6.16.2011

Beer Chops II recipe.

Ingredients
1 onion, chopped
2 pork chops butterfly cut
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
2 cubes chicken bouillon

Directions
Arrange chopped onions in bottom of slow cooker. Lay butterfly chops on top, separating if you wish. Pour in beer and drop in chicken bouillon cubes. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Gravy recipe.

Ingredients
1 (3 1/2) pound broiler-fryer chicken, cut up
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
oil for frying
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups water
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Place chicken in a large shallow dish. Pour buttermilk over; cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Combine the flour, salt and pepper in a large resealable plastic bag. Drain chicken pieces; add to flour mixture, one at a time, and shake to coat. Shake off excess; let stand on waxed paper for 15 minutes before frying.
Heat 1/8 to 1/4 in. of oil in a large skillet; fry chicken until browned on all sides. Cover and simmer, turning occasionally, for 40-45 minutes, or until juices run clear and chicken is tender. Uncover and cook 5 minutes longer. Remove chicken; drain on paper towels and keep warm.
Drain all but 1/4 cup drippings from skillet; stir in flour until blended. Gradually add milk, then 1-1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add remaining water if needed. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with chicken.

Bacon Quiche Tarts recipe.

Ingredients
5 slices bacon
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
1 (10 ounce) can refrigerated flaky biscuit dough

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 10 muffin cups.
Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until crisp and evenly brown. Drain, crumble, and set aside.
Place the cream cheese, milk, and eggs in a medium bowl, and beat until smooth with an electric mixer set on Low. Stir in Swiss cheese and green onion, and set aside.
Separate dough into 10 biscuits. Press into the bottom and sides of each muffin cup, forming 1/4 inch rims. Sprinkle half of the bacon into the bottoms of the dough-lined muffin cups. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture into each cup.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until filling is set and rims of the tarts are golden brown. Sprinkle with the remaining bacon, and lightly press into the filling. Remove from pan, and serve warm.

Biscochitos Traditional Cookies recipe.

Ingredients
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups lard
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons anise seed
1/4 cup brandy
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl, and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the lard and 1 1/2 cups sugar until smooth. Mix in the anise seed, and beat until fluffy. Stir in the eggs one at a time. Add the sifted ingredients and brandy, and stir until well blended.
On a floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/2 or 1/4 inch thickness, and cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. The traditional is fleur-de-lis. Place cookies onto baking sheets. Mix together the 1/4 cup of sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the tops of the cookies.
Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bottoms are lightly browned.

Butterfinger Chunkies recipe.

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 egg whites
1 1/4 cups crunchy peanut butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 (2.1 ounce) bars chocolate-covered crispy peanut butter candy

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease baking sheets.
Cream the butter and the brown and white sugars together until light and fluffy. Add the egg whites and beat well. Beat in the peanut butter and the vanilla.
Combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the chopped candy bars. Shape dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Let cookies cool on wire racks.

Bee's Knees II recipe.

Ingredients
1 (46 fluid ounce) can pineapple juice
1 (46 fluid ounce) can grapefruit juice
1 (8 ounce) jar honey
2 cups gin

Directions
In a blender combine pineapple juice, grapefruit juice, honey and gin. Blend until frothy. Pour into a pitcher and serve.

Bacon Wrapped Pork Medallions recipe.

Ingredients
8 slices bacon
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 pounds pork tenderloin
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions
Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Place the bacon in a large, oven-safe skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until lightly browned and still flexible, 6 to 7 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate. Remove any excess bacon grease from the skillet. Combine garlic powder, seasoning salt, basil, and oregano in a small bowl. Set aside.
Wrap the pork tenderloin with the bacon strips securing with 1 or 2 toothpicks per strip of bacon. Slice the tenderloin between each bacon strip to create the medallions. Dip both sides of the medallions in seasoning mix. Melt butter and oil together in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Cook each medallion for 4 minutes on each side.
Place skillet into the preheated oven and bake until the pork is no longer pink in the center, 17 to 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

Apple Shortbread Pie recipe.

