Chicken and Potato Dumplings aka Gnocchi

 

Ingredients:

2 T. unsalted butter

2 C. sliced white mushrooms

1½ C. yellow onion, diced

1 T. fresh thyme leaves

2 t. reduced salt chicken bouillon seasoning

½ t. salt

½ t. black pepper

3 C. shredded rotisserie chicken white meat

15-oz. bag frozen peas & carrots, thawed

2 (10.5-oz.) cans of cream of chicken with herbs soup

1½ C. chicken stock

12-oz. package of potato gnocchi

Directions:

1. In a large sauté pan, on medium heat, add the butter, sliced mushrooms, diced onions, fresh thyme leaves, chicken bouillon, salt, and black pepper. 
2. Sauté the vegetables for 2 to 3 minutes or until they are tender.
3. Add the diced rotisserie chicken, peas & carrots, and cream of chicken soup to the pan. 
4. Stir to combine fully.
5. Slowly stir in the chicken stock until the mixture is smooth and fully blended.
6. Bring the chicken mixture to a low boil, add the potato gnocchi, and reduce the heat to medium-low. 
7. Simmer the gnocchi chicken mixture for 15-20 minutes or until the gnocchi is fully cooked and tender. 
8. Be sure to stir often to keep the gnocchi from sticking together.
9. Remove from the heat and garnish with additional fresh thyme leaves if desired.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

 

Ingredients:

2 C. + 2 T. all-purpose flour

1 t. cornstarch

1 t. baking soda

½ t. salt

¾ c. unsalted butter, melted + slightly cooled

¾ c. packed light or dark brown sugar

¾ c. granulated sugar

1 large egg + 1 egg yolk, at room temperature

1 ½ t. pure vanilla extract

1 heaping c. white chocolate chips

1 c. roughly chopped macadamia nuts

Directions:

1. Whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
2. Whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract together until combined. 
3. Pour into dry ingredients and mix everything together until completely combined. 
4. Fold in the white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts. 
5. Cover and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours and up to 4 days. If chilling for longer than 2 hours, allow to sit at room temperature for at least 20-30 minutes before rolling and baking because the dough will be quite hard.
6. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). 
7. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
8. Roll cookie dough into balls, about 1-1.5 Tablespoons of dough per cookie, and arrange 3 inches apart on the baking sheets. 
9. Bake for 12-13 minutes or until lightly browned on the sides. The centers will look soft.
10. Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Pecan Sandies Cookies

 

Ingredients:

1 C. unsalted butter softened

¼ C. granulated sugar

⅓ C. packed light brown sugar

2 C. all-purpose flour

½ t. salt

1 ½ t. vanilla extract

1½ C. coarsely chopped pecans, reserve ½ cup

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 
2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. 
3. Using a stand blender with the paddle attachment or a handheld electric blender on medium speed, cream the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy, approximately 2-5 minutes. 
4. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour, salt, and vanilla extract. Continue beating until incorporated. 
5. Reduce the speed to stir and add the chopped pecans reserving about ½ cup. 
6. Using a 1½ tablespoon scoop for equal measurements, roll the dough into balls and then roll them through the reserved chopped pecans.
7. Place them on the prepared baking sheet with a little space between them for warm air to flow. 
8. Press the balls fairly flat using the flat bottom of a glass or a glass Pyrex measuring cup.
9. Bake for 14-16 minutes or until lightly browned. 
10. Let the cookies cool for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack to fully cool. 

Pecan Cream Pie

 

Ingredients:

6 oz. (9-inch) ready-made pecan crust or homemade

16 oz. cream cheese, room-temperature

½ C. light brown sugar

⅓ C. pure maple syrup

1 t. vanilla extract

8 oz. whipped topping, thawed and divided in half

1 C. toasted finely chopped pecans, divided into ¾ cup and ¼ cup

Directions:

1. Beat together the cream cheese and light brown sugar, in a large mixing bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium-low speed, for 1 minute or until fluffy and smooth.
2. Add the maple syrup and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture and beat for an additional 30 seconds until fully incorporated.
3. Fold half (4 ounces) of the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture until the whipped topping is fully incorporated and no streaks remain.
4. Fold ¾ cup of the finely chopped toasted pecans into the cream pie mixture until they are evenly distributed.
5. Spread the pecan cream pie mixture evenly in the pecan crust.
6. Top the pecan cream pie with the remaining whipped topping and spread it to all the edges.
7. Garnish the center, leaving about an inch around the edge, of the whipped topping with the remaining ¼ cup of toasted finely chopped pecans.
8. Chill for 6 hours, or up to overnight, to allow the pecan cream pie to set up fully.