Garlic Spread

Ingredients:

1/2 C butter

8 oz package cream cheese

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 t oregano

1/2 t basil

1/8 t each dill, marjoram, thyme, and pepper OR 1/2 t poultry seasoning

Let butter and cream cheese come to room temperature, then stir all to combine.

Our Neighbor brought us homemade french bread and garlic spread to go with it the other day. It was HEAVEN!

For Father's day tomorrow, I am making homemade rolls and this garlic spread to go with it. I am super excited.

Burrito Pie

Ingredients:

1/2 pound lean ground beef (I used 93% lean)
1 medium onion, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 packet taco seasoning
1 2-ounce can sliced black olives (or grab a handful of medium black olives and chop them)
1 4-ounce can roasted green chilies, undrained
1 15.5 ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 1/2 cups corn (either frozen or a 15.5 ounce can of corn, drained)
1 cup enchilada sauce
1 15.5 ounce can refried beans (or two cups of these beans)
6 large (burrito-size) tortillas, 3 of them cut in half (I used Mission Carb Balance tortillas)
12 ounces (3 cups) shredded cheddar, colby jack, or pepperjack cheese (or a combination)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. When the beef is about halfway cooked, add the onion and garlic and cook until the beef is cooked through and the onions and garlic are tender and fragrant. Add the taco seasoning and stir to coat completely, then add the black olives, chilies, tomatoes, corn, enchilada sauce, and refried beans. Bring to a simmer then remove from heat.

Spread about 1/2 cup of the mixture onto the bottom of a 9×13″ pan. Top with one whole tortilla and one half. Spread 1 1/2 cups of the mixture on top of the tortillas, sprinkle with cheese, then top with another 1 1/2 tortillas. Repeat until you run out of tortillas, topping with a small amount of the meat mixture and another sprinkling of cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serves 12.

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Broccoli, Ham and Alfredo Pasta

Broccoli, Ham and Alfredo Pasta (With Sneaky Cauliflower)

Ingredients

1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 small head cauliflwer, cored and chopped (about 3 cups)

6 garlic cloves, roughly chopped

4 medium shallots, roughly chopped (or sub about 1/2-3/4 cup diced onion)

Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper

4 teaspoons all-purpose flour

4 cups skim milk

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (I did just under that, between 1/8-1/4)

6 ounces Pecorino cheese, grated (about 2 cups- could sub fresh grated Parmesan) I just did a Cheese Mix with Parmesan in it.

1/2 pound medium multigrain pasta shells or bowties

1/4 pound sliced smoked ham, chopped (about 1 cups)

1 medium bunch broccoli, trimmed and cut into florets (3-5 cups)

optional: 1/2 cup toasted whole-wheat panko (Japanese bread crumbs) for serving.

Instructions

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add cauliflower, garlic, shallots, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook until softened but not brown, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Sprinkle with flour; stir to coat well.

Gradually stir in milk; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; gently simmer until cauliflower is very soft, about 15 minutes.  Let cool for 5 minutes.  Transfer all to a blender, and puree with nutmeg and half the pecorino until smooth, about 2 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Cook pasta until slightly tender but not fully cooked, about 5 minutes.  (Note:  If you like your broccoli pretty tender, add it to boiling pasta water for a couple of minutes before draining)  Drain well; return to pot.  Add ham, broccoli, and cauliflower sauce; toss to combine.  Transfer to an ovenproof 3 1/2 quart baking dish.  Sprinkle with remaining pecorino, and bake until bubbling in center, about 30 minutes.  Heat broiler, and broil until golden brown on top, 1-2 minutes.  Divide among dishes, top with breadcrumbs (if using), and serve immediately.

From OUR BEST BITES

Worlds Best Dinner Rolls

Ingredients:

2 c. whole milk (if you’re in a pinch, you can use 2%, but whole is best. Don’t use 1% or skim)

½ cup + 1 tablespoon sugar, divided

1/3 cup (5 1/3 tablespoons) butter

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 packages active dry yeast (or 4 1/2 tsp.), preferably bread machine yeast

2/3 cup warm (105-115-degree) water

8-9 cups all-purpose flour

3 beaten eggs

Instructions:

Combine milk, 1/2 c. sugar, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until butter melts. Remove from heat. Allow to cool to lukewarm. I usually rub some ice cubes along the sides of the pan or pop the entire pan in a sink full of ice cubes to cool the mixture down because this step can take forever. This step is really important because if the mixture is too hot, it will kill the yeast.

While the milk mixture is cooling, dissolve the yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes. If the yeast hasn’t bubbled, you’ll need to repeat this step–moving on with yeast that hasn’t been activated properly will only end in heartache for you and hate mail for us.

In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 c. flour and milk mixture. Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Add yeast mixture and beat on high for 3 minutes.

Add beaten eggs. Why should you beat your eggs first? Same reason you should combine your dry ingredients before adding them to moist ingredients when making cookies and cakes–it ensures everything is well-mixed and can be evenly-distributed through your dough or batter. If you add the whole eggs, your dough may not be as consistent.

Stir in as much remaining flour as needed to make a soft dough. This dough should be very soft–it will be coming away from the sides of the bowl, but it will still stick to your finger when you touch it. Don’t worry, it will firm up during the rising process. Part of what makes these rolls so good is that they’re so soft and light; if you add too much flour, they will be heavy and dense. Place the bowl in a warm place and cover with a clean towel; allow to rise 1 hour.

Punch down dough. Lightly flour your work surface and turn dough out onto surface. Divide in half.

Spray 2 9×13 glass pans with cooking spray. Roll first portion of dough into a rectangle and then cut it into 12 equal-sized pieces. I like to use a pizza cutter because it has a blade on each side, so it cuts right through dough without sticking to the blade. This dough should be very easy to work with, almost like playdough. Shape each piece into a ball and place in prepared pan. Repeat with remaining dough in the second pan.

Cover with a clean cloth and allow to rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes. When dough has about 15-20 minutes to go (depending on your oven), preheat oven to 375.

Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden-brown.

When done, remove from oven. Rub a stick of cold butter over the tops of the rolls. You must now eat one. Now. While it’s hot.

Then pop the rest into a bowl and no one will ever know that you cheated. Makes 2 dozen rolls.

From OUR BEST BITES