Tortellini Toss

This stuff is amazing!  My mom found this recipe and made it for the first time for our family while we were in Lake Powell.  This is not the first time I'll tell you that we eat better on vacation than at home.  We make this at least once a month at our house, my husband can't get enough of it!

1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 1/2 lbs pork ternderloin (cut into 3" strips)
         or  boneless chicken breast
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp lemon pepper
1/4 tsp dried marjoram
1 pkg (14 oz) frozen sugar snap peas, partially thawed (I actually use fresh from the produce section)
                      or any vegetable of your choice
1 pkg (19 oz) frozen cheese tortellini (again, I buy the fresh refrigerated tortellini)
                     or 4 cups of any pasta
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (I use more like 2 cups, we really like cheese!)

In a large skillet, saute onion and garlic in butter until tender and caramelized.  Add meat and seasonings; cook and stir occasionally.  Add snap peas; reduce heat.  Cover and simmer for 2-3 minutes or until vegetables are heated through.  Add cooked tortellini (cook as desired according to package) and Parmesan cheese; toss to coat.

** Serve with garlic or cheese bread.
** I tend to round up on the seasonings.  I add a little more than it calls for.

Enjoy!
Posted by Madalyn

                  

Red and White Lasagna

This is a recipe my family and I enjoy.  I usually make this recipe for only two of us so instead of using a 13x9 dish I use two 8x8 dishes and freeze half.  When making the lasagna in two dishes assemble as the recipe states.  Before baking the extra dish cover and freeze.  Will stay good in freezer for a couple months.  When ready to eat thaw completely and bake as recipe states.

9 lasagna noodles, cooked

1 container (15oz) ricotta cheese

1 pkg. (10oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed    

    and well drained. 

2 cups (8oz) shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese, divided

2 eggs

1lb. Italian sausage or ground beef

1 jar (26oz) marinara pasta sauce

1 jar (16oz) alfredo pasta sauce

Preheat oven 350°.  In large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, spinach, mozzarella cheese, 2 Tbs. parmesan cheese and eggs; mix well.  In a 13x9 inch baking dish, spread 1 cup marinara sauce. Layer 3 lasagna noodles over sauce, top with half cheese mixture, 1 cup marinara sauce and half meat.  Layer 3 more lasagna noodles, remaining cheese mixture, remaining marinara sauce and remaining meat.  Top with 3 remaining lasagna noodles.  Spread alfredo sauce evenly on top; sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese.  Cover and bake 20 minutes.  Uncover, bake an additional 15 minutes or until hot and bubbly.  Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

Yields: 10-12 servings

Enjoy!!

posted by Jen

Spicy Tortellini Soup

Spicy Tortellini Soup

  

 8 cups chicken broth

5 to 6 links of Italian sausage (spicy if you like)

1 lb. frozen or fresh cheese tortellini

1 bag washed baby spinach leaves

   or 1 box frozen spinach

dash of pepper

grated Parmesan cheese to top

Coarsely chop spinach and set aside. Using a large pot, squeeze sausage to remove it from its skin, then brown, breaking it into small pieces (like browning hamburger) and drain fat. Add broth and heat to boiling. Add your pasta and continue to boil until tortellini is cooked. Add pepper, and then throw in spinach. Cook just 2 to 3 minutes more and serve with Parmesan cheese.

posted by Jess

Jalapeno Poppers

The first time I tried this type of jalapeno popper, I was on the deer hunt. My mom came out with a fresh batch of these and everyone devoured them!  I HAD to get the recipe!
I make these quite a bit for all occasion's because they are so easy and there are only 4 ingredients, including the jalapeno.


Now, this recipe doesn't include exact measurements, however I will tell you exactly how much of everything I use and you can change it according to what you like.

Jalapeno Poppers

2 8oz bricks of cream cheese (softened)

2 pkgs of bacon

1/4 cup of  Parmesan cheese

Jalapenos (about 2 lbs)

Cut up the bacon in small squares and cook (while the bacon is cooking I like to prepare the jalapenos). Cut off the top of each jalapeno and cut them in half. Throw out the seeds and membrane. Rinse each half.

