Creamy Cheddar Potatoes

Ingredients:


3 1/2 to 4 pounds baking potatoes, scrubbed
12 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (about 3 cups)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon black pepper


Step-by-Step
1. Combine potatoes with enough water to cover in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil until potatoes are tender, about 20 to 25 minutes; drain. Let stand to cool.
2. Coat bottom and sides of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with butter. Peel the potatoes and coarsely chop. Place in prepared baking dish.
3. Heat the Cheddar in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently. Stir in milk, whipping cream, salt, dry mustard, nutmeg and black pepper. Pour sauce over potatoes. Chill, covered, for 30 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
5. Remove the cover from the potatoes. Bake until potatoes are heated through and lightly browned, about 35 minutes. Serve with baked chicken and green beans, if desired.

Southwest Tortilla Sliders

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef (85% lean)

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3 to 4 (10-inch) flour tortillas

1/4 cup shredded pepper Jack cheese

1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Sauce:

2 tablespoons ranch salad dressing

2 tablespoons salsa

Toppings:

1/2 cup shredded lettuce

1/2 cup finely chopped plum tomatoes

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

Step-by-step:

Gently combine all burger ingredients except tortillas and cheese in large bowl. Shape into 8 (3-inch) burgers 1/2 inch thick. Press thumb 1/4 inch into center of burger to keep from shrinking. 

Heat grill. With 3 inch cookie cutter, cut 16 rounds from tortillas. Combine pepper jack and cheddar cheeses in small bowl. Combine all sauce ingredients in small serving bowl. 

Grill burgers, covered, 8 to 9 minutes over medium heat or coals until thoroughly cooked and no longer pink in center, turning once and topping with cheese during last 1 minute of cooking. Grill tortilla rounds 30 to 60 seconds or until warm and lightly charred, turning once. Spread tortillas with sauce or serve sauce separately. Serve burgers in tortillas accompanied by toppings. 

Pot Luck Potato Casserole

Ingredients


1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoon butter, divided
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup undiluted
8 ounces sour cream
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
2 pounds potatoes
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 to 2 cups stuffing mix


Step-by-Step


1. Place 1/4 cup butter in medium microwave-safe bowl; cover loosely with plastic wrap. Heat on HIGH about 50 to 60 seconds or until completely melted. Add undiluted soup, sour cream, onion and salt to butter; mix well.
2. Peel potatoes; cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
3. Combine potatoes and cheese in slow cooker. Pour soup mixture into slow cooker; mix well. Sprinkle stuffing mix over potato mixture.
4. Place remaining butter in small microwave-safe bowl; cover loosely with plastic wrap. Heat on HIGH 40 to 45 seconds or until melted. Drizzle butter over stuffing mix in slow cooker.
5. Cover slow cooker and cook on HIGH 5 to 6 hours or on LOW 8 to 10 hours or until hot and bubbly and potatoes are tender. Store leftovers, covered, in refrigerator.

Summertime Squash

As it starts to get warmer outside I can't wait for all the grilling. Not that I stop grilling outside in the winter. But the fresher zucchini and squash are in the summer but you can make this anytime.

Ingredients:

2 small zucchini

2 small yellow squash

1 small red bell pepper

2 cloves garlic

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup vegetable broth

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 teaspoon butter

Yellow bell pepper rings and green onion brushes, optional for garnish

Step-by-step:

Scrub zucchini and yellow squash; pat dry with paper towels and cut off ends. Cut zucchini and yellow squash diagonally into 1⁄4-inch-thick slices. Cut red bell pepper lengthwise in half. Remove stem and seeds. Rinse, dry and cut into 1⁄4-inch-thick strips. Finely chop garlic.

Combine cornstarch and salt in small cup. Stir in vegetable broth until mixture is smooth; set aside.

Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 1 minute or until hot. Drizzle vegetable oil into skillet. Add butter; swirl to coat bottom and heat 30 seconds. Add zucchini and yellow squash; cook and stir 6 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in red bell pepper and garlic; cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute.

Stir reserved broth mixture until smooth and add to skillet. Cook and stir until sauce boils and thickens. Garnish, if desired.

Cheesy Penne with Broccoli

Ingredients

• 8 ounces uncooked mini penne pasta
• 5 cups broccoli florets (about 1 medium head)
• 1 1/3 cups fat-free milk
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
• 3 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese, divided
• 2 tablespoons 1/3-less-fat cream cheese 
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 2.5 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2/3 cup)

Preparation

1. 1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. During the last 3 minutes of cooking, add broccoli to pan; drain. Place pasta and broccoli in a large bowl.
2. 2. Combine milk and flour in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Cook 5 minutes or until slightly thickened; remove from heat. Add 2 tablespoons Parmesan and remaining ingredients, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Add cheese mixture to pasta mixture; toss. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan.

Ivy Manning, Cooking Light 

MARCH 2013

Pasted from <http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cheesy-penne-broccoli-50400000126252/?xid=scancook-mar13-ck>

Shrimp Linguine with Ricotta, Fennel, and Spinach

Ingredients


1. 9 ounces fresh linguine
2. 1 tablespoon olive oil
3. 8 ounces medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
4. 1 cup vertically sliced fennel bulb
5. 1/2 cup thinly sliced shallots
6. 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
7. 1 (6-ounce) package fresh baby spinach
8. 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
9. 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
10. 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
11. 1/4 teaspoon salt
12. 2 ounces grated fresh Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 cup)
13. 1/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese


Preparation


1. 1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain in a colander over a bowl, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
2. 2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil; swirl to coat. Add shrimp, fennel, and shallots; sauté 3 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 30 seconds. Add spinach; cook 2 minutes or until spinach wilts.
3. 3. Stir in rind and next 3 ingredients (through salt). Stir in reserved cooking liquid; cook 1 minute or until slightly thickened. Add pasta and Parmesan cheese; toss to coat. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon ricotta.
Ivy Manning, Cooking Light 
MARCH 2013


Pasted from <http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/shrimp-linguine-50400000126244/?xid=scancook-mar13-ck>


I don't care for fennel so I actually leave it out

Thai Butternut Soup

Ingredients

1 teaspoon canola oil 
1. 1 cup chopped onion
2. 2 1/2 teaspoons red curry paste
3. 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
4. 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
5. 1 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
6. 2 teaspoons brown sugar
7. 2 (12-ounce) packages frozen pureed butternut squash
8. 1 (14-ounce) can light coconut milk
9. 1 1/2 teaspoons fish sauce
10. 1/4 teaspoon salt
11. 1/2 cup chopped unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts 
12. 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
13. 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges


Preparation


1. 1. Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add oil; swirl to coat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add curry paste, garlic, and ginger; sauté 45 seconds, stirring constantly.
2. 2. Add broth and next 5 ingredients (through salt); cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Place half of squash mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Pour into a large bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining squash mixture. Spoon about 1 cup soup into each of 4 bowls; top with 2 tablespoons peanuts and 1 tablespoon cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
Note:


Ivy Manning, Cooking Light 
MARCH 2013


Pasted from <http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/thai-butternut-soup-50400000126243/?xid=scancook-mar13-ck>