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Potato and Crab Meat Soup

Potato and Crab Meat Soup

Potato and Crab Meat Soup

A Charleston Discovery

Potato and Crab Meat Soup that I make isn’t the real discovery.  Though a trip to Charleston, South Carolina was such a discovery of the beautiful, colorful city of many little flower gardens. There was a flower tucked into any place there was dirt, between houses, alleys or an empty spot.  It was fascinating to see all the brass door knockers and historical homes.  It has been many years since the visit,  I hope it is the same.

Also enjoyed a hearty bowl of crab meat  soup made with the “real stuff”  such as Atlantic crabs and cream.  The rest of the meal has been forgotten.  Soup set me out on a search for a Charleston Cook Book.  I came home with TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF CHARLESTON COOKING, 1976.  There was a recipe for “She” Crab Soup.  There was no way to duplicate the soup, however that did not stop me from trying an adaption or was it inspiration.

Potato and Crab Meat Soup

Potato and Crab Meat Soup

Julia Ann
Potato and Crab Meat Soup makes a good beginning for a holiday dinner or for a light, late night supper to celebrate the holiday eve.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Soups
Cuisine American
Servings 4 serving

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces lump crab meat drained and checked for shells
  • 1 large russet potato diced 1/2 inch size
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/4 cup onion diced
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1/2 cup cream or half and half milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon spice and herb blend
  • A pinch of nutmeg freshly grated
  • 1 tablespoon sherry

Instructions
 

  • Cook in a double boiler or heavy large sauce pan to prevent scorching.
  • When using canned crab meat, check for shells; set aside.
  • Peel and dice the potato, cook until soft; drain and set aside.
  • Heat the milk and have ready to add to the mixture.
  • Melt the butter in the double boiler or sauce pan.
  • Add the onion and cook until it is soft and translucent
  • Add the crab meat and potato and stir in the heated milk.
  • Stir the flour and cream together to a smooth paste and pour into the milk mixture.
  • Add the Worcestershire sauce, Flavour-Enhancer Spice Blend, grated nutmeg and sherry.
  • Cook over low heat for 30 minutes without letting soup come to a boil.

Notes

Frozen crab legs or imitation crab meat can also be used in place of the canned crab meat. The soup could be made smoother and thicker by pureeing. Family preference is to have chunky soup.----------------------------------------------------
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This recipe does not do justice to the original Charleston recipe, though enjoyable as a warming winter soup.  My husband’s family use to have oyster stew on New Year’s Eve.  We are not into oysters, so on our New Year’s Eve we have the Potato and Crab Meat Soup, a fruit salad, cake and a glass of white wine.

Potato and Crab Meat Soup

Potato and Crab Meat Soup a holiday evening celebration.

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.

 

Butternut Squash, Chicken & Pecan Tart

Butternut Squash, Chicken & Pecan Tart

Butternut Squash, Chicken & Pecan Tart

Fall is in the air and  the coloring of the leaves is happening…    The beauty of the fall season is something to behold when the sun is shining.   I have been given a couple of butternut squash to enjoy in older recipes and create a couple of new ones.  This is back to a recipe I put up  in October 2014.  Still good!

Nienaber'sFarm Market

At A Local Farm Market 

 

Acorn and Butternut Squash

Acorn and Butternut Squash

The  butternut squash beauty on the right was selected for the autumn tart.  The wonderful thing about this entree tart it is as tasty as  eating dessert.  In this  particular tart I used shredded chicken from chicken drumsticks previously cooked in the slow cooker.  Drumsticks were tried as a means of trying to be economical.  Chicken breasts are also very nice to use with this tart. Chicken was used this time as ham is not a part of this household’s diet anymore due to the high sodium and alas….extra fat.

12 inch Squash, Chicken and Pecan Tart

Butternut Squash, Chicken & Pecan Tart baked in a 12-inch tart pan.

 

Butternut Squash, Chicken & Pecan Tart

This make a wonderful tart with the ginger pastry.  It will fill a 11-12 inch tart pan giving it a thick filling.  This was a  perfect tart, it did not crumble when the tart pan rim was removed or crumble when it was cut.   Just add a green salad or vegetable with fruit for dessert and lunch is served.

