Dazzled Ciabatta Bread

• 1 loaf Ciabatta Bread


• 8oz Italian Blend Cheese, shredded


• 1 pint fresh Mushrooms, sliced


• 1 large Tomato, diced


• Pam or Butter Spray

Preheat oven at 325.

Slice bread and place on cookie sheet/pizza pan.

Sprinkle generous amount of cheese on bread.

Spray skillet with Pam & heat over medium heat.

Saute mushrooms & tomatoes.

Spoon on top of cheese.

Sprinkle a small amount of cheese on top.

Place in oven for 5 to 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Note: I'm not sure how I came up with this recipe, but thought about making it again adding sauted red bell peppers & spinach. Mmmmm.

Herb Baked Chicken

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs Chicken Parts or bone in Breast Halves
• 1/2 c fine dry Bread Crumbs
• 1/2 c Parmesan Cheese
• 2 tsp Parsley Flakes
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 dried leaf Oregano, crumbled (or 1/2 tsp Oregano)
• 1/2 tsp dried leaf Thyme, crumbled
• 1/4 tsp Pepper
• 1/4 c melted Butter
• 1 T cold Butter, cut in small pieces

Remove skin from chicken.

Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan, parsley flakes, salt, oregano, thyme, & pepper.

Dip chicken in melted butter then coat with crumb mixture.

Arrange chicken in a single layer, not touching, in a greased shallow baking dish.

Dot with butter.

Bake at 350 for about 1 hour, til chicken is tender.

{I got this recipe off the internet - from Diana Rattray at www.southernfood.about.com}

Cream of Chicken Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

• 1/4 c (1/2 stick) Margarine
• 1/4 c all-purpose Flour
• 1 can (12oz) Carnation Evaporated Milk
• 1 pkg (16oz) Frozen Mixed Vegetables (prepared according to pkg ingredients)
• 2 (abt. 8oz) boneless, skinless Chicken Breast halves, cooked & cubed
• 1 can (14.5oz) light & fat free Chicken Broth (I used the broth from the chicken I cooked)
• 1/4 tsp ground Black Pepper
• Salt to taste (this isn't on the original recipe)

Melt margarine in medium saucepan over medium heat.
Stir in flour.
Gradually stir in evaporated milk.
Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes just to a boil.
Add vegetables, chicken, chicken broth & black pepper.
Heat through.

{I got this recipe from the label of a can of Nestle Carnation Evaporated Milk}

Sweet-and-Sour Shrimp

Ingredients:

• 1 (8oz) can Pineapple Chunks in juice
• 1 tsp Cornstarch
• 3 T Chili Sauce
• 1 T low sodium Soy Sauce
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 T Brown Sugar (optional)
• Cooking Spray
• 2 tsp Sesame or Vegetable Oil
• 1 medium Green Pepper, coarsly chopped
• 1/2 medium Onion, sliced
• 3/4 lb peeled & deveined fresh Shrimp

Drain pineapples, Reserving juice; set aside pineapple chunks.

Combine juice, cornstarch, and next 4 ingredients; Set asided.

Coat a large nonstick skillet or Wok with cooking spray and add oil.

Place over med-high heat til hot.

Add green peppers & onion; Stir fry 2 to 3 minutes or til crisp-tender.

Add shrimp; Stir fry 2 to 3 minutes or til shrimp turns pink.

Stir cornstarch mixture & pineapple chunks into shrimp mixture.

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly til mixture is thickened & bubbly.

Serve over Rice.

{I got this recipe from a Diabetic Cookbook --Original recipe does not include Brown Sugar}

Baked Ziti Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 large Onion, chopped
• 2 lbs Ground Beef
• 2 jars Prego Sauce or Marinara Sauce
• 1 box Penne Pasta
• 3 c shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
• 16oz Ricotta Cheese
• 1/2 c Grated Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to 350.

Saute onins; then add meat & brown.

Add sauce to meat mixture & set aside.

Cook noodles; remove from heat & drain.

Stir 2 cups Mozarella cheese, Ricotta & Parmesan in noodles.

Cover bottom of deep Lasagna pan with half of sauce mixture.

Spoon noodle mixture on top of sauce.

Pour remainder of sauce on top of noodles.

Top with 1 cup of Mozzarella Cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes.

[Note: Sliced Mushrooms can be sauted with the onions as well as chopped Green Peppers.]

