Quick and Easy Alfredo Sauce

From Rebecca Bettilyon and Allrecipes
Makes 4 servings

Melt 1/2 cup butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 8-ounce package cream cheese and 2 teas. garlic powder, stirring with wire whisk until smooth. Add 2 cups milk, a little at a time, whisking to smooth out lumps. Stir in 6 ounces grated Parmesan cheese and 1/8 teas. ground black pepper. Remove from heat when sauce reaches desired consistency. Sauce will thicken rapidly, thin with milk if cooked too long.

Great topping for pasta, potatoes, pizza, or bread. We used this for our Relief Society baked potato bar. It was dreamy on a huge baked potato, a spoonful of California mixed veggies and then topped with shredded Monteray Jack cheese. We had lots of leftovers, and I was the lucky one who took them home. First off, they lasted a long time without going bad and secondly, it was still creamy and delicious when reheated in the microwave.

Chicken Vegetable Pasta with Alfredo Sauce

From Karen McLeod
Makes 8 servings

1. Marinate 6 chicken breast halves for at least one hour in Grill Mates Garlic Herb & Wine marinade mix according to package directions. Fry or grill chicken; then dice it.

2. Saute 1/2 chopped red pepper, 1/2 chopped green pepper, 1/2 chopped yellow pepper and 8 oz. sliced fresh mushrooms together in a non-stick pan sprayed with oil until slightly softened, but not soggy. Cook 16 oz. penne pasta according to the package directions. Mix the pasta, the vegetables and the chicken together in a large bowl.

3.Slice 1/2 cup butter into a saucepan and melt over medium heat. Cut 8 oz. cream cheese into cubes and add, with 1 clove minced garlic, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Whisk in 2 cups milk very gradually. Stir in 6 oz. shredded Parmesan cheese and 1/8 teas. pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until the desired consistency. (If sauce thickens too much, whisk in a little more milk). Pour the sauce over the pasta mixture and toss together. Garnish each serving with a little parsley and sprinkle lightly with paprika.

*This is super tasty. Sometimes I just make the alfredo sauce and put it over pasta without the veggies or chicken. Super easy.

Chicken Florentine Artichoke Bake

From Better Homes & Gardens November 2008 or BHG.com
Makes 6-8 servings

8 oz. dried bow tie pasta
1 small onion, chooped
1 TBSP butter
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup milk
1 teas dried Italian seasoning
1/4 to 1/2 teas crushed red pepper (optional)
2 cups chopped cooked chicken (I used canned this time)
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (8 oz.)
1 14-oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
1 10 oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
1/2 cup oil-packed dried tomatoes, drained and chopped (I used non-oil packed)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
1/2 teas. paprika
1 TBSP butter, melted.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. In medium skillet cook onion in 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat about 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; set aside.

2. In bowl whisk together eggs, milk, seasoning, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Stir in chicken, Monterey Jack cheese, artichokes, spinach, tomatoes, half of the Parmesan, cooked pasta, and onion. Transfer to a 13x9x2-inch baking dish or 3-quart rectangular casserole.

3. Bake, covered, 20 minutes. In small bowl combine remaining Parmesan, bread crumbs, paprika, and melted butter. Sprinkle mixture over pasta. Bake, uncovered, 10 minutes more or until golden.

Breadsticks

From A Flood of Recipes From the 12th Ward p 53 (Merl Duersch, Jennifer Morrison)
Makes 2 cookie sheets full

1 1/2 cup warm water
2 T sugar
1 T yeast
3 cups flour
1/2 teas. salt
1 cube butter (I just melt some and put in on top or just brush on from soft tub)
parmesan cheese
garlic salt
Salad Supreme

Dissolve yeast and sugar in water. Add flour and salt. Knead 1-3 minutes. Let rest. Roll out dough on floured surface (Melt butter to roll breadsticks in-I don't do this) Roll into long strips, or whatever shape you prefer. Sprinkle with garlic salt, parmesan cheese, and/or Salad Supreme. Let raise 15-20 minutes or until double. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

*The less you let them raise, the crispier they are, so whatever suits your fancy.

Garlic Bread

From ME
Serves as many as you'd like

Bread
Butter (soft margarine)
garlic salt
cheese (mozza, italian mix, parmesan... you mix it up!)

Butter bread, sprinkle garlic salt, then top with cheese of your choice. Broil in the oven for a few minutes.

Husband's version
Toast bread, then butter, sprinkle garlic salt, and cheese. Broil to melt cheese. This way both sides are toasted.

*We usually have this with pasta dishes or pizza. It's so quick & easy.

Italian Zuchinni over Spaghetti

From Shanna Westergard
Serves 2-4

1/2 pound stir-fry beef
1 small zuchinni sliced thin
1 small tomato diced
1 bottle italian dressing (I use light; maybe only 1/2 a bottle too)
parmesan cheese

Spaghetti noodles or linguine

Lightly spray nonstick frying pan with cooking spray. Fry beef in pan until browned. Add zuchinni, tomato, and italian dressing. Let cook until zucchini is tender. Meanwhile, boil spaghetti until cooked completely. Drain and pour italian mixture over spaghetti or linguine noodles. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Strawberry Salad with Poppyseed Dressing

From Lori Colledge
Serves.... a lot or a little (I halved or quartered the dressing recipe)

Salad
Romaine Lettuce
Sliced Strawberries
Walnuts (candied preferred)
Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Poppyseed Dressing
1/2 cup red onion
1 cup white sugar
1 teas. dijon mustard
1 teas. salt
2/3 cup vinegar

blend in blender or small food processor, then add

2 cup vegetable oil
3 TBSP poppy seeds

Mix together. Stir before serving, as oil separates.

I made this for lunch today, but I didn't do the strawberries and stuff; just the dressing and lettuce--yummy.

Orzo with Parmesan and Basil

From Taste of Home Simple & Delicious July/August 2008 p. 22 (Anna Chaney/Antigo, Wisconsin)
Makes 4 servings

1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
2 TBS butter
1 can (14-1/2 oz) chicken broth
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 teas. dried basil
1/8 teas. pepper

1. In a large skillet, saute orzo in butter for 3-5 minutes or until lightly browned.
2. Stir in broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and orzo is tender. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, basil, and pepper.