Tortellini with Spinach, Mushrooms and Goat Cheese

Ingredients:
1 bag frozen tortellini (You could use fresh too if you are near a good market- either works. But this is a nice meal to make since you can have the frozen tortellini on hand anytime!)
5 cups of baby spinach spinach (sounds like a lot but trust me, it cooks down to nothing)
1 small, 8 oz. log of goat cheese
2 containers of baby bella mushrooms, sliced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small onion, minced
2 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons olive oil salt and pepper
balsamic vinegar

Directions:
1. Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add garlic and onion and sauté until translucent. Add butter until melted. Add mushrooms until tender and slightly browned. Add the spinach in handfuls, adding more to the pan as it begins to wilt and shrink.
2. While the spinach is wilting in the sauté pan, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add tortellini and cook according to package directions (mine only took 3 minutes hence making the pasta at the end instead of the beginning like most recipes).
3. Drain tortellini and add to the sauté pan with the spinach and mushrooms. Crumble up the whole log of goat cheese on top and toss lightly. Season with salt and pepper and Balsamic vinegar

Summer Vegetable Tian

(Serves 6)

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 medium yellow squash
1 medium potato
1 medium tomato
(optional 1 medium sweet potato)
1 teaspoon dried thyme
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup shredded Italian cheese

Preheat oven to 400°. Finely dice the onion and mince the garlic. Saute both in a skillet with olive oil until softened (about 5 minutes)
While the onion and garlic are saueing, thinly slice the rest of the vegetables.
Spray the inside of an 8x8 square or round baking dish with non-stick spray. Spread teh softened onion and garlic in the bottom of the dish. Place the thinly sliced vegetables in the baking dish vertically, in an alternating pattern.
Sprinkle generously with salt, pepper and thyme
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, top with cheese and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.

Jana's Zucchini casserole

 4 cups chopped zucchini
3/4 cup sliced carrot
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1-2 cups cooked chicken
1 package Stove Top stuffing (chicken flavor)
4 tablespoons butter.

saute carrots and onion in butter then add zucchini.  Stir and cook a little bit. Stir in soup, chicken, sour cream, 1 cup stuffing.  Pour into a 9x13 pan.  Sprinkle the rest of the stuffing on top.  You can add cheese to the top if you want to.  Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.

Rossana's gravy recipe

3-4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 carrot, chopped fine 
1-2 ribs celery, chopped fine 
1 onion, chopped fine 
5-6 mushrooms, sliced 
1/4 cup flour
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
2 cups low sodium beef broth 
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon fresh thyme or 1/2 t dried thyme 
5-6 whole black peppercorns 

Melt the butter in large sauce pan, add the veggies and cook until softened and well browned. make sure are well browned that the flavor without the turkey drippings. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until well browned 4-5 min . 
Gradually whisk in the broths and bring to a boil. add the bay leaf, thyme and peppercorns and simmer, stirring occasionally until thickened 25-30 min .
Pour the gravy through a fine -mesh strainer into a clean saucepan, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible, discard the solids, season with salt and pepper!!!


The gravy can be made ahead, can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days or frozen for to 2 months.

Onion Dip

2 cups diced sweet onion
2 cups mayonnaise
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese

mix all ingredients together and bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until edges are golden.  Serve with corn chips or hot, buttery crackers.

Fried Rice

Ingredients
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 pound ham, diced, or about 2 cups cooked, cubed or shredded meat
1 onion, diced
Salt and pepper
1 Tablespoon of minced garlic
3 whole scallions, thinly sliced on the bias, white and green separated
1 1/3 cups (6 ounces) medley frozen corn, peas, carrots
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
4 cups cold cooked long-grain rice 

Directions
Heat a large heavy-bottomed nonstick skillet over high heat. When hot add 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add the ham and cook stirring occasionally until lightly browned. Add the onions to the pan, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until onion is fragrant. Add the garlic and scallion whites and stir-fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the frozen vegetables. Cook until just defrosted but still crisp. Transfer contents of the skillet to a large bowl.
Return the pan to the heat and add 2 more tablespoons of oil. Add the eggs and season with salt and pepper. Stir the eggs constantly and cook until almost set but still moist, then transfer egg to the bowl. Break the eggs up with a wooden spoon or spatula.
Return the pan to the heat and add the remaining oil. Add the rice to the pan and use a spoon to break up any clumps. Season with salt and pepper and stir-fry the rice to coat evenly with oil. Stop stirring, and then let the rice cook undisturbed until its gets slightly crispy, about 2 minutes. Stir the rice again, breaking up any new clumps. Add the scallion greens. Transfer to the bowl. Stir all the ingredients together with the rice, taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary. Serve.

