O'Henry Bars

I made these bars a few weeks ago. The recipe is from my Sister-in-law Laura's family cookbook. These are seriously good.

O'Henry Bars
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
8-10 cups rice krispies
6 oz. chocolate chips
6 oz. butterscotch chips

Melt butter. Add corn syrup and sugar. Bring just to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter. Add rice krispies and mix well. Press mixture into large baking sheet (11X17). Melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips in the microwave on high for 2 minutes. Stir. Continue microwaving for 30 second spurts until chips are melted. Spread chips on top of rice krispie mixture. Let chocolate set.

Brianna Bars

I took the liberty of naming these after my friend Brianna who introduced me to these delicious bars. She's made these for a few potlucks I've been to & everyone always wants the recipe. Yum!

Brianna Bars

1 package white cake mix
1/2 c plus 1/3 c peanut butter
1 egg
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 package chocolate chips
1 package reeses
walnuts

Mix cake mix, 1/2 c peanut butter & egg. Beat on low until crumbly.
Press into bottom of greased pan. Mix milk & 1/3 c peanut butter &
spread over crust. Top with chips & walnuts. Bake for 30-35 mins at
350.

Baked Coconut Shrimp

I made this a few days ago. It was yummy. I just took about 20 shrimp that were cleaned with the tail left on. I had a bowl of 1 beaten egg white and another bowl of 1 c shredded coconut, 2 T of corn starch and 1/4 t salt. I put all the shrimp in the egg white and mixed until coated. Then I put the shrimp one by one in the coconut mixture and put them all on a cookie sheet covered in foil with about 1 T olive oil covering the cookie sheet. Then I baked for about 8 minutes at 400 degrees. For the dipping sauce I mixed 1/4 c apricot simply fruit jam, 1/4 c mayo and a dash of curry powder. I served it with a mixed green salad and rice pilaf.

Young Women's Dinner

For mutual last night I taught the Beehives how to make a 3 course meal. We had bruchetta, aloha chicken with rice and peanut butter cup bars. It was delicious & a lot of fun.

Cheesecake Factory Bruschetta

1 1/2 cups chopped Roma tomatoes
3 tablespoons diced red onions
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Dash freshly ground black pepper
1/2 loaf French baguette or crusty Italian bread


Combine tomatoes, red onion, garlic and basil in a medium bowl. Add 1/2 tablespoon of oil, vinegar, salt and pepper and mix well. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for one hour.

When ready to serve, preheat broiler and slice the baguette in 1-inch slices on a 45 degree angle to make 5 to 7 slices of bread.

Combine remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil with the garlic salt. Brush entire surface of both sides of each slice with olive oil mixture. Broil slices for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side, until surface starts to brown. Arrange bread like wheel spokes on serving plate. Spoon the chilled tomato in neatly onto bread slices where they meet at the center of the plate.

Aloha Chicken
- Schoen Family

2 c Aloha Soy Sauce (any Hawaiian brand soy sauce will work.
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs (it really needs to be thighs)
1 c sugar
1 T garlic, minced
2 t ginger, minced

Put all ingredients in a saucepan and boil for 45 mins. I put mine in a crock pot on low for about 6-7 hours.

Reeses Peanut Butter Bars
- Lisa Hinson

two sticks softened butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup powdered milk (I would sift this, mine had some little milk chunks in it)
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups (or so) crunchy peanut butter

Spread in a 9x13 (or so) pan. It's thick, like playdough.

Melt in a pot a 24oz bag of Milk chocolate chips (not semi-sweet)
Spread over peanut butter mixture and refrigerate.
They need to get cold to "set", but they taste better (and cut easier) if they're room temperature.

Halibut in Cartoccio

I love Anne Burrell on the food network. She made this a couple of weeks ago. I didn't have parchment paper, so I used tin foil. I had to increase the cooking time to about 20 minutes. It was really simple, light & delicious. I served it with rice & salad.


Halibut in Cartoccio
Ingredients

* 2 zucchini, green part only, julienned
* 1 small butternut squash, top part only, peeled and julienned
* 1 pint Brussels sprouts, leaves pulled apart
* 1 large leek, julienned
* Extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 tablespoon picked thyme leaves
* Kosher salt
* 4 (6-ounce) halibut fillets
* 4 slices lemon
* 2 cups dry white wine
* Special Equipment: Parchment paper

Directions

Fold 4 (9 by 13-inch) pieces of parchment paper in half and starting at the top of the fold, cut a large half circle from the paper. When the fold is opened it should be a full circle. It is okay if it is not a perfect circle-a heart shape is even better. Reserve.

In a bowl combine the zucchini, butternut squash, Brussels sprouts and leeks. Toss generously with olive oil and season with the thyme leaves and salt. Oil and salt the halibut as well.

