Zuppa Toscana

John loves this Olive Garden copy cat.  I usually half the recipe, and freeze leftovers in servings for him.

Zuppa Toscana

1 lb sausage
2 large potatoes in half in slices
1 onion
6 slices bacon
2 cloves garlic
2 c. kale, choped
2 cans chicken broth
1 quart water
1  c. whipping cream
red pepper flakes

Brown and crumble sausage.  Brown bacon.  Simmer water, broth, potatoes, garlic and onion until potatoes are tender.  Add sausage and bacon and simmer 10 min. Add kale and cream, season with salt and pepper and heat through,

Thai Pasta Salad

The printed email from which I first got this recipe (one of John's coworkers at BYU) is dated 2004, so I've been making this a long time.

Thai Pasta Salad
1 package bow tie pasta
1 t. crushed red pepper
1/2 c. oil (I do a mixture of grape seed, olive, and sesame.  Don't use too much EVOO, it's overpowering).
1/4 c. honey
1/4 c. soy sauce
3/4 t. salt
6 T. cilantro
6 T. green onions

honey roasted peanuts
sesame seeds

Cook pasta and drain.  In saucepan, heat red pepper and oils for 2 min.  Add honey, soy sauce and salt. Mix well and pour over pasta.  over and refrigerate at least 4 hours.  When ready to serve, add cilantro, green onion, peanuts and sesame seeds

Ramen Cabbage Salad

Ramen Cabbage Salad
1 head cabbage
4 green onions
3 chicken breasts, sliced and cooked
1 package chicken flavored ramen noodles
mandarin oranges
slivered almonds

Cabbage Salad Dressing
1/2 c. oil
3 T. sugar
3 T. vinegar
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper
1 packet Ramen seasoning

Raspberry Muffins

Raspberry Muffins

2 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1 stick melted butter
3/4 c. milk
1 egg
1/4 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. raspberries

Mix 1 3/4 c. flour and 1/2 c. sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Combine melted butter into dry ingredients.  Beat together milk, egg, and vanilla and add gradually to mixture.  Toss raspberries with remaining flour and fold into batter.  Fill muffin cups 2/3 full and sprinkle with remaining sugar.  Bake at 400 for 17-20 minutes.

Grandma June's Coffee Cake

I have never made this recipe, but Grandma June was way famous for her coffee cake.

Grandma June's Coffee Cake
3 c. flour
3/4 c. butter
2 c. sugar
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. cloves
2 c. buttermilk
chocolate chips
raisins

Sift flour, sugar, and spices. Cut in butter until mixture resembles cornmeal.  Reserve 1/2 c. dry mixture.  Combine buttermilk and soda.  Add to remaining crumb mixture in halves, beating thoroughly after each addition.  Stir in raisins or chocolate chips.

Grease and flour a 9x13 metal baking pan.  Pour batter into pan and sprinkle remaining crumbs on top.  Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Cake Mix Cookies

John was famous for cake mix cookies when we were dating at BYU.

Cake Mix Cookies
1 cake mix
1 egg
1 cube butter
1 t. vanilla

Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 375 for 10 minutes.

Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad

5 cups broccoli
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. shredded cheese
1/2 c. sunflower seeds
1/2 c. crumbled bacon
1/4 c. red onion
1/2 c. frozen peas, thawed

Broccoli salad dressing
1 c. mayonnaise
2 T. vinegar
1/2 c. sugar