Egg Casserole

This was made at our ward Christmas party--and it was delicious!  I am definitely keeping this recipe and I will be shortly serving it up for my family.

ingredients:
1 stick butter
1/2 cup flour
6 eggs
1 cup milk
1 lb monterey jack cheese, shredded
3 oz cream cheese, softened
2 cups cottage cheese
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar

1 lb. sausage (optional)

directions:
1.  Melt butter, add flour and cook until smooth.  
2.  Beat eggs, then add milk, cheeses, baking powder, salt, sugar and butter to the flour mixture.
3.  Stir until well blended.  Pour into a well greased pan.
4.  Bake uncovered at 350* for 45 minutes.

optional: 
Pre-cook about 1 lb of sausage and add to the recipe.

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French Toast Casserole

I made this for our ward Christmas party, and again on Christmas morning--it was really yummy and I don't want to lose the recipe! 


ingredients:
1 loaf bread (any type will do, but a nice loaf of French is preffered)
6 eggs
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup half and half or cream
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp vanilla

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick butter, cubed

directions:
1.  Tear the bread into chunks and place them in a greased 9x13" pan.  
2.  Mix together eggs, milk, half and half or cream, sugar and vanilla.  
3.  Pour the mixture evenly over the bread.
4.  In another bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.
5.  Add the butter and mix until the batter comes somewhat together.
6.  Sprinkle the flour/sugar mixture evenly over the top of the egg-soaked bread.
7.  Bake at 350* for 45-55 minutes.  

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Turkey Club Pizza

This was among several recipes I have, and I thought I'd give it a try.  It was fast and delicious!  What a hit and a nice change to traditional pizza.  Yum!


ingredients:
1 pkg refrigerated pizza dough or Mom's Pizza Dough
1 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1/3 cup mayonnaise
zest from 1 lemon
2 cups shredded jack cheese
1/2 Tbsp. basil
6 oz. deli sliced turkey
8 slices bacon - cooked and crumbled (I bought pre-cooked and it was delightfully quick)
1 tomato - thinly sliced (optional)
1/2 cup swiss cheese

directions:
1.  Place pizza dough on large cookie sheet or stone.  
2.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
3.  Bake at 425* for 10 minutes.

4.  Mix mayonnaise and lemon zest.  Spread over cooked pizza crust.
5.  Top with reaming ingredients in order listed.
6.  Bake at 425* for 8 minutes.

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Pasta & Meatball Stroganoff

We had this for dinner last night, and it was EXCELLENT.  All the kids yummed it up!  I found the recipe online, but I tweaked it a bit for our liking.  My daughter helped me make it...it was quick and easy which I love in a recipe.  Yum!

ingredients:
precooked Italian meatballs (enough for your family)
2-3 cups beef broth (you can use bouillon/water)
1 tsp basil
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt (regular would be ok too)
1 tsp oregano
pepper
1 cup milk with 1 Tbsp corn starch--mixed together
4 oz. cream cheese (I use light)
1 cup sour cream (I use light)
3/4 lb pasta (fettuccine, egg noodles, etc)












directions:
1.  Put a tablespoon of olive oil on the bottom of a large skillet.  Warm the oil and add the meatballs.  Cook on medium-high until meatballs are thoroughly warmed. Add  broth and seasonings.  Add in milk, cream cheese and sour cream.  Let this get to a simmering boil.

2.  Cook pasta to al dente.

3.  Add the pasta to the meatball sauce.  Enjoy!  

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Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken

This dinner is excellent.  It takes longer than most of my dishes, but it is WELL worth it.  I love that I have the ingredients on hand almost always, and I love that my kids will yum this down without a fight!  

Servings:  6-8

ingredients:
8-11 chicken breast tenderloins or 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 1/4 cup cornstarch
3 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup oil (I use olive oil but any veggie oil will do)

sauce:
1 1/2 cup sugar
6 Tbsp. ketchup
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 1/2 tsp. garlic salt

directions:
1.  Cut up chicken into small bite size pieces.  Coat them in cornstarch and then dip them in beaten egg.

2.  Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Place the coated chicken in skillet and cook until nicely browned.

3.  Meanwhile, mix together the sauce ingredients--whisking together all the ingredients.

4.  When then chicken is browned, place chicken in a large greased baking dish, 9x13" or 9x15".

5.  Pour the sauce over the chicken and bake in a 325* oven for 55 minutes.

Serve over rice and with your favorite veggie!  Delish!

 

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Zuppa Toscana Soup

I had this first up at a ladies retreat--delicious! At least as good as the Olive Garden's.  Mind you, this is not a quick recipe, but it is well worth it!  Thanks Lori for the delicious meal, and the recipe!  5-Star Soup!!

ingredients:
1/2 lb bacon, diced
1 onion, diced
5 cups chicken stock/broth
2 or 3 carrots, diced
1 cup pasta (precooked) - I used ditalini
1 tsp. thyme (opt) or rosemary or bay leaf
1 lb sausage
3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
3-4 large potatoes, large dice
2 large handfuls of spinach or kale
2 cups cream, 1/2 & 1/2, or whole milk
parmesan cheese

directions:
1.  In large pot, brown bacon, add sausage & onions when bacon is half done.  Add garlic.  Cook 2-3 minutes, drain fat.

2.  Pour chicken stock in pot with meat, then add vegetables (except spinach/kale), and herbs.  

3.  Simmer until vegetables are tender.  Add pasta and spinach.  Cook 2-3 minutes.

4.  Just before serving, stir in cream.  Heat but don't boil.  Serve with Parmesan cheese.

If you are doing this in a crockpot, follow step 1, and then put everything in the crockpot.  Cook on High for 4 hours or low 6-8 hours.  Add cream just before serving.

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Crockpot Kielbasa Potato Soup

Our family really enjoys this meal...it does take some time to prepare--probably close to 40 minutes, maybe more. Get help pealing the potatoes! It is SO worth it though. We get 2 meals out of this. Yum!  I found this recipe at justapinch.com, and adapted it better to our liking.


ingredients:
8 cups water
2 pkgs polska kielbasa sausage (I use beef)--sliced & cut pieces in 1/2
1/2 onion, diced finely
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp celery salt
2 tsp parsley flakes
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
4-5 lbs. potatoes, pealed and cubed

1 stick butter
8 Tbsp flour
1 cup milk

directions:
1.  Put 8 cups water into crockpot (if you have a larger crockpot, use it).

2.  Add to water: kielbasa, onion, seasonings, potatoes,   

3.  Place crockpot on high and let simmer.

4.  Meanwhile, melt butter.  Once the butter is melted, add the flour all at once.  Whisk it constantly over medium-high heat for apx 5 minutes.

5.  Whisk in the cup of milk until it forms a sort of paste.  Remove from heat and stir it into soup well--the heat of the soup will eventually melt the roue and thicken the soup.

6.  Cook on high for 4-6 hours...stirring only once or twice.  When the potatoes are tender (enough) it is done!  Enjoy!

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