Corn Chowder with Bacon

 Recipe Tin Eats

CORN (CHOOSE ONE)

• ▢4 ears of corn
• ▢4 cups / 750g / 1.5 lb frozen or canned corn , drained

SOUP:

• ▢1 tsp butter (or oil)
• ▢250g / 8 oz bacon , chopped
• ▢30g / 2 tbsp butter (use 3 tbsp if bacon is lean)
• ▢1 garlic clove , minced
• ▢1 small onion , diced (or half large onion) (yellow, brown or white)
• ▢5 tbsp flour
• ▢2 cups chicken broth , low sodium
• ▢3 cups milk (I use low fat but full fat will work too)
• ▢600g / 1.2 lb potatoes , cut into 1 cm / 2/5" cubes (about 2 large)
• ▢2 sprigs of thyme OR 1 tsp dried thyme
• ▢3/4 cup cream (Note 1)
• ▢3/4 cup shallots / scallions , green part finely sliced
• ▢Salt and finely ground pepper to taste
• 
  
• • Cut the corn off the cob. This is how I do it: Place a small ramekin in a large bowl. Place corn on the ramekin then cut the corn off. See video. Keep naked cobs.
  • Place 1 tsp butter in a large pot over medium high heat. Add bacon and cook until golden. Use a slotted spoon to remove onto a paper towel lined plate. Leave fat in pot.
  • Lower heat to medium high. Add 2 tbsp butter, once melted, add garlic and onion. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes until onion is translucent.
  • Add flour and mix it in. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
  • Add broth, milk, potatoes, thyme and bay leaf. Break naked cobs into 2 or 3 and add into the liquid. Put the lid on and simmer for 25 minutes (adjust heat so it's simmering energetically but not bubbling like crazy or super gently).
  • Remove lid, remove corn cobs. Add corn and cook for 5 minutes or until cooked to your taste.
  • Stir through cream and 3/4 of the bacon and shallots. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and garnish with remaining bacon and shallots.

  Recipe Notes:

Alli's Baked French Toast with lemon curd

Baked French Toast 

serves 8

For the French Toast: 
Butter, for greasing
1 loaf crusty sourdough or French bread ( I added an additional 1/2c of leftover crushed cereal)
8  whole eggs
2 c. whole milk (egg nog instead)

1/2 c.  heavy cream

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

2 tbsp.  vanilla extract

1 t salt ( I added, it was not from original recipe)

For the Topping:
1/2 c.  flour
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp.  cinnamon
1/4 tsp.  salt
Freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
1  stick cold butter, cut into pieces
Warm syrup, for serving
Butter, for serving
1 c. 
fresh blueberries, for serving

You assemble it the night before and let it sit and get even more luscious in the fridge overnight

1. For the French toast: Grease the baking pan with butter. Tear the bread into chunks, or cut into cubes, and evenly distribute in the pan. Crack the eggs in a big bowl. Whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Pour evenly over the bread. Cover the pan tightly and store in the fridge until needed (overnight preferably). Or you can make it and bake it right away---delicious no matter what!
2. For the topping: Mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and some nutmeg in a separate bowl. Stir together using a fork. Add the butter and use a pastry cutter to mix it all together until the mixture resembles fine pebbles. Store in a plastic bag in the fridge.
3. When you're ready to bake the casserole, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the casserole from the fridge and sprinkle the topping over the top. Bake for 45 minutes for a softer, more bread pudding texture or for 1 hour-plus or more for a firmer, crisper texture.
4. Scoop out individual portions. Top with butter, drizzle with warm pancake syrup, and sprinkle with blueberries.

