100% Fruit "Cake"

• 1 seedless watermelon
• 2 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1 cantaloupe - seeded, peeled, and sliced (optional)
• 1 fresh pineapple - peeled, cored, and sliced (optional)

To create the base tier of the cake, cut 3 slices of watermelon, 1 to 2 inches thick, crossways through the center of the melon. Trim the rind from the watermelon slices, and place the largest slice onto a cake plate. Alternate layering sliced strawberries, slices of cantaloupe, and slices of fresh pineapple; follow with the second-largest watermelon slice. Repeat once more to make a layered fruit stack that looks like a cake.
Thinly slice a few pieces of remaining melon and pineapple. With cookie cutters or a sharp knife, cut remaining fruit slices into decorative shapes. Decorate the cake tiers with the cut fruit shapes and remaining berries.
Refrigerate until serving time. To serve, slice the cake with a sharp knife, one wedge at a time, and set the wedge onto a plate.

123 Green Tea Ice Cream

• 1 cup vanilla ice cream
• 1 teaspoon green tea powder (matcha)

Lightly pound the ice cream on a wooden cutting board; transfer to bowl and add matcha; mix well. Refreeze or eat immediately.

Absolutely The Best Shrimp Scampi

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds fresh shrimp, shelled and deveined without tails
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
• 2 tablespoons white wine
• 2 tablespoons brandy

In a small bowl, combine flour, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Mix thoroughly. Dredge shrimp in flour mixture.
In a large skillet, saute dredged shrimp in olive oil for 5 minutes over high heat. Toss shrimp often to prevent burning. Transfer shrimp with a slotted spoon to a serving dish, leaving the oil in the pan.
In the same pan, saute the garlic, shallot, parsley and oregano over medium heat for 3 minutes; stirring constantly. Spoon the mixture over the shrimp. Return pan to the heat. Preheat your broiler for medium heat.
Pour the wine and brandy into the skillet and ignite with a match or lighter. When the flames die down, stir to loosen any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet; pour over shrimp.
Place the serving dish of shrimp in a preheated broiler for about 2 minutes.

Diabetic Bacon and Mushroom Bite-Size Quiche

8 slices bacon
1/4 pound fresh mushrooms, chopped
1 tablespoon butter
1/3 cup green onion, chopped
1 2/3 cups Swiss cheese, shredded
Pastry for double-crust pie, (homemade or purchased)
5 eggs
1 2/3 cups sour cream

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
On a lightly floured board, roll out the pastry dough 1/ 16-inch thick.
Using a 3-inch cutter, cut out 42 circles; re-roll scraps as needed.
Fit circles into bottoms and slightly up sides of lightly greased 2-1/2-inch muffin pans.
Meanwhile, fry bacon slices until crisp, drain; crumble or chop.
Chop mushrooms, saute in butter until limp and liquid evaporates.
Combine bacon, mushrooms, green onion and cheese. Divide filling equally among muffin cups.
In large bowl, beat together eggs, add sour cream and stir until smooth. Spoon about 1 tablespoon into each muffin cup.
Bake until puffed and light brown, 20-25 minutes. Cool in pans 5 minutes; lift out.
Serve warm or let cool on wire racks. If made ahead, wrap cooled quiches airtight, and refrigerate overnight.
Reheat, uncovered, in a 350 degrees F. oven for about 10 minutes.

Spanish Rice with Bacon

6 bacon strips, diced

1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 cup uncooked long grain rice

1 3/4 cups water

2 large tomatoes, chopped

1 medium green pepper, chopped

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped*

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels. Add oil to the drippings; saute onion for 3 minutes. Add rice; stir until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until rice is tender. Sprinkle with bacon.