ginger oriental ramen noodle salad

Perfect for a quick yummy salad for a potluck or to compliment any meal.  Add grilled chicken to make it a complete meal!!

1/4 head purple cabbage, finely chopped
1/4 head green cabbage, finely chopped
1/4 head Napa cabbage, finely chopped
4 green onions, sliced
1 PKG Ramen noodles oriental or chicken, crushed
1 TBL BLACK sesame seeds

Mix together except the noodles and refrigerate an hour.

DRESSING:
2 TBL sugar
3 TBL Rice vinegar
1 TSP fresh grated ginger
1 TSP Mirin Sauce
1/2 c. salad oil
1/2 tsp. pepper
Flavor packet from the noodles

Toss together just before serving!!

mac & cheese soup with bacon

What's better than homemade mac & cheese?? Mac & Cheese Soup with bacon, perfect on a cold night or anytime!!

 

4 ounces (1 1/2 cups) uncooked dried small macaroni

1/2 pound shredded cheddar cheese

2 tablespoons salted sweet cream butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
1 (14-ounce) can chicken broth
2 cups half & half
1 cup finely diced bacon
Salt and pepper, to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; set aside. Melt butter in 3-quart saucepan until sizzling; stir in flour and mustard. Add broth and half & half. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil (4 to 5 minutes). Reduce heat to low; stir in cheese until melted. Stir in cooked macaroni and ham. Cook until heated through (4 to 5 minutes). Salt and pepper to taste.

crockpot chicken jambalaya

Perfect for a Mardi Gras celebration at home or just a cold winters day!

 

1/2 pound andouille sausage cut into 1 inch pieces
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1" pieces
1 white onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced
2 14 oz cans HUNTS diced tomatoes, undrained
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1-3 tsp Tabasco Sauce
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
1/2 tsp dried basil leaves
1/2 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1 pound frozen fully cooked white shrimp, thawed (optional)

In medium saucepan, cook sausage until lightly browned and rain of fat. Combine sausage with all ingredients except rice in crock pot. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 - 8 hours. Increase heat to HIGH and stir in rice and cook for 15 minutes, or until rice is tender. Add shrimp, stir, cover and cook an additional 3-5 minutes until shrimp is heated through. Enjoy!!

crock pot teriyaki chicken

We love chicken, this is an all time favorite and sooooo easy!!

2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/3 cup teriyaki sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine
1 1/2 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoon minced ginger
8 pieces chicken

Combine all ingredients in crock pot and add chicken. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Serve over rice sprinkle with sesame seeds :)

renee's easy sausage crockpot lasagna

 This perfect easy & yummy Lasagna will warm your heart and fill your tummy!!

1/2 LB ground beef
1/2 LB Italian Sweet Sausage
1/2 C diced white onion
1 TSP fresh minced garlic
 jar of your FAVORITE spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup water
1 15 OZ container ricotta cheese
1/2 C Heavy Cream
2 C mozzarella cheese
1/4 C grated Parmesan cheese
1 LG whole egg
2 TBS fresh chopped Italian parsley
12 uncooked lasagna noodles

In a large skillet brown beef, sausage and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain. Add spaghetti sauce and water and simmer for about 5 minutes. Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 Tablespoons Parmesan, cream, egg and parsley. Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4 to 6 quart sized slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (If the noodles don't fit exactly break them to fit) and cheese mixture and meat sauce. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or until noodles are soft. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving. Do not overcook and don't try to speed up the process by cooking it on high. Serve with my Parmesan Garlic Bread!!

spring asparagus season!!

Why Eat Asparagus???

It is high in vitamins B6 and C, plus fiber, folate and glutathione, an anti-carcinogen and antioxidant, asparagus is an excellent nutritional choice. It comes in three colors: white, green or purple, although the green variety is the most common. Long considered a luxury vegetable, often with a luxury price tag, fresh American-grown asparagus appears in stores in late February. But asparagus is at its best—and is usually cheapest—in April and May. And sure, while there’s frozen and canned asparagus, which can be enjoyed year round, nothing beats the delicate flavor of fresh asparagus.

