#3859 - Parmesan Garlic Chicken

(by Shirley McNevich)

4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1 TBSP butter
1 TBSP canola oil
3 garlic cloves (chopped)
1 TBSP flour
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
2oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)

In a bowl add oregano, basil, salt and pepper--stir to mix. Season both sides of each chicken breast with the oregano mixture. Cook or grill chicken breasts. While chicken breasts are cooking, in a saucepan over medium heat add the butter and canola oil--stir until melted. Add the chopped garlic--cook/stir for 2 minutes. Add the flour--whisk to mix. Add the heavy whipping cream and the chicken broth--cook/stir until thickened. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and the softened cream cheese--cook/stir until all cheese is melted. When chicken breasts are no longer pink inside, place chicken breasts on plates and drizzle the sauce over the chicken breasts.

#3698 - Cracker Barrel Macaroni and Cheese

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 - 8oz. blocks Cracker Barrel sharp yellow cheddar cheese
1 - 16oz. box raw elbow macaroni
3 TBSP butter
1 onion (chopped fine)
3 TBSP flour
1/2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
2 cups milk
4-6 slices buttered bread (torn into bite sized pieces)

Shred both blocks of cheese. Prepare macaroni in salted water according to box directions--drain but DO NOT RINSE. In a skillet over medium low heat add butter and chopped onions--cook/stir until onions are tender. Add the flour and black pepper (while stirring). Cook/stir for 1 more minute. Slowly add the milk (while stirring), then cook/stir until mixture starts to thicken. Add all of the shredded cheese--cook/stir until all cheese is melted and sauce is a nice, thick cheese sauce. In a large bowl add drained macaroni and cheese sauce--stir to coat. Pour the whole mixture into a greased 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Sprinkle all of the torn buttered bread all over the top. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until bread on top is brown and crispy. Cool slightly before serving.

#3445 - Tortellini Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 9oz. package cheese tortellini
10oz. fresh baby spinach
1/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese (more if you wish)
2 cups cherry tomatoes
1 small can sliced black olives (drained)
1 - 8oz. bottle robust Italian dressing
1 bag Italian style croutons
fresh ground black pepper (optional)

Prepare cheese tortellini according to package directions--drain but DO NOT rinse. Wash the baby spinach with cold water, then drain the spinach. Slice each cherry tomato in half. In a large bowl add drained cheese tortellini, drained baby spinach, drained olives, sliced cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and HALF of the Italian dressing--toss to coat. Add more dressing to suit your taste, then toss again. Top with Italian style croutons and fresh ground black pepper.

#3409 - One Skillet Breakfast

(by Shirley McNevich)

5 slices bacon
2 Yukon gold potatoes (washed, peeled and diced)
garlic salt
Lawry's seasoning salt
fresh ground black pepper
3 beaten eggs
shredded cheddar cheese

In a skillet over medium heat cook the bacon. Place cooked bacon on paper towels but leave the bacon grease in the skillet. Add the diced potatoes to the bacon grease--cook/stir until softened. Add garlic salt, Lawry's seasoning salt and fresh ground black pepper--stir. Crumble the bacon evenly over the potatoes, then pour the beaten eggs evenly over the top. Cook until eggs are done. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese all over the top. Place a lid on the skillet until cheese is melted.

#3361 - Double Cabbage Slaw

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp. fresh chopped dill
1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tsp. honey
2 TBSP cider vinegar
1 cup shredded green cabbage
1 cup shredded red cabbage
1/2 cup shredded carrots

In a bowl add pepper, salt, olive oil, poppy seeds, chopped dill, mustard, honey and cider vinegar--stir well. Taste--if too sweet add more cider vinegar and stir again. If too sour add a little white sugar and stir again. In a bowl add shredded green cabbage, shredded red cabbage and shredded carrots--toss to mix. Pour the vinegar mixture over the cabbage mixture--toss to coat. If you want the salad wetter, make the vinegar mixture a second time and pour it over the cabbage mixture--toss to coat.

#3341 - Cowboy Beans

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups raw (dry) red kidney beans
1 quart cold water
1 cup diced onions
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1/3 cup minced green bell peppers
1 - 8oz. can Hunt's tomato sauce
1/8 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
2 1/4 tsp. salt
2 TBSP chili powder

Wash the dry red kidney beans, then drain them and place them in a large bowl. Pour 1 quart cold water over the beans and let them soak overnight. The next day drain the beans but reserve 5 cups of the bean water (if you don't have quite 5 cups, add more water to make 5 cups). In a Dutch oven add the drained beans, 5 cups of the bean water, diced onions, minced garlic, tomato sauce, minced green bell peppers and black pepper--stir to mix. Cover the Dutch oven and cook over medium heat until boiling, then turn heat back to low and cook until beans are tender (2 to 2 1/2 hours). If beans get too dry add a little boiling water and stir again. When beans are tender, add the salt and chili powder--stir well. Taste--add more salt/pepper/chili powder to your taste. Optional: if you like sour beans, add apple cider vinegar to your taste and stir again.