Easy Zucchini Au Gratin by Louise

 

Ingredients

• 3-4 whole fresh zucchini Sliced 1/4-1/2 inch thick into slices. Unsliced, mine weighed 3 pounds.
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1/4 cup half & half
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese Divided into 2 portions.
• 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Place the sliced zucchini on a flat surface with towels or paper towels. Sprinkle both sides of the zucchini with salt.
• Allow the zucchini to sit for 30 minutes. This will sweat out the excess moisture of the zucchini. Skipping this step will result in a watery dish. After the 30 minutes. Blot and wring out any excess moisture.
• While the zucchini rests, prepare the filling for the dish. 
• Melt butter in a microwave-safe bowl, add the garlic, the cream cheese, half & half, Parmesan, and 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Stir. Add in the onion powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Taste the sauce repeatedly, heat, and adjust the flavor to taste as needed.
• Stir periodically until the cheese has melted.
• Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Arrange the zucchini in rows throughout a 9×13 baking dish. Drizzle the cheese sauce throughout.
• Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar and the mozzarella on top.
• Bake (uncovered) for 30-35 minutes until golden brown. 
• Cool before serving.

Louise's Buttery Buttermilk Biscuits

 

Ingredients:

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) Butter
• 2 & 1/2 Cups All-purpose flour
• 1 & 1/2 Tablespoons sugar (any kind)
• 1 & 1/2 Tablespoons Baking Powder
• 1 & 1/2 Teaspoons Salt
• 1 & 3/4 Cup Buttermilk (okay to use 2 tablespoons of lemon juice mixed with enough milk to equal 1 & 3/4 Cup)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Spray an 8 X 8" baking dish with non-stick spray, put in your stick of butter and place into your pre-heating oven to melt the butter (keep an eye on it so butter doesn't burn).
3. In the meantime mix all dry ingredients into a medium bowl.
4. Pour buttermilk over dry ingredients and mix until a loose batter forms.  Batter should be quite sticky.
5. Pour batter into your prepared baking dish right on top of the melted butter - butter may run over the top of your batter, but this is okay.
6. Cut dough into 9 squares - this will help separate individual biscuits once they are cooked.
7. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes rotating the dish once during baking.
8. Biscuits should be golden brown and spring back when touched.
9. Enjoy! 

Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Ingredients:

1 (approx 2 lb) head of green cabbage, cut into 1" thick slices
1.5 tablespoons olive oil
2 to 3 large garlic cloves, smashed
Louise's Rub
spray olive oil OR non-stick cooking spray

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 F and spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Pull outer leaf off cabbage, cut cabbage from top to bottom (bottom being root) into 1" thick slices.
2. Rub both sides of cabbage with smashed garlic.
3. Use a pastry brush to evenly spread the olive oil over both sides of the cabbage slices.
4. Finally, sprinkle each side with a bit of of my special rub or use sea salt and cracked black pepper.
5. Roast on the middle rack for 30 minutes. Carefully flip the cabbage steaks and roast for an additional 30 minutes until edges are brown and crispy.
Serve hot and Enjoy!

OLD FASHIONED BREAD STUFFING

OLD FASHIONED BREAD STUFFING

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 Recipe By     : Louise

 Serving Size  : 15   

 Categories    : Poultry

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    1       qt           Diced Celery

    2       ts           Poultry Seasoning

      1/2   ts           Pepper

    1       tb           Salt

    2       c            Broth, milk or water

    1       c            Finely chopped onion

    4       qt           Bread cubes, firmly packed

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1. Cook celery and onion in bitter or margarine over low head, stirring occasionally, until onion is tender but not brown.

2. Meanwhile, blend bread cubes and seasonings. Add celery, onion and butter or margarine; toss lightly to blend. Pour the broth, milk or water gradually over the surface of bread mixture, tossing

lightly.

