Fish Corn Chowder

Fish Corn Chowder

At 185 calories per serving you won’t even miss the thick cream normally used in chowders.

15 oz. frozen tilapia, slightly thawed

3 slices thick cut cherry wood bacon

1½ lbs. (5 medium) potatoes, peeled and cut into bite size pieces

2½ cups chicken broth

1 can regular corn, drained and rinsed

¾ cups potato flakes

1 onion, chopped

1 stalk celery, diced

5 baby carrots, chopped

3 tbsp. butter

2 cups skim milk

½ tsp. curry

½ tsp. marjoram

1 tsp. lemon pepper

Sauté the bacon in large Dutch oven; remove and set aside. Drain grease except for about 1 tbsp. Sauté onions and celery in bacon grease just until opaque. Add potatoes, carrots and 2 cups chicken broth. Bring to a boil, and simmer about 15-20 minutes. Add corn and lay tilapia over top and cover tightly. Let simmer 15 minutes longer or until fish is white and flaking apart. Pour in milk, add butter, curry, marjoram and lemon pepper. Simmer but do not boil for 15 minutes. Add potato flakes to remaining chicken broth and add to chowder. Cook until desired thickness. It will thicken more as it cools.

© Crackerberries 2014

Raisin Oaties

Raisin Oaties

At 65 calories per cookie, you’re going to love this sweet treat!

1 cup whole grain quick oats

1¼ cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. baking soda

1/8 tsp. salt

3 egg whites

½ cup brown sugar, firmly packed

¼ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup butter flavored Crisco (or butter)

1 tsp. vanilla

1/3 cup pear preserves (or apple sauce)

1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 325º

Combine flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in medium bowl and set aside. Whip egg whites until frothy; add sugars, butter and vanilla.  Stir in preserves and add flour mixture and stir well. Fold in raisins. Drop by tablespoon on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes and immediately remove to cool on wire racks.

Yield: 3 dozen plus 2

© Crackerberries 2014

Stuffed Cabbage

Stuffed Cabbage

with Chili Pasta

5 large cabbage leaves

2/3 cup uncooked small pasta shells

3 cups prepared chili

28 oz. can crushed tomatoes

4 oz. Colby Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

1 tbsp. oregano leaves

Preheat oven to 350º

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and stir into chili. Heat just until warmed.  Add cabbage leaves to boiling water and cook 2-3 minutes just until limp and pliable.  Divide chili/pasta mixture into each cabbage leaf, sprinkle with a little of the cheese and roll. Place in lightly greased baking dish. Pour crushed tomatoes over top and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Top with oregano and bake in 350º for 35-40 minutes, until bubbly.  Serve hot.

© Crackerberries 2014

Chili

Chili

It’s almost everyone’s fall favorite. Who doesn’t love a good chili on a cool fall evening?

1¼ lb. ground beef

1 lg. can diced tomatoes

2 cups leftover homemade baked beans, drained

1 cup tomato sauce

1 lg. green pepper, diced

1 onion, chopped

2 tbsp. minced garlic

2 tbsp. chili powder

1-2 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 tbsp. black pepper

1 tbsp. basil

1 tsp. celery salt

1 tbsp. paprika

Cook burger and drain off grease. Add onions, garlic and green pepper and cook until aromatic. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, spices and beans. Cook on medium heat, stirring often for about an hour. Serve hot with sour cream and homemade biscuits.  Pass the Texas Pete hot sauce if you like it on fire.

© Crackerberries 2014

Chex Mix Chicken

Chex Mix Chicken

It’s not just for cereal!

Preheat oven and lightly greased cast iron skillet to 375º.

2 lbs. chicken leg quarters, (give or take a few ounces)

½ cup whole wheat flour

2 tbsp. Chex party mix seasoning

• 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1½ tsp. seasoned salt
• ¾ tsp. garlic powder
• ½ tsp. onion powder

1 pkt. Onion soup mix

Combine seasoning, flour and soup mix in zip lock bag. Cut chicken into legs and thighs. Shake pieces one or two at a time. Place chicken pieces in hot skillet and return to oven. Cook 375º for one hour.  Let cool slightly before serving.

© Crackerberries 2014

Biscuits

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tbsp. baking powder

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 stick butter

¼ cup butter-flavored Crisco

1 cup milk

Preheat oven 450º

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in large bowl. Cut in butter and Crisco with fork or pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk and combine just to moisten.

Turn dough out onto lightly floured pastry towel. Pat dough into ¾ inch circle. Using a drink glass or biscuit cutter cut rolled dough into a dozen or so circles. 

Place on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake 14-16 minutes until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet and serve warm.

© Crackerberries 2014

Autumn Chicken

Autumn Chicken

2 chicken legs

2 chicken thighs

1 tbsp. lime juice

2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

½ cup Dijon mustard

½ cup honey

2 slices bacon, halved

4 mushrooms, halved

2 slices Monterey Jack cheese, halved

2 slices Muenster cheese, halved

Combine lime juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard and honey in medium bowl and beat with electric mixer just until frothy.  Remove skin from chicken.  Place in zip lock bag and pour ¾ of the mustard mixture over the chicken.  Let stand for at least two hours.

