Lemon Pie Filling, from Barb

Try this for a lemon filling:
2 cans of sweetened condensed milk
4 egg yolks
1 cup lemon juice

mix well with electric beater and then back in graham cracker crust at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Parsley Salad, from Carolyn

Parsley Salad
1 medium cucumber
1 medium tomato
1/4 medium onion
1/4 cup chopped, fresh parsley
vinaigrette (we used Good Seasons Italian dressing, which is our standard salad dressing)
crumbled feta

Chop all veggies in small bite-size pieces, add parsley, and toss in vinaigrette. Add feta when served.

Pork n' Potato Dinner, suggested by Karli

INGREDIENTS

• 2 (1 inch thick) bone-in pork loin chops
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 1/2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice

DIRECTIONS

1. Coat pork chops with flour. In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown chops in oil on both sides. Combine 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese and pepper; sprinkle over chops. Arrange potato and onion slices over chops. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese.
2. Dissolve bouillon in boiling water; stir in lemon juice. Pour over chops. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese. Cover and simmer for 18-22 minutes or until meat juices run clear.

Basil-Peach Sangria, suggested by Amy

Basil Peach Sangria
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

* 3/4 cup white sugar
* 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
* 3 1/2 cups peach nectar
* 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
* 1 (750 milliliter) bottle white wine such as Pinot Grigio

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DIRECTIONS

1. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, basil leaves, half of the peach nectar and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer, crushing the basil leaves with the back of a spoon to release their flavor. Simmer just long enough to melt the sugar, then remove from the heat and allow to cool.
2. Strain the basil mixture into a pitcher filled with ice cubes. Pour in wine and remaining peach nectar. Stir briefly and serve.

*These were delicious!

Gorgonzola-Basil Burgers, suggested by Amy

Basil-Gorgonzola Burgers
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

* 1 pound ground sirloin, or extra lean beef
* 1 tablespoon minced garlic
* 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
* 1 (4 ounce) container crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
* 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
* salt and black pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat. Lightly oil grill grate, and place about 4 inches from heat source.
2. Mix the ground sirloin, garlic, onion powder, Gorgonzola cheese, and basil together in a large bowl until evenly blended. Divide mixture evenly to form four patties.
3. Cook patties on preheated grill until meat is evenly browned and center is no longer pink, about 5 minutes on each side.

*I would add more onion powder and kosher salt to the mix, but everyone loved these. I served them on toasted ciabatta (sp?) that I smothered with garlic-parsley butter. I had red onion, tomato, spinach leaves and avocado to go on top.

Quick Edamame and Orange Rice, suggested by Heather

Quick Edamame & Orange Rice
Cooking Light, APRIL 2005

Yield
4 servings (serving size: 1 3/4 cups)

Ingredients
* 3 cups uncooked quick-cooking brown rice
* 1 tablespoon canola oil
* 1 1/2 cups thin diagonally sliced celery
* 1 cup sliced green onions
* 1 cup (2 x 1/2-inch) julienne-cut red bell pepper
* 1 cup frozen shelled edamame (green soybeans), thawed
* 1/2 cup dry-roasted cashews
* 1/4 cup low-sodium teriyaki sauce
* 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
* 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 2 small oranges, peeled and sectioned

Preparation

Cook rice according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Set aside, and keep warm.

Heat canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add celery, onions, and bell pepper; sauté 1 minute. Stir in cooked rice, edamame, and remaining ingredients. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 476 (29% from fat)
Fat: 15.6g (sat 2.2g,mono 7.6g,poly 2.2g)
Protein: 14.7g
Carbohydrate: 75.9g
Fiber: 10.4g
Cholesterol: 0.0mg
Iron: 3.7mg
Sodium: 556mg
Calcium: 119mg

** I used the recipe more like some suggestions and will play around with it a lot when I make it again. I forgot to get green onions, so I used shallots, but green onions would be nicer. I eyeballed the amts for everything, but next time I want a crapton of the veggies and stuff with every bite of rice. I think I will always add garlic-chile sauce in future. I didn't include cashews. Oh, and the celery was completely useless. I would say it's a great base recipe that you can do a lot with to make it to your own tastes.

Faux Fried Chicken, and idea from Karli

I made faux fried chicken. I mixed flour, cornmeal, and spices (garlic, salt, onion powder, sage, paprika) together and used it to double bread some chicken breasts. I sprayed a glass baking pan with non stick cooking spray and also the tops of the chicken. Baked at 425° for 30 minutes and it was very crunchy.

Roasted Beets and Mango Salad, suggested by Heather

Roasted Beets and Mango Salad
Cooking Light, MARCH 1999

Yield

4 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups salad and 4 beet wedges)
Ingredients

* 2 large beets (about 3/4 pound), trimmed
* 1/4 cup orange juice, divided
* 2 tablespoons lime juice, divided
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
* 1 tablespoon honey mustard
* 2 teaspoons olive oil
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 6 cups gourmet salad greens
* 1 cup diced peeled ripe mango (about 1/2 pound)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425°.

Place the beets in a baking dish, and bake at 425° for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until tender. Cool beets. Combine 2 tablespoons orange juice, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Peel beets; cut each into 8 wedges. Toss beets with orange juice mixture.

Combine 2 tablespoons orange juice, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, mustard, oil, and salt. Combine the salad greens and diced mango. Drizzle with mustard mixture, and toss well to coat. Divide salad evenly among 4 plates, and top with beet wedges.
Nutritional Information

**I've made this one only once. To be honest, it was not my favorite way to use beets or mangoes, but that's not to say it was bad. It was good, but I had so many other recipes that I love for beets and mangoes individually, it could never compete.**

Grilled Hailbut with Fresh Mango Salsa, suggested by Heather

Grilled Halibut with Fresh Mango Salsa
Cooking Light, JULY 2003

Yield

4 servings (serving size: 1 fillet and 3/4 cup salsa)
Ingredients

* 2 cups plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
* 1 1/2 cups diced peeled ripe mango
* 1/2 cup diced onion
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
* 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
* 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
* 1 teaspoon sugar
* 1 teaspoon salt, divided
* 1 teaspoon black pepper, divided
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 4 (6-ounce) halibut fillets
* 1 tablespoon olive oil

Preparation

Prepare grill.

Combine first 7 ingredients. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and garlic.

Rub halibut with oil; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Place fish on grill rack; grill 3 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Serve with mango salsa.

**I haven't made this in a while. Looking at it now, I think I might get rid of the tomatoes and add a diced jalapeno. Yum.**

Avocado Mango Salsa, suggested by Heather

Avocado Mango Salsa
Cooking Light

Combine:
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 1/4 cups chopped peeled avocado
1 cup chopped peeled mango
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro
4 teaspoons fresh lime juice

CL says to serve this with baked pita wedges, but I think it would be really delicious in a quesadilla too.