Spinach and Feta Pasta

Recipe by Our Best Bites
8 ounces Penne pasta (that’s 1/2 a 16 Ounces. box. Don’t use ziti–you want the ridges on the penne to “grip” the sauce)
1 28-ounces can diced tomatoes
3 cups fresh spinach (you don’t even have to chop it! Could life get any better??)
1 onion, finely chopped
5-6 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
A handful of fresh mushrooms, chopped
4 ounces. feta cheese, crumbled
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and add pasta. Cook according to package directions. In the meantime, heat a little olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, and mushrooms and cook until tender. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Add tomatoes, heat through, and then add drained pasta and crumbled feta. Add salt and pepper to taste. Heat through and serve; you can crumble a little extra feta on top if you feel the urge. Even my pickiest eater loves this meal, so you really can’t go wrong! Got a little extra time on your hands? Try serving it with Rosemary Focaccia or Garlic Breadsticks.
Serves 8
Nutritional Information
Calories: 186
Fat: 5.3
Fiber: 3.4
WW Points Plus: 4

Romanian Cabbage Rolls (Sarmale)

2 to 3 pounds ground pork (or whatever meat you prefer)
1/2 cup long grain rice (I prefer basmati)
1-2 onions
parsley
dill
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 liter tomato juice
salt and pepper to taste
1 large sour cabbage
16 slices of bacon

Chop the onions and fry them in the oil until tender. Add rice and cook for another minute. Add onion and rice mixture to ground port and add salt, pepper, dill and parsley and mix well with your hands. Now it’s time to assemble the rolls.

Remove all the cabbage leaves and cut each leaf in half. Romanian cabbage rolls are traditionally smaller than the Polish cabbage rolls, so that’s why I recommend cutting each leaf in half, otherwise you can use the entire leaf for one roll.

Fill each half leaf with a big tablespoon of the meat mixture and roll. Put all the rolls in a big pot and add the liter of tomato juice over the rolls. Add more water if needed, the juice should cover the rolls entirely. Cover the pot with aluminum foil and bake at 375 degrees for about 4 hours.

After 2 hours remove the foil and put back in the oven. Serve hot with a bit of sour cream on top.

Mexican Lasagna

1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
28 ounce can stewed tomatoes
8 ounce can tomato sauce
4 ounce can diced green chilies
1 package taco seasoning
1 pound cheddar cheese, grated
Flour tortillas
 
1. brown beef & onion
2. add all other ingredients except tortillas & cheese
3. put 1/4 cup mixture into 9x13 OR two separate 9 inch round cake pans
4. layer tortilla, mixture, cheese, tortilla mixture cheese, tortilla, cheese
5. bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until cheese is bubbly
 
Serve with lettuce, tomatoes, olives, chopped cilantro, sour cream, and lime squeezed over top.
Freezes great, but requires longer cook time when starting cold, bake covered at first to prevent cheese from overcooking.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

1/2 Cup chopped onion
2 Tablespoon butter
3 Tablespoon flour
1-1/2 Cup half and half
3 Cup cooked chicken
2 Cup cubed ham
1-1/2 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
Topping:
1/2 Cup  dried bread crumbs  (panko)
1 Tablespoon  melted butter
1/2 Cup  grated Swiss Cheese

Sauté onions in butter. Add flour and mix until smooth. Stir in  half and half and bring to a boil until thick, stirring constantly.

In a separate bowl, mix together chicken, ham and cheese. Pour cooked sauce over the top and mix well. Mix together topping ingredients.  Taste for your salt/pepper preference.  Pour into 9x13 and sprinkle with topping. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

If freezing, cover with foil and freeze.

Skillet Chili Mac

• 1/2 tablespoon of cooking oil
• 1-1/2 cups of chopped onion
• 1/2 cup of chopped bell pepper
• 1 or 2 jalapenos, chopped
• 1 pound of ground beef
• 1 pound of raw breakfast sausage
• 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
• 2-1/2 tablespoons of chili powder, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon of cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon of dried oregano
• Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (8 ounce) can of tomato sauce
• 1 (7 ounce) can green chilies
• 2 cups of water
• 1 (15.5 ounce) can pinto or red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1-1/2 cups of dry medium cut pasta (like elbow macaroni or shells)
• 1 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese, divided, or to taste, plus more for garnish
• Optional Garnishes: Sliced green onions, fresh diced tomatoes, sour cream or your other favorite chili toppings

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large lidded skillet over medium high heat; add the onion and peppers, and cook for about 4 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. To that, add the ground beef, sausage and garlic, breaking up the meat and cooking, until no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, oregano and salt and pepper; taste and adjust seasonings.

Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and green chilies; stir. Add the water, beans, pasta and half of the cheese. Bring to a boil, stir, cover and reduce heat to simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes or until pasta is cooked through; uncover, stir and let simmer, uncovered, until reduced to desired consistency. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top, cover and cook over low until cheese melts. Garnish with sliced green onions, fresh diced tomatoes, sour cream or your other favorite chili toppings. 

Read more: http://www.deepsouthdish.com/2013/04/skillet-chili-mac.html#ixzz2iKUhib69

Cucumber salad

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon dill
1/4 cup mayonnaise
5 cucumbers
1/2 cup white onion

 Mix everything except cucumbers and onions well then add cucumbers and onion.
 You can also add celery if you like it, but I don't.

Veggie Cobbler

FOR THE FILLING:

1 large baking potato, peeled and cut into a 3/4-inch dice

1-1/2 cups of peeled and thinly sliced carrots

1-1/2 cups frozen peas

1-1/2 cups sliced mushrooms

1/2 cup broccoli florets

1/2 cup frozen corn kernels

1/2 cup diced butternut squash

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced

3 tablespoons flour

2-1/2 vegetable bouillon cubes dissolved in 1-1/4 cups hot water

1 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon celery seed

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon thyme

1/3 cup grated Parmesan

 

FOR THE TOPPING:

3/4 cup yellow cornmeal

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup milk

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 tablespoon oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

 

Instructions

Heat the oven to 400º. Place the potato, carrots, peas, broccoli, corn, and squash in a medium-size pot and fill it with enough water to cover the vegetables plus one inch. Lightly salt the water, bring it to a boil, then allow the vegetables to continue boiling for 4 minutes. Drain and rinse the vegetables with cold water and set them aside.

Melt the butter over medium heat in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven. Add the onion and mushrooms and sauté them, stirring often, until they're soft, about 4 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook the mixture, stirring nonstop, another 30 seconds. Add the vegetable broth, milk, salt, pepper, thyme, and celery seed and continue to stir until the sauce thickens, about 4 minutes.

 

Add the vegetables to the sauce and stir well. Add more salt and pepper, if desired, then stir in the Parmesan and bring the filling to a simmer. Thin it with water if its consistency is thicker than potato soup. Transfer the filling to a casserole dish.

 

Make the corn bread topping. In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the milk, egg, and oil and stir until evenly blended. Spread the batter over the filling. Bake the cobbler until the top is golden brown and the sides are bubbly, about 25 minutes. Allow it to cool slightly before serving.

 

Serves 8.

Chicken Enchilada

29 ounces tomato puree
1 can corn
1 can black beans
1 can diced tomatoes
2 packets of taco seasoning
1 chopped onion
4  chicken breasts cut into strips
grated cheese
queso
Put into crockpot on low for 4 hours, stirring occasionally. When done, mix a con of refried beans with queso and smear on tortillas with a spoonful of crockpot chicken mix (use slotted spoon to limit juice). Sprinkle grated cheese on top and wrap. Place in a baking dish and sprinkle with more cheese. Bake at 375 degrees until cheese is melted.
leftovers can be used as taco soup. add a dollop of sour cream and serve over Fritos.

Bacon Tomato Cups

From: Colleen Ursenbach

Yield: about 30 appetizers.

 

8 slices of bacon, crisply cooked

1 medium tomato

1/2 small onion

3 ounces Swiss cheese

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon basil

1 can (10 ounces) refrigerated flaky biscuits

Preheat oven to 375°. Coarsely chop bacon, tomato, and onion. Grate cheese. Mix all ingredients except biscuits. Set aside. Separate each biscuit into 3 thinner biscuits. Lay each thin biscuit over a mini-muffin pan cup and press into the cup. (I greased the muffin pans.) Fill each cup with the bacon mixture. Bake 10-12 minutes, until golden brown.

