Easter Nests

Ingredients:
8 ounces (227 grams) semi-sweet or milk chocolate, chopped
2 - 2 1/2 cups chow mein noodles
Garnish:
small jelly beans, speckled malted milk eggs, or other egg shaped candy

Directions:

Chocolate Easter Nests:
Line a baking pan with a piece of aluminum foil, smooth the foil, and then butter or spray the foil with a non stick vegetable spray.Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Gently fold in the chow mein noodles, being careful not to break them.Spoon six mounds of the mixture onto the prepared pan and, using your fingers, form each mound into a 4 inch (10 cm) nest shape. Make a small indentation in the center of each nest.Place the pan, with the chocolate nests, in the refrigerator to set (about 30 minutes). Just before serving, remove the nests from the refrigerator and place some small jelly beans or other egg shaped candy in the center of each nest. Makes about six - 4 inch nests.

Easy Caramel Popcorn

Ingredients:
8 cups popped popcorn (1 regular sized bag)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup margarine
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt (I omit this if I use already salted popcorn)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:
Pop the microwave popcorn per instructions on package. Once popped, remove the "duds." I do this by pouring the popcorn into a large bowl, shaking it, so all the duds fall to the bottom, then scooping the popcorn back into the bag in handfuls. Dump out the duds and return the popcorn to the large bowl.In a 2 quart casserole dish, or other heat-proof glass dish, combine the brown sugar, margarine, corn syrup, salt and vanilla. Heat for 1 minute 30 seconds in the microwave, then take out and stir until well blended. Return to the microwave, and cook for 30 seconds. Remove from microwave, and stir in the baking soda. Pour syrup over the popcorn in the bowl. Stir to coat the popcorn as best as you can. Put the bowl of popcorn into the microwave for an additional 30 seconds. Remove, stir well, and return it back to the microwave for another 30 seconds. Remove, stir well. Dump the popcorn out onto waxed paper, and let cool until coating is set. Store in an airtight container.

Crescent Casserole

Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
2 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup pasta sauce
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups mashed potatoes
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls

Directions:
1. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain and set aside. In the same skillet, saute the onion, garlic and green pepper in oil until crisp-tender. Stir in the beef, pasta sauce, oregano, salt and pepper; heat through.
2. Spread mashed potatoes in an 11-in. x 7-in. x 2-in. baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray. Top with beef mixture; sprinkle shredded cheese.
3.Unroll crescent dough. Separate into four rectangles; arrange rectangles over the casserole. Bake at 375 degrees F for 12-15 minutes or until top is browned.

Comments:
This was super yummy! Was sort of like a goolosh or shepards pie. Very filling and perfect for a cool rainy day.

Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Ingredients:
1 20oz can unsweetened pineapple chunks
1 egg
1 cup soft bread crumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon canola oil
2 large green peppers
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup cider vinegar
3 tablespoon soy sauce

Directions:

Drain pineapple, reserving 1/2 cup juice. Set the juice and pineapple aside. In a bowl, combine the egg, bread crumbs, garlic, salt and pepper. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into meatballs.
In nonstick skillet, brown meatballs in oil; drain. Cut green peppers into chunks. Add broth, peppers and reserved pineapple to meatballs. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 5-7 minutes.
Combine sugar and cornstarch in a bowl. Stir in the vinegar, soy sauce and reserved pineapple juice until smooth. Add to meatball mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve over rice.

Comments:

Beef Taco Bake

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 cup Salsa
1/2 cup milk
6 flour tortillas or 8 corn tortillas, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup shredded cheese


Directions:
Cook beef in skillet over medium heat until beef is browned stirring to separate meat. Pour off fat. Add soup, salsa, milk, tortillas and half the cheese. Spoon into 2 quart shallow baking dish. Cover and bake at 400 for 30 minutes or until hot. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Sausage-Stuffed Green Peppers

Ingredients:

1 pound Italian Sausage
1 medium onion, chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
4 medium green peppers, seeded and cut in half leangth wise
2 cups Pasta Sauce



Directions:

Cook sausage until browned, stirring to separate meat. Add onion and oregano and cook until tender. Pour off fat. Stir in Cheese.

Arrange peppers in 3 quart shallow baking dish or roasting pan. Spoon sausage mixture into peppers. Pour pasta sauce over peppers. Cover and bake at 400 for 40 minutes or until peppers are tender.

Crispy Fish Tacos

Ingredients:
Peanut or Canola oil for frying
2 cups panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup Flour
3 eggs Salt & Pepper
2 lbs Cod, Snapper, Halibut or other firm, flaky white fish
8 flour tortillas
1/2 head napa cabbage or lettuce (we have done both)
Pink Chili Mayo, recipe follows
Lime wedges, for garnish

Directions:
To fry the fish: Fill a large heavy bottomed pot about 1/3 full of peanut oil. Heat to 375 degrees F. While the oil is heating, put the breadcrumbs & flour together into a shallow dish. Break the eggs into another shallow dish, season with salt and pepper, and beat them with 2 tablespoons of water. Cut the fish into 1-inch wide strips. Dip them into the egg, then coat them well with the breadcrumb mix. Set aside and let them rest for 10 minutes. While waiting, wrap tortillas in tin foil and warm in oven. Cook the fish a few pieces at a time until golden brown and cooked through, about 2-3 min minutes. Drain on paper towels.

To make the tacos: Place crispy fish strips onto warmed tortilla, top with some of the shredded cabbage/lettuce & any other toppings of choice, and add Pink Chili Mayo.

Some other toppings to add are: chopped tomato, diced avocado, mexican cheese, salsa, chopped cilantro. Squeeze on some lime juice, roll up, and eat!

Pink Chili Mayo:
1 1/2 cups Light mayonnaise
1 1/2 cups Light sour cream
2 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
Juice 1/2 lime
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Put the mayonnaise, sour cream, peppers, and lime juice in a blender and process to a puree. Refrigerate the mayo for 1/2 hour to let the flavors to blend; taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.