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Imitation Crab Salad

This tasty salad is a wonderful addition to a brunch or dinner potluck. Imitation crab is made from white fish such as polluck. You can buy it in bulk at the meat counter or prepackaged in the fish section of the meat case.   Shredding the pieces will make it look more like real crab, but if you prefer chunky meat salads, use the pieces as packaged.  This salad goes well with any beef, pork, poultry, or fish entrée.

  • Yield: 4-6 servings
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup dry small shell macaroni (optional)
  • 1 hard-boiled egg, chopped (optional)
  • 8 ounces imitation crab, chunks or flakes
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 1/2 cup diced purple onion
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon sweet pickle relish
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dill weed
  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper or to taste
  • salt to taste
  • In the large bowl, toss together the imitation crab, celery, purple onion. Purple onion adds a bit of color, but yellow onion or green onions work well, too.
  • In the small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients to make the dressing.
  • Fold the dressing into the imitation crab mixture until it is completely covered. For a tangy bite to your salad you add a bit of sour cream to the dressing.
  • Gently fold in the macaroni shells and chopped egg if you are adding these.
  • Chill the salad at least one hour to allow flavors to blend.

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Versatile Vegetable Soup

  • Preparation Time: 30 minutes +/-
  • Simmering Time: 1 1/2 hours
  • Yield six 12 ounce servings
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 1/2 cup diced carrots
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1/2 cup diced green pepper
  • 2 cups chopped green cabbage
  • 1/2 Tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 envelope onion soup mix
  • 16 ounces broth, any kind
  • 16 ounces vegetable juice
  • 1 can (10 ounce) diced tomatoes, any variety, undrained
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Sauté the celery, carrots, onion and bell pepper until the onion begins to turn translucent.
  • Stir in the cabbage, garlic and sauté a few minutes more. If you used a sauté pan, transfer the sautéd ingredients to the larger pot.
  • Prepare the onion soup mix with 8 ounces of hot water. Add the prepared soup mix, broth, vegetable juice and the can of tomatoes to the pot. Add any additional ingredients at this time. Stir and heat thoroughly.
  • I recommend not adding mushrooms or beans until the last 20 minutes as they are apt to become mushy if left in the heat too long. Beans may also thicken your soup.
  • Stir in the seasonings. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Take out the bay leaf before serving.

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chili con carne, food, warm, bread, tasty, delicious, homemade, loaf, beans, rustic, foodporn, brown bread

Randy’s Prize Winning Chili

Get your taste buds ready for this savory chili! This family recipe has evolved over 40 years! Homemade chili was a favorite dish for Randy’s mother to take to family gatherings and potluck parties.  Her chili was not very spicy and had a lot of pasta and beans in it to make it go a long way.  In 1980, when Randy started college, he made pots of chili for friends before heading off to football games.  It was still not very spicy and he continued to add a lot of pasta and beans to feed his hungry classmates.  When he moved to California in 1985, his palate became accustomed to spicier flavors.  The pasta in his chili went away, and the amount of spicy ingredients increased. During his time as an educator, when he needed to raise money for clubs and conference trips with students, chili cook-offs became Randy’s fund raiser of choice.  During this time the prime rib and/or filet was added to the recipe.  It continues to be a fall and winter favorite in the Jackson household.

  • Preparation Time: 45 minutes
  • Simmering Time: 1 1/2 hours
  • Yield: 6 servings
  • Spray the soup pot or Dutch oven with nonstick spray.
  • Brown the ground beef in the pot, breaking it into small pieces with a meat chopper. If you are using uncooked steak, add this to the ground beef now so that all the meat browns, then drain the grease from the pot. If your steak is already cooked, drain the grease from the prepared ground beef before adding the previously cooked steak to the pot.
  • Add the onions, green chilis and garlic to the meat. Stir and continue simmering on low until the vegetables are softened. If you haven’t mixed your dry ingredients yet, do that now while the vegetables are simmering.
  • Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, coffee, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and dark beer to the pot. Stir this thoroughly under low heat.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the chili. Stir thoroughly.
  • Simmer the chili for 1 1/2 hours.
  • Serve with your favorite chili toppings.