3. Bake in 325 degree oven 45 minutes, until browned on top.

 

My Favorite Coleslaw

My Favorite Coleslaw
Recipe By : Louise
Serving Size : 6
Categories : Salads Vegetables
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1 cabbage head
1 tablespoon chives, freeze-dried
2 tablespoons salad vinegar
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise -- * see note
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
paprika -- optional
green bell peppers, slivered -- optional
red bell peppers, slivered -- optional
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard -- optional
1/4 teaspoon celery seed -- optional
1 tablespoon horseradish sauce
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* Use only real mayonnaise, not salad dressing. This coleslaw must be allowed to blend flavors in refrigerator for 2 hours or more (overnight is best) for best taste.
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1. Shred cabbage in VERY thin strands. Sprinkle evenly with vinegar, minced onion, fresh ground black pepper and sugar. Put into airtight bowl or plastic bag and refrigerator for 1 hour or more.


2. Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, dry mustard (if desired), horseradish and salt. If using green and red sweet peppers, sliver them before adding to sour cream mixture. Add celery seeds at this time also if you are using them. Add this mixture to chilled cabbage and shake in plastic bags or stir gently to mix thoroughly. Place back in refrigerator for 2 hours or more.
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NOTES : This is very good for leftovers also. The secret is to make sure it is crisp and cold and never let it set at room temperature. Just before serving, sprinkle with paprika for color if desired.

Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Easy Scalloped Potatoes
Recipe By : Louise
Serving Size : 4
Categories : Side Dish
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1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic Powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
4 large potatoes -- sliced
1 can cream of celery soup -- & water
1/4 cup margarine
parsley flakes
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1. Prepare Casserole pan by spraying with nonstick spray.
2. Slice potatoes and arrange in pan.
3. Sprinkle with spices.  Thin soup with a little water and pour over potatoes.  Dot with margarine.
4. Sprinkle with a little parsley flakes and bake for 1-2 hours at 400.  Serve

Buttermilk Biscuits

Buttermilk Biscuits

Recipe By : Louise

Serving Size : 16 Large

Categories : Side Dish

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1 1/2 quarts all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons double-acting baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups butter -- cold
2 egg -- slightly beaten
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
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1. Sift dry ingredients together. Cut butter into tablespoons and, with a pastry blender, blend into dry ingredients until mixture resembles cornmeal.
2. Stir 1/2 cup buttermilk into beaten egg and add mixture to flour mixture. Stir quickly, adding remainder of buttermilk as necessary until dough forms a ball.
3. Turn onto floured surface and knead once. Let dough rest for a minute, then roll out to 3/4' thickness.
4. Cut into 2' rounds. Place biscuits on buttered baking sheet, 1" apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
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NOTES : For cheese biscuits: When kneading dough, knead in 1/2 cup grated cheese.
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Louise's Basic Potato Salad

Title: Basic Potato Salad
Categories: Salads, Side Dish, Summer, Picnic
Yield: 4 servings
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2 lb new potatoes
3 TB chives, minced
1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
2 tomatoes, diced fine
3 stalks celery
2 hard-boiled eggs
2 TB Dijon mustard
1/4 c mayonnaise
1 TB dried parsley flakes
 Salt, pepper
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1. Cover potatoes in pan with cold water and bring to boil over high heat. Cook until potatoes are tender.
2. Meanwhile, thinly slice celery and remaining veggies and combine in mixing bowl.
3. When potatoes are tender, drain and halve or quarter potatoes, depending on size and add
to bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
4. When cool, chop eggs and add to bowl.  Add mustard and mayonnaise, and season to taste with salt and pepper, mixing everything together gently.
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Summer Fruit Salad

Summer Fruit Salad
Recipe By : Louise
Serving Size : 12
Categories : Side Dish, Salad
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1 can pear -- slices
1/4 cup maraschino cherry -- juice
1 cup maraschino cherries
1 can mixed fruit
1 package strawberries, frozen -- whole
2 packages vanilla pudding mix -- instant

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1. combine all fruits AND their liquids in a large stainless steal bowl. Sprinkle with pudding mix and stir well. Refrigerate covered overnight.

