Recipes

Even though I cant eat food right now, here are some of my absolute favorite recipes that you can yummy up, or health down.

Sausage with Spinach Skillet Penne Pasta

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 4

                                              

Ingredients:

Picture Courtesy of  www.tastesbetterfromscratch.com

16 oz Hot Italian Sausage (Turkey or Pork)

12 oz Penne Pasta

2 cups of Chicken Stock

2 cups of Water

1 bag of Baby Spinach

1/8 cup of Julienne Cut Sun-dried Tomatoes

1/2 Tablespoon of Garlic

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1/8 cup of Pine Nuts

1/8 cup of freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

-Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

-Remove casings from sausage and break up into gumball sized portions

-Heat Olive Oil in large skillet

-Once oil is visibly hot, add sausage.  Brown on all sides, approximately 5 minutes.

-Rinse Tomatoes and chop fine.

-Add garlic to sausage.  Cook until fragrant.

-Add water, chicken stock, tomatoes, and pasta to sausage and garlic.

-Season to taste, bring to boil.

-Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-hot and simmer for 10 minutes.

-Do not drain excess liquid when finished cooking.

-Roast Pine Nuts in oven in a cake pan, making sure to check/shake frequently.  (Easy to burn)

-Reduce head to low and add spinach to skillet with cooked pasta, a handful at a time.

-Once spinach is fully wilted, and mixed in with pasta, turn off heat completely.

-Remove pine nuts from oven and add to pasta.

-Sprinkle Parmesan Cheese and mix.

-Serve with Garlic Bread or by itself!

Brie Fig Prosciutto Crostini
Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: N/A
Serves: As many as desired

Ingredients:

Picture Courtesy of www.entwine-wines.com

1 package of Prosciutto

Fig Preserve (Spread)

Fresh Brie Cheese

Crostinis

Fig Walnut Balsamic Vinaigrette

Instructions:

-Lay out as many crostinis as desired (eat as a personal snack, or present as an hors d'oeuvres)

-Spread Fig preserve over crostini, as if buttering toast

-Place a small chunk of Brie Cheese atop the spread

-Shred a piece of Prosciutto over the cheese

-Add a small dollop of the spread to top 

-Sparingly splash Fig Vinaigrette to complete

Jalapeno Pinwheels

Prep Time:  45 minutes  Cook Time: 12 minutes

Serves: 8 people (32 pinwheels)

Ingredients:

1 package of Original Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

8 oz package of Light Philadelphia Cream Cheese (Room Temp)

4 oz can of La Victoria Jalapeno (Diced)

Picture courtesy of www.smallhomebigstart.com

3 teaspoons of sugar

Instructions:

-Preheat oven to 365 degrees

-Lay down a sheet of saran wrap approximately 14 inches long

-Open Crescent Roll package and unroll entire sheet of dough into one flat sheet

-Pinch or roll all seams together

-Mix cream cheese, jalapenos, and sugar together

-Spread mixture evenly over the dough

-Slowly roll dough length wise to form one solid, long "log" using the saran wrap to help tighten

-Wrap in saran wrap and either refrigerate over night or freeze for 25-30 minutes

-Cut into small 1/2 inch (or smaller) sections and bake flat in oven for 12-15 minutes, or until pinwheels are light brown.

**Note: These are addicting, and it is easy to eat 5 no problem, so depending on the size of your party, double up on ingredients.

Grandma's Deviled Cheese Dip

Prep Time: 15-20 minutes  Cook Time: N/A

Serves: 8-10 people

Picture courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

Ingredients:

1 package of shredded cheddar (mild or sharp)

3-4 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 tablespoon mustard (your preference)

1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 

6 drops of Tabasco

Original Club crackers

Instructions:
-Combine all ingredients
-Add additional mayonnaise to make creamier
-Serve with Club crackers