Greetings and welcome to Bon Appetempting, the official blog of the Tiffany Austin food blogger mystery series! Here we will share restaurant reviews, recipes, and maybe solve a mystery or two!

This month we will preview the recipes from Tiffany's cookbook in Eat, Drink and Drop Dead!

Tiffany’s Southern Gumbo

You will need:

¼ cup all-purpose flour

1 cup canola oil

3 celery stalks, chopped

2 green peppers, chopped

1 medium white onion, chopped

¾ cup chicken broth

2 minced garlic cloves

Salt and pepper to taste

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 lbs uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 lb andouille sausage, pre-cooked

1 tomato, chopped

1½ teaspoons gumbo filé powder

Cooked rice

 

In a dutch oven over medium heat, cook and stir flour and oil until caramel-colored, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes (do not burn). Add the celery, onion and peppers and stir until tender, about 6 minutes. Stir in the broth, garlic, salt, pepper and cayenne, bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Slice the andouille sausage and add to skillet. Cover and let simmer for 25 minutes.

Then stir in the shrimp and tomato. Let boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer until the shrimp turn pink. Stir in the filé powder. Serve with rice.

 

Brew Barn Easy Empanadas

You will need:

1 package pre-made pie crust

1 lb of lean ground beef (if you prefer chicken or shrimp, you can substitute)

¼ cup diced onions

½ medium diced bell pepper

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon minced garlic

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon chili powder

1 cup Mexican blended cheese

1 egg

 

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper or non-stick foil. Set aside.

In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, onions and pepper until beef is fully cooked. Drain any excess fat. Add the cumin, garlic, salt, pepper and chili powder to the mixture and cook for approximately 2–3 minutes, then remove from burner.

Roll out pie crusts. Trace circles on to pie crust. Lay the circles down on cookie sheet. Add 2–3 tablespoons of beef mixture to each circle. Top with ½ tablespoon of cheese. Fold pie crust circle in half, keeping filling inside, and press edges down. Beat egg in small bowl and brush on top of empanadas.

Bake in oven at 350°F until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Remove and serve with salad or guacamole.

 

Trends Famous Cajun Burger

You will need:

Seasoning:

2 tablespoons ground cumin

2 tablespoons ground oregano

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon paprika

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon cayenne

 

Burger:

1 lb ground beef

1 cup finely chopped onion

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning

½ teaspoon hot pepper sauce

1 minced garlic clove

 

Hamburger buns

Optional:

Sauteed onions or raw onion cut into slices

 

Combine all seasoning ingredients in bowl; mix well.

Combine all burger ingredients into bowl, mix well and shape into patties. Cook in skillet or on grill for 4–5 minutes or until burgers are done to your liking.

Serve on buns. You can top with either sautéed or raw onion if desired.

 

Tiffany’s Southern Style Mac and Cheese

You will need:

1 lb macaroni

1 stick of butter, melted

4 cups of extra sharp Cheddar cheese

2 cups of Colby cheese

1 cup of Pepper Jack cheese

3 eggs

2 cups milk

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook macaroni in large pan of salted water until al dente. Drain, rinse and set aside.

Combine pasta and butter, salt and pepper in pasta pot. Stir in 2 cups of the Cheddar cheese.

Grease baking dish and add half of macaroni mixture. Sprinkle some of the Colby and Pepperjack over mixture, then cover with another layer of macaroni. Sprinkle with remaining cheese mixture. Beat eggs and milk in another bowl and spread evenly over pasta.

Cover baking dish with foil and bake in oven for 20–30 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle remaining Cheddar cheese on top. Put under broiler and bake until golden brown.

 

Happy Cooking!

Join us next  month for more recipes and maybe some restaurant reviews!

T.C. and Tiffany