The recipes on here are intended to be simple, yet delicious and most of them will be nutritious as well (but we all need a little sugar now and then).
APPETIZERS
Cucumber Salsa
3 cucumbers finely chopped 1/2 c onion finely chopped 1 can rotel, drained
1 pkg hidden valley ranch dip mix sugar, vinegar, pepper to taste
Mix first 4 ingredients together. Then add the sugar, vinegar and pepper to your taste. Serve with tortilla chips.
Norma's Herb Dip
(3) 8 oz fat free spreadable cream cheese tubs
1 tbsp parsley 1 tsp minced garlic 1/2 tsp salt 3/4 tsp pepper 1 tsp lemon juice
Combine and serve with fresh veggies!
Party Popper Dip
8 oz spreadable cream cheese 1/2 finely chopped or blended fresh jalapeno
Bacon, fully cooked and crumbled cored cherry tomatoes
Mix cream cheese, jalapeno and bacon. Fill cherry tomatoes.
If cherry tomatoes are out of season, either spread on tortillas - roll - then slice to make pinwheels. Or, serve with chips or fresh veggies such as squash, zucchini or cucumbers.
Stuffed Mushrooms
8 oz Philadelphia cream cheese 1/3 c Kraft Parmesan 2 tbsp Hellman's Mayo
1/2 pkg dry Italian dressing mix 20 or so medium mushrooms, cleaned and hollowed
Mix ingredients, stuff in mushrooms, bake at 350 for 15 minutes then broil until golden. Serve hot.
Western Rounds
4-5 large potatoes, peeled or scrubbed and thinly sliced. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick spray, place potatoes on pans and bake in oven 6-10 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven. Spread Kraft Original Barbeque sauce on each potato slice. Add cooked & crumbled bacon, chopped green onion and grated cheese. Place in oven until cheese is melted. Serve hot. Will serve approx. 10 people
BREADS
Best Ever Bread Pudding
1 lb day old bread 2 c half & half 2 c milk 3 lg eggs, beaten
2 c sugar 3/4 c pecans 3/4 c raisins 1 tbsp +1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 c butter, melted
Tear bread, add half & half, milk & let stand for 10 minutes in large bowl. Stir mixture well, add eggs & all other ingredients except butter. Transfer into baking dish. Pour butter on top. Bake uncovered 1 hour at 325 or until firm.
Almond Sauce for pudding: 1/2 c butter, 1/2 c half & half, 1 c sugar, 2 TBSP pure almond extract. Combine butter, sugar & half & half, simmer in pan for 5 minutes on stovetop. Remove from heat and stir in almond extract. This can also be made into a delectable sauce by replacing the almond with either amaretto or bourbon :D
Mouthwatering Muffins
1 1/2 c flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 c sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 c shortening
1 egg 1 c milk 2 c fresh fruit (I prefer blueberries)
Sift dry ingredients, cut in shortening with fork, add remaining ingredients - fruit last after everything else is well mixed. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes if using muffin tins.
Zucchini Bread
makes 2 loaves of bread
3 1/4 c flour 1 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice 2 tsp baking soda
3 c sugar
- combine all these ingredients in large bowl and add:
1 c vegetable oil or applesauce 4 beaten eggs 1/3 c water
1 tsp lemon juice 2 c zucchini, grated or pureed 1 c walnuts or pecans
Mix until well incorporated. Pour into greased loaf pans or a 9X13 pan and bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean in center of pan at 350 degrees
CASSEROLES
Chicken & Dumpling Casserole
1/2 c onion, diced 1/2 c celery, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 c butter
1/2 c flour 2 tsp sugar 1 tsp salt 1 tsp dried basil 1/2 tsp pepper 1 c sour cream 1 c chicken broth 1 c milk 4 c cubed chicken
10 oz frozen peas & carrots
In large saucepan, saute chicken, onion, celery & garlic in butter 'til tender. Add remaining ingredients except vegetables. Bring to boil, reduce heat and add vegetables. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour into a greased 9 X 13 baking dish. For dumplings either use refrigerated biscuits or biscuit mix and drop by tablespoonfuls onto casserole. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, uncovered. Cover and bake for 10 more minutes. Yield: 6-8 servings.
DESSERTS
Cherry Cheesecake Brownies
Prepare box brownie mix as directed ~ Combine in separate bowl 8 oz cream cheese, 1 egg, 1/4 c sugar, 1 tsp maraschino cherry juice & 1/2 c chopped maraschino cherries. Pour half of brownie mix into 9x9 pan, pour cream cheese mixture and top with remaining brownie mix. Bake approx. 55 min. @ 350 degrees.
Peach Cobbler
1 stick butter 2 c sliced peaches 1 c flour 1 c + 3 tbsp sugar 1 c milk 2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp cinnamon ~ combine dry ingredients, stir in milk & vanilla. Melt butter in 9x13 baking dish, pour batter over butter. Toss peaches with 3 tbsp sugar & cinnamon. Pour peaches over batter. Bake 30 minutes @ 375 degrees
MAIN DISHES
Chicken Provolone
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts 2 tbsp olive oil 2 md zucchini, sliced
1 c chopped onion 14 1/2 oz stewed tomatoes 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning 1 c shredded provolone cheese ~ Season chicken with salt & pepper. Cook chicken in oil in large skillet over medium heat for 12 minutes. Remove chicken. Cook zucchini & onion in same skillet until crisp & tender. Add undrained tomatoes & Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered until thickened. Cut chicken into strips and return to skillet. Heat through. Sprinkle with cheese and garnish with fresh basil. Prepare fettuccine and serve with chicken.
Stuffed Steak
Have ready one pound round steak & season with: 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp dry mustard & worcestershire sauce. In small skillet melt: 1/4 c butter Add: 2 tbsp diced onion, saute until golden brown. Add 1 cup bread crumbs, dash salt, 2 tbsp chopped parsley, 3 tbsp diced zucchini, 3 tbsp diced celery & 1 beaten egg. Spread over raw steak, roll up and pin with toothpicks. Preheat oven to 300. Heat skillet, add 3 tbsp oil, sear steaks on all sides, place in casserole dish. Stir into remaining hot oil: 2 tbsp flour, 1 c water, 1 c tomato juice and 1/4 tsp salt. When thickened, pour over steak. Bake covered for about 90 minutes. You can add rice to the dish and bake with the stuffed steak as well, just be sure to add equal parts water & rice.
SNACKS
Granola
3 c old-fashioned oats/oat bran/barley - feel free to also add some flax seed
1 c raw almonds or pecans chopped
1 c pumpkin seeds/suflower seeds or what ever you prefer
1/2 c coconut flakes
3/4 c honey or maple syrup - if short use some wonderfu home made jam
3/4 to 1 cup olice oil or coconut oil
1 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon
1 c chopped dried fruit of choice (cherries, currants, raisins, bananas, mangoes, pineapple, cranberries)
Preheat oven to 325. In large bowl mix all ingredients except dried fruit. Spread evenly on a baking sheet & bake for about 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes until golden brown and well toasted. Transfer granola to a large bowl and add the fruit. Combine & enjoy!
SOUPS & STEWS
Gerry's Delicious Ham Soup
serves 6
4 c diced ham 4 lg carrots, sliced 4 lg potatoes, diced 1 md onion, diced 2 celery stalks, sliced
1 pkg egg noodles (or home made noodles) 1 quart tomato juice water to cover salt & pepper to taste
Add ingredients and simmer in large pot. Add noodles about 30 minutes before serving time.
