Spicy Island Shrimp

Recipe Courtesy of Taste of Home

Prep Time  20 minutes
Total Time  20 minutes
Serves 6

If you like things spicy, you have to try this one.  Cut back or omit the cayenne pepper to make it kid friendly.

Ingredients:

• 1 large green pepper, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup butter cubed
• 2-1/4 pounds uncooked large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 cans (8 ounces each) tomato sauce
• 3 tablespoons chopped green onions
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Hot cooked rice

Directions:

In a large skillet, saute the green pepper and onion in butter until tender. Reduce heat; add shrimp. Cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce, green onions, parsley and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until slightly thickened. Serve with rice.

Mango Chicken Salad with Spiced Pecans and Couscous

Original Recipe

Prep Time  10 minutes
Serves 4


I absolutely love the Mango Chicken Salad at Coastal Flats.  I decided to try to re-create the recipe and I was quite happy with the result!

Ingredients:

2 bags mixed salad greens
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cooked and diced*
2 cups fresh mango, diced**
1 cup red grapes, halved
1 box Herbed Chicken couscous (I like the Near East brand)
2 cups spiced or honey roasted pecans
1 cup feta cheese
Blush Wine Vinaigrette (I used Open Nature brand)

* Perdue Shortcuts are easy alternative

* * Fresh mangoes are almost impossible to cut.  Save yourself the hassle and purchase the pre-cut mango in the produce section.

Directions:
Cook couscous according to package directions.

Place salad greens, mango, grapes, pecans and feta cheese in large bowl.  Toss to mix.

Place salad in individual salad bowls.  Top with vinaigrette.  Place a serving of couscous on top of salad. 

Banana Split Pie

Recipe Courtesy of Tastefully Simple

Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time
Serves 8

Ingredients:

1/2 package (15 ounces) refrigerated pie crust (1 crust)
1 cup milk chocolate morsels, melted and divided
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup cold milk
1 package (3.4 oz) white chocolate instant pudding mix
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple, well drained
1 medium banana, sliced
1 cup sliced strawberries
1 1/2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
1/4 cup chopped nuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425°F. For crust, place pie crust in pie plate, gently rolling dough into bottom and up sides. Prick bottom of crust using toothpick. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely.
Melt chocolate morsels in microwave safe dish uncovered, on HIGH 1 minute, stirring every 30 seconds until chocolate is melted and smooth. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the chocolate for garnish. Spread remaining chocolate over bottom and sides of crust.
For filling, place cream cheese in microwave safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH 30 seconds or until softened; whisk until smooth. Gradually whisk in milk. Add pudding mix and sugar; whisk until mixture begins to thicken. Fold in pineapple. Spread filling evenly into crust.
For toppings, arrange fruit over top of pie. Spread whipped topping over fruit. Drizzle reserved melted chocolate over top of pie. Sprinkle with nuts. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Colorful Corn Salad

Recipe Courtesy of Taste of Home

Prep/Total Time  15 minutes
Serves 16-18

A great addition to any picnic!

Ingredients

• 2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen corn, thawed
• 2 cups diced green pepper
• 2 cups diced sweet red pepper
• 2 cups diced celery
• 1 cup minced fresh parsley
• 1 cup chopped green onions
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 6 tablespoons lime juice

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the first 12 ingredients. In a microwave-safe dish, combine oil and garlic. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 30 seconds. Cool. Whisk in lime juice. Pour over corn mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate until serving. 

White Cheddar Mac & Cheese

Recipe Courtesy of Parents Magazine

Prep Time  20 minutes
Total Time 60 minutes
Serves 12

This dish is tasty as is but you can easily substitute chicken instead of ham and add diced tomatoes for variation.

Ingredients

·                                 1  pound  farfalle pasta

·                                 2  tablespoons  unsalted butter

·                                 2  tablespoons  all-purpose flour

·                                 2  cups  milk

·                                 1/2  teaspoon  salt

·                                 1/4  teaspoon  black pepper

·                                 1/4  teaspoon  ground nutmeg

·                                 1  pound  white cheddar cheese, shredded (about 4 cups)

·                                 1  package (10 ounces)  frozen peas, thawed

·                                 1/2  pound  finely diced smoked ham 

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°. Coat 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cook pasta in lightly salted water following package directions, about 12 minutes. Drain.

2. While pasta is cooking, melt butter in a medium-size, heavy-bottomed saucepan (not nonstick) over medium heat. Stir in flour until well blended; cook 1 minute. Whisk in 1 cup of milk and cook, whisking continuously, until smooth. Whisk in remaining 1 cup milk and continue to cook, whisking until thickened and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in salt, pepper and nutmeg. Whisk in 2 cups of the cheese until smooth.

3. In a large bowl, mix together the pasta, cheese sauce and 1 cup of the remaining cheese. Stir in the peas and ham. Pour into prepared baking dish. Scatter remaining 1 cup cheese evenly over the top.

4. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Remove from oven; allow to cool 10 minutes. May be served warm or at room temperature.

Chicken Piccata

Recipe Courtesy of a family friend

Prep Time  20 minutes
Total Time  45 minutes
Serves 6

This recipe rivals any Chicken Piccata dish that I've tried in restaurants.   Fancy enough for company, easy enough for a weeknight.

Ingredients:

¾ cup flour

½ tsp. oregano

¼ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. black pepper

1 pd. Chicken breasts, boned, skinned & halved (I recommend using the thinly sliced cutlets)

2 cloves garlic, minced

¼ cup white wine

¼ cup unsalted chicken broth

1/4 cup capers

¼ cup water

1 lemon, sliced

Directions:

Combine flour, oregano, salt/pepper. Dredge chicken through mixture. Grease large skillet. Saute garlic. Add chicken & brown. Add wine, broth, capers & water. Cook over medium heat until chicken is done (@ 15 minutes). Add lemon during last 5 minutes.

Serve with angel hair pasta.

Fruit Pizza

Recipe Courtesy of allrecipes.com

Prep Time  25 minutes
Total Time  1 hr 35 minutes
Serves 10

Quick, easy and delicious.  Perfect for a kids' birthday party.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1/2 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 3/4 cup sugar until smooth. Mix in egg. combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Press dough into an ungreased pizza pan.* *Shortcut:  Use store bought, prepared sugar cookie dough..

Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla until light. Spread on cooled crust.

Arrange desired fruit on top of filling, and chill Suggested fruit toppings: Strawberries, blueberries, kiwi fruit, mandarin oranges, raspberries.