Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole

This is such a yummy dinner. You could toss in cooked, cubed chicken if you want. I like to make it in the morning and throw it in the fridge until dinnertime. I got this from my favorite recipe source Cook's Country.

Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole
serves 8-10

2 slices hearty white sandwich bread, torn into pieces
3/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
4 Tbsp. butter, melted; plus 2 Tbsp, chilled.
1 garlic clove, minced
2 lbs. broccoli, florets cut into 1" pieces, stems peeled & chopped. Keep separate! (2# is about 3-4 medium heads of broccoli)
1 onion, chopped fine
1 1/4 c. white rice
4 c. chicken broth
1 1/4 c. half-and-half
1 tsp. salt
2 c. shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Prepare topping: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat to 400 degrees. Grease 9"x13" baking dish. Pulse bread, 1/4 c. Parmesan, and melted butter in food processor until coarsely ground. Add garlic.

Make filling: Microwave broccoli florets, covered, in large bowl until bright green and tender, 2-4 minutes; set aside. Melt remaining butter in Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook onion and broccoli stems until softened, 8-10 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring constantly, until rice is translucent, about 1 minute. Stir in broth, half-and-half, and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, until rice is tender, 20-25 minutes. Off heat, stir in cheddar, cayenne, remaining Parmesan, and broccoli florets.

Top and bake: Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and top with bread crumb mixture. Bake until sauce is bubbling around edges and top is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Serve.

Make ahead: Filling can be prepared, placed in greased baking dish, covered with plastic wrap, and refrigerated for 1 day. Refrigerate topping separately. Bring filling to room temperature before adding bread crumbs and baking as directed.

German Pancakes

I love these because it's a meal I can make in a pinch, without having to go to the store, and everyone loves them. Also known as dutch babies, it makes a 9"x 13" pan that's all fluffy, then when you take it out of the oven the middle goes flat. It leaves these high crusty sides that are fabulous. Try them, especially with the buttermilk syrup - so yummy. The syrup is also great on the pumpkin pie waffles and regular pancakes as well.

German Pancakes
1 cup milk
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
6 eggs
6 Tbsp. butter

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Put the butter in a 9" x 13" pan. You can either put it in the oven while it's preheating, or melt it in the microwave. You just want the butter to be hot in the pan, without burning it, when you pour your batter in. Combine the remaining ingredients in a blender. Once butter is bubbling in the oven, pour blender ingredients in pan. Bake 20-25 minutes. Cut into 6 or 8 squares.

Buttermilk Syrup
4 oz. butter
1/2 c. buttermilk (or add 1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice to milk and wait a couple of minutes)
3/4 c. sugar

Bring to a boil, then remove from heat.
Add: 1 tsp. of baking soda
1/2 c. maple syrup

Serve warm. Store leftover syrup in the refrigerator.

Homemade Almond Joys or Brenda's Macaroons

I made this recipe twice in a 4 day period of time, and still could eat another 5 given the chance. LOVE THEM!

14 oz. bag of flaked coconut
1 1/2 c. plain almonds or macadamia nuts
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 egg whites
1 pinch salt

Spread coconut onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and toast for 13-15 minutes on 350. Spread whole almonds on cookie sheet and toast for 10-15 minutes. Once almonds are toasted, rough chop them. I prefer them pretty big, in 1/2's & 1/3's.

Whip 2 egg whites and a pinch of salt until stiff (not dry). Fold in coconut and nuts. Add sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. Drop onto parchment lined cookie sheets. Cook for about 14 minutes at 350, or until edges are golden brown.

Let cool completely. Dip in chocolate.

Chicken Pot Pie

Sauce:
4 Tbsp. butter
1/2 cup flour
1 can chicken broth
1 1/2 c. whole milk, half & half, or cream

Melt butter, add flour, and cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly. Slowly add broth, stirring constantly with a whisk. Add milk and season to taste with salt, pepper and parsley.

Pie:
1 1/2# chicken, cooked and cubed
2 Tbsp. butter
1 medium onion
2 small celery stalks, sliced 1/4" thick
12 oz. package of frozen peas and carrots
2 pie crusts (top and bottom layer)

Melt butter and saute onion and celery. Add sauce and peas and carrots. Cool.

Line a pie pan with bottom crust, add filling, and top crust. Seal edges with water and crimp closed.

Bake at 425 degrees for 40-50 minutes. Brush top with 1 yolk mixed with 1/8 tsp. water.

Watch the edges of the pie!

Pumpkin Pie Waffles

With fall here, I have to share an absolute favorite recipe. They are from Williams-Sonoma website.

5 Tbsp. butter
1 cup pumpkin puree (can use canned)
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 1/4 tsp. grated peeled fresh ginger
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1/8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of salt
1 1/3 c. flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup milk
1/2 c. sour cream
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. dark rum (if you're all out of rum, add extra vanilla!)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Vanilla ice cream and/or maple syrup for serving

Preheat waffle iron. If you want to hold the finished waffles until serving, preheat an oven to 200 degrees.

Melt the butter, set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, brown and granulated sugars, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and salt. Using a rubber spatula or handheld mixer, mix together well. Stir in the flour, baking powder and baking soda. The mixture will be thick and a little lumpy. Don't try to smooth it out; just mix until the ingredients are incorporated.

In another bowl, beat together the milk, sour cream, eggs, rum and vanilla. Add the liquid ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and stir until combined. Fold in the melted butter.

Lightly spray or butter the griddle, because the batter is quite sticky. Brush or spray again only if waffles stick after the first one.

Makes 6 - 4 1/2" square Belgian waffles.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

This is a yummy recipe I got from my MIL. Love it!

1 cup butter
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
8 cups milk
1# Velveeta cheese, cut into chunks
Cooked broccoli - chopped

Saute the onions in butter until transparent. Add flour and stir for 1 minute. Gradually add broth, milk, and cheese. Stir in broccoli.

Seven Layer Bars

I keep a file folder of recipes that I tear out of my recipe magazines. Periodically I go through and try a new recipe that caught my eye. This is definitely a keeper! If you like Eagle Brand Magic Cookie Bars, you MUST try these! This is a makeover of the classic and it is the best. I made these today, and was just drooling looking over the ingredient list. Not to mention when I tried them - to die for! I think I could eat the entire pan singlehandedly.

To get the best flavor, toast the coconut and pecans separately on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees until golden - 5 minutes for the coconut, 8 minutes for the pecans.

1 cup Heath toffee bits
12 whole graham crackers
8 Tbsp (1 stick) butter, melted
8 oz. milk chocolate, chopped coarse or use chips
1 cup Rice Krispies
1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped coarse
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut, toasted
2 (14 oz.) cans sweetened condensed milk
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

Adjust the oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13"x9" baking pan with foil, allowing excess to overhang pan edges. Generously coat foil with cooking spray. Process toffee bits in food processor to fine powder. Add graham crackers and process to fine crumbs. Transfer mixture to bowl and stir in butter. Press mixture firmly into prepared baking pan. Bake until beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.

Remove pan from oven, sprinkle crust with milk chocolate, and allow chocolate to soften, about 2 minutes. Using spatula, smooth chocolate into even layer. Scatter Rice Krispies over chocolate, pressing to adhere. Add layers of pecans, chocolate chips, and coconut, in that order, pressing each layer to adhere. Combine condensed milk and vanilla in small bowl and pour over coconut.

Bake until golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Cool on wire rack, about 2 hours. Using foil overhang, lift from pan and cut into 45 squares. (The bars can be stored in airtight container for up to 3 days.)