Loaded Seafood Chowder

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. flour
1 diced onion

2 celery stalks, diced

1 bell pepper, diced
1 can minced clams

1 cup cooked, deveined shrimp (small salad shrimp is great, but you can cut up larger ones as well)

1 cup lump crab meat, rough chop for smaller pieces
3 potatoes, cooked and diced
4-5 c. milk (to desired thickness)

1-2 t. Old Bay seasoning (can be more or less to taste)
salt & pepper to taste
1 can corn (optional)

Melt butter. Sauté veggies in butter. Add flour and cook briefly. Add milk and stir until smooth. Add boiled and diced potatoes. Add seasonings a bit at a time so you can taste along the way.  Add seafood and juice from can of clams. Simmer and eat!  (I use a crock pot just so it stays warm as long as I want it to).  It could also be done in an Instant Pot by cooking veggies in saute mode, and then the slow cooker option to warm the rest of the ingredients through.

I adapted this recipe from my Mom's basic clam chowder.

Jambalaya

1 pkg. Vigo Red Beans & Rice, cooked per package directions
olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 bell peppers, chopped
1 Andouille sausage, sliced
1 c. shrimp, deveined and tails pulled off --raw or cooked is fine (I like the salad-size so they're small)
parsley (for garnish-optional)

Get beans & rice going in a large saucepan per the packaging directions.  Put a small amount of olive oil in a frying pan/cast iron skillet and get it hot.  Add garlic and chopped veggies, and cook until onions are translucent, and peppers are soft.  Add sausage slices and turn when browned.  When rice is finished, incorporate veggies and sausage into the rice.  Add the shrimp at the very end; it will only need to warm through quickly since it's already cooked, although you could use raw shrimp and cook it with the sausage if desired.

I came up with this one on my own!

Cold Salad Stuffed Peppers

2 cans tuna/chicken, drained
2 stalks celery, diced
1/2 c. grapes, halved
1/2 c. shredded cheddar
1/3 c. Mayo
salt & pepper to taste
2 bell peppers, seeded & halved

Combine meat, celery, grapes, cheese, and Mayo in bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Divide evenly into the halved peppers.

Recipe from Incredibly Easy Weeknight Meals.

Mom's Clam Chowder

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. flour
1 diced onion
1 can minced clams
3 potatoes, cooked and diced
4-5 c. milk (to desired thickness)
salt & pepper to taste
1 can corn (optional)

Melt butter. Sauté onions in butter. Add flour and cook briefly. Add milk and stir until smooth. Add boiled and diced potatoes. Add clams and juice from can. Simmer and eat!  (I use a crock pot just so it stays warm as long as I want it to).

Recipe from my awesome mom, Carolyn!