Choosing and Storing Asparagus...

Asparagus spears can be thick or thin. Some people prefer one kind over another but size is not necessarily an indicator of quality. Thicker spears may have tougher, woodier ends, but these are broken off before cooking anyway. The key is to select straight, firm, uniformly sized spears with closed tips. Since asparagus deteriorates rapidly, it’s important to select bundles that are refrigerated or on ice. For the same reason, asparagus should be used within two or three days of purchase, preferably sooner. If you do need to keep it for a day or two, the best way is to place the spears upright in a bowl (or even a small vase) of cold water. Alternatively, you can wrap the ends of the spears in a damp paper towel and refrigerate them.

What to Do With Asparagus...

To prepare asparagus, you will need to rinse the spears and break off the tough ends. After that, how you cook asparagus is up to you.
Soem people enjoy their asparagus with nothing more than a drizzle of good-quality olive oil, but you can enjoy asparagus in many different dishes: in soups, salads, stir-fries, risottos, scrambled eggs, pasta, and many more dishes.

Asparagus and Scallops

This scallops with asparagus recipe is a very simple and elegant dish. It’s only has a few ingredients, and it’s fast and easy to prepare. Scallops and asparagus are a terrific combination and the white wine butter sauce really brings them together.

1 lb medium asparagus, trimmed, cut in 1-inch pieces, tips left whole
2 tbsp olive oil
1 lb large sea scallops, trimmed if necessary
salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup dry white wine
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
2 tbsp cold salted sweet cream butter, cut into cubes

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a heavy nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté asparagus, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a plate, reserving skillet off heat (do not clean). Pat scallops dry and sprinkle with pepper and salt. Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet and heat over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté the scallops, turning over once, until browned and just cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes total. Transfer scallops to another plate and cover loosely with foil to keep warm. Add wine and vinegar to skillet (mixture may spatter) and boil, scraping up any browned bits, until liquid is reduced by half, about 1 minute. Add any accumulated scallop juices on plate and bring to a simmer. Turn off heat and whisk in butter, one piece at a time, until incorporated. Plate scallops and asparagus, spoon sauce over and serve immediately. Enjoy!!

italian cheese stuffed shells

Pasta shells stuffed with creamy Italian cheeses and  then baked is one of my boys FAVORITE dishes. It also makes a great pot-luck dish or a wonderful dish to take to a friend.  You will love it!!

8 ounces large pasta shells, uncooked
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
8 ounces marscarpone
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
32 ounces favorite pasta sauce

Cook shells for 9 minutes; drain. Cool in single layer on wax paper to prevent shells from sticking together. Cover bottom of 9x13 baking dish with 1/4 cup of sauce. Combine cheeses, parsley, salt and pepper for filling; spoon into shells and arrange in single layer in dish. Cover shells with remaining sauce. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 F. for about 40 minutes. Remove foil; bake 15 minutes longer. 6 to 8 servings. Serve with parmesan garlic buttered bread!! Enjoy!!

shrimp and steak kabobs

A yummy surf and turf for your bbq!!

2 lb. beef sirloin steak, cut into 1 inch squares
1/2 lb. mushrooms, cleaned
1 Green, Red and Yellow Bell pepper, cut into 1 inch squares
1 Sweet Onion, cut into 1 inch squares
12 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

Basting Sauce
1/4 c. melted butter
2 tbsp. white wine
1/2 tsp. seasoning salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Alternately thread steak cubes, shrimp, mushrooms, peppers and onions on 4 metal 12 inch skewers. Mix together basting sauce. Cook kabobs over medium heat for 15-20 minutes, basting with butter mixture occasionally. Enjoy!!

turkish meat shish kebab marinade's

While at The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey we stopped at this little Turkish cafe and had a variety of grilled Turkish meats, vegetables and bread!  It was fun to try authentic foods from the region and the meats were marinated all so differently. Below are several choice's for all kids of meats... Tadını çıkar!!

