Baked Seafood Casserole

Baked Seafood Casserole
(File Photo)

New Year's Eve is now in my thoughts!  Soon it will be 2020!  It also had me thinking- what will we be enjoying for dinner that night???  I've been paying attention to what you, my friends, have been reading on my foodie blog, lately.  I now have the answer!  Baked Seafood Casserole!  The delicious seafood dinner that is baked in individual casserole dishes.  That seafood dinner that is oh so easy to prepare and tastes so good!

Ready to enjoy!
(File Photo)

Just imagine- holding your fork and digging into the bubbling topping!  Reaching in for a small piece of seafood.  Maybe part of the baked Haddock.  Or maybe a baked Shrimp!  Or just maybe part of a baked Scallop!  It is definitely a great entree for a special evening.  If you have company and they enjoy seafood, they will certainly enjoy this.

It's a dinner that I bake during the colder months of the year, because it requires 45 minutes in the oven.  While it's baking I work on the Rice side dish and also a salad.

Click here for my recipe!  Place the ingredients on your grocery list!  Baked Seafood Casserole is delicious! 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

        

Baked Seafood Casserole

Baked Seafood Casserole
with Scallops, Shrimp & Haddock

Baked Seafood Casserole!  Oh, yum!  For many years whenever this entree was on the menu at a seafood restaurant I thought well, maybe, mmm, but not today.  I'd order the Broiled Seafood Platter.  Well, that changed a couple of years ago.  We were at the Rock Harbor Grill at the Cape (Cape Cod, MA).  The restaurant was totally packed with couples & families on a September weekday evening.  Everyone was chatting & enjoying their dinners.  Once again one choice on the menu was Seafood Casserole.  I took the plunge & decided to try it.  Let me tell you- it was so yummy!  From that day on I bake Seafood Casseroles at home!  No need to enjoy this delicious entree only at a restaurant.  Why did it take me so long to taste it???
   
The first time I was thinking about baking this, I realized that the much needed individual baking dishes were not in my cabinet!  It was time to get 4 pieces of colorful Fiestaware.  It's been on my wish list.  I needed individual casserole dishes, so the time had come to purchase some.  They sure work well when baking a Seafood Casserole!    

After looking at so many recipes for this yummy dish, I decided to include 3 types of seafood that are easily available to me.  Uncooked Shrimp is always in my freezer & only needed to be defrosted.  Scallops & a piece of Haddock can be purchased quickly.

A Baked Seafood Casserole is so easy to make!  The seafood is placed in the bottom of buttered individual serving/ baking dishes.  Add a little shredded Cheese.  Crush hint of salt Ritz Crackers & combine with Worcestershire Sauce, Garlic Powder & melted Butter to sprinkle on top.  Bake in the oven for 45 minutes & the yummy Seafood Casserole is ready.  How easy can this be?  Absolutely delicious, too!

Tender Baked Seafood
under the Bubbly Topping

Baked Seafood Casserole
     2 servings

Oven Temperature:  350°F            Time: 45 Minutes

Ingredients:
6 small Scallops
8 medium uncooked Shrimp, peeled & deveined
about 2/3 lbs. Haddock fillet
3-4 ounces shredded Cheese (Mozzarella or Cheddar Combo)
15 with a hint of salt Ritz Crackers, crushed
3 Tablespoons melted Butter/ Margarine
1/3 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

Method: 

1. Butter individual baking dishes.
2. Remove shells from Shrimp, devein.
3. Cut Haddock Fillet in half.
4. Rinse seafood under cool running water, drain.
5. Place Scallops & Shrimp in baking dishes.
6. Place Haddock on top, folding narrow ends under.
7. Cover with shredded Cheese.
8. In a small bowl combine crushed Ritz Crackers & Garlic Powder.
9. Add Worcestershire Sauce & melted Butter/ Margarine, combine all.
10. Spread half of Topping Mixture on seafood in each baking dish.
11. Bake at 350°F for 45 Minutes.

***I placed the individual baking dishes on a cookie pan before baking.  It prevented any possible spills when taking out of my oven.  :)

We enjoyed this Seafood Casserole at dinner, again tonight.  Working quickly, it took about 30 Minutes to prepare before baking.  This is one great entree!  Don't wait to order it at a restaurant!  It's that good!  Served with Rice & a veggie, yum! 

Have you baked a Seafood Casserole? 