Some comments from readers-

Caramelized some bananas and brown sugar

doubled the cinnamon

generally double the topping because people always ask for more of it

fried apples

12/22/21 made it in the morning and didn't have it soak overnight. Turned out delicious. I had 3 different types of leftover breads and they all tasted and worked out well together. I mixed half plain yogurt and half whipped topping for one of the toppings and frozen blue berries

Can add Lemon curd (pudding) to the top of the cooked French toast- makes one cup

Lemon Curd

Dbl    Original Recipe
1c        1/2 c. 

granulated sugar

1/2c    5 tbsp. 

unsalted butter, diced

1/2c     1/4 c. 

fresh lemon juice (from 3 lemons)

6          3 

large eggs + 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten

1/2t      1/4 tsp. 

kosher salt

Combine the sugar, butter and lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook just until the butter melts. Whisk in the eggs. Cook, stirring frequently with a rubber spatula, until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon, 6-8 minutes. Do not let the mixture bubble. Pour then press through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl. Press plastic wrap over top and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.

Chicken Jumbo Shells

Need two 9x13 pans, serve with french bread

12 oz Jumbo Shells
2 Chicken Breasts (chopped food processor)
1 onion chopped and sauteed
1/2lb chopped mushrooms (not necessary, but I love them)
3-6 chopped garlic cloves
1 24 oz can of spaghetti sauce

White Sauce-
8 oz cream cheese
3 T butter
1/2c parmesan
1/2c milk
2 c shredded mozzarella (1 cup for white sauce and 1 c for top of prepared shells)
Cottage cheese filling-
8 oz cottage cheese
1 T basil and parsley
1 egg
salt and pepper

This was more work than I usually like to do. But we don't have them much and I wanted something different for dinner. This recipe uses 3 different pans- 1. to cook pasta, 2. to saute onion, chicken, mushrooms, and red sauce. 3. warm up the white sauce

Saute onion for 7 min, then add garlic and mushrooms with salt and pepper cook for a few minutes. Add chicken till cooked thoroughly, add spaghetti sauce.

In separate pot heat up and stir the white sauce. Turn off the heat, In same pot combine cottage cheese, basil, parsley, egg

In separate pot boil the jumbo shells.  in 9x13 pan lightly spray the pan and then add red sauce to the bottom of the pan. Place the empty shells on top of the sauce . Assemble the shells with the white sauce cottage cheese filling first, then on top of the cottage cheese add the meat red sauce. After all the shells are filled pour the rest of the red sauce over the top.

Cook 350 for 30 min. Last 5 mintues add 1 c of mozzarella to melt on top of shells.

Weirdly enough, I actually noticed these prepared shells tasted much better on day 3 of sitting in the fridge. Initially on the day I made them we had them for dinner and I honestly didnt really enjoy them so much, but my family almost ate one whole pan (so it passed their taste buds).  Next time make this a few days ahead and place foil/wrap on top and let sit in fridge for at least 3 days.

#2 Overnight French Toast

Epicurious

YIELD- 

Makes 6 servings

INGREDIENTS
For the french toast:                                                                                                                                  1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, room temperature
12 3/4-inch-thick French bread slices
6 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
Powdered sugar
                                                                                                                                                                    For the maple syrup:
2 cups maple syrup
1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

PREPARATION
To make the french toast:Spread butter over bottom of heavy large baking pan with 1-inch-high sides. Arrange bread slices in pan. Beat eggs, milk, sugar, syrup, vanilla and salt to blend in large bowl. Pour mixture over bread. Turn bread slices to coat. Cover with plastic and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake French bread 40 minutes. Transfer cooked toast to plates and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve immediately, passing Maple-Walnut Syrup separately.
To prepare maple syrup:
Combine syrup and walnuts in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to simmer. Serve syrup hot. Makes about 3 cups.

This could be doubled and freeze one for a later time in the freezer.

simple poached egg and avocado toast

Pinch of Yum

2 eggs
2 slices whole grain bread (I used sliced french bread)
1/3 avocado (usually I cut it in half but don’t use all of it. okay fine maybe I do.)
2 tablespoons shaved Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper for topping
fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, or basil) for topping (I didn't have)
quartered heirloom tomatoes for serving

---

INSTRUCTIONS

Bring a pot of water to boil and 1 t vinegar (use enough water to cover the eggs when they lay in the bottom). Drop the metal rims (outer rim and inner metal circle) of two mason jar lids into the pot so they are laying flat on the bottom. When the water is boiling, turn off the heat and carefully crack the eggs directly into each rim. Cover the pot and poach for 5 minutes (4 for super soft, 4:30 for soft, 5 or more for semi-soft yolks).

