Finger Lickin' Good Summer Recipes

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

26 May 2009 10:16 AM

Corn on the cob, watermelon, hamburgers, and hot dogs are some of summer's tastiest no-utensils-needed foods. The hands-on favorites are simple to eat and make clean up even easier.

The following recipes are some of my family's finger lickin' favorites. All that's required to eat them are clean hands and a healthy appetite.

EGG IN THE MIDDLE PIZZA

Ingredients:

1 (12-inch) unbaked pizza crust

4 ounces shredded Gouda cheese

4 ounces shredded Havarti cheese

4 ounces goat cheese

8 slices of prosciutto

8 fresh morel mushrooms

12 spears fresh asparagus, blanched and grilled

1/2 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

1 egg

1/2 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, chopped or rosemary oil

Fresh black pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Place pizza crust on pan and sprinkle half of the cheese on top.

Arrange prosciutto, mushrooms, asparagus and tomatoes over cheese, then sprinkle again evenly with remaining cheese.

Crack egg onto center of pizza.

Sprinkle rosemary and pepper over pizza.

Bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until the egg is cooked. The cheese should be bubbly and the crust golden.

Let cool before slicing and serving.

ASIAN PORK RIBS

Ingredients:

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup white wine

1/4 cup pineapple juice

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated

2 racks baby back pork ribs

2 large sheets aluminum foil

Directions:

In a bowl, combine brown sugar, soy sauce, ketchup, white wine, pineapple juice, garlic and ginger. Save half cup of marinade for basting.

Lay out ribs in single layer in a semi-deep dish. Pour marinade over top and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate a few hours or overnight. Turning every couple of hours to marinate evenly.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Spray foil with cooking spray.

Place 1 rack of ribs on each sheet. Seal ribs in foil packet. Place on cookie sheet and bake for about 1 1/2 hours until tender.

Open foil and brush remaining sauce on top.

Bake uncovered at 375 for about 20 minutes, until ribs start to brown.

Serve hot.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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