Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

1/2 of a 16 oz pkg linguine or your choice of pasta
1 cup fresh or frozen broccoli florets
2 Tbs butter
1 lb boneless skinless chicken, cut into pieces
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Directions

Heat butter in skillet on medium heat. Add chicken and cook until well browned, stirring often.

Meanwhile prepare pasta according to package. Add broccoli during last 4 minutes of pasta cooking time. Drain Pasta and broccoli well.

Stir soup, milk, Parmesan, pepper, pasta and broccoli into skillet. Cook until mixture is hot and bubbling.

Serve with additional Parmesan.

sidenote: my family loved this. I think the kids even ate a little broccoli without realizing! {not all of course, but some!}

Dad's Waffles

 1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbs sugar
2 Tbs oil
1 cup milk
1 egg separated
1 tsp vanilla

Directions

Leaving out the egg, mix together all ingredients in a large bowl.

Using separate glass or metal bowl(avoid plastic bowls as they often contain residues of oil and would compromise your efforts) Separate the yolk. Use the hand method by cracking the egg and balancing the yolk between the shells while releasing the whites. Add yolks to batter. Add a pinch of salt to the whites and start beating. Always use an electric mixer. The salt aids in the stability of the foam as it reacts with the proteins and makes them more firm.

The egg whites are done when you can cut through them with a knife and a line remains or when removing the mixer perky peaks should appear.

Fold whites into batter about 20 times. Do not over mix!

Check waffle iron to be sure it is hot.

Using a measuring cup pour batter into HOT waffle iron.

Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

1 pint heavy cream
1 stick REAL butter {not margarine}
2 Tbs cream cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan
1-2 cloves garlic {1 big or 2 small} crushed, pressed or finely chopped
salt and pepper

Directions:

Melt the butter slowly in the pan, add the garlic and then bring the temperature up to just above medium low heat, allowing it to fry a bit. Stop the frying and bring the temperature back down to medium low before the Butter browns.

Add the heavy cream and cream cheese and season with salt and pepper

Stir frequently until cream cheese is all melted When you do not see any more solids add Parmesan, turn heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.

Serve over your favorite pasta.

Favorite Fruit Dip

7oz Marshmallow Creme
8 oz Cream Cheese

Directions:

Put the cream cheese and marshmallow in a bowl.

Mix on high until it's blended to a smooth consistency.

Serve right away with your favorite fruit, or chill in the fridge.

sidenote: we love this with strawberries, oranges, mangoes, bananas, grapes, apples... any fruit really!

Beans & Wieners

 Photo By Bracken

1 lb polish dogs cut into pieces
3-15 oz cans Pork and Beans
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup molasses
2 tsp mustard

Directions

Mix ingredients in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 4-5 hours.

sidenote: yummy served with these!

Kate's Moist Corn Muffins

 Photo By Bracken

1 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter milk {1/2 cup milk, 1/2 Tbs vinegar; let stand 5 minutes}
2 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1 Tbs miracle whip

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 F. Place 12 liners in a 12 cup muffin tin.

Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. In another bowl mix remaining ingredients. Add wet mixture to dry mixture. Mix well.

Fill liners evenly {about 3/4 full}

Bake 15 minutes or until golden.

sidenote: Yes I made up this recipe. Aren't you impressed? I was tired of DRY cornbread. After looking online for awhile I decided I would take ideas from here and there and tada...
they were YUM.  My family ate em up. Me too.


Oh - and didn't Bracken do a fabulous job with the camera? I thought so. My pictures didn't look as good.

Do You Know How to Keep Your Produce Fresh?

Utah's Deal Diva Does! Click HERE to find out!

Chicken Tetrazzini

1/2 lb spaghetti/Alfredo noodles/ linguine etc.
1 lb boneless skinless chicken - cubed
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
4 oz cream cheese - cubed
1/4 cup flour
1 can chicken broth
3 Tbs Parmesan
1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella

Directions


In a large skillet add chicken and mushrooms, cook for 8 minutes stirring frequently. Remove mixture from skillet, put in bowl, cover and place in microwave to keep warm.

Start cooking pasta according to package.

Place cream cheese, flour and broth in skillet. Turn heat on medium high and whisk until boiling. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.

Drain pasta and add chicken mixture, cream cheese mixture and 2 Tbs of the Parmesan. Mix well. Heat through and serve topped with remainder of Parmesan & Mozzarella.

sidenote: or just forget to save some cheese to serve on the top and cook it all in, tastes good to me!

Homemade Mac & Cheese {EASY!!}

2 cups elbow mac
1 cup grated cheddar

Directions

Prepare noodles according to package. Drain. Add Cheese and stir until melted.
Serve Immediately.

Pasta E. Fagioli {the soup}

1/2 pound lean ground beef
3/4 tsp olive oil
1/2 of an onion, chopped
1/4 of a bag of baby carrots, chopped
2 ribs celery, diced
1 24 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 can drained red kidney beans
2 cans beef stock
3/4 tsp. oregano
3/4 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. parsley
1/2 tsp. Tabasco sauce
1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce
2 cups Ditalini {Salad Macaroni} pasta, cooked and drained


Directions

Brown the ground beef in the oil in a skillet, until crumbly. Stir in carrots, onions, celery, and undrained tomatoes. Simmer for 10 minutes. Rinse and drain the kidney beans, then stir into the beef mixture. Stir in stock, oregano, pepper, parsley, and Tabasco sauce. Simmer for 45 minutes until celery and carrots are tender. Stir in spaghetti sauce and pasta.


Serving Suggestions

bread sticks, in a bread bowl, with crumbly bread, or even just cheese and crackers.

FYI: I have done this in the slow cooker. adding everything but the pasta and spaghetti sauce and letting it cook 4-6 hours on low then adding cooked pasta and spaghetti sauce just before serving.

sidenote: Personally I didn't like it as much when I didn't add all the onion it called for and I like it even better when it's thick and not soupy.  {Add more spaghetti sauce and less broth}