Baked Oatmeal

2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup toasted and chopped walnut pieces
1/3 cup natural cane sugar or maple syrup (and more syrup for serving)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 cups milk
1 egg
3 tablespoons butter melted and cooled slightly
2 teaspoon vanilla
2 bananas
1 1/2 cups berries

Mix your dry ingredients (only half the walnuts though), then mix your wet ingredients. Chop fruit if needed and lay bananas and half of berries out on bottom. Then add dry ingredients, then wet on top, and stir to incorporate. Sprinkle the rest of your fruit and walnuts on top and bake at 375 for 35-45 min.

(Via: http://bakedbree.com/healthy-baked-oatmeal#axzz1OhhrM5Nh)

Feta Chicken and Vegetables

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram or thyme
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 (4-ounce) skinned, boned chicken breast halves
1 teaspoon olive oil
Cooking spray
2/3 cup red bell pepper strips
1/2 cup vertically sliced red onion
1/3 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1/4 cup (1 ounce) crumbled feta cheese, divided
Oregano sprigs (optional)

Combine first 4 ingredients in a shallow dish. Dredge chicken in flour mixture. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add chicken, and cook 4 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove chicken from pan; keep warm. Add bell pepper, onion, broth, and vinegar to pan; cook 5 minutes or until vegetables are soft, stirring frequently. Spoon bell pepper mixture into a bowl; stir in 2 tablespoons cheese. Return chicken to pan, and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons cheese. Cover; cook over low heat 2 minutes or until cheese melts. Divide the vegetable mixture evenly between 2 plates, and top each serving with a chicken breast half. Garnish with oregano sprigs, if desired.

(Via: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/feta-chicken-vegetables-10000000401529/)

Baked Ziti with Spinach and Tomatoes (and Sausage)

3/4 pound hot Italian sausages, casings removed
1 medium onion, chopped
3 large garlic cloves, chopped
1 28-ounce can diced peeled tomatoes
1/4 cup purchased pesto sauce
10 ounces ziti or penne pasta (about 3 cups), freshly cooked
8 cups ready-to-use spinach leaves (about 2/3 of 10-ounce package)
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, cubed
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 3 ounces)

Heat heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add sausage, onion and garlic and sauté until sausage is cooked through, breaking up meat with back of spoon, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes with juices to pan. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Stir in pesto. Season sauce with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before continuing.)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish. Combine pasta, spinach, mozzarella and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese in large bowl. Stir in hot tomato sauce. Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese over. Bake until sauce bubbles and cheeses melt, about 30 minutes.

(Via: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Baked-Ziti-with-Spinach-and-Tomatoes-2609#ixzz1QuAoz3Dc)

English Muffins

1 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons Honey
1 cup warm water
¼ ounces, weight yeast
¼ cups cornmeal
5-½ cups flour

Combine milk, butter, and honey in a saucepan over medium heat. Warm until butter starts to melt, then whisk briefly. Remove pan from heat and allow liquid to cool to lukewarm. Pour water into a mixing bowl and sprinkle with yeast. Stir gently with a fork. Set bowl aside for 10 minutes, or until yeast has dissolved.

Line baking sheets with waxed paper and sprinkle with a generous amount of cornmeal. Pour cooled milk mixture into yeast mixture and gently stir until well blended. Add 3 cups flour and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until smooth. Beat in remaining flour and salt until the dough is no longer sticky. Scrape the dough onto a floured surface and dust with flour. Flour hands and knead dough for 3-4 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes.

Roll out dough with rolling pin to about 1/2 inch thick. Cut the dough into circles (a tumbler or mason jar does well). Transfer muffins to prepared baking sheets and sprinkle with cornmeal. Cover with a dry, lightweight towel and let rise until doubled in height, 35-45 minutes. When muffins have risen, heat a skillet over medium heat. Carefully lift muffins from the pan and place on the ungreased skillet. Cook about 10 minutes on each side, using a spatula to flip them. Transfer to a wire rack to cool before splitting (with a fork) and toasting them.

(Via: http://tastykitchen.com/blog/2011/01/homemade-english-muffins/)

Chocolate Pudding

1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 cups whole milk
6 ounces 62% semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Combine the cornstarch, sugar and salt in the top of a double boiler. Slowly whisk in the milk, scraping the bottom and sides with a heatproof spatula to incorporate the dry ingredients. Place over gently simmering water and stir occasionally, scraping the bottom and sides. Use a whisk as necessary should lumps begin to form. After 15 to 20 minutes, when the mixture begins to thicken and coats the back of the spoon, add the chocolate. Continue stirring for about 2 to 4 minutes, or until the pudding is smooth and thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a serving bowl or into a large measuring cup with a spout and pour into individual serving dishes.

If you like pudding skin, pull plastic wrap over the top of the serving dish(es) before refrigerating. If you dislike pudding skin, place plastic wrap on top of the pudding and smooth it gently against the surface before refrigerating. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 3 days.

(Via: http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/02/best-chocolate-pudding/)

Ronald Reagan's Favorite Macaroni and Cheese

1/2 lb macaroni
1 tsp butter; melted
1 eggs; beaten
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard
1 cup milk
3 cups sharp cheese; grated
1/2 lb. ham, chunked

Boil macaroni and drain thoroughly. Stir in butter and egg.

Mix salt and mustard with 1 tbsp. hot water. Add to milk. Add the cheese, leaving enough to sprinkle on top. Pour into buttered casserole, add milk, sprinkle with cheese.

Bake at 350F for about 45 minutes or until custard is set and top is crusty.


(Via: http://www.recipelink.com/mf/31/22753)


*To read more about the long history of mac 'n cheese, click here.