itty bitty fish

This recipe is from my mom. I love it. The bitty fish love it. Unless you don’t like corn, it’s hard not to love it.

Corn Pudding Casserole

1 – 15oz can of whole kernel corn drained
2 – 15oz can of creamed corn
1 – box Jiffy corn muffin mix
8 oz sour cream
1/2 stick of butter (1/4 cup), melted
2 eggs

Coat a 3 qt casserole dish with melted butter. Mix the rest of the ingredients into the buttered dish. Put in 350 degree oven for 50 minutes or until center is firm. NOTE: If you want to do little corn squares with this recipe, just omit the second can of creamed corn and pour into a large flat baking dish [mix should be about an inch or so deep]. Bake for about 40 minutes or until firm.

These days, I always seems to be making dinner at the last minute. I’m constantly trying to come up with recipes that take less than 20 minutes… because as soon as twofish even senses I’m cooking she throws herself around the kitchen, writhing in agony and angry-talking at me because I’m not paying enough attention to her. This was tonight’s recipe [serves two big and two bitty people].

bitty baked potatoes
Four medium-sized [round] baking potatoes
Four pieces of center-cut bacon
One large chicken breast [cut into tiny cubes]
Two cups of broccoli [chopped and steamed]
Two slices of American cheese [or shredded cheddar]
Salt & pepper

With a fork, punch holes in the potatoes. For speed reasons I cooked the potatoes in the microwave – 3 to 4 minutes on each side at full power, then 2 minutes on each side at half power. Fry the bacon on medium-low to the crispness of your liking. Take the bacon out of the pan and cook the chicken in the bacon drippings. Crumble the bacon into the pan with the chicken and fold in the steamed broccoli. Salt and pepper to taste.

Scoop out the center of the cooked potatoes to make little bowls [set aside the leftover potato].

Fill potatoes with bacon/chicken/broccoli mix and top each with a quarter of an American cheese slice [or shredded cheddar]. Pop in microwave for about 30 seconds [just enough to melt the cheese]. And… dinner.

[for the teeny tiny ones, take the potato centers and leftover bacon/chicken/broccoli mix and mash/puree together.]

I’ve been in love with this itty bit of silicone since I first saw it at A.C. Moore a couple months ago. So, I jumped at the chance to make their Halloween treats for onefish’s preschool class so a) I had an excuse to buy it and b) so I could make delicious, cute treats for onefish and his class. I used an orange cake mix [if you have a good "from scratch" recipe you want to share, please do] and turned the little guys over right out of the oven so their wee faces [on the bottom of the muffins] didn’t get smooshed.

After they were completely cool, I covered their tops with vanilla icing so the kids could decorate them with sprinkles. They turned out delicious, and [I was told] they were a hit with the kids. Now I have to figure out what I’m going to do for their snacks week after next…