Sunday, October 2, 2011

Cooking : Black-Eyed Pea Chowder

Ingredients
1 pound diced bacon
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 (15.5 ounce) can black-eyed peas with liquid
1 (14.5 ounce) can beef consomme
1 (29 ounce) can diced tomatoes

Directions
In a large pot over medium high heat, saute the bacon until crisp. Set aside the bacon and drain the fat, reserving about 4 tablespoons of the fat in the pot. Add the celery onion and green bell pepper to the pot and saute in the bacon fat for 10 minutes, or until tender.
Add the peas, consomme and stewed tomatoes and allow to heat through, about 15 more minutes. Top with crumbled bacon when serving.

Cooking : Broccoli and Tomato Bake

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small carrot, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
salt and ground black pepper
3/4 pound broccoli - cut into florets, stems peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon chopped green olives
2 teaspoons maple syrup
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic; cook and stir until aromatic, about 3 minutes. Stir in the carrots and celery, season with salt and pepper, and continue cooking until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, place a steamer insert into a saucepan, and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Cover, and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the broccoli, recover, and steam until bright green, 4 minutes. Remove the broccoli from the steamer and place in a 8x8 inch baking dish; set aside.
Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Pour the can of diced tomatoes and green olives into the skillet with the onion and carrot mixture. Stir and cook over medium-high heat until most of the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Mix in the maple syrup, season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook and stir for 3 minutes.
Pour the sauce over the broccoli in the 8x8 inch baking dish. Evenly distribute the goat cheese and Parmesan cheese over the broccoli and sauce.
Bake in preheated oven until the cheese begins to brown, about 20 minutes.

Cooking : Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

Ingredients
6 slices bacon
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 (1 ounce) package buttermilk Ranch dressing mix
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
4 green onions, chopped
3 tablespoons chopped black olives
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans (optional)

Directions
Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate. Chop the cooled bacon into small pieces.
Stir together the cream cheese and ranch dressing mix in a bowl until smooth. Add the bacon, Cheddar cheese, green onions, and olives; stir until well combined. Shape the mixture into a ball and roll in the chopped pecans. Refrigerate overnight.

Cooking : Apple-Raspberry Crisp

Ingredients
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
5 large Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1 cup frozen raspberries, thawed
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x9 inch square baking dish.
In a large bowl, mix brown sugar and 1 tablespoon flour. Add sliced apples and raspberries; toss to coat. Spoon into baking dish. In a medium bowl, mix together oats, 1/2 cup flour, cinnamon and salt. Stir in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over apple mixture.
Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until topping is lightly browned. Serve warm.

Cooking : Awesome Pasta Salad

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package fusilli (spiral) pasta
3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 pound provolone cheese, cubed
1/2 pound salami, cubed
1/4 pound sliced pepperoni, cut in half
1 large green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 (10 ounce) can black olives, drained
1 (4 ounce) jar pimentos, drained
1 (8 ounce) bottle Italian salad dressing

Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain, and rinse with cold water.
In a large bowl, combine pasta with tomatoes, cheese, salami, pepperoni, green pepper, olives, and pimentos. Pour in salad dressing, and toss to coat.