Dinner, Pasta, Potatoes and Rice

Ingredients:
2 pints of salad tomatoes (grape or cherry)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Garlic Clove
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
8 oz. block of feta cheese
kosher salt
cracked pepper
red pepper flakes (to desired taste)
10 oz. pasta, gluten free works well too

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Using a casserole dish sprayed with olive oil spray or coated cast iron pan, add 2 pints of grape tomatoes into dish.
Place one block of feta cheese direction in the center of the tomatoes. Sprinkle with chopped garlic and basil.
Sprinkle entire dish with kosher or sea salt, black pepper and then drizzle with olive oil.

Place dish in oven for 45 minutes or until the tomatoes burst and are easily smashed.

Meanwhile prepare the pasta. I also like to add grilled and sliced chicken.

Remove tomato mixture from oven, mix well, stir in pasta.

Bread and Bisquits, Cake, Desserts

Makes 2 loaves

Ingredients:
Bread:
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons coconut extract
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped nuts, optional

Glaze:
11/2 cups sugar
3 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon coconut extract

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray 2 (9-by-5-inch) loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray. Lightly flour pans. Set aside.
To mix bread: In large bowl, combine eggs, sugar, oil and extract. Gradually add flour, baking powder and baking soda alternately with buttermilk. Stir in coconut and nuts. Pour mixture into prepared pans.
To bake bread: Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool slightly in pans on wire rack.
Remove from pans.

To prepare glaze: In medium saucepan, combine sugar, butter, water and extract. Bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour over warm loaves. Let stand for 3 to 4 hours. Store in refrigerator.

Dinner, Seafood and Fish

Ingredients:
1 pound raw shrimp (may used cooked shrimp) with tails removed.
1 pound fresh asparagus
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp minced fresh ginger
1 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp lemon juice

Directions:
In a large frying pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add shrimp to the pan. Season with the crushed red pepper and salt. Cook until shrimp is pink. Set shrimp aside.
In the same pan, heat additional olive oil. Stir fry the asparagus, garlic, and ginger until tender-crisp. Return shrimp to the pad. Add lemon juice and soy sauce. Serve over cooked rice.

Appetizers

Ingredients:
1 pound ground chicken
3/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1 large egg
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp minced onion
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Franks Red Hot Sauce (original flavor)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 420 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, Panko breadcrumbs, egg, garlic salt, minced onion and green onions. Roll mixture into 1 to 1-1/4″ balls forming about 24 meatballs. Place meatballs onto baking sheet. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes. Turn meatballs over, brush with Hot Sauce. Bake for another 7 to 8 minutes. Place meatballs in a slow cooker. Add more hot sauce. Cook on low heat for 2 hours. Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing. Very hot and spicy!

Breakfast

Ingredients:
6-8 slices bread
6 eggs
1-3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup swiss cheese shredded
1 cup milk
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 tsp dry mustard
Ham, bacon or sausage cooked and chopped

Directions:
Cut crusts off bread, butter one side of 4 slices of bread. Line the bottom of an 8×8 glass pan with the buttered bread. Mix remaining ingredients. Pour half the egg mixture over the bread. Put on another layer of bread (unbuttered). Pour remaining egg mixture over the top and sprinkle with cheese. Let stand for at least an hour. Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, for about 45 minutes.

Dinner, Pasta, Potatoes and Rice

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
3 chicken breasts, cubed
Salt and pepper to taste
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 ½ cups chicken broth
2 ½ cups heavy cream
1 pound uncooked penne
2 cups parmesan
2 cups mozzarella
A handful of fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:
1. In a pot, heat oil and add chicken. Season chicken with salt and pepper, add garlic, then brown the chicken. Add broth, heavy cream, and pasta, and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to a simmer for 15-20 min.

2. Turn off heat and stir in 1 ½ cups of parmesan cheese. Pour half of the pasta into a greased 11×7 inch or 9×13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Layer the remaining half of the pasta evenly on top. Sprinkle evenly with 1 cup of mozzarella and ½ cup of parmesan.

3. Broil 10 – 15 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown. Remove and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

Cake, Desserts, Holiday Recipes

Ingredients:
1 package yellow cake mix
1 package (3 and 3/4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding
4 eggs
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup dark rum
1/2 cup vegetable oil

rum glaze:
1 stick butter
1/4 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark rum

chocolate glaze:
4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
1 tsp butter or shortening

Optional: 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan. Mix cake mix, pudding, eggs, water rum and oil until smooth. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 1 hour. Cool in pan 25 minutes. Invert onto serving plate. Prick top and sides with toothpicks. Spoon and brush rum glaze evenly over cake. When cake is cooled, drizzle with chocolate glaze.

Rum glaze directions:
Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in rum. drizzle over cake. Top with chopped walnuts.

Chocolate glaze topping:
Melt chocolate and butter over very low heat in heavy saucepan.

Cookies, Desserts, Holiday Recipes

Cookie Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 Tablespoon vanilla
2 and 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Glaze Ingredients:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon rum extract
1 to 2 Tablespoons hot water

Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixer bowl, combine 1 cup butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low, add flour and nutmeg. Beat until well mixed. Press dough through cookie press 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 6-10 minutes until lightly browned.
In a small bowl, stir together glaze ingredients. Stir in enough hot water for desired glazing consistency. While still warm, brush top of each cookie with glaze.

Cookies, Desserts, Holiday Recipes

Ingredients:
Saltine crackers (about a sleeve and a half)
1 cup butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line and 11″ x 17″ sheet pan with parchment paper. Place the crackers in a single layer.
In a saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar, boil for 3 minutes.
Immediately pour over saltines and spread to cover crackers completely.
Bake at 400 degrees for 5-6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Let sit for 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate, and top with chopped nuts. Cool completely and break into pieces.

Cookies, Desserts

Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter or shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 and 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Directions:
Soften butter (if using) and mix with sugar. Mix in eggs, one at a time. Mix in vanilla.
Blend in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover, chill at least one hour.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Roll dough 1/8 inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut in desired shapes. Place on cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until very lightly browned around the edges.