Best Ever Chicken Noodle Soup

INGREDIENTS:

1 - 3.5 to 4 lb. chicken cut up with bone and skin
2 stalks celery, halved
1 large onion, quartered
1 carrot, scraped and halved
1 turnip, peeled and halved
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
4 cups water
3 cups chicken broth
4 ounces medium egg noodles, uncooked
1 large onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, sliced
2 carrots, scraped and sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon tarragon


DIRECTIONS:

• Combine first 11 ingredients in a large Dutch oven, and bring mixture to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat; cook 45  minutes or until chicken is tender.
• Remove chicken from broth, reserving broth; set chicken aside to cool slightly.
• Pour broth through a wire-mesh strainer into a large bowl; discard cooked vegetables. Remove and discard fat from broth; return broth to Dutch oven.
• Cook noodles according to package directions, omitting salt and far; drain and set aside.
• Skin and bone chicken; chop chicken meat, and set aside.
• Add chopped onion, sliced celery, and sliced carrot to chicken broth; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat; simmer 15 minutes.\
• Stir in chopped chicken and noodles; add 1/2 teaspoon salt and remaining ingredients. Cook until thoroughly heated. Yield 10 cups.

Source: Southern Living Cookbook 1995

Posted by Debi

Lentil Soup with Tarragon and Thyme

INGREDIENTS

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 large carrot, peeled and cut into fine dice
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pkg. chicken and apple sausage sliced
2 teaspoons dried tarragon
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon paprika
5 plum tomatoes, diced
6 cups chicken broth
2 cups lentils
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Pepper to taste
Fresh tarragon chopped for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat a large pot over medium heat and add oil. Saute' the onion and carrots for about 10 minutes, until onions have browned a bit. Add the garlic, tarragon, thyme, and paprika, and saute' for 2 more minutes. Add the tomatoes and sausage and a little splash of water if necessary, and stir to deglaze the pot. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.

2. Add the chicken broth, lentils, bay leaves, salt and pepper, then cover and bring to a boil. Once the soup is boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, covered for about 45 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. If the soup looks too thin, uncover and simmer for a couple more minutes. If it looks too thick, add a little water. Serve with fresh tarragon on top and hot, crusty bread.

Source of original recipe Chow.com, but I've adjusted the ingredients enough to call it my own.

Posted by Debi

No Fail Pie Crust

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 t. sugar
1 cup Crisco shortening
4 - 6 T. ice water

DIRECTIONS:

Sift dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Cut in shortening with dull edge of two knives.
Add water by tablespoons until it sticks together.

Roll out dough on floured surface. Place in pie plate and fill to bake, or prick with a fork and bake at 400 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes until crust is lightly browned.

Makes two 9" pie crusts - use for double pie or two single crust pies.

Photo credit: www.salvationsisters.com

Posted by Debi

Classic Cornbread

INGREDIENTS:

4 Tbsp. butter, melted and divided
3 Tbsp. warm bacon drippings, divided
2 slices of bacon browned and crumbled
1 1/2 c. stone-ground yellow cornmeal
1/2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp. table salt
1 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 1/4 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. milk

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 450. Place 1 Tbsp. melted butter and 1 Tbsp. bacon drippings in a 10-inch cast iron skillet; heat in oven 5 minutes

Meanwhile,mix together cornmeal and next 5 ingredients in a bowl. Whisk together egg and both milks; whisk into cornmeal mixture just until combined. Whisk in remaining 3 Tbsp. butter and 2 Tbsp. bacon drippings and bacon.

Pour into hot skillet.

Bake at 450 for 20 minutes or until golden brown and firm. Cool 5 minutes. Remove from pan, and serve.

Fried Collards with Apples and Bacon

INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs. Collard Greens, washed and cut in 1/4" thick slices, tough center stalk removed
1/4 c. hot vegetable oil
1/2 c. chicken stock
1 tsp. salt
4 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp. dried crushed red pepper flakes
2 small Fuji apples, cored and sliced thin like matchsticks
4 slices bacon, cooked but not crisp and cut into fourths

DIRECTIONS:

Stir-fry collards in oil in large dutch oven over medium-high heat stirring often until wilted.
Add chicken broth, salt, apple cider vinegar and pepper flakes.
Stir-fry 3 minutes or until greens are crisp tender.
Gently stir in bacon and apples and cook stirring often until tender, about 2 minutes.

Basic recipe from Southern Living, with tweaks by me. :-)

Posted by Debi

Stained Glass Gingerbread Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

3-1/4 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. all spice
1/2 t. cinnamon
3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
2 t. water
9 cinnamon hard candies, crushed in food processor

DIRECTIONS:

Combine all dry ingredients; set aside.
Mix together butter and sugar until creamy.
Gradually add molasses and water alternately with flour mixture.
Divide into 6 equal portions wrapping in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate overnight.