Preheat oven to 350º. In a cast iron fry pan cook the bacon until crisp; sauté the mushrooms briefly in the last minute or so of cooking bacon.  Remove bacon and mushrooms.  Sear chicken in pan for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown.

In same pan, brush each seared chicken breast with a little of the reserved honey mustard marinade.  Lay one half of bacon pieces on each piece of chicken, top with two slices of mushrooms and top with the cheeses. 

Bake at 350º for 15-20 minutes until the cheeses are thoroughly melted and starting to bubble. 

© Crackerberries 2014

Baked Chili Casserole

Baked Chili Casserole

2 cups red kidney beans

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. garlic pepper

1 tsp. cumin

1 medium onion, diced

1 stalk celery, diced

1 cup chopped carrots

1 medium green pepper, chopped

2-3 oz. bulk sausage

2 slices cheddar cheese

Preheat oven 350º

Sauté onion, celery, carrots, and green pepper. In large bowl combine kidney beans, and vegetable mixture. Brown sausage until no longer pink. Add to beans with spices. Spoon into lightly greased casserole dish. Lay cheese over top. Bake 350º for 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

© Crackerberries 2014

Chicken A La King

Chicken A’la Potato Dumplings

DUMPLINGs

4 cups mashed potatoes (about 6 medium potatoes or 2 lbs.)

¾ cup all-purpose flour

3 eggs, slightly beaten

¼ cup bread crumbs

1 tsp. garlic salt

Salt and pepper

A’La CHICKEN SAUCE

6 oz. rotisserie chicken, chopped

½ cup chopped onion

2 stalks celery, diced

¾ cup frozen peas

½ chopped green/red bell pepper

1 hard-boiled egg

5 small mushrooms, diced

1 14¾ oz. can cream of mushroom soup

1½ cups chicken broth

Combine mashed potatoes, flour, egg, bread crumbs, garlic salt, salt, and pepper in large bowl. Mix well. Shape into 16 balls. Heat large pot of water to boiling. Gently drop balls into water. Once they float to the top, simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

In Dutch oven or other large kettle sauté onions, green and red peppers, celery until tender. Add mushrooms, mushroom soup, peas and chicken broth. Heat until bubbly. Add chicken and egg. Heat thoroughly and serve over dumplings.

(Optional: Sprinkle with bacon bits.)

© Crackerberries 2014

Fried Okra

Southern Fried Okra

1 lb. (or so) small okra pods (10-15)

1 cup cornmeal

¼ cup all-purpose flour

1 egg, beaten

¼ cup milk

1 tsp. Texas Pete hot sauce

Salt & Pepper

Cooking oil

Slice okra pods into bite size pieces. The smaller the pod, the sweeter the taste. Combine milk and egg and hot sauce. Place pods in mixture. Stir to cover all and let stand for 15 minutes.

Heat up oil in deep fryer or large skillet. Dredge okra pods through cornmeal mixture and deep fry for 5-8 minutes, flipping often to brown. Serve with your favorite condiment. Here we have Chipotle Ranch dressing and fig chutney.

© Crackerberries 2014

Wal-Mart Pie

Wal-Mart Pie

Okay so I couldn’t think of a good name for it, if you have any swell ideas shoot me a message or comment. I used all Great Value brand ingredients so hence the name of the pie.

¼ cup butter

32 reduced fat butter crackers (1 sleeves, minus one --- yeah, I ate it)

¼ cup sugar

1 tsp. cardamom

1 5.1 oz. box vanilla instant pudding

1¾ cup skim milk

¼ cup fat free sour cream

Preheat oven 375º.

Place mixing bowl (preferably metal) in freezer.

Crush the crackers in food processor or other crushing gadget. Combine with sugar and cardamom and mix well. Melt the butter and pour over mixture. Press into pie plate up the sides making a crust. Bake in 375º oven for 10-15 minutes, (until golden).

In frozen bowl, combine milk, sour cream and pudding mix and blend well.  Pour into cooled cracker crust. Let set up for about 2 hours. Serve with chocolate syrup, or if you’re trying to be healthy, fresh strawberries and blueberries. YUM.

© Crackerberries 2014

Chicken and Spice

Spiced Chicken

2 lbs. chicken legs, washed

1 tbsp. ground black pepper

1 tsp. curry powder

1½ tsp. onion powder

1½ tsp. garlic pepper

Combine the spices and rub all over chicken legs. Place in Showtime rotisserie basket and cook for 45 minutes. Let cool before serving. This can also be done in the oven in a cast iron fry pan. Spray the pan lightly with cooking oil. Bake at 375º for one hour, turning once half way through cooking time.

© Crackerberries 2014

Zucchini and Rice Amalgam

Zucchini Rice Amalgam

2 cups cooked brown rice

2 cups diced zucchini

1 cup frozen corn, thawed

3 fresh Chile peppers, thinly sliced

1 small green bell pepper, diced

¼ cup sweet pickle relish, or pickles, chopped

3 tbsp. rice vinegar

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. coriander

1 tsp. cardamom

1 tsp. marjoram

1 tsp. onion powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Combine rice and veggies and mix well. In shaker container, combine vinegar, olive oil and spices.  Shake well to combine and pour over rice mixture. Stir to blend. Let stand in fridge for 4-6 hours before serving to absorb flavors.

About six servings

© Crackerberries 2014