Pistachio Fudge

Ingredients

3/4 cup white chocolate chips
6 Tablespoons butter
1/3 cup water
1 package (4 serving size) instant Pistachio pudding
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup chopped shelled pistachios

Instructions

1. Line 8 x 11 baking pan with foil.  Set aside.
2. In microwave safe large bowl, melt chocolate chips, butter and water, in microwave and stir chocolate chips until they are fully melted.  If needed heat for an additional 30 seconds.
3. Stir dry pudding mix into chocolate mixture.  Once completely combined, stir in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, Fold in chopped pistachios.
4. Press fudge into prepared pan, refrigerate for 2 hours to set.
5. Remove fudge from pan and remove foil.  Use sharp knife to cut cleanly into squares.  Store in airtight container.

Stuffed Meatballs

Ingredients:

1 lb hamburger meat
1 lb Italian sausage
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp black pepper
1 cup plain bread crumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan
1 TBSP Italian seasoning
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup fresh parsley
8 to 10 cheese sticks cut into 4 even pieces

Directions:

Mix 1st 11 ingredients together, form in to 2 inch balls and then stuff with 1 piece of cheese stick, making sure to seal cheese inside of meat ball.

2 different ways to cook:

1.  Place a cooling rack onto a foil lined cooking sheet, and place meatballs on rack, then place in the oven and cook at 350 degrees  for 20 minutes.  Heat your favorite marinara sauce on the stove and put cooked meatballs in the sauce or place meatballs on a hoagie bun and then cover them with sauce, mozzarella and bake until cheese is melted.

2.  Place raw meatballs in crock pot, and cover in your favorite marinara sauce cook on low for 7 - 8 hours.

Cajun Corn Chowder

Ingredients:

1 stick (8 Tbsp) butter
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 Tbsp (about 3 large cloves) finely chopped
1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
1 slightly round cup of chopped smoked ham pieces
1 Tbsp Creole seasoning
2 (15 oz) cans cream corn
1 (15 oz) can white shoe peg corn niblets, drained
2 cups diced potatoes, (I leave the skins on, and use baby red potatoes.)
3 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:

In a large heavy bottom pot, melt butter, saute the onion, garlic and celery.  When veggies are tender throw in ham and Creole seasoning, mixing well.  Then add the rest of the ingredients.  Bring to a boil, then turn down to low and let simmer for 2 hours stirring occasionally.

After 2 hours:

Add 1 cup heavy cream slowly to chowder, stirring as you are pouring the cream in to the chowder.

After cream is added

Apple Butter

Ingredients

6 lbs Apples

1/2 cup water

2 cups brown sugar

2 Tablespoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1.  Wash apples, peel, core and chop.  Place in stock pot, pour water over apples, mix the rest of the ingredients together and pour over apples.  Cook on med to high heat for an hour, stirring frequently then turn down to low heat and simmer for 6 to 7 hours until mixture turns dark brown.

2.  Use a immersion blender to remove lumps or process in blender in batches. Leave uncovered cooking for another hour until mixture thickens.

3.  Can in sterilized jars and process in water bath for 20 minutes.

Taco Soup

Ingredients

2 - 15 ounce cans kidney beans, drain and rinsed
2 - 15 ounce cans pinto beans, drain and rinsed
2 - 15 ounce cans corn, do not drain
1 - 26 ounce can diced tomatoes, do not drain
1 - 10 ounce can Rotel, do not drain
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 pkg ranch dressing mix
1 lb ground hamburger, turkey or chicken, cooked throughly


Directions:

Brown meat of your choice, then using your 6 quart crock pot, and meat, all the canned goods, and seasonings.  Cook on low for 8-10 hours, high for 4-5, stirring occasionally.

Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream and fritos.

Peach Cobbler in a Jar

Ingredients:

18 ripe peaches, peeled, pitted and run through the food processor
1/4 cup water
2 1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup honey
2 vanilla beans, scrape the seeds out and keep the pod

Directions:

In a heavy pot combine all ingredients including vanilla bean pod, bring to a boil.  Then lower temp to med-low and cook until thick and mounds up on a spoon.

Take vanilla pods out, and ladle into hot sterilized jars, leaving a 1/4 inch head space, wipe jar rims and place lid and ring on each jar, screwing ring on tightly.

Process filled jars in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes.  Remove jars from canner and place upright on towel to cool.  After cooled, check jars to make sure they sealed, refrigerate any unsealed jars.

Jalapeno Pepper Jelly

Ingredients:

4 Green Bell Peppers, seeded and minced in the food processor
10 Large Jalapeno Peppers, minced in the food processor (seed if you want milder jelly)
1 C. Cider Vinegar
1 box Sure-Jell
1/2 teaspoon butter
5 cups Sugar
couple of drops of green food coloring, if desired.

Directions:

1.  Bring boiling water canner, half full with water, to a simmer.  Wash jars andscrew bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water.  Pour boiling water over lids in sauce pan off the heat.  Let stand in hot water until ready to use.

2.  Place all minced peppers in heavy bottom pan, add vinegar, Sure-Jell, and butter.  Bring mixture to a rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop when stirred), on high heat, stirring constantly.  Stir in sugar, and return to full rolling boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Turn off heat.

3.  Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of top, wipe jar rims and threads.  Cover with lid and ring, screwing ring on tightly.  Place jars in water canner and process for 20 minutes.  Remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely.  After jars have cooled, check seals, any jar that has not sealed will need to be refrigerated.

