Broiled Fries.

Craving good old fashioned fries but your new lifestyle doesn't allow them. Here is a way you can truly enjoy them.

Preheat oven and sheet pan to 450*
Cut a small potato for each serving into 1/4" square strips.
Place in bowl with 1/2 tsp olive or canola oil for each serving.
Toss and season if desired. I used Holy Smoke seasoned rub.
Place fries on preheated pan on the rack next to bottom for 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, turn oven to broil and cook 10 minutes. Carefully turn fries and return to oven for 10 minutes or until crisp to your liking.
I used a toaster oven because mine actually gets up to 500*.

Sausage and Black-Eyed Pea Hash

This simple one-dish meal is made even more delicious with a fried egg on top of each plate; the yolk creates its own creamy sauce.
1/2# jalapeno sausage. I make it or buy it at Dot's market
2 stalks sliced celery
1 small tomato chopped
1 jalapeno chopped
1 medium yellow squash, cubed
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 can black-eyed peas,drained
1 tablespoon oil
4 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage; sauté 4 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Add celery and next 3 ingredients (through squash); sauté 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add next 5 ingredients (through peas). Simmer 2 minutes or until peas are thoroughly heated. Make two wells in the mixture.
Crack eggs into custard cups 2 per cup. Dump eggs into wells and cover. Cook covered 4 minutes or until whites are set.

Think Spring

As Nadia G says, "It's OK to play with your food, alright."

Creole Cheesecake

Shrimp Cheesecake Crust: 
4 oz grated Parmesan cheese 
1 C Panko bread crumbs 
1/2 C pecans  
1/2 tsp Creole seasoning 
1/2 C melted butter 

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine cheese, bread crumbs, pecans, and seasoning in food processor and pulse until mixture is finely ground. Stir in butter until moist and press into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan and bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove to cool. 
*Note, I used individual ramekins in a water bath instead of the spring form pan. 

Filling: 
2 (8 ounce) packages of cream cheese, softened 
12 oz grated, smoked Gouda cheese 
4 oz grated Parmesan cheese 
1 C chopped onion 
1/4 C chopped celery
1/4 C chopped green pepper 
1/2 C chopped smoked or roasted red peppers 
2 jalapeno peppers seeded and chopped 
1/4 C chopped green onions 
2/3 C cream 4 eggs, beaten 
1 pound chopped shrimp 
1/3# chopped Andouille sausage 

Prepare pan by wrapping the outside with foil. Place the spring form pan into a water bath (after pan is wrapped with foil, place in a bigger pan and put a couple inches of water in the larger pan.) Sauté the vegetables, shrimp, and sausage in a skillet until tender and shrimp is almost done. Set aside to cool. 
Meanwhile, with an electric mixer, beat the cheeses together until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time and blend after each addition. Blend in the heavy cream. Gently fold the seafood, sausage, and vegetables into the cheese mixture and pour into the crust (wrapped pan in the water bath). 
Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours or until set. 
*Note, I used individual ramekins in a water bath instead of the spring form pan to speed cooking.

Black Eyed Pea Cakes with Beer Braised Greens

Combine 3/4 can peas and 2 garlic cloves in a food processor; process to a thick paste. Combine pea mixture, remaining peas, 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs, 1/2 fine chopped red onion, salt/ pepper, and 2 whisked eggs in a large bowl. Stir in 3/4 C cooked quinoa. Shape into a 1/2-inch-thick patties. Place a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons oil; swirl to coat. Add 4 patties; cook 4 minutes on each side or until golden. Don't over crowd your pan or you'll heat. Rough chop 6 C of greens, 1 clove garlic, and the other 1/2 of your onion. Place a big skillet or dutch oven over med-high heat. Drizzle with olive oil and add onion and garlic. Keep them moving and saute for a minute. Add greens all at once and turn heat up to almost high. Fold greens over after a minute or two. Add 1/2 bottle of beer or 6 oz wine and cover. Check after another minute or two. Place cakes over greens to ensure they are warmed through. Sprinkle greens with Parmesan if desired. Serve cakes atop greens. I made a simple Southwest sauce with 1/2 Miracle Whip and Red Hot sauce to drizzle on top.

5 Minute Chocolate Cake

Crock Pot Caramel Sauce

Unopened can of condensed milk with label removed
Crock pot with water enough to cover can
Cook on low for 8 hours.
MUST allow to cool then transfer to fridge overnight.
NEVER open warm can.
This is easily the best caramel sauce for apples, ice cream, or whatever you fancy.