Thick and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies

These beauties are by far the BEST Gingerbread cookies I have ever made.
Not only are they soft and delicious, they are so simple to make!
There is no need to be afraid or intimidated in making these cookies, they are easier to make then sugar cookies!
The dough is very easy to work with too.
My 6 year old son helped me cut them all out into shapes, and then we all enjoyed eating them.
So very yummy!
I found this recipe on My Kitchen Cafe's 'Sugar Rush- 12 recipe's in 12 days'.

Thick and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies

Recipe From My Kitchen Cafe

*Makes about 2 dozen gingerbread men*

3 cups flour
¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
¾ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons butter softened to room temperature (but not warm!), cut into 12 pieces
¾ cup light or dark molasses
2 tablespoons milk

1. With an electric mixer, stir together the flour, brown sugar, soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt at low speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Stop the mixer and add the butter pieces. Mix at medium-low speed until the mixture is sandy and resembles fine meal, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and with the mixer running, gradually add the molasses and milk; mix until the dough is evenly moistened about 20 seconds. Increase the speed to medium and mix until thoroughly combined, about 10 seconds.

2. Scrape the dough onto a work surface and divide it in half. Working with one portion at a time, roll the dough ¼ inch thick between 2 large sheets of parchment or wax paper. Leaving the dough sandwiched between the parchment or wax paper, stack the dough on a baking sheet and freeze until firm, 15 to 20 minutes.

3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat liners.

4. Remove one dough sheet from the freezer and place on the counter. Peel off the top parchment or wax paper sheet. Gently cut the dough into 5-inch gingerbread people or 3-inch gingerbread cookies, transferring the shapes to the prepared baking sheets with a wide metal spatula and spacing them ¾ inch apart. Set the scraps aside. Repeat with the remaining dough until the baking sheets are full. Because flour is not added during rolling, dough scraps can be rolled and cut as many times as necessary.

5. Bake the cookies until set in the centers and the dough barely retains and imprint when touched very gently with fingertip, 8 to 9 minutes. Do not overbake!! Cool the cookies on the sheets 2 minutes, then remove the cookies with a wide metal spatula to a wire rack; cool to room temperature. Gather the scraps; repeat the rolling, cutting and baking. Frost as desired (You can use a ziploc bag filled with simple white icing).

6. Store soft gingerbread in a wide, shallow airtight container or tin with a sheet of parchment paper between the cookie layers. These cookies are best eaten within one week.

ENJOY!!

Perfect Pork (meat) Marinade

Who says you can't grill in the cold winter time?
Time to pull out the grill pan, or electric grill.
(for those of you lucky ones who live in year round warm states you can just get out the outdoor grill)
This marinade is very good!
You can also use it on Chicken and Salmon.
enjoy!



Perfect Pork (meat) Marinade

1/2 C. Worcestershire Sauce
2 T. Olive Oil
1/4 C. Fresh Parsley (or 1/8 C. dried)
1 tsp. Dried Minced Garlic
1/4 C. Balsamic Vinegar
1/2 tsp. Pepper
1/4 C. Soy Sauce
4 Boneless Pork Loin Chops, 1" thick OR pork loin


In a large, re-resealable plastic bag or container, combine the first 8 ingredients. Using a fork, poke holes in both sides of pork; add to marinade. Seal bag or container and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 8 hours (the longer the better), turning every 2-3 hours. When ready to grill, drain and discard marinade. Grill pork chops in a preheated grill, covered, over medium heat for 10-15 minutes on each side or until juices run clear and a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F.

Mom's Divine Chicken Divan (or turkey)

This is one of our families favorite casseroles.
This recipe originates from my mom,
I only added the breadcrumb mixture for the top.
A great meal for a weeknight or a yummy way to use up that leftover turkey from the holidays.



Mom’s Divine Chicken Divan

1 pkg. frozen broccoli pieces OR 2-3 cups of chopped fresh broccoli
3-4 cooked chicken breasts, shredded OR 3 cups of leftover Turkey, shredded
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 C. mayonnaise
1-2 T. lemon juice
1 C. bread crumbs (yummy with Italian flavored)
2 T. butter
1 1/2 C. grated mild cheddar cheese

Layer broccoli in a casserole dish and semi cook in the microwave.
Layer cooked & shredded chicken on top of broccoli.
Mix soup, mayo & lemon juice in a seperate bowl, then spread over chicken.
Sprinkle cheese on top.
In a small bowl melt butter in the microwave and mix with breadcrumbs. Spread bread crumb mixture over all.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour.
Serve on top of steamed rice.

Pork Tenderloin With Gingered Apples

Sauteed apples with a hint of sweetness and ginger, complement the natural juicy pork tenderloin.
A perfect meal for a cozy fall evening.
This meal is a favorite of ours and always graces our table in the cold fall months.
The ingredients are simple, the meal is easy to prepare, and the taste is phenomenal!
In hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Pork Tenderloin with Gingered Apples

Ingredients:

-4 tart apples such as Granny Smith
-4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
-3 Tablespoons of light brown sugar
-1 teaspoon of peeled and grated fresh ginger OR 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
-2 -4 Tablespoons of water
-4 slices of pork tenderloin, about 2 inches thick

-salt and pepper
-1 Tablespoon of Extra-virgin olive oil

How To Make:
1. Peel, core, and slice the apples thinly lengthwise. In a saucepan over medium heat 3 Tablespoons of the butter. When melted and hot add the sliced apples and saute', stirring and tossing, for 5 minutes. Add the brown sugar and ginger and continue to saute' for another 5 minutes. Add 2 Tablespoons of the water, cook until the apples are almost tender, 6-8 minutes; watch carefully so they do not burn. Transfer apples and drippings into a bowl or plate, set aside.