2 lbs cubed chicken breast
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Allow chicken to marinate for 2-24 hours, covered in the refrigerator.

4-6 chicken breasts
1 cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or 1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 lemon, juice of
6 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2 cup grated onion

Combine all ingredients in a non-reactive bowl. Add chicken, cover & refrigerate 6 hours or overnight. Grill, broil or bake chicken as desired.

1/2 Cup Olive Oil
1 Lemon Lemon Juice
2 Onions -- crushed
2 Bay Leaves
2 Teaspoons Dried Rigani
2 Large Tomatoes -- crushed
Salt And Pepper -- to taste

Marinate choice of meats and vegetables 4-12 hours, the longer the better, grill on skewers or under broiler.

1/2 Cup Olive Oil
2 Large Onions -- crush
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
Salt And Pepper -- to taste

Marinate choice of meats and vegetables 4-12 hours, the longer the better, grill on skewers or under broiler.

1/2 Cup Yogurt
1 Large Onion -- crushed
Salt And Pepper -- to taste

Marinate choice of meats and vegetables 4-12 hours, the longer the better, grill on skewers or under broiler.

tava (turkish stew)

An easy and yummy Turkish delight :)

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves cut into 1 inch cubes
1/2 (12 ounce) jar roasted red bell peppers, drained
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 (6 ounce) jar mushrooms, drained
1 onion, diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1 (16 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium casserole dish. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the chicken until juices run clear. Puree the roasted red peppers in a blender or food processor until smooth. In the prepared casserole dish, mix the cooked chicken, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, onion, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until cheese is melted and bubbly.

spaghetti carbonara

My favorite meal in Italy had to be the Spaghetti Carbonara I had at this quaint little cafe in Tessera outside of Venice....  it was amazing and I want to go back!!

1 pound spaghetti
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 slices bacon, diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup dry white wine
4 eggs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 pinch salt and black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook spaghetti pasta until al dente. Drain well. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and set aside. Meanwhile in a large skillet, cook chopped bacon until slightly crisp; remove and drain onto paper towels. Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon fat; add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, and heat in reused large skillet. Add chopped onion, and cook over medium heat until onion is translucent. Add minced garlic, and cook 1 minute more. Add wine if desired; cook one more minute. Return cooked bacon to pan; add cooked and drained spaghetti. Toss to coat and heat through, adding more olive oil if it seems dry or is sticking together. Add beaten eggs and cook, tossing constantly with tongs or large fork until eggs are barely set. Quickly add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and toss again. Add salt and pepper to taste (remember that bacon and Parmesan are very salty). Serve immediately with chopped parsley sprinkled on top, and extra Parmesan cheese at table. Buon appetito!

crockpot corned beef & cabbage

On St. Patrick's Day this is a MUST but it's also a family favorite on cold nights :)

4 medium yellow potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1-inch wedges
1 cup baby carrots
1 medium onion, cut into 6 wedges
1 corned beef brisket with seasoning packet about 2 1/2 pounds
1 cup water
3 wedges green cabbage

Place potatoes, carrots and onion in bottom of crock pot and top with corned beef; sprinkle with contents of seasoning packet and add water. Cover and cook on LOW heat setting 10 hours. Add cabbage wedges on top and cook for additional 2 hours or until cabbage is crisp-tender. Cut corned beef across grain into thin slices. With draining spoon, remove vegetables from crockpot and if you want to make gravy, skim fat from juices and prepare gravy. Enjoy!!

renee's halloween chili

Chili is a Halloween tradition at our house, we enjoy it pipping hot before we head out in the cold to trick-or-treat. If we are lucky there is some to warm us up when we get back with our loot..enjoy!

