Baked Artichoke Heart Appetizers

Here's a great party appetizer.

Baked Artichoke Hearts

Here's what you'll need:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

1 - 9" X 13" casserole dish sprayed a vegetable cooking spray.

8 TBS Butter

1 C grated Parmesan Cheese

3 (14oz.) cans of Artichoke Hearts, drained (trim the bottoms so they can stand up and make sure they have a small indentation in the top to accommodate 1 TBS of filling.

1 tsp Lemon Pepper

1 tsp Garlic Salt

8 oz. Cream Cheese, room temperature.

1 TBS Sour Cream

2 TBS chopped fresh Chives

Melt butter in a small saucepan and set aside.

Put the Parmesan Cheese in a shallow bowl and set aside.

Sprinkle the tops with Lemon Pepper and Garlic Salt.

In a bowl:

Cream Cheese

Sour Cream

Chives

Mix well.

Spoon 1 TBS into the top of each Artichoke Heart.

Dip the bottom of each one in Butter and then Parmesan Cheese.

Stand them up in the casserole dish and bake for 45 minutes.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen!

Vegetarian Chili

As a vegetarian, I have so many recipes for  vegetarian chili. Most of the time I create it as I go, without a recipe. It's usually based on ingredients that I have available.
I thought I'd post a recipe for beginning cooks or for those that don't have a good vegetarian chili recipe!

3 - (15oz.) cans of Black Beans (drain and rinse 2 of the cans, not the third one) Or a combination of 1 can of dark red kidney beans, 1 can of light red kidney beans and 1 can of black beans, all drained.
1 large Vidalia Onion, diced
3 Garlic Cloves, minced
2 TBS Vegetable Oil
4 tsp Chili Powder
1 tsp Cumin
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/4 tsp Salt
2 (14.5 oz.) cans of Ro-Tel Tomatoes with Green Chiles.
1 - 12oz. package of Meatless Burger Crumbles
 1 Vegetable Bouillon Cube
2 C Water

Garnish Options:
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese
Diced Avocado
Pickled Nacho Jalapeños

In a Cast Iron Dutch Oven on medium heat:
Heat the Oil
Onion
Garlic
Salute until tender for 5 minutes.

Mix in:
Chili Powder
Cumin
Pepper
Salt
Saute 3 minutes longer.

Add:
Tomatoes
Burger Crumbles
Bouillon
Beans
Water

Bring to a boil on medium high heat.
Reduce heat to medium low.
Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Ladle into bowls and top with your choice of garnishes.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Cranberry and Sausage Quiche

I've adapted this recipe to make it vegetarian. I use a fresh vegetarian sausage. Lightlife Gimme Lean Sausage.
I brown it in 2 TBS of vegetable oil before I use it in a recipe.
It works well in this Quiche. This is a great Quiche to serve at a brunch, during a holiday family gathering or any Sunday morning!

Here's what you'll need.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
1 - 9"  Deep Dish Pie Plate with a single deep dish pie crust. You can make your own or buy a frozen crust and thaw it completely before using.

1/2 pound of ground sausage (vegetarian or........ not!)
3/4 C dried Cranberries
1 1/2 C shredded Swiss Cheese
3 large Eggs
1 1/2 C Half and Half

Pre bake the pie shell for 7 minutes. (allow to cool completely)
If using a frozen crust, thaw it to room temperature before baking.

Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees.

In a skillet:
Brown the sausage and drain off any excess liquid. I sauté the vegetarian sausage in 2 TBS of vegetable oil.
Stir in the Cranberries and remove from heat.

In a mixing bowl:
Eggs
Half and Half
Whisk well.

In the Pre baked Pie shell:
Sprinkle in the Cheese evenly to cover the bottom.
Add Sausage / Cranberry mixture evenly over the Cheese.
Pour the Egg mixture in.
Bake for 45 minutes.
Remove and cool on a rack for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Couscous with Fresh Herbs and Lemon

This is one of my favorite Side Dishes. I always make it for Easter.

 Couscous with Fresh Herbs and Lemon

4 C Vegetable Chicken Broth
2 TBS Butter
1 TBS Olive Oil
1/2 tsp Salt
2 C Plain Couscous
1 TBS chopped fresh Parsley
1 TBS chopped fresh Chives
1 tsp chopped fresh Rosemary
1 tsp chopped fresh Thyme
The Juice and Zest of 1 Lemon


In a medium saucepan on medium high heat:
Broth
Butter
Oil
Salt
Bring to a boil.
Stir in Couscous
Remove from heat and cover.
Allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Stir in:
Parsley
Chives
Rosemary
Thyme
Lemon Juice
Zest
Transfer to a serving dish and serve hot.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Potato Chip Gratin

This is truly a crazy recipe. I hesitated to even post it, but I actually find it to be intriguing.
I make Potatoes Gratin, Escalloped and Dauphinoise! This seems very American and I'm sure the French would cringe at the thought of it.
Why not?


Potato Chip Gratin

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
1 - 9" X 13" baking dish, heavily buttered.

1 regular sized bag of your favorite Potato Chips (the big one, not the one you're mother put in your lunch for school)
2 C Heavy Cream
1 C prepared French Onion Dip ( you know, the stuff in the dairy section of your grocery store?)
1 C Sour Cream
8 TBS Butter, melted
1 C shredded Swiss Cheese
1 C shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

In a large mixing bowl, with an electric hand mixer:
Heavy Cream
Onion Dip
Sour Cream
Butter
Beat until combined well.
Slowly and Gently fold in Potato Chips by hand. (some will will break and that's OK)
Spoon half of the mixture into the dish.
Sprinkle evenly with Swiss Cheese.
Spoon in the remainder of the potato mixture.
Sprinkle evenly with Cheddar Cheese
Bake for 35 minutes.
Serve immediately.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Rotini and Cheese Salad

I have many of my favorite American Picnic Salads on the Blog. This is just another one added to the post under Macaroni Salad, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, All American Picnic Salads.

Rotini and Cheese Salad.

This is an iconic American Picnic Salad.

1 pound of Rotini Pasta (cooked, drained according to package directions) Refrigerate until completely cooled.
1 Red Bell Pepper, Diced
3 Ribs of Celery, chopped
8 oz. Sharp Cheddar Cheese, cubed into bite sized pieces
1/4 C Diced Sweet Onion
1 C Mayonnaise
1/4 C Granulated Sugar
2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/2 tsp dried Parsley

In a large mixing bowl:
Mayonnaise
Sugar
Vinegar
Pepper
Parsley
Whisk well.
Add Pasta and mix well to combine.
Fold in:
Bell Pepper
Celery
Cheese
Onion
Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip

Just another recipe for one of my favorite Dips. I've adapted it from Nell's Old Fashioned Recipes. I have my other favorites posted on the blog, but this just sounded like something I would make.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2 C Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 (10oz.) box of Frozen  Chopped Spinach, thaw and drain.
1 (14oz.) can of Artichoke Hearts, drain and chop.
2/3 C Sour Cream
1 (8oz.) package of Cream Cheese, softened  to room temperature.
1/3 C Mayonnaise
2 tsp Minced Garlic
1 small can of Water Chestnuts, chopped
Mix all ingredients well, by hand, in a large mixing bowl.
Pour into a 2 quart casserole dish.
Bake for 30 minutes.

NOTE:
I cream together the Cream Cheese, Sour Cream, Mayonnaise and Garlic in a large mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer and fold in the remaining ingredients, by hand.


Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!