Asparagus Casserole , adapted from Trisha Yearwood

I love asparagus any way it's prepared. So this recipes was very appealing to me.
I have adapted it a bit. 

Two bunches fresh asparagus
4 TBS butter
4 TBS all-purpose flour
1 C milk
Pinch salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
5 ounces Gruyere Cheese or Emmenthal Cheese, grated
4 hard-boiled eggs
1/2 cup saltine cracker crumbs (about 10 crackers)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Trim off the tough ends of the asparagus. Place the asparagus in a large pot of boiling water, keeping the bundles together with rubber bands or string. Boil for 2 minutes, reduce to a simmer and cook an additional 5 - 7 minutes until the asparagus is bright green and still crunchy. Reserve 1 C of the liquid.

Run the asparagus under cold water to stop the cooking.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Mix flour and cayenne in a bowl. Whisk the flour into the melted butter to make a roux. Cook for 1 minute, then whisk in the milk and 1 cup of the asparagus cooking liquid. Add the salt and continue cooking until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Add the grated cheese and cook, stirring, until melted, about 1 minute.

Arrange the asparagus in the bottom of a 9"X13" baking dish, alternating the stem ends so each serving includes both heads and stems. Thinly slice the hard-boiled eggs and arrange them over the asparagus. Pour the cheese sauce over the eggs and asparagus and sprinkle with the cracker crumbs. Bake until lightly browned and bubbles appear around the edges, about 20 minutes.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Saltine Crackers with Chocolate and Pecans, Christmas Candy

Here's a vintage Christmas recipe. I've been making it for decades.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
A Jelly Roll Pan lined with Aluminum Foil sprayed with a Vegetable Cooking Spray.

35 - 40 Saltine Crackers
16 TBS Butter
1 C Brown Sugar
8 oz. of Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips  (about 2 Cups)
1 C Chopped Pecans

Arrange the Crackers,( Salt side down),  in a single layer in the Pan.

In a Saucepan on Medium High Heat:
Butter, until melted.
Brown Sugar
Bring to a Boil for a few minutes as it begins to turn Caramel in Color.
Remove from Heat.
Pour over the Crackers and spread evenly with a Metal Offset Spatula.

Bake for 3 - 5 minutes. It should begin to bubble.
Remove Pan from Oven and Sprinkle with Chocolate Chips.
As they Melt, Spread evenly with a Metal Offset Spatula.
Sprinkle evenly with Pecans.

Refrigerate until Chocolate hardens and it's cooled completely.

Remove and Break into Pieces.
Transfer to a Holiday Serving Plate.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Back to blogging more!

With the holidays behind us, Christmas decorations are down. I'll have more time to get back to blogging. I'll try to find a new subject to blog about, I'll research additional recipes from my Aunt Faye's recipe collection and I'll continue to research and post some great vegetarian recipes.
I look forward to it all and I hope you all do too.


Update,
I had to get my car inspected this morning and I was told it would take an hour. I decided to walk across the street to Starbucks and spend the hour there. I had my IPad with me so I could stay busy. The seating at Starbucks is tight and I was sitting next to two woman that were talking about putting on an event of some sort. I wasn't really being nosy but I could tell by the conversation that it involved food. When one of the women started talking about Kool Aid Pickles and asked her friend if she had ever heard of them, to which her friend replied, no, I had to say something, since I was very aware about the history of Kool Aid Pickles. After all, you can find the recipe on my blog. As the conversation continued among the three of us, it became very clear to me what my next topic for the blog would be. And, no it's not pickles!
I'm in the process doing the research and the stories and recipes will soon follow. I hesitate to give out the topic at this time , so all I will say is....... more to come!


Hippy in the Kitchen!
Peace!

Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Pine Nuts

We happen to love Brussels Sprouts. I have previously posted 4 recipes using Brussels Sprouts.
I like something other that just roasting them all the time.


3/4 C  (6 TBS) butter, divided
1 box of Vegetarian Bacon or 1/2 pound of real bacon, roughly chopped and cooked until crispy. For the Vegetarian Bacon, add about a TBS of vegetable oil.
1 C pine nuts
2 pounds of Brussels Sprouts, core and shred in a food processor, on a Mandolin or thinly slice.
4 Green Onions, finely sliced
1/2 tsp seasoning salt (your choice)
black pepper to taste

In a 10 " cast iron skillet or any large skillet:
Heat the skillet on medium high heat
Cube 1/4 C (4TBS) of the butter and add it to the skillet
When it melts, add the pine nuts and saute until slightly browned.
Add sprouts, onion, seasoning, salt and pepper.
Reduce heat to medium and cook until sprouts are wilted and tender, about 10 - 15 minutes.
At the very end add the additional 2 TBS of butter and stir well.
Remove from heat and stir in the bacon just before serving.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Vegetable Dip

2 C mayonnaise
1/2 C  finely chopped onion
1 -( 8oz.) package of cream cheese
2 tsp of  vegetable bouillon cube

Combine all ingredients well with a mixer.
Refrigerate covered for 2 hours.
The longer it sits, the better the flavor.
Mix well before serving.

Serve with carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, crackers, chips.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Coconut Pineapple Cake

Another recipe from my mother in law.
A classic dessert to take to a neighborhood gathering or a church function.
Make it for your family!

Coconut Pineapple Cake

2 C flour
2 C sugar
2 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1- (20 oz.) can of crushed pineapple (with juice)
1 C coconut
1 C chopped pecans

Sift dry ingredients together.
Add all of the rest of the ingredients, mix well and pour into a 9"X13" pan prepared with a baking spray. (I use my Pan Release Mix)

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
Cool completely.

Make the frosting and ice the cake:

8 oz. package of Cream Cheese
1C Confectioner's Sugar
1/2 stick of Butter
1 tsp Vanilla

Beat until smooth and ice the cake.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Coconut Pie without a Crust

I like a pie with a crust, but I don't always have time to make a crust. I'm not a fan of store bought, frozen pie crusts. So, I like pies without a crust when I want a quick dessert. I've previously posted my favorite recipe for Apple Pie without a crust, it's one of my favorites that I make often.

Coconut Pie without a Crust:

4 eggs
3/4 C sugar
1/2 C flour
1/4 C butter, melted
2 C whole milk
1 1/2 C coconut
1 tsp vanilla

Beat the eggs in a small bowl
Combine sugar with flour in a separate bowl.
Mix eggs, sugar/flour mixture and all remaining ingredients together in a bowl.
Pour into a 10" pie pan prepared with a baking spray. I use my Pan Release Mix.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Do not over bake.
Center may not appear to be set, but it will when it's left to cool.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!