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chilled butter, diced
2 egg yolks, beaten
1 1/4 pounds Golden Delicious apple - peeled, cored and cut into 1/4 inch slices
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C.)
Sift four, 1/2 cup sugar and salt into a large bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Fold in egg yolks (mixture will be crumbly). Remove 1/4 of mixture, and set aside. Press remainder onto bottom and sides an 8 inch tart shell or pie pan.
In a large bowl, combine apples, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Place apples into crust, and sprinkle reserved crumb mixture evenly over top.
Place pie on a baking sheet, and bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue baking 20 minutes, or until top is golden brown and filling is bubbling.

Baked Snapper with Mandarin Oranges, Cashews and Ginger recipe.

Ingredients
4 (4 ounce) fillets red snapper
2 mandarin oranges, juiced
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 pinch red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh ginger
2 mandarin oranges - peeled and chopped
1/3 cup unsalted cashews, roughly chopped
2 green onions, finely chopped

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (225 degrees C).
Arrange the snapper fillets in a single layer in the bottom of a lightly greased shallow baking dish. In a medium bowl, stir together the mandarin orange juice, lime juice, brown sugar, soy sauce and sesame oil. Mix in the red pepper flakes, ginger and chopped mandarin oranges. Pour over the snapper in the dish.
Bake uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until fish is opaque. Transfer fillets to serving plates and spoon the sauce over them. Garnish with a sprinkle of cashews and green onion.

Baked Cheese Olives recipe.

Ingredients
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
24 pimento-stuffed green olives

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
In a small mixing bowl, combine cheese and butter or margarine. Stir flour and cayenne pepper into the cheese and butter mixture. Blend well. Wrap a tablespoon of dough around each green olive. Arrange the wrapped olives on a cookie sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Banana Cream Pie Made Easy recipe.

Ingredients
3 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup crushed ice
1 (3.5 ounce) package instant banana pudding mix
1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
3 bananas, sliced
1 (9 inch) pie shell, baked
1 cup heavy cream

Directions
Using an electric mixer, whip 3 cups heavy cream on low speed until it starts to thicken. Add crushed ice and continue to whip another 4 minutes. Increase speed and add vanilla and banana pudding mixes, whipping until pudding mixes are blended fully with the cream and the mixture thickens. Increase speed to high and beat until mixture is stiff.
Line the bottom and half way up the sides of pie crust with banana slices. Cover bananas with half of the banana cream mixture and top completely with banana slices. Top with the remaining banana cream mixture.
In a small bowl, whip 1 cup cream until stiff peaks form. Using a pastry bag, pipe cream onto top of pie, covering completely. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving.

Berry Cheesecake Parfaits recipe.

Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups cold milk
1 (3.4 ounce) package JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
1 1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, divided
24 NILLA Wafers, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups mixed blueberries and sliced fresh strawberries

Directions
Beat cream cheese with mixer until creamy. Gradually beat in milk. Add dry pudding mix; mix well. Whisk in 1 cup COOL WHIP.
Layer half each of wafers, berries and pudding mixture in 8 parfait glasses. Repeat layers.
Top with remaining COOL WHIP.

Banana Crunch Cake recipe.

Ingredients
3/4 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
1/2 cup shortening
2/3 cup white sugar
1 cup mashed banana
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup oat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8x8 inch pan. Make the oat crunch topping: In a small bowl, combine the rolled oats, brown sugar, melted butter and 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts. Mix well and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream shortening and white sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in bananas, eggs, and vanilla. Combine the oat flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda and salt. Beat into creamed mixture. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped walnuts. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with the oat crunch topping.
Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.

Apricot Braids recipe.

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups chopped dried apricots
1 1/2 cups water, divided
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
3 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
In a saucepan, bring apricots and 1/2 cup water to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until water is absorbed and fruit is tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a food processor; add brown sugar. Cover and process until smooth.
In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of flour, sugar, yeast and salt. In a saucepan, heat butter and remaining water to 120 degrees F-130 degrees F. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened. add eggs; beat until smooth. stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 40-45 minutes.
Punch dough down; divide into thirds. On greased baking sheets; roll out each portion into a 12-in. x 8-in. rectangle. Spread filling down the center of each rectangle. On each long side, cut 1-in.-wide strips about 2 in. into center. starting at one end, fold alternating strips at an angle across filling. Pinch ends to seal. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
Bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over braids.

Alicia's Italian Nachos recipe.

