Chicken Puffs

This is one of my favorite meals that I can whip up quickly for my family.

preheat oven 350°
makes 8 puffs

2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

8 oz. Cream Cheese
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 cup Chopped Celery (optional)
Chopped cashews (optional)
Parmesan cheese
Crescent rolls (1 package)
1/2 milk

Directions:
In a large bowl mix together cream cheese, chicken and 1/2 the can of cream of chicken soup (also add the chopped celery and cashews if desired). I also add some pepper, salt and onion powder at this point for flavor. Then set aside.
On a baking sheet place triangles from the roll package out. Put a scoop of the chicken mixture on each triangle. Pull corners together sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top and bake 16-20 minutes or until golden.
Meanwhile, for gravy take remaining soup and mix with 1/2 cup milk, simmer.
To serve place a spoonful of gravy on each puff.

World's Best Lasagna

Ingredients

• *add a dash of nutmeg to the sauce to make it more authentic and delicious!
• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
• 3/4 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• 2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 12 lasagna noodles
• 16 ounces ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
4. To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 448 | Total Fat: 21.3g | Cholesterol: 84mg

this is from Johnchandler at Allrecipies.com

This makes the best lasagna my family has ever had, even compared to Olive Garden! Plus we get the fun of making it alll day long together. It is expensive to buy all the ingredients, but it makes a like ten pounds. You can have plenty of leftovers (if there are only two of you hee hee), so it is not actually that expensive. MMMM MMMM

Blondies

1/2 cup butter,melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1 cup flour
1/3 cup either butterscotch chips or choc chips

Heat oven to 350. Grease an 8x8 pan. Mix ingredients and spread in pan evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.

Hot Fudge Cake

1 cup flour
3/4 cup white sugar
6 T cocoa, divided
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 3/4 cup hot water

Preheat oven to 350. Combine flour, white sugar, 2 T cocoa, baking powder and salt. Stir in milk, oil and vanilla. Spread in un-greased 9" square baking pan. Combine brown sugar and 4 T cocoa and sprinkle on top. Pour hot water on top and do not stir. Bake for 35-40 minutes.

Cookie Salad

2 big boxes Vanilla instant pudding
2 cups Buttermilk*
1 large container Cool Whip
1 can Mandarin Oranges and or pineapple or fruit of your choice
1 package shortbread cookies, crushed in pieces

Mix pudding and milk until smooth. Stir in Cool Whip. Add fruit. Add cookies just before serving.

*If you don’t have buttermilk measure 2 T lemon juice then add the milk to equal 2 cups. Let sit for 5 minutes before adding to pudding.

Zucchini Bread

This is the yummy moist recipe that Mom makes

Combine and beat together:
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
2 cups zucchini (grated)
1 teas. vanilla
Sift together:
3 Cups flour
1 teas. salt
1 teas. soda
2 teas. cinnamon
1/4 teas. nutmeg
1/2 teas. baking powder
Add dry ingredients to egg mixture and stir well.
If desired add 1/2 cup chopped nuts
Pour into 2 well greased loaf pans (4 1/2" x 8 1/2")
Bake 1 hour at 325 (toothpick will come out clean)
Makes 2 loaves (or 8 mini loaves. Cook minis for only 40 min.)

Blu Chicken (a.k.a. Chicken Cordon Blu)

Years ago the kids heard me say chicken cordon blu and they called it blue chicken. The name stuck and so that is what we always call this yummy dish.


Ingredients:
4-6 chicken breasts
Swiss cheeses slices
Ham slices (I use sandwich meat unless I have leftovers)
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
Parmesan Cheese

You will also need a sharp knife and several toothpicks.

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350. Slice the side of each piece of chicken so that it opens, but is still attached on one side.



2. In each piece of chicken place one slice of ham (usually folded) and one slice of cheese. Use 2 or 3 toothpicks to keep each piece together and closed. If there are any extra pieces of cheese or ham that have been exposed to the chicken juices I cut them into small pieces and spread on top.


3. Place in baking dish. Put a spoonful of Cream of Chicken soup on each piece of chicken. Then spread around.

4. Sprinkle with desired amount of Parmesan cheese and some pepper.
5. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. When it is done I often sprinkle a little shredded cheddar cheese on top.