February 2017 Newsletter

February 2017 Newsletter

Food for Thought:
I Awaken, To Thoughts of You...
Moments we've spent together, Conversations we shared as we reveal our Innermost
Thoughts to one another.
I Awaken, To Thoughts of You...
The Hours spent Lying in your Arms, feeling your Embrace; your Warmth, Love and
Protection.
I Awaken, To Thoughts of You...
Knowing that I am Loved, even in the moments we spend Apart...that doesn't Cease our
new found Love.
I Awaken, To Thoughts of You...
The days that lie ahead of us, time to Share...time to Laugh...time to Love one another.
I Awaken, To Thoughts of You...
My best Friend, My Confidant...the one that knows me Without and Within...the One that
will Always be There for me.
I Awaken, To Thoughts of You...
Knowing that your Heart, Mind and Soul are likewise filled with Thoughts of me.
I Awaken, To Thoughts of You...
Knowing we will walk Hand in Hand...ever Pressing Forward; Together , Enlightened, Loved.

Paula 01/04/2009

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Caesar Salad Pasta
Feel free to substitute anchovy paste for anchovy fillets. Because it's milder than fillets, start with 1 Tbsp. paste, then add more according to your taste.

Makes: 4 servings; Total time: 30 minutes
COOK:
8 oz. dry linguine8 oz.
MELT:
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1⁄4 cup olive oil
1⁄4 cup diced shallots
1 can anchovy fillets in oil, minced (2 oz.)
3 Tbsp. minced garlic
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp. minced lemon zest
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1⁄2 tsp. red pepper flakes
OFF HEAT, TOSS:
8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1⁄4 cup grated Parmesan
 Salt and black pepper to taste
Cook linguine in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions; drain and set aside.

Melt butter with oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add shallots and anchovies and cook until shallots are soft and anchovies melt, about 3 minutes. Add garlic; cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Stir in lemon juice, zest, Worcestershire, and pepper flakes. Toss linguine with sauce to coat.

Off heat, toss romaine and Parmesan with pasta and season with salt and black pepper. Serve pasta with Grilled Shrimp and Crouton Skewers.

Grilled Shrimp & Crouton Skewers
You can make the lemon oil ahead, but wait until just before grilling to brush it on the shrimp so the acid in the lemon juice doesn't cook them.

Makes: 4 servings (8 skewers); Total time: 30 minutes
WHISK:
1⁄2 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp. minced lemon zest
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1⁄2 tsp. kosher salt
1⁄2 tsp. black pepper
ALTERNATELY THREAD:
24 large shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails left on
24 cubes Italian baguette, 1-inch thick
Preheat grill to medium. Brush grill grate with oil.

Whisk together ½ cup oil, zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Alternately thread shrimp and bread cubes onto eight metal skewers, then brush with lemon oil.

Grill skewers, covered, 2–3 minutes per side. Serve shrimp and croutons with Caesar Salad Pasta.
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SPICY SHRIMP WILLIAM
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. minced celery
1 Tbsp. minced onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/4 cup diced green bell pepper
16 shelled, de-veined uncooked shrimp
(about 1/2 lb.)
2 Tbsp. white wine
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
salt
fresh ground pepper
1 tsp. fresh snipped parsley
1 tsp. fresh snipped cilantro
2 cups hot cooked rice

In large skillet, heat oil & butter over med-high heat. Add celery, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, tomatoes, and bell peppers; saute 8 minutes. Add shrimp, wine and lemon juice. Saute 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, parsley and cilantro.Spoon around bed of rice in serving dishes. Yields: 2 servings
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Cajun Alfredo Sauce

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 12 oz pkg frozen seasoning blend
(the cajun trinity - onions, celery, bell pepper)
2 tsp chopped or minced garlic
1/8 tsp celery salt
16 oz heavy whipping cream
16 oz half/half
8 oz shredded parmesan cheese
1 cup chopped provolone cheese
2 Tbsp. fresh snipped parsley
1tsp. Old Bay
Tony Chachere's or Zatarain's Creole Seasoning about 1-2 Tbsp. my preference

Saute vegetables in melted butter for 10 minutes...add remaining ingredients, cook until
thickened...if too thick, add milk until reaches desired consistency.

Serve over fettucine noodles topped with grilled chicken  or sauteed shrimp.
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Shrimp Scampi

1-1/2 lbs. raw shrimp, peeled
1/2 cup BUTTER (no substitutes)
3 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
1/4 cup FRESH lemon juice
Salt and Pepper
Tabasco Sauce
Chopped parsley

Preheat oven broiler. Melt butter and saute garlic; add lemon juice. Arrange shrimp in single layer in a shallow pan, add several dashes of Tabasco. Pour garlic butter over shrimp and season lightly with salt and pepper. Broil 2 minutes. Turn shrimp and broil 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon; place shrimp on a serving platter and sprinkle with parsley. Pour garlic butter in a bowl and set on platter.

