Sunday, June 26, 2011

Recipe : Authentic, No Shortcuts, Louisiana Red Beans and Rice

Ingredients
1 pound dried red beans, soaked overnight
10 cups water
1 pound andouille sausage, sliced into rounds
1 large sweet onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped (optional)
8 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Creole seasoning, or to taste
6 fresh basil leaves, chopped
4 cups cooked rice

Directions
Place the beans and water into a slow cooker. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the sausage in the skillet; remove from the skillet with a slotted spoon and transfer to the slow cooker. Reserve drippings. Add onion, green pepper, jalapeno pepper and garlic to the drippings; cook and stir until tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer everything from the skillet to the slow cooker.
Season the mixture with pepper and Creole seasoning. Add the fresh basil leaves and ham hock. Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours, or until beans are tender. If the bean mixture seems too watery, take the lid off the slow cooker and set heat to High to cook until they reach a creamy texture.

Recipe : Angel's Chunky Chicken Salad

Ingredients
1 cooked, boneless chicken breast half, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 onion, finely diced
2 dill pickles, chopped
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Combine the chicken, celery, mayonnaise, onion and pickle; mix well.
Season with the garlic powder, salt and pepper. Serve with lettuce on fresh crusty bread or bun.

Recipe : Baked Potato Casserole

Ingredients
5 pounds red potatoes, cooked and cubed
1 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
4 cups cubed Cheddar cheese
4 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 cup mayonnaise*
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon minced chives
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions
In a large bowl, combine potatoes and bacon. In another bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; add to potato mixture ad toss gently to coat. Transfer to a greased 4-1/2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees F for 50-60 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned.

Recipe : Beans and Greens

Ingredients
4 (14.5 ounce) cans vegetable broth
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach
1 (15 ounce) can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, with liquid
1 (15 ounce) can great Northern beans, with liquid
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, with liquid
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon garlic powder
salt to taste
black pepper to taste

Directions
Place broth and spinach in a pot over medium heat, and cook 5 minutes, or until spinach is thawed. Mix in dark and light kidney beans, black beans and liquid, great northern beans and liquid, pinto beans and liquid, and oil. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Recipe : Baked Brie with Caramelized Onions

Ingredients
1 head garlic
1/4 cup butter
1 yellow onion, sliced
1 Granny Smith apple - peeled, cored and sliced
1 (8 ounce) wedge Brie cheese
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 tablespoon melted butter

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Place garlic on a baking sheet, and drizzle with olive oil. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, or until soft. Set aside.
Meanwhile, melt 1/4 cup butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and apple in butter until tender and browned. Set aside.
Arrange brie on top of thawed puff pastry. Top the cheese with the apple and onion mixture. Fold puff pastry over the cheese, and pinch closed. Brush with melted butter.
Bake about 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm. Garnish with whole cloves of roasted garlic.

Recipe : Apple Raisin Cakes

Ingredients
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons white sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup raisins

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, applesauce, cinnamon, sugar, flour, baking powder, vanilla, and raisins. Form small cakes out of the batter.
Heat a nonstick griddle over medium heat, fry the cakes until both sides are browned, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Recipe : Best-Ever Meat Loaf

Ingredients
2/3 cup milk
3 slices bread, torn
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup grated carrot
1 cup shredded Cheddar or mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dried basil, thyme or sage (optional)
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon prepared mustard

Directions
In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add milk and bread; let stand until liquid is absorbed. Stir in the onion, carrot, cheese and seasonings. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well.
Shape into a 7-1/2-in. x 3-1/2-in. x 2-1/2-in. loaf in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.
Combine the topping ingredients; spoon half of the mixture over meat loaf. Bake 30 minutes longer or until meat is no longer pink and a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F, occasionally spooning remaining topping over loaf. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe : Audry's Shrimp Stew

Ingredients
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 large onion, diced
1 cup small, peeled shrimp
3 cups water
2 tablespoons finely chopped green bell pepper
2 tablespoons minced celery
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 tablespoon ground black pepper