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

Open the parchment paper circles (or hearts) and brush the paper with olive oil leaving a 1-inch border around the edge.

Divide the seasoned vegetables between the 4 papers, placing them in the center just above the crease. Lay the fish fillets on top of the vegetables and place a lemon slice on top of each fish fillet. Fold the paper over the fish. Working from 1 end of the parchment to the other fold the bottom of the paper over the top to crease and seal the packets. The closure needs to be very secure so the steam will not escape during the cooking process. Before the package is completely sealed, carefully add 1/2 cup wine in each then seal. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 9 minutes.

Remove the fish from the oven, place on serving dishes and serve immediately. Have each diner slice open their own parchment package so they can get the full effect of the burst of aromatic steam that will be released from the package.

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

I love the chicken lettuce wraps at Pei Wei. I found this version at RecipeZaar and decided to try it last night. They were really really good. I preferred them with the sauce, but Matt liked them without the sauce. I didn't use water chestnuts. They're not my favorite thing. I added some shredded carrot.

P. F. Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe #15865
This recipe is from Todd Wilbur and Top Secret Recipes
by Lali

25 min | 10 min prep

SERVES 2 -3

* 3 tablespoons oil
* 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
* 1 cup water chestnut
* 2/3 cup mushroom
* 3 tablespoons chopped onions
* 1 teaspoon minced garlic
* 4-5 leaves iceberg lettuce (I used bib lettuce)

Special Sauce

* 1/4 cup sugar
* 1/2 cup water
* 2 tablespoons soy sauce
* 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
* 2 tablespoons ketchup
* 1 tablespoon lemon juice
* 1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
* 1 tablespoon hot mustard (didn't have so I used a little dijon)
* 2 teaspoons water
* 1-2 teaspoon garlic and red chile paste

Stir Fry Sauce

* 2 tablespoons soy sauce
* 2 tablespoons brown sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

1. Make the special sauce by dissolving the sugar in water in a small bowl.
2. Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, lemon juice and sesame oil.
3. Mix well and refrigerate this sauce until you're ready to serve.
4. Combine the hot water with the hot mustard and set this aside as well.
5. Eventually add your desired measurement of mustard and garlic chili sauce to the special sauce mixture to pour over the wraps.
6. Bring oil to high heat in a wok or large frying pan.
7. Saute chicken breasts for 4 to 5 minutes per side or done.
8. Remove chicken from the pan and cool.
9. Keep oil in the pan, keep hot.
10. As chicken cools mince water chestnuts and mushrooms to about the size of small peas.
11. Prepare the stir fry sauce by mixing the soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar together in a small bowl.
12. When chicken is cool, mince it as the mushrooms and water chestnuts are.
13. With the pan still on high heat, add another Tbsp of vegetable oil.
14. Add chicken, garlic, onions, water chestnuts and mushrooms to the pan.
15. Add the stir fry sauce to the pan and saute the mixture for a couple minutes then serve it in the lettuce"cups".
16. Top with"Special Sauce".

Chicken Divan

This is my Neneie's recipe (my mom's mom). She was a great great cook. This is a family favorite. It's creamy and delicious. It's perfect served over rice.

CHICKEN DIVINE

Neenie

2 bunches of broccoli 6 cooked chicken breasts, sliced

1/4 c butter shredded parmesan cheese

1/4 c flour 2 c. chicken broth

1/2 c heavy cream--I use skim milk 1/2 t salt

pepper to taste

Cook broccoli until just done-still crisp.

Heat butter in a sauce pan and add flour stirring constantly, it will become thick, add broth all at once and stir and cook until it bubbles

add the cream, or milk, salt and pepper. Cook a few minutes.

In a 9 by 13 pan lay the broccoli and pour 1/2 the sauce on it.

Now layer the chicken over broccoli. Now add 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese to sauce, heat through and pour over chicken. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 until heated through and broil until golden on top. 6-8 Servings.

Super easy peach cobbler

We had a friend over for dinner a couple of weeks ago and I wanted an easy peach cobbler recipe to make. This one was so so good. It was perfect. I calls for Peach pie filling, but I didn't have any, so I used 1 large can of peaches in heavy syrup and then I sliced 5 medium fresh peeled peaches into the can of peaches.

EASY PEACH COBBLER
from: cooks.com

2 cans peach pie filling
1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 c. melted butter
1/2 c. chopped pecans (I didn't add this)
2 tbsp. cinnamon/sugar

Spread pie filling evenly in bottom of 13x9 inch pan. Sprinkle with dry cake mix completely covering fruit. Pour melted butter over entire cobbler. Sprinkle top with chopped pecans and cinnamon and sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

Spinach Manicotti

My friend Jill's Manicotti is one of our family favorites. I made it last Sunday for dinner. I made a pan of Jill's version and then made a pan of Spinach Manicotti using Jill's filling and the sauce of the spinach enchiladas I posted right before this post. They were super good.

