Cheesy Stuffed Shells

These are so full of flavor! They make a perfect meal for company of anytime! It really is not that time consuming to make and the taste in the end makes it all worth it!

What I used:
One carton of cottage cheese (the tall size)
25 jumbo pasta shells
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
dash of Italian seasoning
1 cup peas
1 can spaghetti sauce

Bring water to a boil and cook pasta. While pasta is cooking combine all your cheeses, Italian seasoning and peas. Pour half of your sauce in the bottom of your baking dish. Once your pasta is cooked and cooled begin filling the shells about 3/4 of the way full. Place in baking dish and pour the rest of your sauce over the top. Cover with foil and cook for 20 min. at 350. Uncover and cook 5 min. longer. You can add more Mozz. cheese at this point if you wish.

From our table to yours, bon appetite!

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

According to a recipe book I have this is really the recipe that Krispy Kreme uses to make their doughnuts. Honest to goodness they really do taste like them! This is not just my opinion, but others that we have given them to! Go ahead and give 'em a try!

What the recipe called for:
2pkgs. regular yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp/ salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup shortening
5 cups all-purpose flour
veggie oil
Creamy glaze

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, salt, sugar, eggs, shortening and 2 cups flour. Beat on low speed scraping the bowl constantly, 30 sec. Beat on med. speed scraping bowl occasionally, 2 min. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Cover and let rise in warm place 50-60 min. Turn dough onto floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour. Gently roll dough 1/2" thick with floured rolling pin. Cut with floured doughnut cutter. Cover and let rise until double, 30-40 min. Heat veggie oil in deep fryer or electric skillet to 350. Slide doughnuts into hot oil with wide spatula. Turn doughnuts as they rise to the surface. Fry until golden brown, about 1 min. on each side. Remove carefully from oil (do not prick surface); drain. Dip the doughnuts into creamy glaze, set on rack.

Creamy glaze:
1/3 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2tsp. vanilla
4-6 tsp. hot water

Heat butter until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in water, 1 tbsp. at a time until desired consistency.

Stromboli

Awhile back my hubby worked close to a pizza place that made Stromboli. He watched closely how they made it and decided to try his own hand at it. He does a FANTASTIC job! Give it a whirl and see what you think!

What He used:
Our family pizza crust recipe :) You can use your own if you wish
He put oregano in the dough for the crust
Pepperoni (one bag)
2 bags shredded mozz. cheese (divided)
One can mushrooms
Italian seasoning

Roll out your pizza dough in a rectangle. Put your pepperoni, cheese, mushrooms and seasonings on one side of your dough. Fold the dough over the ingredients and seal it to the bottom of the side with the ingredients. Cut several slits in the top of the stromboli, melt a small amount of butter and baste the top of stromboli with it. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 30 min. or until top is golden brown. Depending on your pizza dough recipe it will make two.

From our table to yours, bon appetite!

This was the piece my hubby made for me. See the secret message?!

Tomato-Basil Pork Chops

Last night for dinner I wasn't sure how I wanted to fix my pork chops. I went rummaging through my cupboards and an idea popped into my head! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

What I used:
4 pork chops
1 can tomato soup
1/2 can water
1 can diced tomatoes
minced garlic....just enough to flavor
dash of Basil
Dash of Italian seasoning

Place your chops in a glass baking dish. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over the top of your chops. Place in the oven and bake at 350 for 35 min. Enjoy!

From our table to yours, bon appetite!

Kitchen Tip #....I don't know :)

Something that helps me have a desire to cook is having a clean kitchen! Sometimes if stuff is all over the counters etc. it makes the thought of cooking very overwhelming. However, if after every use I take the time to wipe down counter tops and keep clutter away it provides a warm and inviting place to make something yummy! Whether you have much counter space or hardly any at all, it is a great idea to keep it clean, not just for the fact of an inviting place to cook but also to keep away germs and bacteria that are lurking in those cracks and crevices! It doesn't take long to swipe the counters with disinfectant each night, give it a try!!
Our kitchen....