Mango Chutney, from Carrie

Mango Chutney

In a small sauce pan I combine:

1/2 c firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 c water
1/4 apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 tsp fresh ginger (I use the jarred stuff)
6 cardamom pods, whole (you'll probably have to go buy these but a whole jar will last you a long time so it's a good investment)
1 cinnamon stick

Bring all to a boil, then add:

1 large ripe mango, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks

Simmer lightly until mango softens and becomes more clear... about 20 minutes. I like to gently mash the mango up with a fork as it simmers because it cooks better and I don't like large chunks.

Season with salt to taste and pick out the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods.

This will keep covered in the fridge for two weeks.

I like it especially served with a pork tenderloin that I've baked in the oven, but it's also good with chicken and white fish.... or served cold over vanilla ice cream or over cream cheese with crackers.

Carnitas, an idea from Carrie

Dinner tonight is carnitas. In the crockpot I have thrown: 1 16oz jar of Ortega salsa verde Salt, pepper, cumin, Garlic Garlic Cubed pork (that I browned first) Let simmer all day. Serve on tortillias with cheese and lettuce!

Thai Chicken Pizza, an idea from Stacy

Not really a recipe...I just sort of put it together.

TJ's whole wheat crust
hoisin sauce (go lightly, it's strong)
chicken (I cook it and cut it first)
shredded carrots
bean sprouts
green onions
mozzarella cheese

Crockpot Chicken and Veggie Curry, an idea from Carolyn

--- potatoes, baby carrots, and onion on the bottom
--- an overgrown chicken breast, cut into 5ish large chunks on top of that
--- Trader Joes curry simmer sauce (half a jar) over the top, and a big splash of soy milk on top, too
--- cooked on low for 6-1/2 hours (but timing is probably not critical)
--- then added frozen peas, turned up to high, cooked for another 30 minutes or so

Served atop steamed rice, cooked with the rice cooker that resides on the counter next to the crock pot.

Grandma Rose's Runzas, from Amy

If you've ever driven through Nebraska, you've probably seen the yellow and green signs for "Runza" restaurants all over the place, this is my grandmother's recipe, handed down from her mother, from her mother, etc. There are other recipes out there for these, but this one, is my favorite.

Filling
* 2 lbs ground beef
* 1 medium to large white onion
*1 medium head of green cabbage
*Salt and pepper

Directions
*In a large pot, brown the ground beef and then drain and rinse. Then return to pot.
*In a food processor (you don't need to, you can chop by hand, but this is soooo much faster) finely chop the cabbage and then the onion.
*Add both to the ground beef and stir so everything is all mixed up.
*Turn the heat under the pot onto low to medium-low and cover with a tight-fitting lid. You'll want to steam the filling until the cabbage and onion is cooked and soft.
*As it's cooking, add salt and pepper to taste. I like mine spicy, so I add a great deal of pepper. When it's done, set it to cool. I often will put it in a bowl in the refrigerator overnight and use it the next day.

Dough
*1 pkg yeast
*2 1/2 C warm water
*5 tbsp sugar
*1 tbsp salt
*6 tbsp melted shortening
*5-6 C flour
*Butter

Directions
*In 1/2 cup of warm water, dissolve the package of yeast
*Stir in the remaining 2 cups of water, sugar, salt and melted shortening
*Add approximately 5 cups of flour and stir to make a dough. Gradually add the remaining cup until the dough is no longer sticky.
*Roll out portions of the dough and cut into "squarish" pieces. These can be any size. The larger the piece, the larger the runza. (I know, not very specific...)
*Place 1-3 spoonfuls of the cooled filling (this is dependent on how large the dough pieces are) in the center of the square.
*Gather the edges together and pinch to close off the "dough packet". You'll end up with an oval "ball" of filling and dough. I usually bring 2 opposite corners together, and then the other 2 opposite corners together to seal.
*Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes until they start to turn golden brown.
*Brush the tops with melted butter, or just rub the stick of butter along the tops.
*When they've cooled a bit, enjoy!!

These can be frozen once they're cooked to save for later. I'll usually make a double batch so I can do this.

Spring Noode Stir-Fry w/Asparagus and Walnuts, suggested by Amy

From the "Rachael Ray Everyday" Magazine


1/4 C. dark sesame oil
2 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 1/2 tbsp finely chopped garlic
1 1/2 tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger (I used dried/ground--fresh would have been better)
1/2 pound vermicelli or capellini pasta
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
1 onion, coarsely chopped
1 pound asparagus, cut on an angle into 1-inch pieces
1/2 pound sugar snap peas, halved

*In a small bowl, whisk together: 3 tablespoons sesame oil, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and crushed red pepper.
*In a pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until al dente; drain.
*Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the walnuts and toast-2-3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, wipe out the skillet and heat the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil over high heat. Add the onion and asparagus and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the peas and sesame oil sauce; cook for 1 minute over high heat. Lower the heat to medium, add the pasta and cook, stirring, until heated through.
*Top with walnuts

I added some frozen shrimp for protein, but it would be good with chicken or tofu too.

Drunken Chili, an idea from Kris

This is the revised recipe...

- 1.25 lb extra lean ground turkey breast
- 8 cloves garlic (more or less depending on your taste), minced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1 large white onion or 2 small ones, diced
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- 2 serrano chilis, with seeds and ribs, finely diced
- 3 jalapeno peppers with seeds and ribs, finely diced
- 2 heaping TBPS ground cumin
- 1/4 cup chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons red chili flakes
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 large TBSP Better than Bouillon beef base (or 2 beef bouillon cubes)
- 2 cans dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 bottles dark beer (Guinness works well)
- 1 large can diced tomatoes
- 1 can tomato sauce (optional - makes it a little more tomato-y)

Sweat onions, garlic, peppers (spicy and mild ones) in olive oil for 5 minutes. Add ground turkey and brown over medium heat, mixing into the onion mixture. Add powdered spices when turkey is done. Mix well. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower heat and simmer chili for 1.5 - 2 hours, stirring occasionally. This allows the excess water to boil off, leaving more thick chili. Some like a chili soup, in that case add a little more beef bouillon (or more beer - who's keeping track?!)

This is what my chili recipe has pretty much become. Granted, I never measure anything so all measurements are guesses, not exact. It's mostly a cook by feel/taste thing... I like it spicy, if you don't, then omit and/or reduce the spicy ingredients...

Southwestern(ish) Orzo and Black Beans, an idea from Amy

Cook and then drain orzo pasta-return it back to the pot.

Drain 1 can of black beans, 1 can of corn, 1 can of mushrooms (I love those stinking things!)

In olive oil, saute some minced garlic, diced onion, and 2 diced tomatoes until the tomatoes are cooked, but not mushy.

Throw the beans, corn, 'shrooms, garlic, onions, and tomatoes in with the pasta and some butter, turn the heat on low so the butter melts. Add salt, cumin, and crushed red pepper to taste.
Squeeze some lime juice over it before you serve.
Next time, I'm making it with fresh cilantro.

Halushki, an idea from Stacy

It's something I grew up on, so I don't have a recipe. I usually make it with no meat. It's typically served with some kind of pork (pork chops, sausage, bacon).

