Monday, July 14, 2008

Seafood Pot Pie

1 box frozen puff pastry sheets
1 egg, beaten
1 to 2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons diced onion
1 tablespoon diced fennel
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons diced celery
2 tablespoons finely cubed carrots
2 tablespoons green peas
3 large scallops
2 tablespoons diced ham
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
Pinch freshly ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon seafood seasoning
1/2 fish-flavored bouillon cube
1/4 cup lump crab meat, picked over
3 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 large oysters, shucked
White pepper


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.


Thaw 1 sheet of puff pastry, unwrap it, and brush with beaten egg. Slice pastry into 1-inch wide strips. Weave strips into lattice design, sized to fit the top of a 1 1/2 quart oven-safe medium-sized serving bowl or casserole. Place pastry on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet and bake until light golden brown. Remove from oven and let stand until needed.

Adjust oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

Filling:

Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add onions, fennel, garlic, celery, carrots, and green peas and saute until tender.

Add scallops and ham and continue to saute until scallops are barely halfway done. Sprinkle in flour and stir until coated.

Add cream, nutmeg, seasoning, and bouillon. Increase the heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. When mixture reaches a boil, remove from heat.

Add crab meat, shrimp, and oysters and season, to taste, with white pepper. Pour into the oven-safe serving bowl. Top with the pre-baked lattice puff pastry and gently press down into filling. Bake about 10 minutes or until bubbly.

Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving


"UNCLE BUBBA'S SEAFOOD POT PIE"
Source: Paula Dean, The Food Network


Thursday, July 10, 2008

No Roll Pie Crust


Ingredients

1 cup flour

1 stick of butter or margarine
Powdered sugar


Directions

Melt the stick of butter or margarine in pie pan in oven.


Put in 1 cup of flour and a couple of teaspoon of sifted powdered sugar.

Mix in pan and as it cools a little pat it out mixing it at the same time.

Bake



NOTE: I have not used this recipe . . . not sure how long it should bake and what the oven temp should be . . . I'm gonna start with 350 degrees and keep a constant eye on it as far as time. This recipe comes from my personal collection.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Hot Dogs and Sausages



July is National Hot Dog Month . . .

According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council an estimated seven billion hot dogs will be eaten by Americans between Memorial Day and Labor Day and during the 4th of July weekend alone 155 million will be enjoyed.

Did you know that every year Americans eat an average of 60 hot dogs each?

Council research shows that mustard is the condiment of choice for adults, while children prefer ketchup.

Preferences change from region to region . . . hot dogs in New York are generally served with a lighter mustard and steamed onions . . . Chicago hot dogs can come with mustard, relish, onions, tomato slices, or pretty much anything at all . . . I prefer mine topped with cole slaw.

For more information, visit the Council's website at www.hot-dog.org.


Tuesday, July 1, 2008

National Food Holidays for July



When I saw all the national holidays for food in one of my emails this morning, I couldn't stop laughing. Who comes up with this stuff? Is there an official "national holiday naming entity"? How much does it pay? I want that job . . . what would the title be? Director of National Holidays? :) Where do I apply?

After I stopped laughing, I thought it would be an awesome idea to take each "national food holiday" and honor that particular food holiday with recipes. Everyday is a food holiday for foodies like me :)



UPCOMING FOOD HOLIDAYS:


July is:

National Ice Cream Month
National Picnic Month
National Baked Bean Month
National Hot Dog Month
National Pickle Month


July 1: National Gingersnap Day
July 2: Celebrate National Hot Dog Month
July 3: Eat Beans Day
July 4: National Cesar Salad Day
July 5: National Apple Turnover Day
July 6: National Fried Chicken Day
July 7: National Strawberry Sundae Day
July 8: National Chocolate with Almonds Day
July 9: National Sugar Cookie Day
July 10:National Pina Colada Day
July 11: National Blueberry Muffin Day
July 12: National Pecan Pie Day
July 13: National French Fries Day
July 14: National Macaroni Day
July 15: National Tapioca Pudding Day
July 16: National Corn Fritters Day
July 17: National Peach Ice Cream Day
July 18: National Caviar Day
July 19: Celebrate Ice Cream Month
July 20: National Lollipop Day
July 21: National Junk Food Day
July 22: National Penuche Fudge Day
July 23: National Vanilla Ice Cream Day
July 24: Celebrate National Baked Bean Month
July 25: National Hot Fudge Sundae Day
July 26: Celebrate National Hotdog Month
July 27: National Creme Brule Day
July 28: National Milk Chocolate Day
July 29: Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day
July 30: National Cheese Cake Day
July 31: Jump For Jelly Beans Day




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