Tortellini & Corn Chowder

3 slices turkey bacon coarsely chopped
1 small onion chopped
1 rib celery chopped
1 small red bell pepper chopped
2 c. fresh or frozen corn kernals
2 c. reduced sodium chicken broth
1/3 c. flour
3 c. milk
1/3 c. chopped basil (fresh) or 1 tsp. dried
1/4 t. salt
8 oz. fresh or frozen cheese tortellini cooked and drained

Set a dutch oven to medium heat.  Add bacon and cook for 1 minute until it releases some of its moisture.  Add onion, celery and bell pepper then cook 5 min. or until veggies are soft.  Add corn and broth.  Bring to a boil over high heat.  Reduce heat to medium and simmer 15 min.  Place flour in medium bowl and gradually add milk, whisking until smooth.  Pour into dutch oven and stir well until blended.  Add basil and salt.  Cook, stirring for 3 min. or until soup thickens.  Add tortellini and cook until heated through.

Chicken Pot Pie Empanadas

2 tbsp. butter
1/2 yellow onion, diced

1 tbsp. flour
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 lb. shredded, cooked chicken
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 (10 oz.) box frozen peas & carrots OR mixed vegetables
2 refrigerated 9" pie crusts

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion & cook for 3 minutes. Add the flour & cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Still stirring, slowly add the broth. Cook until thickened, about 3 minutes, stirring.
Add the vegetables, chicken, salt & pepper. Remove from heat.
Cut each pie crust in half to form 4 half circles (at this point you can fill to make large empanadas OR cut each half circle again to make mini empanadas). Spoon the chicken mixture over the bottom half of each half-circle, leaving a 1/2" border Using your fingers, wet the border w/water . Fold the top of each crust over the chicken to form a 1/4 circle. Press to seal. Make a slit in the top of each empanada. Transfer to a baking sheet. Bake 15-18 minutes or until golden brown.

PW Homemade Mac & Cheese

4 cups dry macaroni
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk
2 heaping teaspoons dry mustard (or more to taste)
1 lb. cheddar or other desired cheese, grated
1/2 tsp. salt (or more to taste)
1/2 teaspons seasoned salt (or more to taste)
1 tsp. ground black pepper

Cook the macaroni until very firm. The macaroni should be too firm to eat right out of the pot. (If you're in a hurry & don't want to bake the macaroni and cheese, cook it now until it's done.) Drain.

In a small bowl, beat the egg.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F & butter a large oval or rectangular baking dish.

In a large pot, melt the butter & sprinkle in the flour.

Whisk it together over med-low heat. Cook for 5 minutes, whisking constantly. Don't let it burn.

Pour in the milk.

Add the mustard & whisk until smooth. Cook for 5 minutes or until very think, whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to low.

To temper the egg, slowly pour 1/4 cup of the sauce into the beaten egg, whisking constantly to avoid cooking the egg. Whisk until smooth.

pour the egg mixture into the sauce, whisking until smooth.

Add in all but 1/2 cup of the cheese & stir until melted.

Add the seasonings. Taste the sauce & add more as needed. Do not undersalt or you'll regret it the rest of your life!

Pour in the cooked, drained macaroni & stir to combine.

Serve immediately or pour into the baking dish & top w/the remaining cheese.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly & golden on top.

Spring Rolls/Egg Rolls

1 lg. shallot, sliced
2 carrots, grated
4 scallions, sliced
2-3 tsp. garlic, minced
1 cup sliced bamboo shoots
2 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. white pepper
1 pkg. egg roll OR spring roll wrappers

FOR EGG ROLLS: 1 lbs. cooked meat (crumbled pork, diced chicken, etc.)
2 cups shredded cabbage

FOR SPRING ROLLS: 3 1/2 oz. dried bean-thread vermicelli or rice sticks.
chopped cilantro
Put noodles in a lg. bowl of warm water & soak until soft & translucent (about 12-15 mins.). As the noodles become pliable, spread them out w/your fingers to ensure quick, even soaking. Drain noodles of as much water as possible. Chop w/kitchen shears so they are easier to handle. Put noodles & next five ingredients in a lg. bowl, along w/the cilantro. Mix w/your hands til well mixed. Add soy sauce, sugar & pepper, mix well. Set a dry wok over med-hi heat. Add noodle filling mixture & stir-fry until the veggies release their moisture & become tender & noodles are soft & clear; about 4 minutes.
Transfer filling to a large bowl & let it cool at room temperature. Gently separate the spring roll wrappers from the pack. Keep the wrappers covered w/a dampened paper towel as you make the spring rolls. Place 2 wrappers, one on top of the other, on a flat work surface. Place about 3 tbsp. of filling in the center of wrapper. Fold & moisten edges w/water to seal shut.

Deep fry at 360-375 degrees for about 3 minutes.

FOR EGG ROLLS: simply cook meat & then add to cabbage, remaining veggies, soy sauce & spices. Fill egg roll (or wonton) wrappers & seal. Cook the same as Spring Rolls

Jen's Ham Balls

Ham Balls:
2lbs. Ham loaf
1lb. Hamburger
1lb. Pork burger
4 eggs
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1.5 cups of milk

Mix together and form into medium sized balls.

