Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Baked Macaroni & Cheese

Ingredients
1 - 16 oz.pkg. macaroni elbow noodles
Approximately 1/2 cup of margarine
Approximately 1/2 cup of flour
Several pinches of dry mustard
4 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese (I use a variety of cheeses… have fun with it!)
5 cups of whole milk
1 block of extra sharp cheddar cheese
Pinch of black pepper
1 egg (uncooked)
Touch of paprika

Directions
Cook pasta according to package instructions. Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large saucepan melt margarine, flour, pepper and dry mustard. Stir until thickened. Reduce heat to very low and add milk and shredded cheeses. Heat until begins to boil. Remove from heat. Add macaroni to baking dish and stir in egg. Add cheese sauce and stir. Cut up several pieces of cheese from the block and add to macaroni in baking dish. Thinly slice the rest of the block of cheese and layer on top. Sprinkle with paprika to taste. Bake for 35 minutes or until bubbly. Enjoy!

Remember… this is southern cuisine (soul food)… which means it must be made with love! It may take a few tries before it's what you want it to be, but keep trying!

Healthy Poutine?

Poutine

4 servings, about 3/4 cup potatoes & 1/3 cup gravy each
Active Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

* 1 1/2 pounds new or baby potatoes, scrubbed and cut into quarters
* 5 tsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
* 1/4 plus 1/8 teaspoon salt, divided
* 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper, divided
* 1 1/2 cups reduced-sodium veggie beef broth or mushroom broth, divided
* 3 Tbs all-purpose flour
* 1 cup coarsely chopped cremini or white mushrooms
* 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
* 2 Tbs finely chopped chives
* 1/2 cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese



1. Position rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 450°F.
2. Combine potatoes, 2 tsp oil and 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper in a large bowl; toss to coat. Spread evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring once or twice, until the potatoes are tender and browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
3. Whisk 1/2 cup broth and flour in a small bowl; set aside.
4. Heat the remaining 3 tsp oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add mushrooms and onion and cook, stirring often, until beginning to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the remaining 1 cup broth; bring to a simmer. Cook until reduced by about half, 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Add the reserved flour and broth mixture; cook, stirring constantly, until smooth and thickened, 1 to 3 minutes. Stir in chives and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; keep warm on low heat.
6. When the potatoes are done, push them together in the center of the pan and sprinkle with cheese. Return to the oven; bake until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes more. Serve the potatoes topped with the gravy.

Savory zucchini pie

Savory zucchini pie ~ Thanks, Martha!!

* For the crust:
* 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
* 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
* 1 teaspoon coarse salt
* 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
* 1 large egg yolk, plus 1 large egg yolk, for egg wash
* 1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water
* 1 tablespoon heavy cream, for egg wash for the filling
* For the filling:
* 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 shallot, finely chopped
* 1 small zucchini, cut crosswise into 1/2 inch-thick half-moons
* 1 1/2 pounds cherry tomatoes
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 4 ounces bocconcini (fresh mozzarella balls)
* 3 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, chopped
* 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Preparation

1. Make the crust: Pulse flour, cheese, salt and butter in a food processor until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 1 egg yolk; pulse to combine. Drizzle in 1/4 cup ice water, and pulse until dough just comes together. (If dough is still crumbly, add up to 1/4 cup more water, 1 tablespoon at a time.) Form dough into a disk, and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate or freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.

2. Make the filling: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium. Add shallot; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add zucchini; cook, stirring occasionally, until light golden and liquid has been released, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.

3. Halve one-third of the tomatoes. Stir halved and whole tomatoes, both cheeses, basil and flour into shallot-zucchini mixture. Season with salt and pepper.

4. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 13-inch round, about 1/4-inch thick. Make seven 3-inch-long cuts around edge of dough, evenly spaced. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate. Drizzle shell with remaining tablespoon oil. Transfer filling to shell. Fold in flaps of dough, slightly overlapping. Refrigerate until dough is firm, about 30 minutes.

5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Whisk cream and remaining egg yolk in a small bowl, and brush over crust. Bake pie on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet until crust is golden brown and juices are bubbling, 70 to 80 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm.

Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Buffalo Chicken Casserole

8 servings
Active Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 1/2 hours


* 12 ounces whole-wheat elbow noodles
* 2 tablespoons canola oil
* 3 medium carrots, sliced
* 3 medium stalks celery, sliced
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 1 tablespoon minced garlic
* 2 lbs MSF Chicken Strips or Chicken Grillers, cut into 1" cubes
* 1/3 cup cornstarch
* 4 cups low-fat milk
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup hot sauce, preferably Frank’s RedHot
* 1 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (about 4 ounces)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Bring a Dutch oven of water to a boil. Cook noodles until barely tender, about 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain, rinse and set aside.
3. Heat oil in the pot over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, onion and garlic and cook until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add chicken and cook til warm, 3-5 minutes. Whisk cornstarch and milk in a medium bowl; add to the pot along with salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring often, until bubbling and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in hot sauce.
4. Spread the noodles in a 9-by-13-inch (or similar 3-quart) baking dish. Top with the chicken mixture; sprinkle with blue cheese.
5. Bake the casserole until it is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

* Make Ahead Tip: In Step 2, cook the noodles 4 minutes less than package directions. Prepare through Step 4, cover and refrigerate for 1 day. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, then bake at 400°F for 45 minutes.

Tex-Mex Summer Squash Casserole

Tex-Mex Summer Squash Casserole Recipe

12 servings
Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 1/2 hours


* 2 1/4 pounds summer squash, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise (about 10 cups)
* 2/3 cup finely chopped yellow onion
* 1 4-ounce can chopped green chiles
* 1 4-1/2-ounce can chopped jalapenos, (about 1/2 cup), drained
* 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
* 2 1/4 cups grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, (about 7 ounces), divided
* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 3/4 cup mild salsa
* 4 scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish
* 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion, for garnish


1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Combine squash, onion, chiles, jalapenos, salt and 3/4 cup cheese in a large bowl. Sprinkle with flour; toss to coat. Spread the mixture in the prepared baking dish and cover with foil.
3. Bake the casserole until it is bubbling and the squash is tender, 35 to 45 minutes. Spoon salsa over the casserole and sprinkle with the remaining 1 1/2 cups cheese. Bake, uncovered, until golden and heated through, 20 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with scallions and red onion.

* Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat, covered, at 350°F for about 40 minutes. Garnish just before serving.

Greek Style Orzo Soup

Ingredients

* 6 ounces burger crumbles
* 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
* 1 large onion, finely chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon crumbled dried rosemary, or oregano
* 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, (optional)
* 1 14-ounce can whole tomatoes, undrained
* 2 tablespoons chopped, pitted black olives
* Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
* 12 ounces orzo
* 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese


Preparation

1. Put a large pot of salted water on to boil.
2. Cook 'beef' in a small skillet over medium heat, stirring, until browned, 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large deep skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic, cinnamon, rosemary (or oregano) and crushed red pepper, if using; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add beef.
4. Puree tomatoes and their juices in a food processor until smooth. Add to the meat mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in olives. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Meanwhile, cook orzo until just tender, about 8 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and toss with the sauce. Serve garnished with feta.

A-mmmm-azing Mini Mushroom Tartlets

Mmmm-azing Mini Mushroom Tartlets

1 cup finely chopped portabella mushrooms
1/3 cup finely chopped white onion
3 T. chopped scallions
3 T. fat free cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 t. chopped garlic
1/8 t. salt
2 dashes black pepper
2 dashes nutmeg
15 mini phyllo dough shells (found in the freezer aisle)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375. Bring a pan sprayed with nonstick spray to medium high heat on the stove. Add mushrooms and onion, and cook until soft. Place mushrooms and onion in small bowl. Add scallions, cream cheese, garlic, salt, pepper and nutmeg and mix well. Evenly distribute mushroom mixture among the phyllo shells. Arrange shells on a baking sheet sprayed lightly with nonstick spray. Bake in oven for 12 to 15 minutes until edges of tartlets are crisp. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Yum!
Makes 3 servings, 120 calories per serving, points value: 3

Loaded Nachos

The combination of black beans, salsa, and nonfat Greek yogurt makes this version of nachos a multicultural feast without the fat. Serves 4

4 ounces baked tortilla chips,
8 ounces ground MSF burger crumbles and sausage patties
¾ cup fat-free spicy black bean dip
Salt and black pepper
1 cup reduced-fat Mexican style four-cheese blend
1 cup store bought fresh salsa
2/3 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
2/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
2. Line a baking sheet with foil, and spread the tortilla chips out on the prepared sheet.
3. Heat a large nonstick sauté pan over high heat. When the pan is hot, add the burger and cook it until it is just cooked through, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Stir the bean dip into the burger, and season it with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Spoon the burger mixture over the chips, and sprinkle the cheese on top. Bake for 6 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
5. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, and top the chips with the salsa. Drop small spoonfuls of the yogurt on top of the nachos (or serve the yogurt on the side if preferred), and scatter the cilantro on top. Serve immediately.

