Saturday, December 14, 2013

Spinach Dip 

1 package (10 oz./300 g) frozen chopped spinach, cooked, cooled and squeezed dry
1 container (16 oz.) sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
1 package Knorr® Vegetable recipe mix
1 can (8 oz.) water chestnuts, drained and chopped (optional)
3 green onions, chopped (optional)

Combine all ingredients and chill about 2 hours. Serve with your favorite dippers to your favorite people.

I usually put this in a bread bowl, and use the bread for dipping. 

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Kiss Cookies
 a la Laura

Hershey's kisses
1/2 c shortening
3/4 c creamy peanut butter
1/3 c sugar
1/3 c brown sugar
1 egg
2 T milk
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 c flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
additional sugar for rolling

Preheat to 375.

beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. add sugars, beat until fluffy. add egg, vanilla. stir together dry ingredients, then gradually add to peanut butter mixture. shape into 1 in balls and roll in sugar.
bake 8-10 minutes. press an unwrapped kiss in the center of cookie after cooling for about 2 minutes. cool completely and enjoy!
Sour Cream Enchiladas
a la Pioneer Woman

12 whole Corn Tortillas 
Canola Oil, For Frying 
1 can (20 Ounce) Enchilada Sauce 
2 cups Sour Cream 
3 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Grated
1 cup
Sliced/chopped Green Onions
 
1/2 teaspoon Ground Cumin 
1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix together sour cream, green onions 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
Heat canola oil in a skillet over medium heat. Heat enchilada sauce in a separate skillet or saucepan.
Using tongs, fry tortillas one at a time, for only about five to ten seconds per side (don't allow to crisp.) Remove from oil, then dunk tortilla in enchilada sauce. Lay tortilla on a plate, then spoon a good two or three tablespoons of the sour cream mixture in the middle. Roll tortilla, then place face down in a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Repeat with remaining tortillas and sour cream mixture.
(If there's any sour cream mixture left over, use it as a dip for tortilla chips!)
Cover the dish with the remaining cheese, then bake for 15 to 20 minutes until bubbly.
Serve immediately. Place a dollop of sour cream on each serving, then sprinkle on sliced green onions.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Mystery Pecan Pie
a la Paula Deen

Topping:
3 eggs
1/4 c sugar
1 c light corn syrup
1 t vanilla

Pie:
1 8oz package cream cheese, room temp
1/3 c sugar
1/4 t salt
1 t vanilla
1 egg
1 un-baked deep-dish 9 in pie shell
1 1/4 c chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
whisk topping ingredients until well combined. set aside.
in a medium bowl using a hand mixer, mix cream cheese, sugar, salt, vanilla and egg until smooth. pour into pie shell. top with chopped pecans. pour topping over pecans. bake for 45 minutes. allow to cool completely before serving.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Chicken Pot Pie
a la the Pioneer Woman

4 Tablespoons
Butter
1/2 cup
Finely Diced Onion
1/2 cup
Finely Diced Carrot
1/2 cup
Finely Diced Celery
3 cups
Shredded Cooked Chicken Or Turkey
1/4 cup
Flour
3 cups
Low-sodium Chicken Broth, Plus More If Needed
Splash Of White Wine (optional)
1/4 teaspoon
Turmeric
Salt And Pepper, to taste

Chopped Fresh Thyme To Taste
1/4 cup
Half-and-half Or Cream
1 whole
Unbaked Pie Crust
1 whole
Egg
2 Tablespoons
Water


Preheat the oven to 375 F.
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat, then add the onion, carrots, and celery. Stir them around until the onions start to turn translucent, about 3 minutes.
Stir in the chicken or turkey and then sprinkle the flour over the top and stir it until it’s all combined with the turkey and vegetables. Cook for 1 minute, then pour in the chicken broth (and wine if using) and stir it around and let it cook and thicken.
Once it starts to thicken add the turmeric, salt, pepper, and thyme.
Add the half-and-half or cream, then stir the mixture and let it bubble up and thicken, about 3 minutes. If it seems overly thick, splash in a little more broth. Turn off the heat.
Pour the filling into a 2-quart baking dish. Roll out the pie crust on a floured surface and lay it over the top of the dish. Press the dough so that the edges stick to the outside of the pan. Use a knife to cut little vents here and there in the surface of the dough.
Mix together the egg with 2 tablespoons water and brush it all over the surface of the crust. (You will have some egg wash left over.)
Place the pie on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the crust is deep golden brown and the filling is bubbly. To prevent the crust from getting too brown, you might want to cover it lightly with foil for the first 15 minutes of baking time.

note: i used 2 pie crusts, and put one on the bottom too. the flakier the better. i also added peas. i also put mine in a 9" circle pan- a pie pan is way too shallow. 
also, you can make just the filling and freeze it, and just thaw before use.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos
a la Noell

1/3 C (3 oz) cream cheese
1/4 C green salsa
1T fresh lime juice
1/2 t cumin
1 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/4 t granulated garlic, or garlic powder
3 T chopped cilantro
2 T sliced green onions
2 C shredded cooked chicken (for extra yumminess, use grilled taco chicken!)
1 C grated pepperjack cheese
small corn tortillas (and actually, flour ones are really good as well)
kosher salt

Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it’s soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and granulated garlic. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese and combine well.You can prepare up to this step ahead of time. Just keep the mixture in the fridge.
Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or are coming unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing.
Place 2-3 T of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges.  Roll up tortillas and place seam down on a baking sheet, not touching one another.  Spray lightly with cooking spray, or lightly brush with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with kosher salt.  Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.  Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving. 

Monday, September 9, 2013

Perfect Potato Soup
a la The Pioneer Woman

6 slices
Thin Bacon, Cut Into 1-inch Pieces
1 whole
Medium Onion, Diced
3 whole
Carrots, Scrubbed Clean And Diced
3 stalks
Celery, Diced
6 whole
Small Russet Potatoes, Peeled And Diced
8 cups
Low Sodium Chicken Or Vegetable Broth
3 Tablespoons
All-purpose Flour
1 cup
Milk
1/2 cup
Heavy Cream
1/2 teaspoon
Salt, More To Taste
Black Pepper To Taste 
1/2 teaspoon Cajun Spice Mix 
1 teaspoon Minced Fresh Parsley
1 cup
Grated Cheese Of Your Choice


Add bacon pieces to a soup pot over medium heat and cook bacon until crisp and fat is rendered. Remove the bacon from the pot and set it aside. Pour off most of the grease, but do not clean the pot.
Return the hot to medium-high heat and add the onions, carrots, and celery. Stir and cook for 2 minutes or so, then add the diced potatoes. Cook for 5 minutes, seasoning with salt, pepper, and Cajun spice.
Pour in the broth and bring it to a gentle boil. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are starting to get tender. Whisk together the flour and the milk, then pour into the soup and allow the soup to cook for another 5 minutes.
Remove half to 2/3 the soup and blend in a blender/food process until completely smooth. Pour it back into the soup pot and stir to combine. Let it heat back up as you taste for seasonings, adding more of what it needs. Stir in cream, then stir in parsley, reserving a little for garnish.
Serve in bowls garnished with parsley, grated cheese and crisp bacon pieces.