Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Nana's Bean Soup (Family Recipe)


    A cold day and a bowl of hot soup are a great match.  Digging into my Nana’s recipe box once again, I found this family favorite.  I vaguely remember her making this soup as we rarely visited Pennsylvania during the cold months – I always stayed a few weeks during the summer!  I do however remember Nana teaching my mom this recipe.  It was one of my parent’s favorites.  Funny that as a child I didn’t care for soup so much but as an adult I absolutely love it, and these family recipes are the best.  Even though I didn’t eat the soup as a child, the smells that fill the entire house bring back all those memories of family togetherness….
Ingredients:
1 ½ lbs. dried Navy Beans (rinsed and soaked overnight)
1 small head of cabbage (finely chopped)
2 ham hocks or ham bone with some left over ham. (I usually use the latter)
3 medium potatoes (peeled and diced)
1 large onion, chopped
Water to cover ham bone or fill ⅔ pot 
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1.    Place ham bone/hocks in large soup pot add the water, set on stove on high. 
2.    Add beans, onion, potatoes, cabbage and salt and pepper to taste. 
3.    Bring to a boil, then turn to simmer for 3-4 hours.
4.    Stir occasionally, add water if necessary.

ENJOY!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Shrimp and Grits Casserole (Personal servings)

Crock pot grits for breakfast plus broiled shrimp for supper can add up to only one thing…

SHRIMP AND GRITS FOR BREAKFAST!!        Yummy stuff!


I took the leftover grits and put them in a bowl adding a bit of salt and pepper.   I sautéed some chopped green pepper and onions in a little olive oil.  Chopping the leftover shrimp and adding it with the sautéed vegetables, I mixed all of it with the bowl of grits.

 

Spray two ramekins with Pam and sprinkle some sliced green onion into the bottom of the ramekins. (this will be the top when it is finished!)  Pack the ramekins with the mixture - then refrigerate.














Next morning, I preheated the oven to 350.  I placed a ¼ cup of grated cheddar cheese on top and baked for 25 minutes. 










Enjoy!  I did!!