{I got this recipe from 2 different recipes off the internet & combined them -one was Baked Ziti Pasta & the other one was Now & Later Baked Ziti from Campbell's Kitchen - http://www.campbellkitchen.com/prego/}

Refried Beans

Ingredients:

• Pinto Beans (use 'good' beans)
• Ham Hocks or Bacon or Bacon Grease (best with Ham Hocks)
• Salt & Pepper
• 1/4 c Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper (optional) - sweetens beans

Soak beans overnight (24 hrs) in plenty of water.

Next day pour out all the water.

Add more water, Ham Hocks, cola, salt & pepper Cook for 1 1/2 hours.

Drain cooked beans.

Mash beans with potato masher.

Grandma's Bean & Cheese burritos:

Spread refried beans on flour tortilla's.

Add shredded cheddar cheese on top.

Spread on Grandma's homemade Hot Sauce. (Optional)

Roll up burritos, wrap in foil, place in oven & cook till hot all the way through.

(Approx. 15-20 min)

{I got this recipe from my Grandma}

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:

• 1/4 c Butter
• 1/3 c Flour
• 2 3/4 c Broth
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Pepper
• 3 1/2 c Chicken chopped (*whole Chicken)
• 1 10oz frozen mixed Vegetables
• 1/2 c Celery chopped
• 3 Eggs hard boiled (*Potatoes)

Pastry:

• 1 1/2 c Flour
• 1/2 c Plus 1 1/2 T Shortening (*Butter)
• 3/4 tsp Salt
• 4 to 5 T cold Water

Melt butter in a heavy sauce pan over low heat.

Add flour, stirring until smooth.

Cook 1 min., gradually add broth.

Cook over heat til bubbly.

Stir in salt & pepper.

Stir in chicken, vegetables, & eggs.

Spoon chicken into lightly greased 12x8x2 inch dish.

Roll out pastry to 1/8 inch thick; Lay on top of pie filling.

Bake 400 for 35-40 min.

*[I make this recipe all the time. I use a whole chicken & double the ingredients of the pie & crust. I use peeled chopped precooked potatoes in place of boiled eggs & butter for the crust, not shortening. ]

{I got this recipe from my Grandma}

Sloppy Joe

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Hamburger Meat
• 5 thick slices Bacon
• 1 medium yellow Onion
• 1 large can diced Tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/8 tsp Pepper
• 1 tsp Garlic, chopped
• 1 T Chili Powder

Brown Bacon & Onion.
Take out of Skillet.
Cook Hamburger Meat; Brown.
Add to can Tomatoes, Salt, Pepper, Garlic, Chili Powder, and Bacon & Onion.
Cook slow until thick.

[Note: I added my own amounts because this recipe had none.]

{This recipe came from my Great Aunt LaVene's handwritten recipe book}

Chicken & Rice Casserole

Ingredients:

• Chicken (whole)
• 2 cans Mushroom Soup
• Onion
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 c Rice
• 1 1/2 c Bread Crumbs

Boil chicken until done.
Reserve broth.
Cut chicken into small pieces.
Skim fat from broth.
Reserve Fat.
Cook rice in broth 15-20 min.
Stir in mushroom soup, onion, chicken, salt, pepper.
Pour mix in casserole dish & set aside.
Heat skimmed fat in pan.
Add Bread Crumbs & mix well.
Spread crumb mix over top of casserole.
Bake 350 for 1 hour

{This recipe came from my Great Aunt LaVene's handwritten recipe book}

Cabbage Roll

Ingredients:

• Cabbage
• 1 lb Raw Hamburger Meat
• 1 Egg
• 1 Onion chopped
• 1/2 c Rice
• 1 can Tomatoes (I used a can of Petite Diced Tomatoes)

Boil cabbage leafs until soft; Remove.
Mix raw hamburger, egg, chopped onion & rice.
Roll between hands in long roll.
Roll up in cabbage leaf.
Stick together with toothpicks.
Lay in deep pan.
Pour can tomatoes over rolls.
Cover & simmer for 1 1/2 hour.

[Note: I added Salt & Pepper to the stuffing mixture & simmered the rolls on the stove top for 2 hours. You can also simmer them in the oven at 325 degrees. Accidently I added 1 cup of rice instead of 1/2 cup. I seemed to taste good like that.]