Preheat oven to 375 degree's.

Once the bacon is done cooking, drain bacon grease and blot bacon with a paper towel. 

In a mixing bowl combine bacon, softened cream cheese and Parmesan cheese. Mix well using a big spoon or your hands (do not use a hand held or stand mixer).

Fill each jalapeno half with the bacon cheese mixture and place on a cookie sheet.

Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until hot. Serve immediately.

Posted by Whitney

Slow-Cooker Jambalaya

This recipe has a lot of ingredients, but I promise it is super EASY!  And it's delicious!

Servings: 8         Prep Time: 20 mins        Cook Time: 5 hours

Ingredients

2 pounds raw skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch slices
1 pound cooked smoked sausage, cut into 2-inch slices
1 large onion, chopped (or 15 pearl onions, peeled)
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
3 stalks of celery, chopped
1 (28oz) can of diced tomatoes with juice
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 cups of chicken broth
1 tablespoon Cajun or Creole spice mix
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 pounds extra large shrimp, peeled, deveined and cooked
2 1/2 cups instant rice

Directions

Combine chicken, sausage, onion, green pepper, celery, tomatoes, garlic, chicken broth, spice mix, thyme and oregano into a large (5 quart) slow cooker. 

Cook on low for 5 hours. (Do not take the lid off during the 5 hours)

Stir in shrimp and rice; raise heat to high and cook for 10 minutes more.

*serve with biscuits or garlic bread.

Posted by Madalyn

Oreo Cookies

Cookie

1 package cake mix

2 eggs

3/4 c. shortening

Mix together ingredients.  (the dough consistency will be firm)

With cookie scoop place dough balls on baking sheet. 

Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes (times will very depending on oven)

One recipe will make about 13 cookie sandwiches (depending on size of cookie scoop)

Frosting

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 stick butter, softened

2 tsp. vanilla

6 c. powdered sugar

1-2 Tbs. milk 

Mix together cheese, butter, and vanilla until creamy.  Then slowly add sugar and milk as needed.  

When cookies are cooled completely put frosting on them and sandwich together. (I think with most cookies the more frosting the better but not with these cookies, don’t over do the frosting) 

I have made strawberry cookies using strawberry cake mix (for Valentine’s Day).  The picture shows the black and white cookies I made using chocolate and vanilla cake mix (I made two separate batches).  There are many different cake mix varieties that can be used.  Using food coloring, a vanilla cake mix can be changed to any color.   

Enjoy!!

Posted by Jen

Sticky Fingers

I recently tried a great new recipe that can be used for a few awesome dinners.  The recipe is chicken sticky fingers.  They taste just like Wingers Sticky Fingers.

Sticky Fingers Recipe:

1 pkg. frozen breaded chicken strips 
      (Any brand works, I use Walmart brand)

1/2 c. Frank's Hot Sauce 
      (Use Franks Hot Sauce, no other brand is 
      as good)

1/4 c. water

1 1/2 c. brown sugar

Chicken:

 Prepare the chicken strips as directed package.

Sauce:

 Heat hot sauce, water and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat.

Dip chicken in sauce, and enjoy!


Mix the extra sticky sauce with ranch and use a dipping sauce or dressing, enjoy it with all three recipes.    

1st dinner idea, Sticky Fingers with potatoes, fries, tater tots and veggies (or anything else you enjoy)

2nd dinner idea, Sticky Fingers Quesadilla.

In the quesadillas:

Sliced Sticky Fingers

Tortillas (We like the tortillas in the refrigerator section that you cook first)

Pico de gallo (diced tomatoes & onion, lime juice and garlic)

Avocados or Guacamole

Cheddar Cheese

3rd dinner idea, Sticky Fingers Salad.

In the Salad

Sliced Sticky Fingers

Lettuce (We enjoy mixing spinach with the lettuce)

Diced Tomatoes and Avocados

Shredded cheese


These dinner ideas are so versatile.  You can change them in whatever way you would like.  Enjoy!! 

posted by Jen