Summer is on the way, and if you're like
me, you probably would rather spend your spare time having fun with family and friends
instead of being stuck in the kitchen for long periods of time. Here's a great
casserole that you can throw together fairly quickly, and let the oven do the rest, while
you sit out on the deck sipping iced tea. I also offer a great appetizer this week.
Appetizer
Edam Cheese Balls
1 cup Edam cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons celery, finely diced
1/8 teaspoon dry mustard
2 tablespoons light cream
Parsley, finely chopped (fresh parsley works nicely!)
In a mixing bowl, combine
cheese, celery, mustard and light cream. Mix well.
Form cheese mixture into about
16 small balls
and roll in parsley. Chill several hours.
To serve, place on a tray with a toothpick in
each cheese ball.
Entree
Crab and Shrimp Bake
1 cup cooked rice
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup tomato juice
1 cup mayonnaise (fat free works well)
1/2 lb. crab meat, uncooked
1/2 lb. raw shrimp
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Toss cooked rice with 1 tablespoon of butter.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet. Saute onion and green pepper until onion is golden.
Combine onion, green pepper, milk, tomato juice, mayonnaise, crab meat and shrimp with rice.
Turn mixture into a sprayed
casserole dish.
Top with bread crumbs and dot with remaining
butter.
Bake, uncovered for one hour. Serve immediately.
Dessert
I got this recipe from someone I work
with. I'd heard about it before, but was never
sure how to make it. I'd like to share it with
you. She says everyone she's ever made it for
says it's just awesome! Thanks, Jen.
Fruit Pizza
(My original recipe calls
for Duncan Hines Sugar Cookie Mix,
but I recently received an e-mail from Anita who tells me that
she uses the refrigerated Sugar Cookie rolls that can be purchased in the
refrigerated section of your grocery store for the "crust" and
it's much easier! Simply unwrap the roll and spread it onto the
prepared pan. Bake until done, then proceed with the rest of the
recipe. Thanks, Anita, for sharing!)
1 Duncan Hines Sugar Cookie Mix
2- 8 oz. boxes cream cheese at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
Fruit, your choice what kinds
For the "pizza crust":
Follow directions on cookie mix
box, then
add to it:
1 egg
1/2 cup water
Stir well.
Pour dough onto a greased pizza
pan to form a "giant cookie" or a "pizza crust" and bake
at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Let cool.
Mix both boxes (16 oz.) cream
cheese at room temperature with
2/3 cup sugar.
When "crust" is cool, spread the cream cheese
mixture on top and chill for 30 minutes.
Add desired fruit, arranging the
fruit to decorate like a pizza.
Suggestions for fruit topping
for "pizza":
(if using canned fruit, drain
the juice out first.)
Sliced bananas (which should be
used just before serving so they don't discolor)
Strawberries
Pineapple chunks or crushed pineapple
Blueberries
Canned Mandarin Oranges
Fresh raspberries
(Use your imagination. The sky's the limit!!)
Beverage Suggestions:
Iced Tea or
Sangria wine, which is light and fruity.
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