day
April 4 – World Rat Day
April 4 – Vitamin C Day 
April 5 – Gold Star Spouse Day 
April 5 – National Deep Dish Pizza Day 
April 5 – Read A Road Map Day 
April 5 – Go For Broke Day 
April 5 – National Dandelion Day
April 5 – First Contact Day
April 6 – National Tartan Day
April 6 – Plan Your Epitaph Day
April 6 – Hostess Twinkie Day 
April 6 – Drowsy Driver Awareness Day 
April 6 – Sorry Charlie Day
April 6 – Caramel Popcorn Day
April 7 – International Pillow Fight Day 
April 7 – National Walking Day 
April 7 – National Alcohol Screening Day 
April 7 – International Beaver Day 
April 7 – Metric System Day 
April 7 – National Beer Day
April 7 – No Housework Day
April 7 – World Health Day
April 7 – Public Television Day 
April 8 – All Is Ours Day
April 8 – Draw A Picture Of A Bird Day
April 8 – Zoo Lovers’ Day 
April 8 – Buddha Day 
April 8 – National Dog Fighting Awareness Day 
April 9 – Name Yourself Day
April 9 – National Kids Yoga Day
April 9 – Winston Churchill Day
April 9 – National Cherish An Antique Day 
April 9 – National Former Prisoner Of War Recognition Day 
April 10 – National Bookmobile Day 
April 10 – National Farm Animals Day 
April 10 – Safety Pin Day 
April 10 – National Sibling Day
April 11 – National Poutine Day
April 11 – World Parkinson’s Disease Day 
April 11 – Barbershop Quartet Day
April 11 – National Submarine Day
April 11 – National Pet Day
April 12 – Big Wind Day
April 12 – Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
April 12 – National Licorice Day
April 12 – Yuri’s Night
April 12 – International Day Of Human Space Flight
April 13 – Make Lunch Count Day 
April 13 – International Plant Appreciation Day
April 13 – National Peach Cobbler Day
April 13 – Be Kind To Lawyers Day
April 13 – Scrabble Day
April 14 – Ex Spouse Day
April 14 – International Moment Of Laughter Day
April 14 – Look Up At The Sky Day
April 14 – National Dolphin Day
April 14 – National Pecan Day 
April 14 – Reach As High As You Can Day
April 14 – That Sucks Day
April 15 – Rubber Eraser Day 
April 15 – Celebrate Teen Literature Day
April 15 – Titanic Remembrance Day
April 15 – World Art Day
April 15 – Jackie Robinson Day 
April 15 – Take A Wild Guess Day
April 15 – National High Five Day 
April 16 – Eggs Benedict Day
April 16 – National Librarian Day 
April 16 – Save The Elephant Day
April 16 – Foursquare Day 
April 16 – Wear Pajamas To Work Day
April 17 – Bat Appreciation Day
April 17 – Blah, Blah, Blah Day
April 17 – National Cheese Ball Day
April 17 – Husband Appreciation Day
April 17 – Record Store Day
April 17 – Poem In Your Pocket Day
April 18 – Haiku Poetry Day
April 18 – Pet Owners Independence Day
April 18 – International Jugglers Day
April 18 – Newspaper Columnist Day
April 19 – National Garlic Day
April 19 – National Hanging Out Day 
April 20 – World Orphans’ Day 
April 20 – Look–Alike Day
April 20 – Volunteer Recognition Day
April 21 – Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day 
April 21 – Banana Day
April 21 – National Creativity Day  
April 21 – Administrative Professionals Day
April 21 – Kindergarten Day
April 22 – International Mother Earth Day
April 22 – Girl Scout Leader Day
April 22 – Jelly Bean Day
April 22 – Take Your Daughter Or Son To Work Day
April 23 – Take A Chance Day
April 23 – English Language Day 
April 23 – Impossible Astronaut Day
April 23 – World Book Day 
April 24 – Pigs In A Blanket Day
April 24 – World Laboratory Day
April 24 – World Healing Day
April 24 – World Meningitis Day 
April 24 – Independent Bookstore Day 
April 24 – National Go Birding Day 
April 24 – Save The Frogs Day 
April 25 – DNA Day 
April 25 – National Zucchini Bread Day
April 25 – World Pinhole Photography Day
April 25 – National Mani-Pedi Day 
April 25 – Hairstyle Appreciation Day
April 25 – World Penguin Day
April 26 – Hug An Australian Day
April 26 – Pretzel Day
April 26 – Richter Scale Day
April 26 – Alien Day 
April 26 – Lesbian Visibility Day 
April 27 – Babe Ruth Day
April 27 – National Prime Rib Day
April 27 – Tell A Story Day
April 28 – Biological Clock Day 
April 28 – International Guide Dog Day
April 28 – National Superhero Day 
April 28 – Great Poetry Reading Day
April 28 – Kiss Your Mate Day
April 29 – National Shrimp Scampi Day
April 29 – World Wish Day 
April 29 – Zipper Day 
April 29 – International Dance Day 
April 30 – Honesty Day 
April 30 – Animal Advocacy Day 
April 30 – International Jazz Day
April 30 – National Hairball Awareness Day