Sunday, May 23, 2010

Hot Crab Dip *Lauren Perry*

This is very yummy with chips or triscuts!

Ingredients
1 brick of cream cheese
1 package (or can) of crab meat (real claw crabmeat is the best!)
1 dash of hot sauce, Tabasco or Mikes Hot
1 shake of cayenne powder
1 shake of garlic salt or powder
1/2 tsp of sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I used mild) and a little bit extra to top it off when you put it in a serving dish

*you could add some onion if you like as well

Directions
Throw everything in a pan and mix and melt
add to baking dish, top with cheese and serve hot!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Best Tortilla Soup EVER *Lauren Perry*

The secret to this soup is to let it simmer on low for about 40 minutes and to add the sour cream in each individual bowl. The flavor is amazing! I am still drooling as I think about it! I made a HUGE batch and passed it to some friends for taste test, just to get approval.

Ingredients
2 boxes of chicken broth (about 8 cups)
1 1/2 cups of water (you could probably just use an extra can of chicken broth, but this toned down the flavor nicely)
1/3 an onion
2 cans of corn, drained
2 cans of pinto beans, drained
1 can of diced tomatoes (I used the mild kind with chili and onion in it)
a bunch of cilantro
1 tbs ground cumin
1 tbs chili powder
3 garlic cloves
1/3 cup of lime juice
pico de gallo (I just bought pre-made mild from the store, I was too lazy to make my own)
shredded cheddar cheese
avocado
garlic salt, a few good shakes
chicken breasts (3-4)
1-2 TBS sugar (depending on taste)
lime (sliced)
tortilla chips, crunched
dollup of soup cream per bowl *

*the sour cream melts in the cups of soup and when mixed, it makes this creamy and DELICIOUS!!

Directions
In a mixer or blender, add the can of tomatoes, a small handful of cilantro leaves (maybe 1-2 TBS), garlic, 1/2 an onion- chop and blend well
In a large pot, bring broth and water to Medium heat and add the mixture from the blender/mixer, bring to slow boil
Cook or broil chicken breast in oven and shred
Add garlic salt, cumin, chili powder, lime juice, sugar to pot on Med/Low heat
Add drained corn, beans and shredded/cooked chicken to broth. Bring to simmer for about 30 minutes.

In a bowl, add shredded cheddar cheese, a lime wedge, a few chunks of cilantro leaves, 1 spoonful of pico de gallo, and avocado chunks. Spoon soup into the bowl, top with sour cream and tortilla chips and enjoy :)

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Chicken Scampi *Lauren Perry*

This was super yummy and FULL of flavor! :)

Ingredients
3 Chicken breasts (cubed)
1/2 red onion sliced thin
1 red bell pepper sliced
1 yellow bell pepper sliced
1/2 cup of white cooking wine
1/2 stick of butter
4 pieces of cooked bacon chopped (I used Applewood Smoked Bacon)
garlic (3 cloves chopped)
lemon juice (about 4 TBS)
1 cup shredded parmesan
1/2 cup of chicken broth
italian parsley, chopped (about 2 TBS)
garlic salt
pepper
Pasta (I used wheat linguine)


Directions
Saute vegtables and garlic in butter for about 5 minutes
add cubed chicken cook for about 7 minutes on med/high head
add wine, lemon juice, broth, and spices cook for about 7 minutes on med/high heat
cook until tender and then add chopped bacon and parmesan
add to drained pasta