Little butter, little olive oil, 1 onion and 1 small head cabbage. Saute.
Cook egg noodles separately and when they're done throw them in w/ the veggies.
Cook bacon and crumble in.

ETA: salt and pepper of course.

White Bean Chicken Chili, from Carrie

1 lbs ground chicken
2 cans of white beans (drained and rinsed)
1 container of chicken stock (I used a 32oz-er)
1 16oz jar of salsa verde
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp oregano
Garlic (I used Garlic Garlic form Tastefully Simple)
hot pepper flakes, salt, pepper to taste

Brown chicken, dump everything together, simmer until beans are soft. Serve.

Veggie Pasta, from Mel

1 head cauliflower, broken into bite sized pieces
2 medium zucchini, cubed
1 small-to-medium sweet onion, sliced or diced or whatever suits you
1 lb meat of choice: we like ground turkey or turkey Italian sausage or the like
thick pasta, such as linguine or fettuccine
roughly 1/2 cup parm. reg. grated or shaved
approx. 2-3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
salt, pepper, and garlic to taste
2-4 tbsp olive oil, butter, or margarine (fat, basically)

Lightly steam cauliflower in a large fry pan. Add some fat and the zucchini, onions, and seasonings to taste. Saute until nearly done, and then crank the heat. Let the cauliflower (and everything else) get ever so slightly golden brown. Sometimes this takes a while. Remove from heat and set aside in a bowl.

Start a pot of water for the pasta.

Add the meat of choice to the fry pan with a little more fat. Cook until done, breaking into bite sized pieces. It's good to leave it in kinda big chunks. (Nickel or quarter sized.) Boil pasta according to package directions.

Add veggies to the meat. Stir in pasta, parm, and basil. Eat.

Kick Azz Chicken Stir Fry, an idea from Kris

Lots of veggies - white onions, white and brown mushrooms, bean sprouts, cabbage, bok choy, water chestnuts and 3 jalapenos.

I had cut a couple of chicken breasts into thin strips and marinated them in sesame oil, soy sauce and oyster sauce. Cooked them with some onions and jalapenos. Then, removed from heat - cooked mushrooms with some onions and jalapenos, removed from heat.

Added the rest and cooked for about 3 or 4 minutes on high until the water had evaporated, returned the chicken and mushrooms to the pan, added remainder onions and jalapenos, threw some extra soy sauce, oyster sauce and a dash of schezuan sauce and served with white rice.

Soft Onion Breadsticks, suggested by Stephanie

I'm making these but as sub rolls instead of breadsticks.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Soft-Onion-Breadsticks/Detail.aspx

We have sweet italian sausage to put on them.

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F to 115 degrees F)
• 1/2 cup warm milk (110 to 115 degrees F)
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 eggs
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

DIRECTIONS

1. In a skillet, saute onion in oil until tender; cool. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, 1 egg, butter, sugar, salt, 1 egg and 1 cup flour. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in onion and enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
2. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
3. Punch dough down. Let stand for 10 minutes. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 32 pieces. Shape each piece into an 8-in. rope. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise for 15 minutes.
4. Beat cold water and remaining egg; brush over breadsticks. Sprinkle half with sesame seeds and half with poppy seeds. Bake at 350 degrees F for 16-22 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks.

Update: Well the bread was pretty awesome.I cooked the sausages this morning (on med-low, they take a long time) and then sauteed the onions in a little of the grease/olive oil from the sausages. The recipe has a typo and calls for 1 egg individually twice then an eggwash. I used one egg total and skipped the wash, bread flour instead of all purpose (needed an extra 1/2 cup) and only added the onions after kneading in the mixer. It took FOR. EVER. to rise because I wanted to leave it in the mixing bowl and the bowl was stuck on the mixer which is not as warm as, say, next to the oven or a heat vent. Plus my yeast was slightly old. Anyway, it still came out great. Yay.

Crockpot Invention with Turkey, an idea from Stacy

I invented in the crockpot last night. It was okay. Rick loved it.

Ground turkey
chopped onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can pumpkin
1 cup milk
1 cup water
garlic salt
ground mustard
sage

We had it over pasta.

Cola Chicken, suggested by Karli

I've seen the recipe on a few websites and everyone just raves over it so I thought I'd try it.

Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper and put in bottom of crockpot. Slice an onion and lay on top of chicken. Mix one cup cola (I used Diet Pepsi ) and one cup ketchup, pour over chicken.

Cheesy Turkey Pasta Bake, from Karli

1lb ground turkey
2 cups (cooked) whole wheat pasta
1 can diced tomatoes (I used the kind that are seasoned)
1 can mushrooms
1 can low fat cream of mushroom soup
1/4 of a log of 2% milk Velveeta

Brown turkey, I added some chopped onion and garlic salt. Mix all ingredients together (I melted the Velveeta first) and bake for 20 minutes at 350°.

Using the turkey, low fat soup and 2% Velveeta made it Weight Watchers friendly. It was only 6 points per serving.

White Bean, Chicken, Chili Soup, suggested by Amy

White Bean, Chicken, and Chili Soup, from Wonder Time February 2009

1 tbsp olive oil
2 onions, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp cumin
1 lg. pinch cayenne (optional)
1 lg. pinch allspice
2 (4 oz.) cans diced green chilies
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
--you can cook before you dice, or not--
4 cups chicken broth
3 (15 oz.) cans white beans
--2 drained, 1 with liquid--
1 (16 oz.) bag of frozen corn kernels
8 oz. monterey jack cheese
salt to taste

Heat oil in a soup pot over med-high heat and saute onions until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, spices, and chilies and saute for another minute. Add diced chicken and broth, and simmer until the chicken is opaque (if you used raw chicken), about 15 minutes. Add beans, corn, and 1/2 the cheese and simmer another 15 minutes. Taste for salt, and serve with remaining cheese on top.

*I'm using Great Northern Beans, canned corn, and I have no idea what kind of cheese I have in the fridge, so I'll just go with whatever.

Croque Monsieur Mac and Cheese, suggested by Rachael

Croque Monsieur Mac and Cheese
from Food Network Magazine

Ingredients
1/2 pound ziti
2 cups milk
2 cups coarsely grated gruyere cheese (about 6 ounces)
1 cup finely grated parmesan cheese (about 4 ounces)
2 large eggs
3 slices white sandwich bread, roughly diced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
1 medium onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Kosher salt
8 ounces thinly sliced deli-boiled ham (I am using diced ham instead)


Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook until al dente, about 6 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl; toss with 1/4 cup milk.

Meanwhile, combine both cheeses in a bowl. Beat 1/4 cup milk and the eggs in another bowl; fold in the bread and add half of the cheese.

Melt the butter in a saucepan over high heat. Add the onion and garlic; cook, stirring, until just brown, 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour, cayenne, nutmeg and 1 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring, about 2 minutes. Slowly add 3/4 cup water and the remaining 1 1/2 cups milk; bring to a boil, stirring until thickened. Remove from the heat and whisk to cool slightly. Whisk in the remaining cheese, then add the pasta and toss.

