Marsala Chicken and Mushroom Casserole

2 tablespoons butter
10 ounces sliced mushrooms
1 1/2 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup marsala wine or white wine
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
Salt and pepper
1 cup long-grain rice
2 packed cups coarsely chopped rotisserie chicken
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese


Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large skillet, heat the butter over medium-high heat until just melted. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the flour on top and stir in for 1 minute. Stir in the marsala and cream and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in 2 cups water, the parsley, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
In a greased 9-inch-by-13-inch casserole, spread the rice in an even layer; top with the chicken. Pour the mushroom gravy on top. Cover snugly with foil and bake until bubbly, about 35 minutes. Discard the foil, sprinkle the parmesan on top and bake for 5 minutes more.

Recipe found here.

Turkey and mushroom stroganoff

Fry Light
4 bacon rashers (remove visible fat, and cut into strips)
1lb cooked turkey (or chicken)
400g can chopped tomatoes
1/4 pint (142 ml or 1/2 cup) chicken stock
2 red peppers, deseeded and chopped
11oz halved button mushrooms
2 tsp dried mixed herbs
salt & pepper
1oz (198g) fat free formage frais
flat leaf parsley, chopped
boiled rice or egg noodles



Spray a large pan with fry light and cook the bacon and turkey for 3-4 minutes. Add tomatoes, stock, peppers, mushrooms and dried herbs. Season and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat, cover and cook 15-20 mins. Remove from heat, stir in formage frais, top with parsley.
Serve over boiled rice, or mix with egg noodles before serving.

Recipe found here.

Slovak Bread Fondue

Ingredients
1 loaf of bread (we had a 350g one)
100g shredded Parmesan
100g shredded cheese like Edam
100g cream cheese like Philadelphia
300ml whipping cream
150g bacon
1/2 red or orange bell pepper
3 spring onions
Pinch of dried oregano
Salt
Olive oil

Cut off top of bread so that you have a lid for your fondue pot. Carefully scrape out the crumb and cut it into smaller chunks. Set aside.
Cut bacon in small cubes and fry for 5-7 minutes until golden-brown. Transfer bacon onto a small plate and leave the fat in the frying pan. Preheat oven to 190C.
Dice bell pepper and spring onions.
In a large mixing bowl, combine whipping cream and cheeses. Add diced pepper, onions, bacon, a pinch of salt, and oregano. Stir well.
Transfer bread onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Using fat left from frying the bacon, brush bread on the outside and the inside. Pour the cheese mix into prepared bread.
Bake for 25 minutes, then open the “lid”. Place chunks of bread we have scraped out onto the baking sheet and drizzle them with olive oil. Return baking sheet in the oven and bake the fondue and the “spoons” for another 10-15 minutes.
Allow to cool for about 5 minutes and serve!

Serves 2-4.

Recipe found here.

Copycat Twinkies

Photo credit: http://www.digitalfilmtree.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/twinkies.jpg

Ingredients
Cake:
16-Ounce Box golden pound cake mix (disregard mix instructions)
4 egg whites
2/3 cup water

Filling:
2 tsp Butter
1/3 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 drop lemon extract
Instructions
Note: You will need a spice bottle (about the size of a Twinkie), twelve 12 x 14-inch pieces of aluminum foil, a pastry bag and a toothpick
 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Fold each piece of foil in half twice. Wrap the folded foil around the spice bottle to create a mold. Leave the top open for pouring the batter in. Make twelve of these molds and arrange on a cookie sheet. Grease the inside of each with nonstick spray.
Disregard the directions on the cake mix box. Instead, beat the egg whites until stiff. Combine with cake mix and water, and beat until thoroughly blended (about 2 minutes).
Pour batter into molds, filling each about 3/4 inch. Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
For the filling, cream the butter and shortening. Slowly add the sugars while beating.
Add the evaporated milk, vanilla and lemon extracts.
Mix on medium speed until completely smooth and fluffy.
When the cakes are done and cooled, use a toothpick to make three small holes in the bottom of each one. Move the toothpick around the inside of each cake to make room for filling.
Using the pastry bag, inject each cake with filling through all three holes.

Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies

Ingredients:
10 Tablespoons butter
3 ounces Hershey's Milk Chocolate Chips
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup All Purpose Flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons Unsweetened Hershey's Cocoa Powder
For the Cream Cheese Swirl:
8 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
pinch salt
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
Full Sized Hershey Bars, to top

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350. Prepare 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper long enough to hang over on two sides, making it easier to remove from pan once baked. Spray pan and paper.
In small saucepot over medium heat, or in the microwave, melt chocolate and butter until smooth. Cool slightly.
In a separate bowl, beat eggs, vanilla with the sugar. Slowly add in chocolate mixture until well combined.
In small bowl, sift together cocoa, salt and flour. Add mixture to rest of batter. Do not overmix. Pour batter into prepared baking pan.

For the Cream Cheese Swirl
Beat ingredients together until smooth. Pour over brownie batter. Use sharp knife to swirl together.
Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, or until just set and toothpick inserted comes out clean. Top with full sized hershey Bars and return to still warm oven until lightly melted. Cool and serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired. 


Recipe found here.

