Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Ingredients:

1 cup water
1 cup all purpose flour
2 tsp garlic powder
22 oz (6 1/2 cups) cauliflower florets
3/4 cup Hot Wing Sauce
1 tbsp melted unsalted butter

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Lightly spray a large non-stick baking sheet with oil.

Combine the water, flour, and garlic powder in a bowl and stir until well combined.

Coat the cauliflower pieces with the flour mixture and place on the baking sheet; bake for 20 minutes.

While the cauliflower is baking, combine the hot sauce and butter in a small bowl.

Pour the hot sauce mixture over the baked cauliflower and continue baking for an additional 5 minutes.

Serve with ranch dressing if desired and celery sticks.

Mini Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:

2 cans (14.5 oz each) green beans, drained
1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of mushroom soup
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup French-fried onions

Directions:

1Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 4 (7- or 8-oz) individual baking dishes (ramekins) with cooking spray.2In large bowl, mix green beans, soup, garlic and pepper flakes. Divide mixture evenly among baking dishes. Top with onions.3Bake uncovered 20 minutes or until bubbly and onions are golden brown.

Simple Icing

Ingredients:

3 large egg whites
4 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

Whisk the eggs while and slowly add in powdered sugar.

Once it reaches a creamy texture it is complete.

Pumpkin Roll

Ingredients (Roll):

3 eggs
2/3 cup pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans

Ingredients (Filling):

1 (8oz) cream cheese
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

Mix all roll ingredients together and spread onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. When done flip onto damp towel and roll up. Leave rolled up for 4 minutes. Unroll and spread filling over it and roll up again. Wrap in plastic or foil and freeze (helps it stay together easier). Lay out a few hours before wanting to eat.

Goulash (Paula Deen)

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Paula Deen’s House Seasoning
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 bay leaves 
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning 
2   (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes 
2   (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce 
3 cup water 
3 cloves garlic, chopped 
2 large onion, chopped
2 lbs lean ground beef 
1 tablespoon Paula Deen Seasoned Salt
2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked

Directions:

In a Dutch oven, saute the ground beef over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Break up the meat while sauteing. Spoon off any grease. Add the onions and garlic to the pot and saute until they are tender, about 5 minutes. Add 3 cups water, along with the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, bay leaves, soy sauce, House Seasoning, and seasoned salt. Stir well. Place a lid on the pot and allow this to cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Add the elbow macaroni, stir well, return the lid to the pot, and simmer for about 30 minutes. Turn off the heat, remove the bay leaves, and allow the mixture to sit about 30 minutes more before serving. Serve with garlic bread and a salad.

Salt Dough

Ingredients:

2 Cups of Flour
1 Cups of Salt
1 Cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 200.

In a large bowl mix salt and flour.

Gradually stir in water. Mix well until it forms a doughy consistency.
Form a ball with the dough and kneed it for at least 5 minutes. The longer you kneed the dough the smoother it gets!
Roll out the dough with a rolling pin, or use it like you would clay and form ornaments (like snowmen etc, but remember the dough will take longer to dry in 3d ornaments!)

Place the ornaments on a cookie sheet and poke a hole in the top with a toothpick, so you can thread ribbon for hanging. If you make 3d ornaments, then you may want to invest in tiny cup-hooks to screw into the top before baking. Let them air dry or bake them at 200F until dry (you can up the temp to 350 but they may turn brown a bit. Not a big deal if you paint them anyway, and if not it might look rather nice. They tend to look like cookies, or bread when they turn brown a bit).

Bake the ornaments at 200 F until they are dry. The amount of time needed to bake depends on size and thickness; thin flat ornaments may only take 45-60 minutes, thicker ones can take 2-3 hours or more. Increasing the temperature to 350F will dry the ornaments faster, but may make them brown. If you paint them, this will not matter, since the paint will cover the brown. On the other hand they may look very nice and rustic, like cookies or bread if they are kept the natural colour and just lacquered.

These make great “Baby’s first Christmas” presents as well and look cute tied to a gift! You can personalise them by painting the name of the recipient on them!

Have fun making your very own ornaments for your tree!

Happy Holidays!

