Saturday, September 25, 2010

Stuffed Beef Manicotti

Ingredients:

- 1/2 lb manicotti
- melted butter

- 1 onion, chopped
- 1-2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 lb mushrooms, chopped (optional)

- 3/4 lb chopped lean beef, cooked and drained
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella or swiss cheese
- 1/2 cup soft bread crrumbs
- 1/2 egg, slightly beaten (full recipe calls for 1 egg)
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

- 1 1/2 to 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Cook the pasta in a large pot of water until half done (about 12 minutes). Drain and rinse in cold water. Return to pot and toss with a small amount of melted butter to prevent sticking.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown the onion and garlic lightly in the oil. Add the mushrooms and cook until wilted.

Blend the onion mixture with the beef, cheese, crumbs, egg, salt, oregano, and pepper.

Stuff the manicotti with the beef mixture.

Cover the bottom of a 7x11-inch pan with a thin layer of tomato sauce. Arrange a layer of the stuffed pasta on top. Cover lightly with more sauce and sprinkle generously with Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers if needed.

Bake for about 30 minutes.

Chicken Tortellini Soup with Sage Pesto

Holy cow, delicious food! Combine cheesy tortellini with sauteed chicken, and fantastic homemade sage pesto.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup walnuts
- 1 cup tightly packed flat-leaf parsley leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh sage leaves
- 1 clove garlic, smashed
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup grated Romano cheese
- salt and pepper

- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- salt and pepper
- 6 oz chicken breast
- 8 cups chicken stock (or less if you want it to be less "soupy")
- 9 oz fresh cheese tortellini
- grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
- parsley

Directions:

To make the pesto: combine the nuts, parsley, sage, and garlic in a food processor until coarsely ground. With the motor running, slowly add 1/3 cup of the oil until the mixture is emulsified. Add the cheese, salt, and pepper; pulse a few times until it reaches a loose-paste consistency. Scrape into a bowl.

To make the soup: heat the canola oil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Season the chicken breast with salt and pepper on both sides; cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Remove chicken to a plate. Drain any fat left in the pan, then add the chicken stock and bring to a boil over high heat. Replace the chicken into the stock; cover the pan tightly and remove the heat. Let the chicken sit in the hot broth until cooked through (about 8 minutes). Remove the chicken breast to a plate and let cool for 10 minutes, then shred into small pieces.

Return the stock to high heat and bring to a boil. Add the tortellini and cook until tender (about 7 minutes). Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the shredded chicken. Ladle soup into bowls and add a scoop of sage pesto and a sprinkling of cheese; garnish with parsley.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Brownie Bars

These bars have perhaps the longest title ever, but it pretty much describes everything that's in them: a brownie base, peanuts and PB cups in the middle, and a chocolate-peanut butter-Rice Krispie topping. They're still somewhat a work in progress, but absolutely delicious even if not completely beautiful.

Ingredients:

- 1 package fudge brownie mix (sized for a 13x9-inch pan) and oil, eggs, etc. as needed to prepare the brownies

- 12 large peanut butter cups, chopped
- 1/2 cup salted peanuts, chopped

- 2 cups (12 oz) chocolate chips
- 1 1/4 cups creamy peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9-inch pan.

Prepare brownie batter according to package directions. Spread into the prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs.

Sprinkle with chopped peanut butter cups and peanuts. Bake 4-6 minutes longer or until chocolate is melted. Cool on a wire rack.

In the microwave or on the stove, melt the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Stir until smooth. Stir in the cereal, vanilla, and salt. Spread carefully over brownies.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting.

Chocolate Berry Walnut Bars

With a sweet oatey crust, plenty of chocolate, and a thin layer of berry jam to give it a flavorful surprise, this recipe is easy to make and great to eat.

Ingredients:

- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 cups dry oats
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt

- 1 cup cold butter
- 3/4 cup seedless raspberry or blackberry jam
- 1 package (11.5 oz) chocolate chunks
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x9-inch pan.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, sugars, and salt. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Set aside 3/4 cup for topping; press the remaining crumb mixture into the prepared pan. Spread with jam, then sprinkle with chocolate chunks.

Combine the chopped walnuts with the reserved crumb mixture; sprinkle over the top.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly. Cool on a wire rack before cutting.

Banana Pecan Cake

A sweet, streusel-topped alternative to banana bread.

Ingredients:

- 2/3 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar

- 2/3 cup butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 teaspoon almond extract

- 3 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

- 2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3 or 4 medium bananas)
- 1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
- 1 cup vanilla or white chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9-inch pan.

Combine the pecans and brown sugar in a small bowl; set aside.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time; beat well after each addition. Add the almond extract.

In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the bananas and sour cream; beat well after each addition. Fold in the vanilla or white chocolate chips.

Spread batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with reserved pecan mixture.

Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

Sausage & Pepper Mostaccioli

This is a baked pasta dish with Italian sausage and green pepper, along with whatever kind of noodles you want. Great with biscuits or French bread!

Ingredients:

- 1.5 lb Italian sausage
- 1/2 green pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cups meatless spaghetti sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 8 oz mostaccioli (penne rigate) or other pasta, cooked 8 minutes then drained
- 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x9 or 7x11-inch pan.

In a large skillet, brown the sausage with the pepper and onion, over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes. Break up the sausage as it cooks.

Stir in spaghetti sauce and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Spread 1/2 cup sauce in the bottom of the prepared dish. Add a layer each of half the pasta, half the mozzarella cheese, and half the Parmesan cheese. Spread on 1 cup or more of sauce, then layer the remaining pasta, mozzarella, and Parmesan.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.