Broccoli Souffle

Eat your broccoli. Eat your broccoli. EAT YOUR BROCCOLI.

For some it's a act of congress. Help ease the pain with this easy and flavorful broccoli dish.

1 bunch (3 small heads) of broccoli ...
1 cup plain organic Greek yogurt
1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 free range egg
1 small sweet onion
1 fresh garlic clove
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp organic butter
Himalayan salt to taste

1. In food processor pulse raw broccoli till desired consistency. I like finely ground.
2. In sauté pan. Heat oil and add chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook till tender.
3. Mix broccoli with cooked onions and all other ingredients but butter.
4. Grease a baking pan and pour broccoli mixture in. Top with melted butter.
5. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Enchilada Soup

Save that leftover homemade enchilada sauce after you have Mexican night.

Enchilada Soup

3 free range chicken breasts...
1 onion chopped
3 fresh garlic cloves minced
1 can tomatoes with peppers
1 1/4-1/2 cups of homemade enchilada sauce
3 1/2 cups homemade chicken stock
2 cans of green chiles
1 bag (10 oz)of fresh frozen corn
2 can of organic beans (I used black and pinto) drained and rinsed
1/2 tsp cumin
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 cup plain organic Greek yogurt

Throw all in a crock pot and mix. Cool on high 4-5 hours or medium all day. Before serving shred chicken with a fork. Top soup with avocado, freshly grated cheese and fresh cilantro. 

Shrimp and Grits

While I have lived in Alabama longer than any other place, I am not sure I am considered truly "Southern", even though all of my extended family laughs hysterically at my accent and mannerisms. Not long ago someone asked if I was from Southern California. Funny how some things never leave your dialect. My husband says he married me for a good branch in his family tree. Literally. No relation and nothing like his family.

This weekend I had family in from out of town. Originally Southern California and now retired to Colorado. It was only fitting I made them a true Alabama dish.

Shrimp and Grits

1 lb peeled Alabama shrimp (deveined if preferred)
5 pieces of all natural bacon
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup chopped fresh tomatoes
3 fresh garlic cloves
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
Green onion tops for garnish

1. Cook bacon in skillet on stove. Remove from pan when done.
2. Add olive oil, garlic and green onions to bacon drippings. After about 2 minutes add tomatoes.
3. Lastly shrimp and bacon and cook till shrimp are done. Squeeze lemon juice over all.

Grits

2 cups of homemade chicken stock or broth
2 cups organic half and half
2 tbsp organic butter
1 1/3 cup stone ground grits
1 cup fresh shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Bring stock, butter and cream to a boil. Add grits stirring constantly. Slowly add cheese. Serve immediately.

Top grits with shrimp mixture and garnish with green onion tops. Literally takes about 25-30 minutes for a amazing Southern dish. Add a little hot sauce if preferred

Ham and Swiss Rolls

This is my basic recipe for pizza dough and cinnamon rolls. It's awesome to freeze for a quick pizza meal! With just 4 ingriedients it's really impossible to mess up! 

For the ham and Swiss rolls I used only 1/2 the dough. 

Dough

4 cups of flour of choice (I recommend whole wheat or white wheat)

2 cups hot water

1 tbsp yeast

2 tbsp local honey

Himalayan salt to taste

1. Mix yeast with hot water and allow to sit for a few minutes till frothy looking. 

2. Use a paddle attachment with mixer. 

3. Add honey to hot water and slowly add to water mix to flour and salt. 

4. Add more flour when mixing to make sure dough forms a ball or is not sticking to sides. 

5. Cover and allow to sit about a hour. Push down and allow to rise again or split dough and roll out to a 9x13 size for ham roll ups. Freeze other half of dough or refridgerate for a few days for later use. 

1 lb fresh nitrate free deli ham thinly sliced 

12 slices of Swiss cheese 

6 tbsp organic unsalted butter

2 tbsp local honey

1 tbsp liquid aminos

1 tbsp spicy mustard or regular mustard

1 tbsp poppy seeds

1. With dough rolled out, place a layer of Swiss cheese then all the ham in a top layer. 

2. Gently roll up and push end of dough tightly to seal. 

3. With a serrated knife cut into 1 inch pin wheels. Place in a greased 9x13 baking dish. (Makes about 12 rolls) 

4. Melt butter with mustard, aminos and poppy seeds. Drizzle on top of rolls. 

5. Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes. Or till top is slightly browned. 

(Can be stored in fridge or frozen till ready to cook.)

Enjoy!