Chicken Alfredo (by Pioneer Woman)

Ingredients:

12 ounces, weight Bowtie Pasta
4 Tablespoons Butter
2 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts 
Salt And Pepper, to taste
2 cloves Garlic, Minced
3/4 cups Dry White Wine (may Substitute Low-sodium Chicken Broth)
1/2 cup Half-and-half
3 Tablespoons Heavy Cream 
Low Sodium Chicken Broth, As Needed For Thinning
3/4 cups Parmesan Shavings Or Grated Parmesan
2 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley, Minced

Preparation Instructions:

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Salt and pepper both sides of the chicken breasts. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook until deep golden brown on both sides and done in the middle. Remove from the skillet, slice into thin strips, and set aside.

Add additional 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet, followed by the minced garlic. Stir the garlic around the pan to avoid burning, and cook for 1 minute. Pour in wine (or broth), then let it bubble up and reduce for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Add half-and-half, cream, and extra salt and pepper, whisking constantly until it's all combined. Allow liquid to heat up and thicken for a few minutes. If it gets too thick, you may thin it with a little chicken broth.

When the sauce looks good, remove it from the heat. Add Parmesan to the pan, then throw the hot pasta right on top of it. Toss it a bit. Add the chicken and continue tossing until it's all combined. Again, if it gets too gloopy, splash in a little broth (you may return the pan to low heat if it needs it.)

On the show she added baby spinach and grape tomatoes. So I did too and it was amazing.

Taste it, adjust seasonings, and top with minced parsley and extra Parmesan. Serve immediately!

Crockpot Lasagna

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, finely diced
1 tbsp. garlic, minced
1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
1 (15 oz.) container small curd cottage cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
1 egg
2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
1 teaspoon pepper
lasagna noodles, uncooked
salt, to taste

Directions:

Brown and crumble ground beef in a large skillet.
(You need a larger skillet for this because you'll be adding the spaghetti sauce and water to it later). Then add in onion and garlic and cook for additional 1-2 minutes. I like to season my beef mixture with a little salt at this point too.
Drain excess grease from beef. And put back into skillet. Pour in spaghetti sauce, water and cherry tomatoes (if using).

Give it all a good stir (you can turn the heat off at this point). Give it a taste test, add additional salt if necessary.

In a separate bowl, mix together cottage cheese, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, 2 tbsp. parmesan cheese, egg, pepper and chopped parsley. (Put your remaining cheeses back in the fridge, you'll be using those as a topping later).

Spray Crock Pot with non-stick cooking spray. Scoop approximately 1 cup of meat sauce into bottom of slow cooker. Top with one layer of uncooked lasagna noodles.
Just do your best to break them up to fit into your crock pot. Next top with a layer of the cheese mixture. Keep adding layers, ending with meat sauce.

I was able to get 3 layers in my 5-quart slow cooker.

Put the lid on and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
(It took exactly 4 hours in my slow cooker).
You want most of the liquid to be absorbed and noodles should be soft. When it is finished cooked add the remaining cheeses.
Put the lid back on for about 10-15 more minutes until cheese is melted.

One Pot Chili Mac & Cheese

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic
1 onion, diced
8 ounces ground beef
4 cups chicken broth
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
3/4 cup canned white kidney beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoon cumin
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
10 ounces elbows pasta
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add garlic, onion and ground beef, and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the beef as it cooks; drain excess fat.

Stir in chicken broth, tomatoes, beans, chili powder and cumin; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a simmer and stir in pasta. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer until pasta is cooked through, about 13-15 minutes.
Remove from heat. Top with cheese and cover until melted, about 2 minutes.
Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.

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.

Garlicky Baked Shrimp

Ingredients:

• 
  
• 1  pound  peeled and deveined medium or large shrimp
• 4  cloves garlic, sliced
• 2  tablespoons  white wine
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1/4  cup  softened butter
• 1/4  cup  panko bread crumbs
• 2  tablespoons  chopped parsley

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 425º F. In a baking dish, combine the shrimp, garlic, white wine, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
2. In a small bowl, combine the butter, bread crumbs, and parsley.
3. Sprinkle over the shrimp and bake until the shrimp are opaque throughout, 15 to 18 minutes.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked rice
3 cups cooked chicken,  chunks
6 slices swiss cheese
10 slices cut-up ham
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
10 saltine crackers
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon parsley

Directions:

Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Spread 2 cups cooked rice in bottom of baking dish.