One Pan Cheesy Smoked Sausage & Pasta Skillet

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb Hillshire Farm Smoked Turkey Sausage, sliced
1 cup diced onion
1 Tbsp minced garlic (about two fresh cloves)
2 cups Chicken Broth
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup milk or heavy cream
8 oz dry pasta (any small pasta will do)
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, each
1 cup shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese
1/3 cup chopped scallions, for garnish

Instructions:

Add olive oil to a 4-5 quart saute pan over medium high heat. Add onions and sausage and cook until lightly browned. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add chicken broth, tomatoes, milk, pasta, and seasonings. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until pasta is tender.

Turn off the heat and stir in 1/2 cup of cheese. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and cover for about five minutes to allow cheese to melt. Top with sliced scallions and serve.

Makes about 4 servings.

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter, softened
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Sugar or desert sprinkles

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, and egg; blend well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Add flour, baking powder and salt; mix well. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour for easier handling.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. On lightly floured surface, roll out 1/3 of the dough to 1/8 inch thick. Keep remaining dough refrigerated. Cut with floured 2 inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. If desired, sprinkle with sugar.

Bake at 400 degrees for 5-9 minutes or until edges are lightly golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Decorate if desired.

Makes 6 dozen cookies.

Hasselback Potatoes

Ingredients:

6 Medium Size Potatoes
2 - 3 Cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Butter
Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 220˚C (425˚F). Put the potato on a chopping board, flat side down. Start from one end of the potato, cut almost all the way through, at about 3 to 4 mm intervals.

Arrange the potatoes in a baking tray and insert the garlic in between the slits. Scatter some butter on top of each potato. Then drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Bake the potatoes for about 40 minutes or until the potatoes turn crispy and the flesh is soft.

Peppermint Balls

Ingredients (peppermint centers):

2 1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 1/2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
1 tablespoon crisco
Pinch of salt

Ingredients (coating):

1 bag Hershey Special Dark Chocolate Chips
1-2 tablespoons crisco

Directions:

Blend powdered sugar, corn syrup, water, peppermint extract, crisco, and a pinch of salt together.

Roll into balls as big or little as you like. Lay out on parchment/wax paper and stick in freezer. You can freeze for as little as 15 minutes or overnight.

When done freezing pull off wax paper so you can use it for the chocolate dipped ones.

Melt 1 bag Hershey's chocolate and crisco (makes it thinner for dipping) in a bowl of a pot of boiling water (double boiler).

Toss 1 ball at a time in the chocolate making sure to coat really good, fish out with a fork and set on wax paper covered cookie sheet. Freeze for 30 minutes.

These are good kept in the fridge.

Peanut Brittle

Ingredients:

2 cups granulated white sugar
1 cup water
1 cup light corn syrup
2 cups raw or roasted & salted peanuts
1/4 teaspoon salt (if you used raw peanuts)
1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

1. Spray a rimmed cookie sheet with nonstick spray.

2. Combine sugar, water and syrup in a medium-large saucepan. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and cook at medium heat slowly to the soft ball stage (245 degrees F. on a candy thermometer), stirring gently every so often. Add 2 cups of peanuts and salt (if using). Continue to cook until the thermometer registers 300 degrees F. Add baking soda. Stir to blend and continue to cook until golden brown (just a minute or so more). Remove from heat and stir to combine.

3. Pour the hot mixture onto the prepared pan and spread it out as much as you can with a wooden spoon. Cool completely, and then break into pieces.

Tips:

*Keep your peanut brittle in a tightly covered container until you are ready to serve/eat it. The texture of candy can be greatly affected by the humidity in the air.

*If you are using a candy thermometer that clips to the side, just make sure that the bottom of the thermometer is resting inside the liquid and not pushed all the way to the bottom of the pan (you'll get a false reading if it's touching the bottom of the pan where the heat source is strongest).

Fresh Cooked Green Beans

Ingredients:

1 lb green beans
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 tablespoons bacon grease (can substitute 1 T butter and 1 T olive oil)
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt (can substitute regular table salt; use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon)
Ground black pepper

Directions:

Snap the stem ends of green beans, or cut them off in a big bunch with a knife if you’d like. Just don’t tell Granny. Melt bacon grease in a skillet over medium low heat. Add garlic and onions and cook for a minute. Then add green beans and cook for a minute until beans turn bright green. Add the chicken broth, chopped red pepper, salt, and black pepper. Turn heat to low and cover with a lid, leaving lid cracked to allow steam to escape. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes or until liquid evaporates and beans are fairly soft, yet still a bit crisp. You can add more chicken broth during the cooking process, but don’t be afraid to let it all cook away so the onions and peppers can caramelize.

