Skillet Garlic Butter Shrimp and Sausage

 Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

12 ounces pork, chicken or turkey kielbasa, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds (see note)

1 tablespoon butter

3 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed through a garlic press (see note)

1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed

½ teaspoon sweet or smoked paprika

½ teaspoon dried oregano

Pinch salt and pepper

¼ cup chicken broth or stock

Fresh, chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions 

In a 12-inch nonstick or stainless skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat until rippling. Add the sausage in an even layer without overlapping pieces. Let the sausage brown lightly on one side. Flip and brown on the other side. Remove the sausage to a plate or dish.

Return the skillet to medium heat and add the butter. Once melted, add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for about 30 seconds (don't let the garlic burn or it can turn bitter).

Pat the shrimp dry and add to the skillet in an even layer. Season the shrimp with a light sprinkle of salt and pepper. Cook until the shrimp start to turn pink (they'll cook fast). Flip, and cook until fully pink. Leaving as much liquid as you can in the pan, scrape the shrimp onto the same plate/dish as the sausage.

Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the paprika, oregano, and a pinch of salt and pepper. If the skillet is really dry, drizzle in a bit of olive oil. Cook for 30 seconds or so, stirring constantly, until the spices smell fragrant.

Add the chicken broth, scraping up the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 30 seconds or so, stirring often.

Add the shrimp and sausage back to the skillet and toss with the spices. Heat through. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if needed.

Remove from heat and garnish with chopped, fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

Sausage: you’re looking for pre-cooked sausage links here (most brands will be already cooked). The variety can be a personal preference. Chicken apple sausage, classic Polish kielbasa, etc. Nutrition facts were calculated using chicken sausage.

Garlic: this recipe calls for fresh garlic, but it also works really well with the frozen cubes of fresh garlic (I buy them at Trader Joe’s but they are in a lot of grocery stores). Garlic powder may also work, although it may lend a slightly gritty texture coating the shrimp and sausage. 

Best Baked Salmon- Mel's Kitchen Cafe

 Ingredients

⅓ cup soy sauce

¼ cup packed light or dark brown sugar

¼ cup water

¼ cup avocado oil, olive oil, or grapeseed oil (see note)

1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar or white vinegar

3 cloves garlic, finely minced, or 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

Pinch red pepper flakes, optional

Lemon pepper seasoning

4 to 6 boneless salmon filets, 4 to 6 ounces each (skin on or off – see note)

Instructions 

In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, water, oil, vinegar, and garlic until well-combined and the sugar is dissolved. (See note below if you don't have time to marinate the salmon before proceeding to the next step.)

Pour the marinade into a shallow dish that can fit all the salmon filets in a single layer. Place the salmon filets skin side up in the marinade. If using skinless salmon, flip the salmon halfway through marinating time.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Line a half sheet pan with foil and lightly grease with cooking spray. Remove the salmon from the marinade and place it skin side down on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle each piece of salmon lightly with lemon pepper seasoning.

Bake the salmon for 10 to 15 minutes until an instant read thermometer inserted at the thickest part registers 125 degrees F (for medium-rare) to 140 degrees F (for medium-well). The exact time will depend on the thickness of the salmon – add cooking time as needed.

Let the salmon rest for 5 to 7 minutes (the internal temperature will climb a few more degrees). Serve warm.

Notes

Oil: The listed oils are my preferred oils. However, canola or vegetable oil can also be used in the recipe. 

Salmon: if using a large filet of salmon, either a) cut it into pieces of equal size before using in the recipe OR b) marinade the entire filet (in a dish that will accommodate the size), bake as one large filet (adding time as needed – may need 15 to 20 minutes in the oven), and cut into individual serving-size pieces after baking. 

Marinating Time: ideally, this salmon tastes best if it can marinate for at least 2 hours. However, if you are short on time or haven’t planned ahead, instead of marinating the salmon, place the salmon on a foil-lined, greased baking sheet. Spoon  marinade over each piece of salmon and sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning. Reserve the remaining marinade. Bake as directed. About 5 minutes before the salmon is finished baking, brush/spoon some of the reserved marinade over the salmon (then allow it to finish baking). 