Greek Style Lemon Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients:
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
4 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
6 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
4 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
24 garlic cloves, sliced


Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 2 large rimmed baking sheets with nonstick spray; set aside.
In a large bowl, toss potatoes with 1/2 cup olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and black pepper. Transfer potatoes in single layer onto baking sheets, dividing equally. Roast 30 minutes.
While potatoes are roasting, make the dressing by whisking extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, dill, and lemon peel in small bowl. Pour two tablespoons of the mixture into another small bowl and add garlic.
Divide garlic mixture between baking sheets with potatoes and toss to coat; reverse baking sheets and continue to roast until potatoes are tender and brown around edges, about 15 minutes longer.
In a large bowl, toss roasted potatoes with enough of remaining dressing to coat and serve.


Recipe found here.

Basil & Veggie Mini Quiches

5 eggs
3 egg whites
1 cup milk
1/4 cup finely chopped red pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped scallion
6 basil leaves, chiffonaded
1/4 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
Sprinkle of kosher salt
Cooking spray


Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs. Add the milk and whisk again.
In a medium bowl, combine the red pepper, scallion, cheddar cheese, and basil.
Spray a muffin tin well with cooking spray. Pour an even amount of the egg mixture into each muffin cup. They will be about 3/4 full. Divide the veggie mixture evenly amongst the muffin cups. Sprinkle each with a little kosher salt.
Put the filled muffin tin into the preheated oven and bake for about 25 minutes, or until the quiches are just starting to brown.
Remove the muffin tray from the oven and cool on a rack for about 5 minutes. Place a cutting board over the muffin tin and flip upside down so that the quiches fall out onto the board. Serve immediately.

Serves 12 mini quiches.


Recipe found here.

Baked Ravioli

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme, or oregano
1 can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
2 pounds store-bought ravioli
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese


Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add thyme and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, breaking up tomatoes with spoon, until sauce is thickened and reduced to about 5 1/2 cups, 20 to 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook ravioli in a large pot of boiling salted water just until they float to the top (pasta will continue to cook in oven). Drain pasta; return to pot.
Toss sauce with pasta. Pour pasta into a large gratin dish or 9-by-13-inch baking dish, and sprinkle with cheeses. Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool slightly before serving. Serves 4-6.


Recipe found here.

Spinach and Artichoke Pasta

Ingredients:
6 Tablespoons Butter
4 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
2 bags Baby Spinach
2 cans Artichoke Hearts, Drained And Halved
3 Tablespoons Flour
3 cups Whole Milk
1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
Salt And Pepper, to taste
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1-1/2 cup Mozzarella Or Monterey Jack Cheese, Grated
1/2 cup Low Sodium Chicken Broth (less Or More)
12 ounces, weight Penne, Cooked Until Al Dente
1/2 cup Seasoned Panko Breadcrumbs
Crushed Red Pepper, To Taste

 

Instructions:
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot or skillet. Add garlic and throw in the spinach. Stir it around until it's wilted, about 1 minute. Remove spinach from heat and set aside.
Add 2 tablespoons butter to the same pot and raise the heat to high. Throw in the halved artichokes and stir it around until they get a little color, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the artichokes from the pot and set them aside.
Reduce the heat to low. Add 2 tablespoons butter to the pot. When melted, sprinkle in flour and whisk until it's combined. Pour in milk and whisk to combine. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until starting to thicken. Add Parmesan, Mozzarella/Monterey Jack, salt and pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir to melt, and if it's overly thick, splash in chicken broth.
Add artichokes and pasta, tossing gently to combine. Gently fold in spinach, then pour the pasta into a serving bowl. Sprinkle the top with crushed red pepper flakes and plenty of Panko breadcrumbs for crunch.


Recipe found here.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Chocolate Crust
1/2 stick unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
8 ounces chocolate wafer cookies, finely ground (2 cups)

Peanut Butter Filling
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup well-chilled heavy cream
Kosher salt

Chocolate Topping
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup heavy cream

Garnish
1/4 cup Chopped Peanuts, chopped
1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate, chopped


MAKE THE CHOCOLATE CRUST: Preheat the oven to 375°. Melt butter and stir into the cookie crumbs. Press the cookie crumbs over the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan and 1 1/2 inches up the side. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, or until set; the crust will continue to firm up as it cools.

MEANWHILE, MAKE THE PEANUT BUTTER FILLING: In a large bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the cream cheese with the peanut butter, sugar and vanilla extract until blended. In another large bowl, using the same beaters, whip the chilled cream until firm. Fold one-third of the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture to loosen it, then fold in the remaining whipped cream. Spoon the filling into the crust, smoothing the surface. Sprinkle lightly with salt and refrigerate until set, about 3 hours.

MAKE THE CHOCOLATE TOPPING: Place chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat cream over medium heat until simmering. Add cream to chocolate and stir until melted.

Spread the chocolate topping over the peanut butter filling and refrigerate until just firm, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle the chopped peanuts and chocolate around the edge of the pie. Carefully run a thin knife around the pie crust to loosen it, then remove the springform ring. Using a sharp knife, cut the pie into wedges. Run the knife under hot water and dry it between each cut.


Recipe found here.