Split Pea Soup with Sausage Balls

1 pound (2¼ cups) green split peas
2 – 2½ quarts water
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon marjoram
1 pound bulk pork sausage
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced potatoes
1 cup diced onion

Wash split peas; cull. In large saucepan combine water and seasonings; bring to boil. Add peas gradually so water does not stop boiling. Shape sausage into 1-inch balls (about 28 of them); roll in flour. Drop into soup. Cover; simmer until peas are tender – 2½ to 3 hours. Thirty minutes before serving time, add vegetables; cook until tender.

Christmas Lasagna

10 no-boil lasagna noodles (or half of a 1 pound box)
1 pound mild Italian sausage
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
2½ cups (about 28-ounce can) diced tomatoes, drained slightly
¼ teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon basil
½ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon parsley

Set noodles aside. Brown and drain sausage. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer uncovered (I use a splatter guard) for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

½ pound mozzarella, sliced or shredded
½ cup grated Parmesan
½ pound shredded mild cheddar

Combine and set aside for cheese layer.

2 eggs
1 pint cottage cheese
2 tablespoons parsley

Beat eggs. Stir in cottage cheese and parsley.

Layer noodles, cottage cheese mixture, meat sauce, cheese in greased 9x13-inch pan or two square pans. Repeat twice for a total of three layers.

Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

Can be frozen. Allow at least 24 hours to thaw in fridge, then bake.

Grovecrest Peanut Butter Fingers

¾ cup butter
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
¾ cup peanut butter (I use creamy, but chunky would work too)
2 eggs
½ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon baking soda
1½ teaspoon vanilla
1½ cups flour
1¼ cups oats

Mix well. Press on ungreased jellyroll pan (or cookie sheet with edges). The mixture will be sticky. I cover it with a sheet of waxed paper and just press it with my hands to fill the pan, then peel the paper off when I'm done. Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes, until center doesn’t jiggle. Frost with chocolate frosting when cooled. (Recipe below.)

Chocolate Butter Frosting
1/3 cup butter, softened
¼ cup + 2 tablespoons cocoa
2 cups powdered sugar
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
About 2 tablespoons milk

Mix butter with sugar and cocoa until blended. Stir in vanilla and milk. Beat until frosting is smooth and spreading consistency. Fills and frosts two 8- or 9-inch layers or frosts 13x9-inch cake.

Vander Baan Carrot Cake

2 jars Stage 3 carrots or 3 jars Stage 2 carrots (12 oz. total)
2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cup oil or 3/4 each oil and applesauce
4 eggs
2 cups flour
2 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
3 tsp cinnamon

Beat eggs slightly, then add other ingredients. Beat for 4 minutes. Add 2 tsp vanilla and mix well.

Pour into 13x9" pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven about 45 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Cool, then frost with cream cheese frosting.

Gooey Chex Mix

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
6 cups Chex (rice or corn) cereal
6 cups honey grahams cereal
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup coconut

In large bowl combine cereals, coconut and almonds. In saucepan combine butter, sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes stirring constantly. Pour over cereal mixture and mix well. Spread mix on wax paper to cool.

Burnt Vegetables

3 carrots, sliced
2 potatoes, sliced
1 pound broccoli, chopped
1 small onion, diced
1 pkg. Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage (any variety)
salt and pepper to taste

Steam carrots and potatoes for five minutes. Meanwhile, place sliced sausage and diced onion in a wok or frying pan and saute on medium heat. Add carrots, potatoes, broccoli and spices. Stir frequently until broccoli is tender. Serve with ketchup if desired. Yield: 4-6 servings.

Chicken and Wild Rice Salad

1 package wild rice cooked and cooled
2 shredded chicken breasts
1/2 to 1 lb sliced mushrooms
1 package Spinach leaves
2 green onions, sliced
1 large tomato diced

Dressing
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons sugar
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper

Mix dressing together and pour over salad mixture. Chill before serving.

Lemon Bars

2 cups flour, stirred & measured
½ cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, barely softened
4 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
5 Tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch salt
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
⅓ cup lemon juice
2 Tablespoons grated lemon rind (2 lemons)
Powdered sugar

In large bowl combine flour and powdered sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Press evenly in 9 x 13-inch pan. Bake 20 minutes. In meantime, in small bowl beat eggs and granulated sugar together until light colored; stir in flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, lemon juice and rind. While crust is still hot, spread immediately with lemon mixture; continue to bake for another 25 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown. While warm, sprinkle with additional powdered sugar. Cool; cut into bars.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Meatballs:
1 pound ground beef
1 egg
1 tablespoon cornstarch
minced onion to taste
salt and pepper
1 teaspoon seasoning salt

Mix above ingredients and form into balls. Brown in 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Sauce:

6 tablespoons water

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup pineapple juice
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons vinegar

Mix cornstarch and water until cornstarch is disolved. Combine mixture with remaining ingredients and cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly.

