Creamy Chicken Artichoke Soup

2 Tbsp. butter

1 Tbsp. dried minced onion

2 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

3 Tbsp. flour

4 c. chicken broth

a 14 oz. bottle artichoke hearts

2 cans of chicken (or cook some)

Handful fresh spinach

1 c. heavy cream

8 oz. cream cheese

1 c. Parmesan cheese

Melt butter with onion and garlic over medium heat. Whisk in flour, salt and pepper. Add chicken broth, artichoke hearts, chicken and chopped fresh spinach. Heat till warmed through. Turn heat to low. Stir in cream. Add cream cheese and stir until melted. Stir in cheese and serve with more cheese if desired.

Rosemary loaves

 1 Tbsp. yeast

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 c. 113 degree water 

2 & 1/2 c. bread flour

1tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. dried rosemary

1 Tbsp. butter

Add water, sugar and yeast to food processor and wait 5 minutes. Add butter, salt, rosemary and 2 c. flour. Knead in food processor 3 minutes. Add 1/2 c. flour. Place in a greased bowl cover and let rise for 60 minutes. Divide dough in two and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Form into 2 balls. Sprinkle with rosemary if desired and let rise for 45 minutes.

Bake at 375* for 20 minutes. Brush with butter and salt.

We paired this with chicken artichoke soup and it was to die for!

Asian flavored Halibut

                          Marinade for Halibut:

                           2 Tbsp soy sauce

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp lime juice

2 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp sesame oil

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

2 Tbsp fresh cilantro

Sprinkling of lime pepper if desired

Rinse and pat dry 4 Halibut fillets. Combine all other ingredients. Brush mixture on both sides of fillets. Let rest in refrigerator for 1-2 hours. Bake at 375* for 13 minutes or until halibut flakes. I always broil my fish for the last few minutes. Yum!

Peach Crisp

 4 cups peaches

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup oats

Slice peaches into a 9x11 baking dish. Combine the rest of the ingredients with a pastry blender except the oats. Stir in the oats. Sprinkle the mixture onto the peaches. Bake at 350* for 30 minutes.

Serve warm with ice cream.

Glazed salmon or halibut

2 halibut fillets

2 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup bourbon

1/4 cup honey 

Wash and pat the fish dry. Salt both sides. Combine balsamic vinegar and bourbon together. Heat the honey in a small pan over medium heat and stir until the honey turns darker in color (5 minutes).

Add the balsamic mixture into the honey carefully.

Heat butter and oil in skillet over medium heat. Sear the fish 3 minutes on each side. Pour the glaze over the fish and enjoy!

 

Crusty halibut

1/3 cup bread crumbs 

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp dried basil

scant 1/4 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp. parsley

1/8 t salt

freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 Tbsp melted butter

Combine  all ingredients well. Rinse and pat 2 halibut fillets dry. Dip the halibut into the mixture pushing to make it stick. Place in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Bake at 375* 13-25 minutes depending on the thickness of your fillets.

Sink your teeth into this baby!

 

French bread

2 Tbsp yeast

1/2 cup sugar

5 cups flour

5 cups water

Combine let sit 10 minutes.

Add:

1 Tbsp salt

1 Tbsp vinegar

1/2 cup oil

Add about 5-6 cups additional flour.

Form into 4 loaves and place 2 per greased cookie sheet.

Let rise 25 minutes. Bake 350* 25 minutes.

Mmmmmmm

 

Meatballs

1 lb. beef

3/4 cup oats

1 cup milk

3 Tbsp minced onion

1 and 1/2 tsp salt

ground black pepper to taste

Combine beef and oats. Add milk, onion, salt and pepper. Roll into balls and refrigerate for half an hour.

6 Tbsp regular olive oil

1/2 cup flour

Dredge the meatballs in flour and brown in the heated oil (medium heat). Place in 9x13 baking dish.

1 cup ketchup (or 1/2 bbq sauce)

3 Tbsp vinegar

2 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp worchestershire

4 Tbsp minced onion

Combine sauce ingredients and pour over meatballs. Bake at 350* for 45 minutes. 

Yummy!

 

Cheesy Asparagus

 2 lbs. asparagus 

3 tsp minced garlic 

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tsp thyme

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Wash and trim asparagus and place in a baking dish. Sprinkle with the seasonings. Drizzle the cream over the asparagus. Top with cheeses. Toss gently if desired. Bake at 400* for 20 minutes. Place oven on Broil and bake for 1 additional minute if desired to brown the top.

My new favorite way to eat asparagus!

Samoa rice crispy treats

                                                 1/3 cup butter

5 cups mini marshmallows or 40 regular marshmallows

6 cups Rice Krispie Cereal

1/3 cup peanut butter

Melt the butter (I do this in the microwave but stovetop is fine too). Add the marshmallows and heat until melted (2-3 minutes in the microwave for the regular sized marshmallows). Stir in the peanut butter until melted. Add the rice Krispie cereal. Butter a 9x13 baking dish and press this mixture evenly into it.

11 oz. bag of caramels

2 Tbs. heavy whipping cream

1 1/2 cups toasted coconut

 milk chocolate and or butterscotch chips

Heat and stir the caramels (I used the Kraft caramel chips) and cream over medium heat until melted. Stir in the toasted coconut and spread evenly over the top of the crispy treats.

Melt chocolate or butterscotch. Cut up the treats and dip the bottom into the chocolate. Place the remaining chocolate in a baggie and cut a small hole in one corner. Drizzle the chocolate out and across the treats.

Prepare for a sinfully delicious treat! 

Spinach Stuffed Salmon

  2 salmon fillets

2 oz cream cheese at room temp

 2 oz fresh spinach chopped and wilted

1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

1-2 teaspoons minced garlic

Salt and pepper

Wash and season 2 salmon fillets with salt, pepper, lemon juice and olive oil. Slit a pocket without cutting all the way through each fillet.