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Nutella Bundt Cake

1 cup Nutella, divided
4 large eggs, divided
1 box classic yellow cake mix (18.25 ounces)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons Frangelico liquor or hazelnut syrup

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease and flour 10-inch Bundt pan.
In small bowl, whisk together 2/3 cup Nutella and 1 egg. Blend until completely smooth and set aside. In large bowl, using electric mixer on low speed, stir together cake mix, remaining 3 eggs, buttermilk and remaining 1/3 cup Nutella until moistened. Scrape down sides and beater(s) and increase speed to medium, beating for another 2 minutes.
Remove 1 cup batter and mix with reserved Nutella-egg mixture. Pour leftover batter evenly into prepared cake pan. Spoon reserved Nutella batter over it and, using a knife, gently swirl batters together to create marble pattern. Smooth top of cake and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. (Cake is done when moist crumbs cling to inserted toothpick.)
Allow cake to cool in pan for 15 minutes. When ready to handle, carefully invert onto cooling rack and remove pan. While cake continues to cool, make glaze by whisking together confectioners sugar and Frangelico liquor until smooth. Drizzle glaze over cake.

Serving ideas:
For a spring touch, sprinkle top of cake with candied orange and lemon slices.

Alternative:
To make mini Bundt cakes, use 2 mini Bundt pans (6 cakes each) instead of a 10-inch Bundt pan and follow above instructions, dividing batters into 12 smaller cake forms. Bake cakes for 20 to 25 minutes.

January 2017 Newsletter

JANUARY 2017 NEWSLETTER

Food for Thought: 

This weekend I had opportunity to visit my Momma's gravesite & see her grave-marker, it had been over 28 years since her passing. 

This is something that I wrote on the 5th anniversary of her passing.

Unaware You’d Leave So Soon

By Paula George
November 5, 1993
The years flew swiftly by, and we didn’t take the time to grasp them within…
Yet memories of days gone by, will always remain within my heart.
Unaware you’d leave so soon, we should have spent those days more wisely.
You held my hand, taking unsure steps; falling down, you’d pick me up again.
Rebellious days through childhood and youth, your love did not depart.
Unaware you’d leave so soon, I would have spent the days more wisely.
From Momma to Grandma, you knew the love in each one’s grin…
And cherished them, as Grandma’s should, you carried that love within your heart.
Unaware you’d leave so soon, we should spend the years ahead more wisely.
Addie Alberta Taylor George Richardson
June 3rd, 1920 - November 5th , 1988

Recipes:

Trader Joes Mac & Cheese

1 oz (1/4 cup) butter
2 oz (a little less than 1/2 cup) all-purpose flour
4 oz good quality white Cheddar cheese, grated
3 oz good quality Havarti cheese, grated
2 oz good quality Gouda cheese, grated
1 oz good quality Swiss cheese, grated
3/4 tsp salt
24 oz milk (3 cups) whole milk (or 2% for less calories)
white pepper
nutmeg
1 lb De Cecco elbow pasta

Start by putting a large pot of water on to boil the pasta-make sure to salt it well.
Now, start making the cheese sauce, but if the pasta water comes to a boil before you add the cheese to the sauce you are making, turn it down.
Melt the butter in a medium sized pan over medium heat, then add the flour and stir well.
Continue to cook while stirring for about 3 to 4 minutes, but do not let it brown. (Cooking the flour well is important because the sauce will have a “raw-flour” taste if it isn’t cooked long enough.)
Have the milk close by in a jug that is easy to pour from, and add a little drop of milk. The milk should sizzle and steam immediately, if it doesn’t, turn up the heat a little. Once the milk does sizzle, begin adding a little at a time, and stirring quickly to keep the sauce smooth. The secret to not having lumps in white sauce is to gradually increase the amount of milk you add each time; if you add too much at once, especially early on, chances are you will end up with lumpy sauce (which is completely reparable with an immersion blender)!
Start with about 2 tablespoons of milk, then 2 more, then a little more each time. Once the sauce begins to form, you can add more milk each time. Just make sure all the milk has been absorbed after each addition, before adding more.
Once the sauce is finished, add salt, nutmeg and white pepper to taste, and lower the heat.
At this point, add the pasta to the boiling water. Stir well, and stir the white sauce, too, so it doesn’t stick. Now, add the grated cheeses to the white sauce, and stir until it is melted, adjusting the heat if necessary. Stir constantly or it will stick.
When the pasta is ready (al dente), drain and return to the pot and stir in the cheese sauce; serve hot.