Macaroni and Cheese Cupcakes

Macaroni and Cheese Cupcakes

* 8 ounces elbow macaroni
* 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, plus a little more for garnish
* 2 eggs
* 1 cup milk
* Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper or foil liners.
Cook the macaroni until done. Drain and immediately return to pot.
Add cheese and stir briefly until almost melting.
Beat eggs into milk, and then pour mixture into macaroni. Mix well.
Ladle macaroni mixture into muffins tins, and bake for 20 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

Spaghetti with fried eggs

So strange and yummy sounding, I just had to try it. DELICIOUS!! And using it as a base recipe, the options are endless. Add veggie bacon,or sun-dried tomatoes or asparagus or mushrooms. YUMM!!!



Spaghetti with fried eggs

* Salt
* 1/2 pound thin spaghetti
* 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or lard
* 2 large cloves garlic, lightly smashed and peeled
* 4 eggs
* Freshly ground black pepper
* Freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese, optional

Preparation

1. Bring a pot of salted water to the boil. Start the sauce in the next step, and start cooking the pasta when the water boils.

2. Combine garlic and 4 tablespoons of the oil in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the garlic, pressing it into the oil occasionally to release its flavor; it should barely color on both sides. Remove the garlic, and add the remaining oil.

3. Fry the eggs gently in the oil, until the whites are just about set and the yolks still quite runny. Drain the pasta, and toss with the eggs and oil, breaking up the whites as you do. (The eggs will finish cooking in the heat of the pasta.) Season to taste, and serve immediately, with cheese if you like.
Serving Size

Time: 20 minutes. Yield: 2 or 3 servings.

Margarita Mac and Cheese

Margarita Mac and Cheese

6 to 7 ounces elbow macaroni
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp dried basil (or 1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil, plus extra for serving)
2-3 cups mozzarella cheese
1 can diced tomatoes, drained.

For sauce:
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cups milk

Pre-heat oven to 375. Cook macaroni as directed on the package. While macaroni is cooking, prepare the sauce.

Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes, or until garlic is fragrant. Whisk in flour, salt and pepper and cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir one minute. Set aside.

Drain pasta and mix with the drained diced tomatoes. Place half of the macaroni in an ungreased 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with half the salt, pepper, basil and cheese. Repeat with remaining macaroni, salt, pepper, basil and cheese. Pour sauce over macaroni. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes longer. Serve with fresh basil.

Veggie Lasagna Rolls

Veggie Lasagna Rolls

10 lasagna noodles
1 egg
1 pound ricotta
1-1/2 cups fresh mozzarella
1/2 cup Parmesan
1 cup veggies, finely chopped (spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, tomatoes)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Garlic salt and pepper to taste
2 cups tomato sauce


1. Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
3. In a large bowl combine egg, ricotta, half of the mozzarella, Parmesan, veggies, parsley, garlic salt and pepper. Mix well.
4. Spread the noodles out on a cutting board. Spread a thin layer of the veggie mixture evenly over each noodle.
5. Starting at one end, roll up each noodle.
6. In a shallow baking dish spread 1 cup of the tomato sauce on the bottom.
7. Add the rolls, seam side down, so they don't unroll and fall apart.
8. Add remaining tomato sauce and remaining mozzarella cheese on top of rolls.
9. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until cooked through and cheese is melted.

Serves 2

Bloomin' Onion Bread

I'm getting ready for Super Bowl... can you tell :)

Bloomin' Onion Bread

Ingredients:

1 round loaf unsliced bread (sourdough or other dense bread)
1-2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, thinly sliced
1/2 C butter, melted
1/2 C green onion, finely chopped
2-3 tsp poppy seeds

Ready for the oven!