 Mix spinach, cream cheese, Parmesan and garlic. Season with salt and pepper.

Fill the 'pockets' with the spinach dip.

Heat butter and some olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the salmon and fry about 7 minutes on each side till golden and done in the center.

YUM!

 

Stuffed Halibut

Rub:

1/4 tsp. rosemary

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. ground pepper

dash salt

dash cumin

1 Tbsp. dried chives

1 Tbsp dried parsley

Rinse and rub halibut fillets with olive oil and apply the rub.

Combine:

4 oz. softened cream cheese

5 chopped artichoke hearts

handful of spinach chopped

2 oz brie or Gouda cheese grated or a slice for each piece if you prefer

1 tsp. minced garlic

Cut a slit through the center of the halibut fillets so you can stuff them. Place the above ingredients inside the halibut (you can adjust the amounts to suit your tastes). Place sliced red onions and lemon slices on top of the fish and bake at 400* for 15 minutes or until fish is flaky.

Serve warm out of the oven! Yum!

Scrumptious Chicken

4 skinless/boneless chicken breasts, pounded evenly thin

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Marinade: 

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup ranch dressing

3 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Cheese and Panko Crust:

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

3/4 cup grated Provolone cheese

6 Tablespoons Ranch dressing

5 Tablespoons melted butter

1 cup Panko breadcrumbs

2 teaspoons garlic powder

Instructions:

Whisk marinade ingredients together.

Pour over the chicken in a gallon freezer bag. Let sit in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes up to overnight.

Heat 2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.

Sear the chicken on each side for about 4 minutes per side until it is golden brown (165 inside temp.) and set aside.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Combine Parmesan, Provolone and Ranch dressing in a small bowl.

Microwave 30 seconds. Stir and place back in microwave for 15 more seconds. Stir and spread evenly on the chicken breasts. Place in oven for 4 minutes.

Melt the butter and add the breadcrumbs and garlic powder to it. Top each breast with this mixture. 

Bake 2 additional minutes. 

Serve plain or with potatoes.

Fish Delish

3/4 c. shredded Parmesan cheese

1/3 c. butter, softened

1/4 c. mayonnaise

3 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 c chopped green onions

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 tsp. dill weed

2 dashes Tabasco sauce

2 lbs skinless halibut

Pre-heat oven broiler; Grease 9x13" baking pan.

Broil fish for 8 minutes until done. Remove from oven and spread Parmesan mixture over top.

Parmesan mixture: Combine Parmesan cheese, butter, mayo, lemon juice, green onion, salt, pepper, dill, and Tabasco in small bowl until well blended.

Broil 2 additional minutes.

Enjoy!

Blackened Halibut

2 tablespoons paprika

1 tablespoon dried thyme

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

4 (6 oz) halibut fillets, 1 to 1/12-inch thick

2 tablespoon butter

In a shallow dish, whisk together paprika, thyme, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt and cayenne pepper.

Dredge the halibut fillets in the seasoning mixture, pressing to help the coating adhere.

Heat a large nonstick skillet or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, for a few minutes.  

Add butter to the hot skillet, swirl to coat. Add the halibut fillets. Cook 4 minutes per side, until the fillets turn from translucent to white. Serve. 

Enjoyed it so much, we forgot to snap a photo...will make it again and try to not snarf it all up before a photo is snatched.

Shepherds Pie

Brown 1 lb. ground beef in skillet and take out fat/grease. Add about a cup of beef broth, 2 Tbsp tomato paste, 1/2 tsp. dried thyme and 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary. Simmer for a few minutes and add about 3/4 cup frozen peas and frozen corn or any other veggies you may like. Simmer till desired consistency and place in a baking pan (I used 9x13). Top with leftover mashed potatoes re hydrated with cream or whole milk if needed. Spread potatoes as evenly as you can and grate cheese over them. Bake at 350* for 25 minutes. Dig in! Healthy and Hearty! This is almost heaven on a plate! You could play around with the spices or use lamb in place of the beef. 

Homemade French Fries

All you need is Russet Potatoes (this is important...Golden, and Reds do not work...I speak from experience), Peanut Oil, and Sea Salt.

Peel potatoes and cut them with a fry cutter. Place them in a large bowl and cover with cold water (salted if you like) and soak them for a few hours. Drain them and blot them dry. Heat peanut oil to 300 degrees. Cook the fries for about 5 minutes and place them on paper towels. Turn up the oil to 400 degrees. Fry the fries again until golden brown and place on new paper towels. Sprinkle with salt.

As a general rule, I don't like fries, but these are so, so, so good! 

Homemade Focaccia Bread

Best Focaccia Bread!

1 1/3 cup warm water 

2 teaspoons sugar 

1 Tablespoon yeast

3 1/2 cups flour

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons flaked sea salt

1 Tablespoon mixed herbs

Stir warm water, yeast and sugar together. Allow mixture to sit for 5-10 minutes.

Add flour, olive oil and salt slowly. Continue mixing for 5 minutes.

Grease a bowl with olive oil spray, place the dough in the bowl and cover it.  Set in a warm location and let it rise for about 60 minutes, or until the dough has doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 400°. Place the dough on a floured surface and roll it into a large circle until that the dough is about 1/2-inch thick. Transfer the dough to a large pizza pan and cover the dough and allow it to rise for another 20 minutes. Use your finger or smaller object to poke deep dents all over the surface of the dough. Drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil evenly all over the top of the dough, and sprinkle with herbs of choice and flaked sea salt.

Bake for 20 minutes until the bread is slightly golden. Remove from the oven, and baste with a little more olive oil if desired.