NOTE: The following recipe will make enough cheese sauce (about 4 1/2 cups) for about 2 lbs of pasta. Because the cheese sauce freezes perfectly, it’s worth making a larger batch and freezing half for another time. To make less sauce, halve the sauce recipe.

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Cajun Corn and Crab Bisque

This is the recipe that I started with from allrecipes and made my changes. My changes are marked with an asterisk.

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes

Ready In: 50 Minutes
Servings: 8
"Traditional seasonings and ingredients from Louisiana's Cajun country make this creamy soup of fresh crab, corn, onions, celery, and garlic a hit."
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped *(I have used the variety of orange, yellow, red mini peppers)
1 large celery stalk, minced
1 TBSP Cajun or Creole seasoning
1 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels *(I use 1 pkg. Green Giant shoepeg corn in butter sauce)

2 bay leaves * (they called for 1)
2 cups milk
2 cups half & half * (they called for heavy cream)
1 pound fresh lump crabmeat
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
salt and black pepper to taste
Additional chopped green onions
Directions:
1. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; then gradually whisk in the flour. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, whisking constantly, until a golden roux forms; set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Combine the onion, garlic, and celery and cook 1 minute. Add the Cajun seasoning to taste. Stir in the broth, corn, and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer, then pour in the milk, cream, and additional cajun seasoning (optional). When the mixture begins to simmer, reduce heat to low and simmer 7 minutes. Stir in the roux, 1 tablespoon at a time, blending thoroughly. Continue to cook, on low heat, whisking until mixture thickens. Stir in crabmeat, green onions, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer 6 to 8 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

WHAT I ACTUALLY DID:

1. Make roux with butter, flour & oil. add onion, bell pepper, celery & garlic...I cooked about 5 minutes. add broth, milk, half & half, Cajun seasoning, corn, bay leaf...simmer about 10-15 minutes. Stir in crabmeat, green onions and worcestershire. Simmer 6-8 minutes more. Season with salt & pepper to taste. I also served mine with fresh chives on top.

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Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Meatballs:
1 lb ground chicken
3/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 egg

Buffalo Sauce:
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup franks hot sauce
2 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Blue Cheese Dressing:
5 oz blue cheese
1 cup mayo
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 T white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sea salt
couple twists of fresh ground pepper

Meatballs:
In a medium bowl combine all ingredients.

Using your hands mix together.

Drop by the teaspoon onto a baking sheet lined with foil and sprayed with pam.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through.

Transfer to a slow cooker and top with buffalo sauce.

Cook on low to keep warm.

Buffalo Sauce:
Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan.

Cook over medium high heat and whisk until combined and butter is melted.

Blue Cheese Dressing:
For smooth dressing place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Or, you can mix all ingredients in a bowl and stir until combined.

Let dressing marinate for an hour or more before serving.

Refrigerate leftovers in airtight container. 

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From a friend...

Having to share Shane's dip recipes....hahha...they have to be great!!!! 

Karen Bethea

Bad Hombre Dip:

1.5 big blocks of Velveeta
2 packages hot breakfast sausage, cooked and drained
2 cans Rotel
1 pkg. cream cheese
A little Taco/Cajun/ similar seasoning. 

Heat on low in slow cooker. Serve with chips. 

Nasty Woman Dip:

36. oz apricot preserves
6 tsp prepared horseradish
6 T. Dijon mustard
Black pepper to taste

Simmer and let cool. Refrigerate to allow flavors to blend. Serve over cream cheese with crackers.

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This was Momma's favorite cake! I made it for her each time that she would visit. Momma was an excellent cook although her baking repertoire only included biscuits and cornbread!

ITALIAN CREME CAKE
Ingredients:
•1 stick margarine, (4 ounces)
•2 cups flour
•2 cups sugar
•1 cup buttermilk
•flaked coconut, about 2 cups
•5 egg whites, stiffly beaten
•1/2 cup shortening
•5 egg yolks
•1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
•1 teaspoon vanilla
•1 cup chopped pecans, or walnuts
•.
•Frosting:
•1-1/2 package cream cheese, softened (12oz)
•6 cups confectioners' sugar, (1 pound)
•1 stick butter, softened (8 Tbs)
•1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Preparation:
Cream margarine and shortening; add sugar. Add egg yolks and beat well. 
Combine soda, salt and flour; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Stir in vanilla. Add coconut and nuts. Fold in egg whites. 
Pour into 3 or 4 greased and floured cake pans; bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
Frosting: Beat cream cheese & butter until smooth; stir in sugar. Add vanilla and beat until smooth. Stir in coconut. Spread on cake layers; 
sprinkle top with chopped pecans or pecan halves.