Buttered Noodles With Shrimp

Buttered Noodles With Shrimp
Simple, Yet Delicious!
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

1 lb. large shrimp. shelled, deveined

1 bag wide egg noodles

3 cups broccoli florets

1/2 red onion, quartered

1 cup frozen peas

2 cups grape tomatoes, halved

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 stick butter

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tbsp parsley, minced

1 tbsp tarragon, minced

1 tsp dried oregano

salt

pepper

Cooking Tools

Stock pot

Large skillet with lid

Collander

Directions
Cook noodles in salted boiling water, cook according to directions.  Cook and drain pasta, set aside. In a skillet on medium heat, melt butter with the olive oil. Saute garlic and broccoli florets for a few minutes to tenderize the florets.  Add in onions, peas, parsley, tarragon, oregano.  Cook for 5 minutes then add shrimp and saute until shrimp are pink 3-4 minutes. Toss in pasta, salt and pepper to taste,  Fold in tomatoes into the pasta right before serving.  Add in more butter or olive oil if pasta is too dry.
Serves 4

Amaretto Ricotta Mini Cakes

Amaretto Ricotta Mini Cakes
Sweet, Moist And Delicious!
Difficulty: Moderate
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 minutes

 

Ingredients

1 cup Ricotta cheese

1/2 cup cream cheese

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup flour + dusting

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp almond extract

3 tbsp Amaretto liqueur

1 egg, separated

2 tbsp butter, melted + greasing 

Almond Topping
Ingredients
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup almond slices
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Amaretto Glaze
Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup Amaretto liqueur

Cooking Tools

2 mini spring form pans

2 Medium mixing bowl

Pastry brush

Parchment

Small skillet

Whisk

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. In a mixing bowl, whisk together; Ricotta cheese, cream cheese, powdered sugar, flour, egg yolk, vanilla extract, almond extract, melted butter and Amaretto liqueur. In a separated bowl, whisk egg white into stiff peaks.  Fold egg whites into the Ricotta cheese batter. Butter and flour spring form pan.  Pour batter in equal amounts into pans.  try to get as much of the air bubbles out of the batter.  bake in oven for about 45 minutes.  To make the Almond Topping: In a small skillet, melt butter on medium heat.  Add in sugar and almond slices and cook until sugar is melted and the almonds are toasted. Place on parchment paper to cool.  Amaretto Glaze: In a small skillet, melt sugar and liqueur and cook on low heat and reduce liquid to create a thick glaze.  Once the cakes are cool, release cake from pans.  Using a pastry brush, coat cakes with Amaretto glaze then top with Almonds.  Whip cream and mint leaves optional.
Yields 2

Smokey Bacon And Chicken Mac & Cheese

Smokey Bacon And Chicken Mac & Cheese
This is A Delicious Main Dish!
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

1/2 box macaroni

1 large chicken breast, diced

3 strips of thick bacon, diced

1/2 stick butter

1 cup milk

1 cup half & half

1 cup cream

1/2 onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp flour

1 1/2-2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

1 1/2 cup shredded smoked Gouda

minced parsley for garnish

pinch of nutmeg

salt 

pepper

Cooking Tools

Stock pot

Large skillet

Baking dishes

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.  Cook pasta in boiling salt water according to directions, drain.  In a skillet on medium heat, saute bacon until brown.  Add in chicken, onions, garlic, butter and saute for about 10 minutes.  coat ingredients with the flour and mix and cook for additional few minutes. Pour in milk, half & half, cream and Mexican cheese. Drain cooked pasta and place in skillet and toss to coat pasta.  Sprinkle with nutmeg, salt, pepper to taste.  Place ingredients into baking dishes and evenly top with Smoked Gouda cheese and garnish with parsley.  Bake in oven for 30-35 minutes.
Serves 4

Pasta e Fagioli

Pasta e Fagioli
Beans & Pasta In A Flavorful Broth!
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 onion, diced

