Everyday Life

Turkey and Sausage Jambalaya for a Crowd

http://www.waynebrownministries.com

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse

1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups chopped yellow onions
1 cup chopped green bell peppers
1 cup chopped celery
1/8 cup chopped garlic
1 1/8 teaspoons Essence, recipe follows
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
2 bay leaves
1 pound kielbasa or other cooked sausage, cut into 6 to 8-inch segments
2 smoked or cooked turkey legs
2 pounds cubed or shredded cooked turkey meat
1 cup chopped tomatoes and their juices
1 1/4 cups medium-grain white rice (about 1 1/8 pounds)
8 cups water
Hot Sauce
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped parsley leaves

In a very large roasting pan measuring approximately 21 by 17 by 7 inches with handles on both sides, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, bell peppers, celery, garlic, Essence, salt, pepper, cayenne and bay leaves, and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are very soft and starting to turn golden, about 15 minutes. Add the sausages and cook, stirring, until they start to brown on the outside, about 7 minutes. Add the turkey legs and meat and stir well. Add the tomatoes and their juices and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add the rice and stir well to incorporate and coat evenly. Add the water, stir well to combine, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover tightly, and cook without stirring until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, 35 to 40 minutes, adding more water as needed if the liquid is all absorbed before the rice is tender.
Remove from the heat and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.

Remove the bay leaves. Stir in the green onions and parsley, and serve hot.

Essence (Emeril’s Creole Seasoning):
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
Yield: about 2/3 cup

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Peanut Butter Snowmen

http://www.waynebrownministries.com

Recipe courtesy Sandra Lee

2 (16-ounce) bags white chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
1 (16-ounce) package peanut butter sandwich cookies (recommended: Nabisco Nutter Butters)

For decorating:
Chocolate sprinkles
Candy buttons (dot candy on paper)
Colored sprinkles
Red nonpareils
Large sugared gum drop jellies
Red string licorice ((recommended: Twizzlers Pull-n-Peel)

Place white chocolate chips and shortening in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute; stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. If necessary, microwave on high for additional 30 second intervals until mixture is smooth. If you prefer, place in double boiler over low heat, stirring until completely melted and smooth.

Meanwhile, pierce 1 end of each cookie with a toothpick. Use the toothpick to dip entire cookie into the white chocolate mixture. Let excess drip back into bowl and lay cookie on wire rack. Before the white chocolate has a chance to cool, decorate the cookie with various candies into a playful snowman.

Place chocolate sprinkles as eyebrows, blue or green dots for eyes, an orange sprinkle placed vertically for the nose and several red nonpareils for a mouth. Cut a gumdrop in half, slice a sliver from each half lengthwise to form a crescent shaped brim to the hat. Top off the hat with a gumdrop half and reserve the other half for another snowman. You may have to flatten the gumdrop a bit to fit the snowman.

After the snowman has completely dried, tie a red string licorice around the neck as a scarf. Using a rolling pin to flatten the licorice will make it easier for the scarf to stay tied and look natural.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Pot Roast

http://www.waynebrownministries.com

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

1 (2-pound) blade cut chuck roast
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons cumin
Vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
5 to 6 cloves garlic, smashed
1 cup tomato juice
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1 cup cocktail olives, drained and broken
1/2 cup dark raisins

Preheat the oven to 190-200 degrees F. Place a wide, heavy skillet or fry pan over high heat for 2 minutes. Meanwhile, rub both sides of meat with the salt and cumin. When the pan is hot (really hot) brown meat on both sides and remove from pan. Add just enough vegetable oil to cover the bottom of the pan then add the onion and garlic. Stir constantly until onion is softened. Add the tomato juice, vinegar, olives, and raisins. Bring to a boil and reduce the liquid by half. Create a pouch with wide, heavy duty aluminum foil. Place half the reduced liquid/chunk mixture on the foil, add the roast, and then top with the remaining mixture. Close the pouch, and wrap tightly in another complete layer of foil. Cook for 3 to 3 1/2 hours or until a fork pushes easily into the meat. Remove from oven and rest (still wrapped) for at least 1/2 hour. Snip off 1 corner of the foil pouch and drain the liquid into a bowl or measuring cup. Add some of the “chunkies” and puree with an immersion blender. Slice meat thinly, or pull apart with a fork. Serve with sauce.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Grilled Cheese Dippers with Spicy Tomato-Cheese Soup

http://www.waynebrownministries.com

Recipe courtesy Sandra Lee

1 can condensed Southwest-style pepper jack soup
8 ounces Mexican-style shredded cheese
1 baguette French bread, sliced 1/2-inch thick
1/2 stick butter, softened
Spicy Tomato-Cheese Soup, recipe follows