A Sweet Taste of Africa: Sail into a New Recipe Journey (Volume 1)

Potato Salad

Potato Salad
Recipe By : Louise
Serving Size : 12
Categories : Sidedish
-----------------------------------
4 pounds potato -- unpeeled
1 1/2 tablespoons chives
1 1/2 cups celery -- diced
3/8 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup pickle relish
4 each egg -- hard cooked
1 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoons parsley
2 1/4 teaspoons salt
3/8 teaspoon pepper
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1. Boil potatoes, cool & cut into .5" cubes.
2. Add celery & egg slices to potatoes.
3. Mix together remaining ingredients and toss with potato mixture.
4. Chill overnight -- garnish with more parsley & Chives.
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Red Beans and Rice

Red Beans and Rice
Recipe By : Louise
Serving Size : 6
Categories : Beans, Rice, Side Dish
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1 pound red or pinto beans -- dried
1/2 pound salt pork
1 whole onion -- chopped
2 cloves garlic -- chopped
1/4 cup celery -- chopped
1 quart ham, pork, chicken or beef stock
1 teaspoon salt
1 whole bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon thyme
3 cups rice
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1. Soak beans in water overnight. Drain.
2. In a Dutch oven, brown salt pork. Add onions, garlic, and celery and saute for 3 minutes. Add beans, stock, salt, and herbs.
3. Simmer 3 hours or until beans are tender. Add water when necessary during cooking; water should barely cover beans at end of cooking.
4. Remove 1 cup beans and mash to paste. Add mashed bean paste back to beans; stir until liquid is thickened. Pour over hot rice, stir and serve.

Pickled Vegetables

Title: Pickled Vegetables
By Louise
Categories: Vegetables, Side Dish, Mexican
Servings: 10
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4 c Green Beans; Whole
3 ea Celery; Stalks, *
1 c Carrots; 2 med, **
1 1/2 c Cauliflowerets
1 c Broccoli Flowerets
1 c Radishes
1 c Peppers; ***
2 c Boiling water
2 T Black Peppercorns
2 c Cider vinegar
2 c Sugar
1/2 ts Salt
1/4 t Cloves; Ground
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* Celery should be cut into 2 X 1/4-inch strips (about 1 1/2 Cups)
** Carrots should be cut diagonally into thin slices.
*** Peppers can be canned, dry or fresh. I use Chipotle Dried plus a few colored fresh strips
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1. Mix all vegetables in a large glass or plastic container.
2. Mix Liquids and spices and allow to cool.  Pour over vegetables.
3. Cover and refrigerate at least 48 hours but no longer than 2 weeks.
Many different kinds of Vegetables can be substituted, like summer squash, parsnips, cukes, snap peas, etc.
Makes about 10 cups of vegetables

Home-Style Beans

Home-Style Beans
Recipe By : Linda Cormier
Serving Size : 16
Categories : Side Dish
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2 cans pork and beans
2 1/2 tablespoons mustard -- prepared-yellow
2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 1/8 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
5/8 cup cheddar cheese -- grated
5/8 cup onion flakes -- french fried
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1. Portion into casserole pan -- all but cheese & onions. Bake at 350 until heated through. Top with onions and cheese. Serve.

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Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread
Recipe By : Louise
Serving Size : 12
Categories : Breads & Muffins
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3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup margerine
2 tablespoons caraway seed
1 cup milk mixed with
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 egg -- beaten
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1. Cream margerine with dry ingredients and seeds.
2. Mix in milk, eggs and knead with extra flour.
3. Bake at 375 degrees for about an hour.
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Easy Ambrosia

Easy Ambrosia
Recipe By : Louise
Serving Size : 8
Categories : Side Dish, Fruit Salad
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1 can crushed pineapple -- undrained
1 can peaches -- [diced] undrained
4 ounces cream cheese -- softened
1 package vanilla pudding mix -- instant
1 package Cool Whip®
1/2 cup maraschino cherries -- chopped & drained
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1. Beat cream cheese to soften with juices drained from fruit.
2. Carefully fold in crushed pineapple, peaches, {with any remaining juices} and cherries.
3. Stir in the dry pudding mix.
4. Fold in the Cool whip.
5. Refrigerate overnight. Serve.
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NOTES : This salad can be made with any combination of canned fruits.
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