Broccoli and Rice Casserole (Out of this world)

I have loved this recipe, this is a great dish for putting something together for one of this busy week nights.  It's good for you, has no meat and can be used also as a side dish.  It is really tasty and to top it off it has an abundance of great flavors.  Here is the recipe and enjoy friends.

Ingredients

3 Heads of Broccoli
2 Carrots
1 Celery
1 Yellow Onion
4 Garlic Cloves
5 TBL Butter
3 Cups Rice (Cooked)
5 Cups Chicken Stock
1 Bay Leaf
1/4 Cup Fresh Parsley
Salt and Pepper
1 TBL Granulated Garlic
1 TBL Fresh Basil
1 Cup Panko
1/2 Cup Romano Cheese
1/4 Cup Flour
1/4 Cup Heavy Cream

Putting It Together

• First we want to cook the rice
• Place your three cups of rice in the sauce pan, rinse it off with water a couple of times
• Place 6 cups of water or chicken stock in with rice and add a bay leaf

• Place the rice on the stove top and turn the heat on medium high heat and let it cook for 15-20 minutes or until water or stock is gone
• When rice is done add 1 TBL butter and salt and pepper to taste.  Set aside
• Now we start to get the broccoli ready for the casserole

• Dice the broccoli up in any size you like
• Place it in a steamer and steam on medium heat for 5 minutes

• While this is steaming get an ice bowl ready

• Now lets dice up our veggies and get your large saute pan ready on medium heat 
• Add your butter to pan and let it melt

• Add your veggies to the pan with butter and allow this to cook for 10 minutes until it sweats

• The broccoli is probably done 
• Drain it and add it to your ice bath to stop the cooking

• Set aside
• Now that the veggies have cooked 
• Lets add your flour to create a thick base

•  Mix around to coat the veggies
• Add your seasonings to your liking 

• Now add your heavy cream and mix around it will create a paste like feel

• Add your chicken stock and allow this to cook on low for 5 minutes
• Add more seasonings if needed

• This rice is probably done
• Take it off the burner and lets start creating your casserole
• Turn your oven on to 375 degrees and add a baking sheet to the bottom shelf to keep drippings from falling to the bottom of the oven
• Grab a baking dish of any size
• Add your rice to the bottom (about 1/2 of the rice)

• Add your broccoli 
• Add your sauce mixture

• Add your other 1/2 of the rice

• Add your panko
• Add your cheese

• Place it in the oven for 30-35 minutes 
• When it is done add your chopped parsley

And eat it right away.  It's great as the main dish, side dish, party dish or whatever you want to use it for.  Have fun and I hope you enjoy this as much as we did.  Have fun.

Enjoy.......

Waffles (The Best)

I play with food, my Mom always told me not to, but I do.  Sometimes I come up with the best things, sometimes I come up with crap.  This morning, since it's -37 below zero out.  I thought Waffles sounded good.  Here is an AMAZING recipe, full of flavor and full of goodness.  Smoother it in syrup, butter or apple butter.  Here you go.

Enjoy.

Ingredients

3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
1/4 Cup Cornstarch
1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
1/4 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Cup Buttermilk
1/3 Cup Butter (Melted)
1 Egg
1 1/2 Tsp Sugar
3/4 Tsp Vanilla

Making The Waffles

• Grab your waffle iron 
• Grab a mixing bowl and add all your ingredients and mix it well

• While you have mixed all this together allow it to sit for 30 minutes 
• Turn your waffle iron on to the medium setting, allow it to warm up
• Add a laddle full of batter and let it cook

• When these are done cooking serve them immediately

These babies are so buttery good and full of wonderful flavor, eat them up and don't feel ashamed if you went past your diet for a day.  Enjoy.

Chocolate Cream Pie

Made this around the Christmas break.  It's my Dad's ultimate favorite dessert, well that and Chocolate cake.  Anyhow, here is a simple, delicate tasting pie that your family is sure to love for years to come.