Ingredients
4 pita bread rounds
1/2 cup marinara sauce
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 (3.25 ounce) can sliced black olives
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup fresh basil leaves

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Use scissors or kitchen shears to cut the pita breads in half, then into triangles. Peel apart the bread halves to make as many triangles as possible. Spread the triangles out on a large baking sheet, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Toast triangles for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned and crispy. While toasting, combine the marinara sauce and garlic in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until hot.
Transfer pita chips to a serving platter, sprinkle with olives, and pour sauce over them. Quickly cover with shredded mozzarella cheese, and whole basil leaves. Serve immediately.

Billy's Pasta Salad recipe.

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package rainbow rotini pasta
2 cups shredded cooked chicken meat
2 stalks celery, diced
1 red onion, diced
2 cups mayonnaise
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain, and rinse with cold water to cool.
Stir together chicken, celery, onion, and mayonnaise; fold in cold pasts, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Place in refrigerator, and let rest for at least an hour before serving.

Brownie Chocolate Chip Cheesecake recipe.

Ingredients
1 (19.5 ounce) package Pillsbury� Classic Traditional Fudge Brownies
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND� Sweetened Condensed Milk
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease bottom only of 9-inch springform pan. Prepare brownie mix as package directs for chewy brownies. Spread evenly in prepared pan. Bake 35 minutes or until set.
In large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into prepared pan.
Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F. Bake 50 minutes or until set. Cool. Chill thoroughly. Remove side of springform pan. Garnish as desired. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.

Beef Bourguignonne recipe.

Ingredients
1 pound beef sirloin steak or top round steak, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed
2 cups fresh or frozen whole baby carrots
1 3/4 cups Swanson� Beef Broth (Regular, 50% Less Sodium or Certified Organic)
1/2 cup Burgundy or other dry red wine
Hot cooked orzo pasta

Directions
Place the beef in a large bowl. Add the flour and toss to coat.
Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until it's well browned, stirring often. Add the onion, garlic, parsley, mushrooms and thyme and cook until the mushrooms are tender. Add the carrots, broth and wine to the skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until the beef is cooked through.
Serve the beef mixture over the orzo.

Ballpark Baked Beans recipe.

Ingredients
2 (16 ounce) cans baked beans
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple tidbits, drained

Directions
In a large bowl, combine beans, brown sugar, ketchup and mustard. Transfer to a 2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Stir in the pineapple; bake 30 minutes longer.

Bread Bowls I recipe.

Ingredients
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 3/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F)
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons salt
1 egg white
2 tablespoons water

Directions
In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the whole wheat flour, salt and one cup of the bread flour; stir well to combine. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes.
Place into a lightly oiled bowl, and turn to coat the whole surface with oil. Cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes.
Punch down the dough, and let rest 10 minutes. Divide into 4 balls. Place on cookie sheets, and flatten into disks. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Lightly beat the egg white with the water and brush the risen loaves with this mixture. Bake at 375 degree F (190 degree C) for 40 to 50 minutes. When done bread should sound hollow when thumped on bottom. Remove from oven, and let cool.
Cut a circle out of the top of each loaf, and remove that part of the crust. Either remove the soft bread beneath, or compress it to form a bowl.

Barbecued Pot Roast recipe.

Ingredients
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 pound boneless beef chuck shoulder steak, cut 3/4 inch thick
1 tablespoon canola oil
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup tomato sauce
1 medium onion, sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons ketchup
4 teaspoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard

Directions
Combine salt and pepper; rub over steak. In a Dutch oven, brown steak in oil on both sides. Add the water, tomato sauce, onion and garlic. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
Combine the remaining ingredients; pour over the meat. Cover and simmer for 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until meat is tender.

Baked Rigatoni with Italian Sausage and Fennel recipe.

Ingredients
1 pound hot Italian sausage links
1 (16 ounce) package rigatoni pasta
1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
1 bulb fennel, trimmed and thinly sliced
1 roasted red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until almost tender, about 10 minutes.
Fry the sausages in a large skillet over medium heat, turning frequently until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove from the skillet, cool slightly and slice into rounds. Add the garlic, fennel and onion to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes, then add the roasted red peppers, basil, sliced sausage and pasta sauce. Heat through over low heat until warmed.
Combine the pasta with the sauce and vegetables in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread the mozzarella, Parmesan and Asiago cheeses over the top. Garnish with a few fennel leaves left from the bulb. Cover with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, then remove the aluminum foil. Set the oven to broil, and cook for another 5 minutes or until cheese is browned.

