Welcome to a new year on the Apron Club blog.

I haven't been on in a while. I took up knitting and have kept myself busy, however, I would love to get some new recipes from all of you! Be daring now, and try some new stuff, and of course, please share with the rest of us.

Jambalaya-Style Chicken and Shrimp (Slow Cooker Recipes)

This Jambalaya has only 2 grams fat.

1 cup sliced celery
1 large onion, chopped
1 14 1/2 ounce can low-sodium tomatoes, cut up
1 14-ounce can chicken broth
1/2 of a 6-ounce can tomato paste (1/3 cup)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
1 LB chicken breast, cut in 3/4 inch pieces
1 1/2 cups instant rice
8 ounces cooked shrimp
3/4 cup chopped green sweet pepper

1. In a 3 1/2 to 4 quart slow cooker combine celery, onion, undrained tomatoes, broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and Cajun seasoning. Stir in Chicken.

2. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Stir in rice, shrimp, and sweet pepper. Cover and let stand 10 to 15 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.

(Homemade Cajun Seasoning: In a small bowl combine 1/4 tsp white pepper, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1/8 to 1/4 tsp ground red pepper, 1/4 tsp paprika, and 1/4 tsp black pepper)

Cherry Cranberry Pie

Cherry Cranberry Pie

Sheila's Pie Crust:

From Heirloom Baking with the Brass Sisters

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup cold butter, cut into 1/2 inch dice

1/4 cup ice water

1. Place flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse three times to mix. Add butter and pulse until crumbly. Add water. Pulse until mixture comes together.

2. Remove dough from bowl of processor, divide in half, and shape each half into a disc. Unless your kitchen is very warm, you don't have to chill the dough before rolling out.

3. Coat a 9-inc ovenproof glass pie dish with vegetable spray.

4. Roll out each disk of dough between 2 sheets of floured wax paper until 2 inches wider than diameter across top of pie plate.

5. Put first rolled out half of dough into pie pan, trim excess dough from edge, and chill in refrigerator while preparing filling.

6. Fill.

7. Flip second crust over top of pie. Trim excess dough and crimp edges.

*I brushed the top crust with buttermilk, and then sprinkled sugar on top of the dough*

I baked at 375F for 75 minutes, although I would start checking around 55 minutes. The crust should be golden and the filling should be bubbling.

Filling:

2 cups cranberries (I used frozen)

21 oz can of cherry pie filling

2 TBSP cornstarch

3/4 cup sugar

Combine all ingredients and let sit for 15 minutes before filling pie crust.

S'mores Cupcakes

The recipe was just ok...but they were so pretty, I had to share these vegan s'mores cupcakes Phil and I whipped up the other day!

http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/2008/08/vegan-smores-cupcake-recipe.html

A day in the Garden

My garden is winding down, but I have really enjoyed it this year. I have a few more tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and squash and am awaiting my pumpkins. We'll see!

Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken

I found this recipe in the Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Cookbook from the American Heart Association. This is nice and can be served as is or over pasta. It serves 8, has only 162 calories and 2.5 grams fat. It takes about 5 minutes to prep.

Ingredients:

2 LBS boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained (I used 5 tomatoes, chopped)
1 9-ounce package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed
1 cup chicken broth
1 2.25 ounce can sliced black olives, drained
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Discard all visible fat from chicken. Sprinkle both sides with basil and oregano. Put chicken in 4-quart slow cooker.

Stir in remaining ingredients. Cook, covered, on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 7 to 8 hours.

Susan's Fresh Garden Spaghetti

I have a plethora of tomatoes and bell peppers in my garden and have been trying to keep up with them. I have filled my freezer as well as Edie's and am now making many of my dishes with fresh tomatoes in lieu of canned. What a concept. Tonight I made spaghetti, much as I used to make it, with a dollop here and a sprinkle there. It was delicious. My problem when I make up recipes is that I rarely measure. This is my attempt at unmeasured spaghetti sauce reproduction.

Ingredients (or as close as I can recall):

20 tomatoes, washed and diced (I didn't peel or seed)
1 bell pepper, chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 red onion chopped in the food processor
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
1/8 cup Italian seasoning
2 tbsp oregano
2 tbsp basil
1 tbsp parsley
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1.5 LBS chicken breast, diced
Italian seasoning
Your favorite pasta

1. Dice the tomatoes, bell pepper and garlic directly in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, oregano, basil, parsley, salt and pepper. Simmer for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Continue cooking while you;

2. Cook your pasta

3. Heat olive oil in small skillet. Add chicken. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Cook through. Add to tomato sauce.

Put over your favorite pasta and enjoy!