2. Trim all excess fat from the pork slices. Place each pork slice, cut side up, between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and, using a rolling pin, flatten to about 1 inch or so thickness. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.

3. In the same saucepan you cooked the apples in, melt the remaining 1 Tablespoon butter with the 1 Tablespoon of olive oil. When hot, add the pork slices and saute'. Cook on each side about 5-6 minutes on each side or until browned and no longer pink inside.

4. Add the apples and their juices from the bowl back into the pan with the cooked pork. Add 1-2 Tablespoons of water(more if you want more sauce). Heat and mix the apples in with the pork.

5. Serve right away, and Enjoy!

(I made this with a side of mashed potatoes, and snap peas)

Broccoli Cheese Soup

This soup is AMAZING!
The taste and texture is fabulous.
Huge bonus is that it is super fast and easy to make.
By the end of dinner, Andy and my two kiddos were bargaining on who got to have what was left in the pot.
Next time, I think I better double the recipe.
Once again, a big thank you to Melanie over at My Kitchen Cafe for this yummy soup.



Broccoli Cheese Soup
adapted from My Kitchen Cafe

What you Need:

1 can chicken broth (you can use 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of Shirley J Chicken Bullion)
1 small onion, diced

1/3 c. flour
1/4 c. butter
1/2 teaspoon of pepper

2 c. milk (whatever kind you have)
1 1/2 c. shredded of extra Sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 c. shredded swiss cheese
3-4 cups of steamed chopped broccoli

How to Make:

Simmer chicken broth and chopped onion for 15-20 minutes in a covered small saucepan, until onions are soft. Heat milk in microwave for 1-2 minutes. In a separate medium-sized stockpot, melt butter then add flour and pepper. Cook together for a couple of minutes, then whisk in warmed milk. Stir and heat together on medium-high heat until soup starts to thicken. Next add chicken broth and continue to stir until well blended. Add cheeses and steamed broccoli. Serve immediately.

Makes 3-4 servings

Braciole- A Traditional Italian Meal

For a delicious Italian meal,
this one is very easy to to prepare.
Funny thing is, Andy and I got the idea to make this meal from an episode on the sitcom 'Everybody Loves Raymond'.
On the show they are always talking about Marie (Ray's Mother)'s all-Famous Braciole.
So we set out to find the best Brociole recipe.
We found a few recipes and kind of took ideas from each of them, and did our own version.
The result was fantastic, and turned into a wonderful Sunday dinner.



Braciole

A traditional Italian meal

Ingredients:

nocoupons

• 1/2 cup dried Italian-style bread crumbs
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2/3 cup grated Pecorino Romano
• 1/3 cup grated provolone
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 (1 1/2-pound) flank steak or Round steak(I prefer the Flank Steak)
  
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 3 1/4 store-bought marinara sauce

Directions:

1. Stir the first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl to blend. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the oil. Season mixture with salt and pepper and set aside.

2. Lay the flank steak flat on the work surface. Cover steak with plastic wrap, and then pound the steak with a kitchen mallet or a hammer until is is about 1/4 of a inch thick. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture evenly over the steak to cover the top evenly. Starting at 1 short end, roll up the steak as for a jelly roll to enclose the filling completely. Using butcher's twine, tie the steak roll to secure. Sprinkle the braciole with salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

3. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add the braciole and cook until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes. Add the wine to the pan and bring to a boil. Stir in the marinara sauce. Cover partially with foil and bake until the meat is almost tender, turning the braciole and basting with the sauce every 30 minutes. After 1 hour, uncover and continue baking until the meat is tender, about 30 minutes longer. The total cooking time should be about 1 1/2 hours.

4. Remove the braciole from the sauce. Using a large sharp knife, cut the braciole crosswise and diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Transfer the slices to plates. Spoon the sauce over and serve with pasta.

Enjoy!

Crock Pot Minestrone Soup

This soup is amazingly close to the Olive Garden's Minestrone soup!
It is so delicious and very healthy.
Packed full of vegetables in a tomato soup base and then topped with Parmesan cheese.
This soup would also be really good if you wanted to add turkey sausage.
I usually serve it with bread sticks or french bread and a green salad.
I also love that it is made in a crock pot, that makes dinner time prep a bit more smoothly.


Crock Pot Minestrone Soup

serves 6 - 8

What you need:

• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 cup carrots, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed or diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz) can white beans, drained, rinsed (cannellini or navy)
• 4 cups fat free chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarians)
• 1/2 cup of good shredded Parmesan cheese
  
• 1 fresh rosemary sprig
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
  
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
• salt and fresh pepper
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 2 cups cooked small pasta like shells or elbows (al dente)
• extra shredded Parmesan cheese to top

How to Make:

1. Rinse and drain beans. Puree beans with 1 cup of the broth in a blender.

2. In a crock pot, combine broth, tomatoes, pureed beans, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, herbs, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours OR on high for 4 hours.

3. Forty minutes before the soup is done cooking, add zucchini and spinach. Cover and cook 30 more minutes. Add cooked pasta, cook 10 minutes more. Remove bay leaves, rosemary sprig, and season to taste with salt and black pepper.

4. Serve soup into bowls and top with extra Parmesan cheese.

ENJOY!