Category: Dips, Dressings, and Spreads

Recipe Review- Corn Souffle

Appetizers and snacks, Dips, Dressings, and Spreads, Recipe Review, Side dishes...veggies, Vegetarian

Evening guys! So today I have pretty much spent the entire day in the kitchen (and grocery store). I meal planned, I shopped, and I cooked my heart out. It is my Daddy’s birthday tomorrow, so I cooked him one of his favorite meals; Pork Ragu. I also made this corn souffle recipe I got from this cookbook…
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It has so many amazing recipes that I want to try, but this one caught my eye right away. I have always wanted to take on the souffle, but I have always been afraid to try. This was in the section called “The Scary Stuff,” but the directions were super clear and easy to follow. I followed this recipe to a tee. I encourage you to BUY this book up. It is perfect for the home cook who wants to gain skill and tips from a master chef!

Corn Souffle- from The Chef Next Door by Amanda Freitag

Ingredients- makes four 8-Ounce Ramekins
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, plus more for the ramekins
1 cup corn kernels ( fresh or frozen)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
4 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

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Here is how it progressed…

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I think it was a hit! Becca loved it, but she said next time I should add some cheese. Done!

Cauliflower Couscous

Dips, Dressings, and Spreads, One pot meal, Pasta, Side dishes...veggies, Vegetarian

So I made this yummy veggie one pot wonder yesterday. Eat a plate of it for dinner, or pair it with a piece of grilled fish or chicken. Delicious! So cauliflower and couscous are not the most photogenic foods, but I tried my best with the picture. The recipe was so easy!

All you have to do is chop up some cauliflower in small pieces. You could put it in in the food processor to mimic couscous, but I like a few bigger pieces to bite in to. Then put a couple of tablespoons of both butter and olive oil in a med-large dutch oven. Add in your cauliflower and cook down until tender, about 8 minutes. Add in your liquid and bring to a boil. I had some leftover chicken stock, but use veggie or water if you like to make this vegetarian. Just follow the proper ratios on the couscous box. I used plain, so no flavor packet was used. Add in the couscous and stir. Take off the heat and cover for 5 minutes. At the end (OPTIONAL) add in a couple turns of heavy cream and stir OR if you don’t have cream, you could add in a bit more butter or olive oil.

***To make vegan, leave out the butter and just use olive oil. Leave out the heavy cream.

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Chicken and Bacon Pasta

Dips, Dressings, and Spreads, Pasta

So I was thinking of making something kind of like this for dinner tonight… Tomato Garlic Linguine with Mozzarella and Chicken. It turned in to a combination of this recipe and my Spaghetti Alfredo with shrimp, Bacon, and Veggies.

Here is how it went down.

Chicken and Pasta Bacon

Ingredients

2 shallots, thinly sliced
1 small container of portabello mushrooms, sliced
1 container of cherry tomatoes
3 heads of minced garlic
2 large chicken breasts
1 cup white wine (stock or water would be acceptable)
1 pound of pasta- I used Linguine
1/2 pound bacon and the grease
1 ball fresh mozzarella, chopped
1/2 cup Parmesan, shredded
About 1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup pasta water

Directions

Drizzle a few tablespoons of olive oil in a dutch oven.
Brown both sides of your chicken on high heat, about 5 minutes per side. Take out of pan.
Lower heat to medium. Add another 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Cook down your shallots, mushrooms, and tomatoes for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add your garlic. Stir in and cook for 3 minutes. Add wine, stir, and reduce, about 5 minutes.
Chop your chicken. It will still be raw in the middle.
Start boiling your water and drop you pasta when ready.
Cook your bacon. Drain and chop.
Add your chicken to the veggies. Add your bacon grease and stir together well. When your pasta is al dente, add it to your sauce plus the pasta water. Add the rest of the olive oil. Mix well and top with your cheese and bacon.

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A Couple of Favorites…

Asian, Dips, Dressings, and Spreads, Seafood

So I’m cooking away over here! Last night I made some chicken stir fry with Chinese noodles…

When I make this, I use different combinations of sauce. Here was the line up for this dinner…

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Last night I asked the girls what they wanted for dinner. It was between something made with beef or tilapia. They chose this lovely recipe…  We ate it with a side of macaroni. There was so much fish between the 3 of us, that I didn’t even bother with a veggie. Just like last time, we scarfed it down after a night of activities, so there is no picture evidence. So I found this picture that actually looks pretty close; the first time I made it with rosemary, but alas, it is winter and I don’t have any  fresh.

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Tomorrow is a lots of homework and a late cheer practice, so we might have to go out. Thursday is a night out with a SUPER close friend who the girls know as their Uncle and lots more homework and studying. Why does third grade have SO much homework? I have no idea about Friday. Maybe I will make a meatloaf or something new; I still have that beef in the freezer. Saturday is out with some old work friends, so hubby will have a date night with his little ladies. After that I have no idea! Have a great rest of the week!

Corn Meal Crusted Pan Fried Trout

Dips, Dressings, and Spreads

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Corn Meal Crusted Pan Fried Trout

Ingredients

2 trout fillets
salt and pepper as needed
6 tablespoons fine cornmeal
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon butter

Directions

Season the fish with salt and pepper. In a shallow bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour. Dip both sides of the trout in the cornmeal mixture, pressing to make sure it is fully coated.

Heat the oil in a cast iron pan until almost smoking, then add the fillets. After 1 minute, add 2 teaspoons of butter to the pan. Watch the skin of the fish; when it begins to curl, about 1 to 2 minutes longer, turn the fish. Cook on the skin side just another 30 seconds or so.

The girls LOVED the skin! I served it with a side salad and couscous. The girls ate some edamame =)