Ham and Potato Casserole

Recipe from Allrecipes.com

• 6 small potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup butter

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs

Directions

1. Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. Grease a 9x13 baking dish.
4. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the ham and onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
5. Stir potatoes into ham mixture; transfer to the prepared baking dish.
6. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir flour into melted butter until smooth.
7. Gradually whisk milk into flour mixture; season with salt and black pepper. Continue cooking and stirring until thickened, about 2 minutes.
8. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir Cheddar cheese into the white sauce until melted.
9. Pour sauce over ham and potatoes.
10. Sprinkle bread crumbs atop casserole.
11. Bake in the preheated oven until sauce is bubbly and browned, 25 to 30 minutes 
 

 Rate It!!!

Jen: 7

Kile: 6.5

Kiley: 5

Madee: 6.5

          Destrie: good

Italian Seasoned Red Potatoes

Ingredients:
Red Potatoes
Olive Oil
1 pkg. zesty Italian dressing mix
Minced Onion Flakes
Salt and Peppet

Scrub red potatoes.
 Cube with skin left on.
 Put in a 9x13 baking dish.
Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, coat with a package of zesty Italian dressing mix and stir to coat, add minced onion flakes for flavor, salt and pepper to taste.
 Cook 400 degree oven for 45 minutes or until tender.
 Top with grated Parmesan cheese.

Rate It!
Jen: 8
Kile: 8.5
Kiley:
Madee: 7.5
Destrie: didn't have any

Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites

Ingredients:

Soft Pretzels:
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
3 ounces unsalted butter, melted
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil
3 quarts water
3/4 cup baking soda
1 whole egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
Coarse sea salt

Directions:

For the Pretzels: Combine the water, sugar, yeast, and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix with the dough hook until combined. Let sit for 5 minutes.
Add the salt and flour and mix on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and continue kneading until the dough is smooth and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl, about 3 to 4 minutes. If the dough appears too wet, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Remove the dough from the bowl, place on a flat surface and knead into a ball with your hands.
Oil a bowl with vegetable oil, add the dough and turn to coat with the oil. Cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until the dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Bring the water to a boil in a small roasting pan over high heat and add the baking soda.
Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a flat surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, about 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 ounces each. Roll each piece into a long rope measuring 22 inches and shape. Cut the dough into one inch pieces to make the pretzel bites. Boil the pretzel bites in the water solution in batches. We did about 15 bites at a time. Boil for about 30 seconds. Remove with a large slotted spoon. Place pretzel bites on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Make sure they are not touching. Brush the tops with the egg wash and season liberally with the salt. Place into the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown.
Remove to a baking rack and let rest 5 minutes before eating. Serve with cheese sauce.

*If you want to make cinnamon and sugar pretzel bites-instead of adding salt, sprinkle the bites with cinnamon and sugar. For the frosting mix-soft cream cheese-about 3 T, powdered sugar, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a little bit of milk. Whisk together. Add more milk if it is too thick, if it is too thin, add more powdered sugar. I don't measure. I just guess until the consistency is right.*
Recipe makes a lot of bites-perfect for sharing!

Rate It!
Jen: 8
Kile: 8
Kiley: 7
Madee: 7
Destrie :good

Recipe and Photo from: Two Peas and Their Pod

Sweet and Sour Chicken

 Recipe and Photo from Jamie Cooks It Up

4 large chicken breasts
2 T olive oil
1 1/4 C sugar
3/4 C vinegar
1 C cold water
1 t chicken bullion granules (or 1 bullion cube)
7 T ketchup
2 T soy sauce
1/4 t ginger
1/2 C pineapple or apple juice
2 1/2 T corn starch
1. Cut your chicken breasts up into medium-sized chunks, 2-3 inches will do. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. When it's nice and hot pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into the pan, allow it to get hot and then place your chicken carefully into the pan. Sprinkle it with a bit of salt and pepper. Let the chicken cook, stirring occasionally and pouring any excess liquid from the chicken into the sink.
2. While your chicken is cooking make the sauce. You'll need a medium-sized mixing bowl and 1 1/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup vinegar, 1 cup cold water, 1 teaspoon chicken bullion granules (or 1 bullion cube), 7 tablespoons ketchup, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 cup pineapple or apple juice and 2 1/2 tablespoons of corn starch. Pour it all into your bowl and stir it around with a fork until all ingredients are combined.
3. When your chicken is nice and golden brown on the outside (should only take about 10 minutes)pour the sauce over the top of it. Give everything a nice stir.

4. Turn up the heat just a bit and let it come to a boil, it should start to thicken up pretty easily for you. Turn the heat back down and let it simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is nice and thick.
 
Rate It!
Jen:7.5
Kile:  7
Kiley: 7
Madee: 7
Destrie: he liked the chicken, not the sauce

Broccoli Cheese Soup

 

 

 

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 c. Shirley J Whisk Bliss Original
• 1 lbs Fresh Broccoli Cut Into Bite-Size Pieces
• 6 c. Water
• 3 c. Cheddar Cheese, Grated

Directions:

In large stock pot combine broccoli and 3 cups of the water, bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Add remaining water and Whisk Bliss Original and stir well. Bring mixture back to a boil and add cheese, simmer for 3-5 minutes. Serve. Garnish individual bowls of soup with shredded cheese, if desired.

Recipe and Photo from Shirley J

*If anyone is interested in Shirley J products...I have a friend who can hook you up...just let me know!

Rate It!
Jen: 9
Kile:8.5
Kiley: not home
Madee: not home
Destrie: 10 x 10- I guess he likes it!!!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

 

 

 *Recipe adapted and Photo from All Recipes

 

 Ingredients:

 2 cups Pumpkin Puree

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp. ground cloves

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 tsp. ground allspice

1 tsp. salt

2/3 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

 mini semi sweet chocolate chips

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line muffin tin with paper muffin liners
2. In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt. In a separate bowl, beat together 2 cups pumpkin puree, vegetable oil and eggs. Stir pumpkin mixture into flour mixture until smooth.  Add chocolate chips.  Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Lemon Pasta

 2/3  cup olive oil

2/3  cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2  cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)

3/4  teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

1/2  teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste

1 pound spaghetti (or other pasta of your choice)

1 tablespoon lemon zest (from about 2 lemons)

Optional addition:
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

In a large bowl, whisk the oil, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and ¾ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper to blend. Set the lemon sauce aside. (The sauce can be made up to 8 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before using).
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Add the spaghetti to the lemon sauce, and toss with the basil, lemon zest. Toss the pasta with enough reserved cooking liquid, 1/4 cup at a time, to moisten. Season the pasta with more salt and pepper to taste. I also added more parmesan cheese. Transfer to bowls and serve.

Rate It!
Jen: 7
Kile: 6.5
Kiley: 5.5
Madee: 4
Destrie: not good

Recipe from Sisters Cafe