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!

EASY Pot Roast *Lauren Perry*

This is the perfect time of year for a yummy pot roast!

Ingredients

1 chuck roast

kitchen bouquet (its over by the condiments at the store)

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 can of water (i just used the diced tomato can when empty)

1 packet of lipton onion soup

1 white onion sliced

5-10 small baby red potatoes (depending on amount of people serving) cut into quarters

2 carrots diced

salt, pepper

OPTIONAL- splash of red cooking wine

Directions

-dust chuck roast with flour, salt, pepper on each side

-sear in non-stick pan with kitchen bouquet on each side (about 1 tbs on each side) for a few minutes

-add to crock pot or baking dish (if baking dish- bake 350 for at least 3 hours)

-add diced tomatoes, water, lipton soup powder, a pinch more kitchen bouquet, and splash of red wine (if desired)

-with an hour left of cooking, add onions, red potatoes, and carrots. You can also turn the meat over to make sure that 1 side isn't cooking more tender than the other

-taste and add salt and pepper if desired (I love garlic salt)

**PS- I love to serve my pot roast over white rice with rolls on the side!**

Death By Chocolate *Lauren Perry*

If you love chocolate...this WILL kill you!

Ingredients

1 brownie mix (make in 9 x 13 baking dish)
2 pks chocolate mousse (make in sep bowl)
7 heath bars chopped up, or 1-2 packages of crunched health bar bits
1 tub of cool whip

Directions

mash up and crumble brownies- in a 9 x 9 dish or a somewhat deep dish for layering....

layers
crumbled brownie
heath pieces
mousse
cool whip
crumbled brownie
heath pieces
mousse
cool whip
top off with rest of heath bar pieces

put in fridge for an hour or so to cool! ENJOY