Green Goddess Dip

This is an easy to make dip and it is SO flavorful.  Nice ripe avocados are a MUST so it does take some planning.  I had some ripe avocados and I didn't have the ingredients to make a guacamole, so I whipped this up and I was pleased with it.  

Ingredients:

• 2 Hass avocados
• 1 envelope of Ranch Dip Mix
• 1 (16 oz.) sour cream
• 1 t. Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning
• 2 garlic cloves, minced

Directions:

1. Cut the avocados and mash with a fork in a bowl.
2. Combine the sour cream with the Ranch Mix, then the Creole Seasoning in another bowl.
3. Fold the avocados in last.
4. Refrigerate for 2 hours and then serve with tortilla chips or veggies.

Tips and Tricks:

• Be sure to buy your avocados a few days before you want to make this dip.  You want the avocados to be VERY ripe and creamy.
• I use light sour cream.
• I serve this dip with cucumbers, French green beans or asparagus and bite size tortilla chips.

Cashew Chicken with Sugar Snap Peas

This is my attempt to make Oriental food at home.  I really liked the flavor of this dish and it was 6 generous servings.  I didn’t add salt or MSG (I think the soy sauce made it salty enough).  I got this recipe from Kevin at “Closet Cooking”.

 Ingredients:

• 8 chicken tenders or 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 T. olive oil
• 2 T. peanut butter
• ¼ C. soy sauce
• 1 lime, juiced and zest
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 T. fresh ginger, grated
• 2 T. brown sugar
• 1 T. chili sauce
• 2 t. sesame oil
• ¼ C. cilantro, chopped
• ½ C. cashews
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 lb. Sugar Snap Peas

Directions:

1. Cut all fat, skin, or tendons from the chicken and cut into 1 inch cubes.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
3. Add the chicken and sauté until cooked through about 5 – 6 minutes.
4. Mix the peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, lime zest, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, chili sauce, and sesame oil in a bowl.
5. Pour the mixture over the chicken and toss to coat. 
6. Add the cilantro, cashews, green onions and Sugar Snap Peas and cook for 2 minutes.
7. Serve over rice.

Tips and Tricks:

• I used Sambal chili sauce but you can use Chili Garlic Sauce as well.
• The Sugar Snap Peas and cilantro are not necessary ingredients, but they both give the dish a great flavor.

Crawfish Boil

This is my Dad’s recipe.  He liked the combination of the citrus and the liquid and powdered crab boil.  We like it, too!  

Ingredients:

• 5 onions, cut in half
• 5 lemons, cut in half
• 5 oranges, cut in half
• 5 heads of garlic, top cut off
• 1 C. Zatarain's liquid crab boil, concentrated
• 1 sack size container (4.5 lbs.) Zatarain's powdered crab boil
• 1 C. Kosher or Sea salt
• 3 lbs. new potatoes
• 30 - 40 lbs. crawfish
• 1 lb. smoked sausage, cut into bite size pieces
• 12 mini ears of corn, frozen
• 1 lb. of Crimini or button mushrooms
• 10 lbs. ice
• Cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions:

1. Place the crawfish in a cooler and fill with fresh water, allow the crawfish to sit in the water for a few minutes while you prepare the boiling pot.
2. Fill the boiling pot with water, half-full.  Allow the water to come to a full boil while you squeeze the lemons and oranges into the water.
3. Drop the onions, garlic, liquid crab boil, powdered crab boil, salt, and potatoes into the pot.
4. Drain the water from the cooler, if it is murky; rinse the crawfish again with fresh water.  If the water is clear, the crawfish are ready for the pot.
5. Once the water comes to a boil, allow the potatoes to boil for 15 minutes, and then add the crawfish and the sausage.
6. Allow the water to come back to a boil and then cut the heat.
7. Add the frozen corn, mushrooms and the ice.  Put the cover on the pot and allow the crawfish to sit for at least 25 minutes, and then fish a few out of the pot to test their texture and spicy level.
8. If they are difficult to peel, they may need a little more time, if they aren’t spicy enough, you can add some cayenne pepper to the water at this time, maybe ½ C.
9. Drain the ingredients and serve hot!

Tips and Tricks:

• We use 4 boiling bags: one for the veggies and citrus, one for the potatoes, and one for the sausage, and one for the corn and mushrooms.  It makes it easy to pull the bags out of the pot and makes it easy to keep things separated.
• You will need about 4 lbs. of crawfish per person.
• If you are boiling more than 30 – 40 lbs. of crawfish, you can use the same water for the second boil.  We use the same recipe, but keep in mind the crawfish are usually salter and spicier on round two.

