Calico Chicken Soup

This is a slight adaptation from “Is it Soup Yet?” by Dot Vartan

Ingredients 

3 Tablespoons of evoo       1/2 t  ground thyme

1 cup diced onion               1/4 t. pepper                 

2 garlic cloves, minced       1 t. salt

1 lb. Cubed chicken breasts 1/2 lb. green beans(cut 1”)

1 (14oz.) can diced canned tomatoes

1/2 cup diced carrots            1/2 cup corn 

6 cups chicken stock.            1 cup zucchini diced

1 small red bell pepper          2 T. Chopped parsley

Directions:

In a 4 quart stock pot, heat evoo. Add onions and celery. Saute’ 5 minutes on medium heat. Add chicken carrots, garlic and green beans. Sauté’10 min. Add tomatoes, chicken stock, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring to a boil, lower heat to med. low and simmer 20 min. Add zucchini and red pepper. Cook 10 min. and finish with parsley. 

Miracle bread

This recipe comes from "The Grateful Girl cooks!"

Ingredients:

1/2 cup warm water

2 Tablespoons active dry yeast

2 Tablespoons sugar

2 cups warm water

2 Tablespoons melted butter

2 teaspoons salt

7 cups flour

Nonstick cooking spray or evoo

1 egg

2 Tablespoons Milk

Sesame seeds, if desired

Instructions:

1. In small bowl, mix 1/2 cup warm water

with yeast and sugar. Set aside to

proof.

2. In large bowl, mix together 2 cups

warm water, 2 Tablespoons melted 

butter, and salt. Mix well. Add yeast,

water and salt to large bowl and mix

to combine.

3. Add 7 cups of all purpose flour to

Dough mixture. Use a dough hook to

combine.

4. Form into a ball. Add evoo or cooking

spray to large clean bowl.

5. Cover bowl with tea towel and let

rise1 hour. Divide in 1/2.

6. Roll each section and shape into 

flat rectangle shape. Roll from the long

end end and place on a cookie sheet

lined with parchment paper.

7. Using a sharp knife, make slits 

about 1" deep across top of each loaf.

Cover bread with tea towel and let rise 

1 hour. Preheat oven to 425 degrees

during last 15 min. of rising time. 

8. I did not do this step 

In small bowl, beat together 1 egg and 

2 Tablespoons milk. Using pastry brush,

lightly brush mixture over top of bread.

Sprinkle with Sesame Seeds.

8. Bake 425 degrees 20 min. Allow to

cool. Serve with butter.

Stuffed Italian Sausage

                      

You only need 3 ingredients:

1. Italian link sausage        

2. Mozarella Cheese sticks

3. Marinara Sauce      

Directions: Cut the sausage across. I take the casing off. Stuff with string cheese. Place marinara sauce on bottom of dish. Lay stuffed sausage on top. Cover with aluminum foil.  Bake 400° for 30 min.  Remove foil and bake an additional 10 min.

I made spaghetti as the side dish. I probably used more than 1 cup of marinara sauce. 

 

Pork tenderloin medallions

 Ingredients:

2pork tenderloins ( I only used 1 and 1/2 everything) This recipe is for 2 tenderloins 

1 Tablespoon olive oil or Canola oil

Gravy:

3 Tablespoons butter

8 oz. Mushrooms

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 Tablespoon minced garlic

1/4 cup flour

2 cups chicken Broth

1 Tablespoon Wostershire Sauce

1 teaspoon rosemary

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Optional thickener I didn't need it)

1/4 cup cold water

3 Tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions:

 1. Slice pork tenderloins into equal parts about 2" wide. Pat each tenderloin dry and season with salt and pepper.

2. Heat oil in large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add tenderloin slices and cook 2-3 min. per side. Set aside.

Gravy:

1. In the same pan, melt butter and add onions and mushrooms. Cook 5-7 min. until tender. Add minced garlic and cook 45 seconds. 

2. Add flour and coat onions, mushrooms, and garlic. Slowly add chicken broth while continually stirring. Add worcestershire and all seasonings. Simmer 5 min.

3. If you prefer it thicker, add cornstarch and water mixture. When you reach desired thickness, add tenderloins to pan. Cook about 10 min. longer.

Peanut Butter Cup Pudding Cookie Recipe

 Ingredients: 

1 cup butter- room temperature 

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 eggs

1 Tablespoon vanilla

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 (4oz.) box instant Chocolate Pudding mix

10 oz. Peanut butter chips

1 cup Reese's peanut butter cups (chopped in small pieces) or miniature reese's cups.

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Beat butter and sugars until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix to combine.

Put flour, baking soda, and salt in separate bowl and mix together.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients.

Add Pudding (do not prepare Pudding, Add it to mix in powder format.

Fold in peanut butter chops and Reese's and mix just until combined.

Place heaping Tablespoons oVoorhees cookie sheet lined with Parchment paper and bake 10 min. Allow cookies to cool 10 min. before removing rom cookie sheet.

Manicotti

 https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/manicotti-recipe/  I love this version of manicotti. You make it with Italian Sausage.

Ingredients:

2 t. olive oil

1  pound Italian Sausage ( casings removed)

1\2 cup onion, finely chopped

2 t. Minced garlic

15 oz. ricotta cheese

1 egg

1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

1\2  cup parmesan cheese, grated

3\4  t. Italian seasoning

salt and pepper

For assembly

2 1\2 cups marinara sauce

12 manicotti shells

1 1\2 cups mozzarella cheese

2 T. chopped parsley

Cooking spray

Instructions:

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 9"X13" baking dish with cooking spray.

For filling:

1. Heat olive oil over med/high heat. Place sausage in pan. Cook 3-4 min. breaking up meat into small pieces.

2. Add onions to pan and continue cooking until meat is no longer pink.

3. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds.  Remove from heat.

4. Place ricotta cheese, egg, mozzarella, parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in separate bowl. Stir to combine.

5. Add meat mixture to ricotta mixture. Stir to combine.

For assembly:

1. Cook manicotti in salted boiling water for 2 min. ( less than package directions.) Drain and cool slightly.

2. Spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce over bottom of 9"X13" pan

3. Use spoon or piping bag to fill each manicotti shell with meat mixture.

4. Arrange the manicotti in a single layer in baking dish. Pour the rest of sauce over the top.

5. Cover and bake 20 min. Uncover, sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese over top, then bake for 10-15 min. or until browned.

6. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

/b>Ingredients

1\4 cup unsalted butter

1 cup yellow onions, diced

3 medium carrots cut in rounds

2 celery stalks, diced

1 1\2 teaspoons salt divided

1\4 cup flour

4 med. garlic gloves diced

1\4 teaspoon smoked paprika

6 cups chicken stock

8 oz. wide egg noodles

1 Tablespoon sherry vinegar (I didn't use this)

1 rotisserie chicken, torn or chopped 

2 teaspoons fresh thyme

1. Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, celery, and 1\2 teaspoon salt. Cook until vegetables are soft, about 5 min. Add flour, garlic,and paprika. Cook until flour is light brown- about 1 min.

2. Add stock and increase heat to high.  When boiling add egg noodles and cook until noodles are tender, about 10 min. Reduce heat to medium and add chicken. Heat through. Remove from heat and add heavy cream, sherry vinegar, and remaining salt. Divide into bowls and top with thyme leaves.

1\2 cup heavy cream

1Tablespoon sherry vinegar (