Enjoy!
Yummy!

           

Crab Meat Stuffed Fillet of Sole

Crab Meat Stuffed Fillet of Sole

Last week as I was walking past the fresh Seafood Counter in my local grocery store, Big Y, the Fillet of Sole sure caught my eye!  Suddenly, I recalled a recipe that I had not baked for a number of years:  Crab Meat Stuffed Fillet of Sole.  Yum!

Quite a while ago so long ago that my older son would ride in the grocery cart while we were doing our weekly shopping the always cheerful, helpful woman at Food Mart's Seafood Counter would see me every week.  One day as I glanced at the Fillet of Sole, she asked if I had ever baked Stuffed Sole.  I responded that I had not.  She then went on to explain how EASY it was.

She had no name for this recipe - just verbal instructions.  Oh, it was worth a try - I was learning how to deal with Fish and if you do not try - you do not learn.  I baked the fish using my new recipe that evening.  It was delicious - scrumptious!  The next week I went back to the Seafood Counter and purchased another 1 lb. of Fillet of Sole.  Once again, we dined on Stuffed Fillet of Sole, but I added about 6 oz. of canned Crab Meat into the stuffing... Crab Meat Stuffed Fillet of Sole!  

Out of the Oven... Ready for Dinner

Every so often I remember this recipe that I made so often, years ago... sometimes with, sometimes without the Crab.  A few months ago canned Crab meat was on sale, so I purchased 2 cans, with this recipe in mind!

Crab Meat Stuffed Fillet of Sole   

Oven Temperature:  350°F        Yield:  3- 4 Servings
Time:  22 Minutes

Ingredients:
1 lb. Fillet of Sole- larger fillets to roll
5-6 oz. Crab Meat, cooked
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil for sauteing & baking
1 Carrot, shredded
1 teaspoon Parsley
2 slices bread, crusts removed
1/4 teaspoon Thyme
2 Tablespoons Lime Juice or Lemon Juice

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Spray baking dish with PAM.
3. Add 1 Tablespoon Lime Juice or Lemon Juice to baking dish.
4. Shred Carrot.
5. Heat 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil in saute pan.
6. Saute shredded Carrot.
7. Add 1 teaspoon Parsley to pan.
8. Remove crust from bread.  
9. Tear bread slices into small pieces & add to pan.
10. Add 1/4 teaspoon Thyme to mixture.  Combine.
11. Add Crab Meat.  Combine.
12. Rinse Fillets of Sole under cold running water.
13. Place on paper towel covered plate, to drain.
14. After placing 1 Fillet of Sole on another plate place spoonful of mixture on one end. 
15. Starting with filled end, roll fillet.
16. Place stuffed fillet in baking dish with "seam side" down.
17. Stuff remaining Fillets of Sole.
18. Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon Lime Juice or Lemon Juice on top.
19. Bake for 22 Minutes in 350°F oven.

Serve with Rice + veggie.  Any pieces remaining can be covered/refrigerated and reheated in the microwave.

Do you stuff + bake Fillet of Sole?  So good!

Enjoy!
Yummy!

 

Eggplant Parmigiana

Eggplant Parmigiana is so good!  Sometimes I order it when dining out, but the eggplant slices are usually prepared with an egg coating and then fried.  So ...only occasionally do I enjoy this entree.  It is that cholesterol thing with me.  Much like that sugar thing prevents me from making desserts that contain a ratio of more or almost equal sugar to flour in a tempting treat.     

It has been a busy three weeks reviewing Art, Chinese History & Japanese History notes for the school group tours I am/will be giving at the Springfield Museums.  Now that some warmer weather has arrived, students on field trips visit our wonderful five museum complex.  It is a jewel in the Pioneer Valley and a great resource for all residents in my area and in southern New England.         

Last week while shopping in my local grocery store, the Big Y, I spied two Eggplants in the produce section.  Very quickly meatless Fridays came to mind in addition to a recipe for Eggplant Parmigiana that was located in the Big Y's February 2011 Life in Balance booklet.  No Eggs involved! 

I had prepared this recipe as printed two months ago and we really liked it.  This dish is made in two baking steps and so worth it.  The two Eggplants remained on the bottom shelf of my fridge as I reviewed more history notes.  Two nights ago was the perfect opportunity to use them and bake this dish again, but with a couple of changes.  It's a very tasty meatless meal!