Butter a shallow casserole dish. Add half of the pasta, top with some of the ham and cover with the remaining pasta. Top with the remaining ham, then cover with the bread mixture. Bake until golden and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Let rest a few minutes before serving.

Chili-Lime Chicken Breasts, an idea from Karli

I threw some chicken breasts in the crockpot, seasoned them with chili powder and garlic salt, and poured some lime juice over it.

Pork Loin with Honey Mustard Sauce, an idea from Karli

I mixed a 1/4 cup of honey and a 1/4 cup of dijon mustard and poured it over the pork in a baking dish. Baked at 400° for about 30 minutes.

Firehouse Favorite Casserole, suggested by Amy

I got this from the Grandma's Frozen Noodles website and package. I made some modifications which are at the bottom. I don't know if you can get these all over the country, but if you can (and you aren't allergic to eggs and stuff) get them. They are fab.

This recipe was submitted by Ron Moeder many years ago who was President of the Denver Fire Fighters Union Local 858 at that time. We have divided the recipe in two as this makes a really large casserole. If you use the Firehouse size, it does freeze well.

Family Size		Firehouse Size
½	lb hamburger	1
1	lb Italian sausage	2
1	cup diced green peppers	2
1	cup diced celery	2
1 medium	onion, diced	l large
4 oz	sliced mushrooms	8 oz
1	16 oz pkg GRANDMA’S WideEgg Noodles, prepared and drained	2
1	28 oz can tomatoes	2
8 oz	can tomato soup	1
½	grated Longhorn cheese	1 lb

Crumble and brown hamburger and sausage in large pan, drain fat. Sautee green pepper, celery, onion and mushrooms until tender. Combine all ingredients except cheese in one or two large casserole dishes. Cover and bake in 350 degree oven for 35-45 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and bake another 10 minutes until cheese melts.

*I usually don't made this with the sausage, just the ground beef. I also used Spicy V8 instead of tomato soup. The recipe doesn't call for any seasoning, so I usually throw in some salt, pepper, garlic powder and thyme to taste. I'll probably use real garlic next time and saute it with the veggies.

Herb Roasted Chicken with Melted Tomatoes, suggested by Rachael

from the Food Network magazine.

Ingredients
1/2 medium red onion, roughly chopped
1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh tarragon
1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh dill
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup plain yogurt
1 6- to 7-pound roasting chicken
2 pounds plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise

Directions
Preheat the oven to 450. Pulse the onion, parsley, cilantro, tarragon, 2 tablespoons dill, the walnuts and garlic in a food processor. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil, the vinegar, 2 teaspoons salt, and pepper to taste; pulse until smooth.

Stir half of the herb paste with the yogurt in a small bowl; cover and refrigerate.

Season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. Loosen the skin with your fingers; rub some of the remaining herb paste under the skin and the rest on the outside of the bird. Truss the chicken. Place in a roasting pan; roast until the skin turns golden, about 30 minutes.

Reduce the oven temperature to 375. Toss the tomatoes with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Baste the chicken with the drippings and add the tomatoes, cut-side down, to the pan. Continue roasting until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh registers 155, about 1 hour. Season with salt and pepper; let the chicken rest 10 minutes before carving.

Arrange the chicken and tomatoes on a platter; sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons dill. Serve with the yogurt sauce.

I am going to use some of the yogurt sauce as a marinade.

Spicy Turkey Meat Mix for Mexican Food, from Kris

- 1 TBSP olive oil
- 1 package ground turkey breast
- 1 onion chopped finely
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 TBSP worchestershire sauce
- 1 TBSP chili powder
- 3 large or 4 small chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped well (add less for less spicy, more for more spicy - I like spicy!)

In skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and saute until onions are soft. Add garlic and saute for 1 or 2 more minutes. Add ground turkey and increase heat a little. When turkey is halfway browned (or so), add chili powder and worchestershire sauce. Finish browning turkey until done. Add chipotle peppers and stir to combine.

This meat will make yummy filling for tacos, taco salads, topping nachos, fill burritos - it's good and has lots of flavor and spice!

"Better than Frozen" Garlic Bread, from Kris

Slice open a loaf of French bread lengthwise - apply butter. Bake then when still hot, rub with fresh garlic cloves. It's just as easy as the frozen and sooooo much better!

Crockpost Experiment Chicken, an idea from Carolyn

Okay, so the crockpot experiment was edible, tasty even, and will be further experimented with before I codify the recipe. But I'll tell you briefly what I did:

-sliced a chicken breast, put at bottom of crockpot with seasoned salt on top
-added a small chunk of butter and a splash of sherry
-poured a cup or two of stuffing mix (the seasoned bread crumbs)
-put more butter and sherry on top, then some water (1/3 cup?... I just eyeballed it)
-cooked on low for, hmmm, 7 or 8 hours

Next time around I plan to actually mix the stuffing mix with melted butter, sherry, diced onion, and maybe some parsley or something, put that on top of the chicken, and then add the water.

Peppercorn Chicken, suggested by Rachael

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/peppe....cipe/index.html

• 3 tablespoons dijon mustard
• 3 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 13/4 pounds)
• 2 to 3 teaspoons coarsely ground mixed peppercorns
• 3/4 teaspoon finely minced fresh rosemary
• Kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 shallots, thinly sliced
• 1 cup brandy or red wine
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 pound spinach
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350. Brush 1 tablespoon mustard all over the chicken. Sprinkle with the peppercorns, rosemary and salt to taste, patting gently so the seasonings stick.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; add 2 tablespoons oil. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown, about 6 minutes, turning once. Transfer to a baking dish (set aside the skillet for the sauce); bake the chicken until cooked through, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, add the shallots to the skillet; cook over medium-high heat until just soft. Remove the pan from the heat, add the brandy, then return the pan to the heat and scrape up any browned bits. Add the broth, bring to a boil and cook until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons mustard and the parsley.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the garlic; cook about 30 seconds. Add the spinach, season with salt and cook until wilted; add the lemon zest. Slice the chicken and drizzle with the shallot sauce. Serve with the spinach.

I'm not making the spinach with it, and I'm using leg quarters instead of breasts because that's what I have on hand. I think we'll have yellow carrots with it.

London Broil with Herb Butter, suggested by Rachael

From the Food Network magazine.

Ingredients
FOR THE STEAK
1 beef bouillon cube
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 top round London broil steak (about 2 pounds)
FOR THE HERB BUTTER
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
11/2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chervil or tarragon
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Directions
Prepare the steak: Dissolve the bouillon cube in 3/4 cup hot water in a bowl; set aside to cool. Whisk in 2 tablespoons olive oil, the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Place the steak in a large resealable plastic bag, pour in the marinade and seal, squeezing out the air. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 1 day.

Prepare the herb butter: Mix the butter with the chives, parsley, chervil, a pinch of salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and the lemon juice in a bowl.

