Quick Chicken Marinade

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/3 cup white wine
• 4-6 chicken breasts

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients except the chicken in a large Ziploc bag and mix.

2. When all ingredients are well combined, add chicken breasts.

3. Marinate in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes, no longer.

4. When ready to cook, brush BBQ with oil and cook chicken until no longer pink inside.

5. Throw out the Ziploc bag and marinade.

6. Serve over pasta with a red sauce or on it’s own with a salad.

puffy chocolate chip cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter-flavored shortening*
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 1/4 cups cake flour
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Hardware:

• Ice cream scooper
• Parchment paper
• Baking sheets
• Mixer

Directions

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Combine the shortening, sugar, and brown sugar in the mixer's work bowl, and cream until light and fluffy. In the meantime, sift together the cake flour, salt, and baking powder and set aside.

Add the eggs 1 at a time to the creamed mixture. Then add vanilla. Increase the speed until thoroughly incorporated.

With the mixer set to low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the shortening and combine well. Stir in the chocolate chips. Chill the dough. Scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 per sheet. Bake for 13 minutes or until golden brown and puffy, checking the cookies after 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet for even browning. Cool and store in an airtight-container.

*If you don't have butter flavored shortening you can just use a stick of regular cold butter.

Red & White Lasagna

What?

• 12 lasagna noodles
• 1 15oz container ricotta cheese
• 1 10oz package frozen chopped spinach
• 2c shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2c shredded parmesan (divided)
• 2 eggs
• 1lb ground sausage, cooked and drained
• 1 26oz jar marinara pasta sauce
• 1 16oz jar alfredo pasta sauce
• chopped fresh parsley
  

How?

Cook pasta according to package directions (this step can be omitted if you have oven ready pasta). Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, spinach, mozzarella cheese, 2T parmesan cheese and eggs; mix well. In a 15x9in baking dish, spread 1c marinara sauce. Layer 4 lasagna noodles over sauce. Top with 1/2 cheese mixture, 1c marinara sauce and all the cooked sausage. Layer 4 more lasagna noodles, remaining cheese mixture and remaining marinara sauce. Top with 4 more lasagna noodles. Spread alfredo sauce evenly on top; sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Cover; bake 40 min. Uncover, bake and additional 15 min or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 min before cutting.

Whole Wheat Bread

This recipe is from my friend, Katie Horner, and it is TO DIE FOR!!!

1 c. warm water
2 T yeast

3/4 c. evaporated milk
3/4 c. water
6 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. honey
1 T salt
3 eggs
1/2 c. oil

Knead for 8-10min (you may need to add more flour). Cover with damp cloth and let rise double in bulk. Punch down and let rise for 30 min. Place in loaf pan and let rise until double. Bake @ 350 for 30min.

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Ingredients:

-2 ½ cups Bisquick baking mix

-¾ cup cold whole milk

-4 tablespoons cold butter (1/2 stick)

-¼ teaspoon garlic powder

-1 heaping cup grated cheddar cheese

Brush on Top:

-2 tablespoons butter, melted

-¼ teaspoon dried parsley flakes

-½ teaspoon garlic powder

-pinch salt

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

2. Combine Bisquick with cold butter in a medium bowl using a pastry cutter or a large fork. You don't want to mix too thoroughly. There should be small chunks of butter in there that are about the size of peas. Add cheddar cheese, milk, and ¼ teaspoon garlic. Mix by hand until combined, but don't over mix.

3. Drop approximately ¼-cup portions of the dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet using an ice cream scoop.

4. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until the tops of the biscuits begin to turn light brown.

5. When you take the biscuits out of the oven, melt 2 tablespoons butter is a small bowl in your microwave. Stir in ½ teaspoon garlic powder and the dried parsley flakes. Use a brush to spread this garlic butter over the tops of all the biscuits. Use up all of the butter. Makes one dozen biscuits.

grilled marinated asparagus

Ingredients

1 lb asparagus
3 T balsamic vinegar
2 T fresh lemon juice
1 T olive oil
1 T soy sauce
1/8 t pepper

Preparation

Prepare grill.

Snap off tough ends of asparagus. Combine all ingredients except cooking spray in a large zip-top plastic bag; seal and marinate for 30 minutes. Remove asparagus from bag, and discard marinade. Grill 5 minutes on each side or until asparagus is done.

pancakes

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 c flour
3 1/2 t baking powder
1 t salt
1 T white sugar
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
3 T butter, melted

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

sloppy joes

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
1 1/4 pounds ground beef
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon steak seasoning blend
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cups tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
4 crusty rolls, split, toasted, and lightly buttered

Directions

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and meat to the pan. Spread the meat around the pan and begin to break it up. Combine brown sugar and steak seasoning. Add sugar and spice mixture to the skillet and combine. When the meat has browned, add onion and red peppers to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium and cook onions, peppers, red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce with meat for 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce and paste to pan. Stir to combine. Reduce heat to simmer and cook Sloppy Joe mixture 5 minutes longer. Using a large spoon or ice cream scoop, pile sloppy meat onto toasted, buttered bun bottoms and cover with bun tops. Serve with your favorite sides or sliced tomatoes seasoned with salt and pepper, dill pickles and Deviled Potato Salad. Have plenty of napkins on hand!

lemon poppy seed dressing

1/2 c white sugar

1/2 c lemon juice

1 t dijon mustard

1/2 t salt

2/3 c vegetable oil

1 T poppy seeds