Cozy Comfort Chicken Shiitake Rice Casserole Recipe

April 5, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Cozy Comfort Food Recipes, Southern Food Recipe, Yummy Can't Say No Chicken Recipes at 1:01 pm | (2) Comments »

Chicken & Rice Casserole.jpg We know all about shiitakes, so let’s add them to a chicken & rice casserole and taste a slice of divine. Enjoy this terrific recipe, sure to please any crowd. For the picky eaters, just tell them that the shiitakes are browned potatoes and the spinach is green apple candy!

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons butter, divided
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, chopped
1 pd shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded & caps sliced
2 bunches fresh spinach, washed, stems removed & chopped
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
8 oz Gruyere cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 cups white rice, cooked & hot
3 cups chicken breast, cooked & shredded

What’s Next:

Go ahead and preheat your oven to 375 F, or 190 C.

In a large skillet- heat 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until softened. Stir in garlic & shallots, cook for 2 minutes. Add shiitakes and cook about 8 minutes, or until softened.

Add 1 bunch spinach to the skillet, stirring constantly until spinach begins to wilt. Add remaining spinach and cook for a couple more minutes, or until all spinach has taken on a wilting look.

In another large skillet- melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add flour and cook for 1 minute, whisking throughout. Slowly whisk in milk and cook for 5 minutes, or until mixture comes to a boil and thickens.

Remove skillet from heat & whisk in Gruyere until smooth. Now whisk in the salt & pepper. Add spinach mix, rice & chicken. Transfer mixture to a 13 x 9 casserole dish and bake for 45 minutes covered with aluminum foil.

Enjoy this quite frankly, delicious dish and let it help you get through the rest of the week in tasty comfort.

Eat well & Laugh often.

Sweet Southern Potato Casserole Recipe

April 5, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Cozy Comfort Food Recipes, Southern Food Recipe at 9:00 am | (1) Comment »

Sweet Potato Casserole.bmp I thought we’d delve into the world of casseroles this Wednesday. I’m ready for some comfort food to get me through the rest of the week, what about you? Try on this southern favorite sweet potato casserole recipe and you’ll be relaxing in sweet comfort by the end of the day. Enjoy and make sure to check out the history & facts of this delicious veggie.

Ingredients:

3 cups sweet potatoes, boiled & mashed
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup whole milk
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup pecans, chopped
1/3 cup butter, melted

What’s Next:

Go ahead and preheat your oven to 350 F, or 175 C.

In a large bowl- mix together the sweet potatoes, eggs, milk, white sugar, vanilla extract & butter. Scoop into your favorite baking dish. Set aside.

In a medium bowl- mix together brown sugar, flour & chopped pecans. Spread on top of sweet potato mash.

Drizzle butter over topping spread and you’re ready to bake your casserole for 30 minutes. The heavenly scent of a sweet potato casserole cooking in an oven will make all your family come out of their crevices and wonder what’s for dinner.

Eat well & Laugh often.

Emogene Knows Best Fried Okra Recipe

April 4, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Cozy Comfort Food Recipes, Southern Food Recipe at 12:51 pm | (2) Comments »

Fried Okra.jpg Now that we have okra on the brain, get out those iron skillets if you have them. It’s time for comfort, it’s time for soul- it’s time for comfort soul fried food. Try on my grandmother’s never-fail fried okra recipe- you may wish you hadn’t, it’s that good!

Ingredients:

4 cups fresh okra, cut into dime-size pieces (never let me catch you using that frozen kind)
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup cooking oil, it’s not healthy in the least bit, but bacon grease is perfect for the occasion if you’ve got it

What’s Next:

In your large skillet, preferably iron skillet- heat oil (or grease) on medium-high.

In a medium bowl- toss together okra, cornmeal, salt & pepper. You want each piece of okra to have a nice, thin covering of cornmeal.

Place okra in hot oil. Cook until well-browned, stir frequently.

Enjoy this wonderful family recipe & eat some for me!

Eat well & Laugh often.

My Favorite Cajun Chicken & Savory Sausage Gumbo

February 10, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Southern Food Recipe at 1:46 pm | (1) Comment »

Get those blues going and your feet tapping, it’s gumbo time!

Ingredients:

2/3 cup flour
3 onions, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 green bell peppers, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
10 oz frozen chopped okra & thawed
10 cups water
14.5 oz can stewed tomatoes
3 pounds chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon red pepper
1 pound sage sausage
1 bunch green onions, chopped
Rice

What’s Next:

Preheat oven to 400. It’s going to feel a little odd, but place flour on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, stirring ever 5 minutes. Don’t worry, the flour should be very brown, this is your roux. Set aside.

Coat a large pot with olive oil. Saute onions, garlic, peppers, celery & okra until tender. Add the flour, stir constantly. Gradually add water, tomatoes & chicken. Add thyme & red pepper. Bring to a boil then lower heat and simmer for 1 hour, uncovered. While you’ve got that gumbo going, boil the sage sausage in a saucepan until done. Slice into 1-inch pieces and add to gumbo. Cook an additional 30 minutes. Add green onions and cook for 15 minutes. Get your rice ready while you wait. Still listening to those blues? You are now ready to serve your handcrafted gumbo over rice to the awaiting crowd, enjoy! Eat well & Laugh often.