Baked Cheese

This recipe is courtesy of Teresa Pugh, and let me tell you it is amazing! It is perfect to make and take to a Superbowl party. The best part? It's sooo easy to prepare!

Baked Cheese

1 c mayonnaise (I use Olive Oil based)

1 sm onion, finely chopped

6-8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled (I have used turkey bacon and the store-bought pre-cooked bacon; both were delicious)

1 c shredded cheddar

1 c shredded swiss

1 c shredded Monterey Jack

1 round of sourdough

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper--optional

Mix first 6 ingredients and chill overnight. Hollow out bread bowl, leaving shell intact. Cut removed bread into cubes. Spoon cheese mixture into shell and place on cookie sheet. Bake 25-30 mins at 350.

Note: I would also set out some crackers with the bread cubes. I have made this without the bread bowl as well!

Laurie's Chicken Corn Chowder

Ok, I know it's not Sunday, but I am trying a new soup recipe tonight per Barry's request to have soup for dinner. This recipe is from Ruth Pugh via the First Presbyterian Church of Asheboro's cookbook. Yum!!

Laurie's Chicken Corn Chowder

4 chicken breast halves

4 c water

1 lg onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 carrots, coarsely chopped

2 cans cream of chicken soup (I am using low fat)

2 cans whole kernel corn, drained

1/4 c parsley, dried

1 c milk (I am using skim)

8 slices American cheese (I am using slices made from 2% milk)

Cook the chicken breasts in the 4 cups water with onion, celery and carrots. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove chicken from broth. Let cool and shred into 1 inch pieces. Return to broth. Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer for at least an hour. Add salt to taste at this point--about 1 teaspoon.

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

My mom got me a subscription to Semi-Homemade Magazine by Sandra Lee (I LOVE her), and I modified a recipe from there to come up with this. Hope you enjoy!

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

2 T olive oil

1 8 oz container diced celery, onion and bell pepper

1 8 oz container sliced baby bellas or white button mushrooms

2 c fresh broccoli

1 15 oz jar Alfredo sauce (I used the light version)

1 6.2 oz box fast cooking long-grain and wild rice mix

2 c cooked chicken, chopped

1/2 t ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350. In a large skillet, cook diced vegetables in olive oil, stirring occasionally for 6 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add mushrooms and broccoli and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, fold in sauce, rice mix, seasoning packet, chicken and black pepper. Spoon into a 13x9 inch baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes. Serves 6.

Zucchini Pineapple Bread

We recently started getting bi-weekly organic produce deliveries, and we got several zucchini in our first box. I sauteed some of it with red onion, soy sauce and seasonings for dinner, and didn't want the other 2 to go to waste, so I found a creative and absolutely delicious solution. Branner LOVED the bread! It was a huge hit at our house!

Zucchini Pineapple Bread

Yield: 2 9x5 loaves

3 c all-purpose flour

2 t baking soda

1 t salt

1/4 t baking powder

1 1/2 t ground cinnamon

2 c white sugar

1 c vegetable oil (I use olive oil instead)

3 eggs

3/4 t vanilla extract

2 c shredded zucchini

1 8 oz can crushed pineapple

Preheat oven to 325. Grease loaf pans or line with parchment paper. Mix flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder and cinnamon in a bowl. Beat sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla extract together in a large mixing bowl (I used my mixer). Stir in zucchini and pineapple. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Divide batter evenly between 2 loaf pans. Bake for about 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each loaf comes out clean. Allow to cool before removing loaves from pans.

Macaroni and Cheese

My second favorite food (mashed potatoes wins first place)! All day, I have been craving macaroni and cheese. It just doesn't fit in my diet since I am trying to manage my weight. So, I don't buy it or eat it often. But tonight, I will be indulging. I can't wait! Macaroni and Cheese 3/4 c dry breadcrumbs 4 T butter (divided) 8 oz butter 1 T all-purpose flour 1 small onion, minced Salt and pepper to taste 1/4 t dry mustard 1 1/2 c milk 2 c shredded sharp cheddar Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 2 qt casserole dish. Mix bread crumbs and. 2 T melted butter in a small bowl and set aside. Cook macaroni according to directions, drain and put in the casserole dish. While the pasta is cooking, melt 2 T of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onion in the butter until translucent (about 5 minutes). Stir in the flour, pepper, salt and dry mustard. Pour in the milk and bring to a simmer. Stir constantly until the sauce has thickened (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in the cheddar cheese until melted. Pour the sauce over the macaroni. Add the breadcrumb mixture evenly to the top. Bake for 20 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.

Beef Stew

Continuing on the Souper Sunday trend, we are having beef stew tonight. I hope our dinner guests enjoy it!


Beef Stew

2 lbs cubed beef stew meat
3 T olive oil
4 cubes beef bouillon, crumbled
4 c water
1 t dried rosemary
1 t dried parsley
1/2 t black pepper
3 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
4 stalks of celery, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 large onion, chopped
2 t cornstarch
2 t cold water

Brown beef in the olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven. Dissolve the bouillon in 4 cups of water and pour into the pot. Stir in rosemary, parsley and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for 1 hour. Stir potatoes, carrots, celery and onion into the pot. Dissolve the cornstarch in 2 t of cold water and add. Cover and simmer for another hour.

Easy Meatloaf

This is another meatloaf recipe I love. It is so easy and is also a crowd pleaser. I love comfort food! Easy Meatloaf 1 1/2 lbs ground beef 1 8 oz can tomato sauce 1 c herb-seasoned stuffing 1 egg, slightly beaten 1 t salt 1/4 t pepper 1/4 c ketchup 2 T brown sugar Preheat oven to 350. Combine first six ingredients. Mix well. Shape into loaf. Mix ketchup and brown sugar and spoon over meatloaf. Bake for 35 minutes. Enjoy!