Tortellini soup

This is great for a fall or winter evening it's so yummy I had to post it now :)

You will need:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
3 stalks celery, chopped
3 carrots peeled and chopped
1 onion, diced
10oz package of frozen spinach (do not thaw)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cans water
32oz chicken broth
family sized package of cheese or chicken tortellini, half cooked


1. Put olive oil in the bottom of a large soup stock pot.

2. saute' garlic, celery, carrots and onions until tender.

3. add frozen spinach. Break up block of spinach as you cook.

4. Continue to saute' until spinach thaws, then heats up.

5. Add soup and water.


6. add chicken broth and then add tortellini

7. heat and serve.

Serves 6-8

It's better to eat a few hours after soup is made so the broth gets a chance to soak into the noodles :)

Curry Chicken salad

Had this at a baby shower in nashville once wow is it yummy!

You will need:
8 boneless skinless chicken breasts cooked and cubed
1 1/2 cups white grapes, halved
4 oz package sliced almonds
1 cup chopped granny smith apples
1 cup chopped celery
2 cups mayo
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 tablespoon lemon juice

1.  in large bowl, combine  chicken, grapes, apples, celery, and almonds.

2. Mix well

3. In separate bowl, blend mayo curry, and lemon juice thoroughly.

4. Pour over chicken mixture and toss lightly.

5. If it doesn't seem like there's enough mayo add a little more.

6 chill well.

serves 16

Grape Salad

My friends rave about this salad (which is more like a desert)

You will need:

4oz sour cream
4oz cream cheese
2 cups grapes (red or green)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans


1. Mix sour cream, cream cheese and vanilla.
2 Blend  in grapes and put in 8x8 dish
3. mix brown sugar and pecans and cover.
4 chill for at least 1 hour

Mint Julep

This is the non alcoholic version :)

You will need:

3 1/2 cups water
3 1/2 cups sugar
6oz orange juice concentrate
12oz lemonade concentrate
1 1/2 handfuls mint leaves
 Ginger Ale, 7 up, sierra mist or sprite 2 liter (you may have some left over)

1. Bring water and sugar to a boil.

2 Add cans of concentrated orange and lemonade.

3. Let mixture reheat and pour over mint leaves.

4. cover and let steep for at least four hours (overnight is best and easier when you've got other things to prepare for your party)

5. Strain.

6. use 1/4 cup of the mint concentrate to glass of crushed ice.

7. Finish  filling glass with ginger ale or other lemon lime soda.  garnish with mint sprig.

serves 6-8

Carmel Brownie Cake

Prep time 15 min   cook time 20 min ready in 90 minutes serves 15

You will need:

cooking spray
1 package family size brownie mix
1/4 cup water
1/2 vegetable oil
3 large eggs
3/4 cup caramel ice cream topping, divided
1 8oz container extra creamy whipped topping
1/2 cup  finely chopped peanuts (you can use sprinkles if nuts are an issue for someone at your party)
15 maraschino cherries  with stems well drained

1. Heat oven to 350. coat 13x9 backing pan with non stick cooking spray.

2. Combine brownie mix, water, oil and eggs in large bowl. Stir for 50 strokes. Spread in prepared pan and bake for 28 to 31 minutes. Cool 30 minutes.

3. Poke holes about two inches apart, in warm brownies with the handle of a wooden spoon (plastic works too) use 1/2 cup caramel topping  to fill in the holes. Then spread remaining topping over top of brownies. You will have more caramel topping.

4. Fold 1/4 cup caramel topping in with the whipped topping.  Spread evenly over brownies. Sprinkle with peanuts or sprinkles. Top each of the 15 servings with a cherry just before serving.

Tennessee Iced Tea

I love to tweak recipes here's a refreshing one just in time for summer!

1 gallon water
4 large or 6 regular sized tea bags
1 cup sugar (original calls for 2 cups add to desired sweetness)
2 tablespoons Tang
1 tablespoons Country time lemonade mix
juice of half a lemon

1 brew tea according to directions on box using 1 gallon of water.
2. Stir in all ingredients and add ice.

 

Easy Chocolate fudge frosting

You will need:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a small sauce pan combine all ingretients except the extract. Heat to boiling and boil for 1 minute to a minute and 30 seconds (I always cook it at 1 minute so as not to burn it). 

cool for a minute and then pour mixture to a bowl (mixture will be thin until completely cooled and process is finished) and add the vanilla extract. 

Beat with mixer for 3 minutes or more. 

return to fridge and continue to cool until mixture is a spreadable consistency.  

This recipe goes great with the 5 minute mug cake. quick and easy.