Hot Pepper Jelly

Ingredients:

8 Jalapeno Peppers
12 ounces assorted colorful bell peppers (weigh after trimming)
2 cups cider vinegar
1 box sur-jell
3 cups sugar

Directions:

1.  Wash the jalapenos and trim the stem end off.  Removed the seeds if you want a milder jelly.  I recommend using whole pepper seeds and all.  Give rough chop, and the pulse them in the food processor until they are finely minced.   Be careful, the fumes are strong, and make sure to wear gloves when working with hot peppers.  Put the peppers in a heavy bottom pan.

2.  Wash and trim the bell peppers, and remove the seeds and inner ribs.  Give them a rough chop and pulse them in the food processor until finely minced.  You will want to do this in batches so you don't get mush.  Add the bell peppers to the heavy bottom pan with the jalapenos.

3.  Add the vinegar and the pectin, Bring the pot up to a rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop when stirred.), then add the sugar, and bring back up to a rolling boil, stirring constantly boil for 1 minute.

4.  Ladle the hot liquid into hot clean jars, add lids and rings.  Process in hot water bath for 20 minutes, pull jars from water bath to cool on a towel for 24 hours.  Check to make sure jars have sealed.  Any jar that has not sealed will need to be refrigerated immediately.

Serve with plenty of creamy goat cheese, cream cheese and serve on crackers or slices of baguette.  This also makes a great marinade for Pork Loin's, and Chicken.

Lemon-Zucchini Bread with Lemon Glaze

Ingredients:

2 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
Juice of 1 lemon (or 2 Tablespoons lemon juice)
Zest of 1 lemon
1 cup grated zucchini

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
Juice of 1 lemon (or 2 Tablesp
oons lemon juice)

Directions:

1. Sift flower, baking powder, & salt.
2. In medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients and blend well.
3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix everything together just until all is combine, do not over mix.
4. Pour batter into greased 9x5 loaf pan & bake at 350 degress for 45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Remove from pan and place on wire rack that has a paper towel underneath it.
5. In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and lemon juice until blended.
6.  Drizzle glaze over hot loaf.  Let glaze set, then serve.

The best ever Cherry Pie Filling!

Ingredients:

3 cans tart cherries in water
4 T cornstarch
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/8 t salt
scant 1/4 t almond extract
1 T vanilla

Make the pie filling by mixing the 3 cans of cherries plus the juice with the sugar, cornstarch, salt and almond extract in a large, heavy bottomed saucepan, Bring to a simmer and cook over medium - low heat for about 10  minutes, stirring regularly, or until the liquid is thick and bubbly.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Place filling into prepared pie shell, and bake in a 425 degree preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown.  Remove to wire rack and cool.  (Or eat hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.)

Mexican Frittata

Ingredients

8 eggs beaten well

1 lb pork sausage

1 bell pepper

1 tsp dried minced onion

2 cups chopped fresh spinach

1 cup zucchini chopped

1 cup edamame (we use frozen)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp cumin

1 Tbsp chili powder

1 handful fresh cilantro

Non – stick spray

Sour cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Cook sausage thoroughly, drain.

Add 1 Tbsp olive oil to saute pan over medium heat.  Add onions, pepper, cumin & chili powder and saute for 3 to 5 minutes to brown, add edamame and zucchini and saute for an additional 3 to 5 minutes to brown and combine flavors, add spinach & cilantro and saute for 1-2 minutes to wilt spinach and combine flavors, return sausage to pan and mix thoroughly.

Spray 8 inch baking dish with non-stick spray, spread sausage & veggies in pan.  Mix Cheese with beaten eggs and pour over the top of sausage veggie mix. 

Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until knife comes out clean.

Allow 10 minutes to rest after cooking to allow eggs to settle.

Cut into 8 slices, serve with sour cream and enjoy!

Jalapeno Poppers

Ingredients:

1 lb pork sausage
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 lb jalapenos, halved lengthwise and seeded

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425.  Cook sausage until no pink is left, drain and place in medium size bowl, add cream cheese and cheddar cheese, mix until well blended.  Spoon about 1 tablespoon of mixture into each jalapeno half, arrange stuffed halves on a baking sheet, and bake 20 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned.

Chicken & Asparagus Lemon Stir Fry

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs skinless boneless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch cubes
Kosher salt to taste
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 T.  reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 t. cornstarch
2 T. water
1 T. canola oil
1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed, cut into 2 inch pieces
1 small bag of edamame (optional, but great addition)
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 T fresh ginger
3 T fresh lemon juice
fresh black pepper to taste


Directions:

Lightly season the chicken with salt.  In a small bowl, combine chicken broth and soy sauce.  In a second small bowl combine the cornstarch and water and mix well to combine.

Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat, when hot add 1 teaspoon of oil, then add asparagus & edamame and cook until tender-crisp, about 3 to 4 minutes.  Add garlic and ginger and cook until golden, about 1 minute.  Set aside.

Increase the heat to high, then add 1 teaspoon of oil and half of the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes each side.  Remove, set aside and repeat with remaining oil and chicken.  Set aside.

Add the soy sauce mixture; and bring to a boil and cook about 1 minute, add lemon juice, cornstarch mixture and stir well, when it simmers return the chicken and asparagus mixture to the pan and mix well, remove from heat and serve.


Serves:4
Size: 1 1/4 cups
Calories: 268