About 30 minutes before cooking, remove the meat from the bag (discard the marinade), dry it well and bring to room temperature. Heat a large heavy skillet over high heat, about 2 minutes. Rub the steak with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon salt over the surface of the pan; add the meat and set a heavy skillet on top to weigh it down. Sear for about 7 minutes; turn the steak, replace the weight and cook until a thermometer inserted into the side reads 110 for medium-rare, about 5 minutes.

Transfer the steak to a cutting board; brush with some of the herb butter, tent with foil and let rest for about 10 minutes. Thinly slice against the grain; top with more herb butter and drizzle with the pan juices.

Hawaiian Spareribs, suggested by Karli

---

I made this recipe from allrecipes.com but used pork loin instead of spare ribs.

INGREDIENTS

* 1/4 cup vinegar
* 1/2 cup ketchup
* 1 tablespoon soy sauce
* 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
* 3 tablespoons brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons cornstarch
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated (optional)
* 3 pounds pork spareribs, cut into serving size pieces

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, and pineapple. Stir in brown sugar, cornstarch, salt, and ginger. Cook, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
3. Arrange a layer of spareribs in a roasting pan. Pour half of the sauce over the top. Arrange another layer of spareribs, and top with remaining sauce. Cover pan tightly with foil.
4. Bake in a preheated oven until done, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Naan Pizzas, from Kris

I had some frozen Trader Joes Naan bread, spaghetti sauce, cheese and deli meat. So, I made individual pizzas-they turned out to be really really yummy and each piece of naan bread is a perfect serving (big serving, actually!). And, all 4 fit into the oven at the same time. Totally easy and everyone gets to pick their own toppings. And since each pizza is cooked at the same time, everyone gets to eat together too! So, here's the recipe:

Naan Pizzas:

- 1 package (4 pieces) frozen Trader Joe's Naan Bread
- shredded cheese
- 1 jar pizza sauce (I used spaghetti sauce and it was good)
- toppings of choice - ideas are: canned mushrooms, sliced olives, artichokes, finely diced onion, peppers, chopped deli meat - turkey/ham, pepperoni, pineapple.

Put Naan bread into oven frozen and cook for about 4 minutes. Take out of oven, top with sauce, toppings and cheese. Put back into oven and bake for 3 minutes, then broil for 1 minute until cheese is bubbly.

Sarah's Chicken Casserole, from Rachael

2 cups cooked chicken (diced, shredded, whatever you prefer) (using leftover rotisserie)
1 cup rice (I got boil in bag brown rice, the lazy person's rice )
1 can cream of mushroom soup (got the kind with garlic, garlic improves everything)
1 can cream of chicken soup (got the kind with herbs, just sounded tastier)
some lemon juice (we grow lemons, score!)
some onion powder

Mix all that together

Add bread crumbs and almonds on top (using crushed cheezits instead of breadcrumbs)
Add some shredded cheddar or mozz or some multi-cheese combo on top (We have shredded cheddar and some fresh mozz)

Cook for 25-30 minutes at 400 degrees.

Turkey Sausage Hash, from Stacy

1 onion 1 green pepper 2 medium red potatoes 1 package (5 links) turkey apple sausage 1/2 can corn olive oil garlic salt apple cider Finely chop onion and pepper (I use a food processor). Dice the potatoes. Cook all of these in in a pan with some olive oil and garlic salt, medium heat, until somewhat tender. Add the corn, sausage (cut up), and about a cup of apple cider (I just poured some in). Let simmer for 20 minutes or so...until the potatoes are tender to your liking.

Beans and Tomatoes, an idea from Amy

Basically you take cans of Great Northern Beans, drain and rinse.
Then take roma tomatoes, de-seed them, saute them in olive oil until heated through.
Add the beans and a bit of water so it's kinda soupy.
I usually add garlic to the tomatoes.
Then I season with salt, crushed red pepper, and dill (sounds strange, but it's a good combo.)
Sometimes I add mushrooms to the tomatoes for variety.
Heat the stuff until the beans are heated and done!
I like to put some diced red onion on top as well and I usually serve with garlic bread.

Hobo Dinner, from Holli

1 pound ground meat- divided into 1 /4 pound portions
1 pound package of baby carrots- divided into 4 portions
4 medium baking potatoes, sliced
1 medium onion, sliced and divided into 4 portions
salt and pepper to taste
4 large sheets of aluminum foil

Divide meat into 4 equal portions, and form into patties. Place in center
of aluminum foil sheet, add divided portions of carrots, potatoes, and onion.
Season as desired. Fold foil, around contents and place on large cookie tray.
Bake at 375 degrees for or hour or until meat is thoroughly cooked and
vegetables are tender. This dish can also be prepared over a camp fire or on
a grill.

Dh said you could probably do a half potato each, though ds and I ate more potatoes and less meat...but he's probably right. The portions are too much food for one person, but it's so good, you just keep eating! The veggies turn out a lot like the way the do with a roast, and the hamburger turned out juicy and tender--just right. I used a decent amount of s & p--sort of a thin, even coating on top of the meat, and then another generous amount on the veggies. It was super quick--took maybe 10 minutes, probably less to assemble, then walk away for an hour, and there's dinner! And soooo homey/comfort food delicious. I was a little worried about no fat or water in there; I thought the veggies would dry up, but apparently the little packets of aluminum foil keep the steam from them and the meat in there, and they sort of steam/roast.

Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Langostino and Broccoli, from Kris

- 1 package frozen langostino, thawed (preferably uncooked)
- 3 broccoli crowns in pieces
- 1 package spaghetti noodles
- 5 cloves garlic finely chopped
- juice of 3 lemons
- zest of 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 cup parm cheese
- 3 TBSP olive oil
- 1 TBSP butter
- salt and pepper to taste

Bring large pot of water to boil, add salt and 1/3 of the chopped garlic to boiling water. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. While past is cooking, place broccoli pieces in another pot of boiling water to blanche. Take out after 1 minute and drain. When pasta is done cooking, drain and combine with broccoli in strainer. Using same pot that pasta was cooked in, heat oil and butter over medium heat. Add remaining chopped garlic and cook for 1 minute - do not allow garlic to burn or brown. Add langostino to oil and cook until done, return pasta/broccoli to the pot. Pour lemon juice and parm cheese over the top, toss well and serve.

Swiss Chicken, an idea from Karli

Lie chicken cutlets flat and place swiss cheese on top.
I also added some basil, sage, and garlic.
Roll up and secure with toothpicks.
Brown in a little oil in skillet and then pour some chicken broth in the pan
(I didn't measure, just covered the bottom).
Cook until chicken is done and take out toothpicks.