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Close-up of spicy prawns in sauce with chopsticks on a dark plate

Grilled Shrimp

Grab those grass skirts and serve up some margaritas or piña coladas with this crowd pleasing appetizer! It’s the perfect dish for a tropical themed shindig. Even if you don’t like spicy foods, please don’t leave out the cayenne pepper until you try it. Take a look at the optional ingredients in the preparation tips section to find which combinations tantalize your taste buds!

  • Preparation Time: 1 hour, including marinading time
  • Grilling Time: 6-10 minutes
  • Yield: 26-30 shrimp (depending on size)
  • 2 pounds large, raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic (approximately 4 cloves)
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup spicy Bloody Mary mix
  • 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1/3 cup tequila
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped basil, fresh or dried
  • 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
  • 1 Tablespoon (or to taste) red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Add all the seasonings to the liquids and mix well.
  • Add the shrimp to the mixture and stir until all the shrimp are thoroughly coated.
  • Put 5-6 shrimp on each skewer by piercing twice forming a U shape with the shrimp. Set the skewered shrimp into the casserole dish.
  • Cover the shrimp with the marinade from the bowl. Cover the dish with a lid or plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
  • Preheat the grill to medium heat (350°) and oil the grates lightly.
  • Grill the shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side until they become opaque. Discard the marinade.

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Glazed Meatloaf and/or Meatballs on the BBQ

  • Preparation Time: 30 minutes
  • Cooking Time: 45-60 minutes
  • Yield: 8 (6 ounce) servings
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef; 80-85% lean
  • 1 envelope (1 ounce) onion soup mix
  • 1/8 cup dried onion or 1/2 cup fresh onion, diced
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs (plain or Panko)
  • 1/2 Tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 Tablespoon Worchestershire Sauce
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 Tablespoon prepared mustard
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • Glaze
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/8 cup BBQ sauce; choose mild to hot depending on individual taste
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1 Tablespoon molasses
  • Preheat the oven to 350°
  • Spray your baking dish or pans with nonstick spray.
  • Crumble the ground beef into the large bowl.
  • Stir in the remaining ingredients.
  • Stir or knead the mixture until it is well blended.
  • Form the mixture into a loaf in the 8X8 baking dish, bread pan or mini loaf pans.
  • Make a slight indentation in the top of the loaf/loaves and spoon in the glaze, allowing some of it to run over the sides of the loaf.
  • Bake for 1 hour or until the internal temperature reaches 165°
  • Allow to sit before slicing.

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Tasty homemade Italian lasagna served on a rustic setting with rosemary garnish.

2 X 4 Lasagna

If Italian food is on the menu, this recipe is for you! The name for this meaty, cheesy casserole was created when Randy was asked to contribute a recipe to a PTA cookbook fundraiser when working as a high school wood shop teacher. It’s one of our favorite comfort foods.

  • Preparation Time: 45 minutes
  • Baking Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 10-12 servings

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Zucchini Bread

If you’ve ever grown zucchini squash in a summer garden, you know the challenge of finding ways to use it up before it spoils.  Once he tasted this zucchini bread, one of our Stahl Rd. neighbors supplied us with as much zucchini as we needed, and we kept him supplied with the bread. The recipe allows for a large 1 1/2 quart loaf, 5-6 mini loaves or 12-18 regular size muffins. We’ve even made mini muffins with left over batter.   We always seem to end up with a lot more zucchini than we need. We have grated and frozen the zucchini to use at a later date, but caution you that once thawed, this might make the zucchini too moist for the recipe. It’s a good idea to absorb some of the moisture with paper towels before adding the zucchini to the recipe.

  • Preparation Time: 30 minutes
  • Baking Time:
    • 24 muffins: 30 to 40 minutes
    • mini loaf pans: 40-45 minutes
    • 1 1/2 quart loaf pan: 50-60 minutes
  • Yield: 24 mini muffins; 5-6 mini loaves; 1 large loaf

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