Arrange 3 cups cooked chicken pieces over top of rice.

Layer 6 slices swiss cheese on top of chicken.

Then layer 10 slices cut-up ham on top of swiss cheese.

In separate bowl mix together both cans of cream of chicken soup, milk, and sour cream and spread on top of ham.

In another bowl crush 10 saltine crackers and add paprika, garlic salt, and parsley and mix together and sprinkle on top of soup mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Cajun Chicken Pasta

Ingredients:

3 while boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
3 teaspoons Cajun spice (I used Creole seasoning), more to taste
1 pound fettuccine noodles
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 whole green bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1 whole red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
1/2 of a large red onion, sliced
3 gloves garlic, minced
4 whole Roma tomatoes, diced
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup white wine
1 cup heavy cream
Cayenne pepper to taste
Black pepper to taste
Salt to taste
Chopped fresh parsley, to taste

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain when pasta is done. Do not over cook the pasta.

Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun spice over chicken pieces. Toss around to coat. Best 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add half the chicken in a single layer; do NOT stir. Allow chicken to brown on one side, about 1 minute. Flip to the other side and cook and additional minute. Remove with slotted spoon and place on a clean plate.

Repeat with remaining chicken. Remove chicken, leaving pan on high heat. Add remaining olive oil and butter. When heated, add peppers, onions, and garlic. Sprinkle on remaining Cajun spices, then add salt if needed. Cook over very high heat for several minutes, stirring gently and trying to get the vegetables as dark/black and tender as possible. Add tomatoes and cook for an additional minute stirring gently. Remove all vegetables from the pan.

With the pan over high heat, pour in the wine and chicken broth. Cook on high for 3 to 5 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in cream, stirring/whisking constantly. Cook sauce over medium-low heat for a few minutes, until cream starts to thicken the mixture. Taste and add pepper, cayenne paper, and/or salt to taste. Sauce SHOULD be spicy.

Finally, add chicken and vegetables to sauce, making sure to include all the juices that have drained onto the plate. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes, until mixture is bubbly and hot. Add drained fettuccine and toss to combine.

Top with chopped fresh parsley and chow down.

Perfect Potato Soup

Ingredients:

6 slices thin bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 whole medium onion, diced
3 whole carrots, scrubbed, cleaned, and diced
3 stalks celery, diced
6 small potatoes, peeled and diced
8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon salt, more to taste
Black pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon Cajun spice mix
1 teaspoon fresh minced parsley
1 cup grated cheese of your choice

Directions:

Add bacon pieces to a soup pit over medium high heat and cook bacon until crisp and fast is tendered. Remove the bacon from the pot and set aside. Pour off most of the grease, but do NOT clean the pot.

Return pot to medium-high heat and add the onions, carrots, and celery. Stir and cook for 2 minutes or so, then add the diced potatoes. Cook for 5 minutes, seasoning with salt, pepper, and Cajun spice.

Pour in the broth and bring it to a gentle boil. Cook for 10 minutes, or until potatoes are starting to get tender. Whisk together the flour and the milk, then pour until the soup and allow the soup to cook for another 5 minutes.

Remove half to 2/3 the soup and blend in a blender/food processer** until completely smooth. Pour it back into the soup pot and stir to combine. Let it heat back up as you taste for seasonings, adding more of what it needs. Stir in the cream, then stir in the parsley, reserving a little for garnishment.

Serve in bowls garnished with parsley, grated cheese, and crisp bacon pieces.

** This recipe states to BLEND the soup in a blender/food processer. I tried this and with me holding into the lid as I always do it blew the lid off and went all over me leaving some burns on my arm. My suggestion (what I ended up doing) is taking half the soup out and using a masher or hand mixer **

Marinated Creamed Cucumber & Onion Salad

Ingredients:

2 lg. cucumbers

1 lg. white onion

1/4 c. white vinegar

2 tbsp. sugar

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1 1/2 c. sour cream

1 tsp. chopped fresh dill

2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Salt & fresh ground pepper

1/2 c. water

Directions:

Thin slice scored cucumber and onion. Place in bowl and pour in vinegar, oil & water. Add sugar, salt, pepper, dill & parsley. Mix well. Let cool for 1/2 hour then drain off all liquid. Add sour cream. Mix well & refrigerate 1 hour.