Smoky Corn Chowder/Pan-Seared Dumpling Salad

I found a few great recipes in my Real Simple magazine a few weeks ago that we really enjoyed. Here's a great non-traditional combination for a soup & salad night.

Smoky Corn Chowder:

Serves: 4-6
Time: 25 minutes

8 oz sliced bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 lg sweet onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 10oz pkgs frozen corn
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 cups half & half
4 scallions, trimmed & thinly sliced
salt & pepper

Cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Spoon off and discard all but 2 tbsp of the drippings and return the pan to medium heat. Cook the onion, stirring occasionally, until soft. Add the garlic, paprika, and red pepper and cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Stir in the corn, broth, and half & half. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Transfer half the soup to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to the pan, add 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. Stir to combine. Divide the soup among individual bowls and top with the scallions and reserved bacon.

Pan-Seared Dumpling Salad:

Serves: 4

Time:25 min

2 tablespoons canola oil

12 frozen dumplings, pot stickers, or Japanese gyoza

2 shallots, thinly sliced

1 cup frozen shelled edamame

2 tablespoons grated ginger

2 bunches watercress, thick stems removed

1 tablespoon sesame oil

3 tablespoons rice vinegar

3 tablespoons soy sauce

salt

Heat 1 tablespoon of the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the dumplings and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Add 3 tablespoons water and cook, covered, until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.Meanwhile, heat the remaining canola oil in another large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the edamame, ginger, and 2 tablespoons water. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until the edamame are heated through, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add the watercress and 1/2 teaspoon salt and toss until just wilted.Divide among individual bowls and top with the dumplings.Whisk the sesame oil, rice vinegar, and soy sauce in a small bowl and drizzle over each salad.

King Ranch Chicken

I've made this recipe for baby showers and other get-togethers and it always seems to be a big hit. My kids love this easy meal and it's one of our family's favorite dish. Sorry, I can't give the prep time, etc. I suppose it all depends on how fast you want to prep and cook it.

Ingredients:

¼ c. margarine or butter

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed cream of mushroom soup

1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup

1 can (10 oz.) RO*TEL Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies (hot or mild), undrained

2 c. cubed cooked chicken

2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

tortilla chips

Toppings:

sour cream, shredded cheese, sliced olives

Directions:

Sautee onions and pepper in margarine, for about 5 minutes. Add soups, RO*TEL, chicken and cheese, stirring until well blended over medium heat. Heat until bubbling. Serve over tortilla chips, topped with sour cream, shredded cheese and olives (and anything else you'd like to add). Serves 8.

** FYI: I prefer to make this recipe in a crockpot. After the onions and peppers are sauteed in a pan, I transfer them into a crockpot and add the remainder of the ingredients, stirring until well blended. Heat on low or medium setting until bubbly. Serve with toppings. Best when it's served warm. There's also a baked casserole version of this recipe at: www.ro-tel.com. Enjoy!!! :)

More Spinach Salads

Crunchy Spinach Salad

1 package fresh spinach
½ head purple cabbage (sliced into thin strips)
½ cup toasted slivered almonds
1 package Sun maid dried fruit bits (Next to raisins)

Dressing:
¼ c. sugar
½ c. vegetable oil
¾ tsp. salt
1 ½ tbs. dry minced onion
¼ cup vinegar
¾ tsp. dry mustard
½ tsp. celery seed
Combine dressing ingredients in a jar. Cover tightly. Shake vigorously. Chill several hours. Shake again before serving over salad. Serves 6-8.

Spinach Salad #2

Dressing:
3 Tbl cider vinegar
3 Tbl Honey
6 Tbl Mayonnaise
1 Tbl. Dijon Mustard
1 Tbl. Finely minced onion
1.5 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
pinch of salt
3/4 cup vegetable oil

1. Heat vinegar & honey until honey dissolves
2. Pour into bowl and cool
3. whisk in mayo. must, onion, parsley, and salt.
Gradually whisk in oil Makes 1.5 c- can be prepared 3 days
ahead. cover and Refrigerate.

Salad:
Baby spinach Red Onion
mushrooms Strawberries
Craisins Pine Nuts
bacon-crumbled
Swiss cheese
*Obviously you can substitute with whatever toppings

Hashbrown Quiche

I was making Shelleys coconut cookies and accidentally used the whole egg instead of just the egg whites. I didnt want to waste 4 good eggs so I thougt we would have breakfast for dinner tonight. This is what I came up with. It turned out pretty good.

Serves: Makes a 9 in quiche
Time: 1 hr 20 min

Crust:
3 c hashbrowns (I use frozen)
1/4 c butter
salt

Fill a pie pan with hashbrowns and arrange around pan and up the sides to make crust. drizzle butter all around and bake for 40 min at 450 degrees. Or until it is light brown on sides and cooked on bottom

Filling:
8 eggs
1/4 c milk
1/2 cup chopped onions (green would be good too)
1/2 cup chopped tomato
1/2 c frozen corn
1/2 c chopped spinich
1/2 c grated cheddar chese (any cheese will do)
salt and pepper
add any spices or herbs you like

Reduce oven to 350 degrees. Beat eggs. Add milk and cheese, mix. Add salt and pepper to taste and any spices or herbs. Pour all other ingredients over crust. Pour egg mixture over that. Bake for 40 min or until eggs are solid in center and puffed up. Let cool for a few minutes and serve. Garnish with sour cream.

Mild Chili

Serves:about 6
Time: about 30 min

1 lb ground beef
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatos
1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles
2 cans beans (15 oz) your choice I like red beans and pinto beans together
1 small onion chopped ( i use dry minced)
1 pakage McCormicks toco seasoning mix
salt and pepper to taste
Garnish with parmesan, grated cheese, sour cream or tortilla chips

Brown beef. When beef is 1/2 cooked put in onions and cook the rest of the way. Add all other ingredients and simmer for about 10 min. Easy!