Chicken Divan

2 bunches broccoli cut and steamed
2 cups chicken diced
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup mayonnaise
1 t lemon juice
1/2 t curry powder
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
cooked rice (white or brown)

Arrange cooked broccoli and chicken in the bottom of a greased 13x9 pan. Combine soup, mayo, lemon juice and curry powder.

Option A- Top chicken and broccoli with rice, then soup mixture then cheese and bake at 350 for 30 minutes or

B- Pour soup mixture over chicken and broccoli and bake at 350 for 30 minutes (or until bubbly) then serve over rice

Pesto

2 Cups firmly packed basil leaves
3/4 cup parmesan cheese
3/4 cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup pine nuts

Mix all ingredients in a blender, about three minutes, until smooth. Serve with hot pasta.

Cheesy Rice

4 cups water
4 cubes chicken bouillon
2 cups rice
1-2 cloves garlic, crushed and diced
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Bring water and bouillon to a boil. Add rice and garlic. Simmer on low 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in cheese.

Variations:
Use 2 cans of chicken broth instead of bouillon.
Used powdered garlic instead of fresh garlic.
Served with salad, this makes a fast, filling yet light meal

Pizza Dough

2 packages yeast (4 1/2 t)
2 Cups warm water
1 t salt
4 t olive oil
5-7 cups flour (divided)

Dissolve yeast in warm water in mixing bowl. Add salt, olive oil, and 3 cups of flour. Mix with flat paddle until smooth. Switch to dough hook and continue to add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough clings and cleans sides of the bowl. Knead 2 minutes longer. Let rise 1 hour in greased bowl. Bake with toppings 15-20 min @ 400-425 degrees. Makes 2 pizzas.

Variations: Hunt's Garlic and Onion Tomato Sauce makes the best sauce!!! One can covers 1 pizza. Top with cheese and your favorite toppings

Beefy Taco Joe

1 lb ground beef
1 can tomato soup
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup cheddar cheese

Brown Hamburger and add soup and salsa. Heat through. Top with cheese and serve on hamburger buns or corn bread (my personal favorite.)

Bread Sticks

2 Tbl Yeast
2 Tsp Sugar
1 Cup Warm Water
Mix together, let sit until yeast is activated

In a separate bowl mix together
4 Cups Flour
1 Tsp Salt
2 Tbl Olive Oil (or vegetable oil)

Add activated yeast to flour mixture
Add warm water (about 1 cup) until a ball forms

Let it sit for ten minutes

Shape into sticks (optional: top with cheese, butter, garlic)
Bake 10-15 min on 425

Tomato Mozzarella Pasta

1 Box Penne Pasta
Cherry or Grape Tomatoes, cut into halves
Mozzarella Cheese, cubed
3 Tbls Olive Oil
1 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Basil, fresh or dried

In a large bowl, combine olive oil, salt, basil, cheese and tomatoes
Cook pasta according to directions, drain and add to large bowl
Mix well and serve

Easy Homemade Pizza

2 Tbl Yeast
2 Tsp Sugar
1 Cup Warm Water
Mix together, let sit until yeast is activated

In a separate bowl mix together
4 Cups Flour
1 Tsp Salt
2 Tbl Olive Oil (or vegetable oil)

Add activated yeast to flour mixture
Add warm water (about 1 cup) until a ball forms

Let it sit for ten minutes
Spread out onto pizza pan

For sauce, mix 1 can/jar of spaghetti sauce with 1 can of tomato paste

Top with your favorite cheese and toppings

Bake for 15-20 minutes on 425

Shepard's Pie

1lb hamburger
1small to medium onion
1/2 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 can cream of mushroom soup
2 carrots chopped
1/2 can corn
1/2 can green beans
5-6 potatoes mashed and seasoned (milk, butter, salt, pepper)
1/2-3/4 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)

Chop onion and sautee until clear. Add meat and brown. Slightly precook carrots. Mix, hamburger/onion mix, soups, slightly cooked carrots, corn and green beans in a greased 13x9 pan. Top with mashed potatoes and cheese. Bake 30 minutes, or until bubbly and cheese is slightly brown.

Macaroni and Cheese

1/2-3/4 lb elbow macaroni
1 lb sharp cheddar cheese cubed (approx. 2 cups)
3 Tbs. Butter
2 Tbs. Flour
1/2 tsp. salt
pepper as desired
2 cups milk

Cook noodles according to package directions.
Melt butter on low heat. Add flour to make paste. Add salt and pepper. On high heat, slowly add milk a bit at a time. Stir constantly until think and bubbly. Add cheese, stir until melted. Remove from heat. Pour cheese sauce into greased baking dish (I use a pyrex bowl that is oven safe.) Add cooked noodles until there is just a little more cheese sauce than noodles. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

Variations:
Use 3 T olive oil instead of butter
Add 1-2 cups cubed ham
Top with Bread crumbs
Use fun shaped noodles
Use pepper jack cheese for a spicy kick

Crispy Cheesy Potato Wedges

5 Large Potatoes
1/3 Cup Olive oil
1/2 Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
1 tsp. paprika
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/2 Tbs. bread crumbs
dash of garlic powder
dash of pepper

Cut potatoes into wedges, toss to coat with olive oil in 13x9 baking pan. Combine cheese, paprika, salt and bread crumbs. Add garlic powder and pepper to taste, sprinkle over potatoes. Bake at 425, 30-40 minutes, until cheese is crispy.

Variations:
Peel potatoes
Many others herbs and spices can be used according to personal tastes.

Macaroni and Cheese Soup

2 Cans Chicken Broth
1 Package frozen carrots, broccoli, cauliflower
6 oz small shell noodles
1.5 cups milk
1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 Tbs. Flour

Bring broth to a boil. Add noodles and cook 5 minutes. Add veggies and cook additional 5 minutes. Pour milk into resealable container, add 2 Tbs. flour, shake to mix. Stir into pasta mixture. Cook and stir until thickened. Add cheese and cook until melted.

Variations:
2 Cups Water and 2 chicken bouillon cubes for canned broth
I use fresh vegetables and omit the cauliflower unless I have it around. Just cook until tender.
I ust whatever small noodle I have around
Use extra cheese if you want added punch