Secrets of the World Wide Sisterhood

Pan-Fried Chicken-and-Ham Parmesan

Here is a delicious recipe that is in Southern Living this month. 

4 (6 oz.) skinned and boned chicken breasts

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 large egg

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2/3 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs

2 tbsp. olive oil

8 thinly sliced smoked deli ham slices (about 1/4 lb.)

4 (1 oz.) fresh mozzarella cheese slices

Garlic-Herb Pasta

Sauteed Grape Tomatoes

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.  Whisk together egg and and 2 tbsp. water.  Dredge chicken in flour; dip in egg mixture, and dredge in breadcrumbs, shaking off excess.

2.  Cook chicken in hot oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden.  Top chicken with ham and cheese.

3.  Bake chicken in skillet at 350 degrees for 8 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Serve over Garlic-Herb Pasta; top with Sauteed Grape Tomatoes.

Garlic-Herb Pasta:  Cook 8 oz.  vermicelli according to package directions; drain.  Toss with 1/4 cup Garlic-Herb Butter.  Season with salt to taste.  Makes 4 Servings.

Garlic-Herb Butter:  Stir together 1/2 cup softened butter; 1 large garlic clove, pressed; 2/3 cup chopped fresh basil; 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley; and 1/4 tsp. salt until well blended.  Use immediately, or cover and chill up to 3 days.  For longer storage, form into a log or press into ice cube trays, and wrap tightly with plastic wrap; freeze up to 1 month.  Makes 1/2 cup.  Prep: 15 min.   

Hot Apple Pie Cocktail

Here's a really tasty drink that you may want to try if you're getting tired of hot chocolate on these cold winter nights. 

Serves 4

2 1/2 cups Simply Apple Juice

4 cinnamon sticks

2 tbsp. lemon juice

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. allspice

1/4 tsp. ground cardamom

4 small scoops of low-fat frozen vanilla yogurt

4 oz. apple schnapps (optional)

Place Simply Apple juice, cinnamon sticks, lemon juice, vanilla extract, allspice and ground cardamom in medium saucepan.  Warm 2 to 3 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until mixture is hot and the spices are well blended.  Add schnapps if using.  Divide among 4 mugs and top with the frozen yogurt.  Serve immediately.  You can also serve Apple Pie Cocktail cold. But, it is a special treat during cold weather.   Enjoy!!

Flourless Chocolate-Walnut Cookies

Here is a delicious recipe that delivers a dose of hear-healthy fat and antioxidants, courtesy of the nuts and cocoa.    Makes 60 cookies.

Parchment paper

2 1/2 cups walnut halves

3 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup plus 3 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 tsp. salt

4 egg whites

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

Position 2 racks in the upper and lower thirds of oven.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.  Place walnuts on a work surface and finely chop.  Transfer to a separate large baking sheet and toast until fragrant.  (about 9 min.)  Let cool.  Mix sugar, cocoa, and salt in a bowl.  Stir in walnuts.  Add egg whites and vanilla; beat with a fork or electric mixer on medium until batter is just moistened.  (Do not overbeat batter or it will stiffen.)  Drop batter by the teaspoonful onto baking sheets in evenly spaced mounds.  Bake cookies until tops are lightly cracked and glossy. (about 15 min.)  Repeat with remaining batter.  Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

55 calories per cookie       3.3 g fat (0.4g saturated)       6.2 g carbs

0.6 g fiber          1.2 g protein

Hundreds of Recipes for Christmas

Here is a link to a site you have to visit!!!  This site has a lot of cute ideas for Christmas activities and ideas.  But, you can't miss the Christmas recipes.  You may want to copy these and make a cookbook of your own.  I did it last year and it really comes in handy.  Go to www.northpole.com.  At the top of the page, click on the word kitchen.  Once you are in Mrs. Claus' kitchen, click on the Mrs. Claus' cookbook icon.  YOU WILL LOVE THIS!!!!!  

White Chocolate Cookies n Cream Fudge

This is a great recipe I found in this year's Living Christmas with Southern Living.  It is delicious and easy to make.  It would be great to bring for holiday office parties.

