Ham and Spinach Quiche

• 1 pre-baked pie crust
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1/2 pound ham, chopped
• 1 cup spinach, chopped
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cup cream or half and half
• 4 ounces Gruyere cheese, shredded
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Saute onions until tender.  Combine spinach with onions and ham
Fill pre-baked pie crust with spinach mixture.
Layer  shredded cheese in pie crust; reserve 1/4 cup for top.
Blend eggs, cream, pepper and salt; Pour slowly into pie crust.
Bake in pre-heated oven at 350* for 30 minutes.   Remove from oven and top with reserved cheese.
Continue baking for 20 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Let cool 10 minutes before slicing.

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What you will need:

 

pie crust, onion, ham, spinach, cheese, cream, eggs, salt, and pepper

 

 

 

Saute onion, add ham and spinach.  Cool.

 

 

Layer spinach mixture into crust and top with cheese.

 

 

Blend eggs, cream, salt, and pepper.

 

 

Slowly pour custard into crust

Bake at 350 degrees in pre-heated oven.

 

 

Cool 10 minutes before slicing.

 

Fresh or frozen spinach can be used for this recipe.  Defrost and remove all moisture from frozen spinach.  Chop and saute fresh spinach with onions to wilt.   Quiche in photo is baked in a springform pan but a deep dish pie pan may be used.  The garnish is micro-green radishes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Igloos

 

• 1/2 cup butter, soften
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 20 ounce can of crushed pineapple
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup toasted pecans
• 1 package 8 ounce package buttered flavored cookie rings
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup shredded coconut
• 20 maraschino cherries with stems

In a medium bowl cream butter and sugar.  Stir in pineapple until blended.
In food processor chop raisins and pecans until coarse ground.  Stir into pineapple mixture.
Spread filling onto 3 cookies.  Stack and gently press together.  Top with plain cookie.
Repeat until you have 20 stacks.
Let stand 8 hours or overnight at room temperature until cookies are soft.
Just before serving beat cream with sugar and vanilla until stiff.
Frost cookie stacks with whipped cream.  Sprinkle with coconut and top with cherry.

Printable Recipe

What you will need:

Sugar, butter, pineapple, raisins, pecans, butter cookies, whipped cream, vanilla, coconut, and cherries

 

 

Spread filling on three cookies.

 

 

Stack the filled cookies and top with plain cookie.  Press together gently.  Repeat with remaining cookies.

 

 

 

Let stand 8 hours or overnight at room temperature.  Cookies will soften.

 

 

After 8 hours.

 

  

This makes a pretty dessert for Christmas.  Cool Whip can be used for whipped cream frosting.  It is  more stable than whipped cream and will allow frosting the cookie stacks several hours before serving.  Refrigerate after frosting the cakes.  The unfrosted cookie stacks can be stored two days in refrigerator or frozen for one month, making this a great make-ahead dessert.          

Seafood and Sausage Gumbo

• 3/4 cup of butter
• 1 cup of green onions, chopped
• 1 cup of onions, chopped
• 2 cups okra, chopped
• 3 crabs
• 1 cup tomatoes, chopped
• 2 cups of tomato juice
• 1 quart water
• 2 cups peeled shrimp
• 1/2 pound of smoked sausage
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon file' powder
• salt
• pepper
• cayenne pepper
• cooked rice

Melt butter in skillet; Saute green onions and onions until tender; Add okra and crab; Add tomatoes
In a large stock pot bring to boil water, tomato juice, shrimp, cook 1 minute
Add vegetables to stock pot
Melt 3 tablespoons butter; Mix in flour and cook over medium heat until brown; Be careful not to burn flour mixture
Add some of the 1st mixture to the roux; Add to gumbo
Brown Sausage; Add to gumbo
Simmer 1 1/2 hours
Serve over rice
1/2 cup of rice to 1 1/2 cup Gumbo

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I was planning on a different recipe today, but our first chilly autumn day is here. So what could be more comforting than a streaming bowl of gumbo and a loaf of crusty bread.  In Mississippi we are blessed with great seafood and fish.  The Gulf of Mexico has the best shrimp and oysters.  If not available in your area buy wild caught.  You can tell the difference in the finished dish.  I make this recipe during the summer when fresh tomatoes and okra are abundant.  I freeze it for a day just like today.  If making it for freezer don't add the roux or sausage before freezing.  Complete recipe when ready to serve.

Banana Muffins

Easy banana muffin recipe made with sour cream.

