Leftover Ham and Cheese Soup

Potatoes
Carrots
Onion
Ham bone
Leftover ham
Cheese (I used pepper jack and gouda)
Water
Cornstarch
Salt and pepper

In a stock pot, combine potatoes, carrots, onion, and ham bone.  Add enough water to cover.  Bring water to a boil and let simmer until vegetables are tender.  Measure out 1 1/2 c of milk and whisk in some cornstarch (2 T or so).  Add to stock pot.  Once soup is thickened, turn off heat and shred some cheese into the pot.  Allow to melt into the pot, continually stirring.  Season with salt and pepper.

Traditional Brigadeiros

 1 (14oz) can sweet condensed milk
 4 Tbsp cocoa powder, sifted
 2 Tbsp butter, plus more for rolling balls
 A pinch of salt
 Good quality chocolate sprinkles (or any other type of sprinkles you like)

In a small sauce pan mix the sweet condensed milk, the cocoa powder, the salt and the butter.

Bring the sauce pan to the stove and heat it over medium-low heat.

Cook it, mixing constantly (this is important, otherwise it will burn!) until it thickens. A way to know is to run your wooden spoon (or spatula) in the middle of the mixture. If it takes a while for the mixture to move, then your brigadeiro is ready!

Reserve, letting it cool to room temperature.

In a plate or bowl, spread your sprinkles.

Once the brigadeiro is cool, grease your hands with butter and roll the brigadeiros into little balls.(In Brazil we usually use half a tablespoon as measurement, but you can make your balls as big or small as you'd like!)

Roll the brigadeiro balls into the sprinkles and place them in paper/foil candy cups.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

3/4 c peanut butter

1/2 c shortening

Cream, then add:

1/3 c brown sugar

1/3 c white sugar

Mix until fluffy, then add:

1 egg 

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 T milk

Mix well, then add:

1 1/2 c flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Form into one inch balls and roll balls in granulated sugar. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. Immediately press kisses into the middle of cookie. Place on baking rack to cool.

Jell-O Lemon Meringue Pie

2 boxes of 2.9 oz jello or 6 oz box

Make as directed.  Use egg whites to whip into meringue.  Add 1/3 c sugar gradually after it's whipped to stiff peaks.

Bake pie crust at 350 for 12 minutes.  Make sure you poke holes in the pie crust to vent before baking.  After it's cooled, add pudding mixture to it.  Make meringue and top pie, sealing to the crust.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 can of pumpkin
1/2 c white sugar 
1/4 c brown sugar
1/2 c vegetable oil or melted butter (allowed to cool)
1 egg
1 T vanilla extract
2 c all-purpose flour
2 t baking powder
2 t ground cinnamon
1/4 t pumpkin pie spice
½ t salt
1 t baking soda
1 t milk
2 c semisweet chocolate chips

In a large glass bowl, melt butter.  Combine with sugars and mix until there are no lumps.  Mix in egg, vanilla, and pumpkin.  Dissolve baking soda into milk.  Mix into wet ingredients.  In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, spices and salt.  Combine dry ingredients into wet ingredients.  Stir in chocolate chips.  On a greased cookie pan, bake for 12-14 minutes at 350.

Dumplings for soup

1 c all-purpose flour
2 t baking powder
1 t white sugar 
½ t salt
1 T margarine
½ c milk

Stir together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in medium size bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in milk to make a soft dough.  Drop by small spoonfuls into boiling stew. Cover and simmer 15 minutes without lifting lid. 

Meatball subs

 Meatballs
Spaghetti/marinara sauce
Shredded cheese
French bread
Additional spices

Slice the french bread in half and hollow out the middles.  Heat meatballs with marinara sauce in a sauce pan.  Once meatballs are heated, place into hollowed out halves.  Sprinkle cheese over top of meatballs and broil over high heat until cheese is heated and bread is toasty.

Whipped Cream Frosting

1 (8 ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
½ cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
2 cups heavy cream

Cream together cream cheese and sugar.  Add in extracts.  Once smooth, continue on medium speed while slowly adding in heavy whipping cream.