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chopped green bell pepper
2 cups chopped red bell pepper
1 cup chopped onion
4 garlic cloves, pressed
one med jalapeno, minced (without seeds)
one pound of ground beef (opt, I used 85% lean)
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
2 bottles quarts size diced tomatoes (or 2 14.5 oz. cans of stewed tomatoes)
1 can (15.5 ounces) mild chili beans in sauce, undrained
1 can (15.5 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (7 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
1 12 oz can of V8 regular or spicy

Toppings such as shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and fresh onions

Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add bell peppers, jalapeno, onion, garlic, chili powder and cumin; cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add ground beef (opt) cook until brown. Add mixture to crock pot then add tomatoes, V8, beans and corn; mix well. Heat on low for 4 hours, stirring occasionally. Enjoy in a bread bowl with your favorite toppings!!!

autumn beef & vegetable stew

Fall means... times to break out the crockpot!! Apple cider and a little bacon give this homemade beef stew great flavor.

1 1/2 pounds lean stewing beef, cut in 1-inch cubes
1 slice bacon, diced
1 cup chopped yellow onions
2 cups beef broth
1 cup apple cider
6 medium potatoes, diced
1 small bag baby carrots
2 large parsnips, peeled, trimmed, and diced
2 ribs celery, thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons cold water
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley

Cook bacon, beef, and onions a large skillet over medium heat until the beef is browned and bacon is cooked. Put the beef and onions in the slow cooker with the bacon, beef broth, apple cider, potatoes, carrots, parsnips, celery, bay leaf, rosemary, and pepper. Cover and cook for 7 to 9 hours. Combine flour with cold water to form a smooth mixture. Stir into the beef mixture, turn to HIGH, and continue cooking for 15minutes longer. Serves 4 to 6. Enjoy!!

autumn harvest chili

Autumn Harvest Chili Warms the whole family by the fireplace!!!
mmmmm

3 cans beans Black, Pinto, Kidney Beans
3 colors Whole Bell Peppers Cut
2 Whole Red Onions
2 Cans Stewed Tomatoes (No Sugar)
1 Cup Corn
10 Cloves fresh Garlic
MorningStar Farms® Breakfast Patties Organic Soy 6 Patties
MorningStar Farms® Fakin Organic Bacon Strips 6 Strips
1 1/2 t Clove Spice
1 1/2 Chile Powder
Cheyenne pepper to taste
Olive Oil

Cut the peppers & onions in half and then cut thin strips. Grill veggies with olive oil to golden brown in a stewing pot. Add rinsed beans, corn & stewed tomatoes. Cook 45 min. While cooking beans and veggies, brown the chopped breakfast patties and bacon strips in a fry pan.breakfast patties to beans. Add spices and chopped garlic.

Add bacon strips as crispy garnish.
~Serve with Homemade Pan Corn Bread.

homemade blender tomato soup

This is one yummy soup. And surprisingly easy. Once you make this, you'll never be able to go back to canned soups!!

10 Roma Tomatoes
1 White Onion
1 Red Bell Pepper
3 tbs Olive Oil for Grilling Onion and Pepper
8 Garlic Cloves
1 1/2 tbs dried Basil (to tell you the truth, I'm just guessing here cause I just throw it in :)
1 tbs Dried Oregano
1 tsp Dried Parsley
1/2 tsp Thyme
1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Fresh Basil for Garnish
French Bread

Get out your best blender. We use a VitaMix Blender. Wash and cut out stems on tomatoes and put in blender on high. Blend till hot. While tomatoes are blending, cut the onion and pepper in big chunks, put olive oil in frying panand grill onion and pepper on high till golden brown. Add all spices and garlic. Blend for 10 seconds
onion and pepper and blend for 5 sec. We want this to be chunky. Taste to see if you have enough spices. Add more if needed When ready to serve, add fresh basil.
Toast french bread and ENJOY!! Makes 4 servings.

stuffed peppers

This is so good and can be made surprisingly quick!  My 2 year old likes it so much he'll even eat most of the pepper too!!

