Hot Cheesy Corn Dip

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
2 cups corn kernels (from 2 ears corn)
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup yellow onion (chopped)
1/4 cup red bell pepper (chopped)
1/4 cup chopped green onions (green and white parts)
1 jalapeno (chopped)
2 teaspoons garlic (chopped)
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 handful monterey jack (grated)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 handful sharp cheddar (grated)

Directions:
1. Melt the butter in a pan.
2. Add the corn, season with salt and pepper and saute until the corn starts to turn golden brown, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
3. Melt the butter in a pan.
4. Add the onion, and pepper and saute until the onions are soft, about 2 minutes.
5. Add the green onions, jalapeno and garlic and saute until softened, about 2 minutes.
6. Mix the corn, onions, peppers, mayonnaise, monterey jack and cayenne in a bowl.
7. Pour the mixture into an 8x8 inch baking pan and top with the cheddar cheese.
8. Bake in a preheated 350F oven until bubbling and golden brown on top, about 10-20 minutes.

*Courtesy of Closet Cooking

Mexican Corn Salad

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 cups corn (about 4 ears), cut from the cob
• 1/2 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 glove garlic, grated
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 handful cilantro, chopped
• 1 lime, juice
• 2 tablespoons cotija (or feta), crumbled
• chili powder to taste

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the corn, toss and let it sit cooking until charred, mix it up and let it char again, about 6-10 minutes.
3. Add the jalapeno, saute for a minute and remove from heat.
4. Mix everything and serve warm or at room temperature.

*Courtesy of Closet Cooking

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Ingredients

• 4 cups grated zucchini (from about a pound and a half of zucchini)
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa (use natural unsweetened cocoa, NOT Dutch processed)
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups granulated white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter (12 Tbsp or 1 1/2 sticks), melted
• 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

 

Directions

 

1 Place the freshly grated zucchini in a sieve over a bowl to catch any excess moisture as it drains, while you work on prepping the other ingredients and preparing the recipe. If for some reason your zucchini is on the dry side, hydrate the shredded zucchini by soaking it in water first, and then place in sieve.
2 Preheat oven to 350°F, with a rack in the middle. Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans with baking spray or butter.  
3 Vigorously whisk together the flour, unsweetened cocoa, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Whisk until there are no more clumps and the ingredients are well combined.
4 In a separate large bowl, beat together the sugar and eggs until smooth, about a minute. You can do this with an electric mixer on medium speed, or by hand with a wooden spoon. (I'm lazy and use a mixer but it's easy enough to do by hand.) Add the melted butter, instant coffee granules, and almond extract and beat until smooth.
5 Mix the shredded zucchini into the sugar egg mixture. Add the flour to the zucchini mixture in 3 additions, stirring to combine after each addition.
6 Work quickly, and divide the batter between the two prepared loaf pans. (Work quickly because once the dry ingredients have mixed with the wet ingredients, the leavening has begun.) Place into the oven. Bake for 50 minutes at 350°F, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean and easily. Remove to a rack. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then run a blunt knife around the edges to separate the bread from the pan. Remove from the loaf pans and let cool completely on a rack.
Note that if you try to slice the chocolate zucchini bread before it has completely cooled, it will be rather crumbly. It's also easiest to slice with a bread knife.

Lasagne Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 cup marinara sauce

3/4 pound ground beef

12 wonton wrappers

8 ounces shredded mozzarella

3 ounces Parmesan cheese

4 ounces Ricotta cheese

(optional) basil for garnish

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray.
Brown beef and season with salt and pepper. Drain.
2. Cut wonton wrappers into circle shapes using a biscuit cutter or using the top of a drinking glass. You can cut several at a time. Note: For a more rustic look, no cutting necessary!
3. Reserve 6 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and 6 tablespoon mozzarella for the top of you cupcakes. Start layering your lasagna cupcakes. Begin with a wonton wrapper and press it into the bottom of each muffin tin. Sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese, Ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese. Top with a little meat and marinara sauce. Use around 1-2 teaspoons of all the ingredients depending on your personal preference.
4. Repeat layers ending with marinara sauce. Top with reserved Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
5. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until edges are brown. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. To remove use a knife to loosen the edges then pop each lasagna out.
6. Garnish with basil and serve.

Cajun Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts

Salt

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 Tbsp mustard

1 Tbsp big flake Creole seasoning

Tabasco or other hot sauce to taste

Directions:

1 Place chicken breasts in crockpot with salt, pepper and chicken broth.  Cook on high for 3-4 hours.  When chicken breaks apart easily with fork, shred chicken with 2 forks, removing fat.

2 In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together.

Chicken Salad with Tarragon

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped, cooked chicken meat*

1/4 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped

1 stalk celery, finely chopped

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1-2 teaspoons dried tarragon (or 1-2 Tbsp fresh chopped tarragon)

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Directions:

 

Mix all of the ingredients together. Adjust seasoning. Serve with lettuce for a simple salad, in a tomato that has been cut open for a stuffed tomato, or with slices of bread for a chicken salad sandwich.

 

*Courtesy of http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chicken_salad_with_tarragon/

Oreo Brownies

Ingredients:

 

1 package Ghirardelli Double Chocolate brownie mix (the kind with the chocolate chips in it)

1 egg

⅓ cup oil

¼ cup water

10-14 Oreo cookies

 

 

Directions:

 

1. Preheat the oven to 325. Prepare the brownie mix as directed with the egg, oil and water.
2. Coarsely crush the Oreos in a large bag with your hands or a rolling pin. I like to leave some pieces pretty big. Pour them into the batter and mix well. Batter will be thick.
3. Pour batter into a greased square baking pan (mine is about 8×8) and bake for 30-40 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a knife into the brownies; if it comes out mostly clean, you should be good to go. But when in doubt, I’d say underbake!

*Courtesy of http://pinchofyum.com/best-ever-brownies