Author Archives: Julia Ann

Eggplant Appetizers

Eggplant Appetizers

Eggplant (Aubergine)

copy-of-eggplant

 

Eggplant,  a vegetable from Asia and now identified most often with Mediterranean recipes, such as Eggplant Parmigiana, Ratatouille, Moussaka or eating fried eggplant dipped in a batter or egg and flour and fried in a skillet.   

The eggplants are readily available in the farmer’s markets at this time, late August and September.  The deep purple globes are hard to resist, and are in all sizes.  The larger the eggplant the more seeds and tendency to more bitterness.  Small eggplants have smaller and fewer seeds.

Cooking Eggplant

Eggplant Appetizers

Eggplant Appetizers

LBuy firm deep purple eggplants, store in the refrigerator until ready to use within a day to two. Cut it with stainless steel knife to help prevent the slices turning black.  It does not have to be peeled.  Eggplant has a lot of moisture therefore sprinkle with salt to draw out the moisture.  Also sprinkling with lemon juice will prevent the flesh from blackening.  Put  pieces into a colander, let set for 30 minutes to 1 hour to allow the juice be drawn out.  Rinse the eggplant pieces and dry on paper toweling before proceeding with the recipes.

Eggplant Appetizers

Eggplant Appetizers

Julia Ann
A simple blend of eggplant, cheese and ham for an warm or hot appetizer to a grand meal of roast chicken or meat.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 26 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Italian
Servings 20 slices

Ingredients
  

  • 3 small eggplants 2 inches x 3-4 inches
  • 1 tablespoon of salt
  • water to rinse
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon of a seasoning blend or Italian Seasonings
  • 1 teaspoon dried sweet basil flakes
  • pepper to taste
  • 1/4 pound Provolone Cheese sliced thin
  • 1/4 pound ham sliced thin
  • Marinara Sauce
  • Parmesan Cheese

Instructions
 

  • Wash and slice eggplants in 1/2 inch slices.
  • Sprinkle with lemon juice.
  • Salt each slice; put into a colander for 30-45 minutes.
  • Drain and rinse, pat dry on paper towels.
  • Mix the oil and seasonings into a large bowl.
  • Dip each of the slices in the seasonings and place on jelly roll pan.
  • Top each eggplant slice with a slice of Provolone, ham, and a teaspoon of marinara sauce.
  • Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.
  • Broil until slices are browned and cheese has melted.
  • Serve warm or hot.

Notes

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® brings you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

 Eggplant Benefits

Lower weight,  increased energy, healthy hair and skin are benefits from eating eggplant and a variety of fruits and vegetables.  Eggplant studies has indicated a decrease in diabetes, heart disease and obesity.  Vitamin C, vitamin B-6 and fiber are important for cardiovascular disease.  Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds protect the body from cancer.  Because eggplant is low in calories, it provides another source of a low-calorie diet.

Serve with Chicken Schnitzel

Chicken Schnitzel

Chicken Schnitzel

Enjoy a dessert of Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce

Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce

Spicy Red Anjou Pear Sauce

9 Find more recipes at   https://cookbookinabox.com/

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinaboxJulia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® brings you great recipes for your cooking experience.  ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet    Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.”  Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “ Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox®                               All rights reserved.

 

Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole

Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole

Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole

Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole

I am trying to get a jump start on comfort foods for fall and winter.  Rice, potatoes, and pasta are creamy foods that lead my list.  I actually try to balance menus with one of these carbohydrates.  Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole is also an excellent entree for a vegetarian meal.

Steamed Broccoli and Vegetable Blend

Steamed Broccoli and Vegetable Blend

Using canned soup and frozen broccoli speeds up the cooking process.  I have started to steam vegetables in the microwave.  I put the chopped or diced vegetables in a small bowl, add 1-2 teaspoons water, depending on the amount of vegetables, cover with plastic wrap and steam for 1 minute.  Occasionally I will have to add a minute.  They are ready to be combined with other vegetables or meats and sauces.  I do not add  salt or oil to saute.  

