All posts by Sharon

Appetizers, Bacon

Bacon and Green Chile Roll-ups

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8 slices bacon
1 (9-oz.) container (1 cup) bean dip
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
6 (8-inch) flour tortillas
1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1 (4.5-oz.) can Old El Paso® Chopped Green Chiles
1 .   Cook bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Crumble bacon; set aside.
2 .   In medium bowl, combine bean dip and cream cheese; mix well. Spread each tortilla with bean dip mixture. Sprinkle each with bell pepper, green chiles and bacon. Roll up each tortilla. Wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until ready to serve.
3 .   To serve, cut each roll into 8 pieces. If desired, secure each piece with toothpick. 
Appetizers, Dips, Vegetarian

Artichoke Spinach Dip

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2 fresh artichokes
1 lemon, juice squeezed
1 tsp salt
OR
1 14-oz can artichoke hearts, drained and sliced
1 lb cream cheese, room temperature
8 oz mascarpone cheese, room temperature
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour, sifted
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1 Tbsp fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
5 green onions, chopped
Salt to taste
Ground black pepper to taste
1 6-oz pack fresh spinach, chopped
8 slices crusty Italian bread
Extra virgin olive oil (to drizzle)
Preheat oven to 325ºF.
PREPARATION WITH FRESH ARTICHOKES
Boil artichokes in 3 quarts water with 1 tsp salt and lemon juice.
Cool artichokes. Clean, peel, remove center “choke” and slice artichoke.
Follow Dip Preparation steps below using fresh artichokes.
DIP PREPARATION
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl, except bread and extra virgin olive oil.
Coat a large non-stick baking pan with pan spray; fill pan with mixture. Bake at 325ºF for about 25 minutes or until bubbling and center is hot.
Drizzle both sides of bread with extra virgin olive oil. Grill bread on both sides.
Sprinkle top of heated dip with parmesan cheese. Serve hot with grilled bread.
4  Servings
Pasta, Pumpkin, Ravioli

Pumpkin Ravioli with Gorgonzola Sauce

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I found this recipe on Cooking Light’s website. Perfect for a romantic fall dinner!

For a new way to enjoy pumpkin this season, try these pumpkin ravioli with a rich yet mellow Gorgonzola sauce.

You can assemble the ravioli a day ahead, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. The ravioli will float when they are perfectly cooked. Pour a chilled chardonnay.

Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients

* 1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin
* 2 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs
* 2 tablespoons fresh grated Parmesan cheese
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh sage
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 30 round won-ton wrappers
* 1 tablespoon cornstarch
* Cooking spray
* 1 cup fat-free milk
* 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
* 1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
* 3 tablespoons chopped hazelnuts, toasted

Preparation

Spoon pumpkin onto several layers of heavy-duty paper towels, and spread to 1/2-inch thickness. Cover with additional paper towels; let stand 5 minutes. Scrape into a medium bowl using a rubber spatula. Stir in breadcrumbs, Parmesan, salt, minced sage, pepper, and nutmeg.

Working with 1 won-ton wrapper at a time (cover remaining wrappers with a damp towel to keep from drying), spoon 2 teaspoons pumpkin mixture into the center of wrapper. Brush edges of wrapper with water and fold in half, pressing edges firmly with fingers to form a half-moon. Place on a large baking sheet sprinkled with cornstarch. Repeat procedure with remaining won-ton wrappers and pumpkin mixture.

Fill a large Dutch oven with water; bring to a simmer. Add half of ravioli to pan (cover remaining ravioli with a damp towel to keep from drying). Cook 4 minutes or until done (do not boil), stirring gently. Remove ravioli with a slotted spoon; lightly coat with cooking spray, and keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining ravioli.

Combine milk and flour in a saucepan, stirring with a whisk. Bring to a boil; cook for 1 minute or until thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add butter, stirring until butter melts. Gently stir in Gorgonzola.

Place 5 ravioli in each of 6 shallow bowls, and drizzle each serving with 3 tablespoons Gorgonzola mixture. Sprinkle each serving with 1 1/2 teaspoons hazelnuts. Serve immediately.
Nutritional Information

Calories: 250 (33% from fat)
Fat: 9.1g (sat 4.5g,mono 2.7g,poly 0.7g)
Protein: 9.5g
Carbohydrate: 33g
Fiber: 3.1g
Cholesterol: 22mg
Iron: 2.4mg
Sodium: 636mg
Calcium: 162mg

Casseroles, Main Dish, Make Ahead, Mushrooms, Stuffing, Turkey

Turkey and Mushroom Casserole

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1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can sliced mushrooms
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 6-oz can diced chicken or turkey
1/2 cup packaged stuffing mix

Combine 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, 1 can sliced mushrooms (drained), 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce in 1 qt baking dish. Add 1 6-oz can diced chicken or turkey. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup packaged stuffing mix for poultry. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes or until bubbly hot. Or bake in individual serving sized baking dishes for 20 minutes.

Chicken, Italian, Pasta

Chicken & Mushroom Fettuccine Ala Vodka

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I made this for dinner last night…it was super yummy! It’s a keeper!

8 oz Fettuccine – cooked and drained
2 tbs each butter and olive oil
2 chicken breasts – sliced thin
1/2 pound mushrooms – washed and sliced
4 oz white wine
4 green onions – sliced
2 cloves crushed garlic
garlic powder
salt and pepper
1 jar Vodka Pasta Sauce (or 16 oz homemade)
2 tbs crumbled feta cheese
Parmesan cheese for garnish

In a deep saute’ pan, heat up butter and oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink on the outside. Add the mushrooms, wine, green onions, crushed garlic, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste. Stir and continue cooking until chicken is done on the inside and mushrooms are soft. Add the jar of pasta sauce and feta cheese. Stir until well blended. Taste and season with more salt, pepper or garlic powder if needed. Heat thoroughly. Serve over cooked fettuccine. Add bread sticks and a salad for a lovely dinner.