Honey Cashew Chicken

1 T cornstarch
1 1/2 t honey
2 T soy sauce
6 T chicken broth
2 T oil
1 medium onion, thinlyu sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 T fresh grated ginger
1/2 t prushed red pepper
1 1/4  chicken breast cut into 3/4 inch slices
6 oz snow peas, trimmed (about 2 cups)
1 large red bell pepper, cut into strips
1/2 c unsalted cashews
2 t sesame oil

Prep: 25 min., Cook: 10 min., Serves: 4

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk 1 Tbsp. water with cornstarch until smooth. Whisk in honey, soy sauce and broth.

2. Warm oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onion, garlic, ginger and crushed red pepper; cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.

3. Add chicken and stir-fry until opaque, 5 to 6 minutes. Add snow peas, bell pepper and cashews and continue stir-frying for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir reserved sauce and pour it into skillet. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes longer, stirring constantly, until sauce is bubbling and has thickened. Drizzle with sesame oil and serve over rice, if desired.

PER SERVING: 378 Cal., 17g Fat (2g Sat.), 82mg Chol., 3g Fiber, 38g Pro., 19g Carb., 600mg Sod.

Oatmeal Cookies

1 c butter, softened
1 c packed br. sugar
1/2 white sugar
2 eggs
2 t vanilla extract
1 t baking soda
1 1/4 c flour
1 t salt
3 c quick oats
1 c chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325
Cream sugar and butter.  Add eggs, vanilla.  Combine flour, soda, and salt.  Mix into the sugar mixture.  Then add the oats.  Mix, then chips.

Bake for 10-14 minutes.  Allow to harden for 5 minutes before eating.

Note.  These amounts work really well at sea level.  The consistency is amazing!  For those who live higher up, you will have to play with the flour/oats/butter amounts.  

Blonde Brownies

2/3 c oil
2 c brown sugar (use less)
2 c flour
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
1/2 t salt
1/4 t baking soda
1 t baking powder

Mix all.  Spread greased in 13x9 pan.  Sprinkle the top with chocolate chips.  Bake 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. 

Makenna's Oriental Beef with Rice

2 med onions, sliced in wedges
2 med carrots, cut in circles
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 T veg oil
2 c brocoli pieces
3 t cornflour
1/2 c water
1/4 c honey
1/4 c soy sauce
1/2 t beef stock powder
1 t sesame oil
1 lb beef strips
4 c cooked rice

Put 1 T oil in wok, turn to high.  Stir fry garlic, onions and carrots until onions are soft.  add brocoli, cook 2 more minutes.  Remove vegetables to large bowl.  In bowl combine cornflour, water, honey, soy sauce, beef stock powder, and sesame oil. Add 1 T oil to wok, stir fry 1/2 beef till lightly browned.  Remove beef, add the other 1/2 and cook.  Return all beef to wok and keep on high.  Give honey mixture a good stir and pour over beef.  Stir until it boils and slightly thickens.  Return vegetable mixture and stir until everything is hot.  Serve over hot rice.

Fudgey Oatmeal Bars

2 cups packed brown sugar    fyi i have cut this to 1 1/4 C
1 cup butter, softened
2 eggs                         
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour               
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt                            
3 cups quick cooking or regular oats

1 T butter
1 12 oz. pkg semi-sweet morsels
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease jelly roll pan (15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1)
Mix brown sugar, 1 cup butter, eggs and 1 tsp vanilla in a large bowl. Stir
in flour, baking soda and 1/2 tsp salt, stir in oats. Reserve 1/3 of the
oatmeal mixture. Press remaining mixture in pan.

Heat chocolate morsels, condensed milk and 2 T butter in 2 quart saucepan
over low heat, stirring constantly until chocolate morsels are melted.
Remove pan from heat, stir in nuts (optional), 1 tsp vanilla and 1/2 tsp
salt. Spread over oatmeal mixture in pan. Drop reserved mixture by rounded
teaspoons onto chocolate mixture. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
While warm, cut into bars. 


from Melodie    

Barbecue Chicken Breasts

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 T. oil

¼ c. Worcestershire sauce

2 T. dry onion flakes

2 T. dry mustard

1 T. chopped fresh parsley (or 1 t. dried)

1 t. cider vinegar

1 c. catsup

1 c. brown sugar

2 t. oil

In a large skillet or pot, brown chicken breasts on both sides in 2 T. oil.  In a medium bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients together.  Then do one of the following:  1) Place chicken in a slow cooker, pour sauce over chicken, and cook for 2 to 3 hours. OR  2) Leave the chicken in the pot, pour sauce over chicken, and cook until done.

For shredded BBQ chicken:

Use only 4 chicken breasts.  Cut up chicken breasts into large chunks.  In a large pot, brown the chicken in 2 T. oil.  In a medium bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients together.  Pour sauce over chicken.  Cover and simmer.  After the chicken has cooked for about an hour, use a fork and shred the chicken.  Eat on buns.

Pane Condito

Good Italian bread
Good, quality olive oil


Spices (condito)
Salt 
Pepper
oregano
thyme
peperoncini (if you want it to be spicy)
(add any other spices you think might be good


Veggies
(not all of these, but whatever you feel like adding)
Tomatoes
Oninos (preferably green ones)
artichoke hearts
Good olives
peppers
mushrooms


any deli meat you have laying around (to include):
hot salami
pepperoni (the american kind)
prociutto
cooked ham
Tuna is good too


Cheese
mozzarella di bufala
smoked gouda
grated parmesean
any other cheese that will melt good 


aluminum foil
bread knife

Cut the loaf in half, then score/cross hatch the insides of the halves.  This will let the olive oil seep in and make it yummy.  Drizzle with olive oil, the sprinkle the spices on the scored insides (both).  Layer the meats, cheeses and veggies.  Wrap tightly in tin foil.  Place in preheated oven, 350.  Let the flavors blend and unite for 30-40 minutes.  Remove, slice into 3 inch sections, enjoy hot! 

Our friend Troy made this for us our last Sunday in Sicily.  He made the first and then watched the kids make the second.  DELICIOUS!