Shrimp Salad

This is a great way to serve up some leftover boiled shrimp.  It is a Barefoot Contessa recipe.  The amount of mayonnaise is adjustable.  It should be creamy, but not soupy.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. boiled shrimp, chopped
• ½ C. red onion, finely chopped
• 1 C. celery, finely chopped
• ¼ C. dill, finely chopped
• 1 C. mayonnaise
• ½ T. Dijon mustard
• 1 T. white wine vinegar or white wine
• 1 t. Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning
• 1 t. kosher salt
• ½ t. black pepper

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the shrimp, onions, celery, and dill.
2. In a small bowl, combine all other ingredients until well incorporated.
3. Pour the small bowl into the medium bowl and mix well.
4. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but best overnight.
5. Serve over a bed of lettuce or with crackers.

Tips and Tricks:

• This is great to make when you have some leftover boiled shrimp. 
• I use apple cider vinegar, if I don’t have white wine vinegar or white wine.
• Sometimes I add 3 or 4 boiled eggs to this recipe, also.

Coconut Curry Chicken Soup (Curry Mee)

I had this soup for the first time at a Saints party.  I have been planning to make it for over a year and I finally did.  On my first attempt, I used rice noodles not glass or cellophane noodles, well the rice noodles soaked up all of the liquid and I was left with a soggy stew-like paste (very tasty paste, but paste all the same).  Round two: glass noodles, and wait till the soup is served to place them in the bowl.  Much better!

Ingredients:

• 2 T. vegetable oil
• 1 C. onions, finely chopped
• 1 T. ginger, finely chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 3 T. red Thai curry paste (more or less depending on your heat level)
• 1 lb. chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into bite size pieces (about 2 breasts or 5 tenderloins)
• 2 (14 oz.) cans coconut milk
• 1 qt. (4 C.) chicken stock
• 2 T. fish sauce
• 1 T. sugar
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced into 2-inch strips
• 1 C. sugar snap peas
• ½ C. green onions, finely chopped
• ¼ C. fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 limes, juiced
• 8 oz. glass noodles

Directions:

1. In a Dutch oven over medium heat, sauté the onions and ginger in the vegetable oil until soft about 10 minutes.
2. Add the garlic and the curry paste and cook for one minute.
3. Add the chicken and stir fry for two minutes.
4. Add the coconut milk and incorporate the curry paste into the milk.
5. Add the chicken stock, fish sauce, sugar, red bell pepper and sugar snap peas.
6. Bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer until the chicken is cooked through about 10 minutes.
7. While the soup simmers, prepare the glass noodles by boiling in water for 4 minutes.  Rinse and drain.  Reserve.
8. Add the green onions, cilantro, and lime juice to the soup and allow to simmer for an additional 3 minutes.
9. Place the glass noodles in the bottom of the soup bowl and ladle the soup over the noodles.
10. Serve with sambal (chili paste) for those who like extra heat!

Tips and Tricks:

• If you use leftover chicken for this recipe, you’ll need about 2 C. chopped.  Just wait and add it when you add the snap peas and bell pepper.
• Don’t be tempted to add the noodles to the soup pot.  They soak up all of the soup.  (I know because that’s what I did.)
• This soup freezes great!

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

This is yummy comfort food.  Rich and savory, perfect with a nice piece of crunchy french bread for soaking up the last bits in the bowl.

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts bone-in skin on
• 2 T. olive oil
• ½ T. kosher salt
• 1 t. black pepper
• 1 C. onions, finely chopped
• 1 C. carrots, chopped
• 1 C. celery, finely chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 2 qts. (8 C.) chicken stock
• ½ T.  kosher salt
• ½ T. Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning
• 1 t. garlic salt
• ¼ t. cayenne pepper
• ½ lb. of wide egg noodles
• 1 and ½ sticks (3/4 C.) butter
• 3/4 C. flour
• 1 qt. (4 C.) half and half

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Rub chicken breasts with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Place chicken breasts skin side up on a sheet pan and bake for 35 minutes.
4. Heat onions, carrots, celery, garlic, chicken stock and all seasonings in a Dutch oven, over medium-high heat until boiling, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for one hour.
5. While soup is simmering, remove the skin and bones from the chicken breasts and cut into small bite size pieces. Reserve.
6. Add the noodles and cook for an additional 20 minutes.
7. Make the cream sauce in a separate pot while the noodles cook.
8. Melt the butter over low heat, while whisking, add the flour a little at a time, then slowly add the half and half and continue whisking until the cream thickens about 5 minutes.
9. Add the cream sauce and the chicken to the soup, stir well and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
10. Serve hot!

Tips and Tricks:

• If you use leftover chicken for this recipe, you’ll need about 2 C. chopped.
• This soup freezes great!

Stuffed Bell Peppers

My Mom and Dad stuffed bell peppers for dinner quite often while I was growing up.  This is a hearty dinner that makes a beautiful showing for a dinner party.    