Butternut Squash, Chicken, Pecan Tart with steamed broccoli

Butternut Squash, Chicken & Pecan Tart with steamed broccoli

Butternut Squash, Chicken & Pecan Tart

Julia Ann
This recipe combines a favorite autumn vegetable with chicken, pecans and apples for a dessert like entree to become a Thanksgiving favorite.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • GINGER PASTRY

Notes

Adapted from Country Living Magazine, November 1998.----------------------------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® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.”nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved.
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2018 Version of the Tart:  I turned it into a 9-inch pie.  I cheated and bought a frozen pie crust.  I omitted the chicken, added just a little more squash, reduced the sugar some and proceeded as instructed.  Really had more filling than needed.  Baked the remainder in a small dish.  

Suggested Menu

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® Spices, bring you great recipes, outstanding herbs and spices for your cooking experience.

 

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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.

 

Italian Chili soup

Italian Chili Soup, Netta Belle’s Choice

 

Chili soup is an all time favorite and one popular for contest of “Who makes the best Chili”. Chili is a favorite at my house, however, having tried the Mediterranean herbs, Italian Chili Soup has become our favorite.  It seems once away from the hot pepper spices of chili powder it is hard to go back to the hot, spicy and spirited chili.  But we like chili! Iitalian chili soup X.JPG 1

Italian Chili Soup

Julia Ann
A fantastic new flavor for chili soup. Enjoy a delicious bend of Mediterranean herbs, beans, ground turkey and ground sausage for a winter time treat.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Soups
Cuisine American
Servings 10

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1/2 pound ground sweet Italian sausage
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 2 cups low-fat chicken broth
  • 2 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes with juice
  • 1 15 ounce can kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 15 ounce can great northern beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 6 ounce can tomato paste
  • 11-12 black olives sliced
  • 1 teaspoon of a spice blend
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • Perorino Romano Cheese

Instructions
 

  • In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil.
  • Saute ground turkey and ground sausage until browned and crumbled.
  • Pour meat onto a toweling paper to absorb the grease.
  • In a large kettle, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil.
  • Add the onion and garlic, cook 5 minutes or until onion is soft and translucent.
  • Add the meat to the onions.
  • Pour in the ketchup, balsamic vinegar, both, tomatoes and juice.
  • Cook for 20 minutes.
  • Stir in the beans, olive slices, tomato paste, herbs and spices.
  • Heat for another 30 minutes.
  • Serve chili with 1 tablespoon of Perorino Romano Cheese on top.

Notes

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

 

Italian Chili Soup

Italian Chili Soup, Netta Belle’s Choice

This is the fix!   Why not have chili and the Mediterranean herb flavor.

Additions for your Italian Chili Meal:

                                                                   

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg.“Trademarks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.  All rights reserved.

Loaded Oatmeal Cookies

Loaded Oatmeal Cookies

Loaded Oatmeal Cookies

Loaded Oatmeal Cookies

Loaded Oatmeal Cookies for an after school snack.

These will soon become your favorite cookie.  You don’t have to be a child to like these Loaded Oatmeal  Cookies.  We had some relatives with us for a week.  Well, in midweek, I had to take time out to back another batch.  Just too easy to take one on the go.

How can you turn a cookie with molasses, whole wheat flour, wheat germ, old fashion  rolled oats and raisins as a bad cookie for you?  You forget there is shortening, pecans, chocolate chips and coconut flavoring.

Loaded Oatmeal Cookies

Julia Ann
Loaded Oatmeal Cookies are for an after school snack for your children, or coffee break at work with your co-workers. They provide extra nutritive value in using molasses, whole wheat flour, wheat gern, old fashioned rolled oats and raisins.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Course Desserts or Snacks
Cuisine American
Servings 5 dozen

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar firmly packed
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup molasses mild flavor
  • 1/2 teaspoon coconut flavoring
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 tablespoon wheat germ
  • 1 teaspoon soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg freshly grated
  • 2 cups of whole rolled oats chopped in the blender to smaller pieces
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 F or 375 F depending upon your oven's heat.
  • Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  • In mixing bowl, cream together shortening and sugars.
  • Add eggs, molasses and coconut flavoring to sugar/shortening mixture and thoroughly blend.
  • In separate bowl, measure and sift together, flours, wheat germ, soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
  • Using a whisk, blend the dry ingredients.
  • Gradually add dry ingredients to mixing bowl of wet ingredients, beating after each addition.
  • Add the rolled oats, raisins, pecans and chocolate chips.
  • Beat at a low speed to thoroughly mix together.
  • Form inch balls of cookie dough put on cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
  • Flatten balls with a flat bottom glass dipped in sugar.
  • Bake 350 F 8-10 minutes.

Notes

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

Loaded Oatmeal Cookie

Cookies are nice to have available when unexpected guests stop by. You do have to remember not to eat them all at once. Cookies are easy to freeze in freeze bags, just don’t tell the family they are in there.

