Friday, December 26, 2014

Chicken Zucchini Casserole

(From sixsisterstuff). This is a great week night meal that is quite easy. Brandon and Isaac had seconds and thirds! Surprisingly good!

1box chicken stuffing mix (stovetop)
1 stick butter, melted
4 zucchini, diced
2 cooked chicken breasts, diced
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 onion, chopped fine
1/2 cup sour cream
Cook onion in a little butter or oil till soft, set aside for a minute. Mix stuffing and butter. Mix zucchini, chicken, soup, cooked onion, sour cream and half of the stuffing then pour into greased 9x13 dish. Sprinkle remaining half of the stuffing over top. Bake 45 mins at 350.


Parmesan Tortellini Bites

These were from Christmas Eve. So addicting. Would be fun to do with a meat ravioli too!

20oz refrigerated cheese tortellini (I used Bouitoni)
1 cup oil
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs (found in Asian section)
1/2 cup Parmesan (I used the really fine grated kind for better coating)
1 cup flour
4-5 eggs, beaten well
1 cup marinara sauce for dipping
Cook tortellini according to package directions, being careful not to over cook. Drain well, lay out on paper towel to dry slightly. Heat oil in skillet. In a bowl combine panko and Parmesan. Put flour in another bowl. Dredge about 10 tortellini at a time in flour, then egg, then panko mixture, making sure to coat well. Set in hot oil. Repeat to fill skillet, cook and turn till golden on all sides, then drain on paper towels. Repeat till all are fried. Serve immediately with marinara sauce or any sauce really, these things are even great by themselves! A 20oz pkg will fill a large cookie sheet so if you have a small group just half the recipe.


Breakfast Enchiladas

Okay. You need these in your life. These were a hit. Completely satisfying. Easy to make!

1 lb. pork sausage
Red bell pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 1/2 cups shredded cheese
10 flour tortillas
2 cups half and half or whole milk
7 eggs
1/2 tsp seasoned salt
Black pepper to taste
1 T flour
Good salsa and sour cream to serve
In a skillet, cook sausage, onion and bell pepper till onion is soft. Fill tortillas with 1/3 cup filling then sprinkle with cheese and roll up. Place tightly in 9x13 dish. When all tortillas are filled in dish, whisk eggs, flour, season salt, black pepper, and half and half, and pour over enchiladas. Cover and put in fridge overnight. To bake, heat oven to 350. Bake 45 mins till eggs are puffed and golden brown. If top darkens too fast put foil over top. (I baked mine closer to an hour). You can add any remaining cheese to top for the last 10 mins of baking. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and salsa if you wish!

Baked French Toast

This is the best one I've tried! Mom made this one famous in the fam! Serve with Buttermilk Syrup drizzled over top. Could also be served as a dessert!

1 large loaf dense white bread, cubed
8 eggs
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup cream
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tbl. pure vanilla extract
Topping:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
Pinch nutmeg
1 stick butter, cut in small pieces
Grease 9x13 dish. Put bread in dish. Mix eggs, milk, cream, sugar and vanilla. Pour over bread. Cover and store in fridge till ready to bake (overnight is great). Mix topping with a fork till crumbly. Sprinkle over top and bake 350 45 mins to an hour. Serve hot with syrup, fruit or whipped cream.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Shellie's Mint Fudge

This is so creamy and good. You would never guess its easy and quick!

1 bag milk chocolate chips (Guittard brand is best)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
dash salt
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1/4 cup crushed candy canes for topping
Melt over low heat chips, milk and salt, when smooth, remove from heat and add extract. Spread into a foil-lined 8 or 9" pan. Sprinkle with candy cane and chill in fridge at least 2 hours. Turn out onto cutting board, remove foil and cut into squares. Store covered at room temp. Makes 2 lbs.

Tuscan Bean Soup

This is adapted from Pinterest. Full of veggie goodness and hearty for a cold night. I added the potatoes and ground turkey, but you can omit the turkey for a vegetarian version!
2-3 T olive oil
1 large onion, diced
2-3 carrots, peeled and diced
2-3 stalks celery, diced
2 small zucchini, diced
1 yellow zucchini, diced
4 garlic cloves, pressed
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp fresh rosemary roughly chopped or 1/2 tsp dried
1 qt broth
2 cans white beans, rinsed and drained (i like great northern)
1 can no-salt diced tomatoes, juice and all
2 cups kale, ribs removed and chopped
3 small potatoes, peeled and diced
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 T sugar
1 T white wine vinegar
1 lb lean ground turkey, season with garlic salt, cook and drain, set aside

In dutch oven or large heavy pot, heat oil over med heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, zucchinis. Cook 8-10 mins.Add garlic and herbs, cook another minute. Add broth, tomatoes, and beans. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to low and add kale and potatoes. Cover and simmer 15 minutes till tender. Meanwhile you can cook your ground turkey and set aside till the end. At this point you can use a hand blender or regular one and blend partially leaving half unblended for texture. Add salt, pepper, sugar and vinegar. Add cooked turkey and heat through. Serve with shaved parmesan on top and some good crusty bread to dip!
*you may need more broth while potatoes cook, just eye ball it. I ended up using about another can's worth.