Another method:  whip up heavy whipping cream.  Once that is done, cream together all the other ingredients.  When that is smooth, fold cream cheese mixture into whipped cream.

Basil Spinach Chicken

Chicken tenders, enough to fill a frying pan
Basil
Spinach
Salt and pepper
Garlic
Olive oil

Heat olive oil and garlic on medium heat.  Put thawed chicken tenders on to cook.  Salt and pepper the chicken.  Once they are ready to be turned, turn over and let cook.  Once they are almost done, tear up spinach leaves and spread over chicken.  Do the same with the basil leaves.  Turn down heat and cover until spinach and basil are wilted. 

Zucchini Coins

2 zucchini, sliced into coins

Olive oil

Garlic powder

Oregano

Basil

Salt

Pepper

Fresh parmesan

Slice the zucchini into coins.  Put into bowl and drizzle olive oil to coat the coins.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper.  Put cooling racks on baking sheet.  Arrange coins on top of cooling rack.  Combine all seasonings and sprinkle over coins.  Finally, sprinkle grated parmesan over coins.  Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes.  When done baking, broil for 2 minutes until tops are golden brown.

Salisbury Steaks

2 lbs. ground meat (I use turkey)
1 egg
Splash of Worcestershire sauce
Ground mustard powder
Onion soup mix
Dried minced onions
Bread or cracker crumbs
Salt and pepper
Italian seasoning

Sauce/gravy:
1 can cream of mushroom
3/4 c water
Splash of milk

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine meat and seasonings.  While I didn't measure how much I put in the mixture, I just added what looked good.  Mix all ingredients together.  Heat frying pan.  Shape meat into oval and brown top and bottom of patty.  Lay on greased 9x13 pan.  Make gravy by mixing ingredients together.  If you want it thinner, add more milk.  Spread gravy on browned patties.  Cover and bake for 30 minutes.  Makes 10 patties.

Asian Pasta

Chicken sausage
Green and red bell pepper
Onion
Pineapple (optional)

Sauce:
1/4 c soy sauce
1/4 c water (could also use pineapple juice)
1 T brown sugar
1 T rice vinegar
1/2 T sesame oil
1/2 T fresh grated ginger
Minced garlic
1 T cornstarch
Drizzle of honey

Boil pasta.  Chop onion, peppers.  Saute in teriyaki sauce.  Add chicken sausage.  Make sauce while meat is simmering. 

To make your ginger teriyaki glaze: in a small saucepan over medium-high heat combine the following: soy sauce, water, sugar, rice vinegar and sesame oil, stirring often until sugar fully dissolves. Then add in your ginger and garlic. Drizzle honey into mixture.  Next, in a small bowl combine your cornstarch and enough water to just cover the cornstarch. Stir rapidly with a fork until fully combined. Then, add cornstarch mixture to saucepan. Bring everything to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer for approx. 2 mins until sauce is thickened. Remove from heat set aside.

Serve meat and pepper mixture over pasta or rice.  Drizzle with sauce.

Crockpot Lasagna

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, finely diced
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 (26 oz) jar spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
1 (15 oz) container small curd cottage cheese (or ricotta cheese)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided use
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided use
1 egg
4-6 lasagna noodles, uncooked

Brown and crumble ground beef, onion, and garlic in a large skillet.  Drain excess grease from beef and put back into skillet.  Pour in spaghetti sauce and water.  Give it all a good stir.
In a separate bowl, mix together cottage cheese, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, 2 tbsp. parmesan cheese, egg, pepper.  Spray crock pot with no-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 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. You want most of the liquid to be absorbed and noodles should be soft.
When it is finished cooking, add remaining cheeses.  Put the lid back on for about 10-15 more minutes until cheese is melted.