Add meatballs, pineapple chunks (drained) and bell peppers (1 to 3). Heat thoroughly. Serve over hot rice. [Note: It's a lot of sugar, so I used Splenda and it tasted just as good.]

Ebelskivers

2 cups buttermilk
2 cups flour
3 eggs, divided
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar

Beat egg whites until they are stiff. In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks; add sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk.
Gently fold in egg whites.
Heat puff pan to medium and generously apply cooking spray. Fill each cup 2/3 full and turn halfway through (about 30 seconds on each side). Makes approximately 40.

Asparagus and Cheddar Stuffed Chicken Breast

4 chicken breasts
12 trimmed asparagus spears
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
lemon pepper seasoning

Preheat oven to 350°F. Pound chicken breasts with a meat mallet to flatten. Place 3 trimmed asparagus spears in the center of each breast and top each with 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese. Bring in sides of chicken and tie in 1 or 2 places with kitchen string. Season to taste with lemon pepper seasoning and place in a baking dish. Add 1/4-inch of water to dish; cover and cook for 20 minutes. Remove cover and cook for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Makes 4 servings

Spinach Enchiladas

Make without chicken for a great vegetarian dish.
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
½ cup sliced green onions
1 (9 ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed, squeezed to drain (I used the Green Giant spinach that is in a cream sauce, just thawed, no draining)
1½ cups cooked shredded chicken
1 cup low-fat small curd cottage cheese
½ cup light sour cream
6 ounces (1½ cups) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
12 (6 inch) corn tortillas (heated)
1 (10 ounce) can mild red enchilada sauce
sliced green onions for garnish (optional)

Heat oven to 375. Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ½ cup green onions; cook and stir 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add spinach and chicken; cook 1 minute or until warm, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in cottage cheese, sour cream and 1 cup of the cheese. Spoon ¼ cup filling down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place, seam side down, in ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Pour enchilada sauce evenly over tortillas; sprinkle with remaining cheese.Bake at 375 for 15 to 20 minutes or until bubbly and thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with sliced green onions if desired.

Beef Stroganoff

1 pound round steak (cut into strips)
½ cup sliced onion
2 tablespoons butter
1 small can sliced mushrooms
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
½ cup sour cream
up to ⅓ cup water (optional)

Brown meat and onion in butter. Add mushrooms and soup. Cover and simmer 45 minutes. Add water depending on consistency, then add sour cream last. Heat through, but do not boil. Serve over egg noodles.

Quick and Easy Brownies

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter or margarine
½ cup cocoa powder (or more to make them more chocolatey)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour (or 1½ cups for more cakey)
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup walnut halves

Melt butter and mix all ingredients in the order given.

Bake at 350⁰ for 20 to 30 minutes in a 9x13 inch greased pan.

Spanish Rice

2 cups rice
4 cups water
1 large can diced tomatoes
3 cubes chicken bouillon
1 8-ounces tomato sauce
1 large onion, in wedges
1 can diced green chiles (optional)
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
Lime wedges (optional)

Heat olive oil (use a large pan with a lid). Add rice and onion, cook until onion is tender. Add water and bouillon until dissolved. Add remaining ingredients, bring to boil. Cover, simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until water is absorbed. Serve with lime wedges.

Makes 10-12 servings.

Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup

from the Lion House Cookbook

½ cup butter or margarine
1 cup flour
3 teaspoons chicken soup base (or about 5 bouillon cubes, omit salt)
3 cans chicken broth
2 cups chopped carrots
2 cups chopped celery (include leaves)
¾ cup chopped onion
2 cans cream of chicken soup
¼ cup evaporated milk or ½ cup whole milk
2 cups cooked diced chicken
4 cups cooked noodles
salt and pepper to taste

Make roux by melting butter in saucepan. Add flour. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Set aside.

Heat soup base and broth together in large saucepan. Add carrots, celery and onions and simmer until vegetables are tender. Add cream of chicken soup and milk. Thicken with roux as desired. Add cooked chicken and cooked noodles. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 2½ quarts.

Ugly Chicken

3-4 chicken breasts, cubed
½ envelope Ranch dressing mix (or more, depending on preference)
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 ounces cream cheese, cubed

Cook chicken on high setting of slow cooker with small amount of butter and Ranch powder for about an hour, just until chicken is cooked through.

Add soup and cream cheese, cook for 1 to 2 hours on low. Stir to combine once or twice.

Serve over rice.

Makes 4 servings

Buffalo Chicken Salad

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped into bite-size pieces
2-3 tablespoons Ken’s Stakehouse Spice Buffalo Marinade
1 head of Romaine lettuce
1 avocado, diced or sliced
4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, cubes or matchsticks
1 large tomato, diced
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onions
croutons (optional)

Dressing (per serving)

2 tablespoons ranch dressing
1 teaspoon Ken’s Stakehouse Spice Buffalo Marinade

Marinate chicken in marinade overnight. Grill chicken in skillet. Mix remaining ingredients. Place hot chicken on top. Blend dressing with marinade and drizzle over salad. Serves 3-4.