Zucchini Soup

Brown:
4-5 slices bacon, cut up
1 med onion
2 gloves garlic
1 carrot cut
2 celery w/leaves
Add:
4 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 tbsp condensed beef base
1 1/2 tsp salt (easy on the salt! with the bacon it's plenty salty)
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp accent
3-4 med zucchini cut

Cover and cook 2 hours

Penne Pasta & Veggies

This is a vegetarian meal but i added chicken!

1 bag penne pasta
2 or 3 cloves of garlic, minced (I buy the minced garlic in the jar - so easy)
1/2 onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow squash, sliced
1 zucchini, sliced
1 bunch of broccoli
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper

Cook pasta according to directions on package. Add broccoli to pasta 2 minutes before pasta is done. Drain water but leave pasta and broccoli in pot to keep warm. Meanwhile, in saucepan, pour 2 or 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil - Enough to cover bottom of pan. Add onions and garlic. Heat until slightly brown. Add all veggies (except broccoli of course). Heat on medium for 5 minutes until veggies are cooked. Season with salt and pepper. Add veggies to pasta pot and stir. Mix in parmesan cheese. Stir until melted. Can add more cheese if desired.

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Crust:
1 ½ c. graham cracker crumbs
1/3 c. butter or margarine, melted
¼ c. granulated sugar

Filling:
3 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese softened
1 c. sugar
¼ c. Packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 can (15 oz) 100 % pure pumpkin
2/3 c (5 fluid-ounce can) Evaporated Milk/ substitute heavy whipping cream
2 tbs. cornstarch
1 ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground nutmeg

Topping:
1 container (16 oz) sour cream @ room temperature
1/3 c. granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°F
For Crust:
COMBINE graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar in medium bowl. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up side of 9-inch spring form pan (or 9 in pie pan). Bake for 6-8 min (do not allow to brown). Cool on wire rack for 10 mins.

For Filling:
BEAT cream cheese, sugar and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs, pumpkin, and evaporated milk. Add cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg; beat well. Pour into crust.

BAKE for 55-60 min. or until edge is set but center still moves slightly.

For Topping:
MIX sour cream, sugar, and vanilla extract in small bowl; mix well. Spread over surface of warm cheesecake. Bake for 5 mins. Cool on wire rack. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
Makes 16 servings

Cheesecake Pancakes

I made these for breakfast before church today! Mmm yum!! I loved the graham cracker!

Picture from BettyCrocker cause i forgot to take a pic before i dug in:)

Pancakes
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese
2 cups Original Bisquick mix
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup milk
2 eggs

Strawberry Syrup
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1/2 cup strawberry syrup for pancakes

Slice cream cheese lengthwise into four pieces. Place on ungreased cookie sheet; cover and freeze 8 hours or overnight. (I just spread my cream cheese on like butter cause i didn't have time for this step:)

Brush skillet with vegetable oil or cooking spray

Cut cream cheese into bite-size pieces; set aside. In large bowl, stir Bisquick mix, graham cracker crumbs, sugar, milk and eggs with whisk until blended. Stir in cream cheese.

In small bowl, mix strawberries and syrup; top pancakes with strawberry mixture

This with a glass of milk-divine! I can only eat one and i'm stuffed!!

Fajitas

We had Keri over for dinner last night! Poor Adam was sick. I tried this for the first time! Keri loved it! She had three plates:)I think the noodles add a fun new twist instead of using tortillas. I actually combined a couple recipes. You can just buy fajita meat but i made mine.


Meat:
About 1 lb (depends how much you're making) steak cut into strips
•1/4 cup soy sauce (I marinated my meat for a couple hours)
•1/4 cup lime juice
•1 teaspoon chili powder
•2 Tablespoons oil

Red bell pepper, julienned
Green bell pepper, julienned
1/2 onion, sliced
2 Tbls olive oil
1/2 bag fajita meat
1 can Original Rotel
Angel hair pasta

*Cook pasta according to directions. Saute bell peppers & onions in olive oil. Add meat for the last 5 minutes. Add Rotel. Drain water from pasta and add to fajitas. Mix well & Enjoy!

Teriyaki Beef Bowl

Nothing fancy here but oh so good! I knew Coley would love this! Chad had four bowls:)


About 2 cups chopped carrots
About 2 cups chopped broccoli
Steak cut into strips
8 oz Pasta
¼ c Italian dressing
¼ c Teriyaki sauce
1 t ginger
Cook pasta, when there is about 7 min left add fresh vegetables. Drain when done. While pasta is cooking, heat 2 t oil in skillet, add steak and brown. Stir in Italian dressing, teriyaki sauce and1 ginger. Cook until sauce thickens then toss everything together.

super easy!

Japanese Chicken

Gavin never eats all his food and then ask for seconds, but that's what he did while eating this meal. He did this hand gesture and said, "This food is the best, Mom"! We all died laughing and I had to get a picture. He is the funniest kid. That makes it all worth it for me!

I served this with chicken fried rice, white rice and creamy fruit salad

4-6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup flour

2 1/2 T. sesame seeds

1/4 plus 1/8 cup soy sauce

2 cups sugar

1 cup vinegar

1/8 cup chopped green onions

Dip chicken in egg, combine flour and sesame seeds, roll chicken in flour mixture and place on greased baking sheet. Bake at 450 degress for 10 minues on each side. Mix soy sauce, sugar and vinegar, pour 1/2 of mixed sauce over chicken and bake at 325 for 40 more minutes. Place chicken in serving pan and pour remaining sauce over it. Garnish with green onions. Serve.

Recipe comes from the McKay-Dee Hospital Cafeteria