4 Bell peppers, hollowed out

1 box of spanish rice (we use Near East) and follow the package instructions

1/2- 1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained

1/2 c. grated cheese

1 sm. can of tomato paste

Preheat oven to 350 F. One rice is finished cooking and you've browned and drained your beef, mix them together.  Stuff peppers with mixture then sprinkle cheese over the tops of each pepper.  Neatly top with tomato paste and bake for 25 minutes.  Voila!!

tomato sauce

Tis the season for canning your yummy garden tomatoes. Once you make your own sauce, you'll never buy it again!!

10 ripe tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 cup Burgundy wine
1 bay leaf
2 stalks celery
2 tablespoons tomato paste

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Have ready a large bowl of iced water. Plunge whole tomatoes in boiling water until skin starts to peel, 1 minute. Remove with slotted spoon and place in ice bath. Let rest until cool enough to handle, then remove peel and squeeze out seeds. Chop 8 tomatoes and puree in blender or food processor. Chop remaining two tomatoes and set aside.

In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook onion, bell pepper, carrot and garlic in oil and butter until onion starts to soften, 5 minutes. Pour in pureed tomatoes. Stir in chopped tomato, basil, Italian seasoning and wine. Place bay leaf and whole celery stalks in pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 2 hours. Stir in tomato paste and simmer an additional 2 hours. Discard bay leaf and celery and serve.

renee's best roast turkey gravy

Homemade turkey gravy is the best and pretty simple , below are the 2 basic ways of making gravy from turkey drippings, the first is to use corn starch, the second one uses flour. Both start with your delicious turkey drippings. Sometimes you may have  more drippings than you need for the amount of gravy you want to make, for each cup of gravy you want to make you need 2 tablespoons of drippings.  The following is to make 2 cups of gravy so you can double it depending on how much gravy you need!!

While your turkey is roasting make your turkey stock for your gravy.

8 cup(s) water
3 large carrots, cut into large chunks
3 large stalks celery, cut into large chunks
2 medium onions, cut into chucks
1 small garlic clove
2 whole bay leaves
1 sprig rosemary
1 steam sage
Giblets and neck from turkey, DO NOT USE THE LIVER
Salt & WHITE Pepper to taste

In 8-quart stockpot or sauce pot, place water, carrots, celery, onions, and bay leaves. Cover until it boils then add giblets, neck, and 1/2 TSP. Reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered for about an hour. Strain stock into large bowl, discarding vegetables, neck and giblets. You can refrigerate stock for up to 3 days or freeze for 3 months!

Making Gravy with Corn Starch

Place 2 TBS of the drippings in the pan. Dissolve 2 TBS of corn starch in the minimum amount of turkey stock needed to make a thin paste roughly 1/4 C. Pour into pan with drippings and use a wire whisk to blend into the drippings. Stir with a wire whisk until the gravy begins to thicken. As it thickens, slowly add 1 3/4 C turkey stock and 1/4 C good quality heavy cream to the pan and 1 TBS white wine. Alternate stirring and adding liquid, maintaining the consistency you want, for about 5 minutes.  you will end up with about 2 cups of gravy. Season with salt, white pepper!! ENJOY!!

Gravy with Flour

Place 2 TBS of the drippings in the pan and stir in 1 to 2 TBS of flour. Stir with a wire whisk until the flour has thickened and the gravy is smooth. Continue to cook slowly to brown the flour, and stir constantly. Slowly add back some of the previously removed drippings. In addition, add 1 3/4 C stock and 1/4 C good quality heavy cream to the gravy and 1 TBS white wine. Season the gravy with salt, white pepper!! ENJOY!!

maple salmon

This is one of my boys favorite dinners. If you love Salmon , you will love this!

1/4 cup pure maple syrup
3 tablespoons salted butter, melted
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
2 table spoons fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound salmon

In a small bowl, mix the maple syrup, soy sauce, garlic, garlic salt, and pepper. Place salmon in a shallow glass baking dish, and coat with the maple syrup mixture. Cover the dish, and marinate salmon in the refrigerator 30 minutes, turning once. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven, and bake salmon uncovered 20 minutes, or until easily flaked with a fork. Enjoy!!