Crabby for Crepes

In our house we love seafood.
Our ultimate favorite is crab and shrimp.This dish combines both.
This is elegant enough to serve for a celebratory meal. .
I made it for Father's Day brunch. This recipe makes 8 , 10" inch crepes.

Baked Oven Seafood Crepes with a White Wine Cream Sauce

Preheat oven to 350 F.


Crepes

* 1/2 cup flour
* 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup warm water
* 2 eggs
* 2 tbsp melted butter or vegetable oil
* 1/2 tsp salt


Combine above ingredients in a bowl and whisk until mixed .
Spray a small nonstick pan with cooking spray and heat medium high. when hot pour in about 3 tbsp of batter ..swirl pan until coated. Cook until sides start to lift slightly then flip over with fingers or spatula.
When lightly brown invert on to a plate.Place cooked crepes between sheets of wax paper to keep them from sticking together. Repeat process until batter is gone. Keep crepes warm.

Seafood Filling

* 1 can crab meat drained
* 1 cup cooked peeled shrimp diced
* 2 tbsp. sour cream
* 2tbsp mayonnaise
* 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (I used mozzarella)
* 2tbsp finely diced onion
* parsley, dill, pepper and salt to taste


In a small bowl combine above ingredients using only 1/2 cup of cheese.
place 2tbs of filling on crepe and roll up and place in greased 9x12 pan.
Repeat process placing crepes side by side.
Sprinkle other cup of shredded cheese over top. Cover with foil. Bake for 20 min. Remove foil for last 10 if you want a crisp finish.

While crepes are in oven make sauce.

White Wine Cream Sauce

* 2 tbsp vegetable oil.
* 1/2 cup flour
* 1 cup evaporated milk
* pinch of mustard powder
* good splash of white wine
* tsp parsley
* salt and pepper


Place tbsp oil in small sauce pan and heat on medium. Add flour, whisk to make a roux. Slowly pour in milk while whisking. Simmer on med low heat while stirring till thickened. Add wine and seasonings to taste . Ladle sauce over crepes on plate. Serve immediately.

Wine Suggestion: Champagne



Cheers!

Just what the Doctor Ordered.

Blame on the air conditioning..
I have a summer cold. No..make that "Coldzilla!!"
I am totally stuffed up and congested. No matter what time of year I always turn to chicken soup for relief.
However, when I went to my pantry to get a can I discovered I was out..so I thought.. I will just make my own!
This is so easy and quick you may never buy the sodium filled store bought type again!

Quick Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.

• 4 cups water
• 4 tsp concentrated chicken boullion mix
• few handfuls of small pasta (I used tiny shells)
• 1/2 cup cooked diced chicken meat
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• lemon pepper, parsley to taste

Add boullion to water in medium pot and bring to a boil
Add pasta and cook until tender reduce heat to simmer
add peas, chicken, pepper, and parsley
simmer another 5 min.
Ladle into bowls and serve!



This is truly comfort in a bowl!


Cheers!

Dad's Delight

Fathers Day..a day to pamper Dad with gifts, some quiet time and delicious food.
This brunch dish is one of my husbands favorites. He made it for me this past Mother's Day. (Think he had an ulterior motive there? )
As it bakes in the oven it is quite impressive as it puffs up.
You can substitute just about any fruit such as peaches or strawberries.
We used apples here.
This is so decadent it could also be used a a dessert with a dollop of ice cream on the side.


Deep Dish Apple Oven Pancake.

• 2 Tbsp. Butter
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup of fruit of your choice mixed with sugar if desired to taste.
• Icing sugar

Preheat oven to 400 F

Melt the butter in a round deep round pie plate. Brush up and around sides.
Beat eggs in a bowl and then add remaining ingredients except fruit and combine.

Pour into pie plate and top with fruit.
Bake about 30 minutes until puffy and golden brown.
Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve with syrup and whipped cream.


Wine Suggestion: Bellini (Champagne with orange, peach or mango juice)

Cheers!

I Love a Spring Chicken

I created this dish over a year ago. It has drawn rave reviews everytime I make it.
I like to serve it with boiled tiny red potatoes tossed with chives and butter and steamed asparagus.
This is a perfect dish for entertaining.

French Style Chicken

• One (or Two 3) to four pound chickens
• 3 (or 6 onions) quartered
• 1 lemon quartered
• 4 (or 8)peeled garlic cloves
• 1 cup White Wine
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• fresh or dried herbs to taste such as rosemary,thyme, sage, parsley
• Lemon pepper or black pepper
• olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 F.

After washing and drying chicken place in roasting pan...insert onions, lemons, and garlic in cavity.

Mix lemon juice and white wine in measuring cup and pour over chicken.

Sprinkle dried or minced fresh herbs and peppers generously over chicken .
Place a few sprigs of fresh herbs inside cavity as well.

Finish by drizzling olive oil lightly over chicken.

Place uncovered in oven to brown skin for 15 to 20 min. Then lower temperature to 325 F cover pan and roast until done basting often with the juices and wine lemon mixture.

About 1 1/2 hours.

Wine Suggestion: Chardonnay

Cheers!

Mamma Mia!

I love Fridays.
Knowing the whole weekend stretches out ahead of you..what a great feeling.
Its has been a hectic week in our neck of the woods.Hubby working overtime, kids worn out from the heat as their school lacks air conditioning.
I like to keep it simple on Fridays. Make something fun and easy.
Homemade pizza fits the bill perfectly. This version is an authentic Italian style "white" pizza without tomato sauce. My kids prefer this type to the tomato sauce laden version.

You can use uncooked dough and roll it out yourself however if you plan on grilling the pizza, getting it on to the grills will be a bit of a challenge. I used a store bought baked whole wheat pizza crust for this version. We had thunderstorms all evening so I had to bake it in the oven instead of grilling as planned. I have left out amounts of some ingredients.. You can adjust to suit your own tastes.

Pizza Bianca

* 1 store bought pizza crust of your choice.
* about 2 tbsp Olive oil
* Shredded mozzarella
* Shredded Parmesan cheese
* thinly sliced strips of prosciutto
* thinly sliced sundried tomatoes
* Fresh basil and oregano (can use dried Italian herb mix as well)

Follow instructions as per package of pizza dough.
brush crust with olive oil
sprinkle shredded cheeses over oiled crust
scatter sundried tomatoes and prosciutto
sprinkle with herbs
Bake in 400 degree oven or place on grill for 10 minutes.
Slice into wedges and enjoy!

There many variations of this pizza. I have used Genoa salami, sliced grape tomatoes, thinly sliced peppers...the options are endless!


Wine Suggestion: Merlot

Cheers!

Mango Madness

Finally, warm weather is here!
If you are like me, the warmer weather gives me the desire to cook and eat lighter.
A great way to give a dish a summer flair is to add fruit. This salad is great on it's own as a light meal or a side dish . It is also wonderful spooned over chicken or fish and baked in the oven or wrapped in foil on the grill*. (as pictured below)


Southwest Mango & Black Bean Salad

• 1 540ml can of black beans
• 1 mango peeled, pit removed and diced.
• 1/2 sweet red bell pepper diced
• 2 green onions diced
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 2tbsp Vegetable oil
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp chili powder or southwest seasoning
• 1Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

Combine all in bowl and toss.
Chill in fridge for 30 min to allow flavors to blend.

* Option to add 1/4 cup of salsa to the mixture before spooning over chicken or fish for grilling or baking.

I made this last night and everyone was raving! Even the kids! I served it on Chicken breasts upon a bed of white rice.

Wine Suggestion:White Zinfandel Blush

Cheers!