Chicken Manicotti Casserole

I have been cooking chickens in few different ways for quite some times and I got tired of it and I wanted to try something new with the chicken. I thought of what I can do with the manicotti pasta so I decided to do some research on how they are being cooked.  I gathered few ingredients from several recipes and created my very own recipe from scratch. The first time I made it, I did it with raw chicken. The result was delicious! I was anxious about making it for the first time so I made it again with cooked chicken and the result stayed the same, delicous! However, I think that the cooked chicken is the best to prepare this dinner.

Recipe  Serves 4 people

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 lb chicken brast, cubed and cooked
1/4 c. onion, chopped
1/4 c. mozzarella cheese
8 uncooked manicotti
1/4 c. parmesan cheese
1 24 oz pasta sauce, mixed with little water
1/8 c. milk
1/4 tsp parsley flake
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp basil
1/4 tsp italian seasoning

Mix cream cheese, parsley, salt, pepper, oregano, italian seasoning, parmesan cheese, milk, garlic salt, and basil. Fold in cooked chicken cubes.  In a 9x13 baking dish, pour the pasta sauce mixture enough to cover the bottom. Stuff the mixture into the uncooked manicotti and place it on a dish.  When all 8 manicotti are stuffed, pour the remaining pasta sauce over the shells, covering them completely.  Cover with aluminum foil.  Bake at 350 degree for 1 hour or so until the shell is soft.  Then sprinkle on top of a casserole with mozzarella cheese and bake for additional 5 minutes or until cheese melts, uncovered.  Serves hot!

Taco Bake

I found this recipe online when I tried to think of something else to eat other than having a regular taco.  This recipe seemed very easy so I made it for the first time and found that I really LOVE it! It is so delicious!

Recipe        Serves 6 people

1 pkg (14 oz) macaroni and cheese deluxe dinner
1 lb ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
3/4 c. sour cream
1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 c. thick n chunky salsa

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare dinner as directed on package.  While the macaroni is cooking, brown meat and drain.  Add taco seasoning mix and water as directed on the package to the meat. Simmer  5 minutes. Stir sour cream into prepared macaroni cheese dinner.  Spoon half of the dinner mixture into 8x8 in square baking dish.  Top with layers of the meat mixture, 1 cup of cheese, and remaining dinner mixture.  Cover. Bake for 15 minutes.  Top with salsa and 1/2 cup  of cheese. Bake, uncovered, for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese melts. Serves hot.

The link to the website that I found is: http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/taco-bake-63779.aspx

Please enjoy this dinner. It is very delicious!

Sweet Potato Casserole

I loved this recipe when I first tasted it. I am not a big fan of eating sweet potato except for this! It is very delicious and very very sweet. I got this recipe from my mother.

Recipe         Serves 8 people

1./2 c. sugar
1/3 c. butter, melted
2 eggs, well beatened
1 tsp. vanilla
40 oz sweet potato can, mashed
1/2 c. milk

Topping
1 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. flour
1/3 c. butter, melted
1 c. mini marshmallow
1 c. pecan, chopped (optional)

Mix sugar, butter, eggs, milk, vanilla, and potato together.  Pour into a greased casserole dish.  For topping, mix brown sugar, flour and butter together. Spoon over casserole. Then sprinkle with marshmallow and then pecan.  Bake at 350 degree for 45 minutes.

(Picture will be uploaded later)

See how easy it is? It is also very delicious! It is very cheap to buy and make.  Most of the ingredients are what you already have in your kitchen. All you need is marshmallow and sweet potato (and pecan). It is perfect to bring this dish to a family gathering. I guarantee you that it will be gone.

Toffee Bars

I grew up watching my mom make it for Christmas holiday. It is very delicious! This recipe came from my grandmother. I hope you enjoy this dessert!

Recipe   Makes 2 dozens

1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. shortening
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 c. flour, sifted
1 c. uncooked oats
1 jar of marshmallow creme

Chocolate Frosting
1 square of unsweeted chocolate, finely cut
1. c. sugar
1/3 c. milk
1/4 c. shortening
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Blend brown sugar and sugar. Add shortening, vanilla, salt, and eggs to beat.  Add flour, pour oat over flour and mix well.  Pour batter into  a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cut into bars.  Frost the marshmallow cream over warm bars. When cooled, frost with chocolate.

To make chocolate frosting, in a saucepan, mix all ingredients listed above except for vanilla. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Let it boil for 1 minute then remove from heat. Beat until lukewarm.  Add vanilla and beat until thick enough to spread. If icing get too thick, add 1 Tbsp of milk.

When you are not eating them, please put them in the fridge to keep it firm and fresh. That is how you make toffee bars. Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

I grew up watching my mom make this cookie every year for Christmas holiday. This is a very delicious cookie and it is very quick and easy to make.

