Here at Myopic Zeal we’re attempting to mix things up a little, provide some zest, and add a dash of something a little different, and so we decided to taste test hosting a Carnival. What better way to start than with the Carnival of the Recipes!

So without further ado, “Welcome to this week’s Carnival of the Recipes!”

In a nod to the elections held earlier in the week and Veteran’s Day on November 11th, we decided to do a Patriotic Themed Recipe Carnival, though it turns out that to make most of these into patriotic themed dishes was quite a stretch. No matter… but we’ll start with the themed dishes first!

Patriotic Themed Dishes

We’ll start with Keewee of Keewee’s Corner, who has definitely put an effort into making a patriotic pie! Mmmmmm…..

Donna over at Pajama Pundits, too, remembered the patriotic theme and offers up Red Beans, White Rice, and the Blues. She’s not kidding about the blues either, check it out!

And interpreting the “patriotic theme” a bit differently than just “red, white and blue,” Shawn Lea at Everything and Nothing has provided us with a recipe for Hummingbird Cake that she makes every Thanksgiving (a “uniquely American holiday, after all”).

In another entry that stretches the bounds of the theme, but does make into the first section, is the Pasta with Salmon that Riannan offered. She adds, in her email, “the red is the salmon, the white is the pasta, and it will
have to be served on a blue plate.”

Sun Comprehending Glass’s Taleena shares some Cranberry Blueberry Scones.

Substantial enough to take off the edge, light enough to wear off for that big holiday meal. In keeping with this week’s Carnival of Recipe theme for Veteran’s Day, red white and blue to boot.

Punctilious, who struggled with the red, white and blue thing, came up with a creative solution. Green bean casserole without the beans! Yep, that’s right, “… a dish that is mostly in the white category and also fills the traditional American food category as well.” And it sounds great too, go check it out.

The Glittering Eye points out that there is no such things as blue food, and compromises with a white(-ish) Three Mushroom soup, and a link to previous recipe that is red.

El Capitan, the Baboon Pirate, says “Break Out The Rolaids, You’re Gonna Need ‘Em!” He shares one of his grandmother’s specialties, Spicy Cheesy Grits. Incidentally, the El Capitan did at least remember the them of the week after he submitted his recipe (which is better than most of you)!

The cayenne pepper’s red. The grits are white. It was too hot to eat right out of the oven, so I blew on it. So there!

Another participant who went with the “serve it on a blue background” idea, is Triticale who has Turnip Pick Quickles. Triticale also expands on The Glittering Eye’s George Carlin comment.

It is interesting to note that the George Carlin assertion regarding the absence of blue food has been brought up in the context of mushrooms. I am willing to wager that George Carlin has seen the color blue occuring naturally on some of the mushrooms he has eaten.

Martin Lindeskog, of EGO, has Patriotic Pork Chops with Sam Adam beer.

Red… at least.

Next, we have Brian B, of Memento Moron. Brian says he has come close to duplicating Davide’s tomato basil zuppa, from one of his favorite restaurants, All Italiana in La Mesa.

VW Bug over at One Happy Dog, has Porcupine Meatballs. Yes, you read that right. What are they? You’ll have to hop on over there and find out, but they sound great!

The Deputy Headmistress of the Common Room offers Red Flannel Hash. “Red Flannel Hash is an old ‘use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without’ recipe.”

And Michelle, of Dubious Wonder offers a Kickin’ Chile that was the first prize winner in her office’s chile cookoff..

Main Course

Army Wife (and toddler mom!) wants a deer and she wants one now. That’s because this mouthwatering recipe requires it. She offers a recipe for Venison Medallions with Orange and Summer Berry Sauce.

And while we’re on the Venison theme, The Countertop Chronicles has two this week. First, a quick bachelor ready recipe for Venison Roast, and she also provides an Herb Roasted Chop, for the non-bachelor looking to impress a date.

Sides, Soups, Breads and Salads

Suzi Chen at Special Fried Rice presents a healthier version of one her favoriate foods: Special Fried Rice For One. And not only does she have a recipe, she has the blow by blow photo instructions!

Blame it on the Vinaigrette Salad, from Booklore, is beautifully discribed with step by step photos!

Cathy at CFO: Chief Family Officer presents Sweet Sesame Soy Dressing, a versatile dressing that can be used for almost any Asian-style salad.

And in a brief flashback to last week’s carnival (where soups reigned supreme), Marsha Hudnall at A Weight Lifted provides a delicious sounding Lentil Stew.

Elisson, too, decided to share a soup in honor of the autumnal weather. It is a different Soup of Many Onion.

Amanda, the Aussie Wife, makes an Italian Pesto Butter (which calls for lightly salted butter, and then adds salt?).

David Needham, of ThirdWorldCountry, has some Lemon Poppy Seed scones.

In about 10 minutes, they’re ready to pull from the oven, butter and disappear down appreciative gullets. The lemon zest isn’t overpowering, and the lemon juice souring the milk adds just a little lightness (acidic reaction with the baking powder) to the finished prooduct. The sugar assures that, eaten without jams or jellies, they’re a lightly sweet treat.

ALa, Blonde Sagacity, says no wrinkling your nose until you try her Apple Cheddar Melt, an adaptation of a famous felon’s recipe.

Desserts

And a mouthful in more ways than one, Jordana offers “Jordana’s Modified Hippie German Kindergarten Cake.” (Say that 10 times fast!)

John at SilverBlue has a Swiss Chocolate Cake.

And, the uncategorizable Joan……

Joan, who writes at Oasis of Sanity, offers a couple of old favorites, and something new. She has one for grown-ups (crab-stuffed mushrooms) and one for kids (playdough), plus a link to a very nice decorator icing recipe that works well with organic shortening. (Joan is also recovering from surgery, so send a note her way if you get a chance).

That wraps it up for this week. Next week’s Carnival of the Recipes will be hosted by Rocket Jones!

UPDATE: I messed up on the timing of this, but can’t change the post slug since everyone has been pinged. Sorry about that.