Chicken Enchilada Dip using Marty's Chile Verde Salsa

This dive-right-in dip is packed with flavor and so easy to prepare. I made it in a small crockpot, packed the pot in an insulated bag and we headed for the K-State game yesterday. Go Cats! 



Chicken Enchilada Dip

1/2 to 1 jar (8 oz.) chile verde (I used Marty's Chile Verde Salsa made by Holmes Produce LLC, Wichita, KS)

13 oz. cooked chicken breast, chopped into bite-sized pieces (or use a 13 oz. can of chicken, drained)

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese 

 

Blend all ingredients and heat over medium or medium low until cheese is melted. (Or, add all ingredients to a crockpot and heat over low for several hours.) 

Shrimp & Okra with Cheesy Grits (or Polenta)

Rated as one of our favorite taste sensations of the summer, this simple dish is a wonderful blend of flavors and textures . . . and was a good way to utilize our garden okra. Ingredient amounts are vague simply because it’s a matter of preference. 


Shrimp & Okra with Cheesy Grits (or Polenta)  

Olive Oil

Onion, diced

Okra, sliced

Kosher salt & coarse pepper to taste

Several sprigs fresh thyme—stripped of the leaves + a sprig or two for garnish if desired

Creole seasoning to taste 

Shrimp, peeled & deveined

Cooked Grits or polenta (cooked until creamy in broth & part milk or cream and flavored with salt, pepper and a liberal amount of sharp Cheddar cheese + a few fresh thyme leaves) 

  1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium head. Add onions and cook a couple of minutes, then add the okra — cook and stir or toss until the okra is tender but not mushy (about 5+ minutes). Add salt and pepper, thyme leaves and creole seasoning to taste. 
  2. If using raw shrimp, add it near the end of the okra’s cooking period and cook until shrimps turn pink. If adding pre-cooked shrimp, add and heat. Add additional seasoning if needed.
  3. Spoon Cheesy Grits (or polenta) into a bowl and top with shrimp and okra. Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme if desired. 
    Last of this year's garden okra went into this savory dish! 
Recipe without photos . . .  

Shrimp & Okra with Cheesy Grits (or Polenta)  

Olive Oil

Onion, diced

Okra, sliced

Kosher salt & coarse pepper to taste

Several sprigs fresh thyme—stripped of the leaves + a sprig or two for garnish if desired

Creole seasoning to taste 

Shrimp, peeled & deveined

Cooked Grits or polenta (cooked until creamy in broth & part milk or cream and flavored with salt, pepper and a liberal amount of sharp Cheddar cheese + a few fresh thyme leaves) 

  1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium head. Add onions and cook a couple of minutes, then add the okra — cook and stir or toss until the okra is tender but not mushy (about 5+ minutes). Add salt and pepper, thyme leaves and creole seasoning to taste. 
  2. If using raw shrimp, add it near the end of the okra’s cooking period and cook until shrimps turn pink. If adding pre-cooked shrimp, add and heat. Add additional seasoning if needed.
  3. Spoon Cheesy Grits (or polenta) into a bowl and top with shrimp and okra. Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme if desired. 

End of the Summer Deconstucted Salad

Taking advantage of the last of our garden produce, I made this deconstructed salad that I dressed with parsley-infused olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We managed to gobble it up!


Ingredients I included from left to right (with links to some recipes) . . .

Bursting w/ Flavor Grape Tomatoes w/ Honey

Argula

Radishes, thinly sliced

Green Beans, steamed

Pickled Onions

Hard Cooked Eggs, sliced

Salmon, baked & chunked

Sweety Drop Pickled Peppers

Creamy Roasted Carrot Soup with coriander, cumin, garlic & ginger

Vibrant orange and nutritious, this soup is perfect for crisp, cool days and evening. Great as a dinner starter or with a luncheon salad or sandwich.  Roasting the carrots adds another layer of flavor. Of course, our garden fresh carrots also added an additional boost of flavor to this soup.


Creamy Roasted Carrot Soup with coriander, cumin, garlic & ginger 

2 pounds carrots

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt—divided, to taste

Coarsely ground black pepper, to taste

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon+ ground cumin

1 to 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger 

4 to 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth or more as needed to thin to desired consistency

1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice, to taste

1/2 to 1 cup heavy cream 

Optional garnishes: sour cream, fresh herbs 

  1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup, if desired.

Your pizza is personalized.
  2. Roasting Carrots: Peel carrots and cut so each pieces is about 1/2” thick at the widest part. Place the carrots on the baking sheet. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and pepper. Toss until the carrots are lightly coated in oil and seasonings. Arrange them in a single layer and roast carrots until they’re caramelized on the edges and easily pierced through by a fork, 25 to 40 minutes, tossing halfway. 
  3. Soup Base: In a Dutch oven or soup pot, warm the remaining 1 tablespoon+ olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. 
  4. Add the onion and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and turning translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.
  5. Add the garlic, coriander, cumin and ginger. Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. 
  6. Pour in 4 cups broth, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom with a wooden spoon or sturdy silicone spatula.
  7. Add the roasted carrots to the pot when they are out of the oven. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 15 minutes, to give the flavors time to meld.
  8. Once the soup is done cooking, remove the pot from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes. Then, carefully transfer the hot soup to a blender, working in batches if necessary. (Do not fill past the maximum fill line or the soup could overflow!)
  9. Add lemon juice and additional broth as needed.. Blend until completely smooth. Add additional salt and pepper if necessary, to taste. 
  10. Cool and reheat later. Or, immediately reheat on medium to medium low adding the amount of cream that is preferred. Garnish as desired.

This soup keeps well in the refrigerator, covered, for about four days, or for several months in the freezer. 

Recipe without the photos . . .Creamy Roasted Carrot Soup with coriander, cumin, garlic & ginger 

2 pounds carrots

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt—divided, to taste

Coarsely ground black pepper, to taste

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon+ ground cumin

1 to 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger 

4 to 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth or more as needed to thin to desired consistency

1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice, to taste

1/2 to 1 cup heavy cream 

Optional garnishes: sour cream, fresh herbs 

  1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup, if desired.

Your pizza is personalized.
  2. Roasting Carrots: Peel carrots and cut so each pieces is about 1/2” thick at the widest part. Place the carrots on the baking sheet. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and pepper. Toss until the carrots are lightly coated in oil and seasonings. Arrange them in a single layer and roast carrots until they’re caramelized on the edges and easily pierced through by a fork, 25 to 40 minutes, tossing halfway. 
  3. Soup Base: In a Dutch oven or soup pot, warm the remaining 1 tablespoon+ olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. 
  4. Add the onion and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and turning translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.
  5. Add the garlic, coriander, cumin and ginger. Cook until fragrant while stirring constantly, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. 
  6. Pour in 4 cups broth, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom with a wooden spoon or sturdy silicone spatula.
  7. Add the roasted carrots to the pot when they are out of the oven. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 15 minutes, to give the flavors time to meld.
  8. Once the soup is done cooking, remove the pot from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes. Then, carefully transfer the hot soup to a blender, working in batches if necessary. (Do not fill past the maximum fill line or the soup could overflow!)
  9. Add lemon juice and additional broth as needed.. Blend until completely smooth. Add additional salt and pepper if necessary, to taste. 
  10. Cool and reheat later. Or, immediately reheat on medium to medium low adding the amount of cream that is preferred. Garnish as desired.

This soup keeps well in the refrigerator, covered, for about four days, or for several months in the freezer.