Crab Stuffed Shells with Bechamel

It has been quite some time since my last post!  I have been busy with work and was visiting my best friend in Charleston (hey, Hillary!) last weekend, so I haven't had much time to get in the kitchen and cook.  Being at the beach had me in the mood for some seafood, so I whipped up some crab stuffed shells shortly after coming home!  Here's how to make them:

Mix & Match Herb and Cheese Biscuits

These biscuits are very light and fluffy.  They aren't dense with too much butter that'll leave you feeling stuffed and guilty.  My favorite combination for these is Parmesan and thyme but you can use any combination of herbs and cheese that you'd like.  Other combinations that would be good are cheddar and rosemary, Havarti and dill, chive and cheddar or cheddar and dill.  Mix it up and have fun with it!  Here's how to make them:

Chicken Parmesan Subs

Happy Birthday, Drew!  He loves Chicken Parmesan but I think it can get a little boring sometimes!  I wanted to make him his favorite food for his birthday but put my own twist on it.  We're both big fans of a good sub, so I decided on Chicken Parmesan Subs.  This recipe serves 2-4.  Here's how to make it:

Broccoli Casserole

This is another recipe that's been a part of my family's Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations for years.  There are a few versions of it but this one is my favorite!

What you'll need:

10 oz. package of frozen chopped broccoli

1 onion, small dice

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 stalk of celery, small dice

1 10.5 oz. can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 stick of unsalted butter

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

1 cup crushed Ritz crackers

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup rice

1 cup chicken broth

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a small pot, bring the chicken broth to a boil with a sprinkle of salt.  Add the rice, reduce the heat to low and cook covered for 15 minutes.

Place the pack of broccoli on a plate and microwave for 3 1/2 minutes.

In a skillet, melt the butter and saute the onion and celery with a sprinkle of salt on medium heat until soft.  Add the garlic and cook a minute more.  Add the broccoli, stir and set aside.

In a large bowl combine the soup, mayo, cooked rice, cheese and half the Ritz crackers.  Add in the broccoli mixture.

Pour into a 9x13 baking dish, sprinkle the rest of the crackers over the top and bake for 30 minutes.

Chili Mac and Cheese

Can you tell it's comfort food season at my house?  Here's another mac and cheese recipe.  Chili Mac! I love using pasta shells for this recipe because they hold so much of the filling.  Here's how to make it:

Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread

Cornbread is one of my favorites!  I love to add different flavors and turn boring, plain cornbread into something new.  I use Jiffy mix.  Yes, Jiffy...the boxed stuff.  I see no problem with using boxed mix because all it is is pre-measured ingredients.  It makes things easier.  Serve this cornbread as table bread or with your favorite chili.  I served mine with Black Bean Chili!  Here's how to make it:

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Fall is here and that means comfort food. We had some friends over on Sunday to watch the Panthers game.  What better dish to make for a crowd than a big batch of mac and cheese?  Buffalo chicken mac and cheese sounded perfect for a football game.  I've been wanting to come up with a recipe like this for a while.  Blue cheese is one of those things some people just really hate, so I didn't want this dish to be overpowered with Blue cheese.  I used Gorgonzola cheese because it is a little milder than regular Blue cheese. Everyone agreed that it was subtle and really good!  Here's how to make it:

Cream of Broccoli Soup with White Cheddar and Bacon

"Uhh, what is the Soup du Jour?"
"It's the soup of the day"
"Mmm.. that sounds good.  I'll have that."
-Dumb and Dumber


Soup!  I love making soups.  There are so many different kinds and most are so easy to make.  And not to mention everything is in one pot!  I love one pot meals too.  They make life easier.  At work a few days ago, I needed to make a soup for service.  I decided on cream of broccoli because it's simple and delicious.  I also love broccoli cheddar soup, so I decided to combine the two.  It turned out great!  My co-workers and our guests really seemed to like it so I quickly tried to write down everything I put in it.  I've cut this recipe down a bit because I made several gallons for the restaurant!  Here's the recipe: :)