Directions
Make the Roux: In a heavy bottomed sauce pan, over medium heat, heat oil until hot but not smoking. Add flour all at once and stir constantly until the roux is golden brown. (Note: do not cook the roux too fast. If black flecks appear, the roux is burned and you must discard and start over. It may take 45 minutes to 1 hour to make the roux. The end result is worth the time.)
Add the onion to the roux and cook, stirring constantly, until onion is soft and light brown.
Lower heat to simmer and add the shrimp and cook for about 10 minutes. Slowly stir in the water. Raise heat to medium and continue cooking until the stew reaches a boil. Stir in the green bell pepper, celery, parsley, salt and pepper.
Turn heat down to a simmer and cook for about 30 to 40 minutes to blend flavors. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Recipe : Basic Beef Stock

Ingredients
6 pounds beef soup bones
1 large onion
3 large carrots
1/2 cup water
2 stalks celery, including some leaves
1 large tomato
1/2 cup chopped parsnip
1/2 cup cubed potatoes
8 whole black peppercorns
4 sprigs fresh parsley
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 cloves garlic
12 cups water

Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Slice onion. Chop scrubbed celery and carrots into 1-inch chunks. In a large shallow roasting pan place soup bones, onion, and carrots. Bake, uncovered, about 30 minutes or until the bones are well browned, turning occasionally.
Drain off fat. Place the browned bones, onion, and carrots in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Pour 1/2 cup water into the roasting pan and rinse. Pour this liquid into soup pot. Add celery, tomato, parsnips, potato parings, peppercorns, parsley, bay leaf, salt, thyme, and garlic. Add the 12 cups water.
Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 5 hours. Strain stock. Discard meat, vegetables, and seasonings.
To clarify stock for clear soup: In order to remove solid flecks that are too small to be strained out with cheesecloth, combine 1/4 cup cold water, 1 egg white, and 1 crushed eggshell. Add to strained stock. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, and let stand 5 minutes. Strain again through a sieve lined with cheesecloth.

Recipe : Amy's Cilantro Cream Sauce

Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon sour cream
1 (7 ounce) can tomatillo salsa
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Directions
Combine cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, pepper, celery salt, cumin, garlic powder, cilantro and lime juice in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Place in a serving bowl.

Recipe : Baked Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Ingredients
6 roma (plum) tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 (8 ounce) ball of fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 clove roasted garlic, mashed into a paste
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
Arrange tomato slices on prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle tomatoes with 1 tablespoon of olive oil; sprinkle lightly with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
Bake the tomatoes in the preheated oven until they become leathery, a bit brown, and crunchy around the edges, approximately 2 hours. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
Combine the cooled roasted tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, and roasted garlic in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the vinegar and the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil; mix well.

Recipe : Beef Cabbage Hash

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
4 medium baking potatoes, peeled and julienned
4 cups shredded cabbage
1 large onion, sliced and quartered
3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions
In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and cook over medium-high heat for 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Recipe : 2-Step Cheesy Pasta Twists

Ingredients
6 cups cooked corkscrew-shaped pasta
1 (26 ounce) jar Prego� Traditional Italian Sauce*
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup Pepperidge Farm� Zesty Italian Croutons, crushed

Directions
Toss pasta with pasta sauce in medium skillet and heat through.
Top with cheese and crushed croutons. Cover and cook over low heat until cheese is melted.

Recipe : Blue Spinach Salad

Ingredients
1 cup pre-washed spinach leaves
1/3 cup seedless red grapes, rinsed and dried
1 tablespoon blue cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons roasted, salted pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon blue cheese salad dressing (optional)

Directions
Toss together the spinach leaves, grapes, blue cheese, and pumpkin seeds. Serve with blue cheese salad dressing if desired.

Recipe : Baked Pork Chimichangas

Ingredients
1 pound dried pinto beans
1 (3 pound) boneless pork loin roast, trimmed
3 (4 ounce) cans chopped green chilies
1 large onion, chopped
1/3 cup chili powder
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
30 (6 inch) flour tortillas
4 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
2 cups picante sauce
1 egg white
2 teaspoons water

Directions
Place beans in a soup kettle; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid.
Place roast in a Dutch oven. In a bowl, combine chillies, onion, chili powder and beans. Spoon over roast. Cover and bake at 325 degrees F for 1-1/2 hours. Stir in broth; cover and bake 30-45 minutes longer or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F. Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
Remove meat and shred with two forks; set aside. Mash bean mixture; stir in shredded pork. Spoon 1/3 cup mixture down the center of each tortilla; top with picante sauce. Fold sides and ends over filling and roll up. Place seam side down on two 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pans coated with nonstick cooking spray.
In a bowl, whisk egg white and water; brush over top. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until heated through. Serve immediately or cool, wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.