Edible Glitter

Ingredients:

1/4 cup sugar/salt
2-10 drops food coloring

Directions:

Put sugar in a jar that has a lid. Drop 2-10 drops food coloring onto sugar, close lid, and shake. Add more food coloring to get desired color. Place foil on baking sheet and spinkle colored sugar onto it. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Store in air tight container.

You can do this with salt to add to the rim of a glass also.

Chili Cheese Corn

Ingredients:

1 8oz. package cream cheese
2 Tbsp. butter
4 cups fresh or thawed frozen corn.
1 4oz. can chopped green chilis
1/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional, I didn't have any so I made it without)

Directions:

In a large saucepan, combine the cream cheese and butter.  Cook and stir over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until smooth.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Cook for 5 minutes or heated through.
This makes 6 servings

Whiskey Meatballs

Ingredients:

1 Trusty Crockpot
1 bag (1 lb.) frozen meatballs
1/2 heaping c. Ketchup
1/2 c. Packed Brown Sugar
1/4 c. Whiskey
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

Directions:

 In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients except your meatballs. Mix up really well.

Place your frozen meatballs into your crock pot, and pour the whiskey sauce in on top. Mix it up all around so each meatball is coated with the whiskey sauce.

Now turn up the heat to high. Leave it on high for about an hour, stirring a couple times.

Once it appears that the meatballs have somewhat thawed, go ahead and turn your crockpot down to low and cooked until done.

Breakfast Burritos (Basic)

Ingredients:

Eggs
Milk
Sausage
Shredded Cheese
Flour Tortillas

Directions:

Cook your sausage according to package directions and chop up.

Mix eggs with milk and then scramble the eggs.

Mix in sausage and cheese and heat until cheese is melted.

Roll in flour tortillas.

Freezer ready once wrapped in plastic wrap or foil.

Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp salt
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 medium onion, sliced
1 large bell pepper, seeded and sliced (I use half a green and half a red)
12 flour tortillas
Toppings such as cheese, sour cream, and guacamole – if desired

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken strips in a greased 13×9 baking dish.

In a small bowl combine the oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano, and salt

Drizzle the spice mixture over the chicken and stir to coat.

Next add the tomatoes, peppers, and onions to the dish and stir to combine.

Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.

Serve on tortillas with desired toppings.

Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Ingredients:

1 1/2-2 pounds boneless pork chops
1/3 cup honey
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 cloves minced garlic
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Preheat grill or griddle to medium heat.  In a small mixing bowl, combine honey, ketchup, soy sauce, and garlic.  Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper.  Brush each pork chop with prepared sauce on both sides.  Place pork chops on hot grill and cook for about 5 minutes on each side (or until cooked through), basting frequently.

Chocolate/Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Ingredients:

4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter or coconut oil
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar or brown rice syrup
1/4 cup honey
2 cups plain granola
1 cup rice cereal (Rice Krispies, etc.)
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup peanut butter chips

Process:

Line two 9×5 loaf pans or one 11×7 inch baking pan (see tip #4 above if you want to use 9×13) with foil or parchment. Lightly butter or spray the foil.

Combine butter, honey and brown sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the butter is melted.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sugar is dissolved, 2 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat.

Add the granola and rice cereal into the saucepan and fold them into the sauce until evenly coated.

Spread the mixture into the prepared pans and press firmly with a spatula to evenly fill. Sprinkle the chocolate and peanut butter chips onto the top of the granola and gently press them down with the spatula.

Let sit for 15-20 minutes or until mostly cooled and set*; lift out of the pan and cut into bars.

Recipe Note:

If the bars are sticky but not quite holding together, place them in the fridge to harden for 10-15 minutes. I’ve noticed that on very warm days, the bars don’t always harden at room temperature, this is especially true if you use brown rice syrup.

Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Burritos

These are supposed to be close. To McDonald's breakfast burritos.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper
18 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup chopped ham
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
20 flour tortillas

Directions:

Saute onions and bell peppers in butter. Beat eggs and milk together and pour into skillet with the onions and peppers.

Add the ham, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until eggs are set. Mix in cheese and let melt.

Scoop 1/2 cup egg mixture onto tortillas. Fold ends under and roll up. Freeze (see instructions below) or put all burritos in a baking dish, top with cheese (if you'd like) and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve with salsa.

Freezer Instructions:

Wrap burrito in a paper towel then in a sheet of foil. Seal tightly and place in freezer bags. When bag is full, remove air and seal. Freeze.

Serve:

Remove foil and put paper towel wrapped burrito in microwave. Reheat for around one minute. Serve with salsa.

Easy Cheeseburger Casserole

Ingredients:

2 cups (6 oz) Penne Pasta
2 teaspoons of olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 lb lean ground beef (95% lean) - or you can use ground turkey
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
28 oz diced tomatoes
2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
2 cups reduced fat grated cheddar cheese

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. In a large pot of boiling water, cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain Well.

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the beef and cook until browned; season with salt and pepper. Add the diced tomatoes and mustard. Let the mixture bubble until it is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with your salt and pepper.

Put your noodles in the greased pan and pour your meat sauce on top. Slightly mix together your noodles and sauce. Cover with foil and cook for 20 minutes. Take it out of the oven and remove your foil. Add your cheese on top and stick back in the oven until the cheese is melted.  (5 to 10 minutes). Serve while it is warm.

If you decide to freeze do NOT add cheese just leave that off for now and add at time of baking.
 

Bean & Cheese Burritos

Ingredients:

43oz refried beans (one BIG can & one regular can)
1 cup salsa
1 packet taco seasoning
Shredded cheese
Flour tortillas (I used fajita size)

Directions:

Mix refried beans, salsa, and taco seasoning in a bowl and mix.

Spread bean mixture down middle of tortilla and top with shredded cheese, then roll up on all 4 sides.

Wrap individually in plastic wrap and then store in gallon bag for freezing.

Tip:

I used fajita size tortillas and I ended up with 21 burritos.

You can also add hamburger, chicken, or any other ingredients that you prefer.

Homemade Marinara

Ingredients:

8-10 tomatoes (mixed Roma & on-the-vine)
1/2 yellow or white onion
Garlic, 4-5 cloves, peeled
Olive oil
Basil
Thyme
Salt
Pepper
Tomato sauce, 8oz

Directions:

Chop all the ingredients up and put it into a 9x13 pan. Toss it with olive oil and seasonings. Stick it in the oven at 200 degrees for 3 hours. You want everything to be nice and mushy. Put it in a blender or food processor and puree. Add your can of tomato sauce and puree some more. The sauce should be pretty smooth. Taste it and add extra seasonings as needed.

You could probably even add parmesan or Romano and give it a cheesy flavor at this point.

This makes 2 pint size jars. If you will be using this quickly, ok, if not consider canning or freezing.

Chicken Tetrazzini

Ingredients:

1 (7oz) package spaghetti (I broke into 2 inch before boiling to help out with less cutting for the kids)
3 cups cooked chicken (I used 3 large cans)
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 can cream of chicken
1 (16oz) jar Alfredo sauce
1 cup frozen peas
3/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions immediately:

Preheat oven to 350. Cook pasta according to directions. Meanwhile, stir together chicken, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, and rest of the ingredients; stir in pasta. Spoon mixture in 9x13 pan or 2 - 8x8 pans. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese. Bake for 35 minutes or until bubbly.

Freezer:

I split mine into 2 - 8x8 pans and covered with foil and then added the lid (throw away aluminum pans). Freeze.

Defrost in fridge overnight and bake according to above directions.

BBQ Chicken

Makes 2 bagged meals

Ingredients:

Divide between 2 bags:

3 sweet potatoes, cubed
1 zucchini, chopped
1 onion, sliced
2 green bell peppers, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
4-5 chicken breasts, diced

In each bag, place:

8oz tomato paste
1 tablespoon worchestershire sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon mustard powder
1 garlic clove
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Close up bag, mix a bit and freeze

To cook:

Add 3/4 cup water and mixture to crockpot and cook on low 8 hours

Snickers Cake

Ingredients:

1 box devils food cake mix, plus ingredients to make the cake
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 jar Smucker's hot caramel ice cream topping
1/2 cup chocolate chips
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 snickers candy bars, chopped
1/3 cup peanuts, chopped
caramel sauce
chocolate sauce

Directions:

Bake cake in a 9x13-inch pan according to direction on the package.

