Cheesy Crab Poppers

Gotta try these real soon!

There are a few things I would change in this recipe aside from adding some hot peppers or hot sauce.  I would saute the vegetables first since I hate biting into crunchy raw vegetables in this type of appetizer.

This one is a winner!

Ingredients

1 package (10 oz) of lump crab meat
1 box of Jiffy corn muffin mix
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 large egg
1 stick of unsalted butter, melted
½ cup milk
½ red bell pepper, finely chopped
2 green onions, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons sugar
Pinch of salt
Canola oil, for frying



Directions

Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

Roll the mixture into balls, just slightly smaller than the size of golf balls. Set on parchment paper or a baking sheet.

In a large, high walled pot or a wok, heat oil over medium-high. You want to make sure there is enough oil to cover ⅔ of the crab balls.

Test the oil to see if it’s ready by dipping the end (handle-side) of a wooden spoon in the oil. If the oil begins to bubble, it’s ready. If not, let it sit a bit longer.

Once the oil is ready, drop in 4-5 crab balls. Reduce the heat slightly and let them cook until a deep orangey-brown, turning occasionally. Remove the poppers from the oil and let them drain on a paper towel.

Once they’re cool enough to handle, cut a ball in half to check. If the inside is cooked well, then continue to cook the poppers in the same manner. If the inside seems to have cooked less than the outside, then reduce the heat of the oil and try again, leaving the poppers in for slightly longer until they reach the proper color.

Serve the poppers warm with dipping sauce of your choice!

This recipe makes about 30 poppers.


Photo and recipe source: Host The Toast

Hawaiian Sliders

These little sliders are awesome!  We got to try them at a party and honestly, I could not get enough, but didn't want to make a pig of myself when there were so many other things to eat.  They went fast anyway!  Guess you could say they were the star of the show.

 The ones we had were overstuffed with ham and cheese (maybe double of what the recipe calls for), which made them even better, but the topping is what makes it so special with a blend of delicious tangy sweetness.  The crunchiness resulting from the sauce baked on the bread was also very nice. Outstanding!

I would love to make some with smoked turkey and swiss cheese too.  

Not only did they make the perfect appetizer, they would be great for a quick lunch with some chips.

Awesome discovery!

UPDATE:  We have made these sliders twice and propose the following changes:  No onion.  Cut the sauce recipe in half.  For some reason, our sliders did not come out crispy, but somewhat soggy.  We added 10 minutes to the baking time in the oven uncovered . . . it still wasn't enough time to make them crunchy enough for our taste.  Next time we will bake them 20 minutes covered and 15 minutes uncovered.

We love this recipe and will continue to tweak it until they are perfect for our taste.  I must say that the sauce is awesome, like a sweet barbeque sauce, and would be great with some shredded chicken in place of ham and cheese.

I really can't say where this recipe originated since it has been posted all over the place.  It is like, what came first, the chicken or the egg?

Ingredients

• 1 package Original Hawaiian 12-pack dinner rolls 
• 1 small sweet white onion, minced or grated 
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter 
• 3 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard 
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 
• 3 teaspoons poppy seeds 
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar 
• 1 package deli sandwich ham, cut into 12 small squares 
• 6 slices Swiss cheese, each cut in half 

Instructions

Melt butter in a small skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds and brown sugar. Allow to sauté for a few minutes, until onions are translucent and tender. Remove from the stove. 

Cut the rolls in half horizontally, removing the tops and placing the bottoms on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place a spoonful of sauce on each roll, followed by a slice of ham and piece of cheese. Place a roll top on each. 

Move the sliders closely together. Slowly pour the remaining sauce right over the tops of these small beauties. 

Cover with aluminum foil and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Bake at 350F or place on an outdoor grill over low heat, for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Uncover and bake for another two minutes until the tops are slightly browned and crisp. Serve immediately.

Hawaiian Sliders

These little sliders are awesome!  We got to try them at a party and honestly, I could not get enough, but didn't want to make a pig of myself when there were so many other things to eat.  They went fast anyway!  Guess you could say they were the star of the show.

 The ones we had were overstuffed with ham and cheese (maybe double of what the recipe calls for), which made them even better, but the topping is what makes it so special with a blend of delicious tangy sweetness.  The crunchiness resulting from the sauce baked on the bread was also very nice. Outstanding!

I would love to make some with smoked turkey and swiss cheese too.  

Not only did they make the perfect appetizer, they would be great for a quick lunch with some chips.

Awesome discovery!

UPDATE:  We have made these sliders twice and propose the following changes:  No onion.  Cut the sauce recipe in half.  For some reason, our sliders did not come out crispy, but somewhat soggy.  We added 10 minutes to the baking time in the oven uncovered . . . it still wasn't enough time to make them crunchy enough for our taste.  Next time we will bake them 20 minutes covered and 15 minutes uncovered.

We love this recipe and will continue to tweak it until they are perfect for our taste.  I must say that the sauce is awesome, like a sweet barbeque sauce, and would be great with some shredded chicken in place of ham and cheese.

I really can't say where this recipe originated since it has been posted all over the place.  It is like, what came first, the chicken or the egg?

Ingredients

• 1 package Original Hawaiian 12-pack dinner rolls
• 1 small sweet white onion, minced or grated
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter
• 3 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 3 teaspoons poppy seeds
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 package deli sandwich ham, cut into 12 small squares
• 6 slices Swiss cheese, each cut in half

Instructions

1. Melt butter in a small skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds and brown sugar. Allow to sauté for a few minutes, until onions are translucent and tender. Remove from the stove.
2. Cut the rolls in half horizontally, removing the tops and placing the bottoms on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place a spoonful of sauce on each roll, followed by a slice of ham and piece of cheese. Place a roll top on each. Move the sliders closely together. Slowly pour the remaining sauce right over the tops of these small beauties.
3. Cover with aluminum foil and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Bake at 350F or place on an outdoor grill over low heat, for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Uncover and bake for another two minutes until the tops are slightly browned and crisp. Serve immediately.
   

Honey Lemon Chicken

Simple, economical and tasty chicken!!

This chicken dish would be great

 with rice and broccoli :)

Ingredients:

4 chicken thighs or breasts with skin
2 cloves of finely chopped garlic
juice and zest of a lemon 
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence or dried oregano

Preparation:

Preheat over to 375 degrees.

Heat the garlic, honey, lemon juice and zest, oregano and olive oil in a pan.

Place chicken in a casserole dish and pour heated lemon and honey mixture from pan over the chicken.

Bake 40 minutes, basting the chicken occasionally.  Place lemon slices on top a few minutes before taking chicken out of the oven.

Recipe from the book "Le meilleur du poulet"  Ed. Larousse
Image Credit:  Chili & Tonka