SOUTHERN SAUSAGE AND BEAN DIP

 SOUTHERN SAUSAGE AND BEAN DIP

INGREDIENTS: 1 POUND GROUND SAUSAGE (I USED HOT BUT SWEET WOULD ALSO WORK), 1/4 CUP OLIVE OIL, 1 CHOPPED ONION, 6 CLOVES CHOPPED GARLIC, 1 TSP OREGANO, THYME, PEPPER, 1/2 TSP SALT, 1/3 CUP WHITE WHITE, 1 CAN RINSED CANNELLINI BEANS, 1 CAN DICED TOMATOES, 8 OUNCES CREAM CHEESE, 3 CUPS BABY SPINACH, 1 CUP SHREDDED COLBY JACK CHEESE, 1/2 CUP GRATED PARMESAN

TOPPING: 1 CUP COLBY CHEESE AND 1 TBS PAPRIKA

SAUTE THE ONION AND GARLIC IN THE OIL 5 MINUTES, ADD THE GROUND SAUSAGE AND DRIED SPICES AND COOK UNTIL ALMOST DONE. ADD THE REST OF THE INGREDIENTS AND COOK ON A MEDIUM LOW HEAT UNTIL EVERYTHING IS MIXED. 

PUT IN A SPRAYED GLASS BAKING DISH, TOP WITH THE CHEESE AND THEN THE PAPRIKA AND COOK AT 375 FOR 25 MINUTES UNCOVERED.

CLAM CHOWDER

 CLAM CHOWDER

INGREDIENTS: 4 TBS BUTTER, 1/4 CUP OLIVE OIL, 1 CHOPPED ONION, 2 CHOPPED CELERY, 2 CHOPPED CARROTS, 3 CUPS CHOPPED POTATOES, 6 CLOVES CHOPPED GARLIC, 2 CUPS CLAM BROTH, 2 CUPS CHICKEN STOCK, 5 CANS CHOPPED CLAMS, 1/2 CUP FRESH PARSLEY, 1/2 CUP FRESH DILL, 3/4 CUP BLOODY MARY MIX, 1 TSP SALT, 1 TBS PEPPER

I SAUTÉED THE VEGETABLES IN THE OIL AND BUTTER UNTIL THE POTATOES WERE DONE, I ADDED EVERYTHING ELSE AND HEATED THROUGH. 

UTTICA GREENS

 UTTICA GREENS

INGREDIENTS: 1/4 CUP OLIVE OIL, 1 CHOPPED ONION, 6 CLOVES CHOPPED GARLIC, 1 CUP CHOPPED PROSCIUTTO, 1/2 TSP SALT, 1 TSP PEPPER, 1 TBS OREGANO, 1 BAG CHOPPED ESCAROLE, 1 CUP ITALIAN
BREAD CRUMBS, 1/2 CUP HOT AND SWEET SLICED CHERRY PEPPERS, 3/4 CUP  SHREDDED PARMESAN/PECORINO CHEESE

EXTRA OIL.

SAUTE THE ONION AND GARLIC IN THE OIL FOR 5 MINUTES, ADD THE  PROSCIUTTO AND COOK ANOTHER 2 MINUTES. ADD THE ESCAROLE, SALT, PEPPER AND OREGANO AND SAUTE UNTIL ESCAROLE IS SOFTENED.  TURN OFF THE SKILLET AND ADD THE CHERRY PEPPERS AND MIX THROUGHLY.

OVEN TO 350. 

PUT THE ESCAROLE MIX IN A SPRAYED GLASS BAKING PAN. TOP WITH BREAD CRUMBS AND CHEESE AND SPRINKLE SOME MORE OLIVE OIL ON TOP

COOK UNCOVERED 20 MINUTES

Note: If you are using fresh escarole, wash it thoroughly and chop it up before putting it in the skillet.  If you are worried about it being bitter, blanch it in boiling water for 2 minutes, drain thoroughly and then add to the skillet. 

If you're a vegetarian, just skip the prosciutto.

If you're gluten free, use gluten free bread crumbs. 