CHEESE FILLED MANICOTTI

Jill Sampson

1 pkg. Manicotti (8 oz)

15 oz ricotta or cottage cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 egg

1 T dried parsley

1/4 t. salt

1/4 t. pepper

1/8 t. nutmeg

2 cups Spaghetti Sauce

Prepare pasta by package directions and rinse with cold water.

In a large bowl:

Mix Ricotta and 1 1/2 c. mozzarella, 1/4 c parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, salt and pepper and nutmeg.

Spoon mixture into manicotti shells. Put a little of the spaghetti sauce in bottom of 9 by 13 inch pan, and then place each filled shell over sauce. Pour remaining sauce over shells, and remaining mozzarella cheese, and parmesan.

Bake 350 for 35 minutes uncovered. Makes 4 servings.

SAUCE:

I tablespoon butter 1/2 Small onion, minced

1/2 pound mushrooms, finely chopped 1/4 CUP white wine (apple juice)

1 tablespoon seasoned salt 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon

I tablespoon garlic powder

8 ounces fresh spinach, washed and drained

I cup heavy cream



To make sauce: Heat butter in a large skillet, add onion and mush, rooms and sauté until softened. Add wine and cook until liquid has been absorbed, about 2 'minutes more. Meanwhile, in a blender, add the water, seasoned salt, chicken base and garlic powder and blend. Add spinach, a little at a time, and blend until mixture is smooth. Add pursed spinach mixture to skillet and stir to combine. Add heavy cream and bring mixture to a boil; simmer briefly until desired consistency is attained.

Salsalito's Spinach Enchiladas

One of my favorite tex-mex restaurants here is Salsalito's. A few years ago they had their spinach enchilada recipe in the newspaper. It's really good. It's super super super rich though, so be prepared. I think instead of using the filling outlined in the recipe next time I will use a chicken & cheese mixture or maybe a ground beef mixture. The spinach in the middle and on the outside was a little too rich, but still so good.

PINACH ENCHILADAS-Sasalito’s

SPINACH AND MUSHROOM

FILLING:

I tablespoon butter 1/2 small onion, minced

1 clove fresh garlic, minced

1/2 pound mushrooms, chopped 1/4 cup white wine (or apple juice)

12 ounces fresh spinach, washed, drained and coarsely chopped Seasoned

salt, to taste

SAUCE:

I tablespoon butter 1/2 Small onion, minced

1/2 pound mushrooms, finely chopped 1/4 CUP white wine (apple juice)

3/4 c water

1 tablespoon seasoned salt 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon

I tablespoon garlic powder

8 ounces fresh spinach, washed and drained

I cup heavy cream

TO FINISH:

Oil, for softening tortillas 12 corn tortillas

11/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

To make filling: Heat butter in a large skillet over moderate heat. Add onions, garlic and mushrooms and sauté until soft and liquid has

evaporated, about 5 to 7 minutes, Add Wine and cook for 2 minute, more. Add spinach and seasoned salt and cook, stirring, until spinach is wilted and liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat and set aside. To make sauce: Heat butter in a large skillet, add onion and mush, rooms and sauté until softened. Add wine and cook until liquid has been absorbed, about 2 'minutes more. Meanwhile, in a blender, add the water, seasoned salt, chicken base and garlic powder and blend. Add spinach, a little at a time, and blend until mixture is smooth. Add pursed spinach mixture to skillet and stir to combine. Add heavy cream and bring mixture to a boil; simmer briefly until desired consistency is attained, To assemble and cook enchiladas: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat oil in a small pan and dip tortillas briefly in hot oil to soften; drain Well between paper towels. Divide filling events among the tortillas, fill and roll Place enchiladas seam side down in a heat. proof baking dish that is just large enough to hold them comfortably. Pour sauce over enchiladas, top with shredded cheese and bake in preheated oven 15-20 min. Makes 12 enchiladas (4-6 servings)

Baked Ziti

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law Laura's family cookbook when we were in Seattle in June. Laura is a great cook & has passed on some really good recipes to me.

This recipe was so so easy and really really good. Matt loved it & for a meatless dish that's really saying something from him!

Baked Ziti
Renae Chambers

Directions: Cook 1 lb of tube pasta (only have the cooking time). Mix 15 oz ricotta, 1 c mozzarella and 1/4 c Parmesan cheese into the noodles & pour it into a 9 x 13 dish. Spread a bottle of pasta sauce over the noodles. Sprinkle with a little Parmesan and mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes at 350. Then remove foil and bake for 10 more minutes.