Jambalaya

Another easy recipe using a Zataran's mix.
1 box Zataran's Jambalaya mix
1 pound Cajun andouille sausage 1diced onion
1 can of Rotel tomatoes
1 cup of frozen corn
1/4 stick of butter
Melt butter. Add onion, sliced  sausage and corn. Saute' until onions are done. I like to do it this way so the butter, the onion and the corn will absorb the taste of the sausage. Add a can of Rotel tomatoes. Add  2 1/2 cups of water. Add the envelope from the Zataran's mix.  Bring to boil.  Lower heat to a simmer.  Cover and cook for 20 minutes.  Stir a couple of times. It's ready to eat! I used mild Rotel.  The sausage is spicy so didn't want to add too much heat. You can use regular smoked sausage or you can use the hotter Rotel. You know your tolerance for heat so make adjustments.

Asparagus

Tried a new asparagus recipe that took my previous recipe one step further and it was even more delicious.

1 bundle of asparagus washed and ends snapped off

3 tablespoons of melted butter

1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese

3/4 cup of mozzarella cheese

Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon of house seasoning (recipe previously posted)

Heat oven to 400 degrees

Generously spray a pan with Pam

Lay asparagus on the pan in a single layer

Drizzle with melted butter

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese

Bake for 15 minutes

Remove from oven and top with mozzarella cheese

Cream of Tomato Soup

2 tablespoons of butter
1 onion diced
2 teaspoons of minced garlic
1 28 oz can of stewed tomatoes
4 oz of heavy cream
1 1/2 cup of chicken broth
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
Melt the butter. Add onion and garlic and cook on low heat until onion is clear. Add the stewed tomatoes, chicken broth and cream. Add salt and pepper and bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes. It's ready to serve.

Salmon Patties

My family has always liked fried salmon patties with biscuits and rice. I gave up making them a long time ago because I hated picking the bones out and removing the skin from canned Salmon. I recently discovered that you can buy pink canned salmon in the little cans like Tuna comes in. Skin removed and Bones picked out.  So here's my recipe.
2- 5 oz cans of salmon
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 green onion, finely sliced
1/4 cup of plain bread crumbs
Stir together and form into 4 patties.  Heat oil in frying pan. Cook the salmon patties in the oil until golden brown.  About 2 minutes on each side.  They are ready to eat.

Cut Off Fresh Corn

My mom always made the best corn.  She only used field corn and slowly cooked it forever in the oven in an iron skillet.  My sister is still insistent on field corn but I have long since abandoned that notion.  May not be as good as Mama's but it's good, nonetheless.

4-6 ears of corn
1/2 stick butter
1 tablespoon bacon drippings
salt and pepper to taste
First, I pop the corn, one at a time, shucks and all in the microwave for 3 minutes.   The silks will come off with the shucks.  So easy and the corn will be a little precooked.   May want to work under cool running water while shucking.
I use to use a knife to cut the kernels off and then scrape the cob for the juice.  Today I used a new tool I bought from Pampered Chef and it worked great.  You can do it either way.
Meanwhile I melt the butter and bacon drippings together.
(I save bacon dripping when I cook bacon in a pint jar in the fridge).  Add the corn to the pot and cook on low heat till done. About 30 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.  Stir often and add a little water if the corn starts to get a little dry.

Easy Caramel Icing

1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup milk
2 cup confectioners sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon  vanilla
Melt butter, add brown sugar and cook until it reaches a boil. Stir often.   Add milk and bring back to boil.  Remove from heat and stir in confectioners sugar.  It's ready to spread!  It will thicken as it cools.

Zucchini Casserole

2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 lb of zucchini, slice
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 onion diced
1  teaspoon dried basil
1 can diced tomatoes. drained
1 cup Hellman's mayonnaise
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Sautee' zucchini and onions in olive oil. Add one can of diced tomatoes. Add salt pepper garlic powder and basil. Cook until onions are done. Pour into a casserole dish that has been sprayed with Pam. Mix one cup of Hellman's mayonnaise with one cup of Parmesan cheese. Spread on top of zucchini mixture until it covers the entire dish. Cook at 350 degrees until cheese is golden brown.  About 30-45 minutes. Let it set a few minutes before serving.