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Carefully cut the bread in both directions, forming cubes. Do not cut all the way through to the bottom of the crust.
3. Stick pieces of cheese in between all the cuts.
4. Mix together the melted butter, poppy seeds and green onion. Pour over the top of the bread.
5. Completely wrap the bread in tin foil and place on a baking sheet.
6. Bake for 15 minutes, then unwrap and bake for 10 minutes more or until all the cheese is melted.

Baked Everything

Credit to 101 for this one. Nice comfort food on a cold winter night :)
Baked Farro Pasta Recipe

You can use pretty much any green cabbage here - savoy, napa, or even shredded brussels sprouts if you have some to use up. On the pasta front I call for farro tagliatelle, but you can substitute a wide range of pasta shapes and types. For example, fettuccine, penne, broken lasagne, etc. And you can experiment beyond farro - whole wheat pastas, buckwheat, spelt, they'll all work nicely here. Lastly, I don't hammer this point to death down below, but do your best to salt/season each of the casserole components as you go. Each should taste great on its own.

1 pound small waxy potatoes, for example Yukon gold, fingerling, Yellow Finn
fine grain sea salt
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish
2 medium leeks, trimmed, thinly sliced, well washed
3 garlic gloves, minced
1/2 medium head of cabbage, cored and shredded
1/2 cup vegetable broth or water
1 1/2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
16 fresh sage leaves

12 ounces dried farro tagliatelle, broken into 3-inch segments

4 ounces soft-rind, creamy cheese, cut into tiny cubes (for example, I used this Ardrahan farmhouse cheese, but Stracchino, fontina, or tallegio could all work too)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for cooking the pasta.

In the meantime, in a separate pan, cover the potatoes with water and a few big pinches of salt. Simmer until just tender, somewhere between 30 - 45 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes. Drain well, then slice into 1/4-inch rounds, toss gently with a bit of salt. Set aside.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook until soft, a few minutes. Stir in the garlic. Stir in the cabbage, and then the broth. Season with salt and cook, covered, for a few minutes, or until the cabbage is tender. Remove from heat and stir in the mustard, then 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese, and half of the slivered sage leaves. Taste, adjust the seasoning if needed, and set aside. It should taste good on its own, with an assertive mustard flavor at this point.

Cook the pasta in generously salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Generously butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, or equivalent. Arrange 1/2 of the noodles evenly in the bottom of the dish. Layer half the cabbage mixture, half of the potatoes, 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, and half of the cubed cheese on top of the noodles. Arrange the remaining noodles over the cheese and cover with the remaining cabbage, potatoes, and cubed cheese. Finish with the remaining Parmesan and slivered sage.

At this point you can cover and refrigerate the casserole for up to a couple days, or bake in a 400F degree oven for 45 - 60 minutes - until the top is nicely golden, and it is hot throughout. Serve hot.

Serves 6 - 8.

Prep time: 60 min - Cook time: 60 min

Savory Cheesecakes on Greens

Mini Cheesecakes

* 2 teaspoons unsalted butter, softened
* 1 slice bread, processed in a food processor to make 1/2 cup bread crumbs
* 1 cup (one 8-ounce container) whipped cream cheese
* 2 large eggs
* 1/4 cup sour cream
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
* 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese, like Stilton or Roquefort

The original recipe called for this to be served on a nice well-dressed, Italian salad. I wanted pizza flavored so I omitted the bleu cheese and added diced tomatoes, basil and grated parmesan. Tasted just like pizza!


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously coat four small (3/4-cup) soufflé molds with the butter. Divide the bread crumbs among the molds and coat the bottoms and sides heavily with the crumbs, pressing them onto the buttered dish so they stick.

Put the cream cheese in a medium bowl and add the eggs, sour cream, salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon of the parsley. Mix well with a whisk and divide among the soufflé molds. Sprinkle the crumbled blue cheese on top of the cream cheese mixture in the molds. Top with the remaining 1 tablespoon parsley.

Arrange the molds on a baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes. The cheesecakes will still be slightly wet and soft in the center. Let cool for 10 minutes before unmolding.

Bacon Onion Tart

* Use a pre-made tart crust
* 3 thick-cut bacon slices, chopped
* 1 large onion, thinly sliced
* Pinch of sugar
* 1 cup whipping cream
* 1 large egg
* 1 large egg yolk
* 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
* Generous pinch of salt
* Generous pinch of ground nutmeg
* 1/2 cup (packed) coarsely grated Gruyère cheese


For filling:
Sauté bacon in medium skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 4 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Add onion and pinch of sugar to drippings in skillet and sauté until onion is deep golden brown, about 20 minutes. Whisk cream, egg, egg yolk, pepper, salt, and nutmeg in small bowl to blend. Spread onion over bottom of baked crust; sprinkle bacon over, then cheese. Pour cream mixture over.

