Cocoa Krispies Candy

Well....I am finally actually putting my favorite recipe in the world into this blog! My MaMa and PaPa Reid introduced us to this wonderful treat back in the early 60's...yes I said 60's!

It was rarely written down ... just word of mouth... and then it seemed to just fade into the sunset! Just another reason we need to put these family favorites down to be passed along.

With that said, I am REALLY going to share this with you... feel very HONORED.

Cocoa Krispies Candy

• 1/4 Cup granulated sugar
• 
  
• 1/2 Cup light brown sugar
• 
  
• 1/2 Cup of light Karo
• 
  
• 3 Tablespoons of butter (please use butter - it makes it taste so rich)
• 
  
• 1/3 - 1/2 Cup of Peanut Butter ( this is a guesstimate as I use a big dollop right out of the jar!)
• 
  
• 4 - 4 1/2 Cups of Cocoa Krispies

1. USE A HEAVY clad pot......
2. Place the sugars and the Karo in pot and over low heat stir until the mixture bubbles and no longer has any sugar granules. (when spooned it is transparent)
3. Add the butter stirring until completely melted - this will make the syrup appear cloudy
4. Remove from heat and add the Peanut Butter stirring until completely incorporated into the syrup - NOTE: too much Peanut Butter and it will setup TOO quickly and seize in the pot.
5. Add the Cocoa Krispies a cup at a time and stir!
6. NOW quickly (because it sets up pretty quick) spoon into "haystacks" onto wax paper or aluminum foil.
7. Let them cool (if you can wait) and enjoy!

:)

Joe's Stars

This is a great hors d'oeuvre that Joe Thornell introduced us to this past weekend! He says his mom has been making these for him since he was a small boy!

• 1 (16 ounce) package wonton wrappers
• 1 pound sausage
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped black olives, drained
• 1 cup Ranch dressing

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a mini muffin pan with cooking spray.
2. Brown sausage in a separate pan.
   
3. Insert wonton wrappers into the muffin pan so as to form small cups. Bake 5 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow the baked wrappers to cool. Remove from the pan.
4. In a medium bowl, mix the sausage, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, black olives and Ranch dressing. Fill the baked wonton wrapper cups with the mixture.
5. Bake the filled wonton wrappers 10 to 15 minutes, until the sausage mixture is bubbly and slightly brown. Watch closely so the wonton wrappers do not burn.

:)

Eggplant and Seafood Casserole

Preheat oven to 350

Ingredients:

4- small eggplants
1- onion - chopped fine
5- Tablespoons of butter

1- bell pepper chopped

1- Cup of crabmeat

1- pound of crawfish - or shrimp

1- Cup of Italian breadcrumbs

- Seasonings

1/2 tsp sage

1/2 tsp thyme

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp basil

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp salt

*Or just use 4 T Cajun Seasoning! (my preference!)

• Skin eggplants and cut into large cubes
• Boil in salted water until tender
• Drain WELL .. I would even suggest doing this part the night before and letting them drain in a colander in the fridge
  
• Chop the onion and bell pepper ( be sure to remove the inner membrane and seeds from the bell pepper)
  
• Melt butter in large skillet adding onion and pepper - cooking until onions are clear
  
• Add the cubed, cooked, drained eggplant
  
• Slowly add the breadcrumbs - you will see that the eggplant is still drawing water!
  
• Add the seasonings to this mixture, stirring the concoction to coat and blend all the flavors.
  
• Add the seafood mixing well, distributing the seafood into all parts of the eggplant mix.
  
• 
  
• Put the mixture into a casserole dish that you have sprayed with vegetable oil.
  
• Sprinkle some breadcrumbs over the top of the mixture, dot with butter and bake 20-30 minutes until hot and bubbly
  
• Sprinkle some breadcrumbs over the top of mixture, dot with butter and bake 20-30 minutes until hot and bubbly.

NOTE:

If you don't have one kind of seafood - but do have another... use it ... in the Cajun Delta... food is never wasted... waste not want not!

Casseroles are just a good way of using leftovers from Saturday night!

: )