Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake

 

Ingredients:

12 oz. fusilli pasta

Salt for pasta water

4 T. butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 T. flour

2½ c. milk

½ c. heavy whipping cream

1 c. water

¼ t. ground nutmeg

1 t. ground black pepper

1 t. Italian seasoning or a mix of dried oregano, thyme, and basil

½ t. salt

1 c. shredded or grated Parmesan cheese

1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

10 oz ham, diced (about 2 cups)

¼ c. chopped fresh parsley

¼ c. chopped fresh green onion greens or chives

Directions:

1. Put a big pot of salted water onto boil on high heat for the pasta (4 quarts, 2 tablespoons salt). While the pasta water is heating, prep the other ingredients.
2. Once the water has reached a rolling boil, add the pasta and stir so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. 
3. Let the water return to a rolling boil and cook, uncovered, for 9 to 10 minutes.
4. Melt the butter in a large (3 to 4 quart), thick-bottomed pot on medium heat. 
5. Add the minced garlic. Let the garlic sizzle for a few seconds. 
6. Add the flour and whisk so that any lumps are dissolved. 
7. Let the roux (flour and butter) bubble and cook for a minute or two.
8. Slowly add the milk and cream, a quarter cup at a time, whisking until incorporated after each addition. 
9. Increase the heat to medium high. 
10. Add ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg and ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper. Add ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
11. Add half of the shredded Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, whisking until melted and incorporated into the sauce.
12. Add ½ teaspoon of salt.
13. Stir in 1 cup of water (can use pasta cooking water if you want).
14. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
15. Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the sauce. Add the ham. Add the chopped parsley and onion greens or chives. Gently stir to combine. Taste, and add more nutmeg, salt, pepper, or Italian seasoning to taste.
16. Transfer the pasta mixture to an oven-proof casserole dish. 
17. Sprinkle the top with the remaining cheese. 
18. Bake uncovered in the oven at 400°F for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned on top.

Breakfast Wraps

 

Ingredients:

4 eggs
6 oz. breakfast sausage
1 c. hashbrowns
½ c. cheddar cheese, shredded
2 9-inch flour tortillas.

Directions:

1. Scramble eggs and cook until fully set.
2. Brown sausage and crumble while cooking.
3. Brown hashbrowns in pan with the sausage.
4. Divide the eggs, sausage and hashbrowns between the tortillas.
5. Sprinkle with cheese and roll up wraps.

Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

1 (9-inch) unbaked deep-dish pie crust

¾ c. white sugar 

1 t. ground cinnamon 

½ t. salt

½ t. ground ginger

¼ t. ground cloves

2 large eggs

1 (15-oz.) can Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin

1 (12-oz.) can Nestle Carnation Evaporated Milk

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425° F (220° C).
2. Combine sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and cloves in small bowl.
3. Beat eggs lightly in large bowl.
4. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture.
5. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. 
6. Pour into pie shell.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. 
8. Reduce temperature to 350° F (175° C) and continue to bake until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 more minutes. 
9. Remove from the oven and set on a wire rack to cool to room temperature.
10. Serve cooled pie immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. (Do not freeze as this will cause the crust to separate from the filling.)

Egg Roll in a Bowl

 

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground sausage, chicken, turkey or beef
7 c. of Coleslaw mix
2 T. low sodium soy sauce
1 T. ginger
1 t. garlic powder
½ c. green onions

Directions:

1. Cook meat, stirring and crumbling until cooked through. 
2. Stir in Coleslaw mix, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and stir. 
3. Top with green onions and drizzle with more soy sauce or sweet and sour sauce.

Chocolate Cream Pie Filling

This pie filling works very well with the Pecan Pie Crust (pictured above).

Ingredients:

Chocolate Filling

¾ c. granulated sugar

½ t. salt

¼ c. cornstarch

2 c. whole milk

1 c. heavy cream

4 large egg yolks

2 T. unsalted butter

2 (4-ounce) packets semi-sweet baking bars 

2 t. vanilla extract

Topping

1 c. heavy cream

4 T. powdered sugar

½ t. vanilla extract

Chocolate bar, optional

Directions: 

1. Chop the chocolate bars and set aside. 
2. Off heat, combine sugar, salt, and cornstarch in a pot and whisk together. 
3. Add egg yolks, then slowly whisk in milk and cream until smooth. 
4. Place pot on medium-low heat, whisking occasionally and scraping the sides and bottom with a spatula to prevent sticking. 
5. Heat gradually.
6. When mixture starts to thicken, whisk constantly. 
7. Once large bubbles form, reduce heat slightly and whisk for 1 minute until it thickens into pudding. 
8. Remove from heat, whisk for another minute, then add butter and whisk until melted. 
9. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth, then stir in vanilla.
10. Scrape filling into cooled prepared crust and smooth top with a spatula. 
11. Cover with plastic wrap to prevent skin formation. 
12. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours or until set.
13. For the topping, pour heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla into a mixing bowl. Start with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar and increase to sweetness preference. 
14. Use a hand mixer to mix on low speed, then increase to high until medium-to-stiff peaks form, which should take about 2–4 minutes. 
15. Be careful not to overbeat. 
16. Spread the whipped cream over the pie and garnish with chocolate shavings using a vegetable peeler. 
17. For clean slices, warm a sharp knife under hot water, dry it, and slice the pie. Repeat for each cut.

