Pesto Chicken Stuffed Shells

12-16 jumbo pasta shells
water for boiling pasta
4oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese + 1/4 cup for topping
3 tablespoons prepared pesto (homemade or store bought)
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste


In a large pot over high heat, boil water and prepare pasta shells as directed on package. Cook pasta shells only until al dente. The pasta will finish cooking when the dish is baked. Drain the pasta shells and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients, except the 1/4 cup of cheese for the topping. Fill the pasta shells with the filling and place in a baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese over filled shells.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake shells uncovered for 30 minutes or until shells are bubbling hot and cheese melts.

Forgotten Cookies

2 egg whites
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup semi sweet or milk chocolate morsels
1 cup pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla flavor

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat egg whites to foamy soft peaks. Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff peaks. Stir in vanilla, chocolate morsels and pecans. Drop by spoonfuls onto foil-lined cookie sheets. Place in oven, turn oven off and forget cookies overnight.

Emeril's Chicken Wings

• 4 pounds chicken wings, wing tips removed, separated at the joints
• 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 500 F.

Line large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. In large mixing bowl, combine wings and lemon juice and mix thoroughly. Add pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. While crushing between your fingers, add thyme. Mix again and add cayenne and butter. Mix thoroughly, then transfer wings to baking sheet and arrange in one layer. Roast in oven for 10 minutes, rotate pan and cook 10 minutes longer until wings are nicely browned and cooked through. Serve alone or with your favorite dipping sauce.

PASTE RUB FOR BEEF

use on prime ribs, rolled roasts, pot roasts, chuck roasts, steaks, and filet's

1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
3/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 tsp stone ground (coarse) mustard
1 1/4 tsp salt
2 TBS Olive Oil
2 TBS Balsamic Vinegar
3/4 cup DARK Brown Sugar
(note; add 1 tsp crushed red peppers for a little zing)

mix into a paste, rub into beef extreeeeemly well. Wrap loosely in plastic wrap and let stand in frig 2 hrs to overnight. Cook slow and low to keep it moist and tender. Let stand at least 5 min after removing from heat to stabilize and prepare for cutting. Eat larger than normal portions, as this is one piece of meat you won't want to share. :0)

Soulman's cooked cabbage

1 Head cabbage chopped into 2" cubes
1 lb cooked sausage drained & crumbled
1 lb cooked bacon chopped & drained
Pico de gallo to taste (see recipe below)

Mix all ingredients cook over medium heat till cabbage is tender.

PICO DE GALLO

8-10 Roma tomatoes (seeded)
1/2-1 red onion (to taste)
1 jalapeno pepper (or more to taste)
2 medium cloves garlic
juice of one lime
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Seed and dice tomatoes. Chop onion, jalapeno and garlic to a fine consistency. To these ingredients, add the fresh cilantro, salt, pepper, olive oil and lime. Mix well.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Best if served the next day.
Serve with tortilla chips, burritos, tacos or any Mexican dish. Delicious. As with any dish, you may add or delete ingredients to suit your personal taste.

Fall Mix

I made this snack the last week for our play group that met here at our house. It was yummy and the kids loved it. I will definitely make it again cause Mike even liked it. When Keith and Kim come for Thanksgiving, maybe we will make it with the caramel apple candy corns instead of the originals. The recipe is here, from the Sunday Baker Blog. Love Her!!!

Oven-Baked Burritos

I want to try these, how simple. I'll try them with chicken if they are really good, and I wont use the cucumber.

6 whole Flour Tortillas
½ pounds Ground Beef
1 package Taco Seasoning Mix
½ whole Tomato
¼ whole Cucumber
½ whole Red Bell Pepper
1 can Corn
1 cup Grated Cheese
12 Tablespoons Salsa
12 Tablespoons Sour Cream

Fry ground beef and add taco seasoning mix according to the package instructions.
Chop vegetables, then add beef and vegetables to the tortillas, with desired amounts of cheese, salsa and sour cream.
Roll up tortillas tightly and place in a pan. Sprinkle cheese on top, then stick in a 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until burritos are golden.