Eggplant Parmigiana -adapted from Big Y Life in Balance booklet, February 2011

Ingredients:
PAM
Olive Oil
(2) small Eggplants
Ground Pepper & Basil - McCormick's
(1) jar Spaghetti Sauce (about 16 oz. - 20 oz.)
(1) can 6 oz. Tomato Paste
8 oz. shredded Mozzarella

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Line a large cookie pan with foil and spray with PAM.
3. Wash & dry Eggplants. 
4. Cut each Eggplant into 1" slices.
5. Place each slice on cookie sheet and drizzle a small amount of Olive Oil on top of each slice.
6. Then, lightly sprinkle with Ground Pepper & Basil.
7. Bake Eggplant slices for 12 - 15 minutes in 450°F oven.

After slices are baked, remove from oven and lower oven temperature to 350°F.

*While Eggplant is baking continue prepping:

1. Spray a large baking dish with PAM.
2. Mix Spaghetti Sauce with Tomato Paste in a small bowl.
3. Place a small amount of sauce mixture on bottom of baking dish.
4. Place baked Eggplant slices on bottom of baking dish.  Top each slice with shredded Mozzarella Cheese.  Then, top with another slice of Eggplant.  Place sauce mixture on top and then top with more Mozzarella Cheese.   
5. Bake for 30 minutes or until Eggplant is soft.  

Fresh Basil can be used, but my Spice Rack is always within my reach, so I use McCormick's Basil.  :)  I stacked the Eggplant slices in the baking dish, but they are not stacked in the original recipe.  

No longer will I dream of eating Eggplant Parmigiana, but it will be on our dinner table served with Barilla PLUS Farfalle Pasta and Green Beans.  In the photo above my smaller Rose Colored Pyrex contains the Eggplant Parmigiana remaining after Wednesday's dinner.  Tonight is meatless Friday, so our dinner is in the fridge waiting to be reheated.  I'll add a little more tomato sauce and dinner will be...

Yummy!
Enjoy!

  

Ricotta Rollups

Whenever I have a craving for Lasagna, but no time to prep the sauce that simmers for 1 and 1/2 hours on the stove, I bake Ricotta Rollups.  Pasta filled mostly with Ricotta and Mozzarella Cheese and covered with tomato sauce smells wonderful as it bakes.  My large Rose Colored Pyrex comes in handy once again.  It's not only used to make Raisin Rice Crispies Bars.  :) 

Two nights ago I baked a batch of this meatless family favorite (made with Lasagna noodles that have been cut in half).  After dinner the remaining portions were placed in single serving Ziploc containers and into my freezer they went.  Individual portions will be reheated in my microwave for a quick dinner on busy nights.  If reheating, I add a little more tomato sauce.  Served with a veggie salad and Garlic Parmesan Toast.  Yum!

Ricotta Rollups

Oven:  375°F
Time:  About 35 Minutes

Ingredients:
9-10 Lasagna Noodles (I use Ronzoni.)
(2) 1 lb. containers of Ricotta Cheese - I use Fat Free + Part Skim.
8 oz. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese - I use Part Skim.
1/2 Cup Flavored Bread Crumbs
(2) Egg Whites slightly beaten or 1 Whole Egg
1 jar Spaghetti Sauce - about 24 oz.
Parmesan Cheese - to sprinkle on top before baking

Method:

1. Boil Lasagna Noodles according to package directions.
2. Preheat oven to 375°F.
3. Spray a Glass Baking Dish (about 8"x11") with PAM.
4. Spread about 1 Cup Sauce in baking dish.
5. In large bowl mix Ricotta, Mozzarella, Bread Crumbs and Egg Whites.
6. Place 2 Lasagna Noodles on a large dish and cut each in half.
7. Spread 2-3 Tablespoons Cheese mixture on 2/3 of each noodle.
8. Roll Noodle from filled side to end.
9. Place in baking dish seam side down.
10. Continue filling noodles.  Two rows of Rollups in dish.
11. I also place 4 Rollups in middle of baking dish, if extra.
12. Pour sauce over top and on edges of filled Rollups, spread sauce evenly.
13. Sprinkle Parmesan Cheese on top.
14. Bake in oven for about 35 Minutes.

Printable Recipe Card.  :)

Does your family enjoy dinners with pasta and tomato sauce? 

Enjoy!
Yummy!