While the eggs are cooking, toast the bread and smash the avocado on each piece of toast. When the eggs are done, use a spatula to lift the eggs out of the water. Gently pull the rim off of the eggs (I do this right on the spatula, over the water) and place the poached eggs on top of the toast. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs; serve with the fresh quartered heirloom tomatoes.

I added the quartered tomatoes in a bowl and added a dash of olive oil, garlic powder and salt and pepper. It was delicious

1/9/18

Overnight Baked French Toast

10/3/21 I made it and it was delicious. Next time double it for our family of 6

Our Best Bites

DBL  SLG

16     8 eggs
4       2 cups half and half (one pint)
2       1 cup milk (whatever kind you have on hand)
3/4c  6 tablespoons brown sugar
3t      1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1t      1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (a little less if using table salt)
2       1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2       1 lb loaf of french bread
softened butter for greasing baking dish (2-3 tablespoons)

Topping
4 tablespoons packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons cold butter

For Serving
melted butter
maple syrup
powdered sugar
berries
whipped cream

Can prepare a couple days before hand.
Crack eggs into large mixing bowl and whisk to combine.  Whisk in half and half and milk.  Add brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and vanilla.  Set aside.

Use softened butter to butter bottom and sides of a 9×13 baking dish.  Cut bread into  1 inch chunks and place in dish.  Whisk egg mixture one more time and then pour evenly over bread.  Use a rubber spatula to very gently toss bread, moving bread on bottom to top, and making sure all of the piece on top get dipped in egg mixture.  Spread out evenly, cover dish, and place in fridge overnight.

To make topping, place brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a bowl and stir to combine.  Cut cold butter into very small pieces and add to bowl. Use clean hands to break up butter and combine mixture until crumbly.  Cover and place in fridge until morning.

When ready to bake preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Remove plastic from dish and sprinkle topping evenly over top.  Bake for 40-50 minutes or until top is golden brown.  You can stick a knife or skewer in the casserole to make sure the egg mixture is set on the bottom.  *Note I have left a generous baking time window because it varies on ovens and the size of your bread cubes.  I used to cook this closer to 60 minutes at my old house, but in my new convection ovens it’s done closer to 45.  Keep an eye on it and let me know how long yours takes to bake!

Let cool for 5-10 minutes before cutting into squares.  Drizzle with melted butter and syrup, top with berries, whipped cream and a sprinkle of powdered sugar if desired.

Spinach Dip

1 T oil
1 small onion chopped
2 garlic cloves
2-3 cups chopped spinach
1/2c milk
6 oz cream cheese
1/2c mozzarella
2 dashes Worcestershire
salt and pepper

preheat oven 425 degrees
Saute onion till soft add garlic for a minute. Add cream cheese and let it slowly melt, add Worcestershire, milk stir with a whisk. When the cream cheese is melted and every thing is mixed well add: spinach, mozzarella and salt and pepper to taste.
Could be heated up in a crockpot over 3-4 hours.

Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes. serve with olive oil glazed toasted french bread

French Onion Soup

Adapted from Two recipes Bonappetit and Foodnetwork

This process caramelizes the onions-
3 onions with oil and little butter
saute on medium for 40-60 min (stirring every 5-10min)

4 c water
1-2T chicken boullion
1T apple cider vinegar
Boil on high 5 min

Add thyme, bay leaves, parsley
garlic

Simmer 30 plus minutes

This link help to show how to  Carmelize onions

I served with salad and attempted homemade french bread recipes-  Steamy Kitchen and All recipes (need to practice that one more)