According to Wikipedia “November was the ninth month of the ancient Roman calendar. November retained its name (from the Latin novem meaning “nine”) when January and February were added to the Roman calendar. November is a month of spring in the Southern Hemisphere and autumn in the Northern Hemisphere”.  But to me, November means, football games, family holiday gatherings, raking leaves, cooler temperatures, and comfort food.

Wasn’t that long ago that I discovered (I know what you are thinking) spaghetti squash.  I REALLY don’t know why it took me so long either!  Well, this recipe is sure to delight everyone in your family, its the perfect “comfort” food for this time of the year.  And did I say, easy!  What you will need:

1 Spaghetti Squash
1 lb. large (21-25 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 shallot, finely diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Weber N’Orleans Cajun Seasoning
¼ cup white wine, one that you would also drink :o)
¼ cup chicken stock
⅓ cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, if desired
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed
1 cup shredded mozzarella
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400°.  Cut squash in half lengthwise, remove seeds.  Place squash cut side down on a baking sheet.  Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until tender.  Remove from oven, cool and remove squash using a fork.  You can use the skin as a vessel for the casserole, if desired.

In a large skillet, melt butter and oil over medium heat.  Add chopped shallot, garlic and Cajun Seasoning.  Cook until shallots are transparent, about 5-10 minutes.  Add peeled shrimp and cook until slightly pink, about 2-3 minutes.  Deglaze pan with white wine.  Add chicken stock, heavy cream and capers.  Remove from heat.

Place shredded squash in a casserole dish (or the reserved skins).  Top squash with shallot/cream mixture, add fresh parsley, mozzarella and parmesan cheese.  Bake 10-15 minutes, or until top is golden in color.

Baked Spaghetti Squash Scampi

Baked Spaghetti Squash-Cajun Shrimp Casserole

You will love that one!  Now for the dessert…..

Crust:
2 ½ cups flour
1 cup butter, cut into pieces
½ cup powdered sugar
¼ teaspoon salt

Filling:
4 eggs
1 ½ cups Karo® Light corn Syrup
1 ½ cups sugar
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 ½ teaspoon Spice Islands® Pure Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Spice Islands® Pumpkin Pie Spice
2 ½ cups coarsely chopped pecans
For Crust:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix flour, butter, powdered sugar and salt with an electric mixer until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press firmly and evenly into a greased baking sheet (15 x 10 inches).

Bake crust 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

For Filling:
Beat eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter, pumpkin pie spice,  and vanilla in a large bowl until well blended. Stir in pecans.

Pour over hot crust, spread evenly.

Bake 25 minutes at 350°F until filling is firm around the edges and slightly firm in center. Cool completely on wire rack before serving.

Pumpkin Peach Pie Bars

Pumpkin Pecan Pie Bars

Buon Appetito!

Happy November – Baked Spaghetti Squash-Cajun Shrimp Casserole with Pumpkin Pie Pecan Bars for Dessert

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WREG “Live at 9” – Making Fresh Mozzarella & Grilled Caprese Sandwiches

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Fresh Mozzarella

1 pound fresh mozzarella curd*
6 cups water
3 tablespoons kosher salt

Slice the curd into thin slivers and place in a large mixing bowl.

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil over high heat, add the salt and bring back to the boil.

Gently pour enough boiling water over the curd to cover, let it sit for a few minutes to temper the curd. Use 2 wooden spoons to gently gather the curd together in the center of the bowl. Use the spoons to scoop the mass out of the water and hold it above the bowl, allowing the weight of the cheese to cause it to stretch back down to the water. Repeat lifting the cheese and letting it stretch until it looks smooth and shiny.

To shape the cheese, lift the cheese out of the water and roll it into a tight ball. Pinch the bottom of the ball to seal the seam. The surface of the ball should be smooth and shiny.

Place the form balls into an ice-water bath to cool. If more flavor is desired, salt can be added to the water bath.

Wrap finished mozzarella balls highly in plastic wrap. Serve within 24 hours for optimum flavor and texture.

*Mozzarella curd is available at specialty cheese shops, or on the web at www.goldenagecheese.com.

Grilled Caprese Sandwiches

Yield: 4 sandwiches
Prep time: 10 minutes
Grill time: 4 minutes

8 slices Italian Bread
¼ cup fresh basil leaves, stems removed
2 tablespoons pine nuts
¼ cup Mazola® Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 roma tomatoes, sliced
8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
Salt & pepper to taste

 

Combine the basil and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth.