Sauce:
1 can tomato soup
3\4 cup brown sugar
1\4 cup vinegar
1 T. Mustard

Pour over balls and bake at 350 for a hour to hour an a half.

Chewy Sugar Cookies

These sugar cookies are a little more work than average, but worth every step! The recipe is from America's Test Kitchen.

Makes 2 dozen cookies

The final dough will be slightly softer than most cookie dough. For the best results, handle the dough as briefly and gently as possible when shaping the cookies. Overworking the dough will result in flatter cookies.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/4cups (11 1/4 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2teaspoon baking soda
• 1teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2teaspoon table salt
• 1 1/2cups (10 1/2 ounces) sugar , plus 1/3 cup for rolling
• 2ounces cream cheese , cut into 8 pieces
• 6tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter , melted and still warm
• 1/3cup vegetable oil
• 1large egg
• 1tablespoon milk
• 2teaspoons vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS

• 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in medium bowl. Set aside.

• 2. Place 1½ cups sugar and cream cheese in large bowl. Place remaining 1/3 cup sugar in shallow baking dish or pie plate and set aside. Pour warm butter over sugar and cream cheese and whisk to combine (some small lumps of cream cheese will remain but will smooth out later). Whisk in oil until incorporated. Add egg, milk, and vanilla; continue to whisk until smooth. Add flour mixture and mix with rubber spatula until soft homogeneous dough forms.

• 3. Divide dough into 24 equal pieces, about 2 tablespoons each (or use #40 portion scoop). Using hands, roll dough into balls. Working in batches, roll balls in reserved sugar to coat and evenly space on prepared baking sheet, 12 dough balls per sheet. Using bottom of drinking glass, flatten dough balls until 2 inches in diameter. Sprinkle tops evenly with 4 teaspoons of sugar remaining in shallow dish (2 teaspoons per tray), discarding any remaining sugar.

• 4. Bake, 1 tray at a time, until edges are set and just beginning to brown, 11 to 13 minutes, rotating tray after 7 minutes. Cool cookies on baking sheets 5 minutes. Using wide metal spatula, transfer cookies to wire rack and cool to room temperature.

Mexican Chicken Spaghetti

Ingredients:

• 1lb of pasta
• 4 chicken breasts
• medium onion
• bell pepper
• 1 stick butter
• small box velveeta
• 1 can Rotel
• Cream / milk / chicken stock (whatever you have on hand)
  

Cook 1lb of noodles and set aside (If you use penne then I can usually freeze half of this for another night)

4 chicken breasts cooked or you can use rotisserie chicken

Saute 1 medium onion and 1/2 a bell pepper (red or yellow) in a stick of butter

Add one small box of velveeta cubed into small pieces

Add one can rotel tomatoes with mild chilies (you can drain if you want it to be milder, I leave the juice in and it's got a bit of kick to it)

Use either cream or milk or chicken stock to thin the sauce down to desired consistency once cheese is melted

Add cooked chicken, cut into bite sized pieces

Toss with spaghetti and serve or place into casserole dish with penne noodles and top with shredded cheddar cheese and bake until bubbly at 350.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons EVOO
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 bell pepper, diced
  
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 lb diced ham (I use leftovers, but you could easily buy the precooked and chopped kind)
  
• 2 cups cooked chicken breasts, chopped into bite sized pieces
  
• 4 T butter
• 1/4 c flour
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/4 t pepper
• 14 oz chicken broth
• 3 cups cooked rice (I use brown OR pasta, I've tried both and like them equally!)
• 1 c shredded cheddar
• 1 c shredded mozzarella or swiss (I usually use whatever I have on hand)

Preheat oven to 350.


Heat oil in a large, rimmed skillet over medium heat.

Add the onions and peppers and cook for about 5 minutes, until tender.

Then add the garlic, chicken and ham and cook for another 5 minutes until heated through.

Add the butter until it is melted, then stir in the flour, salt and pepper until combined.

Slowly stir in the chicken broth, then mix in the rice. (if you're using noodles, precook them and mix in here)

Transfer mixture to a 9x13 baking dish and sprinkle the top with your cheese.

Bake for 20-25 minutes. For the last 10 minutes cover with foil.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1/2 cup shortening (I used oil)
  
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1 cup chocolate chips
  

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the pumpkin and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon; gradually mix into the creamed mixture. Stir in the walnuts and chocolate chips. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until light brown. Cool on wire racks.

(From Allrecipes.com)

Reeses Peanut Butter Egg Cookies

DIVINE!!

2 sticks softened butter
1 Cup packed brown sugar
1 Cup granulated sugar
3 Tablespoons corn syrup
2 large eggs plus 1 egg white
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 Cups chopped Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs, 12 total eggs, you can also use regular Reeses Peanut Butter Cups 
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  In a stand or electric mixer beat the butter, sugars and corn syrup until well combined….light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs and vanilla until well combined.
2.  In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking soda and salt.  Slowly add to wet ingredients along with the chopped Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs.  Mix only until just combined.  Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop dough onto a silpat or parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake for 9-11 minutes until just turning golden around edges.  Let cookies cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.  Eat with tall glass of milk!!
4 dozen cookies