Air Fryer Option: the salmon can be cooked in an air fryer instead of in the oven. Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F. Place the salmon filets in a single layer. Cook for 7 to 9 minutes (exact time will vary based on brand of air fryer and thickness of salmon). 

 

Rio Grande Quesadillas

Ingredients: 

2 cups shredded cooked chicken

3/4 cup water

1 envelope taco season (can adjust depending on your preference)

1 cup refried beans

6 flour tortillas

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Bring chicken, water, and taco seasoning to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in beans. Spoon 1/3 cup chicken mix over 1/2 of a tortilla; top with cilantro, onions, and cheese. Fold the tortilla over. Cook quesadillas over medium heat for 1-2 minutes per side. 

Chicken & Rice Soup

 Place the following in a large stock pot/dutch oven :

1.25 lbs chicken

4 carrots, diced

3 celery ribs, diced

1 cup diced onion

6 cups water

5 tsp. chicken bouillon 

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 box long grain & wild rice, remove  seasoning packet and set aside

Boil til chicken is cooked. Remove chicken and boil until rice is cooked and veggies are tender.  

Cream sauce ingredients:

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

2 cups milk

In a saucepan melt the butter and whisk in the flour. Cook for about 1 minute.  Gradually add in milk while whisking.  Once all the milk has been added, continue to whisk and cook until thickened.  Pour into soup.  Dice chicken and add to soup. Add in seasoning packet from the box of rice. 

Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Cheesecake filling:

 1 chocolate pie crust (I usually buy an Oreo crust)

1  8 oz package cream cheese, room temp (let sit on counter for 30 minutes to 1 hour)

1 can(14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

1 egg

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup fresh/frozen raspberries

Chocolate glaze:

2 oz semi sweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350. With mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy; gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth.  Add egg, lemon juice, and vanilla; mix well.  

Place raspberries on the bottom of the crust. Slowly pour cheesecake mixture over fruit.  Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until the center is set.  

Cool cheesecake completely.  Heat whipping cream on stovetop or microwave (don't let boil) and pour over chocolate chips. Whisk until combined. Pour over top of cheesecake and store in fridge.

Crock Pot Pork Chops

 Ingredients

6 thick-cut boneless pork chops

1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce

3 cans cream of mushroom soup

salt and pepper

vegetable oil

Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of pork chops. In a skillet over medium high heat sear both sides of pork chops and place in crock pot. Add cream of mushroom soup and Worcestershire sauce over pork chops. Cover crock pot with lid and cook for 6-8 hours.  Pork chops will be fork tender and are great served with rice or mashed potatoes. 

Meatball Sliders

12 Italian meatballs, frozen

1/2 jar spaghetti sauce

12 Hawaiian sweet rolls

1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

2 T. butter, melted

½ tsp. garlic salt

½ tsp. Italian seasoning

1. Heat oven to 375°. Place frozen meatballs on a microwave safe plate. Cook for 2 minutes. 

2. Place meatballs in a skillet with spaghetti sauce. Cook on medium high til meatballs are heated through and sauce is hot

3. While meatballs are simmering, cut the rolls in half, horizontally, leaving rolls attached to each other.

4. Place the bottom section of rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 pan. Place one meatball covered in sauce on each roll. Sprinkle the meatballs with cheese and place the top section of rolls over meatballs.

5. Combine melted, butter, garlic salt and Italian seasoning. Using a pastry brush, baste the top of the rolls with the melted butter and spices and sprinkle on more cheese. 

6. Cover the pan loosely with foil and bake for 8 minutes.

7. Remove foil and bake for another 4 minutes.

 

Korean Beef

 1 tablespoon oil

1 pound ground beef

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4-1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

salt and pepper to taste

optional frozen peas/broccoli; rice

minced green onions to garnish

Cook ground beef and drain fat.  Add sugar, soy sauce and ginger. Can add frozen peas or broccoli. Serve with rice.