Brush pesto mixture on one side of each slice of bread. Layer tomatoes on 4 slices and add salt and pepper to taste. Top with mozzarella slices and remaining bread slices; firmly press sandwiches together.

On a preheated grill over medium high heat, place sandwiches on an angle and cover (close grill cover if grilling outside or use either a pan lid or a metal bowl, inverted, if grilling inside). Cook 2 minutes, rotate 90° and continue cooking an additional 2 minutes, covered. Flip sandwiches over and repeat process as above. Serve on a bed of leafy greens, if desired.

Grilled Caprese Sandwiches

Buon Appetito!

 

Rob’s Favorite Stuffed Bread

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Stuffed breads are such a BIG hit in the east coast!  After moving to the mid south, I started baking my own.  My son Rob’s favorite is broccoli and pepperoni stuffed bread.  So easy to make, below is the “quick” version made with Simply Homemade® County White Bread Mix (found in the baking aisle of your favorite grocery store).

Simply Homemade® Country White Bread

Simply Homemade® Country White Bread Mix

Follow the direction on the back of the box for making this yummy bread, cover bread with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until doubled (if you have time), about 1 hour.

IMG_2762

Now comes the really fun part, creating your bread…one of my favorite sayings is “you are only limited by your creativity”….this is especially true when stuffing a bread, because you can stuff it with just about anything.  But, today I am making “Rob’s favorite”, so I am stuffing my bread with broccoli, pepperoni, shredded mozzarella, grated parmesan cheese and a little sun-dried tomato pesto sauce, just to “kick it up a notch”….oh yeah, and of course, red pepper flakes.

For the broccoli, chopped two bunches of broccoli crowns, place in a micro-wave bowl, add 2 tablespoons water, salt & pepper, I LOVE Tones® Roasted Garlic Sea Salt…

2 crowns chopped broccoli

2 crowns chopped broccoli

Micro-wave for 5 minutes.  Drain and put aside until needed.

On a clean work surface or a silicon roll pad, lightly dusted with flour, place bread dough and pat down or roll dough out to a  14″x8″rectangle.   Top dough with pesto sauce (if desired) leaving a 1-inch edge.  Top pesto sauce with 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella, cooked broccoli and ¼ cup chopped pepperoni.  Sprinkle 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese over pepperoni.  IMG_2766

Brush egg wash along outer edge (this helps prevent ingredients from bursting out).  Starting with the side closest to you, roll up jelly-roll style; about ½ way,  fold in edges and continue rolling to end.

Stuffed Bread

Stuffed Bread

Place bread on a sheet pan or pizza peel dusted with polenta (or corn meal), this will add a wonderful crunch to the bottom of the bread.  If time permits, cover and let rise an additional 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400°F.  For optimal flavor use a pizza stone, preheated for 45 minutes.  Brush bread with egg wash and top with toasted sesame seeds, if desired.  Make several ¼-inch slices diagonally on top.  Slide bread onto pizza stone, or place baking sheet in preheated oven.  Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown.  Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

Baked Bread

Baked Bread

This is a GREAT appetizer to bring to any party….Buon Appetito!

Rob's Favorite Stuffed Bread

Rob’s Favorite Stuffed Bread

 

1 Package Simply Homemade® Country White Bread Mix

Prepare bread mix according to package directions. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until doubled, about 1 hour.

On a clean work surface or a silicon roll pad, lightly floured with flour, place bread and pat down or roll out to a 14 x 8 inch rectangle.

Add bread stuffing (see below). Egg wash edges of bread and roll tightly, tucking in the ends before you finish rolling up. Egg wash outside of bread and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.

Bake in a preheated 400°F oven on a pizza stone for 20-25 minutes. Remove bread and place on a wire rack to cool before slicing.

Broccoli Filling

2 crowns chopped broccoli (microwave for 5 minutes or until soft) drained
1/4 lb. wafer sliced pepperoni)
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2-3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
Red pepper flakes to taste
Optional: ¼ cup tomato pesto sauce

Ham & Tomato Filling

1/2 lb. sliced ham
1/4 to 1/2 lb. Provolone or Italian Cheese Blend
Red pepper flakes to taste
Sun-Dried tomatoes or fresh tomatoes