Ham and Cheese Sliders

24 good white dinner rolls

24 pieces good honey ham

24 small slices Swiss cheese

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup miracle whip

 

Poppy seed sauce

1 Tablespoon poppy seeds

1 1/2 Tablespoons yellow mustard

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 Tablespoon minced onion

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

 

In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and miracle whip. Spread onto both sides of the center of each roll. Place a slice of ham and a slice of Swiss inside of each roll. Close rolls and place them into a large baking dish or heavy cookie sheet. Place very close together.

In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the poppy seed sauce ingredients. Pour evenly over all of the sandwiches. You do not have to use all of the sauce! Just use enough to cover the tops. Let sit 10 minutes or until butter sets slightly. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for 2 additional minutes or until tops are slightly brown and crispy. Serve warm.

 

** sandwiches can be assembled a day ahead and kept in the fridge ready to bake.

Cream of Celery Soup

By: WONDERFALK

3 quarts chicken stock

3 pounds celery, coarsely chopped

1/2 pound carrots, julienned

1/2 pound onions, chopped

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon ground white pepper

3 quarts hot milk

1 cup margarine

Pour the chicken stock into a large pot, and bring to a boil. Add the celery, carrots and onion to the pot.

Whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, and milk; add to the pot along with the margarine.

Boil for 10 minutes, then strain out the vegetables by pouring through a sieve, or if the vegetables are large enough, a colander may be used.

 

Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Cook Time: 20 Minutes

Ready In: 40 Minutes

Servings: 32

Tomato-Basil Parmesan Soup

(From BYU Magazine)

Makes about 2 quarts

 

2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, with juice

1 cup finely diced celery

1 cup finely diced carrots

4 cups chicken broth

1 cup finely diced onions

½ bay leaf

1 teaspoon dried oregano or 1 Tablespoon fresh oregano

1 Tablespoon dried basil or ¼ cup fresh basil

½ cup butter

½ cup flour

1 cup Parmesan cheese

2 cups half and half, warmed

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

 

In a large slow cooker, combine tomatoes, celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, bay leaf, oregano, and basil (if using fresh oregano and basil; if using dried oregano and basil add those two ingredients in the last hour of cook time). Cover and cook on low for 5 to 7 hours, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft.

 

About an hour before serving, prepare a roux: Melt butter over low heat in a skillet and add flour; stir constantly with a whisk for 5 to 7 minutes. Slowly stir in 1 cut hot soup from the slow cooker. Add another 3 cups soup and stir until smooth.

 

Add all back into the slop cooker. Stir and add Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook on low for another hour until ready to serve.

Artichoke Bisque

1 small onion

2 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 cube of butter

2 - 14 ounce cans of artichoke in water

1/3 cup apple juice

2 Tablespoon vinegar

1/2 teaspoon thyme

4 ounce cream cheese

1/2 cup milk

cornstarch or flour to thicken*

 

1. cook onion and garlic in butter until onions are soft and somewhat clear (*if you want you could add a few Tablespoons of flour here to make a roux - I didn't, so I had to thicken with cornstarch at the end)

2. add artichokes, apple juice, vinegar and thyme. mix well. bring to boil and let simmer a few minutes.

3. add cream cheese & milk. mix until cream cheese is mostly melted in.

4. put soup in blender and puree to your desired texture.

5. return soup to stove. heat. thicken with cornstarch and water if necessary.

Clam Chowder

51 oz chopped can of clams and juice (from Costco)

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 large onion

8-10 raw potatoes (cubed bite size)

1 cup flour

2 cups cream

1/4 cup bacon bits

Salt and pepper to taste

Peel and dice onion and potatoes, keeping them separate.

Melt the butter in a stockpot. Add the diced onions and saute until translucent.

Add 1 cup of water, then raw, diced potatoes. Add up to 1 more cup of water if necessary.

Bring potatoes to a gentle boil and cook until almost done, still a little firm.

While potatoes are cooking, drain the clams over a bowl and save the juice. Whisk the flour into the juice until their are no lumps. You can add some salt and pepper also.

When the potatoes are cooked, add the clam juice and flour mixture to the pot. Stir well and let cook 5 minutes or so, until thickened and there is no flour taste. Turn the heat to low and add the cream, clams and bacon. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed. Simmer on low heat, stirring a lot to prevent scorching. Take off the heat and serve. Also great to let the soup cool, refrigerate and serve the next day to allow the flavors to meld.

When reheating, if the soup is too thick, add a little water or milk to it.