Florentine Tortellini Soup *Lauren Perry*

Go make this today! My friend Natalie made this soup for me when I was sick and it is soooo yummy! I begged her for the recipe (and 2nd's of course!). It is easy and super tasty.

Ingredients

1 pckg of 3- cheese tortellini (refridgerated- usually by the shredded cheese at the store)

3 14-oz cans of chicken broth

1 container of Alfredo pasta sauce (about 10 oz.)

2 cups of shredded chicken (you can use 2-3 chicken breasts that you cook ahead of time and shred, you could use canned from Costco, or you could buy a roast chicken from the store or costco and add that meat)

1/2 cup of oil-packed sun dried tomato strips (drain the oil and slice)

1 cup of packaged fresh baby spinach

top with parmesan

Directions

-boil tortellini according to directions, drain and set aside in a bowl
-add broth and alfredo sauce to pot
-add chicken and tomato strops- heat to a slow boil and then reduce to simmer for about 5 minutes
-add spinach and cooked tortellini, cook for another few minutes
-serve in bowls and sprinkle with parmesan

Easy Yummy Sticky Buns *Lauren Perry*

These are super super easy! I learned this recipe in 7th grade cooking class, and it stuck with me :)

Ingredients
Marshmallows
Raw crescent roll dough (like the kind you use for pigs in a blanket)
2 TSP Cinnamon
1/2 cup Sugar
1/3 cup Brown Sugar
2-3 TBS Butter (melted)

Directions
Open the crecent rolls container and pull out the individual little dough triangles
Add a marshmallow to the wide end of the triangle-fold in the corners and roll up the marshmallow
Take the dough ball and dip/cover the dough ball in melted butter
Roll the ball in a bowl with cinnamon, sugar and brown sugar- completely cover ball in the sugary mixture
Place each individual dough ball in a cupcake/muffin pan that was greased with butter or cooking spray
Bake at 350 for about 10-12 minutes

Onion Cheese Dip *Lauren Perry*

I got this recipe from my friend Amanda and I had to slightly modify it the first time I made it (because I could not find onion glaze). Brian has FLIPPED over this. Its his new favorite thing to eat (next to sushi)

Ingredients
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
8 oz of cream cheese
1/2 to 3/4 cup of mayo
1/2 of an onion chopped really small
5-8 pieces of cooked bacon chopped
*savory sweet onion glaze

-mix above and put in a baking dish or casserole dish
-cook in oven at 350 until bubbly and browning on top
-serve hot with Ritz crackers

How to make savory sweet onion glaze-
2 tbs of butter
1 cup of really thinly chopped onions (i used a food processor)
about 3 TBS of white sugar
2 tbs of balsamic vinegar
** add optional 2 tbs of red cooking wine if you want

put in a sauce pan and cook on high for about 5-10 minutes. Let cool slightly and add to food processor and really grind up until its like a chutney.

Honey Chai Bundt Cake *Lauren Perry*

Ingredients-

2 & 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1 & 1/2 cups of brown sugar
2 tsp of baking soda
1/2 tsp of salt
1 & 3/4 cup of brewed chai tea (I just bought a box of pre-made chai tea)
1/2 cup of buttermilk
1/2 cup of honey
1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
2 eggs
1 egg yolk


1 can of cream cheese frosting, warmed in the microwave
** chopped pecans as a garnish if desired **

Directions
heat oven to 350 and spray a bundt can with cooking spray
In a mixer, combine all of the above ingredients (mix low speed for 1 minute- scraping the sides)
Cake batter is a bit runny
Pour batter into bundt cake pan and bake for 45-50 minutes- remove. Go around edges to loosen cake and let cool about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cake cool completely
Warm frosting in microwave about 20 seconds and spread over top of cake (or drizzle)
** add chopped pecans if desired **

Biscotti *Lauren Perry*

This is always a hit around the holidays! Last year a I made a ton and gave it to neighbors with cans of Hot Cocoa :)

Ingredients
4 eggs beat
2 sticks softened butter
1 1/2 cups of sugar
3 TBS ainse seed (spice isle at the store)
1 TBS vanilla extract
2 TBS baking powder
4 cups of flour (add 2 cups at a time)
little over 1/2 cup sliced almonds
little over 1/2 cup dried cherries
little over 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips

Directions
add above to a mixer and make dough
flour on the cutting board and roll into 3 balls of dough
take 1 ball at a time and roll into a log (make sure little to no cracks appear on the log)
lightly butter and flour cookie sheets (you will probably use 2 cookie sheets)
the log will be about 1 1/2 inches thick and as long as the cookie sheet
bake all 3 at 325' for 25 minutes
remove and set aside to cool on sheet for a few minutes
take a bread knife and cut a bunch of little diagonal pieces- each log should make 10-20 pieces.
pick up pieces and put the cut side face down on cookie sheet and bake again for 20 more minutes!