How to: Roux or gravy

Many folks won't make gumbo because they are afraid of the roux (ru). It's really not hard and once you get the hang of it, you won't think twice about it again. So here's a few pictures that may help:
Start with oil, or bacon grease and flour. I don't measure, sorry but you'll get the hang of it. This was enough oil to be about 1/2" deep in a normal size iron skillet-which I can't live without-and about 1 cup flour:

use a whisk so there will be no lumps. Not quite thick enough so I added more flour, about 1 cup:

and some moreabout 1 cup again:

staring to get brown now-keep stirring:

at this point, you could make gravy by adding water, chicken or beef broth or tomato juice and died tomatoes for tomato gravy:

but for roux, we want it darker

you want it as dark as you can get it without burning it. Do not walk away from it now, no matter what or it will burn! and don't splash any on yourself-it's really hot at this point

ok finally got it! see how thick it got and how dark? This is perfect. Let it cool some and then start stirring big spoonfuls into your gumbo. Gumbo should be dark and THICK!

Chicken and sausage Gumbo
If you have a really big pot of gumbo, you may have to make another batch of roux. Let the first batch simmer in for awhile and see how thick it gets. If it ever starts to burn while you're making it, pitch it and start over.

Fried rice

We love all kinds of rice dishes, but I had never tried making Fried Rice. This is a great dish and one of those that you can use whatever you have on hand. But there are a few ingrediants that you MUST have:
2-4 cups leftover COLD rice. This is important. The cold rice keeps your dish from coming out too starchy.
green onions-that least a whole bunch, chopped
garlic several pods, minced
oil
eggs 2-3, beaten
Then, any vegetables that you choose or have on hand can be added: Celery, bell peppers, peas, carrots, diced
Any meat you may have either already cooked or un-cooked-chicken, pork, shrimp, diced into small pieces. Here's what you do:

Heat the oil in a wok or large nonstick pan. Cook the veggies for about 5-6 mins. Move to the side of the pan and add the meat, if un-cooked cook until done. Move to the side and put the cold rice in and stir until brown and heated. Mix all together. Make a "well" in the middle of the pan(move everything around the outside of the pan) and pour the beaten eggs in and scramble. Add any spices you like: salt, pepper, ginger, soy sauce, and mix everything throughly together. Serve immediately!

Pecan Pie

I have a new receipe for pecan pie. I found it in this month's Southern Living and they got it from hungry-texan.com. It is easy and so delish:

Ingredients
• 1/2 (14.1-oz.) package refrigerated piecrusts
• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons bourbon*
• 1 1/2 cups pecan halves
Preparation
• 1. Preheat oven to 325°. Fit piecrust into a 10-inch cast-iron skillet; sprinkle piecrust with powdered sugar.
• 2. Whisk eggs in a large bowl until foamy; whisk in brown sugar and next 6 ingredients. Pour mixture into piecrust, and top with pecan halves.
• 3. Bake at 325° for 30 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 300°, and bake 30 more minutes. Turn oven off, and let pie stand in oven, with door closed, 3 hours.
• *Vanilla extract may be substituted.

Shrimp and Rice

I'm linked to Stonegable's On the Menu Monday! http://stonegable.blogspot.com/
This is a twist on my Mexican Rice and Shrimp Creole. Made in one skillet (cast iron for me), with a salad and garlic bread--you're good to go.
Here's what you need:
1 T olive oil
1 cup rice un-cooked
1 onion chopped
1/2 of each-red, green and yellow bell peppers (you can use just one color pepper but the different colors really make a pretty dish)
2 cloves garlic chopped
1 can chicken broth
1 can diced tomatoes with the juice
1 bay leaf, dash celery seed
2 lbs small shrimp-peeled-fresh or frozen
salt, pepper, cajun seasoning (I like Old Bay), dash cumin, couple dashes hot sauce--all of these to your taste
Here's what you do:
Brown rice in oil, stirring to keep from burning. This really makes nice rice dishes-rice won't be sticky or starchy. When the rice is brown, add the chopped veggies and stir in letting them cook for a few minutes. Add broth and tomatoes with the juice. Throw in the bay leaf and spices, adjusting to how spicey you might like it. Stir, and simmer on low covered until almost all the liquid is gone and the rice is done, about 10 minutes. Add the shrimp and let steam on top of the mixture, with the lid on until pink, then mix well together, taste and adjust any spices if you might like it hotter. Turn the heat off and let it sit with the lid on a few minutes to let the flavors blend. Yummy and easy!

Buffalo or Hot wings

I have made buffalo or as we call them hot wings for years. My kids love them and so do the grands. I first had these when my friend Judy made them. She just deep fried the plain wings and rolled them around in a mixture of melted butter and Texas Pete hot sauce. Very yummy! But I have made a few changes over the years. When my kids were little, I would just buy a bag of frozen cut up wings. I would thaw, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Then I would spread them out on a sprayed cookie sheet and cook in the oven at about 400 degrees until cooked through and crispy. I would then toss them in a mixture of melted butter and Crystal hot sauce. Pop them back in the oven to crisp up some more. I would serve these with Blue Cheese dressing until Lisa asked why was it called blue? When she got the answer, she quit eating it for awhile even tho she loved it. Ranch is really good too. This is how both my kids make them too.
Hubby and I ate some Buffalo Chicken Bites at a steak house and really loved them. So I came home and had to make some. Here's what I did:
cut up 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breats in small pieces. I then rolled them in flour-just a light coating and fried them until done. I then tossed them in a store bought Buffalo sauce to which I had added a spoon of sugar and some ketchup to cut the "hot" some. I then spread them in a baking dish at 400 for about 10 minutes. Yummy as can be. I have made wings the same way a couple of times, too.

Pink Lemonade Pie

This is so good and easy. I used to have Eric mix it up for me when he was a teenager. Very good on a hot summer's day.
PINK LEMONADE PIE
1 graham cracker pie crust (large one)
1 sm. can (6 oz.) frozen pink lemonade, thawed (can use limeade)
1 sm. container cool whip
1 can condensed milk
Mix together thawed pink lemonade, cool whip, and condensed milk. Beat until smooth and pour into pie shell. Freeze until firm. Garnish with lemon slices.

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

Went ahead and cooked my "big" meal on Saturday so we could have leftovers all weekend. Baked ham, green lima beans with ham hocks, and Au Gratin Potatoes. Going to add Angel eggs to the mix tomorrow. Here's the taters I made. Nothing is exact, so just give them a try and add or leave out.
6 med potatoes
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 cup shredded sharp cheese
1 cup Italian 3 cheese blend
1 onion diced and 2 green onions (more green the next time I make them)
2 T garlic flavor cooking cream (Philly)or add some garlic powder to the cheese soup.
Milk
Peel and boil potatoes until almost done. Cook diced onion in butter. Cool potatoes and carefully slice half of them. Layer in baking dish that has been sprayed with Pam. Spread ½ the onion over and ½ the shredded chedder and 3 cheese blend. Slice and layer remainder of potatoes top with onions, and shredded cheeses. Warm the cheese soup and cooking cream adding some milk until its “pourable”, and pour over. Bake at 350 for 1 hour until potatoes are done completely. Can easily be doubled for a pot luck. Diced ham or fried bacon can be added for a complete meal.