Molasses Crinkles

Molasses Crinkles

Have you ever planned to make chocolate chip cookies only to discover the chocolate chips had already been eaten. That  is when you need plan B. Try the Grand Canyon Hermit Cookies. Yes, they have molasses in them too.  No one has eaten my molasses before I used it!

Grand Canyon Hermit Cookies

Grand Canyon Hermit Cookies

For a change of taste, here are rolled sugar cookies. Takes a little more time or roll out and add icing. They can be make into hearts, candy canes, or cut into circles for pumpkins with butter cream tinted icing. These make pretty cookies for special occasions. An easy recipe.

Ready for serving and eating.

Sugar Cookies

 

 cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® Spices, bring&nbsp you great recipes, outstanding herbs and spices for your cooking experience.©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice®cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved.Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox                       

 

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole

 

Netta Belle’s Choice for a budget meal.

Macaroni, chicken and cheese casserole

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole, the ultimate comfort food.

Have you ever had a week longer than your food in the house or the money in your wallet and pay day isn’t here yet?  I thought I was through with those times forever.  However!  I am now retired.  The pay isn’t as good as it was when I worked 40+ hrs a week for someone else.

Well, this has been the dilemma in our house of two this week.  It is amazing what new things can be cooked up with the same foods.  I use leftovers and create new dishes which means I usually end up with more leftovers.  You may not relate, but I am sure many of your parents or grandparents can relate to using everything you have before getting new.  Well, food does not really fall in that category – just left overs.

I like to cook up several boneless, skinless chicken breasts with seasoned low-fat chicken broth or water in the slow cooker.  They can be bagged in freezer bags and pulled out only what is needed for a meal for two.  Of course, I save the broth for soups in glass cans stored in the refrigerator.

This time I had some ricotta cheese, some Colby Jack cheese and a green bell pepper. Oh yes, the cornbread from the day before. Luck would have it, I did not have an onion, hey, that is why the onion powder is on the shelf.

Talk about need for comfort food!   Well, here comes the macaroni, chicken and cheese.  It was tasty, filling with a gelatin fruit salad and green beans and budget casserole.  Not feeling too deprived, we had chocolate chip cookies and sherbet.

For those budget strapped beginners in the world, couples, families,  the retiree or just tightening the budget belt out of need, look at your leftovers and get creative.  Here is one of my solutions.

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole

Julia Ann
An easy on your pocketbook comfort dish for the family. It is one of those recipes, having leftovers is a good dilemma.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup whole wheat elbow macaroni uncooked
  • 1 teaspoon Netta Belle's Choice Sea Salt
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 cups low-fat milk
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup chicken breast cooked and diced in 1/2 inch pieces.
  • 1/2 cup green bell peppers diced in 1/2 inch pieces.
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese or your choice
  • 1/2 cup crumbed cornbread
  • 1/4 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
  • Dill weed to sprinkle on top
  • Paprika to sprinkle on top

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven 350 F.
  • Grease a 9 x 9 casserole dish.
  • Cook the macaroni in the water according to package directions.
  • Drain the macaroni, do not rinse. Set aside.
  • Warm the milk in microwave for 2 minutes, let set until ready to use.
  • Use a large sauce pan to melt the butter to bubbling.
  • Sprinkle in flour; use a whisk to blend the roux (thickening paste.)
  • Cook over low heat.
  • Add seasonings, chicken breast and green pepper.
  • Stir with a wooden spoon to blend together.
  • Remove from heat, stir in the ricotta cheese and shredded Colby Jack cheese.
  • Stir until the cheese has melted and sauce blended.
  • Pour the cooked and drained macaroni into the cheese sauce, stir gently.
  • Pour into greased casserole dish.
  • Spread the crumbled cornbread evenly over the top.
  • Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the cornbread.
  • Sprinkle the dill week and paprika to your taste on top.
  • Bake 30-35 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and cheese is melted.
  • Let set about 5 minutes before serving

Notes

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

 

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole – a budget comfort food dish.

Related Recipes:

This was inspired by a recipe from Food.com Recipe #454932.

Netta Belle's Choice Sea Salt Purified, Granular White Crystalline Pacific Ocean Salt and Pure Granulated Black Pepper

Netta Belle’s Choice Sea Salt Purified, Granular White Crystalline Pacific Ocean Salt and Pure Granulated Black Pepper

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you for your cooking experience.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.  All rights reserved.