Lime Squares with Pistachio-Graham Cracker Crust

Another great recipe from Martha Stewart. I used cashews instead of pistachios because they are so much cheaper and it worked fine. I also put some lime zest in the filling because my limes weren't super juicy and I thought it needed more flavor. It was a super easy recipe and tasted great!

Crust:

4 T melted butter, plus more for pan

2/3 c shelled pistachios

1 c graham cracker crumbs

1/4 c sugar

1 T grated lime zest

Filling:

2 large egg yolks

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

1/2 c fresh lime juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush pan with melted butter. Line bottom with 8-inch parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides.

In a food processor, finely grind nuts with graham cracker crumbs (or just throw the crackers in whole and make crumbs in one step), sugar and lime zest. Blend in butter. Press mixture into bottom of pan and 1 inch up sides. Bake until lightly browned, 8-10 mins. Cool crust 30 mins.

Whisk together egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk. Add lime juice; whisk until smooth. Pour filling into crust and spread to edges.

Bake until set, 15 mins. Cool in pan on rack. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving. Lift out of pan with parchment paper and cut with serrated knife.

Butter Dips

This dish was a favorite for breakfast in my house. It's basically a biscuit dough that you cut into strips instead of rounds and bake in--you guessed it--butter (yum)! They come out nice and crispy. I like to dip them in my fried egg yolk till it's gone and then eat the rest with jam. In Matthew's family they had the same recipe but ate them like bread sticks to go with dinner, so you can choose what you like. Bottom line is they are good.

1/3 c butter or margarine

2 1/4 c sifted flour

1 T sugar

4 t baking powder

1 t salt

1 c milk

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut up butter into pieces and put in 9x13; put pan in oven to melt butter.

Sift dry ingredients into bowl. Add milk. Stir slowly with a fork until dough just clings together. Turn dough out onto a well floured board. Knead lightly 10 times. Roll out into a rectangle just a little less than 1/2 inch thick. Cut in half lengthwise, then into strips.

The butter should be melted by now so remove pan from oven. Dip each strip in butter, coating all sides and line up in pan. Bake 18 mins or until browned.

Potato Soup

6 potatoes diced small

2 carrots thinly sliced

I Stick celery thinly sliced

5 cups water

¼ cup butter

1 onion sliced

4 chicken bouillon cubes

1 Tbsp Parsley

1 Tbsp salt

Put in pressure cooker. Pressure 1-3 minutes and release pressure. Remove lid and cool somewhat.

Add 1 large can of evaporated milk and 4 Tbsp of Flour to thicken. Do not boil.

Serves 10 – 12.

Chocolate Sheet Cake

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

2 tsp soda

1/8 tsp salt

¼ cup cocoa

¾ cup oil

2 eggs

2 cups boiling water

2 tsp vanilla

Cream sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients alternating with water. Mix thoroughly. Spray pan with pam.

Pour in big 11x13 cookie sheet pan. Bake 350 degrees for 25 minutes or if cupcakes 370 degrees for 12 minutes

Frosting –

1 stick margarine (1/2 cup) softened (little less better)

3 cups powdered sugar

4 – 5 Tbsp of cream or evaporated milk

3 Tbsp cocoa

1 tsp vanilla

Melt margarine, add to sugar, cocoa and cream. Add vanilla &beat well. Add nuts. Spread on cake while warm.

Raspberry Pretzel Jello Salad

Bottom Layer
2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup butter, melted
3 Tbs. sugar
Mix butter and sugar together. Stir in pretzels. Pat out into a 9x13 pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool and set aside.

Middle Layer
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
8 oz. cool whip, thawed
1 cup sugar
Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Mix in the sugar. Gently stir in the cool whip. Spread over the cooled pretzel layer.

Top Layer
3 cups boiling water
1 large pkg. raspberry Jello
16-20 oz. frozen raspberries
Stir Jello and water together until dissolved. Add frozen raspberries. Stir until the raspberries are separated and soft. Pour gently onto the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate several hours or overnight.

Salmon Macaroni Salad

1/2 pound (about 2 cups) macaroni pasta
Salt
2 (7-ounce) cans salmon
1/2 cup mayonnaise (plus more to taste or for added smoothness)
1 teaspoon mustard
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/3 cup chopped shallots, red onions, or green onions (with onion greens)
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill (or 1/2 teaspoon dried dill)
2 stalks celery, chopped
Tabasco to taste (we used about 10 drops)
Freshly ground black pepper

Bring a pot of water (2 quarts) to a boil. Add 2 teaspoons salt. Add the dry macaroni pasta and cook, uncovered, in a rolling boil for about 10 minutes, or until the macaroni is al dente (slightly firm). Remove from heat, drain, rinse briefly in cold water (macaroni should be still warm after rinsing) and drain again.

In a large bowl mix the salmon, mayonnaise, mustard, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix in the shallots, parsley, dill, and celery.

Mix in the cooked macaroni while it is still warm. Add Tabasco and freshly ground pepper to taste. As the macaroni absorbs the mayonnaise, you may need to add some water to the salad to keep it from being dry. Adjust seasonings.

Chill before serving. Serves 4.

Baked Pasta with Sausage, Tomatoes and Cheese

This Cooking Light recipe turned out looking just like the picture and was really good. It is a nice variation from the regular hamburger pasta dish. I substituted Asiago cheese for Parmesan because it was cheaper. When you bake pasta I think it helps to boil it a little longer (past al dente) so it doesn't get dried out in the oven. One of the reviews on the site where I found it recommends adding 2 tsp balsamic vinegar and 1 tsp sugar to sauce just before combining with pasta. That sounds good to me--I'll try it next time!

1 (1-pound) package uncooked ziti (short tube-shaped pasta)
1 pound hot turkey Italian sausage links
1 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 (14.5-ounce) cans petite-diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Cooking spray
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded fresh mozzarella cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350°.

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain the pasta, and set aside.

Remove casings from sausage. Cook sausage, onion, and garlic in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until browned, stirring to crumble. Add the tomato paste, salt, pepper, and tomatoes, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Combine cooked pasta, sausage mixture, and basil. Place half of the pasta mixture in a 4-quart casserole coated with cooking spray. Top with half of mozzarella and half of Parmesan. Repeat layers. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until bubbly.