Spicy Chicken Tacos

 

1 tablespoon oil

1 cup chopped onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 tablespoons pureed chipotle peppers in adobo

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon cumin

3/4 cup canned crushed fire roasted tomatoes

3/4 cup chicken stock

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken

tortillas

cilantro, diced red onion, cheese

1. Sautee onions in oil for about 4 minutes.  Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

2.  Stir in chipotle, oregano, and cumin. Cook for about 1 minute.

3.  Add tomatoes, stock and salt. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 7 minutes.

4. Transfer to blender/food processor and puree until smooth.  Return to pan over low heat.  Add chicken and cook for 5 minutes.  Serve with warm tortillas and cilantro, red onion and cheese to garnish.

Ginger Bread Cookies Recipe from the Scovil Bakery, Historic Nauvoo

 In a small bowl, whisk together:
2-1/4 tsp. cinnamon
 3/4 tsp. cloves
2-1/4 tsp. ginger
And set aside.

 In a large bow, cream together:
 3/4 cup oil
 2 eggs
 1 cup  molasses
 1-1/2 cups sugar
 Add 1/2 cup hot water.

 In a separate bowl, combine:
 6-1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

 Add spice mixture prepared above. Add this mixture to the wet ingredients. (Add more flour if the dough is too sticky.)
 Refrigerate overnight. Roll out dough on a floured surface. Use cookie cutter to cut out cookie shapes, place cookies on parchment paper and bake. Bake at 350 degrees for 7 to 8 minutes for soft cookies; 9 to 10 minutes for crisp cookies. Cookies freeze well and are softer and more flavorful after freezing.
 Note: spraying the mixing bowl with Pam before adding the ingredients prevents the dough from sticking to the bowl

Chocolate Chip Bar Cookies

From Mel's Kitchen Cafe

INGREDIENTS

•  12 tablespoons butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled slightly
•  1/2 teaspoon salt
•  1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•  1 cup (7 ounces) light brown sugar
•  1/2 (3 1/2 ounces) cup granulated sugar
•  1 large egg
•  1 large egg yolk
•  2 teaspoons vanilla extract
•  2 cups + 2 tablespoons (10 1/2 ounces) all purpose flour
•  2 cups chocolate chips or chocolate chunks (semisweet, bittersweet, milk, white, peanut butter…the options are endless!)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Adjust the oven rack to lower-middle position. Line a 9X13-inch baking pan with foil, letting the excess hang over the edges of the pan by about 1 inch so you can grab those edges and pull the brownies from the pan after they have baked. Spray the foil-lined pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, salt and baking soda together until well combined. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar and stir until evenly combined. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and mix well.
3. Add the flour. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon start folding the flour into the wet ingredients. After a few stirs (with streaks of flour remaining), add the chocolate chips or chocolate chunks and mix until combined. Don't overmix, just stir until no dry streaks remain (sometimes I use my hands as the dough gets thick).
4. Press the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
5. Bake until the bars are light golden brown on the edges, slightly firm to the touch, and edges start pulling away from sides of pan, 24-28 minutes. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature. Remove the bars from the pan by lifting the foil overhang and transfer them to a cutting board. Cut into squares and serve.

Guiltless Alfredo Sauce

I have switched to using this Alfredo sauce for chicken & broccoli Alfredo.

(taken from Our Best Bites)

2 C low-fat milk
1/3 C (3 oz) low fat cream cheese
2-3 T flour
1 t salt
1 T butter
3 garlic cloves
1 C grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

Place milk, cream cheese, flour, and salt in a blender and blend until smooth.  In a non-stick sauce pan, melt butter on med-high heat and add garlic. Let the garlic saute for about 30 seconds, you don’t want to burn it.

Then add milk mixture to the pan. Stir constantly for about 3 or 4 minutes or until it just comes to a simmer. Keep stirring and let it cook for a few minutes more. It should be much thicker now.

