Trisha Yearwood's Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Have you seen Trisha Yearwood on the Food Network?  She's got an awesome southern style of cooking! Love most of her recipes . . . 

This recipe has so many of my favorite things for a comfort food meal, starting with cream of chicken soup and I can never resist a chicken and rice meal! One thing that is very interesting to me is the combination of sour cream and mayonnaise.

What an awesome meal with some hot biscuits!

Click here for recipe page from Food.com. 

Cayenne and Garlic Infused Olive Oil

Give your olive oil some zing by infusing it with other ingredients, like cayenne pepper and garlic.

Imagine the added flavor when using the infused olive oil in a salad dressing or marinade . . . how about the aroma in the kitchen when using it for browning chicken for a casserole or stir fry?

It would also make an awesome gift in a decorated container.

Ingredients

6 dried cayenne peppers

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

4 large cloves garlic

Directions

Using a mortar and pestle, grind one of the dried peppers.

In a saucepan set over low heat warm the olive oil with the ground pepper, the remaining whole peppers and the garlic.

Cook until the garlic is golden and the oil is fragrant, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely.

Photo and recipe source

Parrot Bay Coconut Shrimp (Red Lobster Copycat Recipe)

Shrimp is my absolute favorite food!  Coconut Shrimp is such a treat that is usually reserved for a special occasion, but I must admit, we go to Outback Steakhouse and have never had the meal at Red Lobster. Having said that, Red Lobster is one of my favorite restaurants and I have never had anything there that I did not like.

Now we can enjoy Coconut Shrimp more often in the comfort of our home!

And I must say that the Pina Colada Dipping Sauce sounds much better than the Orange Marmalade type of sauce that I have had at the other place.  We'll see . . .

Ingredients


Pina Colada Dipping Sauce

• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup pina colada nonalcoholic drink mix
• 1/4 cup crushed pineapple (canned)
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Shrimp

• 6 -8 cups canola oil (as required by fryer)
• 12 large shrimp, peeled and deveined (about 1/2 pound)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons captain morgan Parrot Bay coconut rum
• 1 cup panko Japanese-style bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup flaked coconut
• On the side . . . salsa

Directions

Prepare pina colada dipping sauce first by combining all the ingredients.

Cover this and let it chill out in the fridge while you make the shrimp.

Heat oil to 350 degrees.

Measure 3/4 cup of flour into a medium bowl.

In another medium bowl mix together the remaining 3/4 cup flour, sugar, and salt.

Stir milk and rum into flour mixture.

Let this batter stand for five minutes.

While the batter rests, combine panko breadcrumbs and shredded coconut into a third medium bowl.

Butterfly cut each shrimp before you start the battering: Use a sharp knife to slice through the top of the shrimp (where the vein was) so that you can spread the shrimp open.

Leave the tail intact.

To batter the shrimp, dip each one in the flour, then the wet batter, then coat each shrimp with the panko/coconut mixture.

Arrange the shrimp on a plate until all of them are battered.

Fry the shrimp by dropping six at a time into the hot oil for 2 to 3 minutes or until the shrimp are golden brown.

Remove shrimp to a rack or paper towels to drain.

Serve shrimp with pina colada dipping sauce on the side, along with a small dish of your favorite salsa.


Photo and Recipe Source:  Food.com
from their collection of Red Lobster Copycat Recipes

Chocolate Chip, Oats and Caramel Cookie Squares

Chocolate and caramel . . . such an awesome combination!

This recipe will satisfy any sweet tooth cravings for sure.

Perfect dessert to take to a party.

Ingredients

1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated chocolate chip cookies

1 cup quick-cooking oats

Dash salt, if desired

2/3 cup caramel ice cream topping

5 tablespoons Pillsbury BEST® all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup Fisher® Chef's Naturals® Chopped Walnuts

1 cup Hershey's® semi-sweet baking chips (6 oz)

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. 

In large bowl, break up cookie dough. 

Stir or knead in oats and salt. 

Reserve 1/2 cup dough for topping. 

In ungreased 9-inch square pan, press remaining dough mixture evenly in bottom to form crust.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until dough puffs and appears dry.

In small bowl, mix caramel topping, flour and vanilla until well blended. Sprinkle walnuts and baking chips evenly over crust. Drizzle evenly with caramel mixture. Crumble reserved 1/2 cup dough mixture over caramel.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes longer or until golden brown. 

Cool 10 minutes. 

Run knife around sides of pan to loosen bars. Cool completely, about 1 hour, 30 minutes. 

For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store tightly covered.

Recipe and Photo Source:  Pillsbury.com 

from

Bake-Off® Contest 37, 1996

Niela Frantellizzi

Boca Raton, Florida

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