Chicken Wraps

Ingredients:

2 c. cooked chicken, shredded

2 c. chopped Romain lettuce

2 Roma tomatoes, diced

½ small red onion, diced fine

1 c. Colby jack cheese, finely shredded

½ c. Zesty Wrap Sauce

4 9-inch flour tortillas

Directions:

1. Heat a grill pan to medium-low heat.
2. Divide the chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and cheese evenly among the tortillas.
3. Top each one with Zesty Wrap Sauce. 
4. Fold in the ends about two inches, and then roll up the wraps.
5. Lightly grease the grill, and add the wraps. Cook for 2 minutes on each side.

Zesty Wrap Sauce

Ingredients:

½ c. mayonnaise

¼ c. honey

2 T. yellow mustard

2 T. ketchup

1 T. lemon juice

1 t. brown sugar

1 t. apple cider vinegar

Directions:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine.
2. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 weeks.

Breakfast Braid

 

Ingredients:

1 sheet puff pastry

6 eggs

4 American cheese slices

½ C. shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese.

Breakfast meat - Canadian Bacon or Sausage are both good choices

Directions:

1. Thaw puff pastry according to package directions.
2. Pre-heat oven to 400° F.
3. Scramble 5 eggs and soft cook them in a frying pan.
4. Roll Puff Pastry to 12"x15" rectangle.
5. Lay American cheese slices down center of puff pastry, leaving approximately 2" on each end.
6. Spread cooked scrambled eggs down 
7. Top with breakfast meat.
8. Top with shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese.
9. Cut corner from each of the corners of the puff pastry.  Fold the ends over the filling.
10. Slice ½-inch strips diagonally on each side of the puff pastry dough.
11. Cross strips of dough from each side over the filling to make a braid-like pattern.
12. Brush dough with beaten egg.
13. Cook for 20 minutes.
14. Slice into 4 servings.

Crab Wonton Rice

Ingredients:

1 pkg. imitation crab, cut up

2 T. butter

1 T. olive oil

1 clove garlic

2 green onions, cut into ½-inch pieces

2 c. uncooked rice

3 c. vegetable broth

3 oz. cream cheese

wonton stirps

Directions:

1. Sauté crab, green onions, and garlic in butter and olive oil.  Remove from pan.
2. In same pan, add rice and brown slightly.
3. Add broth, making sure rice is covered.
4. Cover pan with lid.
5. Cook rice on low heat until rice is cooked.
6. Add crab, onions and garlic back to pan.
7. Add cream cheese and stir until melted and combined.
8. Sprinkle wonton strips on top and serve.

Pecan Pie Crust

 

Ingredients:

1 C. chopped pecans
1 C. flour
½ C. butter, softened

Directions:

1. With a fork, mix together ingredients until crumbly.
2. Press into 9" pie plate.
3. Bake in preheated 300° F oven for 25 minutes.

Note:  This crust works well for chocolate cream, butterscotch. caramel or no-bake cheesecake fillings.

Beefy Shells

 

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 C. beef broth

1 C. heavy cream

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes

2 C. shell pasta

1 C. shredded cheddar cheese

1 T. olive oil

1 t. dried basil

1 t. dried oregano

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. 
2. Add diced onion and minced garlic, cooking until the onion is translucent.
3. Add ground beef to the skillet, cooking until browned. Drain any excess fat.
4. Stir in beef broth, heavy cream, diced tomatoes, dried basil, and dried oregano. 
5. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
6. Add shell pasta to the skillet, stirring to combine. 
7. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.
8. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and well incorporated. 
9. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Queso Chicken Tacos

 

Ingredients:

2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 packet taco seasoning

1 can (10 oz) Rotel tomatoes with green chilies

1 block (8 oz) cream cheese

1 C. shredded cheddar cheese

½ C. chicken broth

12 small taco-sized tortillas

Directions:

1. Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
2. Sprinkle taco seasoning evenly over the top.
3. Pour the Rotel tomatoes (undrained) and chicken broth over the chicken.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
5. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks.
6. Stir the cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese into the slow cooker until melted and smooth.
7. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and mix to coat it in the cheesy sauce.
8. Warm the tortillas, then spoon the queso chicken mixture onto each tortilla.
9. Add your favorite toppings and serve immediately. 

Pasta Cream Sauce

 Ingredients:

2 C. heavy cream
½ C. Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
salt to taste

Directions:

1. Heat the cream in a pan over low heat, but do not let it boil. 
2. Take pan off the heat and whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. 
3. Taste the sauce and add the salt as needed. 
4. To dress the pasta with the cream sauce, add the pasta directly to the pan with the sauce and gently shake the pan to coat the pasta with the sauce. 
5. Add up to ⅓ cup of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce. 
6. Serve immediately.