Alligator Swamp Water recipe.

Ingredients
1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger melon liqueur
1/2 cup cold orange juice

Directions
Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour in melon liqueur and orange juice. Stir, and serve.

Banana Stuffed French Toast recipe.

Ingredients
1 (1 pound) loaf French bread, cut into 1 inch slices
2 bananas, peeled and sliced
3 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon water
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon orange liqueur
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1/4 cup butter
confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions
Create a pocket about 2/3 of the way into each slice of bread by cutting along an edge. Fill pockets with 2 or 3 banana slices each.
In a medium bowl, beat together eggs, water, milk, vanilla extract, orange liqueur and orange zest. Dip the bread slices in the mixture, allowing slices to become saturated.
Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Place a few slices at a time in the skillet, and cook, turning once, until both sides are golden brown. Dust with confectioners' sugar to serve.

Alison's Colcannon recipe.

Ingredients
5 pounds potatoes, scrubbed and cubed with skin
1/2 cup butter, divided
1 cup fat-free sour cream
1 large head cabbage, finely shredded
1 bunch green onions, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions
Place potatoes in a large pot, and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 10 minutes, until potatoes are soft enough to mash. Drain. Transfer to a large serving bowl, and mash potatoes with 1/4 cup of butter and all of the sour cream until well blended.
Melt remaining butter in a large pot (you can use the same pot) over medium heat. Add garlic and green onion, and cook, stirring until softened. Add the cabbage, cover the pan, and let the cabbage steam for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir the cabbage mixture into the mashed potatoes, and season liberally with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Beef, Green Chili and Tomato Stew recipe.

Ingredients
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28 ounce) can roma tomatoes, with juice
2 (4 ounce) cans chopped green chile peppers, drained
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
1 cup beef broth
2 teaspoons dried oregano, crushed
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Directions
In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat until hot, but not smoking. Pat the meat dry with paper towels and brown in batches, transferring the meat with a slotted spoon to a bowl as they are done.
In the fat remaining in the pot, cook the onions until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
Return meat to the pot with any juices in the bowl and add the tomatoes with juice, chiles, beer, beef broth, oregano, cumin, and Worcestershire sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer, partially covered, for 2 1/2 hours or until meat is tender.

Brown Sugar Sauce recipe.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
In a medium saucepan, melt butter or margarine. Add flour and salt; stir until smooth.
Stir in brown sugar. Blend thoroughly and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture bubbles and is lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Stir in boiling water. Return to heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until smooth and thickened. Add vanilla extract and stir until well blended. Serve hot.

Asparagus Snack Squares recipe.

Ingredients
1 cup chopped sweet onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons butter
1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 (8 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent rolls
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

Directions
In a large skillet, saute onion and garlic over medium heat, in butter until tender.
Cut asparagus into 1-in. pieces; set the tips aside. Add remaining asparagus to skillet; saute until crisp-tender, about 4-6 minutes. Add asparagus tips and pepper; saute 1-2 minutes longer or until asparagus is tender.
Press dough into an ungreased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan; seal seams and perforations. Bake at 375 degrees F for 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned. Top with asparagus mixture; sprinkle with cheeses. Bake 6-8 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Cut into squares.

Amy's Asparagus Casserole recipe.

Ingredients
2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 pound provolone cheese, shredded
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed golden mushroom soup
1 (2.8 ounce) can French-fried onions

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place asparagus in baking dish; cover with cheese. Spread mushroom soup over cheese.
Bake, covered, until hot and bubbly, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven; remove cover and sprinkle with onions. Return to oven and bake, uncovered, until onions are lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

Black Bottom Pie I recipe.

Ingredients
1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked
1 (.25 ounce) package unflavored gelatin
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1 3/4 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 egg yolks
1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup rum
4 egg whites
1/4 cup cold water

Directions
Dissolve gelatin in cold water, and set aside.
In a small saucepan, mix cornstarch, 3/4 cup sugar, milk, and egg yolks. Cook, stirring, until bubbly and thick. Remove from heat, and add vanilla. Divide mixture in half. Add chocolate chips to one half, and stir until melted and smooth. Pour into pastry shell. Chill.
Stir gelatin mixture into the other half of the hot egg yolk mixture. Stir in rum. Chill until slightly thick.
Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, and beat to stiff peaks. Fold into partially set gelatin/rum mixture. Chill until mix will mound, then spoon into pie shell on top of chocolate layer. Chill overnight.