While cake is baking, mix condensed milk and hot caramel topping until well blended. When the cake is done and while it's still hot, poke holes in it with a fork or straw. Pour milk mixture over the cake. Allow cake to cool completely. Sprinkle chocolate chips over cake. 

In a chilled bowl, whip together heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla. Whip on high speed of an electric mixer for 1-2 minutes. Stir in chopped snickers. Spread over cake. Sprinkle chopped peanuts over cake. Drizzle caramel and chocolate sauce on top. Chill.

Mexican Pizza (like Taco Bell)

Ingredients:

1 cup refried beans
2 Roma tomatoes, diced finely
2/3 c. shredded cheese
2 green onions, sliced
1/3 c. enchilada sauce
4 flour tortillas
Cooking spray

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a hot skillet or griddle with cooking spray and 'fry' the tortillas, flipping frequently so they don’t burn. You want them to get nice and crispy. Remove fried tortillas to a plate.
2. Heat the refried beans so they are warm. Place 2 tortillas on a baking sheet. Spread 1/2 cup of refried beans onto each tortilla. Place remaining tortillas on top of beans.
3. Pour half of enchilada sauce on top of each tortilla and spread around.
4. Add half of the chopped tomato on top of the sauce. Add 1/3 cup of cheese on top of each tortilla. Add half of the green onions on top of the cheese.
5. Place in oven and cook about 8-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve and enjoy!

Mini Peach Cobblers

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
a dash of salt
¾ cup milk
1 stick of melted butter
brown sugar
cinnamon
1can diced peaches

Directions:

Put 1 tsp of melted butter into each regular size muffin tin.

Combine the first 5 ingredients by hand… sugar, flour, baking powder, salt and milk.

Put 2 tbsp of batter into each regular size muffin tin… on top of the melted butter.

Then put 1 tbsp diced peaches on top of the batter.

Sprinkle with brown sugar and then cinnamon. I do a pretty generous “sprinkle”.

Bake the regular size muffin tins for 12 minutes.

Let them cool almost completely before taking out of pan.

White Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:

10 soft taco shells
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
3 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
1 (4 oz) can diced green chillies

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9x13 pan
2. Mix chicken and 1 cup cheese.  Roll up in tortillas and place in pan.
3. In a sauce pan, melt butter, stir in flour and cook 1 minute.  Add broth and whisk until smooth.  Heat over medium heat until thick and bubbly.  
4. Stir in sour cream and chilies.  Do not bring to boil, you don't want curdled sour cream.
5. Pour over enchiladas and top with remaining cheese.
6. Bake 22 min and then under high broil for 3 min to brown the cheese.

Chicken Lo Mein - One Pot Wonder

Ingredients:

½lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into small chunks
12oz whole wheat linguini or fettuccini, broken in half
4 medium carrots, peeled and cut in thin 3 inch long strips
1 medium red bell pepper, cut in thin 3 inch long strips
1 bunch green onions, white part sliced and green part cut in 3 inch long strips
4 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon corn starch
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
½ cup water
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

Instructions:

Add the chicken, then the pasta, then the remaining ingredients to a large stockpot and cover. Bring to a boil. Stir and reduce to a simmer. Cook covered for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cook until most of the liquid is gone and the chicken is cooked through.

Lasagna

Ingredients:

1 pound sweet Italian sausage (I use turkey sausage)
¾ pound lean ground beef
½ c onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
½ cup water
2 T sugar
1½ t dried basil leaves
½ t fennel seeds (I usually omit this)
1 t Italian seasoning
1 T salt (I usually reduce to a couple teaspoons)
¼ t ground black pepper
4 T chopped fresh parsley
12 lasagna noodles (regular or no cook. I usually use no cook noodles.)
16 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
½ t salt
¾ pound mozzarella cheese, shredded
¾ c grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

In a large Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until cooked through and browned.

Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water, and stir everything together.

