Pasta Salad Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. spaghetti, cooked
• 2 cups cauliflower
• 1-15oz. can peas
• 1-15oz. can black olives, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 lb. Scallops or Shrimp
• 1/2 cup Raspberry Vinaigrette dressing
  

Directions:
In a large bowl combine cooked spaghetti, cauliflower, peas, olives, and bell pepper. Set aside bowl while you heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a saute pan. Cut and quarter scallops or shrimp and sear in heated oil until cooked through. Add scallops to pasta mixture and drizzle vinaigrette dressing over entire bowl. Toss the pasta until completely incorporated. Serve chilled.

Cherry Chipotle BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1-15 oz. can tomato sauce
• 3 tbsp. chipotle sauce (canned)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. smoke flavoring
• 3 tbsp. maraschino cherry juice
  

Directions:
In a medium-sized sauce pan, heat oil and add onions and peppers. Saute until translucent. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes until slightly thickened. Use immediately for grilling, roasting, and baking.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 box Yellow cake mix
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 12 slices of pineapple
• 12 cherries
  

Directions:
Mix yellow cake mix according to directions on box and set aside. In a small sauce pan, melt margarine and brown sugar together. Spray a 13x9 inch cake pan with non-stick spray. Place pineapples 3 across and 4 down with a cherry in the center of each pineapple in the pan. Pour margarine and brown sugar mixture over top of the pineapples and then pour prepared cake mix over top of pineapples.

Bake for 30-40 minutes, check center for doneness with a toothpick, if inserted and comes out clean. While cake is still hot, place a cookie sheet over top of the cake, using oven mitts, flip cake upside down on to the cookie sheet and allow to cool or serve warm.

Bacon and Citrus Salad Slaw

You can make this a fairly easy salad by using packaged salad mixes and precooked bacon.

Ingredients:

• 1 Head of lettuce or bag of salad mix
• 6-8 slices of bacon, cooked and cut in to 1/2 inch pieces
• Zest from 1 orange
• 1 orange, peeled, quartered and cubed
• 1 apple, sliced and diced
• 1/3 cup of slaw dressing

Directions:
To assemble salad, in a large bowl, mix together lettuce, bacon, zest, orange, apple and slaw dressing. Toss lightly and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Jamie's Fried Cod Fillets

Note: Electric skillets are best for frying because you can control the temperature better than on the stove top. By preheating the oil to 375º, once the fish is dropped into the oil the temperature will drop to the correct temp at 350º.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 pounds cod fillets
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp. garlic powder
• 1 tbsp. onion powder
• 1 tbsp. Greek seasoning (optional)
• 1/2 tbsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• Oil for frying
  

Directions:
Preheat oil in electric skillet to 375º. Make sure that oil is at least 2-1/2 inches deep. In a small bowl combine eggs and 1/2 tsp. salt and set aside. In a medium-sized bowl mix flour and seasonings. Cover each chunk of cod in egg and coat with flour mixture completely. Fry until golden brown at least 2-4 minutes on each side, depending on thickness of fillets.
When golden brown color has been reached, remove from oil and drain excess oil on a cookie rack with paper towels underneath to catch the run off.
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Tartar Sauce:

• 2 tbsp. horseradish sauce
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp. sweet pickle relish
  

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together for a tangy tartar sauce that is awesome.

Apple Dumplings

Ingredients:

• 4 Gala apples (large)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 tbsp. oatmeal
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tbsp. margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup margarine, melted
• Phyllo dough
• Caramel sauce
• Whipped Topping

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375º. Core each apple but not completely through, about a 1/2 inch from the bottom. In a small mixing bowl combine sugar, oatmeal, cinnamon, and margarine. Mix with a fork and set aside. Unfold thawed Phyllo dough and slice in half. User approximately 8 sheets per apple.

Brush the top of dough and place one apple in the center and spoon in sugar mixture and pack into core. Gather each point of the dough at the top of the apple and twist carefully. Brush each dumpling with margarine and sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture.

Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray and bake for 35-40 minutes. Top each dumpling with caramel sauce and whipped topping. Best served warm.

Tiramisu Trifle

Ingredients:

1- Angel food cake loaf

1-8oz. container Mascarpone cheese or cream cheese

1-box instant vanilla pudding

1 tub whipped topping

1 tbsp. cocoa powder

3 tbsp. instant espresso powder, divided

1/2 cup hot water

Chocolate syrup

Chocolate covered espresso beans (optional)

Directions:

Slice and cube the loaf of angel food cake into 1-inches. Cream the mascarpone or cream cheese and 1 tablespoon of espresso powder in a mixer. In a separate dish, mix the pudding according to the directions on the box and set aside. Mix the pudding in with the mascarpone mixture and cream until completely mixed. In a small bowl, pour hot water and 2 tablespoons of espresso powder and cocoa powder, stir and allow to dissolve.

To assemble,

1. Place a handful of angel food cubes into the trifle dish

2. Drizzle coffee and cocoa mixture over angel food cake

3. Place half of the pudding mixture over top of the angel food

4. Scoop half of the whipped topping on the next layer and spread evenly

5. Drizzle with chocolate syrup

Repeat the above steps until ingredients have all been used. Top with chocolate-covered espresso beans as a decoration (optional).

Shredded Pork Chili

My sister and I operate the local food pantry for our area. It becomes challenging finding new recipes for some of the foods we hand out in our food packages to our recipients. This is one that I came up with today. If you can't find canned shredded pork in your local store, you can use a pork roast to make your own.

Ingredients:

1-(24 oz.) can pork
1-(28 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1-(15 oz.) can chili beans
1 packet Chili seasoning or 3 tbsp. chili powder
1/2 cup shredded cheese

Rinse the canned meat and place in a medium-sized sauce pan with the chili seasoning. Warm over medium heat until heated through. Add tomatoes and beans. Stir thoroughly and continue to cook over low heat until bubbly. Serve hot with shredded cheese on top.

Notes: My kids love to add corn chips along with the shredded cheese on top of the chili and it is actually pretty good.