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Potatoe/Sausage/Egg Casserole

6 - 7 peeled/sliced potatoes (more depending on family size)
Polish or Kielbasa Sausage - sliced in round pieces
1 500ml tub sour cream
4-6 boiled eggs - sliced (use less or more depending again on family size)
10oz shredded marble or cheddar cheese ( I use more )
salt & pepper to taste

Boil potatoes until they are still slightly firm
Layer all ingredients in an ovensafe pan
potatoes/sausage/eggs/sourcream/cheese....repeat
Bake at 350 - 25min

Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Prep:
30 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Marinating the chicken in buttermilk makes the meat moist and flavorful. Chicken breasts cook faster than other parts, so fry them separately in the last batch. For fried chicken with less fat and fewer calories, remove the skin before marinating.

Serves 8

Coarse salt
2 cups low-fat buttermilk
3 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 whole chickens (2 1/2 to 3 pounds each), each cut into 10 serving pieces (wings, thighs, drumsticks, and 4 breast pieces)
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups vegetable oil

1. In each of two 1-gallon resealable plastic bags, combine 1 cup buttermilk, 1/2 tablespoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, and half the chicken pieces. Shake to coat; refrigerate up to 2 days.
2. In a large, shallow bowl, whisk flour with 2 tablespoons salt and remaining 2 teaspoons cayenne. (This pungent spice is made from ground dried chiles. Used in small quantities, it adds heat to dishes without being overpowering.) Dredge chicken pieces, one at a time, in mixture, shaking off excess.
3. In a 12-inch cast-iron skillet (or other heavy-bottom skillet), heat oil to 350 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer (or until a pinch of flour sizzles when dropped in the oil).
4. Carefully add 1/3 of the chicken. Cook 10 minutes; turn chicken with tongs. Cook until golden brown, juices run clear, and internal temperature is 165 degrees, about 10 minutes more. Transfer to a rack to drain. Season with salt, if desired.
5. Return oil temperature to 350 degrees. Repeat with remaining chicken.

Chicken Enchiladas
**Uses about 12 tortillas

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast meat
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
• 6 (12 inch) flour tortillas
• 1/4 cup milk

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking dish.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and saute the green onion until tender (about 3 to 4 minutes). Add the garlic powder, then stir in the green chiles, cream of mushroom soup and sour cream. Mix well. Reserve 3/4 of this sauce and set aside. To the remaining 1/4 of the sauce in the saucepan, add the chicken and 1/2 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese. Stir together.
3. Fill each flour tortilla with the chicken mixture and roll up. Place seam side down in the prepared baking dish.
4. In a small bowl combine the reserved 3/4 of the sauce with the milk. Spoon this mixture over the rolled tortillas and top with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.

Spaghetti Carbonara

A carbonara sauce is typically made with bacon, eggs, and cheese. We've added a little half-and-half for a silky texture.

Serves 4
1 pound spaghetti
8 ounces (8 slices) bacon, cut 1 inch thick crosswise
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
3 large eggs
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
1/2 cup half-and-half

1. Set a large pot of water to boil (for pasta). In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8 to 12 minutes; transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.
2. Salt boiling water generously; add pasta and cook until al dente, according to package instructions.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together eggs, Parmesan, and half-and-half. Set aside.
4. Drain pasta, leaving some water clinging to it. Working quickly, add hot pasta to egg mixture. Add bacon; season with salt and pepper, and toss all to combine (heat from pasta will cook eggs). Serve immediately, sprinkled with additional Parmesan cheese.

Prep: 30 minutes Total: 30 minutes

Crock pot Chicken and Corn Chowder

Ingredients:

• 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) cream of potato soup
• 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup diced chicken or about 2 cans (4 to 6 ounces each) chunk chicken
• 1 can (12 to 15 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper or roasted red bell pepper
• 1 can chopped mild green chile
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
• 1 cup milk

Preparation:

Combine the soups, chicken, corn, chicken broth, bell pepper and chile, salt, pepper, and thyme in a 4- to 6-quart crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours. Add milk and cook for about 30 minutes longer, or until hot.
Serves 4 to 6.

