Lasagna

1 lb sweet Italian sausage

1 lb ground beef

1/2 cup minced onion

2 cloves minced garlic

1 can crushed tomatoes (28 oz)

2 cans tomato paste (6 oz each)

2 cans canned tomato sauce (6.5 oz each)

1/2 cup water

2 tbsp white sugar

1 1/2 tsp dried basil leaves

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tbsp salt

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

12 lasagna noodles

16 oz ricotta cheese

1 egg

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, Italian seasoning, 1 tbsp salt, pepper, and 2 tbsp parsley. Simmer covered stirring occasionally.

In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley and 1/2 tsp salt.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Assemble by spreading 1 1/2 cups meat sauce in bottom of a 9X13 inch pan. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Apple Dumplings

2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored

2 cans refrigerated crescent roll dough

1 cup butter

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 can Mountain Dew

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9X13 inch pan. Cut each apple into 8 wedges and roll up in crescent roll dough. Melt butter in a saucepan and stir in the cinnamon and sugar. Pour over the apple dumplings. Pour Mountain Dew over the dumplings. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until golden brown.

Bread

5 tsp yeast

pinch of sugar

1/2 cup warm water

Combine and set to grow in a warm place.

2 cups warm water

2 eggs

1/2 cup melted butter

2 tsp salt

1/2 cup sugar

3 1/2 cup flour

Combine in a large bowl and blend until creamy. Add yeast to other ingredients. Gradually add 5-6 cups flour until dough is very stiff. Let dough stand 10 minutes. Knead 10 minutes adding 1 cup flour. Let rise. Punch down. Let rise, punch down, and form into rolls or loaves.

Beef Stroganoff

1 onion minced

1 lb ground beef

1 garlic clove minced

2 tsp flour

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 can cream of mushroom soup

8 oz fresh mushrooms sliced

2 tbsp ketchup

1/2-1 cup sour cream

parsley, chives, or dill

Brown ground beef with onion until beef is no longer pink and onion is clear; add garlic and mushrooms; sauté about 2 minutes.

Add soup and remaining ingredients except sour cream.

Simmer uncovered 15 minutes.

Stir in sour cream and parsley, chives or dill.

Petits Fours

Cinnamon Rolls

Rolls

3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup margarine, softened
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package instant yeast
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1 egg
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup margarine, softened

Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in margarine; stir until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.

In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt; mix well. Add water, egg and the milk mixture; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has just pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes.Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, softened margarine.

Roll out dough into a 12x9 inch rectangle. Spread dough with margarine/sugar mixture. Roll up dough and pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal size rolls and place cut side up in a lightly greased pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).Bake in the preheated oven until browned.

Cream Cheese Icing

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup softened margarine

2 oz cream cheese

1/2 teas vanilla

1/8 teas salt

Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 
  
• Cream shortening, brown sugar, and white sugar. Mix in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt and mix in. Add in chocolate chips by hand. Bake in 350 degree oven on ungreased cookie sheets for about 8 minutes.

Quiche

Pastry for 9 inch one-crust pie

12 slices bacon-fried and crumbled

1 cup shredded swiss cheese

1/3 cup finely chopped onion

4 eggs

2 cups half and half

3/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/8 cayenne

any other vegetables or meat you like

Sprinkle bacon, cheese, and onion in pastry lined pie plate. Beat eggs slightly, beat in remaining ingredients. Pour egg mixture into pie plate. Cook uncovered in 425 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temp to 300 degrees. Cook uncovered until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean, about 30 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

Crepes

1 1/2 cups milk

4 eggs

1 cup flour

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1/8 tsp salt

butter

Mix ingredients together and refrigerate for 1 hour. Add 1 tsp butter to your skillet. Pour 2 tbsp of batter into center of pan and lift and tilt pan to evenly coat bottom. Cook until top looks dry. Turn and cook 15-20 more seconds. Remove to wire rack. You can serve with your preferred toppings.

Tampa Bay Rays Cake

I made this Rays cake for my boyfriend. I tried three new recipes and found two keepers. I used a white velvet butter cake recipe from The Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum. I also discovered a new fondant recipe without glycerin . It was fantastic! I had a few cracks, but it was my first attempt using fondant. I made mine almond flavored.

Fondant

• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup shortening
• 1/2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
• 2 pounds confectioners' sugar

Onion Bread

2 Tbsp yeast

1 cup water

1/4 cup sugar

2 Tbsp lard

1 medium onion

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

flour

chives

Combine yeast and water in small bowl. Set in warm place to rise. Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl. When yeast has doubled add to ingredients in large bowl. Stir adding enough flour to make a dough. Knead adding flour until dough is very stiff. Let dough rise. Punch down and form into loaves or rolls. Bake at 350 until golden brown.

Blondies

1 cup butter

16 oz brown sugar

3 eggs (beaten)

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

2 1/4 cup flour

16 oz chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

Cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs. Then add flour and remaining ingredients. Bake on well greased cookie sheet for 25-30 minutes in 350 degree oven.