Pickled Macaroni Salad

1 box Ditalini pasta, cooked and drained
diced onion
diced pickles
diced celery
thick-sliced olives
cubed cheddar cheese

(DRESSING:)
Miracle Whip
mustard
garlic salt
salt/pepper
pickle juice
paprika

*Combine Miracle Whip, mustard, & spices (amounts are to taste). Thin dressing with pickle juice. Pour 2/3 of the dressing over salad & toss. Reserve 1/3 of the dressing to toss in just before eating, to moisten. Sprinkle with paprika.

Japanese Chicken & Cream Cheese Wontons

I can't really take credit for this recipe; Dionne served it to us recently at her house. But it is so good! Pretty tangy, though. I might recommend reducing the sugar and vinegar by 1/4 - 1/2 c.

Japanese Chicken

3 chicken breasts
2 beaten eggs
1 c. flour
deep fryer or skillet with oil for frying
6 T. soy sauce
1 c. sugar
1 c. vinegar
1 t. garlic powder
3/4 c. liquid (i used the juice from a can of mandarin oranges)
3 T. cornstarch

*cut raw chicken into strips or bite-sized pieces. Coat in egg and then with flour. Drop into hot oil & fry until golden and crispy. Drain on a paper towel. For sauce, combine all ingredients in saucepan except liquid and cornstarch. Whisk cornstarch and cold juice until blended, and slowly whisk into sauce. Heat until boiling and thickened. Place fried chicken into a baking dish and pour sauce over. Bake @ 350 until heated through, about 30 minutes. (You can also keep the chicken and sauce separate and just use the sauce for dipping.) Serve with steamed white rice.

Cream Cheese Wontons

2 bars cream cheese
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 pkg woton wrappers

*Soften cream cheese and then mix in chopped onions. Place about 1/2 T. cream cheese mixture in middle of the wrapper, and follow directions in package for wrapping. Deep fry until golden and crispy. Fantastic dipped in Japanese sauce!

Thanks for the recipe, Di! It rocks.

Chili Relleno Casserole

7 ounce can whole chilies
7 ounce can diced chilies
1 pound EACH, monteray jack and sharp cheddar cheese
6 eggs
13 oz can evaporated milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Lay the split, seedless chilies in 9x13 pan. Alternate cheese and diced chilies until all used. Beat eggs and milk and pour over cheeses. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.

Spinach Tortellini Soup

1-16 oz frozen chopped spinach
1 T. butter
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. onion powder
2 T. flour
1 can evaporated milk or 1 c. half & half
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1 T. olive oil
diced ham
diced onion
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3 1/2 c. water
1 can chicken broth or 2 c. water & 3 chicken bullion cubes
1 envelope dry vegetable soup mix (1.4 oz)
1 20 oz. pkg refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
Parmesean cheese

*Thaw spinach & drain. Melt butter in heavy skillet and add spinach. Cook and stir for a couple minutes, then add salt, onion powder, flour, and milk. Cook for about five minutes, until hot and slightly thickened. Cover and set aside. (You can also buy frozen creamed spinach and just heat it through).

Sautee onion and ham in olive oil & add to creamed spinach. Set aside.

Combine water, chicken broth, & vegetable soup mix. Heat to boiling. Add spinach/ham mixture and tortellini & boil for about five minutes. Stir in shredded cheese until melted. Sprinkle individual servings w/Parmesean cheese.

Apple Pie Carmel Apples

If you have not been to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory at the Gateway...It's a must! Here's my attempt to copy their FABULOUS apples!

I used gala apples. Kraft carmels, melted. (I may try homeade next time) White chocolate chips melted. Brown sugar with a couple Tbs. white sugar and generous amount of cinnamon. ( I didn't measure, just dumped) Wash and dry apples put sticks in stem end. The carmel package said to add 2 tbs water, i did. Dip apples in carmel, put on greased plate or pan and refrigerate. Just till cool. Then dip in melted chocolate----don't add water to chocolate! Cover with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Enjoy. I like them better cold, but it doesn't matter!

Vegetable Beef Pie

I am a little embarrased to put this on here. This is no where near gourmet. It's a tuesday night dinner, it's easy and they eat it....what can i say?! If nothing else you get my easy, yummy pie crust recipe. You can use a frozen pie crust if you'd like. this recipe is way simple though.

CRUST

1 c. butter flavored shortning

2 c. flour

1 t. salt

1/2 c. hot water

*mix together, roll out on floured surface.

FILLING

1 lb hamburger browned

1 family size can campbell's vegetable beef soup. (I like the vegetarian version with no meat and ABC noodles)

grated cheese

Line pie pan with bottom crust. Mix hamburger and soup, fill pie pan. Top with cheese. Cover with top crust. Slit holes. Bake @ 400 for 15 min then 350 for 45 min. Or till crust is done. My hubby likes to put sour cream on it.

With the remaining dough I like to make a little.......low fat cookie. haha Just roll it out, generously cover with sugar, sprinkle with cinnamon. (or mix cinnamon and sugar together then cover crust) Bake about 15 min.

Marie's pretzels

These are similar to the taste of the mall pretzels...but a whole lot cheaper! Thanks to my sister-in-law for finding and tweaking the recipe.


* 4 teaspoons active dry yeast
* 1 teaspoon white sugar
* 1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
* 4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

* 1/2 cup baking soda
* 4 cups hot water
* 1/4 cup kosher salt, for topping

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add the oil and yeast mixture. Mix and form into a dough. If the mixture is dry, add one or two tablespoons of water. Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 to 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water.
4. When risen, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Once all of the dough is all shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with kosher salt. (Some could be a cinnamon/sugar mixture)
5. Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes, until browned.