#3619 - Parmesan Peas and Onions

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 medium onion (more if you wish)
1 tsp. minced garlic
2 TBSP butter
16oz. frozen peas
3 TBSP water
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Parmesan cheese

Peel and slice the onion, then cut the slices in half. Separate the sliced onions. In a skillet over medium heat add butter, onions and minced garlic--cook/stir until onions are tender. Add frozen peas and water--cook/stir until boiling. Once boiling, turn heat back to simmer, tilt a lid on the skillet and simmer 5-7 minutes or until peas are tender. Remove from heat--add salt and pepper--stir. Scoop the mixture into a serving bowl and sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top.

#3519 - Parmesan Creamed Corn

(by Shirley McNevich)

20oz. corn kernels (thawed and/or drained)
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp. salt
2 TBSP white sugar
1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
2 TBSP butter
1 cup whole milk
2 TBSP flour
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

In a bowl add the milk and flour--whisk to mix. In a skillet over medium heat add heavy cream, salt, white sugar, black pepper, butter and drained corn kernels--stir. Slowly add milk mixture while stirring--cook/stir over medium heat until mixture thickens. Remove from heat--add fresh grated Parmesan cheese. Serve right away.

#3481 - Deluxe Ritz Crackers

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 stick butter (melted)
1 box regular Ritz crackers
1 envelope Hidden Valley Ranch ranch dressing mix
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 TBSP red pepper flakes (optional)

Unwrap the crackers and place them in a brown bag. Drizzle the melted butter over the crackers and sprinkle the ranch dressing powder, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder and red pepper flakes over the crackers. Gently reach your hands into the bag and keep tossing them around with your hands until coated. Place the crackers on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 300 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

#3462 - Brussels Sprouts Soup

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 onion (chopped)
1 red potato (washed, peeled and cubed)
2 TBSP butter
1lb. fresh or frozen brussels sprouts (thawed and drained)
3 cups chicken broth
salt and pepper (to your taste)
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup heavy cream
chopped or flaked parsley (to your taste)
fresh grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
salad croutons

In a saucepan over medium heat add butter--melt. Add chopped onions--cook/stir until tender. Add chicken broth, brussels sprouts, salt, parsley and pepper--cook/stir until boiling. Once boiling, turn heat back to simmer and simmer for 15 minutes or until brussels sprouts are very tender. Remove from heat--scoop some of the mixture into a blender and beat until smooth. Repeat with remaining soup until all soup is smooth, then return soup to the saucepan. Put the saucepan back over medium heat. In a bowl add egg yolk and heavy cream--beat until mixed. While stirring, add the egg mixture to the hot soup mixture. Cook/stir until mixture thickens and is hot. When serving, top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese and croutons (if you wish).

#3448 - Yellow Squash and Onions

(by Shirley McNevich)

5 cups shaved yellow squash
1 tsp. olive oil
1 cup thin sliced red onions
1 minced garlic clove
salt and pepper to your taste
lemon juice (optional)
fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Wash and peel the yellow squash, then shave the yellow squash with a vegetable peeler until you have 5 cups. In a skillet over medium heat add the olive oil, shaved yellow squash, sliced red onions and minced garlic--cook/stir until onions are tender. Remove from heat--drizzle with a little bit of lemon juice (optional). Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle fresh grated Parmesan cheese over the top.

#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.

#3443 - Crushed Tomato Soup

(by Shirley McNevich)

30oz. chicken broth
1 - 28oz. can crushed tomatoes (regular OR Italian style)
1 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper (to your taste)
Italian style croutons
fresh grated Parmesan cheese

In a saucepan over medium heat add chicken broth and crushed tomatoes--cook/stir until it just starts to boil. Turn heat back to low and cook/stir for 2 minutes. Add the heavy cream--stir until well mixed. Add salt and pepper--stir. Taste--add more salt/pepper as necessary. Once you have the flavor right, carefully pour the whole mixture into a blender--set blender on puree and puree the soup until smooth. Pour soup into bowls, top with croutons and fresh grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

#3442 - Egg Noodle Soup

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 10.75oz. can Campbell's cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
1/8 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups bite sized cooked chicken pieces
4oz. wide egg noodles
1 TBSP chopped fresh parsley

Cook and drain the egg noodles according to bag directions but do NOT rinse. In a saucepan over medium heat add the cream of chicken soup, milk, fresh ground black pepper, grated Parmesan cheese, chicken pieces and drained egg noodles--cook/stir until hot. Remove from heat--add chopped parsley--stir to mix.

