Saturday, June 25, 2016

Creamy Corn Casserole




A corn lover's dream casserole!

This recipe has been listed on All Recipe's website for quite some time and has over 2000 reviews.  Most of the reviews are raves about the casserole and many are now including it in their Thanksgiving Meal . . . that is special!

I would not change a thing until I make it the first time.


UPDATE

While the casserole was baking, it made the house smell better than bread baking!

The casserole itself was delicious and we will make it again and again.  Not that it was too plain, but to enhance the flavor, both The Captain and I agreed some pepperjack or cheedar cheese would be awesome . . . some diced peppers would also be great.









Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 (8.5 ounce) package dry corn bread mix
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (14.75 ounce) can creamed corn
1 cup sour cream



Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 

Lightly grease baking dish (9x9 inch).

Combine butter, eggs, corn bread mix, whole and creamed corn and sour cream. 

Spoon mixture into prepared dish.

Bake for 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top is golden brown.



Photo and recipe source





Friday, June 24, 2016

Raspberry Lemonade Cheesecake Bars




A delicious looking cheesecake bars recipe from Betty Crocker!







Ingredients

Crust

1 pouch Betty Crocker™ sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter, softened 
1 egg 
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel

Filling
2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened 
1/2 cup sugar 
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel
2 eggs 
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup fresh raspberries




Directions

Heat oven to 325°F. 

Spray bottom only of 13 x 9-inch pan with cooking spray.

Mix crust ingredients with spoon until soft dough forms in a large bowl. 

Press dough in bottom of pan. 

Bake 15 minutes. 

Remove from oven to cooling rack and cool 10 minutes.

Beat cream cheese, sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon peel with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Scrape sides of bowl frequently. 

Add eggs, one at a time and beat until just blended. 

Beat in lemon juice. 

Reserve 1/4 cup filling and set aside. 

Spread remaining filling over cooled crust.
Mash raspberries with fork.  Push mixture through small strainer with back of spoon to make 1/4 cup raspberry puree. 

Stir puree into reserved filling. 

Drop spoonfuls of raspberry mixture on cream cheese layer. 

Carefully swirl into top of cream cheese layer with a knife.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until filling is set. 

Cool 30 minutes on cooling rack. 

Refrigerate about 2 hours or until cooled completely. 

Cut in 6 rows by 4 rows.









Blackened Shrimp Stroganoff




Oh my . . . guess what is for dinner tonight?

The combination of shrimp, fresh mushrooms and roasted red peppers is perfection.  Readers of my blog know how much I love shrimp pasta and always try new versions.  Something tells me this will be my favorite!

After drooling over this recipe, The Captain and I discussed what we would like to change in the recipe.  First off, no capers.  We will also opt to make shrimp stock and use white wine where the recipe calls for the second application of chicken stock.  To begin with, we will be marinading the shrimp for at least two hours to ensure maximum flavor.

Make this recipe uniquely yours by adding ingredients that your family loves, don't use the ones you don't love. Adjust the hot and spicy element of this dish by using a cajun seasoning that suits your taste.

Don't forget a loaf of hot crusty bread to complete this meal.  I will update this post after trying the recipe!



UPDATE

Our first try making this recipe was a comedy of errors.  First of all, we DO NOT RECOMMEND using white wine.  The first batch of making the gravy was ruined by the funky taste and also wasted the beautiful shrimp stock we made.  

We ended up using chicken stock in the second attempt at the gravy, which was delicious.

How do you forget one of the most attractive and delicious ingredients in this recipe?  We forgot the roasted red peppers!!!

All in all, it was still a delicious meal with all the errors and we will be making it again using shrimp stock and roasted red peppers.








Ingredients


    • 1 pound fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
    • 6 ounces fettuccini pasta
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 3 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced
    • 1 tablespoon chopped shallots
    • 2/3 cup chicken broth
    • 1/2 cup sour cream
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • 1 cup chicken broth
    • 1 (7 ounce) jar roasted red bell peppers
    • 1 tablespoon drained capers



Directions

Combine peeled shrimp, oil, and Cajun seasoning and set aside in a medium bowl. 

Add pasta 
to a large pot of lightly salted boiling water, cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

Melt butter over medium heat in a large frying pan.

Cook and stir mushrooms and shallot in butter until tender. Remove from pan. 

Cook shrimp until they turn pink (about 2 to 3 minutes . . . do not overcook). Remove from pan. 

Cook 2/3 cup chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cook uncovered, until reduced to 1/4 cup (2 to 3 minutes).

Stir together sour cream and cornstarch in a small bowl. 


Mix in 1 cup chicken broth. 

Stir mixture into reduced chicken broth in the frying pan. 

Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. 

Cook 1 minute more. 

Stir in shrimp, mushroom mixture, roasted red peppers, and capers. Heat through, and season to taste. 

Serve over pasta.



Footnotes

You can substitute shrimp broth or white wine for the chicken broth. To make shrimp broth, reserve shrimp shells, and simmer in 2 cups water for 15 minutes.




Photo and recipe source





Rustic Chicken Gratin



This recipe will be an experiment in spices and flavors since I have never used curry and have no idea what it tastes like.  I'm broadening my horizons!

I would make a simple change . . . use fresh vegetables, it is what is preferred. Maybe I'm weird, but I don't usually like the taste of frozen vegetables and prefer fresh.  As far as mushrooms, canned is ok, but I absolutely love fresh mushrooms.

Cheddar cheese?  I will use it the first time, but I'm not convinced this will be as good as it could be with another type of cheese.







Serving Size / Yield
4-6 servings




Ingredients


    • 1 C. butter
    • 1 C. onion, chopped
    • 1 C. flour
    • 1 tsp . salt
    • 1/2 tsp. curry powder
    • 1 (4-oz.) can sliced mushrooms, drained
    • 1 (13-oz.) can evaporated milk
    • 1 (10-oz.) pkg. frozen broccoli spears, drained
    • 3 chicken breasts, chopped
    • 2 C. cheddar cheese, shredded
    • 4 C. white rice, cooked


Directions

Preheat oven at 375 degrees F. 


Melt butter in skillet, add onions and saute until tender. Remove skillet from heat. 

Stir in flour, salt and curry. 

Drain mushrooms. Add water to 1/2 C. mushroom liquid and add to flour mixture in skillet. 

Blend in evaporated milk until smooth and add mushrooms. 

Cook over medium heat, stirring until sauce thickens. 

Spread cooked rice on bottom of 13-by-9-inch baking dish. 

Arrange chicken and broccoli over rice. 

Pour sauce over mixture and cover with cheese. 

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.





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