Recipe : Alfredo-Stuffed Lasagna Noodles

Ingredients
8 lasagna noodles
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
1 pint part-skim ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
21 ounces Classico� Creamy Alfredo Sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add lasagna and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Rinse in cold water and drain well.
Meanwhile, in a large sauce pan over medium heat add oil and cook broccoli or spinach and green onions until tender, stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat and stir in ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt and egg.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Place noodles in a single layer on a sheet of waxed paper. Evenly spread some of the cheese mixture on each noodle. Roll up each noodle from the short end, jelly-roll style.
In a 8x12 inch baking dish, spoon about 3/4 of the Alfredo sauce on the bottom and spread evenly. Arrange the rolled noodles, seam side down, in the dish. Top with mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce. Cover loosely with foil and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly and the cheese is melted. Serve.

Recipe : Blueberry Muffins II

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 egg white
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup skim milk
2 tablespoons margarine, melted
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Use vegetable oil spray to grease 12-cup muffin tin. Set aside.
Mix 1/4 cup of the flour with the blueberries. Set aside. Beat egg white and 1 tablespoon oil lightly in bowl. Stir in milk and melted margarine or oil.
In separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Sift dry ingredient mixture over egg white mixture. Stir just long enough to moisten flour. The batter will look lumpy. DO NOT OVERMIX. Fold in blueberries. Fill each tin two-thirds full with batter. Bake in preheated oven 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Recipe : Banana-Nut Bundt Cake

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups finely chopped ripe bananas
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped nuts

Directions
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and cinnamon. In another bowl, combine the eggs, oil, bananas, pineapple and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until combined. Fold in coconut and nuts. Pour into a greased 10-in. fluted tube pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing cake from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe : Apple Turnovers with Gingered Cranberry Caramel Sauce

Ingredients
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 (12.5 ounce) package Pepperidge Farm� Apple Turnovers
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup prepared caramel sauce
1/4 cup finely chopped crystallized (candied) ginger
1/4 cup finely chopped dried cranberries
Sweetened whipped cream (optional)

Directions
Stir the sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl. Brush the turnovers with the butter and sprinkle with the sugar mixture. Bake and cool the turnovers according to the package directions.
Heat the caramel sauce, ginger and cranberries in a 1-quart saucepan over low heat until the mixture is hot. Serve the turnovers with the sauce. Top with the whipped cream, if desired.

Recipe : Broccoli Cheese Cornbread

Ingredients
1 (10 ounce) package chopped frozen broccoli, thawed and drained
1 cup cottage cheese
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 (8.5 ounce) package self-rising cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease an 11x7 inch baking pan.
In a large mixing bowl, combine cornmeal mix and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together eggs, cottage cheese, onion and butter. Stir the egg and cheese mixture into the flour mixture. Fold in the broccoli. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the pan comes out clean.

Recipe : Baked Trout Fillets

Ingredients
1 pound trout fillets
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
Paprika

Directions
Place fish in a greased shallow 3-qt. baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, onion and salt; spread over fish. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Recipe : Aunt Alma's Cauliflower Shrimp Ahoy

Ingredients
1 head cauliflower, broken into small florets
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons butter
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1/4 cup whole milk
2 cups frozen fully cooked tiny salad shrimp, thawed
1 (4 ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 pinch ground black pepper
1 pinch Creole-style seasoning
paprika to taste

Directions
Place the cauliflower in a large saucepan with just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until fork tender, about 5 minutes. Drain, and coarsely chop or break up with a fork.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a large casserole dish with cooking spray.
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion in the butter until tender, but not browned. Stir in the Cheddar cheese soup, milk, shrimp, mushrooms and parsley. Season with cayenne pepper, black pepper, and Creole seasoning. Heat for a minute on low to blend the flavors.
Place the cauliflower into the prepared baking dish. Pour the contents of the saucepan over the cauliflower, and stir slightly to blend.
Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until bubbly. Sprinkle with paprika just before serving.