When it’s nice and thickened remove the pan from the heat. Add the cheese, stir it up and then cover immediately. Let stand for at least 10 minutes before using. It will continue to thicken upon standing. Season with additional salt if needed.  Also, if you have leftovers in the fridge, the sauce will thicken almost into a solid. Just re-heat and add a little milk and it will be back to normal again.

Lemon Bundt Cake

From Chef in Training

Ingredients

• 1 box lemon Cake Mix
• 1 small box INSTANT Vanilla pudding Mix (3.9 ounces)
• ½ cup Sour Cream
• ¾ cup Oil
• ¾ cup Water
• ½ cup Sugar
• 4 Eggs
• 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
• 3 Tablespoon lemon juice

FROSTING

• 8 ounce cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together for 3 minutes on high. Pour into a greased bundt pan.
3. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let sit in pan for 5 minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack.

WHILE CAKE IS COOLING MAKE FROSTING.

1. In a medium bowl combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice and beat on high until creamy.
2. Scoop frosting into a large ziplock bag and cut a hole in the corner of the bag, you can also use a piping bag with a large round tip as well.
3. When cake is cooled, pipe the frosting over the top of the cake. Garnish with more lemon zest if desired.

   

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Crispy Roasted Green Beans

 from Our Best Bites

1 pound green beans, washed and ends trimmed
1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (I love our garlic, lime, lemon, or chili oils)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

SPICY LIME MAYONNAISE:

1/4 cup light mayonnaise
2-3 teaspoons Sriracha sauce
Juice of 1/2 lime
kosher salt to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 and line with aluminum foil. In a medium bowl, toss the beans, oil, and spices until the beans are evenly coated. Spread evenly over the baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes or until crispy but not burned.

While the beans are cooking, whisk together the spicy mayonnaise ingredients (start with 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce and go from there–it gets spicy quickly!)

Serve the beans immediately with the spicy mayonnaise.

Makes 4-6 servings.

*** I used canola oil instead of olive oil and I did not make the mayonnaise.

Roasted Red Potatoes

Roasted Baby Potatoes from Six Sisters' Stuff

INGREDIENTS

• 3 pounds baby potatoes (I used baby red and miniature yukon gold)
• 3 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 Tablespoons parsley
• 1 teaspoon dill
• 1/2 teaspoon dried chives
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon dried onion
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Half or quarter (depending on their size) baby potatoes, then place in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle olive oil over potatoes and toss to coat.
3. In a small bowl, mix together parsley, dill, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, dried onion, paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour mixture over potatoes and toss again to coat.
4. Spread potatoes into one layer on a foil-lined baking sheet.
5. Roast for 45 minutes to an hour, turning twice, until golden brown and slightly crispy.

***I used regular red potatoes, not baby red potatoes

     I found dried chives in the bulk section of WinCo

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies from Pinch of Yum

This recipe has come up on Pinterest and Facebook so I decided to give it a try.  (Actually my daughter tried it) We really liked it! Here's the link to the website  Best Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

The following was taken directly from the website:

INGREDIENTS

• 8 tablespoons of salted butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar (I like to use raw cane sugar with a coarser texture)
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (more as needed – see video)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (but I always add a little extra)
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips (I use a combination of chocolate chips and chocolate chunks)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Microwave the butter for about 40 seconds to just barely melt it. It shouldn’t be hot – but it should be almost entirely in liquid form.
2. Using a stand mixer or electric beaters, beat the butter with the sugars until creamy. Add the vanilla and the egg; beat on low speed until just incorporated – 10-15 seconds or so (if you beat the egg for too long, the cookies will be stiff).
3. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until crumbles form. Use your hands to press the crumbles together into a dough. It should form one large ball that is easy to handle (right at the stage between “wet” dough and “dry” dough). Add the chocolate chips and incorporate with your hands.
4. Roll the dough into 12 large balls (or 9 for HUGELY awesome cookies) and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes until the cookies look puffy and dry and just barely golden.Warning, friends: DO NOT OVERBAKE. This advice is probably written on every cookie recipe everywhere, but this is essential for keeping the cookies soft. Take them out even if they look like they’re not done yet (see picture in the post). They’ll be pale and puffy.
5. Let them cool on the pan for a good 30 minutes or so. They will sink down and turn into these dense, buttery, soft cookies that are the best in all the land. These should stay soft for many days if kept in an airtight container. 