Busy Day Syrup Cake recipe.

Ingredients
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups cane syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
3/8 cup milk
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 3 (8 inch) pans. Sift together the flour, 1/2 cup cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and cane syrup until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with 2/3 cup milk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely. Frost between layers, on top and sides with Easy Chocolate Frosting.
To make Easy Chocolate Frosting: In a saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter, 1/4 cup cocoa and 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Remove from heat. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and continue beating until spreading consistency is achieved. Beat in vanilla.

Bev's Mac and Cheese recipe.

Ingredients
1 cup elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and reserve.
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine milk, flour and salt and pepper to taste; whisk or beat until smooth. Add butter and cheese; microwave on high for 5 minutes and whisk until smooth. Microwave for an additional 4 to 5 minutes and whisk or beat until smooth and no lumps remain.
Add cooked pasta to mixture; stir and serve.

Apple German Chocolate Cake recipe.

Ingredients
1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling
1 (18.25 ounce) package German chocolate cake mix
3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
Place pie filling in a blender; cover and process until the apples are in 1/4-in. chunks. Pour into a mixing bowl; add dry cake mix and eggs. Beat on medium speed for 5 minutes. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with nuts and chocolate chips.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting.

Apricot Leather recipe.

Ingredients
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 cups pitted and diced fresh apricots
1/2 cup white sugar

Directions
Preheat the oven to 150 degrees F (165 degrees C), or the lowest setting you have.
Combine the lemon juice, apricots and sugar in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until sugar has dissolved. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth.
Cover an 11x17 inch pan or cookie sheet with a layer of plastic wrap. Pour the pureed fruit onto the plastic and spread evenly to within 1 inch of the edge.
Bake for 4 to 6 hours in the preheated oven, using a spoon or a pair of tongs to keep the door slightly ajar, or until the puree has dried and is no longer sticky. Once dry, you can cut it into strips and store in an airtight container.

Almond Turkey Stir-Fry recipe.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 pound turkey breast tenderloin, cubed
4 teaspoons canola oil, divided
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup sliced green onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (8 ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
Hot cooked rice

Directions
In a small bowl, combine the first seven ingredients until smooth; set aside. In a nonstick skillet, stir-fry turkey in 2 teaspoons hot oil until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm. In the same skillet, stir-fry the celery, carrot, onion, mushrooms, green onions and garlic in remaining oil until crisp-tender, about 5-6 minutes. Add water chestnuts and turkey; heat through. Stir broth mixture and add to the pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Sprinkle with almonds. Serve over hot cooked rice if desired.

Bean and Ham Pasta recipe.

Ingredients
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1 1/2 cups uncooked spiral pasta
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1 cup cubed fully cooked ham
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
salt and pepper to taste
1 dash ground cumin
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions
In a large saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Add the pasta; cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until tender. Do not drain. Stir in the beans, corn, ham and seasonings; heat through. Sprinkle with cheese.

Buttermilk Honey Bread recipe.

Ingredients
1 1/2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
3/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 1/2 cups buttermilk, room temperature
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon salt
6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions
In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in the warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
Combine buttermilk, butter, honey and the yeast mixture in a large mixing bowl. Add salt and two cups of the flour. Whisk well to combine. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well with a wooden spoon after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 6 minutes.
Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and put in a warm place to rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees F).
Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into loaves. Place the loaves into two lightly greased 9x5 inch loaf pans. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for about 30 minutes or until the tops are golden and the bottoms of the loaves sound hollow when tapped.

Asian Steak Stir-Fry Salad recipe.

Ingredients
1/4 cup peanut oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound skirt steak, sliced into strips
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/4 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger root
1 tablespoon chopped serrano pepper
1 cup fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing

Directions
Whisk together the peanut oil, soy sauce, and pepper in a bowl; pour into a resealable plastic bag. Add the steak, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours.
Cook and stir the steak and the marinade in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the bell pepper, onion, green onion, ginger, and serrano pepper. Cook until the steak is evenly brown. Serve over a bed of spinach with the balsamic vinaigrette.