Spicy Corn Pudding

On June 17, 2020June 17, 2020 By Living The Q Life Travel AdventuresIn Recipes4 Comments

Dishes made from corn are common in many different parts of the world, but it is definitely a staple here in the United States. Especially in the southwest with the different blends of cultures that include influences from Mexico. We have made corn pudding in the past, but we decided to spice it up with some jalapeno pepper. It is a wonderful side dish, but is hearty enough to be eaten as a main dish if you prefer. We paired it with one of favorite summer meals, chicken marinated in a tequila-lime sauce. There are quite a few ingredients, but it is really a pretty simple recipe and very easy to make. One trick to cutting corn off of the cob is to use a Bundt pan to hold the cob as well as to catch the kernels as they fall.

INGREDIENTS

4 oz Unsalted Butter
2 1/2 cups Fresh Corn – cut off of the cob (about 3 ears)
1/4 cup Shallot – chopped
1 Jalapeno Pepper – seeded and diced
3 Large Eggs
1/2 cup Milk
1/2 cup Half-and-Half
1/4 cup Yellow Cornmeal
1/2 cup Ricotta Cheese
1 1/2 tbsp Fresh Basil – chopped
2 tsp Salt
Black Pepper to taste
1/2 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese plus a little more to spread on top – shredded
1 tbsp Sugar – *Optional if your corn isn’t sweet

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease the inside of an 8 inch by 8 inch baking dish. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the butter. Once the butter has melted, add the shallots, jalapeno, and corn. Sauté the vegetables until tender, about 4 to 6 minutes and then set aside to let cool. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, and half-and-half together. Continue whisking in the cornmeal and ricotta until fully blended. Add the basil, salt, pepper, and sugar (if using sugar). Stir in the vegetables and half cup of cheddar cheese. Pour into the baking dish and then top with the additional cheddar cheese. Place the baking dish into a larger baking dish and fill about half way up with hot water. Carefully put the baking dishes into the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a knife can be inserted and come out clean. Cut into individual servings and serve.

Sauté the Corn, Shallot, and Jalapeno Pepper

Middle Eastern Spinach Pie

On June 3, 2020 By Living The Q Life Travel AdventuresIn RecipesLeave a comment

Spinach and cheese pies can be found in a variety of locations, but they are common in the Middle East where they are made as a single serving pie called Fatayer. We made ours as a larger pie that serves about four people. It is quite tasty and while we had it for a main dish, it can also be served as a side dish with a meat such as lamb. We have seen variations of this using Filo dough as well as Feta cheese, but we used puff pastry sheets and a mixture of cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. It can be made as a Vegan dish with some slight modifications. We cooked down fresh spinach, but it can be done with frozen spinach if you prefer. We found it to be quite delicious.

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs Fresh Baby Spinach – stems removed
2 Medium Shallots – finely diced
2 Garlic Cloves – minced
4 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese – grated
4 oz Mozzarella Cheese – cut into small cubes
1 tsp Dried Dill
1 Pinch of Fresh Nutmeg
2 Sheets of Puff Pastry (cut to fit the baking dish)
1/8 cup Roasted Almonds
1 tbsp Coriander Seeds
1 tsp Cumin Powder
1 large Egg – beaten
2 tbsp Unsalted Butter
Salt and Pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Toast the coriander seeds in a small sauté pan over medium heat for about 1 minute. In a spice mixer or blender, combine the almonds, coriander seeds, and cumin and pulse until the ingredients are blended and the almonds are ground into small bits. Don’t grind it to a powder as you will want to have the crunchy texture. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, sauté the shallots and garlic in the butter until the shallots are soft, being sure not to burn the garlic. Add the spinach in batches until it is fully cooked down (you might need to add additional butter). Stir in the dill, nutmeg, as well as salt and pepper. Turn the heat off and let it cool slightly, then add the cheeses and stir until the cheese is fully integrated. Spray a glass baking dish with non-stick spray. Place a sheet of puff pastry on the bottom of the baking dish. Spoon the spinach mixture over the pastry sheet, leaving about an inch border. Place the second puff pastry sheet on top of the spinach and pinch the edges of the top sheet with the edges of the bottom sheet. Brush the edges of the top pastry sheet with the egg wash. Cover the center of the pie with the almond-spice mixture. Cut into individual size pieces and bake in the oven until golden-brown, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Variations of Lasagna

On May 27, 2020May 27, 2020 By Living The Q Life Travel AdventuresIn Recipes1 Comment

We have enjoyed a variety of lasagna meals throughout our different travels, but especially during our time in Italy. Although lasagna refers to the traditional tomato, meat, and cheese between layers of pasta, more generally speaking it is just food that is layered. We have enjoyed some very creative lasagna meals over the years and have recreated a few of our favorites at home as well.

Traditional Meat Lasagna – Sometimes there is nothing better than the original. We had several different traditional lasagna meals during our time in Tuscany and it is certainly a meal that we never get tired of.

Traditional Lasagna Recipe — Traditional Lasagna with Garlic Bread

Greek Moussaka – Instead of pasta, this Mediterranean dish uses egg plant to create the layers of deliciousness. Made with ground lamb and aromatic spices, it is a wonderful meal and something that we hadn’t eaten until our time living in Europe.

Greek Mousasaka Recipe — Greek Moussaka at a Restaurant in Frankfurt

Crab and Spinach Lasagna – Using a béchamel with seafood is a great way to do a unique twist on lasagna. Using spinach also keeps it fresh, but despite the fact that it has crab and spinach, there is still plenty of cheese to make it hearty.

Crab and Spinach Lasagna Recipe — Crab Lasagna

One of the things that we haven’t created yet is a Mexican or Southwestern style lasagna, but that is certainly another great option. Regardless of whether you only eat traditional lasagna or branch out to some different variations, lasagna is certainly a meal that almost everyone enjoys. Lasagna makes for a great meal to serve at a party as well as for feeding a large family. It is often better the next day as a leftover than it was on the day that it was first made.