Clay Pot Dishes You Can Make in Under an Hour
Everyone needs a few quick and easy dishes to put together for dinner or an impromptu gathering. If you prefer cooking in clay pots, or have just purchased a clay pot and want to try it out, testing a couple of simple dishes out will give you more confidence in your clay pot cooking. Here are some breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert suggestions for cooking in your clay pot that you and your family will love:
Breakfast
Grits Casserole
Ingredients
cup raw grits
4 cups water
1 box Jiffy cornbread
1 cup milk
1 lb sausage
1 cup shredded cheese
1 stick butter
4 eggs
1 tsp salt
Directions
Add 1 cup raw grits to 4 cups boiling water, 1 tsp salt, and 1 stick of butter for about 15-20 minutes. Let cool. Sauté 1 lb sausage and drain. Beat 4 eggs with 1 cup milk. Add all together with 1 box of Jiffy mix. Put in 13"x9" clay pot. Cover all with cheese. Bake at 325o for 30 mins.
Asparagus Egg Puff
Ingredients
*8-10 eggs
3 cups milk
*8-10 slices of bread (remove crust and cut into cubes)
1 pound asparagus, blanched and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
˝ pound grated sharp cheddar cheese
*Can use 8, 9 or 10 - 10 makes a higher, lighter casserole.
Directions
Beat together eggs and milk. In large bowl mix together all ingredients and pour into a clay pot and let set overnight in the refrigerator. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes more.
Lunch
Forty-Clove Chicken Filice
Ingredients
1 frying chicken, cut in pieces
40 cloves fresh garlic
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup dry vermouth
1/4 cup olive oil
4 stalks celery, cut in 1-inch pieces
1 teaspoon oregano
2 teaspoons dry basil
6 sprigs minced parsley
Pinch of crushed red
Pepper
1 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Place chicken pieces into shallow baking pan, skin side up. Sprinkle all ingredients evenly over top of chicken. Squeeze juice from lemon and pour over top. Cut remaining lemon rind into pieces and arrange throughout chicken. Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees F. for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes.
Dinner
Tuna Ratatouille Neptune
2 cans (6-1/2 ounce each) tuna packed in water
1 large eggplant
Salt
2 green bell peppers
2 large onions
1 can (29 ounce) tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon garlic salt
2 teaspoons basil, crumbled
Directions
Drain tuna. Cut eggplant into 1/2-inch cubes and spread in single layer on paper toweling. Sprinkle with salt; let stand 20 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels. Soak clay cooker in water 15 minutes. Seed and chunk peppers. Slice onions and separate into rings. Mix all ingredients, except tuna, in large mixing bowl. Spoon 1/2 mixture into clay cooker. Add all the tuna; spread evenly. Top with remaining eggplant mixture. Cover cooker; place in cold oven. Bake in 400 degrees F oven 3 hours; stir occasionally. Remove cover during last hour. Serve with slotted spoon.
Dessert
Crusty Peach Cobbler
Cobbler
2 c. sliced fresh peaches
3/4 c. sugar
2 tbsp. flour
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. butter
Shortcake
2 cups sifted flour (all-purpose)
1/2 tsp. salt
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. sugar
1/3 cup shortening
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup milk
Directions
Cobbler: Place peaches in greased 1 1/2 quart casserole. Sprinkle with mixture of sugar and flour, then lemon juice; dot with butter.
Shortcake: Sift together dry ingredients. Cut in shortening until like coarse crumbs. Combine egg and milk. Add, stirring only until moistened. Drop in 6 mounds over peaches. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. Serves 6.
You may want to try these recipes one at time if you're new at clay pot cooking, and be sure to get your family's opinion on your new clay pot cooking efforts before serving your meals to the public. Once you get the hang of clay pot cooking (it's really very easy) you may even come up with a few clay pot dishes of your own. The nutritional value of your dishes will also be preserved with clay pot cooking, since the clay pot retains the original flavoring of food, so you don't have to add as many oils, seasonings, and salt for flavor.
Check out RomertopfOnline.com for more clay cooking ideas and recipes.
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