Creamy Garlic Pasta

2 tsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp butter
¼  tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
3 cups chicken stock
½ lb spaghetti or angel hair pasta
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
¾ cup heavy cream
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

In a pot, bring the olive oil to medium-low heat. Add the garlic and stir, allowing it to cook for 1-2 minutes. Mix in the butter until melted. Add the salt, pepper and chicken stock. Raise the heat to high and let it come to a boil. 

Once it is at a rolling boil, add the pasta and cook for as long as the box’s directions indicate. Reduce the stove to medium heat and mix in the parmesan until completely melted. Turn off the heat and stir in the cream and parsley. Serve immediately.

source

JAM THUMBPRINT COOKIES

1 3/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2tsp  salt ( p.s. don't use salt if using salted butter)

3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks) softened

2/3 cup sugar plus more for rolling

1 large egg

1 tsp pure vanilla extract (p.s. i always use about a half a tsp more or so)

1/3 cup raspberry jam

Directions:

preheat oven to 350 degrees F line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper

whisk flour baking powder and salt in a bowl

in another bowl whip the butter and sugar with a handheld mixer until fluffy about 5 mins. 

Beat in the egg and vanilla until just combined. 

Slowly beat in the the dry ingredients in 2 additions mixing just until combined

scoop the dough into  1-inch balls and roll in sugar ( don't over handle the dough or they lose some moisture) press a thumbprint into the center of each ball about 1/2 inch deep.

fill each indentation with 3/4 tsp of jam.

Bake until edges are golden about 15 min rotate pans for even color halfway through baking. 

cool on baking sheets stores in airtight container for 5 days.

lettuce wraps

P.F. Chang's Lettuce Wraps 

8 dried shiitake mushrooms
1 Teaspoon cornstarch
2 Teaspoon dry sherry
2 Teaspoon water
salt and pepper
1−1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken
5 Tablespoon oil
1 Teaspoon fresh minced ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 green onions, minced
2 small dried chilis, (optional)
8 Ounce can bamboo shoots, minced
8 Ounce can water chestnuts, minced
1 package cellophane Chinese rice noodles, prepared according to package
Cooking Sauce:
1 Tablespoon Hoisin sauce
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 Tablespoon dry sherry
2 Tablespoon oyster sauce
2 Tablespoon water
1 tsp. sesame oil
1 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. cornstarch
Iceburg lettuce "cups"

Cover mushrooms with boiling water, let stand 30 minutes then drain. Cut and
discard woody stems. Minces mushrooms. Set aside. Mix all ingredients for
cooking sauce in bowl, and set aside. In medium bowl, combine cornstarch,
sherry water, soy sauce, salt, pepper, and chicken. Stir to coat chicken
thoroughly. Stir in 1 tsp. oil and let sit 15 minutes to marinate. Heat wok
or large skillet over medium high heat. Add 3 TBSP oil, then add chicken and
stir fry for about 3−4 minutes. Set aside. Add 2 TBSP oil to pan. Add
ginger, garlic, chilies(if desired), and onion; stir fry about a minute or
so. Add mushrooms, bamboo shoots and water chestnuts; stir fry an additional 2 minutes. Return chicken to pan. Add mixed cooking sauce to pan. Cook until thickened and hot. Break cooked cellophane noodles into small pieces, and cover bottom of serving dish with them. Then pour chicken mixture on top of noodles. Spoon into lettuce leaf and roll.

red lobster cheddar biscuits

RED LOBSTER CHEESE BISCUITS

This recipe was found in a newspaper

2 C buttermilk baking mix (small box, Jifcfy Mix equals 2 cups)
2/3 C milk
1/2 C shredded cheddar cheese (extra sharp?)
1/4 C butter
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Preheat oven to 450*. 