 

Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole

Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole

Julia Ann
A good recipe to have for pitch-in dinners and a winter comfort food for week day dinner.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Rice Vegetable Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup long grain rice
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons finely diced onion
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tablespoons jalapeno pepper finely diced
  • 1-2 tablespoons sweet mini peppers diced
  • 1 cup steamed broccoli cuts or 10 oz. frozen broccoli
  • 1 can 10 3/4 ounces Nacho cheese soup
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4-1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 2 tablespoons bread crumbs finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Cook the long grain rice in the chicken broth until broth is absorbed.
  • Cut and dice the onion, garlic, peppers.
  • Put into a small microwave dish, add 1 teaspoon water.
  • Microwave 1 minute or until onion is translucent.
  • Steam the cut broccoli, just until crisp.
  • In a larger pan blend the Nacho soup and milk, cook until hot and bubbly.
  • Add the broccoli, diced vegetables, and rice, stir to blend.
  • Pout into a 9 x 9 x 2 casserole.
  • Sprinkle with bread crumbs.
  • Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
  • Bake at 350 F 20 minutes

Notes

To make a 9 x 13 casserole, use 1 cup long grain rice and 2 cups chicken broth. Adjust vegetable as desired......This was adapted from Campbell's Soup Kitchen..............Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® brings you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “ Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

 

Round out your meal of Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole with

Green Beans with Red Pepper Stir Fry

Green Beans - Red Bell Pepper Stir Fry

Green Beans – Red Bell Pepper Stir Fry

Use your favorite recipe for green beans:  canned, frozen or fresh.  Fix them by stir-frying, steaming. slow-cooker  or in the pressure cooker, with or without ham.

Spinach-Romaine Lettuce Salad

Spinach-Romaine Lettuce Salad                                          

Try the Spinach-Romaine Lettuce Salad.

And for Dessert :  American Apple Pie

American Apple Pie

American Apple Pie

Enjoy  and look for other cookbookinabox® recipes  at www.cookbookinabox.com/blog.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® brings you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery®  cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® . All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

Peas, Cauliflower and Cashew Salad

Peas, Cauliflower and Cashew Salad

Peas, Cauliflower and Cashew SAlad

Peas, Cauliflower and Cashew Salad

Peas and cauliflower are not vegetables often served.  Peas get added to soups or rice, rarely used in salad or as a side dish as buttered peas.  Cauliflower is in almost every vegetable tray  set up at the grocery or buffet.  It is a once-in-awhile vegetable on my table.  After eating the , Peas, Cauliflower and Cashew Salad, raw cauliflower is becoming a salad stable.

Peas, Cauliflower and Cashew SAlad

Peas, Cauliflower and Cashew Salad

Julia Ann
Peas, cauliflower, nuts and a bit of bacon makes a delicious summer recipe for your luncheon or dinner,
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 pound bacon fried, drained and crumbled
  • 10 ounces frozen peas
  • 1 cup cauliflower cut into small pieces
  • 1 cup celery diced
  • 1/4 cup green onions diced
  • 1/4 cup yellow mini pepper diced
  • 1 cup cashew pieces lightly salted
  • 1 cup Hidden Valley Ranch dressing
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

Instructions
 

  • Fry bacon, drain on paper towel.
  • Cool and crumble in small pieces.
  • Wash and cut the cauliflower, celery, green onions and peppeer
  • Mix the Ranch dressing and sour cream.
  • Mix bacon and vegetables together, except peas, into a large bowl.
  • Stir in the dressings.
  • Pour into a large serving dish, refrigerate.
  • Add the frozen peas 45 minutes to 1 hour before serving.

Notes

This recipe was adapted from Peas Cashew Salad by Janice Griggs in "Our Pitch-In Secrets" by UNISYS, HIM Service Center employees.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Cauliflower protects against cancer and packed with vitamin C and vitamin B folate helping your  immune system.  To get the most benefit of the nutrients, it is best to steam, cook in a wok or microwave.  Boiling the cauliflower in water causes it to lose those nutrients.

Cauliflower Vegetable Pizza

Cauliflower Vegetable Pizza

Cauliflower Vegetable Pizza

 Cauliflower with Mornay Sauce

Cauliflower with Mornay Sauce

Cauliflower with Mornay Sauce

Stir-Fried Frozen Cauliflower

Stir-Fried Frozen Cauliflower

Stir-Fried Frozen Cauliflower                                                        

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox

Julia Ann

Julia Ann

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “ Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.

