RECIPES_________

Easy Party Punch
Serves 16-18

1 46 ounce can unsweetened pineapple juice
1 46 ounce can apple juice
2 1-liter bottles 7-up, chilled

Punch one hole in each can of juice with a can opener and freeze juices in the cans. Remove juice from freezer 1 hour in advance, or sit cans in a sink of warm water for 10-15 minutes. It should be slushy. Mix up in large punch bowl and serve.

Marinated Cheese Appetizers
Serves 6-8

8 ounces of firm cheese, like cheddar or Colby
1 tablespoon dried herb blend, such as Herbes de provinces, Italian, Greek
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 cloves garlic, finely minced (optional, but tasty)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped

Cut cheese into 3/4 inch cubes. Combine the remaining ingredients, preferably in a glass container.  Add the cheese cubes and toss to coat.  Cover tightly and refrigerate at least 4 hours to let the flavors blend.  Skewer 1-2 cubes on a toothpick. Place on serving platter and pour any remaining marinade over all.

Easy Chicken in a Roll
Serves 4, recipe doubles or triples easily

8 refrigerator crescent rolls, any brand
1/2 package seasoned cooked chicken strips, chopped
1 TB prepared pizza sauce

Separate the 8 crescent roll triangles. Mix the sauce and the chicken, and divide the mixture equally among the triangles. Pinch closed the triangles so that chicken is completely surrounded. Bake for 20 minutes at 375.
Place chicken rolls on a platter lined with shredded lettuce.  Serve with Herbed Yogurt Dip , Sweet Apple Chutney, Pan Fried Onion Dip or your favorite purchased sauce or dip
 

Broccoli Salad
Serves 6-8

2 Bunches Broccoli tops, chopped into 1/2" pieces
1 Pound Bacon, cooked, drained & diced
2 Cups Cheddar Cheese, shredded

DRESSING
1 Cup mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoon white wine vinegar

Microwave broccoli tops for about 1 minute or until slightly softened; cool (optional). Toss broccoli, bacon, and cheese. Chill. In separate bowl combine dressing ingredients. Chill. Just before serving, add dressing to broccoli mixture and toss to coat. Serve cold

Chillin' Chili
Serves 4-6

1 14.5 oz can Kidney beans
1/2 lb ground sirloin; the leaner the better
1 can Tomato cup
1 Tbl Chili powder
1 small Onion, chopped

Combine all of the ingredients into a large saucepan.  Bring to a boil. Turn down and simmer about 30 minutes.

Serve over rice with shredded cheese and sour cream or use as a base for a taco salad.  Try as a topping for hot dogs and burgers. 

Barbecue Beef Pie
Serves 6-8

1 lb lean ground beef or turkey
1/2 cup chopped onion
18 oz jar barbecue sauce
2 cups shredded cheddar or Jack cheese
2 cups baking mix, any brand
1 cup milk
2 eggs

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Cook ground beef and onion until beef is brown.  Stir in barbecue sauce. Spoon into ungreased 13x9x2" baking dish.  Sprinkle with cheese.

Stir together baking mix, milk and eggs until blended. Pour over beef mixture. Bake 25-27 minutes or until crust is light golden brown.

For a change of taste, use a similar amount of seasoned crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce in place of the barbecue sauce.  Add about 2 tsps of dried Italian herbs and salt and pepper to taste

Easy Savory Pork Chops
Serves 4

2 tbs olive oil
4 small pork chops
1 14.5 oz can chicken broth, low sodium
1 medium onion finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Put oil in frying pan and heat until hot. Brown the pork chops on both sides.  Add the chicken broth, onions, garlic. Simmer on low heat for about an hour, do not allow to boil

On a buffet menu, serve with purchased vegetable fried rice or mashed potatoes.  Serve one pork chop per person.  Increase other ingredients as follows; to serve 8, use 2 cans of broth, 2 onions and 4 garlic cloves; for 16 servings use 4 cans of broth, 4 small onions and 8 garlic cloves.

 

Easy Pasta with Tomatoes and Cheese
Serves 4

1 16oz box pasta, use angel hair, spaghetti or linguine
1 can seasoned diced tomatoes.  Heat briefly in the microwave in a glass bowl
1 cup diced Pepperoni
1 tbl softened butter
2 cup shredded cheese, use easy melting cheese such as Havarti, Fontina or American
Salt and Pepper to taste

Cook pasta and drain.  In a large bowl, mix the pasta with the tomatoes, butter and pepperoni.  Sprinkle with cheese and blend.


 

Easy Homemade Pizza

1 14.5 oz can Italian stewed tomatoes
1 large uncooked pizza shell
3 tbls olive oil
About 6-8 white mushrooms, sliced
1 tbl dried herbs, such as Italian blend
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese

Drain tomatoes well. Saute mushrooms in 1 tbl. olive oil and 1 tsp water in a hot skillet about 3 minutes until softened and water is evaporated.  Brush pizza crust with 1 tbl olive oil.  Arrange tomatoes and mushrooms on top. Sprinkle with dried herbs and cheese.  Drizzle pizza with last tbl. of olive oil.  Bake according to pizza crust package directions.

 

Fruit Pizza
Serves about 10

GLAZE
1 Cup Orange juice
3/4 Cup Water
1/4 Cup Lemon juice
3 Teaspoon Cornstarch
Dash of salt
1 Cup Sugar

SAUCE
8 Ounce Cream cheese
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 Cup Sugar

CRUST
1 Package Sugar cookie dough

FRUIT - You will about 3 cups of cut-up fruit.  After cutting fruit, place pieces on paper towels to drain completely.  Fresh is better then canned, try to avoid frozen fruit, too watery.  Best choices are: Peaches, Grapes, Bananas,Strawberries, Kiwi

Mix ingredients for glaze and cook over medium heat until it boils and thickens. Cool. Spread cookie dough on buttered pizza pan. Bake 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool. With an electric mixer blend ingredients for sauce and spread over cooled dough. Arrange fruit on top and pour glaze over. Refrigerate.  Bring to room temperature before serving.

 

Praline Ice Cream Sauce
Makes about 2 cups, serves 6

1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup half and half cream
2 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

OPTIONAL: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Toast the nuts for 5 minutes, then coarsely chop them.

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and cream. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture is smooth, about 5-6 minutes. Stir in butter, vanilla and pecans. Remove and cool completely.

To serve: briefly reheat in microwave or serve at room temperature. Spoon over your favorite ice cream. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Warm Pears and Sauce
Serves 4-6

2 cans pears in light or heavy syrup
1 tb Butter
1/2 cup butterscotch or caramel sauce

Drain pears and reserve the syrup.  Slice pears into quarters. Heat butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the pear syrup and simmer until the syrup has reduced slightly.  Add the sliced pears and butterscotch sauce.  Cook until just bubbly and slightly reduced, stirring occasionally. 

Serve with ice cream, whipped cream or whipped cream cheese and chopped nuts