Family Recipe Dinner

I’m so excited! 😍 My Grandma Judy is an amazing cook, look at all the recipes in that box, and she wanted me to have them! I started scouring that box right away and picked out a few recipes to make and invited my family over for a Grandma Judy dinner!

The Menu

Olive Cheese Ball
Chicken & Crab Elegante
Vidalia Casserole
Mimi’s Salad

Olive Cheese Ball
8 oz crumbled blue cheese
16 oz cream cheese
1/4 c. butter
1 can black olives, chopped
fresh chives
chopped walnuts on outside

If you don’t like blue cheese, this probably won’t be your favorite appetizer, but I loved it! Since it was mixed with cream cheese it took the “bite” out of it and well, olives are my favorite so I thought it was just delish. I also served carrots and celery with it which was a match made in heaven, blue cheese and celery anyone?

Chicken & Crab Elegante
3-4 Cooked Chicken Breasts
Drain 1 can crab meat, set aside
Saute: 1/2 c. sliced mushrooms, 1/4 c. chopped onion in 3T butter
Blend in: 3T flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp white pepper
Gradually add 1.5 c. chicken broth & 1/2 c. white wine, cook until thick.
Add 2 beaten egg yolks to broth and cook for 2 minutes.
Remove from heat, add bag of cooked frozen peas and crab meat
Pour over chicken in casserole dish, top with parmesan cheese.
Bake at 325 for 20 minutes.

I love making casseroles when I have guests because I can do a lot of the prep work before they arrive and just cook the thing when it’s almost time for dinner. This one however, is a little more work I guess hence the word, “elegante” in the title. It was creamy and delicious, I loved the peas in it! The crab added a flavor but wasn’t overpowering, it just made it taste a little more fancy!

Vidalia Casserole
4-5 Vidalia or sweet onions sliced 1/4” thick
Saute onions in 1/4 c. butter until tender.
Mix in sour cream, approx 1 cup and pour in casserole dish.
Top with parmesan cheese and crushed butter crackers.
Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

My Mom and Aunt have made this dish that I can remember, so it wasn’t completely new to me, but it’s a goodie. It’s a nice alternative to potatoes. The sweet onions are tasty and the butter crackers with parmesan add a yummy crunchy topping. Again, dishes that can be made a little ahead are my favorite. this is a crowd fave too.

Do you have any family recipes that you love? I’m excited to have my Grandma Judy’s collection and pass it down to my daughters one day too!