Add sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 T salt, pepper, and 2 T parsley, and stir to combine.

Simmer, covered, for at least 1½ hours, stirring occasionally. I usually try to simmer for as long as possible.

If using regular lasagna noodles, cook according to package instructions and drain.

In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, remaining parsley, and ½ teaspoon salt.
Preheat oven to 375°F.

To assemble, spread 1½ cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Arrange a single layer of noodles over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese.

Spoon 1½ cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.

Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.

Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes.

Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Chicken Marsala

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/4-inch thick
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons butter, divided
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (16-ounce) package mushrooms, sliced
1 shallot, minced
3/4 cup Marsala wine
1/4 cup dry sherry
1/2 bag egg noodles, cooked according to package directions
1 (9-ounce) package frozen peas, cooked according to directions
chopped parsley for garnish, optional

Directions:

In a shallow dish or pie pan, combine flour, salt, and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour mixture.

In a large skillet heat 2 tablespoons butter and oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 3-4 minutes per side, until cooked through. Remove chicken from pan and keep warm.

Add remaining tablespoon butter to pan and place mushrooms in pan. Turn heat up slightly and saute until mushrooms are nice and browned and have lost most of their water content. Add minced shallot and saute for 30 seconds.

Using a slotted spoon, remove mushrooms from pan and place with chicken.

Add Marsala and Sherry to pan and cook over medium heat until reduced to about 1/2 cup. Add chicken and mushrooms back to pan.

Mix noodles and peas together and top with chicken and Marsala sauce.

Garnish with parsley.

No Bake Italian Sausage 'Calazones'

Ingredients:

8 diagonally cut slices (1/2 inch thick) French bread
Cooking spray
1 package (19.5 oz) uncooked sweet or hot Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed, crumbled
1 small green bell pepper, sliced
1 can (18 oz) Progresso™ Recipe Starters™ fire roasted tomato cooking sauce
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella or Parmesan cheese (2 oz)

Directions:

Set oven control to broil. Place bread slices on ungreased cookie sheet. Spray bread with cooking spray. Broil with tops 4 to 6 inches from heat 1 to 2 minutes or until light brown; set aside.

In 10-inch skillet, cook sausage and bell pepper over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in cooking sauce; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.

Place 2 toasted bread slices on each of 4 plates; top each with sausage mixture. Sprinkle with cheese.

Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

Ingredients:

4 large Jalapeno Peppers
3-4 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
4-5 Green Onions, minced
Black Pepper, to taste
4 slices Colby Jack or Cheddar Cheese
4 slices Sourdough Bread
Butter

Directions:

On a hot grill {or in your oven cranked to 450}, char the jalapenos... about 10-15 minutes.

Place charred jalapenos in a bag to steam. After about 10 minutes, gently peel of the skin. Slice off the tops and discard. Slice down one side of the pepper and carefully remove the seed and ribs of the pepper.

Preheat griddle to 375 degrees.

Next combine the cream cheese, minced green onion and black pepper in a small bowl. Spread desired amount of cream cheese on one slice of bread then layer jalapeno's and cheese.

Butter outer slices and griddle until golden and crispy.

S'mores Brownies

Ingredients:

8 sheets of graham crackers
¼ cup butter, melted
2 Tablespoons sugar
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2½ Tablespoons cocoa powder
2 eggs
¾ cup flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 heaping cup mini marshmallows
3 oz milk chocolate chips or 2 1.5-oz Hershey bars, broken into pieces

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In an 8×8 pan spray the sides with non-stick cooking spray.

In a food processor, pulse the graham crackers until fine. In a small bowl, combine the crumbs, 2 Tbs sugar, and ¼ cup melted butter.

Press firmly in the bottom of the 8×8 dish.

In a medium bowl or kitchenaid mixer, combine softened butter, 1 cup sugar, and cocoa until smooth. Add eggs and stir. Add flour, vanilla and salt until the mixture is combined.

Spread half over the graham cracker crust.Sprinkle marshmallows on top of half of the layer, then spread remaining batter on the top.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.Sprinkle the chocolate chips or broken hershey bars on top of the brownie. Return to the oven and let cook for 3 more minutes.

Remove from oven and spread chocolate with a rubber spatula. Cool completely.