Superfast Seafood Pie

 Comfort food season is coming to a close, so I wanted to share this one before the weather turns hot. 
In less than an hour, you can have a seafood pie every bit as good as restaurants make.

1.  Pie crust
2. Can of diced potatoes, drained
3. Scallops
4. Cream of Shrimp condensed soup
5. Can of crabmeat, drained


Saute scallops until they are firm and lightly browned, about 10 minutes on med-hi.

Press bottom crust firmly into pie plate.
Fill with potatoes, scallops, and crabmeat.
Pour soup in even layer - use as-is from can, do not dilute with milk.
Spread top crust and crimp edges.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.  Cover crust edge with foil and bake another 15 minutes.  Serve hot.

Other combinations are possible - you can use Cream of Potato if you don't like shrimp; you can saute other seafood or fish instead of scallops.  There are lots of ways to customize and still get a nice mix of flavors.  You can add spices, such as thyme, marjoram, saffron; I put a sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning on the scallops.

Melty Bacon-Cheeseburger Dip

I have only made this once, but I really liked it.  The rest of the test group didn't seem to enjoy it as much, but they are a couple of moody bastards so you can't go by them... :)

 

This recipe is easy and kids love to make it:

Cook and drain 1# ground meat.

Mix with 1# cubed Velveeta, 1 can (drained) chopped tomatos or chopped green chilis.

Add 1c shredded mozzarella and 1/4 c bacon bits.

 

Heat over low heat in a saucepan  - OR -  microwave on high.  Stir every two minutes until cheese is fully melted.

Serve with tortilla chips or veggies for dipping!  You might need to pop the dip into the microwave to re-warm if it gets too thick as it cools.

Taco Muffins!?!

These turned out really tasty for something that was so quick and easy to make!  Try them for your Cinco de Mayo party!

The basis is Pillsbury Grand Jr biscuits.  You can put lots of different things on top.  One package has 10 biscuits; split them in half and press each half into a greased muffin pan.  (Don't use whole ones - they rise too much and push the toppings off)

Top with a tablespoon of cooked taco meat, a spoonful of taco sauce, and shredded cheese.

Bake at 350 for 8 minutes.  Cheese should be melted.  Then just scoop out of the muffin pan with a rubber scraper and serve with taco stuff.

Also try making this with pizza sauce and toppings.
The Grand Jr biscuits are a good size for standard muffin pans.  You can also make this without a muffin pan, but get the bigger biscuits and just press them together in a cake pan.