Recipe   Makes: about 3 dozens

1 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg, unbeatened
1 tsp. vanilla
1 bag of kiss candies

Mix together, flour, baking soda, and salt then set it aside. Cream together the shortening, peanutbutter, sugar, and brown sugar well. Add the egg and vanilla.  Blend in the flour mixture. Beat well. Shape the dough in ball, roll in sugar and place on greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes. Remove the sheet from oven and place kiss candy on top firmly pressed. Return cookies to oven for another 2 to 5 minutes or until golden brown.

Homemade Pizza Sauce

When I wanted to make pizza, I made them and then realized that I do not have any pizza sauce so I freaked out and then looked into my recipe box because I remembered writing the recipe for a pizza sauce from my mom's recipe box and found it. This is a lifesaver recipe for whenever I do not have a pizza sauce.  It does not require a lot of ingredient or have complicated instruction.

Recipe   Makes: 2 pizzas

1 8oz tomato sauce
1 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. ground pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic salt

Blend together to make pizza sauce.

If you want a thicker pizza sauce, add a little bit of tomato paste.

If I do not have a pizza sauce or the ingredients to make a pizza sauce, I use the pasta sauce as a pizza sauce and it is amazing and a bit sweeter. Keep in mind that you do have options on how to have pizza sauce and save money!

Homemade Pizza Dough

This is my mom's recipe and it has always been in the family.  I grew up watching my mom make the homemade pizza and it is so delicious to eat.  Here is a recipe on making a pizza dough.

Recipe     Makes 2 pizza (thin) or 1 pizza (thick)

1 pkg. active yeast
1 c. hot water
2 Tbsp. margarine
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. warm water
3 1/2 c. flour

Add the yeast to 1/4 cup of warm water to activate the yeast. Add the rest of the ingredients together and knead until smooth and does not stick to your hands.  Make sure you knead well for an optimized taste result.  Make your own toppings. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

See how easy it is!? It require very simple ingredients to make a pizza dough.  I personally like to use melted butter with garlic powder, garlic salt, and parsley flakes and brush them on the edge of the pizza dough for a better taste. I then make my own topping and then sprinkle some of garlic salt & powder and parsley flake on top of my toppings right before baking it. It brings out more Italian flavor in a pizza.  Enjoy!

Zuppa Tuscana Soup

When I first went to Olive Garden, my husband recommended that I try the Zuppa Tuscana soup because he thought it was delicious. I tried the soup and was ADDICTED to it! I was like "I got to have that recipe!" I went through a lot of research online trying to find the perfect soup that imitate just like Olive Garden's soup. I derived some ingredients from several recipes online for this soup and it turned out fantastic!

Recipe  serves: 8 people

1 lb. hot italian sausage (or use regular and use crushed pepper seasoning to adjust the spiciness)
3 med. to lg. potatoes, unpeeled & cubed
1 sm. onion, diced
32 oz chicken broth
1 1/4 c. half & half
3 strips of thick bacon, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced
3 c. kale, vein removed, sliced in ribbon
2 1/2 c. water

1. Brown sausage, chopped bacon, and onion in a skillet.  Drained and set aside. (Please DO NOT drain in your sink because it will contribute to clogging your plumbing system.)

2. Add cubed potatoes, chicken broth, garlic, and water in a large pot. Bring to a boil and then simmer until potatoes are tender.

3. Add the meat mixture, kale, and half & half  into the pot and let it simmer for about 15 minutes or until kale is tender.

The soup is served hot.

This soup is so delicious and very easy to make! It actually tastes quite identical to the Olive Garden's Zuppa Tuscana soup. However, this soup is a little bit chunky and I like it.  When you look at these ingredients, you find that it is a little bit expensive.  No worry there! You can replace the half & half with regular milk, kale with frozen/fresh spinach, and a can of minced garlic.  The result will still taste good and similar. I personally like to add crushed red pepper to the soup to make it a bit spicier if I cannot find the hot italian sausage type. Enjoy this recipe!!!

Kahula

BEWARE! NOT FOR PEOPLE LESS THAN 21!

I have always loved to drink white russian. It is one of my favorite drinks. This recipe is quite identical to the kahula brand.  I found this recipe from my mother who got it from her mother. It totally saved me some money making this.

Recipe.  Makes around 2 1/2 bottles.

2 c. Boiling water
1/4 c. Instant coffee
3 c. Sugar
3 1/2 tbsp. Pure vanilla
1 qt. Bottle of 100 proof vodka

Put sugar and coffee in a pan, add boiling water. Stir to dissolve, add vanilla and vodka. Pour in  emptied kahula bottles or any other large bottles. Put in a cool dark place such as refrigerator.