See Dick Cook: A Culinary Voyage for the Average Man (3 page)

Servings: 6

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Very easy

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time:

Inactive Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Dicks Tips

Leave the cream cheese out on the counter for at least an hour to reach room temperature. You can also cook your own bacon if you prefer. Fry up about seven slices or so, chop them up and add them in.

The Dick Factor: This is a great dish around the holidays. Make the little guy festive looking by placing a sprig of holly or rosemary on the plate.

Bachelor Bites

Nothing says 'I'm a bachelor' like throwing bacon in everything you cook. These are quick, easy and crammed with cheese and bacon. Could life be any better?

Procedure

Preheat your oven to 375° F.

Chop your raw bacon into small pieces and cook over medium high heat in small frying pan. Drain off fat and place bacon bits in a small bowl lined with paper towel to soak up excess grease.

Take each mushroom and using a small spoon remove the stem, hollowing out a small portion to place the dip mixture. Rinse and place on a paper towel to dry off.

In a small mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, goat cheese, chopped shallots, garlic powder and bacon bits. Stir until well blended.

Using a small spoon, carefully fill each mushroom cap with the cream cheese mixture and place upright on a baking sheet.

Bake at 375° for 15 minutes, or until tops begin to brown. Serve immediately.

Servings: 6

Yield: 20 - 24

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Easy

Oven Temperature: 375°F

Preparation Time: 40 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Dicks Tips

Shelling out the mushrooms can be a little tricky Dick but you just need to exercise a little patience. If you happen to have a grapefruit spoon, that would make the process much easier. And another thing. The smaller button mushrooms make these real easy to eat, but you could always substitute larger mushrooms if you can't find any at the grocery store.

Bad Boy Bruschetta

Chicks dig bad boys Dick, and bad boys who can make a mean bruschetta even more. A perfect appetizer for a romantic dinner for two, or a party for four. You decide.

Procedure

In a large plastic container with lid, combine the tomatoes, onions, olives, parmesan cheese, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix well, cover and refrigerate for at least three hours. The longer this sits the better Dick. Stir mixture once every hour or so.

When ready to eat, crumble the feta cheese into a separate bowl and set aside. Preheat the oven to 400° F.

Slice your bread into single serving portions and brush with some Dicks Homemade Garlic Butter. Place on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven at 400° F until bread appears slightly toasted.

Remove and place bread into a serving basket or onto tray. Put bruschetta, sour cream and feta into their own bowls with spoons. Have guests spread the bread with the sour cream mixture, spoon on some Bruschetta and top with feta.

Servings: 6

Yield: 4 cups

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Easy

Oven Temperature: 400°F

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time:

Total Time: 3 hours

Dicks Tips

No Dick Factor needed here pal. This recipe will truly make you a rock star. Make sure your tomatoes are ripe but firm, and make this ahead of time so that the ingredients can all marinate. If your tomatoes are too ripe and your bruschetta is soupy, just drain the excess liquids just before serving.

Cocktail Weenie's

Okay, I didn't even have to make up a name for these. Total gimme!

Procedure

Combine ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, mustard, and garlic in the crock pot.

Cover and cook on high for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Add wieners; stir to coat with sauce.

Cover and cook on low for 1½ hours, or until hot. Serve hot with toothpicks, from the crock pot.

Servings: 4

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Very easy

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours and 40 minutes

Dicks Tips

Choosing a low fat healthier dog will make this dish much healthier. Go for the chicken or turkey varieties without compromising at all on taste.

Crab Stuffed Popper Cherry Tomatoes

You don't even need hydro for this one Dick. A nice side on a hot day, just scoop, stuff and enjoy!

Procedure

Using a small knife, slice the top off of each tomato. Next, using small spoon, carefully scoop out the pulp and seeds.

Sprinkle lightly with salt, then place them upside down on a paper towel to dry. Allow to sit for approximately 20 minutes.

Chop or flake crab meat and mix thoroughly with the remaining ingredients. Again with the small spoon, carefully stuff the crab mixture into the tomatoes, and place face up on a serving plate.

Servings: 4

Yield: 20

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Very easy

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Dicks Tips

If you've got a grapefruit spoon handy, I would suggest you use this to shell out the tomatoes. These can also be made ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to serve.

Dick's Bread n' Butter

This roasted garlic bread recipe combines some simple ingredients with genuine roasted garlic to give it that authentic taste. Likely to repel vampires as an added bonus. You're welcome.

Procedure

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

With a sharp knife slice the tops off of the garlic heads allowing the tip of each clove to be exposed. Place garlic on a baking sheet - exposed side up - and drizzle with olive oil. Bake until garlic is soft, about 30 minutes. Remove and cool until easy to handle.

Meanwhile, back at the farm - in a small bowl, combine the unsalted butter with the olive oil, parmesan cheese and parsley.

Squeeze the soft roasted garlic into a small bowl and mash the contents with a fork forming a paste. Add the mashed garlic to the butter mixture and mix together until well blended.

Allow mixture to sit for at least a half an hour or more if you have the time to allow the flavours to spread throughout the butter mixture.

Now you've got your butter Dick so we just need the bread. Grab your bread of choice - slice the loaf in half or into individual slices and butter the bread. Refrigerate the leftovers for next time, and there will be a next time.

Turn the broiler on in the oven and roast bread garlic side up for 5 - 7 minutes or until the top is browned.

Slice and serve immediately.

Servings: 6

Yield: 1 cup of garlic butter

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Easy

Oven Temperature: 350°F

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 40 minutes

Inactive Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Dicks Tips

Get a little creative with your bread here Dick. While the baguette will work just fine, how about a nice rosemary focaccia bread? Explore at the bakery aisle and pick something a little off the beaten path.

Dick Factor: Serve with some warmed up Mari-Me-Nara sauce as a flavorful dip. They'll be asking for loaf number two.

Fromage et Trois Spinach Dip

Is there anything better than a hot threesome of cheesiness? Mmmm...Cheese.

Procedure

Preheat your oven to 400° F Dick.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Herbes de Provence, cayenne and Worcestershire with a hand held electric mixer until smooth.

Now add your red pepper and green onion and mix on med-low just to blend in.

Throw in your squeezed dry spinach and mix until blended.

Place the entire mixture into an oven proof baking dish and top with shredded cheddar.

Bake for approximately 20 minutes. You will see the cheese dip bubbling at the edges when it's done.

Serve with tortilla chips or baked pita wedges.

Servings: 4

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Very easy

Oven Temperature: 400°F