{This recipe came from my Great Aunt LaVene's handwritten recipe book}

Veggie Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1 small pkg 10" Flour Tortillas or Pita Bread cut in halves
• 1 bag Spinach Leaves
• 1 small pkg fresh Mushrooms, sliced
• 1 jar Artichokes in water, drained
• 2-3 Roma Tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 Onion, chopped
• Garlic, minced
• Olive Oil
• Cooking Spray
• fresh Parsley, finely chopped
• 1- 8oz or 16oz pkg Italian Blend Shredded Cheese or Cheddar Cheese

Spread olive oil on 4 to 6 flour tortillas.
Spread garlic on tortillas.
Sprinkle cheese on top of garlic.
On medium heat, let frying pan sprayed with cooking get hot.
Saute chopped onion till caramelized.
Add large handful of spinach leaves & handful of mushrooms; Saute till spinach shrinks up & turns dark.
Add chopped artichoke & tomatoes & saute for 30 seconds to a minute; Remove from heat.
Spoon each tortilla with spinach mixture.
Sprinkle cheese on top; Desired amount.
Place on baking sheet.
Heat in oven at 365 degrees for 5 minutes for a soft crust or 10 minutes for a crispy crust.
When romoved from oven, sprinkle fresh Parsley on top of pizzas.
Serve immiediately.

[Note: Fettucini Sauce may taste good mixed in with vegetbles or spread on tortillas.]

{I made up this recipe by being inspired by Applebee's recipe for Spinach Pizza}

Stuffed Peppers (made on Stove Top)

Ingredients:

• 2 c Rice
• 1 lb Hamburger Meat
• 2 Green Peppers sliced
• 1 Onion chopped
• 2 cans V-8 Juice
• 1 large can Tomatoes
• 1/2 lb Cheddar Cheese (shredded)
• Salt & Pepper

Cook rice. (If 5 minute rice, use 2 pkgs out of box)
Boil peppers, but don't cook all the way. (They should not be limp)
Fry meat & onions together.
Cut up peppers into smaller pieces.
Combine cooked rice, meat, V-8, tomatoes & peppers.
Season with salt & pepper.
Place on low heat for a simmer.
Add cheese on top & cover.
When cheese is completely melt, dish is done.

(Note: I sometimes use 2 different types of cheese for a different flavor.)

{This recipe came from my best friends mother, Dian}

Chicken Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 whole Chicken
• 1 Red Pepper (chopped)
• 1 Yellow Pepper (chopped)
• 1 Orange Pepper (chopped)
• 1 Onion
• 1 stalk of Celery (sliced)
• 1 bunch Green Onions (sliced)
• 1 large can Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 1 lb Spaghetti Noodles
• 1 lb-2 lb Cheddar Cheese shredded
  

Cut onion into 4 wedges.
Boil with Chicken.
When chicken is cooked all the way through, discard onions.
Use broth to boil noodles in.
Remove from heat when cooked.
Reserve enough broth to fill 3/4's of empty mushroom soup can.
Debone & chop up meat when cooled.
Saute peppers & celery in large skillet sprayed with Pam.
Add cooked noodles with cream of mushroom soup & green onions.
Add chicken & about 3/4 can of broth. Place in casserole dish & add cheese on top.
Bake for 15 min. in 425 oven or until it starts to boil.
Makes 2 Casserole Dishes.

{I got this recipe from my roommates mother, Eva -she got it out of a magizine; I think it's a Campbells Soup recipe}

Carmine's Meatballs

Ingredients for Meatballs:

• 1 Pkg Ground Meat Mix (1/2 lb Pork, 3/4 lb Veal, & 1 lb Beef)
• 1 small Onion, minced
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 Egg Bread Crumbs (enough to hold together)
• 2 T Parsley
• 1/4 c good Parmesan Cheese (not powdered)

Ingredients for Gravy:

• 2 cans crushed Tomatoes
• 1 medium Onion
• 1 small Carrots, thinly sliced
• 1 stalk Celery
• 4 large cloves Garlic, chopped
• 1/2 c fresh Parsley (1/4 c dried Parsley)
• 1 tsp Basil dried
• I add Salt, Pepper & a little bit of Sugar to my sauce (optional)

Meatballs:
Mix all ingredients together & make meatballs.
Cook in sauce, fry, bake them.
Best cooked in sauce.

Gravy:
Saute onions, carrots, & Celery 'till soft.
Add garlic & parsley.
Cook for a few seconds & add tomatoes & raw meatballs.
Bring to boil then turn down for a simmer.
Let cook for 3 hours.
Add Basil just before finished cooking.

{This recipe was passed down from my Great-Great-Grandfather Carime Parave --His birth surname was originally Parapugno meaning 'Pair of Fist'; He legally changed it after moving to America from Italy}