Enjoy

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/3 cups milk chocolate chopped
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon espresso optional; for richer chocolate flavor
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 large egg yolks
• 1 cup heavy cream, divided
• 2 cups milk

Mixing Greatness

• Make your crust first if you need a recipe I have one on my blog that is a great one
• Once you have made the crust, lets get started on the filling
• Take your chocolate chips and cut them down
• Add them to a glass bowl with your butter and vanilla
• Set aside

• In a medium sauce pan add your corn starch, sugar, cocoa, espresso and salt
• Slowly add 1/4 cup of heavy cream and whisk well so there are no lumps
• Repeat with another 1/4 cup of cream
• Whisk in the egg yolks 
• Add the remaining milk and cream mixture and allow this to come to a small boil
• As this gets to boil
• Add your pie shell to the oven for 10 minutes to cook it (bake it on 350 degrees)

• Take your coca milk mixture and add it slowly to your chocolate chip, butter and vanilla mixture
• Mix this together well as it melts your chips

• As all the chips are melted add it to your freshly made pie dough that has baked for 10 minutes

• When you have added your mixture to the pie crust place plastic wrap over the top, so that it doesn't build a foam on it

• You can make homemade whipping cream to it which I have a recipe for here it is

1. 1 Cup Heavy Cream
2. 1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
3. 1 Tsp Vanilla

• Mix all these ingredients together in a mixing bowl until it firms stiff peaks
• After the pie has rested for a few hours, add the whip cream and serve

Have fun with this pie, it's amazing, but I think I say that about everything I make.  Kidding.  Have a great day.

Enjoy

Margarita (My Way)

On those nights or days you just want a good drink.  This drink will make you happy and warm.  Took me awhile to perfect this recipe.  So here you go.

Enjoy.

Ingredients

2 Limes
2 oz. B&B Liqour
6 oz. Really Good Tequlia
Ice Cubes
1 Egg White

Mixing It All

• First grab your blender
• Place ice cubes in

• Add your B&B and Tequlia

• Now add you lime and egg white

• Blend well
• Get your glass ready by using one of the limes to go around the rim of the glass

• Get a plate ready with some kosher salt on it
• Tilt your glass over and with the lime juice on the rim dip it in the salt

• Get your mixture and add it to your glass

• There will be foam in the blender, add that to the top of the drink and you have yourself a great Margarita

Enjoy this wonderful drink for the summer, staying inside, having friends over or just relaxing after a hard day at work.  Enjoy everyone.

Steamed Asparagus, Poached Eggs with A Mushroom Gravy

Time to start semi eating healthy right?  Well I guess I'll blog about that for today.  This morning for breakfast I decided to make poached eggs, asparagus and a mushroom gravy.  Granted the mushroom gravy has butter, heavy cream and all the good things in it, but its not the main course.  Felicia enjoyed this, as I watched her eat it.  I don't like mushrooms, but I will cook them.  Anyways here is the recipe.

Enjoy.

Ingredients

Asparagus
2 Eggs
1 TBL White Vinegar
1/2 Cup heavy Cream
2 TBL Butter
Salt and Pepper To Taste
6 Button Mushrooms (thinly sliced)

Making Magic

• First we grab a small sauce pan, fill it up with water and add your TBL of vinegar, place it on the burner and set the temperature on medium high.  Allow this to simmer not boil

• Once that is started, start cutting your asparagus and steam it for 5 minutes on medium high

• While this is steaming start slicing your mushrooms
• While you are slicing your mushrooms, grab a small saute pan, turn the heat to medium
• When the pan heats up add your butter and let it melt before you add your mushrooms, this will prevent them from getting soggy 

• Saute your mushrooms for 5 minutes
• Add your heavy cream and salt and pepper
• Cook this for another 5 minutes, turn heat down to low and let it simmer

• OK your water is ready to go and now you can start to add your eggs one at a time

•  When you add the egg slowly let it be released from the shell so that it does not break

• After the egg is dropped use a slotted spoon to move the egg around and to keep it from touching the bottom of the pan

• For over easy cook for 4 minutes
• For over medium cook for 6 minutes
• For over hard cook for 8 minutes
• Now it's time to plate your food
• I did a few pieces of toast first to soak up the gravy
• Lay asparagus down on top of the toast

• Add your eggs next

• Add your gravy

•  Now you are ready to eat

Serve this immediately as the asparagus will get cold fast.  Enjoy this wonderful recipe and have fun making it.

Enjoy.