Recipe : Bubbie's Grits Casserole

Ingredients
8 slices bacon
1 cup quick-cooking hominy grits
4 cups water
1 (8 ounce) package processed cheese, cubed
2/3 cup milk
3 eggs, beaten
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fry the bacon in a large deep skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels, reserving 3 tablespoons of the drippings.
Bring the water to a boil and stir in the grits. Cook and stir over medium heat until thick, about 5 minutes. Crumble in about half of the bacon and stir in bacon drippings, processed cheese, milk and eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish and sprinkle Cheddar cheese over the top.
Bake in the preheated oven until the top is browned and grits are set, about 40 minutes.

Recipe : All-Day Apple Butter

Ingredients
5 1/2 pounds apples - peeled, cored and finely chopped
4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions
Place apples in a slow cooker. Combine sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt; pour over apples and mix well. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook for 9-11 hours or until thickened and dark brown, stirring occasionally (stir more frequently as it thickens to prevent sticking). Uncover and cook on low 1 hour longer. If desired, stir with a wire whisk until smooth. Spoon into freezer containers, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Cover and refrigerate or freeze.

Recipe : Apricot Chicken

Ingredients
1/2 cup apricot preserves
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon chicken broth or sherry
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup salted cashews
Hot cooked rice

Directions
In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. Add chicken and toss to coat. Transfer to a shallow microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 3 minutes, stirring once.
Add green pepper and cashews. Cover and microwave on high for 2-4 minutes or until chicken juices run clear, stirring once. Let stand for 3 minutes. Serve with rice.

Recipe : Blue Cheese Dip II

Ingredients
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
4 green onions, finely chopped
2 tablespoons dried parsley
4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
garlic salt to taste

Directions
In a medium bowl, mix mayonnaise, sour cream, green onions, dried parsley, blue cheese and garlic salt. Cover and chill in the refrigerator until serving.

Recipe : Basic Curry Sauce

Ingredients
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 tablespoon margarine
1 large onion, chopped
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons ground coriander
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 serrano chile peppers, seeded
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1/2 cup yogurt, whisked until smooth
3 cups water

Directions
Heat oil and margarine in a small skillet or wok over medium high heat. Add onion and saute until very brown, 10 to 15 minutes. (Note: This is an important step; if onion is not cooked well, sauce will taste funny.)
Add ginger and garlic to onion and saute for an additional 2 minutes. Process onion/ginger/garlic mixture in food processor until smooth. Do not rinse food processor.
Place onion mixture in a large saucepan. Stir in the cinnamon, black pepper, coriander, cumin, turmeric and cayenne pepper and cook over low heat until mixture is thick and has the consistency of a paste.
Puree tomatoes, chile peppers and cilantro in food processor until smooth. Add to onion mixture and stir well over low heat, cooking off moisture from tomatoes and cilantro. Add yogurt a little bit at a time, stirring constantly to avoid curdling.
Blend the whole mixture in food processor to puree it (for a very smooth sauce). Return to saucepan, add water and increase heat to high; bring sauce to a rolling boil. Cover saucepan and boil for 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer until desired consistency is reached.
To serve with meat, cook the meat first separately, then simmer for 5 to 10 minutes in the sauce before serving over rice or with bread. To serve with vegetables, steam raw veggies first 4 to 5 minutes, then simmer for 5 to 10 minutes in the sauce before serving.

Recipe : Aunt Bev's Famous Apple Pie

Ingredients
7 tart apples, peeled and cored
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, or to taste
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
salt to taste
2 recipes unbaked pie shells
1 tablespoon butter

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Cut the apples into 1/4 inch slices.
In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, flour, nutmeg (or apple pie spice), and salt; mix thoroughly. Pour the spice mix over the apples and stir until the apples are coated.
Line one crust in a 9 inch deep dish pie pan. Place the apples in the pie crust. Dot the apple filling evenly with butter. Fit the top crust over the apples. Press the crust down gently and cut 3 or 4 slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape while the pie bakes
Bake in the preheated oven 50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Check the pie after the first 30 minutes of cooking: if the crust is already browned reduce the heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) to allow the apples to cook without the crust burning.