In a bowl, combine condensed cheese soup and the shredded cheese. Spread mixture on baguette slices. Butter the outside of the sandwiches.
Heat large frying pan or griddle over medium-high heat. Place sandwiches in the pan and cook until golden brown, approximately 2 minutes. Flip sandwiches and cook second side. Cover frying pan to ensure that the cheese melts. Serve as “dunkers” with mugs of Spicy Tomato-Cheese Soup.

Spicy Tomato-Cheese Soup:
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
3 cups spicy tomato juice
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon dried basil
Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Heat thoroughly, over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Serve in mugs with Grilled Cheese Dippers.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Baker, Baker

http://www.waynebrownministries.com

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

3/4 cup oats
3/4 cup flour
2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch kosher salt
1 stick cold unsalted butter, diced
4 Braeburn apples (Fuji will substitute)
4 teaspoons honey

In a bowl combine all the dry ingredients and diced butter. Rub mixture briskly between finger tips until it forms small moist clumps in a loose sandy mixture. Refrigerate while preparing the apples.

Cut a small layer off the bottom of each apple to create a flat, stable bottom surface. With a small paring knife, cut a cylindrical cone out of the top of the apple, moving about 1-inch outside of the core, similar to removing the top of a pumpkin when carving a Jack O’Lantern. Remove the top and discard. With a melon baller or a teaspoon, remove the remaining core and seeds taking care not to puncture the base of the apple.

Place apples on a baking sheet or pie dish and fill each center with a teaspoon of honey. Spoon in mixture, packing lightly until heaped and overflowing over sides of the apples.

Bake in oven at 350 degrees on the top or middle rack for 40 minutes or until filling is golden brown and the tip of a paring knife can be inserted into the side of the apple with little or no resistance. Let apples stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes

http://www.waynebrownministries.com

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

3 1/2 pounds russet potatoes
16 fluid ounces (2 cups) half-and-half
6 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons kosher salt
6 ounces grated Parmesan

Peel and dice potatoes, making sure all are relatively the same size. Place in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and then reduce heat to maintain a rolling boil. Cook until potatoes fall apart when poked with a fork.
Heat the half-and-half and the garlic in a medium saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Remove from heat and set aside.

Remove the potatoes from the heat and drain off the water. Mash and add the garlic-cream mixture, salt, and Parmesan; stir to combine. Let stand for 5 minutes so that mixture thickens and then serve.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Cornbread Dressing

http://www.waynebrownministries.com

Recipe courtesy Sandra Lee

1 large egg
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 pound store bought cornbread, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cup frozen diced onions, thawed
2 tablespoons Italian herb marinade mix (recommended: Durkee Grill Creations)
1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts
1 (14.75-ounce) can cream style sweet corn
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 2 1/2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a small bowl beat 1 egg with the chicken broth. In a large bowl combine remaining ingredients and egg mixture. Stir to combine. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish. Bake for 1 hour.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Alain's Sweet and Spicy Asian Drumsticks

http://www.waynebrownministries.com

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse

2 cups orange juice
1 cup pineapple juice
2 tablespoons orange zest
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons minced ginger
2 tablespoons minced green onion
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup mirin (sweet rice wine)
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
12 chicken drumsticks
2 tablespoons Essence, recipe follows
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
In a large saute pan set over medium-high heat, place the orange juice, pineapple juice, orange zest, garlic, ginger, green onion, sesame oil, soy sauce, mirin, sugar and red pepper flakes. Bring the pan to a boil and stir occasionally until the sugar is dissolved and the liquid has reduced to a thick syrup, about 20 minutes.

Season the drumsticks with the Essence and salt. Place on a sheet pan or casserole and drizzle liberally with the glaze. Place the casserole in the oven, and cook until the chicken is cooked through and caramelized, about 40 to 45 minutes. To serve, garnish with chopped fresh cilantro, and the sesame seeds. Serve with any unused glaze on the side.

Emeril’s ESSENCE Creole Seasoning (also referred to as Bayou Blast):
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Yield: 2/3 cup

Original post blogged on b2evolution.