Bake until tart is puffed and filling is set, about 25 minutes. Cool tart on rack 10 minutes. Remove pan sides. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Zesty Potato Patties

Zesty Potato Patties

Prep Time: 20 min Makes: 4 patties

1 cup mashed potato flakes
1 oz. (1/4 cup) shredded Cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon chicken flavored instant bouillon
1 teaspoon dried cilantro
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup salsa
2 tablespoons margarine or butter



Instructions

1 In medium bowl, combine potato flakes, cheese, flour, bouillon, cilantro
and baking powder; mix well.
2 In small bowl, beat egg with fork. Stir in milk and salsa. Add to potato
mixture; stir just until combined. Let stand 2 to 3 minutes or until liquid is
absorbed.*
3 Melt margarine in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Drop
potato mixture by 1/2 cupfuls into skillet. Spread each to form 4-inch round..
Cook 4 to 6 minutes or until golden brown, turning once. Serve warm.

Scalloped Potatoes with Sun-dried Tomato Pesto

Ingredients

3 lb Yukon gold potatoes
1 cup sun dried tomato pesto
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 Tbs fresh basil
1 cup chicken broth
2 Tbs parsley


Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly oil a shallow 2-quart baking dish.

Bring a large pot of water with salt to boil. Slice potatoes 1/8" thick and add to boiling water. Cook about 8 minutes. Drain and toss with pesto to coat evenly. Season with S/P.

Layer half the potatoes in baking dish; sprinkle evenly with half the cheddar and basil. Repeat with remaining potatoes, cheddar, and basil. Pour hot broth evenly over top. Cover tightly with foil and bake 30 minutes.

Uncover and bake until the cheese is bubbling and starting to brown, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle top with parsley. 8 servings.
VARIATION: Instead of sun-dried tomato pesto and sharp cheddar, substitute regular basil pesto and sharp white cheddar instead.

Comfort Food for a Rainy Weekend

Broccoli Cauliflower Au Gratin
4 servings -- I could eat all of them!!!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 22 mins

* 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs
* 1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded
* 2 cups broccoli florets
* 2 cups cauliflower florets
* vegetable oil cooking spray
* 1 tablespoon butter, melted
* 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard or 1 tablespoon coarse grain mustard
* 1/4 teaspoon white pepper


1 Preheat oven to 425°F.
2 Combine breadcrumbs with cheese, stir mixture well, and set aside.
3 Arrange broccoli and cauliflower in a steamer basket over boiling water.
4 Cover and steam until tender-crisp (4 minutes).
5 Coat a 1 1/2 qt casserole dish with cooking spray.
6 Drain veggies and place in casserole dish.
7 In a small bowl, mix margarine, mustard, & pepper; drizzle mixture over veggies.
8 Toss to coat, and sprinkle breadcrumb mixture on top.
9 Bake until heated through (8 minutes).

Cheesy Chicken, Bacon and Rice Soup

Cheesy Chicken, Bacon and Rice Soup

* 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
* 1 medium onion, finely chopped
* 3 stalks of celery, finely chopped
* 3 large carrots, finely chopped
* 1 1/2 Cups zucchini, diced
* 2 Tablespoons fresh minced garlic
* 2 Cups cooked and shredded substitute chicken
* 2 Cups steamed white rice
* 4 Tablespoons butter
* 1/4 Cup all purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
* 1 3/4 Cups chicken broth
* 1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
* 1 Cup bacon, cooked and crumbled plus 1/2 Cup to garnish bowls

Instructions

Heat oil into a soup pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Saute onion, celery, carrots and zucchini for 10 minutes or until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute then add chicken and rice. Reduce heat to low.

Melt butter into a large saucepan over medium heat. Slowly whisk in flour, salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in chicken broth until thick and creamy, nearly to a boil. Stir in shredded cheddar until melted then pour into chicken and vegetable mixture. Add 1 Cup crumbled bacon, stir then season according to taste then simmer on low until ready to serve. Garnish each bowl with a few pinches of additional crumbled bacon.

8 servings