 

Fried Corn with peppers

Fresh Summer Fried Corn

Fried Corn with Peppers

Fried Corn with Peppers

Early  summer we begin to looking  forward to  eating corn on the cob.  When available at the Farmer’s Market, we made sure we had plenty of fresh corn, green beans and tomatoes.  For a change of taste, I made Fried Corn with Peppers.  It was delicious, the corn was filled out with  milk in the kernels.

It takes 3 large ears of corn to yield 2 cups.  This is also the same amount of Savory Baked Corn and also the quantity for creamed corn. Fresh corn is much tastier when you cut off the kernels of corn and scrape the ear to press out the milky liquid.  When making the Fried Corn, the corn was cut off and scraped before frying.

Fresh Corn

Fresh Corn

 

Fried Corn with Peppers

Fried Corn with peppers

Julia Ann
A hearty vegetable dish to serve with your barbecues and patio dinners, an alternative side dish to serve in place of corn on the cob and yet have the delicious fresh flavors.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Vegetable
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups of corn 3-4 ears of corn
  • 1/4 cup red bell pepper finely diced
  • 1 tablespoon of jalapeno pepper finely diced
  • 2 teaspoons of olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Remove the husks off the corn, use soon after.
  • Wash to remove any remaining silk strands.
  • Cut uncooked corn off the ear, scrape to get the milky liquid.
  • Dice the red pepper and jalapeno pepper.
  • Heat the olive oil in a 10 inch skillet.
  • Add corn, peppers and sugar.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Cook slowly, occasionally stir.
  • Cover and heat 15 minutes, or heated thoroughly. 

Notes

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Other Corn Casseroles you will enjoy.

Collard Greens, Corn and Tortilla Strata Collard Greens, Corn and Tortilla Strata

 

 

 

 

 

Corn and Mushroom Chowder

 

 

 

Corn and Mushroom Chowder

Savory Baked Sweet Corn Savory Baked Sweet Corn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Southern Creamed Corn   Food Network Recipe courtesy of Patrick and Gina Neely

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.  2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery®  cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.”  Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “ Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox®. All rights reserved.

 

 

Yukon Gold Potato Salad

Summer time for picnics and favorite foods:  Potato Salad

Summer is the time to bring out the salads and serve food we do not cook all winter when we are hungry for comfort foods.  Let’s call potato salad as the summer time comfort food.  What else goes with hot dogs, hamburgers, bratwursts, and barbecues and picnic? 

I usually use Russet potatoes for potato salad, however, while at the Farmer’s Market there were fresh Yukon Gold Potatoes.  I had to try them; successfully using the same recipe, I marinated the cooked hot peeled potatoes with the sweet pickle relish to add more sweet and distinctive flavor.

Yukon Gold Potato Salad

Yukon Gold Potato Salad

Yukon Gold Potato Salad

Julia Ann
Yukon Gold potatoes are used to make a flavorful potato salad to serve at picnics, family, and company dinners.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 5 Yukon Gold potatoes medium size
  • Water to cover
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish more if needed to flavor potatoes
  • 1/4 cup onion finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup celery finely chopped
  • 1 hard boiled egg diced
  • 1/2-3/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • dash paprika

Instructions
 

  • Boil the washed, unpeeled potatoes in the water and salt, until tender, 20-25 minutes.
  • Drain off water
  • Peel potatoes
  • Dice in 1/2 inch sizes, use potatoes that crumble into pieces or somewhat mashed
  • Add the pickle relish to absorb into the potatoes to add flavor, more or less as needed for taste.
  • Add the vegetables and egg to the potatoes
  • Combine mayonnaise, prepared mustard and celery seed.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Carefully stir dressing into the potatoes, vegetables and egg.
  • Refrigerate overnight.

Notes

My preference is mashed potato salad, so having crumbles or broken bits of potato pieces is not a problem. A firmer potato will result by not cooking it as long if preference is for a bigger bite of the potato.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Yukon Gold Potato Salad

Yukon Gold Potato Salad

Summer time meals are so easy to fix without getting into sandwiches and chips.  We are having plenty of green beans, , sauteed yellow squash, zucchinis, fried corn and tomatoes with our potato salad.  Next comes the fresh fruits of fall.

Summer Garden Vegetables

Summer Garden Vegetables

Summer Dinner

Summer Dinner

 

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice®Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox bring you great recipes for your cooking experience ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.”  Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.