Vegan "Cream of Potato" Soup, from Holli

Fill a med/large saucepan about 3/4 full of water and put on high heat.
Wash about 5 medium sized white/baking potatoes and cut into about 1-1 1/2 inch size pieces, and put them in the water. Don't peel. The peelings give it a sort of baked potato flavor.
Cut up "some" onion. I used what I had left of one in the fridge, which wasn't much. I would say 1 med. onion would be good.
Place that in with the potatoes.
Set the timer for 20 minutes.
When the timer gets to about 7 or 8 minutes, mix up about 1/2 cup hemp milk with a couple of tsps of cornstarch.
Check the potatoes.
If they are nearly done, add the milk mixture.
Stir, and add any seasonings you like. I used s&p, about a tsp of coriander and some fake soy sauce--maybe a tablespoon. I turned off the burner and let the rest of the time run out while the broth thickened.

Chorizo Sandwiches, an idea from Rachael

I crumble and fry the sausage (remove casing) in a tiny bit of olive oil with green peppers and onion.
Then I add a can of diced tomatoes (I get the kind with celery in it or otherwise flavored).
Let it heat through and serve on hard rolls.
It's really good. I've also used fresh diced tomatoes.

Amish Yumazuti, from Karli

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

* 1 pound ground beef
* 1 onion, chopped
* 3/4 cup chopped celery
* 1 tablespoon minced garlic
* 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
* 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed, diced tomatoes
* 1 (12 ounce) package uncooked egg noodles
* 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place noodles in a pot of lightly salted boiling water. Cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Cook ground beef, onion, celery and garlic in a skillet over medium heat until meat is evenly browned. Drain off excess grease.
3. Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Place half of the cooked noodles in the bottom of the dish. Cover them with half of the meat mixture, then half of the tomatoes. Spoon half of the cream of chicken soup over the tomatoes, then sprinkle half of the shredded cheese. Repeat layers, ending with cheese on the top.
4. Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until cheese is browned and bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes to set before serving.

I left out the celery (I'm out) and used cream of mushroom instead of chicken. I also didn't layer it and just mixed it together, then topped with cheese. It turned out very good and the kids inhaled it.

Creamy Ham and Peas Pasta, from Stacy

1 small onion, finely chopped
a few Tbsp. olive oil
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 small carton (very small, like individual serving of milk) heavy cream
1/2 lb. ham (cut into small squares)
3/4 cup frozen peas (defrosted)

*All measurements are approximations.

Saute onions in olive oil until soft (a few mins.). Throw everything else in the pan and heat through. I added some garlic salt as well. Serve over your choice of pasta. Yummy!

"Better than McDonald's" Turkey Burgers, an idea from Karli

I just used a pound of ground turkey and dumped some garlic salt, chopped onion and bread crumbs in it. I didn't measure anything.

Cranberry-Carrot Muffins, from Jenifer

So I made this recipe last week (it was shared with me by a mom at the ice skating rink)...and it was ok....but Jan thought it should be slightly more sweet. I (and my mom who had some) thought they were just right. I enjoyed them warmed and at one point used a bit of the jam I made this summer...:


1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 egg
1/2 cup brown sugar, more if desired
1 cup milk
1 cup finely grated carrot
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon, and stir until cinnamon is evenly distributed. In a second mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, egg, brown sugar, and milk, and blend until smooth.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet, stirring to combine. Stir in the carrot and cranberries. Fill the muffin cups and bake 20 minutes. Makes 12.

(With special thanks to "Danielle's Mom" for the origination of this recipe...)

Cheesy-Garlic Crust Casserole, an idea from Rachael

I used a package of Bisquick cheese-garlic biscuit mix as a crust in a loaf pan, I topped it with some lean ground beef that I cooked with chopped onion, garlic, herbs, and mixed in some jarred tomato sauce with mushrooms. On top of that I put cheddar cheese. I was trying to use what I had. I baked it at 375 until the crust looked done. It came out alright. It could have used some more flavor.

Tender Italian Baked Chicken, suggested by Karli

Tender Italian Baked Chicken from the allrecipes.com site.

INGREDIENTS

* 3/4 cup mayonnaise
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
* 3/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
* 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder. Place bread crumbs in a separate bowl. Dip chicken into the mayonnaise mixture, then into the bread crumbs to coat. Arrange coated chicken on a baking sheet.
3. Bake 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until chicken juices run clear and coating is golden brown.

Honey Mustard Glazed Chicken Breast, from Mel

Mix about 1-2 TBSP melted butter with
~1/3 cup honey and
~1/3 cup mustard. Add
~1-2 tsp garlic powder

Pour over chicken breasts (we used skin-on from a roaster chicken) in an oven proof pan. Cook in preheated oven at 350* for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, basting with juices/sauce from the pan every 15 minutes.

This can also be made with a whole, cut up chicken, or just thighs, or whatever

Pan Fried King Fish Steaks, from Sheetal

For 2 steaks
Rub a mixture of red chillie powder, a pinch of turmeric, salt and a teaspooon of ginger garlic paste.
Let them sit for 30 mins.
Pat the steaks with rice or wheat flour. Shallow fry in pan. Turn when crispy and fry the other side.

Fish curry
1 cup freshly grated coconut.
2 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp red chillie powder (more if u can handle it)
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 onion sliced and fried till brown.

Grind the above to a paste. Heat a tsp of oil in a wok. Fry the paste till oil leaves the side of the wok. Add one diced tomato if you like your curry tangy.

Add water (as per desired thickness of curry) and let it come to a boil. Add pieces of any white fish that you like. Simmer till fish is cooked. Eat with white rice. yummy!

Sweet Potato Gnocchi, suggested by Mel

I don't change a thing - except the amount of butter it's sauteed in. You need less than half of what it calls for. Also - when boiling it, you should just boil it until it floats around the pan. Whether or not that's the amount of time listed, I'm not sure (I've never checked.)

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/v....and-Sage-233379

This time, we didn't take the time to roll the gnocchi across fork tines.

The recipe could easily be cut in half for a family, but I like to make the whole thing and freeze half. They can be frozen before or after boiling. Also - in the two times I've made this, I've not been able to get 3 cups of sweet potato from 2 potatoes. I recommend getting three.

Potato Soup, an idea from Holli via her mom

She peels the potatoes and cuts them into about 1 inch pieces and boils them.
Use enough water to cover them generously.
Optionally, you can stick some small pieces of carrot and celery in, too.
After the potatoes are soft, mix up some EVAPORATED milk with regular flour and mix well.
Add to the soup. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
My dad and I like a lot of pepper.

Now, amounts...I don't really know.

She uses a large soup pot and probably fills it about half way with potato pieces. Then maybe 1/3 c of the evaporated milk and a few tablespoons of flour. It comes out mild and creamy, and pretty watery--just thick enough! How's that for specific?

Chicken and Stuffing, an idea from Karli

I put chicken breasts in the crock pot and seasoned them with sage, paprika and garlic. I then mixed a box of Stove Top with a can of cream of mushroom soup and a little bit of chicken broth (just enough to make sure the stuffing was wet, but not soupy) and spread it on the chicken. Cooked it on high for 3.5 hours.

We had broccoli with it, seasoned with garlic butter.

