Sister Beck's Jalapeno Salsa

This was REALLY good - and there are two ways to make it. From scratch... or from a bottle. Sister Beck did the "bottle" recipe that night and it was still fantastic. (And don't let the title fool you. It wasn't very spicy. Just enough to make it delicious!)

BOTTLE:

1 jar Jalapeno Salsa (from Harmon's)

1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)

1 can white corn (drained)

1/4 bottle zesty Italian dressing.

Stir and chill. Serve with chips!

SCRATCH:
1 yellow bell pepper

1 red bell pepper

1 orange bell pepper

5 roma tomatoes

cilantro

4-5 green onions

1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)

1 can white corn (drained)

zesty italian dressing

Chop and dice all vegetables. Stir with remaining ingredients and chill. Serve with chips!

Parmesan Breadsticks

16-20 Frozen Rolls (wheat or white) 2 per breadstick
1/2-1 cube Butter
1/2 tsp Garlic Salt
1/4 tsp dried Oregano
1/4 tsp dried Basil
Parmesan Cheese

Thaw dough for about 2 hours. Melt butter and garlic salt in a small saucepan over low heat. Roll each peice between palms and stretch until about 10 inches long. Take 2 and pinch the ends together and wrap them around each other (to form a 2 part braid...) Place on a cookie sheet. Spread on the butter mixture and sprinkle with Oregano, Basil and Parmesan Cheese. Let rise about 30 minutes. Bake at 325 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.

**When using 2 rolls per breadstick you don't need more than 1 per person. They rise and make really big breadsticks:)

Minestrone Soup

1 pound Smoked Sausage, cubed
2 Cups Water
4 Stalks celery, diced
3 Carrots, diced
1 Medium Onion, diced
1 (14 oz) can Beef Broth
1 (10 oz) can Bean with Bacon Soup
1(28 oz) can Petite Diced Tomatoes
1 tsp Sugar
2 Cloves of Garlic, minced (or 1 tsp garlic salt)
1 Tbs Oregano
1 Tbs Basil
2 tsp Salt (I had to add a little more salt than it calls for)
1 tsp Pepper
1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 box Bow Tie Pasta

Brown Sausage in frying pan. Add all remaining ingredients (except pasta) into a large crockpot and Stir together. Cook on Low for about 4 hours. High for at least 2 hours. Just before eating cook your pasta and add to soup.

**My Kids LOVED this! :) I served this with Parmesan Breadsticks:)

Chicken Parmesan Bundles

Ingredients:
4 ounces PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
1 1/4 cups KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese,
divided 6 tablespoons KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
6 small boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, pounded to 1/4-inch thickness
1 egg
10 RITZ Crackers, crushed
1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce, heated


Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Mix cream cheese, spinach, 1 cup mozzarella and 3 Tbsp. Parmesan until well blended; spread onto chicken breasts. Starting at one short end of each breast, roll up chicken tightly. Secure with wooden toothpicks, if desired. Set aside.
2. Beat egg in shallow dish. Mix remaining Parmesan and cracker crumbs in separate shallow dish. Dip chicken bundles in egg, then roll in crumb mixture. Place, seam-sides down, in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
3. Bake 30 min. or until chicken is done (165 degrees F). Remove and discard toothpicks, if using. Serve topped with spaghetti sauce and remaining mozzarella.

Teriyaki Chicken

Ingredients
1 (4 pound) chicken, cut into pieces
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle orange-flavored carbonated beverage

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Mix the soy sauce and the orange soda in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Add the chicken, turning to coat evenly. Bake, skin side down, for 30 minutes. Turn and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Let cool and serve.

Chicken Lasagna

1 lb Chicken (cooked and shredded)
1 Box Lasagna Noodles (I use the No Boiling required ones)
1 15oz Container Ricotta Cheese
1 Egg
4 Cups Shredded Mozzarella
1/2 C. Grated Parmesan
1 1 1/2 Jars Marinara Sauce (I use Hunts)

Preheat Oven 375 degrees. Spray a 13x9 baking pan with non-stick spray. In medium bowl beat the egg. Stir in Ricotta, 2 cups Mozzarella and Parmesan.

Layers:
1: Spread 1 cup sauce in the bottom of baking dish
2: Layer 4 noodles, 1/3 ricotta mixture, 1/2 of shredded chicken, 1 cup Mozzarella, 1 cup sauce
3:Layer 4 noodles, 1/3 ricotta mixture, and 1 1/2 cup sauce
4:Layer 4 noodles, the remaining ricotta mixture, remaining chicken and 1 cup sauce
5:Layer 4 noodles, the remaining sauce, and remaining cheese.

Bake, covered with foil until bubbly. 50-60 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking until the cheese is melted. (about 5 minutes) Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.

Quick Braised Chicken with Rosemary and Potatoes

This is a great recipe in so many ways. It is quick, easy, healthy, and delicious. This recipe comes from "The Deen Bros. Take It Easy" (Paula Deen's sons) cookbook. We tried it last Sunday for dinner, and we were not disappointed. You won't be either.

Note: I am not a good photographer. This picture does not do the food justice.

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons salt, plus additional for seasoning
1 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus additional for seasoning
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
3 pounds chicken drumsticks and thighs (or one or the other)
1 pound red potatoes, cut into eighths


Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and rosemary.
3. Place the chicken in a large broiler-proof baking pan (I used a 9x13 glass pan with good results) and season with the additional salt and pepper.
4. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover the pan and transfer to the broiler. Broil, 4 inches from the heat, for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the juices run clear when the chicken is pricked with a fork. Serve hot, with the pan juices spooned on top.