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup butter

1 (5 oz.) can evaporated milk

2 (12 oz.) packages white chocolate morsels

1 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow cream

3 cups coarsely crushed cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (about 25 cookies), divided

Pinch of salt

    Line a greased 9" square pan with aluminum foil, set aside.Combine first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan.  Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil; cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat; add white chocolate morsels, marshmallow cream, 2 cups crushed cookies and salt.  Stir until morsels melt.  Pour fudge into prepared pan.  Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cookies over fudge, gently pressing cookies into fudge.  Cover and chill until firm (about 1 to 2 hours).  Lift uncut fudge in aluminum foil from pan; remove foil, and cut fudge into squares.  Yield: 4 lbs.   

White Chili

White Chili is one of my favorite meals during cold months.  I made this once when I had the girls over for movie night.  They loved it!!  It is super easy and quick.

3 cups sour cream

2 lbs. boneless chicken, cut into bite size pieces (I used spicy chicken tenders once and they were good in this recipe as well.)

1-2 tsp. garlic powder

1 onion, minced

1/2 cup water

pinch red pepper flakes

2 cans green chilies

2 cans chicken broth

4 cans white beans (Great Northern) 3 cans rinsed

Salt & Pepper to taste

Drizzle of olive  oil  or vegetable oil

Cut chicken into bite sized pieces, put oil in bottom of pan, place onion, chicken, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder.  Cook onions and chicken until chicken juices clear, add water.  Cook for about 10 minutes with lid on.  Add chicken broth,can of beans, and green chilies, unrinsed.  Cook on low medium for 20 minutes.  Add the remaining beans and cook for another 10 minutes.  Remove from heat, add sour cream and stir completely.  Serve immediately.   

Great Recipe Website

I have found a great website for recipes.  There are a lot of neat Halloween treats to make if you have children or grandchildren.  You've got to check it out.  It is www.myrecipes.com.

Veggie Bites

This is a great recipe for little bite-sized vegetable pizzas.  I got this recipe from my sister-in-law.  They are delicious to make for parties.

2- 8 oz. refrigerated crescent rolls

1 egg, beaten

1- 8 oz. cream cheese

1 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing mix

1- 1 oz. envelope ranch style salad dressing mix

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup chopped boccoli

1/2 cup green pepper

1/2 cup chopped cauliflower

1/2 cup chopped mushrooms

1/2 cup chopped tomato

Unroll crescent rolls and place in bottom of an ungreased 15x10x1" jelly roll pan, pinching edges together to seal.  Brush dough with beaten egg.  Bake at 375 for 11-13 minutes and cool completely.

Combine cream cheese mayonnaise and salad dressing mix; beat until well blended.  Spread mixture over crust; sprinkle with cheese and vegetables.   Chill 2 hours; cut into 1x1 1/2 bites.

Yields 8 dozen 

Cheese-Stuffed Meat Loaf

My husband loves meat loaf.  It's a good thing because meat loaf is one of the easiest things to make--I think.  But, here is a really good recipe that adds a little extra taste to meat loaf.  If gives it sort of an Italian taste. 

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

1 jar (26-28 oz.) RAGU' Chunky Gardenstyle Pasta Sauce

1 large egg, slightly beaten

1/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (about 8 oz.)

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine ground beef, 1/3 cup Ragu' Pasta Sauce, egg, and bread crumbs.  Season, if desired, with salt and ground black pepper.  In 13 x 9-inch baking or roasting pan, shape into 12 x 8 inch rectangle.

2.  Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups cheese and parsley down center leaving 3/4 inch border.  Roll, starting at long end, jelly-roll style.  Press ends together to seal.

3.  Bake uncovered 45 minutes.  Pour remaining sauce over meat loaf and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.  Bake an additional 15 minutes or until sauce is heated through and cheese is melted.  Let stand 5 minutes before serving.    

Bob Evans Stuffed Mushrooms

I love to eat at Bob Evans.  I picked this card up when I was there and made these stuffed mushrooms for a party.  Everyone loved them.   They were very good. 

1 pkg. (24 oz) Bob Evans Refrigerated Garlic Mashed Potatoes  (I've seen these at Kroger.

1 pkg. (8 oz.) softened cream cheese

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup cottage cheese

1 cup Asiago cheese, shredded

1 cup crushed crackers 24 small or 12 large mushroom caps, stem removed

First clean mushrooms with a damp paper towel.   Do not submerge mushrooms in water.  In a bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients.  Spoon potato mixture into mushroom caps.  Sprinkle with cracker crumbs on top.  Bake at 375 for 15 minutes for small mushrooms and 20 minutes for large mushrooms.