Slammin' Crab Dip

People will love you for bringing this dip to any get-together! Don't count calories with this dish or you are going to be wayyyyy over your limit.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup mayo
1 package fake crab pieces (8 oz) - cut into small pieces
1 cup grated parmesan cheese - get the good stuff not the sawdust kind!
1 package cream cheese (room temperature) - whipped works great!
1 can of artichoke hearts - drained and cut small
1/3 cup onion - small dice
1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese

DIRECTIONS:
Mix mayo and cream cheese until creamy. Mix in other ingredients. Place in small glass dish. Heat at 375 for 18 - 25 minutes until ingredients are warm and top is slightly browned. Serve with tortilla chips, crunchy bread, or pita chips. Yummy!!!

COMMENTS:
A cast iron skillet works very well for cooking and serving this dish.

REFERENCE:
Thank you to the Louis Kemp website for this recipe: http://www.louiskemp.com/recipes.html

Cajun Rice with Kale

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup white basmati rice
2.25 cups chicken broth
2 cups fresh Kale
2 tsp Cajun spice

DIRECTIONS:
Heat spice and broth until boiling. Add rice and kale. Stir once then cover. Cook about 20 minutes or until liquid absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with fork.

Spicy Corn Muffins

This recipe takes a store-bought mix and adds some punch and flavor with extra ingredients. Make your own corn-muffin base from scratch if you like.

INGREDIENTS:
1 box corn muffin mix (365 organic is awesome)
1/3 red pepper diced very small (or canned green chilies)
1 cup frozen corn
1 tsp chili powder
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup yogurt

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease a 12-muffin pan.

Whisk all ingredients above plus ingredients for the mix (usually egg, milk, oil). Add the mix and stir. Spoon or pour into muffin slots in pan. Bake for 18 - 20 minutes. Let cool then remove from pan.

Classic Pan Fried Catfish

A hit for any gathering. Plan on some time standing over the stove avoiding hot oil splatters but well worth it!

INGREDIENTS:
Catfish fillets (fresh is better!)
All purpose flour
Corn Meal
Salt
Pepper
Jalapeno or other chili spice powder
Powdered pumpkin seeds

Vegetable oil (at least one cup)
Egg
Milk

Place wax paper on a baking sheet. Mix egg and milk in one container. Mix everything else in another container.

I included no measurements on the coating mix. Flour to corn meal ratio is about 1-1. Use other spices to taste. Pumpkin seeds are optional but can add some nice texture to the coating.

Heat oil in pan. Use enough oil to fill the pan about 1/3 - 1/2 up the side of the pan. Cast iron pans are the best. Make sure the oil is hot but not smoking.

Dip fish fillets in egg/milk then dredge in coating mixture. You can do all the pieces and place them on the wax paper. By the time you finish, the oil should be nice and hot.

Cook the fish in batches about 2 - 3 pieces at a time. Depending on the thickness, you will need about 3 minutes per side. Remove fish and drain on paper towels.

You can keep the fish hot in the oven if you like until all the pieces are cooked.

Make your favorite tartar sauce (or buy some) and enjoy!