1 large carrot, diced

1 cup celery, diced

2 cups fresh baby kale

3 cloves garlic, sliced

15 oz. canned cannellini beans, rinsed

4 cups chicken stock

1 can diced tomatoes

1-2 cups of Pancetta, bacon or smoked sausage, diced

1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves

1/2 tsp dried oregano

2 bay leaves

2 tbsp olive oil

2 cups Ditalini pasta, cooked & drained

2 tbsp tomato paste

Parmesan cheese, grated

minced parsley, garnish

crusty bread

salt

pepper

Cooking Tools

Large cooking pot

Medium pot 

Directions
Cook pasta al dente separately in a medium stock pot with boiling salted water & drained. In a large pot, heat olive oil on medium heat and saute the bacon, sausage or pancetta for about 5 minutes.  Add in the onions, carrots, garlic and celery, cook until the carrots are slightly tender. Pour in the chicken stock, beans, tomatoes, kale, thyme, oregano, bay leaves and tomato paste.  Simmer and stir occasionally for 15 minutes, then add in cooked and drained pasta, salt & pepper to taste.  Cook for additional few minutes.  Garnish with Parmesan cheese and minced parsley.  Serve with crusty bread.
Serves 4

Peanut Butter Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Peanut Butter Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Low Carb, High Protein!
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

6 Bibb lettuce leaves, whole

2 cups cooked chicken, shredded

1 cup carrot ribbons

1 1/2 cups tomatoes, diced

3/4 cup chicken broth

2 tbsp peanut butter

3 tbsp soy sauce

1/2 tsp ginger, grated

1 clove garlic, grated

1/2 tsp sesame oil

1/4 cup Mirin

1 tbsp minced parsley or cilantro

Sriracha sauce

lime, quartered

salt

pepper

Cooking Tools

Medium skillet

Vegetable peeler

Directions
In a skillet on low heat, add; chicken broth, peanut butter, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, Mirin, salt and pepper.  Whisk and bring ingredients to a simmer and reduce liquid for a few minutes.  Toss in cooked shredded chicken and coat evenly with the peanut sauce. Place chicken in the center of each Bibb lettuce and place carrot ribbons (use vegetable peeler), diced tomatoes.  Garnish with minced parsley or cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice and Sriracha sauce.
Yields 6

Spicy Asian Wings

Spicy Asian Wings
Just In Time For March Madness!
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

1 dozen chicken wings & drumettes

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 stick butter

1 cup sweet chili sauce

2 tbsp Sriracha sauce

1 tbsp Gochuchang

1/2 tsp ginger, grated

green onion, chopped for garnish

salt

pepper

Cooking Tools

Sheet pan

Small sauce pan

Medium mixing bowl 

Just Double The Recipe For More Wings!

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.  Place chicken wings on sheet pan and sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, salt & pepper.  Toss until evenly coated with seasoning. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes, tossing wings on occasion to brown on all sides.  Melt butter, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, Gochuchang and ginger.  Heat on low and whisk. Place cooked chicken wings in a mixing bowl, pour sauce on top and toss wings until evenly coated.  Place in serving bowl and garnish with chopped green onions.
Serves 2

Ham & Havarti Croissant Bake

Ham & Havarti Croissant Bake
Easy, Breezy, Cheezy Breakfast!
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes

         Ingredients
5 mini croissants, halved
5 ham slices
5 Havarti cheese slices
3 eggs
1 cup milk
mayonnaise
salt
pepper
butter
minced parsley for garnish

Cooking Tools
Baking dish
Small mixing bowl

Directions
Preheat oven 350 Degree F.  Butter bottom and sides of baking dish.  Place bottom half of each croissant in a baking dish.  Whisk together, eggs, milk, salt and pepper in a small mixing bowl.  Pour egg mixture over the bottom half of the croissants.  Let eggs soak for about 10 minutes.  Lay ham & cheese on each croissant and spread some mayonnaise over each.  Place the top half of the croissant on each.  Bake in oven for 30 minutes, cover with foil if it browns quickly.  Garnish with parsley.

Serves 4 

Watercress & Beet Salad

Watercress & Beet Salad
Eating Healthy Made Easy!
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: No cooking required

Ingredients
6 cups watercress
6.5 oz. Love Beets, quartered https://www.lovebeets.com/
1/4 cup feta cheese, small dice
1 cup pitted assorted olives
lemon infused olive oil for drizzle
favorite salad dressing
salt
pepper

Cooking Tools

Salad bowl

Directions
Place all ingredients in the a salad bowl and drizzle with lemon infused olive oil and toss. Serve with your favorite dressing.
Serves 4