#3426 - Sour Cream Egg Noodle Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

12oz. raw egg noodles
2 - 10.75oz cans Campbell's cream of chicken soup
8oz. Breakstone's sour cream
3/4 cup whole milk
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
3-4 cups bite sized cooked chicken pieces
1 cup crushed Ritz crackers
1/4 cup butter (melted)
Parmesan cheese (optional)

Cook and drain egg noodles according to bag directions--DO NOT RINSE. In a bowl add both cans of soup, sour cream, whole milk, salt and pepper--stir well to mix. Add the bite sized cooked chicken pieces and drained egg noodles--stir carefully to coat. Pour the whole mixture into a greased 9 x 13 glass baking dish. In a separate bowl add crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter--stir. Spread the Ritz cracker mixture over the whole top of the casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until hot. Remove from oven and sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top before serving.

#3425 - Pepperoni Spaghetti Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. raw spaghetti
1lb. ground Italian sausage
pepperoni slices (cut into bite sized pieces)
26oz. pasta sauce
grated Parmesan cheese
1 - 8oz. bag Kraft Italian 3 Cheese Blend

Break the raw spaghetti in half, cook the spaghetti in salted water according to box directions, then drain but DO NOT RINSE.  Grease a 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Spread the drained spaghetti in the baking dish. In a skillet over medium heat add the ground Italian sausage--cook/stir until meat is browned. Spread the sausage evenly over the spaghetti. Pour the pasta sauce all over the top. Place a layer of pepperoni pieces all over the pasta sauce. Sprinkle the cheese blend all over the top. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the three cheese blend. If you wish, spread more pepperoni pieces over the top of the cheese. Rip off a large piece of foil and spray it with Pam. Place the foil (Pam side down) over the casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, remove the foil, return to oven and bake 15-20 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and browned. Optional: if you want the pepperoni to be crispy, you can cook it slightly in the skillet after you remove the Italian sausage.

#3419 - Parmesan Potatoes

(by Shirley McNevich)

8 medium red potatoes (washed and halved lengthwise--do NOT peel)
9 TBSP grated Parmesan cheese (more or less to your taste)
6 TBSP butter (melted)
salt
pepper

Pour the melted butter into a 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Add salt and pepper to your taste--stir carefully. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the melted butter. Place the potatoes (cut side down) carefully into the butter mixture in a single layer. Bake at 400 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.

#3418 - Ritzy Potatoes

(by Shirley McNevich)

2/3 cup chopped onions
2-3 tsp. canola oil
15oz. chicken broth
6oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened and cubed)
1 TBSP Dijon mustard
3-5 large baking potatoes (washed, peeled and sliced thin)
2 cups crushed Ritz crackers
grated Parmesan cheese
2 TBSP butter (melted)
1-2 tsp. fresh chopped parsley
salt and pepper (to your taste)

In a Dutch oven over medium heat add canola oil and chopped onions--cook/stir until onions are tender. Add chicken broth, cubed cream cheese, salt, pepper and Dijon mustard--cook/stir until melted and blended. Taste--add more salt and pepper if needed. Remove from heat--add sliced potatoes--stir to coat. Pour the mixture into a greased 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese all over the top (to your taste). Spread the crushed Ritz crackers all over the top. Drizzle the melted butter over the crushed Ritz crackers. Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Remove from oven and sprinkle chopped parsley evenly over the top. Let the mixture rest for a few minutes before serving.

#3412 - Parmesan Pretzels

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. broken sourdough pretzels OR pretzel nuggets
1/2 cup canola oil
2 TBSP grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for sprinkling if you wish)
2 tsp. dried dill
2 tsp. garlic powder

In a bowl add canola oil, Parmesan cheese, dried dill and garlic powder--stir well. Place the pretzel pieces in a large bowl and drizzle the canola oil mixture over the pretzels--stir well to coat. Spread the pretzels in a single layer on a jellyroll pan. Sprinkle more grated Parmesan cheese over the top of the pretzels if you wish. Bake at 225 degrees for 30 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes. Cool completely.

#3407 - Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 TBSP olive oil
1lb. boneless/skinless chicken breasts (more if you wish)
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (thawed--more if you wish)
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
12oz. chicken gravy
2 TBSP cornstarch
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 - 12oz. tube Pillsbury Grands biscuits
5-6 slices bacon
fresh grated Parmesan cheese
salt/pepper to your taste (for the chicken)

Fry the bacon, drain it on paper towels to soak up the grease, then crumble the bacon. Salt and pepper both sides of chicken breasts to your taste, then cut the chicken breasts into bite sized pieces. In a skillet over medium heat add the olive oil, chicken breasts and chopped onions--cook/stir until chicken is done. In a bowl add sour cream, gravy, cornstarch, 1/4 tsp. pepper and thawed mixed vegetables--stir to mix. Pour the gravy mixture into the skillet with the chicken--cook/stir until mixture is hot. Spread the whole mixture into a greased 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Open the biscuit can and place the raw biscuits in a single layer over the top of the chicken mixture. Generously sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese all over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until biscuits are done. Sprinkle crumbled bacon all over the top before serving.

