Zupa Toscana Soup

I got this recipe here.

Zupa Toscana Soup
3 cans Chicken Broth
2 cups whipping cream
red pepper flakes (to taste)
salt and pepper (to taste)
1-2 cups chopped kale
3 to 4 potatoes scrubbed and cut into thin slices (skins left on)
1 lb Johnsonville mild italian sausage

Cook the sausage in a pan until done. Drain grease. Put everything together in a pot and simmer until potatoes are cooked.

I like this recipe because: It is like Olive Garden quality! My kids loved the little bit of KICK the red pepper flakes and italian sausage added.

My least favorite thing: I don't know what to do with the rest of the kale!

Chicken Marsala & Herbed Rice

I got this here . (Wonderful recipe blog managed by my cousins!!) I tried it and LOVE it!! It's restaraunt quality!!

Chicken Marsala

4 chicken breast boneless skinnless
1 large egg lightly beated
flour
2 TBL butter
2 C. fresh portabella mushrooms sliced
2 C. Marsala cooking wine
2 C. heavy cream
Italian cheese blend
1 TBL fresh parsley (optional)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1. Dip chicken in egg, and dredge in flour. Brown chicken in butter in a large skillet over med-high heat. It won’t be cooked in the middle, just browned on the outside. Remove chicken and set aside.

2. Reserve drippings in skillet and add more butter if needed and mushrooms. Splash a little bit of wine in pan so the mushrooms absord the flavor. Cook over med-high heat, stirring constantly until tender.

3. Use a slotted spoon and remove the mushrooms from the pan, leaving the juices. Add cream, Marsala cooking wine, parsley, and salt and pepper. Stir and then add the chicken pieces. Cover and simmer on med-low until chicken is cooked in the middle. Add mushrooms back to pan and sprinkle everything with cheese. Serve with rice.

Herb Rice Pilaf
1/2 cube butter
1 1/2 C. uncooked rice
3/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 - 1 tsp dried thyme
1/8 – 1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 TBL minced onion
3 1/4 C. Chicken Broth
Melt butter in a skillet and brown the rice and onion, stirring until golden brown. Pour into a 2 qt. casserole dish. Add the broth and remaining ingrediants. Mix well. Cover and bake in a 400 degree oven for 30min. Stir well and then bake for 15min longer.

I like this recipe because: It tastes SO GOOD! I've never used cooking wine before but the flavor is SO different and good! I also love mushrooms. This is one of those recipes you make for company!

My least favorite thing: I never have portabella mushrooms on hand. This is a pre-planner!

Trifle (an English dessert)

1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese, soft

1 C. powdered sugar

8 oz sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

8 oz cool whip

1 angel food cake

4 C. berries (you choose! Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or all mixed!)

3/4 C. sugar

1/2 C. orange juice

1 (3oz) pkg instant vanilla pudding

2 C. milk

Cream together cream cheese and powdered sugar. Add sour cream, vanilla, and cool whip. mix pudding as directed and add to cheese mixture. In separate bowls, add sugar to fruit. (I like to leave the fruit how it is without added sugar.) Add OJ if fruit is dry. (I buy the frozen fruit mixture and use a tiny bit of OJ to thaw it out. Don't add too much or it will make your cake soggy.) Cut angel food cake into 1 inch squares.

Layer cake, then 2 C. berries, then pudding, then cake, then pudding, then remaining berries.

I like this recipe because: It is such an awesome summer dessert! We had it probably 5 times this summer because it was so good! It also LOOKS pretty and is great for 4th of July parties because it's red, white, and blue.

My least favorite thing: a lot of ingredients make it not a cheap dessert!

Raspberry Desset by Grandma Baldwin

3 C. graham cracker crumbs

1 cube melted butter

Mix and press into a 9x13 inch pan. Save some crumb mixture for the topping.

Cream together:

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 C. sugar

8 oz cream cheese, soft

Beat in another bowl until stiff:

2 pkgs Dream Whip (In the baking isle. Comes in pouches)

1 C. milk

Fold together the cream cheese mixture and the Dream Whip mixture.

On the stove cook:

1 pkg Raspberry Danish Dessert (Also in the baking isle. Comes in a box)

Add 1 pkg frozen raspberries when Danish Dessert is cooked. Cool.

Put 1/2 of whip mixture on crumbs. Add raspberry mixture. Add rest of cream miture and top with remaining crumbs.

I like this recipe because: The raspberries and whip cream compliment each other SO well!!

My least favorite thing: Finding the right ingredients and time!

Raspberry Salad

1 medium size container cottage cheese
1 (12oz) container cool whip
6 oz raspberry Jello
frozen raspberries

Mix the Jello with the cottage cheese in a big bowl. Add everything else and stir well. I usually let the cool whip thaw a little bit before I add it in. I usually just buy whatever size of cottage cheese and cool whip I want, it's never the same.

I like this recipe because: The frozen raspberries keep it cold so if you have a family outing and it has to sit out for a bit it doesn't get warm!! This is the most requested salad when I go to family reunions!

My least favorite thing: The ingredients can be pricey.

Breakfast Casserole

1 lb sausage
1 pkg hash browns (3 Cups)
1/4 C. butter, melted
12 oz cheese, shredded
1/2 C. onion
6 eggs
mushrooms

Preheat oven to 375. Cook sausage in a skillet. In another skillet, melt butter and cook hash browns until brown. (I like mine mushy.) Line ungreased cake pan with has browns. In another bowl, mix eggs, cooked sausage, cheese, onions, and mushrooms. Pour over potatoes and bake for 35-45 minutes or until eggs are cooked all the way through.

I like this recipe because: It is SO good and a great filling breakfast casserole if you have company! You can also omit/add any ingredients you want!

My least favorite thing: Waiting for hash browns to brown...that's why I eat them mushy!