Roasted Cauliflower Soup-Ali Slagle

  • 2½ pounds cauliflower (1 very large head), cut into 1-inch florets, leaves reserved
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • Carrots
    Onion
    Celery
    Veggie stock
  • Cheese
  • Salt and pepper
  • garlic

  1. Step 1 Heat the oven to 425 degrees. On a sheet pan, toss the cauliflower florets, lleaves and onions with the olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Sprinkle exposed cloves with salt, then drizzle lightly with oil. Roast until the cauliflower is browned and tender and the garlic is soft and fragrant, 30 to 35 minutes.
  2. Step 2 Meanwhile, in a large pot or Dutch oven, bring 6 cups of water and veggie to a simmer over medium. Add Carrots and celery then Reserve about 1 cup cauliflower for the topping, then add the rest to the pot, including any browned bits on the sheet pan. Cover and simmer until the cauliflower is very soft, 7 to 10 minutes.
  3. Step 3 Off the heat, using an immersion blender (or working in batches in a traditional blender), purée the soup until smooth. If thick, add water to taste. If thin, simmer, uncovered, for 5 to 10 minutes to reduce slightly. (The soup will also thicken as it cools.) Season to taste with salt.
  4. Step 4 Serve the soup topped with the reserved roasted cauliflower, a drizzle of olive oil and more black pepper.

Crustless Squash Pie from yummly

5 cups squash (sliced, yellow or zucchini, or a combination)
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 tablespoon onion (chopped)
1 clove garlic (minced)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh oregano (chopped)
7 leaves basil (chopped)
2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
2 eggs (beaten)

  • Melt butter in 12″ skillet over medium to medium-high heat.
  • Saute’ onion in butter about 1 minute.
  • Add squash and garlic and saute’ until squash in slightly limp, about 8 minutes.
  • In a separate bowl stir together cheese, eggs, herbs, salt and pepper.
  • Add squash/onion mixture to cheese mixture.
  • Pour into 9″ pie plate, which has been buttered or sprayed.
  • Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until center is set and edges are lightly browned.

broccoli, cheddar and wild rice casserole from smittenkitchen.com

3 tablespoons butter
1/2 large onion, diced
Salt
2/3 cup uncooked wild rice blend, rinsed
1 pound broccoli
1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard powder or 1/2 teaspoon smooth Dijon
Pinch of cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
2/3 cup low-sodium vegetable
8 ounces cheddar cheese, coarsely grated
Freshly ground black pepper

Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, add onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add rice to onion and cook for 1 minute, then add 1 1/3 cups water and a few pinches of salt. Bring mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to lowest temperature and cook with the lid on for about 50 minutes (or whatever amount of time is suggested on your package of rice). If you’d like a rice cooker to do this for you, transfer onions, water and rice to the machine and set the machine.

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Peel broccoli stems and dice them into large chunks. Cut florets into 1-inch pieces. Cook in boiling, well-salted water for 2 to 3 minutes, then drain.

You can use this same pan to make the cheese sauce. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in pan over medium heat. Once melted, add the mustard powder (if using), a pinch of cayenne and garlic and let sizzle for 1 minute. Add flour and whisk until combined, cooking the butter-flour mixture for 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly drizzle in milk, whisking constantly, then broth. Bring to a simmer and cook mixture at a simmer, stirring the whole time, until sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in smooth Dijon mustard if you didn’t use mustard powder.

Remove pan from heat and stir in 1/3 of grated cheese until melted. Season generously with salt and pepper.

Combine cooked wild rice blend and broccoli in a 2-quart baking dish or a 9-inch oven-safe skillet. Pour cheese sauce over and gently nudge to ensure all pieces get some sauce. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top. Bake casserole for 10 to 15 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly, then run mixture under the broiler until cheese is toasty on top.

Serves 4 as a generous side

fresh tomato & corn pie, my version

tomato and corn pie from smitten kitchen.com

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 3/4 teaspoons salt, divided
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons or 3 ounces) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus 2 teaspoons melted
3/4 cup whole milk
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 3/4 pounds beefsteak tomatoes
1 1/2 cups corn (from about 3 ears), coarsely chopped by hand (my preference) or lightly puréed in a food processor, divided
2 tablespoons finely chopped basil, divided (skipped this, no harm was done)
1 tablespoon finely chopped chives, divided
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
7ounces coarsely grated sharp Cheddar (1 3/4 cups), divided

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and 3/4 tsp salt in a bowl, then blend in cold butter (3/4 stick) with your fingertips or a pastry blender until it resembles coarse meal. Add milk, stirring until mixture just forms a dough, then gather into a ball.

Divide dough in half and roll out one piece on a well-floured counter (my choice) or between two sheets of plastic wrap (the recipe’s suggestion, but I imagined it would annoyingly stick to the plastic) into a 12-inch round (1/8 inch thick). Either fold the round gently in quarters, lift it into a 9-inch pie plate and gently unfold and center it or, if you’re using the plastic warp method, remove top sheet of plastic wrap, then lift dough using bottom sheet of plastic wrap and invert into pie plate. Pat the dough in with your fingers trim any overhang.

Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle. If your kitchen is excessively warm, as ours is, go ahead and put the second half of the dough in the fridge until you’re ready to use it. Whisk together mayonnaise and lemon juice.

slice tomatoes crosswise 1/4 inch thick and, if desired, place on towel and sprinkle with salt.  let sit for 30 min or more. Spread 1 tbsp dijon on crust.  Spread a small amount of cheese on crust then Arrange half of tomatoes in crust, overlapping, and sprinkle with half of corn, basil, chives, salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper and one cup of grated cheese. Repeat layering with remaining tomatoes, corn, basil, chives, salt, and pepper. Pour lemon mayonnaise over filling and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Roll out remaining piece of dough into a 12-inch round in same manner, then fit over filling, folding overhang under edge of bottom crust and pinching edge to seal. Cut 4 steam vents in top crust and brush crust with melted butter (2 teaspoons). Bake pie until crust is golden and filling is bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes, then cool on a rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Do ahead: Pie can be baked 1 day ahead and chilled. Reheat in a 350°F oven until warm, about 30 minutes.

An idea: Want to slab pie this and serve it to a crowd? I agree, it would be brilliant. This is how I’d approach it: Make 1 1/2 batches of the crust (slab pies require more crust for the same amount of filling) and arrange the filling in one layer instead of two in a parchment-lined 15x10x1-inch pan. Increase the amount of butter you brush the top with to a tablespoon or two and the baking time to about 45 minutes (this is an estimate, you should take it out when it is golden and the filling is bubbling). Be sure to remove the tomato seeds; that extra wetness could make for a slab pie mess.

Eggplant Tomato Pie from loversrecipes.com

  • 1 eggplant
  • 2 tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • Breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted
  • 1  tablespoon pesto
  • Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • Fresh parsley

Peel and cube eggplant, note do not boil, sautee,boil until soft and tender, then drain water and mash. Add diced onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, melted butter and pesto to the mash; mix well. Grease a pie pan. Slice one tomato and layer on bottom of pan. Add the eggplant mixture. Slice the remaining tomato and layer on top of eggplant mixture. Add shredded cheddar cheese and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

 

Pizza Pull-Apart Sliders

for the sliders:
1 package (12) dinner rolls
1/2 cup pizza sauce
12 slices mozzarella cheese
Sliced and sauteed mushrooms
slice black olives

for the herb butter topping:
1/4 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
2 tbsp. grated parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper optional

Preheat oven to 350 f degrees. Spray the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Slice the rolls horizontally (while still attached) to make a top and bottom bun.

Place bottom bun into prepared baking dish. Spread pizza sauce onto rolls.

sauté mushrooms in olive oil for 5 min to soften.

Next, add 6 slices of cheese (covering all of the pizza sauce.)

On top of the cheese layer, add mushrooms and black olives.

Add the remaining 6 slices of cheese on top.

Then cover all of it with the top bun.

Pizza Sliders (www.thecountrycook.net)

Now, make the seasoned buttery topping. Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and stir well.

Then cover all of it with the top bun. Then, using a brush (or a spoon) spread topping all over the sliders. Be sure to get the sides too!

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 15 minutes. You’ll want to see that the cheese is all nice and melty around the edges.

Cheesy Potato Breakfast Bake

  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
  • 3 cloves garlic (peeled, thinly sliced)
  • 5 sprigs thyme
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 9 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 cups Gruyere (grated)
  • 6 cups shredded frozen potatoes (thawed)
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)
  • Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  • In a large bowl, toss together the tomatoes, garlic, thyme, olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread out evenly onto the prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes or until tomatoes slightly charred. Set aside to cool slightly.
  • Reduce the heat in oven to 350ºF.
  • Butter a 9×13-inch casserole dish. In a large bowl, add the eggs, milk and mustard. Whisk until blended. Fold in the gruyere, shredded potatoes, and oven roasted tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the mixture into the buttered casserole dish.
  • Place in oven for 35-40 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
  • Tip: This casserole can be assembled and refrigerated 24 hours in advance.

Mushroom and Fontina Crostini, foodandwine.com

  • HD-201003-r-crostiniFour 1/2-inch-thick slices of peasant bread, halved diagonally
  • 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds white mushrooms
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 medium shallots, finely chopped
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon chopped thyme
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1/4 pound Fontina cheese, coarsely shredded (about 1 cup)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet and drizzle with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Toast for 12 minutes, until slightly golden around the edges. Turn the broiler on. 
  2. Meanwhile, thinly slice the mushrooms. In a large skillet, cook the butter over high heat until lightly browned, 2 minutes. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the mushrooms and cook undisturbed until the mushrooms are browned on the bottom, 2 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until browned all over, 10 minutes. Add the shallots, garlic and thyme, lower the heat to moderate and cook until the shallots are tender, 5 minutes. Add the water and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, then cook for 3 minutes longer. Season the mushrooms with salt and pepper and remove from the heat. 
  3. Spoon the mushroom mixture on the toasts and sprinkle the cheese on top. Broil for 2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Transfer the crostini to a platter, sprinkle with the parsley and serve.

Texas Trash Dip from McCormick

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  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cans (16 ounces each) refried beans
  • 1 can (4 1/2 ounces) chopped green chiles, drained
  • 1 package McCormick® Taco Seasoning Mix
  • 4 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Microwave cream cheese and sour cream in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 minute or until cheese is softened. Remove from microwave. Mix with wire whisk until smooth. Add refried beans, green chiles, Seasoning Mix and 2 cups of the cheese; mix well.
  • Spread bean mixture into 13×9-inch baking dish sprayed with no stick cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining 2 cups cheese.
  • Bake 25 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with tortilla chips.