#3371 - Lasagna Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 cup cottage cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 lb. ground Italian sausage
1 cup of your favorite pasta sauce

In a skillet over medium heat add ground Italian sausage--cook/stir until browned and broken into small pieces, then drain off the grease. In a bowl add 1 cup cottage cheese, 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese and the 4oz. softened cream cheese--stir until well mixed. Spread the cheese mixture on the bottom of a glass pie plate. In a separate bowl add the drained sausage, pasta sauce and Italian seasoning--stir to mix. Spread the sausage mixture over the cheese layer. Spread 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese all over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until bubbling hot. Serve hot with bread pieces or good quality crackers.

#3350 - Parmesan Turkey Meatballs

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. ground chicken2 egg whites
2 TBSP 4C Italian breadcrumbs
1 TBSP fresh grated Parmesan cheese
3 TBSP pasta sauce + extra for dipping
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Grease a 9 x 13 cake pan. In a bowl add ground chicken, egg whites, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, 3 TBSP pasta sauce, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder and shredded mozzarella cheese--mix with your hands. Shape the chicken mixture into walnut sized meatballs and place them in the greased cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until browned. While the meatballs are baking, heat some extra pasta sauce to use for dipping with the meatballs.

#3349 - Parmesan Baked Chicken

(by Shirley McNevich)

1/2 cup Egg Beaters1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup 4C Italian breadcrumbs
2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup butter (melted)
5lbs. chicken pieces

In a bowl add egg beaters and milk--whisk to mix. In a second bowl add Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, oregano, paprika and pepper--stir to mix. Grease two 9 x 13 cake pans to hold the chicken. Dip each chicken piece in the egg mixture, then coat in the spice mixture. Place the chicken piece in one of the pans. Repeat with all chicken pieces. Carefully drizzle the melted butter over the tops of all the chicken pieces. Bake at 375 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until chicken is done.

#3333 - Sweet and Sour Green Beans

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 - 15oz. can green beans (drained but save the liquid)
6 slices bacon (chopped before cooking)
1/2 to 1 cup chopped onions
1 TBSP flour
1/4 cup cider vinegar (more if necessary)
2 TBSP white sugar (more if necessary)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. pepper
fresh grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Drain the green beans and save 3/4 cup of the juice. In a skillet over medium heat add bacon pieces--cook/stir until browned. Add chopped onions--cook/stir with the bacon until onions are tender. Add flour--stir, then cook 2 minutes longer. Add cider vinegar and 3/4 cup of the green beans juice--stir. Add white sugar, salt and pepper--stir, then bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn heat back to low and add the drained green beans--cook/stir until green beans are hot. Taste--if too sour add a little more white sugar and stir again. If too sweet, add a little more cider vinegar and stir again. Place mixture in a serving bowl and top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese (optional).

#3332 - Seasoned Potato Skins

(by Shirley McNevich)

6 red potatoes OR other baking potatoes
2 TBSP butter (melted)
Lowry's seasoned salt (to your taste)
fresh grated Parmesan cheese (as much as you wish)
shredded cheddar cheese (as much as you wish)
6 bacon strips (cooked and crumbled)
1 pint Breakstone's sour cream
chopped chives for topping (optional)

Cut a slit into each potato and bake them until tender, then let them cool for 1 hour. Slice each potato in half and scoop out some of the potato flesh (you can save the flesh for something else or discard it). Brush the melted butter all over the insides and outsides of the potato skins (don't be stingy), sprinkle seasoning salt and grated Parmesan cheese on the insides of the potato skins and place them on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until hot and crispy. Remove from oven and generously put crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar cheese in each skin. Return to oven and bake a few minutes longer until cheese is melted. When ready to serve, place a spoonful of sour cream on top of each potato skin and sprinkle chopped chives over the sour cream.

#3285 - Italian Tortellini Soup

(by Shirley McNevich)

12oz. Italian sausage (removed from casings and crumbled--more if you wish)
1 chopped onion
6 cloves of garlic (minced)
2 - 15oz. cans chicken broth
1 3/4 cups water
1 - 15oz. can Italian style diced tomatoes
1 - 9oz. package fresh cheese tortellini (found in the refrigerated aisle)
6oz. fresh baby spinach (torn into bite sized pieces where necessary)
3/4 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
fresh shredded Parmesan cheese

In a Dutch oven add crumbled Italian sausage and chopped onions--cook/stir until meat is browned. Add minced garlic--cook/stir for another minute or two. Add chicken broth, water and diced tomatoes--cook/stir until boiling. Once boiling, add the tortellini a few pieces at a time--cook/stir for 8-10 minutes. Turn heat back to simmer--add baby spinach, dried basil and pepper--cook/stir for 3-4 minutes or until spinach is droopy. Serve in bowls and top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.