BBQ Chicken Pizza, from Shelli

Ingredients:

Pizza Dough (from Giant Deli)
BBQ Sauce (1/2 c to 3/4c depending on how saucy you want it)
1.5 cup chicken (I'm cheating and using short cuts because that's what I have on hand)
Cheddar cheese
Red onion, sliced thin

Um, it's pizza...so assembly should be self explanatory.

I bake it per the dough's instructions.

Pseudo Cheeseburger Mac, from Jeni

1 package of Morningstar Farms fake beef crumbles
1 1/2 cups water
10.5 oz veggie broth
1 can cheddar cheese soup
ketchup (don't remember how much, but I just squirted some in anyway)
2 cups medium shells (I use a little extra)

Heat the "meat". Add the water and broth. Whisk in the soup and ketchup. Stir in the shells and let it cook until the pasta is done and the sauce is thick.

Tortilla Soup, suggested by Stephanie

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Tortilla-Soup/Detail.aspx

Usually I throw in raw chicken to cook all day in the crock pot, fish it out and shred it an hour or two before dinner and add it back in, but I have leftover pork so I'll probably shred that and throw it in for a bit at the end.

Meatloaf Patties, an idea from Carrie

ground beef, package of Knorr onion soup mix, 1 egg, some shredded parm. cheese -
make into patties and cooked in a skillet

Banana Pecan Pancakes, an idea from Carrie

I mixed up a big serving of boxed pancake mix, mashed 1 1/2 ripe bananas and stirred that in the batter. I poured pancakes onto the griddle and sprinkled some chopped pecans on the top of each pancake. When it was time to flip them the pecans were already pretty much baked into the batter.

Served with warm maple syrup.

Anniversary Chicken, suggested by Karli

Anniversary Chicken from the allrecipes.com site. I didn't have the teriyaki sauce, but it turned out good anyway.

Anniversary Chicken I

INGREDIENTS

* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
* 1/2 cup teriyaki basting sauce
* 1/2 cup Ranch-style salad dressing
* 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
* 3 green onions, chopped
* 1/2 (3 ounce) can bacon bits

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts, and saute 4 to 5 minutes each side, until lightly browned.
3. Place browned chicken breasts in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Brush with teriyaki sauce, then spoon on salad dressing. Sprinkle with cheese, green onions and bacon bits.
4. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

Pseudo Chicken Parmigiana, and idea from Kimberly

Wheat rotini went in the bottom of the pan. On top of that, I poured some of the tomato sauce I'd made the other day. Then I put in a layer of Morningstar chicken patties. A layer of mozzarella topped it all off, and then I baked it until it was brown and yummalicious.

Easy Peasy Veggie Pualo, an idea from Sheetal

I bought some precut veggies - cabbage, french beans, shredded carrots. I put them in a microwave friendly bowl with 3/4 cloves, a stick of cinnamon and a couple of cardamoms. I added a couple of tablespoons of oil. I let the veggies "fry" for 2 minutes.

I then added a cup of washed rice with 2 cups of water. I let it microwave for 18 mins, stirring every few minutes. That's it!


I then made a raita. I added the seeds of 1 pomogranate to a cup of yogurt. I added some sugar and some salt. Mixed it all together and had a yummy accompaniment to the rice!

Turkey Meatloaf Meatballs, suggested by Stephanie

Basically you make meatloaf and shape it into balls that go in a muffin pan, then bake ~25 minutes at 425ish. We use a thermometer so when they hit 180 they are done. The first time I made them I had no onion or egg so I had to get creative.

But the gist is that with turkey you add things that will help them not dry out, like grated or chopped vegetables. We've added any or all of the following: shredded zucchini, very small onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, spices, red wine, barbeque sauce, chopped up mushrooms, beaten egg.

This might be the original recipe. I think I found it in my Rachael Ray library somewhere though. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/meatloaf-muffins-with-barbecue-sauce-recipe/index.html

Margarhita Pizza, an idea from Kimberly

I made a simple sauce from the *tomatoes with safflower oil and salt that turned out super yummy and sweet. That went onto a pre-baked wheat boboli crust and then I just put some thin slices of mozzarella and some feta crumbles. I baked it all until it was crunchy and brown, and it was oh, so good. It might have deserved a tastier crust, but it was OK. I have never made a crust that I like, so I just settle for Boboli.

*poster's note: 2 pounds of cherry tomatoes!

Crash Hot Potatoes, suggested by Shauna

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/06/crash-hot-potatoes/

Penne a la Betsy, suggested by Shauna

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/....nne_a_la_betsy/

Taco Soup, from Karli

1lb browned ground turkey 1 can black beans 1 can kidney beans 1 can pinto beans 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles chili powder red pepper flakes cumin V-8 juice I put shredded cheddar on top right before serving.

Teriyaki Chicken Bowls, suggested by Kris (and Carrie)

I bought some bone-in breasts at the store, I thought I'd grill them on the grill.

The last couple of minutes on the grill I'll brush them with my teriyaki sauce, then slice them on the bias and serve over white rice with some quick sauteed onion, cabbage and snowpeas or something with extra teriyaki sauce on top.

*Carrie added: I suggest sauteing the veggies in a little sesame oil (rather than veggie oil) and then sprinkling sesame seeds over the top of the dish for presentation. The sesame just add a little finesse to the dish.

Kris added: Next time I won't go to the trouble of grilling chicken on the bone (although it was really really really good), but do b/s chicken breasts instead.

Peppery Turkey Meatballs, from Kris

Meatballs:
- 1 pkg ground turkey breast
- 1/4 onion chopped fine
- 1/2 c bread crumbs
- 1/2 TBSP fresh cracked pepper
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- 1 TBSP reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 TBSP worchestershire sauce

Mix above together and form into small meatballs. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes. While meatballs are baking, prepare simmer sauce:

Simmer sauce:
- remaining 3/4 onion chopped
- 2 cups beef broth (I use better than bouillon and make it strong)
- 1/3 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- 2 TBSP worchestershire sauce
- 1 TBSP cracked black pepper
- 1 green pepper thickly sliced
- 1 red pepper thickly sliced
- 2 tomatos in wedges
- slurry of 1 TBSP cornstarch with 2 TBSP water

Put onions in large sided skillet, big enough to simmer meatballs in. Saute onion until translucent in 1 tsp olive oil. Add broth, soy sauce, worchestershire sauce and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low simmer. Add meatballs from oven and continue to simmer for another 8 minutes, turning the meatballs over in the sauce. Add red peppers, green peppers and tomatoes cover and simmer for 3 minutes until peppers are tender crisp. Add cornstarch slurry and bring to a boil until sauce is thick. Serve meatballs with peppers, tomatos and sauce over steamed rice.

ETA - using turkey breast makes these meatballs a little on the drier side. I don't mind it so much on this recipe because of the sauce on the meatballs. But, you can use lean ground turkey or beef if you prefer. We just try to keep it as lean as we can....

Mushroomy Chicken, and idea from Kris

I seared some chicken with a touch of olive oil, salt and pepper, added 2 cans of mushroom soup, mixed in some chicken broth and simmered till the chicken was done. Served over spiral noodles with butter and steamed green beans.