Aromatic Noodles With Lime Peanut Sauce

3/4 pound spinach linguine or whole-wheat spaghetti
2 cups (about 9 ounces) broccoli florets
2 cups (about 6 ounces) snow peas, trimmed
2 cups (about 6 ounces) sugar snap peas, trimmed
1/2 cup natural creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 scallion, cut into pieces
3/4 inch fresh ginger, finely grated
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup shelled unsalted peanuts

Cook the pasta in a large pot of water according to the directions on the package. Drain and rinse with cold water. While the pasta is cooking put the broccoli in a steamer basket over a large pot of boiling water and steam it for 3 minutes. Add the snow peas and sugar snap peas and steam for 2 minutes more.
Toast the peanuts in a dry pan over a medium heat until they become fragrant, about 3 minutes. Set them aside to cool. Make the sauce by pureeing the peanut butter, soy sauce, water, vinegar, lime juice, scallion, ginger, sugar and red pepper flakes in a food processor or blender until smooth.

Right before serving, toss the pasta with 3/4 cup of the peanut sauce. Divide into 6 serving bowls and top each serving with the vegetables. Drizzle the remaining sauce over the vegetables. Coarsely chop the peanuts, sprinkle them on top and serve.


Nutrition Information
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving Calories 451
Total Fat 19 grams Saturated Fat 3 grams
Protein 20 grams Carbohydrates 57 grams
Fiber 8 grams

SAUSAGE AND CRESCENT ROLL CASSEROLE

2 cans crescent rolls
2 lbs. sausage
2 8-oz pks. cream cheese

Brown, rinse and drain sausage. Add cream cheese and heat until melted. Line a 13x9x2 inch pyrex casserole dish with 1 pkg of crescent rolls. Pour in sausage mixture. Top with remaining crescent rolls. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until brown. Can be made the day before, recipe can also be halved, using an 8x8 pan.

Beef and Cheese Manicotti

Ingredients

• 4 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 pound ground beef
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 14 (8-ounce package) manicotti
• 1 (15-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups marinara sauce
• 2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces

Directions


Heat a heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, onion and ground beef. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the meat browns and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and cool.
Brush 1 teaspoon of oil over a large baking sheet. Cook the manicotti in a large pot of boiling salted water until slightly softened, but still very firm to the bite, about 4 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the manicotti from the pot to the oiled baking sheet and cool.
Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, 1 1/2 to 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and parsley. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper to taste, and mix. Stir the cooled meat mixture into the cheese mixture.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Brush the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil over a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Fill the manicotti with the cheese-meat mixture. Arrange the stuffed pasta in a single layer in the prepared dish and spoon the remaining sauce over.
Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, then the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan over the stuffed pasta. Dot entire dish with the butter pieces. Bake the manicotti uncovered until heated through and the sauce bubbles on the sides of the dish, about 30 to 35 minutes. Let the manicotti stand 5 minutes and serve.

Pina Colada Pie

3/4 cup pineapple-coconut nectar (recommended: Kern's)
1 cup light coconut milk (recommended: Thai Kitchen)
1 1/2 teaspoons rum extract, divided
1 (3.4-ounce) box instant vanilla pudding and pie filling (recommended: Jell-O)
1 cup shredded coconut meat
8 ounces whipped topping, divided
1 (9-inch) pie crust, baked (recommended: Marie Callender's)
1/4 cup shredded coconut meat, toasted, for garnish


In a large bowl, combine nectar, coconut milk, and 1 teaspoon rum extract. Sprinkle pudding mix over liquid and whisk for 2 minutes. Fold in coconut and 1/2 of the whipped topping.
Pour into pre-baked pie crust and chill in refrigerator for at least 3 hours.

Combine remaining whipped topping with 1/2 teaspoon rum extract. Top chilled pie with whipped topping and toasted coconut.

Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 3 hours
Yield: 8 servings

French Onion Soup (crockpot)

5 small onions, thinly sliced
2 cans (14 ounces) low sodium beef broth (recommended: Swanson's)
2 cans (10 ounces) beef consomme (recommended: Campbell's)
1 packet onion soup mix (recommended: Lipton's)
8 slices French bread, about 1 inch thick
1 cup shredded Gruyere

Combine onions, broth, consomme, and soup mix in a slow cooker. Cook on HIGH setting for 4 hours, or LOW setting for 8 hours.
Ladle soup into serving bowls. Top with a slice of French bread. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons cheese over each bread slice. Put soup bowls under broiler until cheese is melted. Alternatively, place the bread on a baking sheet and top with cheese; broil until cheese has melted, about 30 to 40 seconds, and set on top just before serving.

Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Yield: 8 servings

Pulled pork something-or-other

Put 2 lb pork roast, frozen solid, into slow cooker.
Add 2 cans of coke, 1 package of dry onion soup mix.
Worsticher (sp?) sauce (1 tbsp)
Hot sauce to taste (I used 1 tbps, I don't like it too spicy)
Cook on high for 5 hrs (low for 9) or until pork shreds easily with a fork. It takes roughly an hour longer than it would if you'd thawed it.

Let meat rest for 5-10 minutes, and shred using whatever method you prefer, put it back in the sauce.

Chop 2 tomatoes, 2 red bell pepper, 1 bunch of green onions, and 1 cup of cilantro. Add to the meat mixture, stir, and enjoy as a warm.. meat...salad thing. It was tasty.

Also good on some crusty bread (or cornbread? I've never had cornbread, so I dunno about that) or wrapped up in a tortilla!


(this was an accidental meal- I thought it was a beef roast when I pulled it out of the freezer, was totally baffled when the meat started to shred, so had to do something else with it entirely!)

Beef Roast with Tomato Madeira Sauce

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 pounds beef rump roast, rinsed and patted dry
Salt and pepper
1 1/2 cups roasted garlic and herb tomato sauce
3/4 cup Madeira wine
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 1/2 cups frozen pearl onions
1 cup frozen carrot slices

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan on medium-high heat. Season the roast with salt and pepper. Brown the roast on all sides, remove to a plate, and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the tomato sauce, Madeira, and garlic. Set aside.

To a slow cooker add the onions and carrots. Add the browned roast and any accumulated juices. Pour the sauce mixture over the top of roast.

Cover and cook on low setting for 8 hours.


Difficulty: Medium
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Yield: 6 servings

Spicy ranch chicken dip

2 stick cream cheese
2/3 cup Ranch dressing
2 cans chunky chicken
1 cup Franks hot Sauce

Dump in crock pot!

Lobster Cobb Salad Rolls

Note: Hass avocados are the bumpy brown ones; they have more flavor than the bright green avocados. They're ripe when they give slightly to the touch.


For the vinaigrette:
1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
5 tablespoons good olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the salad:
2 ripe Hass avocados
1 lemon, juiced
1 bunch arugula, washed and spun dry
1 1/2 pounds cooked lobster meat, cut in 3/4-inch dice
1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half or quarters
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound lean bacon, fried and crumbled
3/4 cup crumbled English Stilton, or other crumbly blue cheese
8 hot dog rolls


For the vinaigrette, whisk together the mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
For the salad, cut the avocados in half, remove the seed, and peel. Cut into 3/4-inch dice and toss with the lemon juice. If the arugula leaves are large, cut them in half crosswise.

Put the lobster and tomatoes in a bowl. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper and toss with enough vinaigrette to moisten. Add the diced avocados, crumbled bacon, blue cheese, and arugula and toss again. Fill the hot dog rolls with the salad. Serve at room temperature.

Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Lobster Salad in Endive

3/4 pound fresh cooked lobster meat, small-diced
1/2 cup good mayonnaise
1/2 cup small-diced celery (1 stalk)
1 tablespoon capers, drained
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh dill
Pinch kosher salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
4 heads Belgian endive


Combine the lobster, mayonnaise, celery, capers, dill, salt, and pepper. With a sharp knife, cut off the base of the endive and separate the leaves. Use a teaspoon to fill the end of each endive leaf with lobster salad. Arrange on a platter and serve.

Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 24 appetizers