Quick Mac and Cheese for Two

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces cooked macaroni
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
• pinch salt
• ground pepper to taste
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup shredded cheese

Instructions:

1.  While the macaroni cooks according to package directions, melt butter in a small sauce pan.  Add in the flour, salt and pepper; cook and stir until smooth (2-3 minutes).
2. Slowly add in the milk, stirring until smooth and bubbly.  (4-5 minutes). 
3. Add shredded cheese to the milk mixture and stir until cheese is melted
4. Remove from heat, fold in macaroni until coated with sauce.
5. Serve!

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

www.buzzfeed.com

Ingredients:

• 8 chicken thighs
• 1 Tablespoon salt for the chicken
• 2 teaspoons pepper for the chicken
• 2 Tablespoon oil
• 6 cloves garlic, shopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 tomatoes, diced
• 4 cups spinach, roughly chopped
• 4 cups heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons pepper
• 1 cup grated Parmesan
• 4 tablespoons parsley, chopped

Instructions:

1. Season the chicken with the salt and pepper, making sure to mix it in evenly.
2. Heat oil in an oven proof skillet over medium-low heat.
3. Place the chicken thighs skin side down in the skillet and cook for about 13 minutes in order to crisp up the skin.  Move the chicken around from time to time to ensure it cooks evenly.  
4. Flip the chicken, then cook for about another 15 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked.  Remove from pan.
5. Add the garlic and onion to the pan, stirring until onions are translucent.  Stir in the tomatoes and spinach until the spinach is wilted.
6. Add the heavy cream, salt, and pepper, bringing to a boil.
7. Add the Parmesan cheese and parsley, stirring until the sauce has thickened slightly.
8. Place the chicken back int the pan, spooning the sauce on top of the chicken.
9. Serve over pasta or noodles.

Bacon Asparagus Pastry Twists

www.buzzfeed.com

Ingredients:

• 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
• 6-8 slices of bacon
• 12-15 asparagus spears
• 1 egg, beaten
• Salt
• Pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Slice the puff pastry into 1-centimeter strips.
3. Slice bacon in half lengthwise into thin strips.
4. Wrap a strip of bacon around an asparagus spear in a spiral.
5. Wrap a strip of puff pastry around the asparagus, looping it in between the bacon spiral
6. Repeat with the rest of the asparagus
7. Place the wrapped spears on a baking tray lined with parchment paper
8. Brush them with egg wash, then sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper
9. Bake for 18 minutes until golden brown and puffed
10. Serve

Dad's Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 8 - 12 medium potatoes
• 1/2 - 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup grated cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
• Milk as needed for desired consistency

Instructions:

1. Peel and cube potatoes, Boil until tender. Drain
2. Combine potatoes and all ingredients, except milk, in a mixing bowl.  Mix at medium speen until potatoes are well mashed. Add mild slowly to desired consistency.  Taste and adjust seasonings.

Peanut Butter Cookie S'mores Pizza

www.fivehearthome.com

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2 eggs at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

------------------------------------------------------
For S'mores

• 18 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 10 ounces large marshmallows

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly spray a 14-inch deep dish pizza pan
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
3. Cream together butter and both sugars, scraping the bowl as needed (4 minutes)
4. Blend in peanut butter, then eggs, then vanilla
5. Slowly on low speed add in the dry ingredients until just combined.  (At this point, dough can be wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated or frozen)
6. Press dough into even layer in the pizza pan.  Bake 15-20 minutes until puffed and lightly browned.
7. If making S'mores, as soon as the cookie is removed from the oven, set the oven to broil, sprinkle the top with chocolate chips. Allow the chips to sit for 5 - 7 minutes, then spread into an even layer.  Top with marshmallows which have been cut in half.  Place the cookie back in the oven on broil until the marshmallows toast to your liking (about 1-2 minutes)
8. Cool for 5 minutes, slice and serve warm.

Chocolate Chip Pizza Cookie

www.sallysbakingaddiction.com

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees F.  Lightly grease 12-inch pizza pan.
2. Whisk flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.  Set aside.
3. Cream together the butter and both sugars on medium.  (Up to 4 minutes)  Add the egg and beat on high for about 1 minute. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.  Add the vanilla extract and mix on high until well combined.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until just combined.  With the mixer running on low add the chips.  Dough will be thick and soft.  (May wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze dough at this point for later use)
5. Spread dough on pizza pan using your fingers to flatten out the dough until dough covers the pizza pan almost to the edge.
6. Bake for 22 - 25 minutes until puffed and lightly browned on top.  For crispier edges, bake a little longer.  Cool, slice, and serve.

Garlic Herb Butter

Ingredients:

• 1 cup softened butter
• 7 cloves minced garlic
• 2 Tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• 2 Tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
• 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
• Salt to taste (use less with salted butter, with unsalted butter start with about 1/2 teaspoon and adjust to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Mix all ingredients together, place on cling wrap and form into a roll. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Can be brought to room temperature for serving if you like. Great on crusty bread

Prime Rib Roast

Ingredients for the Rub

• 1 cup softened butter
• 7 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• 2 Tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
• 1 Tablespoon dried parsley
• 2 Tablespoons salt
• 1 Tablespoon pepper

To make the rub, mix together the above ingredients.

Remove the prime rib from the refrigerator about 2 hours before placing it in the oven so that it begins to come to room temperature. 

Rub a 5 - 10 pound piece of prime rib with the rub.  Place on a rack in a roasting pan.

Place the roast in a preheated 250 degree F oven and roast until the internal temperature near the center of the roast reaches 120 degrees F. (This took about 4 hours for a 9.2 pound roast)

Remove from the oven, tent with foil, and allow to rest for about 30 minutes.

Increase the oven temperature to 500 degrees F.

Place the roast back in the over for 20 - 30 minutes.  Watch the internal temp and remove early if it goes over 130 degrees at the center.

Slice and serve.

Perfect Burger

www.food.com

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon mustard (regular, Dijon or spicy)
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 small onion, finely grated
• 1 clove garlic, minces
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound ground beef ( best with about 80 % lean)

Instructions:

1. Lightly oil grill and heat to medium
2. Whisk egg in a bowl and add mustard, Worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic, salt and pepper
3. Gently mix in ground beef
4. Gently shape mixture into burger about 3/4 inch thick and make a shallow depression in the center of each. (Should make 4 burgers; the more you work the beef the tougher it becomes)
5. Place on grill, turn once, after about 6-8 minutes. Cook for another 6-8 minutes until an instant read thermometer reads 160 degrees F.