BLACK BEAN & CORN APPETIZER

 BLACK BEAN & CORN APPETIZER

INGREDIENTS: 1 CAN OF BLACK BEANS RINSED, 2 CUPS FRESH CORN ON THE COB, 1/2 DICED RED PEPPER, 1 DICED RED ONION, 1 CUP FRESH PARSLEY.

SAUCE: 1/2 CUP SOUR CREAM, 1/4 CUP MAYO, 1 TBS MILK, 1 TBS OLIVE OIL, 3/4 TSP CUMIN, 3/4 TSP CHILI POWDER, 1/2 TSP SALT, 1 TSP PEPPER, 1 TSP GARLIC POWDER

CHIPS - I USED BLACK BEAN SCOOPS

I MIXED THE SAUCE INGREDIENTS IN A SMALL FOOD PROCESSOR TO BLEND THE FLAVORS TOGETHER. 

MIX EVERYTHING AND SERVE WITH CHIPS!

SAUSAGE GRAVY

 SAUSAGE GRAVY

INGREDIENTS: 1 POUND GROUND HOT ITALIAN SAUSAGE, 6 CLOVES CHOPPED GARLIC, 1 TBS OLIVE OIL, 1/2 TSP SALT, 1 TBS PEPPER, 1 TBS SMOKED PAPRIKA, 3 CUPS WHOLE MILK, 1/2 CUP FLOUR

SAUTE THE SAUSAGE AND GARLIC IN THE OLIVE OIL UNTIL NO LONGER PINK. ADD EVERYTHING ELSE EXCEPT THE FLOUR UNTIL HEATED. ADD THE FLOUR AND STIR UNTIL NO CLUMPS. 

SERVE RIGHT AWAY OVER BISCUITS OR MEAT.

SOUTHERN GREEN BEANS

 SOUTHERN GREEN BEANS

(THIS PIC IS FROM THE NEXT DAY. I FORGOT TO TAKE A PICTURE WHEN I MADE IT. IT STILL TASTED YUMMY JUST DIDN'T LOOK AS PRETTY.)

INGREDIENTS: 8 SLICES CHOPPED BACON, 2 TBS BUTTER, 2 CUPS SLICED POTATOES, 1 PURPLE ONION, 8 CLOVES CHOPPED GARLIC, 1 POUND GREEN BEANS, 1 TBS BLACK PEPPER, 1/2 TSP SALT, 2 TBS WHITE BALSAMIC VINEGAR, 1/2 CUP CHICKEN STOCK

CHOP UP THE BACON AND COOK FOR 5 MINUTES ON A MEDIUM HIGH HEAT IN A DUTCH OVEN IF YOU HAVE ONE. ADD THE POTATOES AND BUTTER AND COOK UNTIL THEY LOOK FRIED (TOOK AROUND 10 MINUTES), ADD THE ONION AND GARLIC AND COOK FOR ANOTHER 5 MINUTES,  ADD THE GREEN BEANS FOR ANOTHER 5 MINUTES, ADD SALT, PEPPER, STOCK AND BALSAMIC AND COOK LAST 5 MINUTES.  SERVE RIGHT AWAY. 

CORN FLAKE BACON

 CORN FLAKE BACON

INGREDIENTS: 1 PACK OF THICK BACON, 1/2 CUP EVAPORATED MILK, 2 TBS WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE, 2 TBS KETCHUP, 1 TSP BLACK PEPPER, 5 CUPS CRUSHED CORNFLAKES

MIX EVERYTHING TOGETHER BUT THE CORNFLAKES IN ONE BOWL. PUT THE CORNFLAKES IN ANOTHER BOWL. HEAT OVEN TO 375. YOU'LL PROBABLY NEED 2 COOKIE SHEETS. DON'T GREASE THEM. 

DIP BOTH SIDES IN LIQUID THEN BOTH SIDES IN CORN FLAKES. COOK ROUGHLY ONE HALF HOUR. I FLIPPED THEM OVER AFTER 15 MINUTES. 

SERVE WITH WHATEVER SAUCE EXCITES YOU. WE USED A COMBINATION OF SWEET THAI CHILI SAUCE AND A LITTLE CHILI GARLIC SAUCE