Apple Pie

Sour Cream Apple Pie  Becky Camillus (actually her mom, but...)

2 Tbsp Flour
1/8 tsp Salt
3/4 cup Sugar
1 cup Sour Cream or Yogurt
1 tsp Vanilla
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1 Egg

Pour over sliced 4 peeled and thinly sliced apples (or 8 peeled, sliced peaches) in an upcooked pie shell. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes then at 350 for 30 minutes

Add topping and bake 10 minutes more at 400.

Topping:
1/3 cup flour
1 t cinnamon
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
Mix dry ingredients.  Cut in the butter or margarine.  (This can be done with a few pulses of a food processor, till the mixture is crumbly).

7 Layer Dip

Oldie but goodie I've been craving. 

Refrained beans

Sour cream and taco seasoning mixed

Guacamole

Cheddar

Olives

Green onions

Tomatoes

This one is actually only 6 layers because my hubby doesn't do beans. 

Shrimp Salad

I wish the picture did this one justice.  The colors are so nice, kind of an Eastery pastel mix.  This is an amazing, flavorful dish for lunch or great for gatherings.  

Shrimp Salad Sandwiches

Mom

1/2 lb shrimp, boiled (below)

1/4 cup mayo

2 celery stalks, chopped

4 boiled eggs, chopped

salt & pepper to taste

Boil, chill and chop shrimp ½” chunks.  Add next 4 ingredients and mix well.  Serve on hoagies, croissants, kaiser rolls, lettuce, etc.    

Please don't ever buy preboiled shrimp.  They are so easy and soooooo much tastier.

Boiled Shrimp

Mom

1/2 - 1 lbs raw shrimp, pealed

2 Bay Leaves

1 ½ Tbs liquid Crab Boil

1 Tbs salt 

Bring about 6-8 cups of water to rapid boil.  Break bay leaves in have and add to water with salt and crab boil.  Add shrimp and stir frequently.  Shrimp is ready when they are all pink without any gray left.  DO NOT OVERCOOK!  Drain and place in ice bath or run under cool water.  Remove from ice bath and refrigerate until ready to be served.  Great for shrimp coctail, shrimp salad, shrimp pasta, etc.  Juicy, plum amazing shrimp.  

Egg Slicer...if you don't have one, get one!  I assumed everyone had one, but I have found out in working in many different kitchens that is not the case.

Scones

Scones (large pan-$40)

Southern Living – Betty Joyce Mills

Base: 

2 cups flour, all purpose

1/3 cup sugar

1 Tbs baking powder

½ tsp salt

½ cup cold butter, cubed

1 cup whipping cream, divided

½ tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 450* Stir together the first 4 base ingredients in a large bowl.  Cut butter into flour mixture with a blender (pastry if available) until crumbly.  Freeze 5 minutes.  Add ¾ cup (plus 2 Tbs)  cream and any add ins.  Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.  Turn dough out onto wax paper.  Gently press or pat dough into a 7” round (mixture will still be crumbly).  Cut round into 8 wedges.  Place wedges 1” apart on a slightly greased baking sheet.  Brush tops of wedges with remaining 2 Tbs cream just until moistened.  Bake for 13-15 minutes or until golden. 

 Add ins:

Blueberry

½ cup blueberries

½ tsp almond extract

Drizzle with a Vanilla Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

1 Tbs milk (up to 2 Tbs if needed)

½ tsp vanilla

Chocolate Almond

½ cup chocolate chunks

¼ cup roasted almonds

½ tsp almond extract

Chocolate Cranberry

¼ cup dried cranberries

¼ cup chocolate chunks

Apricot Ginger

½ cup dried apricots, chopped

2 Tbs crystallized ginger

Drizzle with a Vanilla Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

1 Tbs milk (up to 2 Tbs if needed)

½ tsp vanilla

Brown Sugar Pecan

Use brown sugar instead of white sugar

½ cup toasted pecans, chopped

Bacon, Cheddar & Green Onion

Omit sugar and vanilla

¾ cup cheddar

¼ cup bacon pieces

2 Tbs green onion, chopped

Ham & Swiss

Omit sugar and vanilla

¾ cup Swiss cheese, shredded

¾ cup ham, cubed

Serve with Mustard Butter:

½ cup butter, softened

1 Tbs spicy brown mustard

1 Tbs minced sweet onion

Rosemary, Pear & Asiago

Omit sugar and vanilla

¾ cup fresh pear, chopped

½ cup Asiago cheese, grated

1 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped

Banana Bread

1 Banana – Banana Bread

from Mom

1 1/2 cups flour (can use half white/half wheat)

1 egg plus milk to make 1 cup

3/4 cup sugar

1 bananas

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 stick butter, room temperature

3/4 cup pecans, chopped

Optional:  1/4 cup coconut

Preheat oven to 350* Grease and flour a loaf pan.  Mix all ingredients except pecans on low until thoroughly combined.  Then, beat mixture on high for 2 minutes.  Add pecans and mix well by hand.  Pour into loaf pan and bake for 55 minutes.  Cool on rack 10 minutes then remove from pan.  Continue cooling on rack.  

Orecchietta Florentine

Fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. 

Creamed spinach (see earlier post for recipe). 

Pasta:  Orecchiette pasta boiled in salt water according to package. 

Plus Parmesan. 

And top with Parmesan. 

Happy Mardi Gras!!!