Ingredients:

• 6 bell peppers, cut in half and seeds and membranes removed
• 2 T. vegetable oil
• 1 C. onion, chopped
• ½ C. bell pepper, chopped
• 3 ribs of celery, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 lb. ground pork
• 1 lb. ground beef
• ½ T. kosher salt
• ½ T. Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning
• ¼ t. cayenne pepper
• 1 (8 oz.) tomato sauce
• 1 can Rotel tomatoes with green chilies, finely chopped
• ¼ C. fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 C. cooked rice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a Dutch oven of boiling water, parboil the peppers until tender, 2 – 3 minutes and then remove with a slotted spoon and dry on paper towels.
3. Pour the boiling water out of the Dutch oven and reuse it for the rest of the recipe, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat and sauté onions, bell peppers, and celery until soft, about 10 minutes.
4. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
5. Add the ground pork and ground meat and cook for 8 minutes or until browned chopping the meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon and then drain.
6. Add salt, Creole Seasoning, cayenne pepper, tomato sauce, and Rotel, cook for 5 minutes.
7. Add parsley and rice, stir well and remove from the heat.
8. Stuff the peppers with the filling and place the peppers in the baking dish.
9. In a baking dish, pour just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until filling is heated through.

Tips and Tricks:

• Cooking the rice the day before helps.  It dries out a bit and that’s how you want it.  If you do cook it the day you make the stuffed peppers be sure it is cooled before you use it.
• I serve the Scaccia Family Red Sauce on the side with these peppers.
• You can freeze any leftovers for use at a later date, just don't bake them, freeze them after you stuff the peppers.
• I use different colored bell peppers.

Quick Breakfast Sandwich

Here is another breakfast favorite.  I got the basic recipe from "The Pioneer Woman" and made a few adjustments.  Great for a group or just for yourself, several times.  ; )

Ingredients:

• 6 English muffins
• ½ lb. of breakfast sausage
• 6 boiled eggs
• 3 green onions, finely chopped
• ½ C. mayonnaise
• ½ T. Dijon mustard
• ½ T. Worcestershire sauce
• ½ t. Tony Chachere’s Creole seasoning
• ½ t. garlic powder
• 1 C. Cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions:

1. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the breakfast sausage for 10 minutes or until fully cooked and crumbled.
2. Remove from the skillet and allow draining on paper towels.
3. Give the boiled eggs a rough chop.
4. In a medium bowl combine the sausage, boiled eggs, green onions, mayo, Dijon, Worcestershire, Creole seasoning and cheese together.
5. Preheat the broiler to low and put a generous heap of the egg mixture on both sides of an English muffin that has been cut in half.
6. Place in the broiler for 3 – 4 minutes or until the cheese melts and the egg mixture begins to brown.
7. Serve hot!

Tips and Tricks:

• You can use bacon in the place of the sausage.  6 thick slices of bacon is about a ½ lb.
• I use Jimmy Dean’s Hot pork sausage.
• I make this on the weekend and I have a hot breakfast for the rest of the week.

Homemade French Onion Dip

I LOVE chips and dip.  I could go the rest of my life without sweets, but I could NOT go on without chips and dip.  This is an old fashioned recipe with simple ingredients.  The perfect cocktail sipping appetizer.  OR addition to your Super Bowl spread.

Ingredients:

• 1 small sweet or red onion, finely chopped
• 2 T. butter
• ½ C. mayonnaise
• 1 (8 oz.) sour cream
• 1 t. Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning
• 1/8 t. cayenne pepper
• 1 T. Worcestershire sauce
• ½ T. sugar

Directions:

1. Sauté the onions in butter over low heat, until caramelized, about 20 minutes.
2. Combine all the other ingredients in a bowl with a cover.
3. Allow the onions to cool, and then fold into the dip.
4. Refrigerate overnight (or at least 3 hours), so the flavors can “marry”!

Tips and Tricks:

• I use light sour cream.
• I serve this dip with Ruffles.

Hot French Onion "soup" Dip

This a good recipe for a Super Bowl party.  A little goes a long way.  Very flavorful and rich.  I got the idea from "Closet Cooking", but I changed it to make it my own.

Balsamic Onions:

Ingredients:

• 3 large red onions
• ¼ C. olive oil
• ¼ C. balsamic vinegar
• ½ t. sugar
• 1 t. kosher salt
• ¼ t. cayenne pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Slice onions in half and then into ¼ inch slices.
3. Toss all the ingredients together in a large bowl.
4. Pour into a cookie sheet in a single layer and bake for 1 hour or until caramelized.
5. Leave oven on.

Dip:

Ingredients:

• balsamic onions
• ½ C. mayonnaise
• 1 T Worcestershire sauce
• 1 C. Swiss cheese, shredded 
• 1 (4 oz.) cream cheese, softened

Directions:

6. Using a kitchen scissors, cut the onions into small bite size pieces.
7. Combine all the ingredients and place in a baking dish.
8. Bake for 30 – 40 minutes or until browned and bubbly.
9. Serve with bagel chips or slices of baguette.

Tips and Tricks:

• A mandolin is a great tool to slice the onions.
• Line the cookie sheets with foil!  Those suckers like to stick in every little nook on the pan.  Clean up is MUCH easier if you just have to peel the foil away.