Roll out dough to 1/4" thickness on a floured surface.
Cut out using an cookie cutter about 3"- 4". I like to use apple-shaped.
Place on foil-lined cookie sheet or use Silpat baking pads for ease in removing the cookies.
With a smaller cookie cutter about 2" - 3" cut out the center of each cut-out and place on a regular cookie sheet - no need to line the center cookies.

Fill the center of the apples with crushed cinnamon candies being careful not to spill outside the outer edge.

Bake in a pre-heated 375 oven for 5-6 minutes until candies melt in center.

Allow cookies to cool before removing to wax paper.

Makes 3 - 4 dozen.

Posted by Debi

Photo Credit: kitchensimplicity.com

Pumpkin Dip

INGREDIENTS:

2-8 oz. packages of cream cheese, softened
1-30 oz. can pumpkin pie filling
1 t. ginger
2 t. cinnamon
4 cups powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:

Mix all ingredients together and serve in a hollowed out pumpkin. Great with ginger snaps or these gingerbread cookies.

Makes a lot, so you can use it all during the holidays.

Posted by Debi

Photo by Calee on Food.com

Big Mama's Cornbread Stuffing

INGREDIENTS:

Aunt Jemima self-rising buttermilk corn meal
Pepperidge Farms herbed stuffing mix, small
1 stick of butter
3 onions, chopped
6 celery stalks, chopped
3 eggs
32 oz. box of chicken broth + more as needed
16 oz. bulk pork sausage
1 T. Sage
Salt and Pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Make 9 x 9 pan of cornbread according to package directions. Let it cool completely, then break it up into crumbs in a large bowl. Add herbed stuffing mix, sage, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

In large skillet brown the sausage, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. In same skillet saute' onions and celery until tender. Add to cornbread mixture along with sausage and stir. Whisk eggs in separate bowl and add to cornbread mixture. Stir with your hands to thoroughly mix adding chicken broth a ladle at a time. The goal is to reach a consistency like thick oatmeal.

Pour into a 13 x 9 greased pan. Bake at 400 degrees for an hour to an hour and a half until browned and cooked through. If you make a day ahead, pour an additional cup of broth over the stuffing before baking.

Posted by Debi

Photo Credit: allfreecasserolerecipes.com

Simple Penne ala Vodka

I love this dish and order it whenever I find it on a menu. I've discovered a simple way to make it at home, and I must admit it rivals what I've ordered out. Try it for yourself and see if you don't agree!

Penne ala Vodka

INGREDIENTS:

1 32 oz. bottle Muir Glen Organic Cabernet Marina sauce (see photo)
1 32 oz. bottle Bertolli Alfredo Sauce (see photo)
1 15 oz. can organic diced tomatoes
3/4 cup Sky Vodka
1 pkg. penne pasta
2 slices bacon, cut in small pieces
1 Tbsp. olive oil (not EVOO)
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning

DIRECTIONS:

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside. Do not rinse.
Pour olive oil in large pan. Heat over medium heat. Add onions, bacon and garlic. Cook over medium heat until translucent. Add marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning and stir. Cook over medium low heat for 10 minutes. Add Alfredo sauce and vodka. Stir until thoroughly blended and continue cooking covered over medium low heat for 15 minutes. Stir as needed.

Add pasta to the pan and stir. Cover and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring often.

Serves 6 - 8

Posted by Debi

Baked Ziti

INGREDIENTS:

Cheese mixture:
2 lbs. Ricotta Cheese (lowfat)
3 eggs
1/4 cups Shredded Romano cheese (or Parmesan, if you prefer)
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/8 tsp. Pepper
Pinch of sugar
2 tsp. parsley

Meat mixture:
2 lbs. ground lean beef
1 large onion, chopped
Large jar of Ragu with extra chunky tomatoes, garlic and onions

2 lbs. Penne Pasta
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese



DIRECTIONS:
Parboil penne and drain.
Combine all ingredients for cheese mixture and set aside.
Brown beef. Drain extra fat. Add onions and stir until cooked through. Pour sauce over meat and stir.
In extra large bowl combine pasta and cheese mixture stirring just enough to combine evenly. Put half of pasta in greased lasagna pan (you can divide the pasta into two 13 x 9 pans too). Pour 1/2 of meat sauce over pasta. Sprinkle half of shredded mozzarella cheese over sauce. Repeat. Cover loosely with sprayed foil to prevent sticking. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Remove foil and continue cooking for 15 minutes or until nicely browned.

Allow to set for 15 minutes before serving. Yield: 16 servings

Posted by Debi