NOTES

The 3 most important things about this recipe are 1) melting the butter, 2) adding enough flour, and 3) not baking for too long.

If you find that the dough is wet and it REALLY sticks to your hands, you probably need a little more flour. This is important otherwise you’ll have flat cookies. I’ll usually add a few tablespoons at a time to get it to the right consistency. See video in post for reference. You should be able to roll the balls of dough between your hands without any issues.

One of the keys to achieving the perfect cookie is to ensure the correct amount of flour is used. Ideally, the flour should be weighed. In testing, we found that 6.75 ounces of flour was the correct amount. Without a food scale, don’t pack the flour into measuring cups and always level the flour off.

 

One Pan Sausage and Tortellini from Six Sisters' Stuff

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound ground sausage
• 3 cups spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 20 ounces fresh tortellini
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add in the sausage, crumbling it into small pieces. Cook until browned well. Drain off any excess grease.
2. Stir in spaghetti sauce, water, Italian seasoning, and tortellini. Bring mixture to a boil.
3. Then turn heat to low, cover and simmer for about 8 minutes until tortellini is tender.
4. Remove from heat and stir in mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. It will melt in with the warm tortellini pasta.
5. Optional - you can sprinkle additional cheese on top before serving.

** The first time I made this I didn't really like it, but I decided to try it again.  The second time I made it I used Italian sausage instead of plain sausage, and I used frozen cheese tortellini from WinCo because it was way cheaper than fresh tortellini.  I liked it a lot better the second time and the family ate all the leftovers.  

Buttermilk Waffles from America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook

Makes 6-8 waffles depending on the size of the waffle iron

2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 large eggs, separated
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 3/4 cups buttermilk*
pinch of cream of tartar

After heating the waffle iron whisk together flour, salt and baking soda in a large bowl. In a separate bowl whisk together the egg yolks, butter and then the buttermilk. Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar with an electric mixer on medium high speed til stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Make  a well in the center of the dry ingredients, pour the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients and whisk very gently just til incorporated.  A few lumps should remain.  Fold the whipped egg whites into the batter.

*If you don't have buttermilk you can add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice to the 1 3/4 c milk and let it sit for about 5 minutes.

The batter should be lumpy. If you overmix the batter you will have heavy dense waffles.

Sweet Pork Chimichangas from Six Sisters' Stuff

Ingredients

• 1 (2-3 pound) pork roast*
• 2 cups chunky salsa**
• 1 (12 ounce) can Dr. Pepper**
• 2 cups brown sugar**
• 8 flour tortillas
• 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• nonstick cooking spray

* I shop for pork labeled carnitas or  pork shoulder butt

(**I cut the sauce ingredients in half.  It's still plenty of sauce.)

Instructions

1. Place pork roast in slow cooker and fill halfway with water. Cook 4 hours on high.
2. Drain water, cut pork into thirds, mix salsa, Dr. Pepper and brown sugar together, pour on top of pork and cook for 4 more hours on low.
3. For chimichangas: Drain liquid and shred pork. Save some liquid and mix it back in with the pork to keep it moist.
   - For tacos, shred pork and stir with sauce, do not drain.
   
   If making chimichangas:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Evenly divide pork, refried beans and cheese between 8 tortillas.
3. Fold up each tortilla into a rectangular packet around the filling and place folded side down in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
4. Spray the tops of the chimichangas generously with nonstick cooking spray.
5. Place in preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes.
6. Remove from oven, turn over each chimichanga and return to the oven to cook for an additional 15 minutes.