Shredded Chicken Sanwiches, an idea from Dani

I put a can of low sodium chicken broth in the crockpot, added about 4tbsp of granulated garlic, about 1/4c of dehydrated onion flakes and about a tbsp of dried basil, stired it up and then put 4 chicken breasts in. I turned it on low to cook all afternoon

So it cooked on high for about 4 hours, and I pulled the breasts out and shredded them with the end of the spoon i used to scoop them out. I added a little of the liquid that was left and stired it up, just to keep it moist while I toasted the bread.

Sour Cream Cheese Casserole, suggested by Stacy

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sour-Cream-Cheese-Casserole/Detail.aspx
I leave out the crackers and add broccoli.

Sour Cream Pork Chops, from Shauna

INGREDIENTS
6 pork chops
salt and pepper to taste
garlic powder to taste
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 large onion, sliced 1/4 inch thick
2 cubes chicken bouillon
2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
DIRECTIONS
Season pork chops with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and then dredge in 1/2 cup flour. In a skillet over medium heat, lightly brown chops in a small amount of oil.
Place chops in slow cooker, and top with onion slices. Dissolve bouillon cubes in boiling water (I just use chicken stock usually) and pour over chops. Cover, and cook on Low 7 to 8 hours.

After the chops have cooked, remove chops. Be careful, the chops are so tender they will fall apart. In a small bowl, blend 2 tablespoons flour with the sour cream; mix into meat juices. Turn slow cooker to High for 15 to 30 minutes, or until sauce is slightly thickened. Serve sauce over pork chops on egg noodles or rice.

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, an idea from Rachael

You can use leftover chicken if you have it, or any cooked chicken. I had a package of chicken legs that I used. I boiled them with poultry seasoning and bay leaves. Then I shredded it and threw it in the crockpot with three different kinds of sauce cause that's what I had in the fridge, a little bit of each. =) It cooked in the crockpot for about 2 hours on low. I made garlic toast to serve it on.

Slow Cooker Green Beans, Ham, and Potatoes, from Karli

INGREDIENTS

* 2 pounds fresh green beans, rinsed and trimmed
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 3 ham hocks
* 1 1/2 pounds new potatoes, quartered
* 1 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1 teaspoon onion powder
* 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
* 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
* ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Halve beans if they are large, place in a slow cooker with water to barely cover, and add onion and ham hocks. Cover, and cook on High until simmering. Reduce heat to Low, and cook for 2 to 3 hours, or until beans are crisp but not done.
2. Add potatoes, and cook for another 45 minutes. While potatoes are cooking, remove ham hocks from slow cooker, and remove meat from bones. Chop or shred meat, and return to slow cooker. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, seasoning salt, bouillon, and pepper. Cook until potatoes are done, then adjust seasoning to taste.

Mexican Chopped Salad, from Mandy

I am often without jicama, so have been known to sub cukes. It's good.


Mexican Chopped Salad

Salad
2 1/2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 can (15.5 oz) black beans, rinsed and well drained
3/4 cup chopped seeded tomato
3/4 cup chopped peeled jicama
3/4 cup fresh corn kernels, uncooked (or frozen or canned)
3/4 cup thinly sliced radishes
Half a ripe avocado, diced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese

Honey-Lime Dressing
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro (or more to taste)
1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
1 tsp chopped jalapeño pepper (use canned for less heat)

Toss all salad ingredients in a large bowl. In separate bowl, mix dressing ingredients. Pour dressing over mixture and toss again. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Chicken Enchilada Suiza Casserole, suggested by Kris

Chicken enchilada suiza casserole (a la Weight Watchers Book):

Sauce:
- 1 can of diced green chilis
- 2 cans healthy request cream of chicken soup
- 1 1/3 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup light sour cream
- 1 cup diced onions
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp cumin, salt and pepper to taste

Other ingredients:
- package of corn tortillas (about 24)
- low fat cheese
- cooked, shredded chicken (I boiled the chicken in chicken broth with some fresh cracked pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and cumin until chicken was cooked throughthen cooled and shredded it).

Putting it together:
Layer sauce first in casserole dish, top with 6 corn torillas, shredded chicken, cheese, sauce and repeat layers 3 more times. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Yum!

Cowboy Beans, and idea from Teresa

Sort and wash dry white beans
Soak
Add onion and bacon
Cook for hours

Steak and Pepper Sandwiches, and idea from Dani

I put somepaper thin steaks on the grill, sliced them up and mixed them with a sliced onion and a sliced bell pepper and sauted it until the onions and peppers were really soft.

Cut a loaf of foccacia in half, and toasted it, put it all together, covered the meat with cheese, baked for a minute and we had those with some leftover veggies.

Delicious Azz Ribs, and idea from Rachael

I trim the ribs, then use a rub on them (kosher salt, garlic powder, paprika, pepper, cayenne pepper, mesquite grill seasoning), then bake, covered with foil, for 1.5 hours. Brush on some bbq sauce. Then onto the grill with wood chips for another hour.

Stuffed Cabbage Casserole, and idea from Stacy

I just chop up cabbage, fill half-way-up the baking dish (that has been greased with butter all around), add a lb. of ground beef that I browned with a finely chopped onion (and salt) then add a half cup instant rice and two cans of tomato soup (mixed with 2 cans water). Stir it all up and bake on 350 for 1.5 hrs. My grandmother always serves it over mashed potatoes because it is kind of soupy...but we just eat it plain in a bowl.

Tomato Pasta Bake, an idea from Karli

Brown 1lb ground turkey, garlic, onions and mushrooms. Add 1 or 2 cans of diced tomatoes (I used fresh ones tonight and it was MUCH better) and a can of tomato sauce. Season with basil, oregano, etc. Mix with pasta of choice (I use whole wheat penne). Put in casserole dish, top with mozzarella and bake at 350° until cheese is melted.

Lemon Garlic Pasta--from Kris

Lemon Garlic Pasta

- 1 lb pasta of your choice (we use spaghetti)
- olive oil
- parmesan cheese
- lemon juice (usually 2 or 3 lemons)

Cook the pasta and set aside to drain. In the pan that the pasta was cooked in (I do this so that I don't dirty another pan), heat the oil over medium heat - important not to get it too hot or it will burn the garlic). When oil is hot, add minced garlic and cook for a minute or two - don't burn the garlic. The goal is to cook the garlic gently and allow it's flavors to infuse into the oil. Add the pasta back into the pan with the oil, add lemon juice and parmesan cheese and toss well.

There really isn't an "amount" to use of the above items. It all depends on how lemony, how garlic-y and how lubed you like your pasta. It took me a few tries and tweaking to get it to the point that I like it, but now - it is an awesome, easy and delicious side pasta dish. If I want to make it into a main dish, I'll throw some cooked shrimp into it (cooked in a little butter with salt & pepper) and *poof* Lemon garlic pasta with shrimp. You can also toss in some blanched broccoli or whatever. It's great!