1 Hour Breadsticks

Dough:
 1 1/2 cups warm water
 1 tablespoon instant yeast
 2 tablespoons sugar
 1 teaspoon salt
 3 to 4 cups flour

Topping:
 3 tablespoons butter, melted (for the baking sheet)
 Dried herbs, garlic salt and grated Parmesan cheese

In an electric stand mixer fitted with the dough hook (or in a large bowl by hand), mix together the water, yeast, sugar, salt and one cup of the flour.  Continue adding the flour until the dough just clears the sides of the bowl; knead for about three minutes. It should be soft and slightly sticky without leaving a lot of residue on your fingers.  Let the dough rest in the bowl for 10 minutes.
While the dough rests, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spread the melted butter onto large, rimmed baking sheet.  On a lightly greased counter top, pat the dough into a long rectangle, about 16-inches by 7-inches or so. Cut the dough every 1-inch (more or less) into strips with a pizza cutter.
Twist each strip slightly and place about 1/2-inch apart on the baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with dried herbs of choice, garlic salt and Parmesan cheese.  Let rise for 20 minutes (you can cover with greased plastic wrap, if desired, I usually go without). Bake for 15 minutes until golden.

Baked French Toast Sticks

8 slices thick-cut Texas toast bread
3 large eggs
1 1/2 c whole milk
1 t ground cinnamon
2 T sugar
2 t vanilla extract
Cooking spray
Maple syrup, for serving

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and grease it with cooking spray.

Cut each slice of bread into three sticks width wise.

In a large shallow dish or bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla extract. Dip each stick of bread in the egg mixture, coating it on all sides, then shake off the excess and arrange it on the baking sheet. Repeat the dipping process, arranging the French toast sticks on the baking sheet so that they aren’t touching.

Bake the French toast sticks for 12 minutes then flip them once, spray them lightly with cooking spray and return them to the oven for an additional 12 to 15 minutes or until cooked through.

Remove the French toast sticks from the oven and serve warm with maple syrup.

To freeze the French toast sticks for quick reheating, bake them as directed then cool completely and package in a sealable plastic bag. To reheat, remove frozen French toast sticks from the freezer and microwave for 30 to 60 seconds until warmed through.

Mom's Magic Bread

2/3 c milk
1/3 c applesauce
1 egg
1/4 c molasses or brown sugar
2 T butter (room temperature)
1 t salt
2 t yeast
3 c flour

Combine in bread machine on dough setting.  Check on dough after machine kneads for a bit.  If dry, add more milk.  If sticky, add more flour.  Dough should be slightly sticky.  Once bread machine has run its course, sprinkle flour on table or other flat surface.  Transfer dough to floured surface.  Knead to get all the bubbles out.  Form dough and set into greased bread pan.  Allow to rise until just above the bread pan edges.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

6 c fresh cauliflower florets (1-2 heads)
Bacon (6 strips-ish) cooked and chopped
4 green onions, diced
1/2 c mayonnaise
1/2 c sour cream
2 c sharp shredded cheese
1 t garlic powder
1 t onion powder
1/2 t paprika
1 t salt

Preheat oven to 425 and grease a 9x13 pan.
Steam cauliflower. 
In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, spices, most of the bacon and green onions along with the cauliflower and half of the cheddar cheese. Mix well and then transfer your cauliflower mixture to the pan. Sprinkle on the remaining cheese, bacon and green onions and bake for 15-20 minutes.

*Depending on the amount of cauliflower (I used one big head and had at least 8 cups), you would want to add more sour cream/mayo mixture.  I just made sure the cauliflower pieces were nice and coated.

Banana Bread

3-4 ripe bananas
1/3 c butter, melted
3/4 c sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 t vanilla
1 t baking soda
1 1/2 c flour (1 c whole wheat, 1/2 c white flour)
pinch of salt
1 t cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 and grease loaf pan.  In mixing bowl, mash bananas with fork.  Add melted butter and stir.  Mix in sugar, egg and vanilla.  Mix in baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  Add flour and mix until just combined.  Pour into loaf pan and bake for 1 hr or until knife in center comes out clean.

Meatloaf

1 1/2 lb ground beef or turkey
1 egg
1 onion, chopped
1 c milk
1 c dried bread crumbs
Salt and pepper to taste

Topping:
2 T brown sugar
2 T prepared mustard
1/3 c ketchup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine the beef, egg, onion, milk and bread or cracker crumbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste and place in a lightly greased 5x9 inch loaf pan, or form into mini loafs in muffin tins.
In a separate small bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard and ketchup. Mix well and pour over the meatloaf.
Bake for 1 hour.