Meatballs

1 pound ground beef
1 cup Italian style bread crumbs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 cups pasta sauce

Mix all ingredients using your hands then shape into 15-16 balls. Place on cookie sheet and bake in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes. Place tomato sauce in a skillet and turn stove to low. Place meatballs in sauce and cover and simmer another 15-20 minutes.

Serve over spaghetti or on subs with provolone cheese.

Gnocchi with Sage-Butter

1 package potato gnocchi
1/4 cup butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh sage, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
grated Parmesan cheese to taste

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the gnocchi pasta, and cook until they float to the surface, 2 to 3 minutes; drain.
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, and cook until the garlic has softened and is beginning to turn golden brown. Stir in the sage, salt and pepper for a few seconds, then add the cooked gnocchi. Toss gently with 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. Garnish with remaining Parmesean cheese.

Chicken Carbonara

From Foodnetwork
I found this recipe when I had some extra roast chicken. I didn't have a lot of the ingredients so I made several substitutions and it was great! I am sure it would be even better with everything.

2 teaspoons olive oil
4 ounces thinly sliced pancetta, chopped (I used bacon)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 1/2 cups whipping cream (I used milk)
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
8 large egg yolks
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves (I used dry)
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves (I used dry)
Salt
1 pound spaghetti
4 cups coarsely shredded chicken (from 1 roasted chicken)
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted (Had to leave these out)
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel (All I had was lemon juice)

Directions

Heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium heat. Add the pancetta and
garlic and saute until it is brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Cool slightly.

In a large bowl, whisk together the cream, cheese, yolks, basil, and parsley to blend.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the spaghetti and cook until it is just tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Drain.

Add the chicken to the pan with the pancetta and stir to combine. Next, add the spaghetti and the cream mixture and toss over medium-low heat until the chicken is heated through and the sauce coats the spaghetti thickly, about 4 minutes (do not boil or you might end up scrambling the eggs). Season the pasta, to taste, with pepper and salt if needed (the pancetta will likely add all the salt you need). Transfer the pasta to a large wide serving bowl. Sprinkle the walnuts and lemon zest over, and serve.

Everything Salad

Recipe from Krystal.

1/2 cup slivered almonds
3 Tblsp. sugar
1/2 head green leaf lettuce
1/2 head romaine lettuce
1 avocado, chopped
1 diced apple
1/4 cup Craisins
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (Parmesan is good too)

Dressing ingredients:
2 Tblsp. white wine vinegar
2 Tblsp. sugar
1 Tblsp. parsley
1/4 cup light olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Blend all dressing ingredients, and place in refrigerator to chill for an hour (don't skip this step. It makes a difference).

In a small saucepan, stir almonds and sugar together over medium heat until sugar melts and nuts are toasted brown. Spread out on a greased cookie sheet to harden.

Toss lettuce, onions, and craisins together. Add mandarin oranges, apple, avocado, cheese, toasted nuts, and dressing right before serving.

I have never measured anything. I don't always have all the ingredients but as long as I have some of the sweet ingredients it makes a good salad.

Rigatoni with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Recipe from foodnetwork.com

1 pound rigatoni pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 shallots, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound assorted mushrooms, (such as cremini, shiitake and button), cleaned and sliced
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup vegetable stock
1 cup (8 ounces) mascarpone cheese, at room temperature (CONFESSION: I used cream cheese)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes.

While the pasta is cooking:

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms to the pan and season with salt and pepper (make sure you taste it to see if they are well seasoned. It will make a big difference). Cook until mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 to 7 minutes. Turn the heat to high. Add the wine and cook for 3 minutes until all the liquid evaporates. Add the stock and simmer until liquid is slightly reduced. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the mascarpone cheese. Stir until creamy. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water, and transfer to a serving bowl. Add the mushroom mixture and the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Toss well to coat pasta, adding the reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Garnish with the chopped chives. Serve immediately.

Layered Mexican Chicken Rice Bake

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium white onion, finely chopped

1 jalapeño pepper, finely diced

1 bell pepper (any color)

1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic

4 Cups cooked/steamed rice

1 Tablespoon ground cumin

Chili Powder to taste

2 12.5 oz cans chicken (for shredded chicken use 3 cups)

1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Salt

1 teaspoon dry Ranch Dressing Seasoning

1 Cup prepared Salsa

1 can great northern beans (or any bean of choice), drained

1/2 Cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place oil into a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and peppers for about 5 minutes or until softened; season with salt. Stir in garlic and cook for an additional minute. Stir in cooked rice, season with cumin and chili powder and reduce heat to low. Transfer mixed rice to a 9×13 inch baking dish.

2. Place chicken breast into a medium skillet over medium heat. Season with garlic salt, ranch seasoning and salsa; mix and reduce heat to low. Layer the beans, cilantro, chicken and top with cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Pan Bagnat

• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 baguette, approximately 16 to 18 inches long
• 12 ounces canned tuna packed in oil or water, drained and crumbled
• 1 small green pepper, sliced into rings
• 1 small red onion, sliced into rings (I omit)
• 2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
• 1 cup chopped kalamata olives
• 1 tomato, thinly sliced

Directions

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper. While continuing to whisk, gradually add the olive oil. Whisk until an emulsion forms. Set aside.

Slice the baguette horizontally into 2 pieces. Tear out some of the soft bread in the center of each side, making a slight well in the bread. Place the tuna, green pepper, red onion, hard-boiled eggs, olives, and tomato on the bottom side of the bread in that order. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the vegetables, top with the second piece of bread, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Let stand at room temperature for 2 hours before serving.

Cut into 4 sandwiches and serve.

Shoy-u Chicken

1/2 cup soy sauce
1 cup water
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. ginger powder
1 tsp. garlic salt
6-8 chicken parts (thighs & legs are best)

Spread chicken in 9 x 13 pan. Combine sauce and pour over chicken. Allow to marinate a few hours before baking. Cook at 450 for 30 minutes. Serve with rice using sauce as gravy.

Sweet and Savory Salad Wrap

Toss together the following and then wrap in a tortilla, pita, or flatbread wrap:

baby spinach
rotisserie chicken
crumbled bacon
feta cheese
craisins
poppyseed dressing

Tomato Pasta

Butter, for greasing dish
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
1/2 pound small pasta (macaroni)
1/3 cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried basil
4 teaspoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 to 5 very ripe, extra-large or beefsteak tomatoes, cut into 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick slices


Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish. Set aside.

In a food processor, blend together the crushed tomatoes and garlic. Pour into a medium bowl and add the uncooked pasta, 1/3 cup olive oil, oregano, basil, parsley salt, and pepper. Toss until all the ingredients are coated.

Line the bottom and sides of the baking dish with tomato slices. Pour the pasta mixture into the pan and spread evenly. Arrange the remaining tomato slices in an overlapping layer on top of the pasta mixture, making sure the mixture is completely covered. Drizzle with olive oil. Bake until the tomatoes are slightly crispy and the pasta is cooked, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes before serving.