Recipe : Apple Jack Iowa Pork Chops from Des Moines

Ingredients
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
4 boneless pork loin chops
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped green onions
3 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced
3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup apple brandy
1 cup heavy cream

Directions
In a medium bowl, mix flour with seasoned salt; coat chops evenly with mixture and shake off excess. Over medium-high heat, melt butter in large skillet. Add chops, and cook about 5 minutes, turning once, or until meat surface is browned. Remove chops from pan and set aside on a separate plate.
Add onions, apples, and mushrooms to skillet, cooking just until soft. Add thyme, salt, pepper, and apple brandy; stir to blend. Return chops to skillet and surround with onion mixture. Over medium heat, simmer uncovered, for about 10 minutes. Mix in cream and simmer until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes longer. Do not let cream boil.

Recipe : Butter Cookies V

Ingredients
2 cups butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
4 egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the yolks one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Shape dough into logs about 2 inches in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate or freeze until firm.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Unwrap rolls. You can roll the logs in nuts or sprinkles before slicing. Slice into 3/8 inch wide slices. Place slices 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Do not brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe : 15-Minute Herbed Chicken

Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 (10.75 ounce) can Campbell's� Condensed Cream of Chicken with Herbs Soup
1/2 cup milk
Broth Simmered Rice (see note)

Directions
Heat oil in skillet. Add chicken and cook until browned.
Add soup and milk. Heat to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat 5 minutes or until done. Serve with Broth Simmered Rice.

Recipe : Baked Whole Cauliflower

Ingredients
1 large head cauliflower
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup margarine, melted
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 pinch red pepper flakes
1 pinch dried oregano

Directions
Clean cauliflower, and trim off leaves and any brown spots. Place the whole head of cauliflower into a steamer basket, place the basket in a large pot, and add one inch of water. Cover, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook for about 20 minutes or until tender.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a medium bowl, mix together the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, melted margarine. Season with garlic powder, salt, red pepper flakes, and oregano, and mix well. Place the head of cauliflower into a baking dish, and coat with the breadcrumb mixture.
Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

Recipe : Baked Ziti Casserole

Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
8 ounces dry ziti pasta
1 pound ground sirloin beef
1 (26 ounce) can Hunt's� Four Cheese Pasta Sauce
1 (6 ounce) can Hunt's� Tomato Paste
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 8x8-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Prepare pasta according to package directions; drain. Cook beef in large skillet over medium-high heat 7 minutes, or until browned and crumbled, stirring frequently; drain. Stir in pasta sauce and tomato paste; blend well.
Spoon 1/2 cup meat sauce into bottom of prepared baking dish. Top with half the pasta, half the remaining sauce, and 1/2 cup cheese. Repeat layers, starting with pasta and ending with cheese.
Bake, uncovered, 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

Recipe : Broccoli Soup II

Ingredients
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 head broccoli, chopped
1 (32 fluid ounce) container chicken broth
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat, and saute garlic 1 minute. Mix in broccoli, and cook 5 minutes. Pour in broth, and stir in rice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes.
Strain the broccoli and cooked rice from the soup, and place in a blender with 1 cup of the soup liquid. Blend until smooth. Return to pot. Serve with Cheddar cheese.

Recipe : Broccoli Ham Turnovers

Ingredients
2 cups broccoli florets
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup cubed fully cooked ham
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
pastry for double-crust pie
1 tablespoon whipping cream

Directions
Place broccoli in a steamer basket over 1 in. of boiling water in a saucepan. Cover and steam for 5-8 minutes or until crisp-tender. Rinse in cold water; drain well. In a bowl, combine broccoli, cheese, ham, onions, parsley, nutmeg, salt and pepper. On a floured surface, roll out pastry; cut each in half. Place 1-1/2 cups filling on one side of each half; flatten filling with a spoon. Combine egg and cream; brush some over pastry edges. Fold pastry over filling. Seal edges and prick tops with a fork. Place on a baking sheet; brush with remaining egg mixture. Bake at 400 degrees F for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Recipe : Authentic Thai Cashew Chicken

Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 large yellow bell pepper, chopped
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/3 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon Thai garlic chile paste
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into bite-size pieces
1 zucchini, chopped
1 yellow squash, chopped
6 ounces broccoli, chopped
8 ounces fresh mushrooms, quartered
1/2 cup unsalted cashew nuts

Directions
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the onion and yellow bell pepper until tender. Mix in the ketchup, oyster sauce, soy sauce, chicken broth, sugar, and chile paste. Place the chicken, zucchini, squash, broccoli, and mushrooms in the skillet. Continue to cook and stir 10 minutes, until vegetables are tender and chicken juices run clear. Mix in the cashews just before serving.

