Half a Cup
Demi means half in French, but actually a demi tasse is a small cup
Erath’s Demi Tasse held its first gathering of the year with yours truly Billie Landry as hostess. Demi is translated into English as half. A demi tasse actually means a small cup. A demi tasse cup probably holds a half cup. This is your French lesson for today.
The theme of my party began as “As the World Turns” as an homage to the old soap opera by that name. It turned into “Around the World Eats.” Researching the origin of ingredients was a very interesting research.
The main dish was Vance’s Cajun Shrimp and Andouille Casserole. Delicious, but the recipe is totally his.
GULF OF AMERICA SHRIMP MOLD MADE
BY HARRIET NUNEZ
What a treat
Can be prepared in any cake or silicone pan
INGREDIENTS
-1 can condensed tomato soup
-2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
-1/2 cup cold water
-6 ounces cream cheese
-1 cup mayonnaise
-1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
-1 cup celery
-1/2 cup green onions
MISE EN PLACE
-Heat soup.
-In a bowl, dissolve gelatin with cold water.
-Mix hot soup into gelatin.
-Mix room-temperature cream cheese and mayonnaise.
-Stir into soup until well blended.
-Add chopped shrimp, celery, and green onions.
-Spoon into mold.
-Refrigerate overnight.
-Serve with crackers.
Harriet doubled the recipe. One was presented in a fish mold that I bought on Amazon and the other she made in a Bundt shape silicone mold. Aluminum molds used to be available in many shapes and sizes. Not so anymore. The only one I found on Amazon, besides ice cube molds, was this one defined as a Koi mold.
AMISH MARINATED CARROTS
This dish, made by my granddaughter, Kaitlyn Mathew, was a hit and an easy recipe that creates a unique side dish.
INGREDIENTS
-4 cans sliced carrots*
-1/3 cup vinegar
-1/2 tsp salt
-1 onion, thinly sliced
-1 bell pepper
-1 cup sugar
-2 tbsp oil
-1/4 cup red pepper
-1 can tomato soup**
MISE EN PLACE
-Mix all ingredients.
-Refrigerate at least 24 hours.
That’s it!
With 10-month old MaryAnn active and also teething, Kaitlyn created a highly praised prize winner. Our MaryAnn was unhappy during the 24-hour refrigeration period, and Kaitlyn had to miss the luncheon.
*The original recipe called for cooking raw carrots in the tomato soup, but I have read somewhere that canned carrots could be substituted. No one noticed our secret I’m sure it was a modern, genius woman that came up with that idea.
**Boo, my grocery shopper brought home Tomato Bisque, with the excuse that bisque is soup. We went along with him, and evidently he was right. I think the recipe meant condensed tomato soup. Cooking is not a science; it’s supposed to be an enjoyment and a personal trial and error. A good cook seldom creates an error.
DUTCH COLE SLAW
INGREDIENTS
-1 large bag supermarket angel hair Coke
-1 small bottle capers, lightly rinsed
-1 1/2 tsp celery seeds*
-1/2 cup mayonnaise, to start**
-1/4 cup vinegar
MISE EN PLACE
-Spread Cole slaw in large bowl. After being tightly wrapped, the cabbage needs to be separated to accept the ingredients as or should.
*Celery seeds really need to be in there.
**You need to judge your mayonnaise. Don’t put too much. That’s why I suggest starting with just 1/2 cup.
ITALIAN AMERICAN GARLIC BREAD
Easiest to prepare.
-Go to your favorite supermarket or specialty shop.
What was interesting when I looked this up is that many, many of our favorite Italian foods were created by Italians in America, who are now Italian Americans.
ITALIAN MEATBALL’S W/LANDRY GRAVY
INGREDIENTS
-1 large bag frozen Italian meatballs
-Small recipe of Landry gravy
I’m giving the whole family credit for MY red gravy, but it seems better on the labeled cards.
I started my red gravy Sunday afternoon cooking until I went to bed. Boo was in Oklahoma City, so I had to do all the stirring myself! Huh! It was cooked for several hours Monday and Tuesday evening. The meatballs were appreciated; all 40 were eaten. I’m giving Italy all the credit for the meatballs, but that’s what written in the bag they come in.
Working on a deadline, this is all of my recipes for today. I’ll have more next week.
A New Year’s Resolution for today is one that busy people should consider.
“LEARN TO SAY “NO!”
Jusqu’a la semaine prochaine!