 

• 3 ripe bananas
• 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups self-rising flour
• 1/2 cup sour cream

Mix bananas, brown sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla until smooth
Slowly add flour until just mixed
Mix in sour cream
Fill prepared muffin pans 2/3 full.
Bake in preheated 375* oven 18 to 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center.
Makes 18 muffins.

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What you will need:

Bananas, Brown sugar, Oil, Egg, Vanilla, Self-rising flour and Sour cream

Mix bananas, brown sugar, oil, egg and vanilla in mixing bowl

Mix until smooth.

Slowly add flour until just mixed; over mixing after you add flour will cause your baked goods to be tough.
Stir in sour cream.
Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and bake in preheated 375* oven 18 to 20 minutes
Tip: Even if you use cupcake liners spray the liners with Baker's Joy and the muffins will not stick to the paper.

This is the same batter but baked in mini muffin tins.  They make a great mid-morning snack with a cup of coffee.  I rolled the muffins in cinnamon sugar while they were still warm.

 

Self- rising flour was invented in England in 1845 by a baker, Henry Jones.  He received a patent in the USA in 1849.  It is widely used in the South for biscuits and other quick breads.  Southerns prefer a soft winter wheat flour.  Winter wheat produces a light product because of it's low protein and gluten content.  Popular brands are Martha White and White Lily.  Self-rising flour already has the leavening agent and salt added to it.  My mother always bought self-rising flour in 25 pounds sacks.  It came in brightly colored cotton sacks.  My grandmother quickly claimed these sacks.  She carefully washed, starched, and ironed this fabric.  Over the years Granny had quite a collection of aprons, pillowcases, tea towels, and her favorite, patchwork quilts.  Now days I have a collection of different flours in my kitchen each for a different use, but at least I don't have to decide which bag is the prettiest.   

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

1 can of black beans
1 can of whole kennel corn
1 can of Ro-Tel diced tomatoes with green chilies
1/4 cup of chopped onions
1/4 cup of sliced green onions

Saute onions until tender.  Rinse the beans under running water.  Drain the corn. 
Add beans, corn, and tomatoes with chilies with onions.  Toss together.
Garnish with green onions.
Can be served hot or at room temperature.

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What you will need:

Black Beans, Whole Kennel Corn, Ro-Tel Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies, Onion, and Green Onions

Rinse Beans under running water.

Toss all ingredients together and garnish with green onions.

Fresh Apple Cake

Fresh Apple Cake with Buttermilk Glaze

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups of vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 4 cups grated apples, about 4 large apples
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350*.
Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in bowl.
Beat together eggs, brown sugar, and oil.
Gradually add flour.  Stir in apples, pecans, and vanilla.
Pour into a greased and floured fluted 10 inch pan.
Bake in preheated 350* oven for 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Pour all but 1/2 cup of buttermilk glaze over cake and let cool in pan 30 minutes.
Invert cake on serving plate and pour on reserved glaze.

Printable Recipe

What you will need:

 

 

 

flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, eggs, brown sugar, oil, apples, pecans, and vanilla

 

 

Beat eggs, oil, and brown sugar together.

 

 

Mix flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.

 

 

Gradually add flour mixture on slow speed of mixer.

 

 

Stir in grated apples, chopped pecans, and vanilla.

 

 

Pour into fluted 10 inch pan and bake in preheated 350* oven 50 to 60 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

 

 

 

Buttermilk Glaze

• 1 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup of butter
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Just before cake is done bring to boil sugar, butter, and buttermilk in medium saucepot.  Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.  Pour all but 1/2 cup of glaze over cake when it comes out of oven and cool 30 minutes.  Invert onto serving plate and pour 1/2 cup reserved glaze over top of cake.

 

 

Cake can also be make without the glaze.  Just cool 10 minutes and invert onto serving plate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Chicken with Chive Cream Cheese

• 6 boneless chicken breast halves
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1/4 cup chives, chopped
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 6 slices bacon
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons whipping cream

Place chicken breast on plastic wrap.   Mist with a small amount of water.  Cover with another sheet of plastic wrap. Pound flat, repeat with other chicken breast.
Salt and pepper chicken to taste.
Chop chives.
In small bowl mix cream cheese and chives.
Partially cook bacon.
Spread filling on chicken breast, roll-up.
Wrap with bacon.
Place in baking dish, dot with butter
Bake in 400* oven 40 minutes or until chicken reaches internal temperature of 160*.
Broil 5 minutes or until bacon is crisp.
Sauce in pan will have bits of cream cheese in it.
Blend sauce with 2 tablespoons of whipping cream to smooth it.
An immersion blender works wonders.
Sauce will be smooth and frothy

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