Recipe : Ben's Bearnaise Sauce

Ingredients
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons tarragon vinegar
2 tablespoons shallots, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
4 sprigs fresh tarragon, chopped
2 sprigs fresh chervil, minced
2 sprigs fresh parsley, minced
4 egg yolks
1 cup hot melted butter

Directions
Combine the wine, vinegar, shallots, white pepper, tarragon, chervil, and parsley in a small saucepan. Boil over medium-high heat until the liquid is reduced to about 2 tablespoons. Strain vinegar reduction into a large bowl; set aside.
Bring several inches of water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat, then reduce heat to low or medium-low to maintain the water at a bare simmer. Whisk the egg yolks into the vinegar reduction, then place the bowl over the simmering water. Whisk constantly until the yolks have thickened and turned a pale lemon yellow color. The mixture will form ribbons when the whisk is lifted from the bowl. Once the yolk has reached this point, remove the bowl from the simmering water.
Slowly pour the hot butter into the egg yolk mixture while continuing to whisk vigorously. Do not stop whisking until all of the butter is fully incorporated or the sauce will separate. Once finished, the mixture will have become a thick and creamy sauce. Serve immediately.

Recipe : Biscochitos II

Ingredients
1 cup shortening
1 cup margarine
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon anise extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup wine
3 teaspoons baking powder

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Mix together shortening, margarine and sugar with a mixture until well blended. Mix in the rest of the ingredients until smooth.
Roll out on a floured board to 1/2 or 1/4 inch thickness.
Cut into desired shapes and place on baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, about 10 - 12 minutes. Garnish as desired or leave plain.

Recipe : Blue Cheese Dip I

Ingredients
1/2 pound bacon
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
4 ounces blue cheese
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans to taste

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large skillet, fry chopped bacon until it is almost done. Stir garlic into the skillet. Remove from skillet and drain excess fat.
In a medium mixing bowl, mix bacon with cream cheese and blue cheese. Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish. Sprinkle nuts over the dip.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

Recipe : Blueberry Parfaits

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, thawed
Whipped cream

Directions
In a bowl, combine sour cream, brown sugar, lemon juice and peel. Cover and refrigerate. Just before serving, place half of the berries in dessert dishes or parfait glasses; top with half of the sour cream mixture. Repeat layers. Top with whipped cream.

Recipe : Best Ever Kabob Marinade

Ingredients
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup tomato-based chili sauce
1 tablespoon ground cumin, or more to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions
Whisk honey, soy sauce, chili sauce, cumin, and vegetable oil together in a bowl.

Recipe : Best Ever Rugelach

Ingredients
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
3 tablespoons orange marmalade (optional)
1 egg white
2 tablespoons water

Directions
Combine cottage cheese and 1 cup of butter in a bowl. Mix thoroughly, then gradually stir in the flour. Dough will be sticky. Divide dough into thirds and wrap with waxed paper. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
Combine the remaining 1/4 cup of butter with the brown sugar, cinnamon, pecans, and raisins. Set aside. Roll one ball of dough at a time to a 9 inch circle on a floured surface, while keeping the remaining dough chilled. Spread 1 tablespoon of the optional orange marmalade over the circle. Gently press 1/3 of the nut mixture into the dough. Cut the circle into 16 wedges. Roll each wedge tightly, starting with the wide end. Place the cookie point-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough. Beat the egg white with the water in a small bowl, then brush the mixture onto each cookie.
Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes.

Recipe : Baked Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Style

Ingredients
1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 (14 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 cube vegetable bouillon
black pepper to taste
1 (15 ounce) can black olives, chopped
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Spray a baking sheet with a thin layer of cooking spray. Place squash halves cut side down on the baking sheet.
Bake squash 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife can be easily inserted. Remove from oven, and cool.
Meanwhile, spray a non-stick saucepan with cooking spray. Over medium heat, saute the onion and garlic until golden brown. Stir in tomatoes, basil, bouillon cube, and black pepper. Cook for about 15 minutes, or until you have a medium thick sauce.
Remove squash strands with a fork, reserving the shells. Layer each half with a spoonful of the sauce, a layer of spaghetti squash strands, olives, and mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers until shells are full, or until all of the ingredients are used. Top with Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until Parmesan cheese melts.