Saturday, July 6, 2013

Summer Squash Casserole

There are so many variations of Summer Squash and Zucchini Casseroles. I happen to have quite a selection of recipes. Every time I find one, I consider it to be my favorite. Consequently, I have amassed a collection of favorites! Here's another one:

Summer Squash Casserole:

This one is baked in a 2 quart enamel cast iron casserole. We have a collection of vintage casserole pans from Belgium.

3 C un peeled and diced yellow summer squash
1 large sweet onion, chopped
1/2 C grated parmesan cheese
1/2 C grated cheddar cheese
1/2 C vegetable oil
1 C Bisquick Mix ( home made Bisquick recipe at the end for those that don't have access to Bisquick Mix;
4 eggs, beaten
4 TBS minced fresh parsley
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and coat the squash well.
Spray the pan with a vegetable cooking spray and add the squash
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 - 40 minutes until golden brown



Home Made Bisquick Mix:

6 C flour, unbleached
3 TBS Baking Powder
1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 TBS salt
3 TBS sugar
1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, chilled and cubed

In a large bowl that will accommodate more than 5 cups of flour, whisk together everything except the butter.
Use a pastry blender or two forks and cut in the butter until it becomes a coarse meal without any big pieces of butter. Store the mixture in a jar in the refrigerator.


Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!


We bought the Summer Squash from a farmer at our local market. They told us the Summer Squash and Zucchini were planted adjacent to each other. They actually cross pollinated and produced the yellow squash with green designs on them. Some of them had much more green and a more intricate design.






I feel lazy today!

I need to get it together and figure out what I'm going to post today....
More to come.......

I'm still tired from the 4th of July festivities.
We had some great food.

I made my All American Macaroni Salad and a Frozen Margarita Pie.
My wife made a Roasted Corn Salad. I need to see if I posted that recipe on the blog.

We had all of the traditional dishes for a great celebration with neighbors.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Vegetarian Shrimp Burgers

1 lb. of Sophie's Kitchen Vegan Shrimp
1/3 C chopped onion
1/4 C mayonnaise
1/4 tsp lemon juice
1 egg , beaten
2 tsp freshly chopped tarragon leaves
1/4 tsp paprika
salt and pepper to taste
1 TBS vegetable oil
1 TBS butter
Burger Rolls, Tartar Sauce and Lettuce

Place shrimp in a food processor and pulse , just until ground, not over pulsed

Place in a bowl and add:
onion
mayonnaise
1/4 tsp lemon juice
egg
tarragon
paprika
salt and pepper to taste
Combine well
Form Patties

Heat oil in a skillet
Fry the patties until golden brown , about 4 minutes on each side

Serve on rolls with tartar sauce and lettuce

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!
Fry

Grilled Vegetarian Prawns

Thanks to Sophie's Kitchen , Vegetarians and Vegans can enjoy great recipes using Vegetarian based Seafood.
The choices are many.

Here's my recipe for Grilled Prawns:

2 lbs. of Prawns
2 TBS olive oil
2 TBS dry white wine
1 1/2 TBS minced garlic
1/4 tsp paprika
a pinch of red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste
2 TBS chopped fresh parsley, divided
lemon wedges

In a large bowl, combine:
oil
wine
garlic
paprika
red pepper flakes
salt
pepper
1 TBS chopped parsley
Add prawns and toss well
Refrigerate for 1 hour

Get the grill hot!

Thread the prawns on skewers
Grill them for 3 - 4 minutes on each side, brushing them with remaining marinade
Don't over cook them

Serve, sprinkled with remaining parsley and fresh squeezed lemon juice

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!








Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits Soufflé

Previously I posted two recipes for Grits. This is a Soufflé using Smoked Gouda Cheese.
I've just recently become a fan of smoked cheeses. Smoked Gouda may be my favorite.


6 C Water
1 tsp Salt
1 1/2 C Stone Ground Grits
2 Eggs
1 1/2 C (6 oz.) grated Smoked Gouda Cheese
2 TBS Butter
Salt and Pepper to taste

Butter a 2 quart Casserole Dish

In a Saucepan, bring Water and Salt to a boil
Gradually Whisk in Grits
Reduce to Low, cover and continue cooking and stirring for 20 minutes or until thick
Remove from heat

In a bowl, whisk the Eggs
Add 1 C of Grits to the Eggs
Stir Egg mixture into remaining Grits, stir in Butter and Cheese
Season to taste with Salt and Pepper
Continue stirring until the Butter and Cheese have melted

Pour in the Dish and Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, until Golden Brown

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!


Sunday, June 30, 2013

Balsamic Reduction

I've posted a recipe for Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries and a Balsamic reduction.
I thought I'd post the reduction recipe separately because it's great with Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil.

2 C Balsamic Vinegar
Boil over medium low heat in a small saucepan
Cook for about 10 - 20 minutes, it will begin to turn into a thick glaze
Remove to a bowl or Salad Dressing Cruet
Cool completely
Drizzle over slices of Tomato and Mozzarella Cheese slices topped with fresh Basil leaves.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Coconut Rum Bread Pudding

I have a Best of the Best Recipe for Bread Pudding.
I've been posting recipes and stories about Coconuts, so I decided to post this recipe.
I think it's the Coconut Rum soaked raisins and the Coconut Rum Sauce that make it interesting.

Coconut Rum Bread Pudding:

24 slices of day old baguettes sliced 1" thick
1/4 C butter, softened
4 eggs
1/2 C brown sugar
1 (25oz.) can crushed pineapple with the juice
1 C grates coconut
2 1/2 C evaporated milk
1 C raisins soaked in 1/2 C coconut rum

Spread butter on each slice of bread
Place bread in a buttered 2 quart casserole, overlapping the slices

Beat eggs and sugar in a large bowl
Add:
pineapple
coconut
evaporated milk
raisins
Blend Well

Pour mixture over the bread getting it in between the slices
Let it soak in for about 15 minutes
Squish ( i think that's a word) the slices so they get well soaked in the egg mixture
Place the casserole dish in a roasting pan with boiling water coming 1/2" up the sides of the dish

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes
Remove the dish and cool

Serve with Rum Sauce

Here's my favorite rum sauce recipe: ( I keep any leftover sauce in the refrigerator, in a canning jar with a tight lid )

Coconut Rum Bread Pudding

1 C granulated sugar
1/2 C butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1/4 C coconut rum ( for Christmas Puddings I use regular rum) My favorite is Mount Gay from Barbados
1 tsp vanilla

In a saucepan, heat:
sugar
butter
whisk in the egg
whisk until completely blended and sugar has melted
Remove from heat
Whisk in the coconut rum
Return to a simmer and continue whisking constantly until it thickens

Remove from heat
Whisk in the vanilla

Serve warm or cold over the individual serving of pudding

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!