Combine mix, milk and cheese with a wooden spoon until soft dough forms. Beat vigorously 30 seconds. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 - 10 minutes until golden brown. Combine butter and garlic powder; brush over warm biscuits before removing from cookie sheet. Serve warm. Makes 10 large biscuits.

olive garden fried ravoli

16 oz Package of Meat Filled Ravioli ( fresh or frozen -unthaw if frozen )
2 Eggs Beaten
1/4 C Water
1 tsp. Garlic Salt
1 C. Flour
1 C. Bread Crumbs Plain
1 tsp. Italian Seasoning

Mix water with eggs and beat well, set aside. Mix Italian seasonings and garlic salt with the bread crumbs and set this aside.
Measure flour in bowl and set aside.
Heat vegetable oil in deep fryer or skillet to 350 degrees for deep frying.
Dip ravioli in flour then in the egg wash then in bread crumbs and carefully place in hot oil. Fry until golden, remove from oil and drain. Serve with you favorite marinara sauce.

chicken fried rice

recipe here

 Ingredients:

2 cups prepared rice (I used long grain brown rice)

1 chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces and seasoned with salt & pepper (could use leftover cooked chicken)

1/2 cup frozen mixed vegetables

2 green onions, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 egg

3 teaspoons sesame or wok oil, divided

2 Tablespoons soy sauce

Directions:

1. Whisk egg with 1 teaspoon oil in a small dish then set aside.

2. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned chicken then stir fry until cooked through and remove to a plate. (If using pre-cooked chicken, skip this step.)

3. Heat remaining teaspoon oil in the wok then add frozen mixed vegetables and green onions. Stir fry until tender, about 2 minutes, then add garlic and cook for 30 more seconds. Push vegetables to the side of the wok then add egg and sesame oil mixture into the center and scramble.

4. Add cooked chicken, rice, and soy sauce to wok then toss well to combine.

sweet and sour chicken

link

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

The chicken coating:

3-4 boneless chicken breasts

salt + pepper

1 cup cornstarch

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup canola oil

The sweet and sour sauce:

3/4 cup sugar

4 tbs ketchup

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

1 tbs soy sauce

1 tsp garlic salt

       Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees. Rinse your chicken breasts in water and then cut into cubes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Dip chicken into the cornstarch to coat then dip into the eggs.  Heat your 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet and cook your chicken until browned but not cooked through. Place the chicken in a 9x13 greased baking dish. Mix all of your sweet and sour sauce ingredients in a bowl with a whisk and then pour evenly over the chicken. Bake for one hour and during the baking process you will need to turn the chicken every 15 minutes.  

                                 Below is the greatness you will get when it's all cooked:

Chicken Crescent Roll Casserole

ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) cans Pillsbury Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
• 3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese or swiss cheese (or any cheese of choice)
• 1/2 cup 18% table cream (or use whipping cream)
• FILLING
• 4 ounces cream cheese (very soft)
• 4 tablespoons butter (very soft but not melted)
• 1/2-1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
• 1/3 cup onion, finely chopped (can use green onions)
• 2 large cooked chicken breasts, finely chopped (or use about 2 cups, can use cooked turkey)
• 1/2-3/4 cup finely grated cheddar cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt (or use 1/2 teaspoon white salt or to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
• 2-4 tablespoons mayonnaise or whipping cream
• 1-2 cup grated cheddar cheese (for topping)

directions

• 1. Set oven to 350°F.
• 2. Butter a casserole dish (any size to hold crescent rolls).
• 3. In a saucepan, mix half and half cream, 3/4 cup grated cheese (can use more cheese if desired) and undiluted chicken soup (can season with black pepper if desired).
• 4. Heat just until the cheese melts (do not boil).
• 5. For the filling --- (make certain that the cream cheese and butter are very soft) in a bowl, mix the soft cream cheese with butter until very smooth, then add in garlic powder (if using).
• 6. Add in the chopped chicken, onion and cheddar cheese; mix well until combined.
• 7. Add in 2 tablespoons whipping cream or mayonnaise; mix to combine (add in a little more if the mixture seems too dry).
• 8. Season with seasoned salt or white and black pepper to taste.
• 9. Unroll the crescent rolls.
• 10. Place 1 heaping tablespoon chicken mixture (or a little more) on top of each crescent triangle, then roll up starting at the thicker end
• 11. Drizzle a small amount of soup mixture on the bottom of the dish.
• 12. Then place the crescent rolls seam-side down on top of the creamed mixture in the casserole.
• 13. Drizzle the remaining sauce on top (you don’t have to use the full amount of cream sauce, just use as much as desired) and sprinkle with 1 cup (or more) grated cheese, or amount desired
• 14. Bake for about 30 minutes.