Zucchini Tots

Ingredients:

• cooking spray (I used Pam Butter)
• 1 cup (packed) grated zucchini
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 onion, minced
• 1/4 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
• sea salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Spray glass baking dish
3. Squeeze all moisture from grated zucchini before measuring
4. Combine all ingredients in medium mixing bowl
5. Spoon 1 tbsp. of mixture and roll into a ball and place into baking dish, repeat
6. Bake 18 minutes

Mexican Chicken Casserole

After this was cooked, I told Nita there is always some trepidation taking the first bite of something new, especially when you are not really sure about how it sounds. This exceeded both of our expectations.

Mexican Chicken Casserole

Ingredients

1 10 3/4 -ounce can cream of chicken soup 

1/2 cup diced mushrooms (canned rather than fresh)
1 10-ounce can Rotel or Hatch tomatoes with chiles, mild
1 small onion diced
1 can diced green chilies - Hatch or El Preferido
cumin to taste
2 chicken breasts, cooked, boned, and shredded (cut small)
½ cup sour cream
9 flour tortillas (use as many as needed)
2 cup shredded cheddar cheese  - or any Colby Jack, Monterey, Mexican 4-cheese, etc.
more diced Mushrooms if desired

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place olive oil or butter in a large skillet and melt over medium heat; add onion and sauté 5 minutes or until tender.

In a large bowl, stir together onion mixture, green chilies, soup, cumin, tomatoes and sour cream. Stir in the chicken.

In a greased 13 x 9- inch or 8x8 glass baking dish, layer the tortillas and the chicken mixture, beginning and ending with tortillas. Sprinkle the cheese over the casserole and bake for 30 minutes.

Avocado Breakfast

Avocado Breakfast

OK, Faye, I know you don't like avocado, so you can skip this one, but Jeanie will love it.

Ingredients:

• 4 tsp. butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 slices toasted white bread other than normal - like sourdough or we use Grandma's Perfect White by Heartland
• Dijon mustard - or a dark sweet/sour mustard
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 4 tbsp. Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

1. Melt butter, add the egg whites - I use an egg mold
2. Once egg whites are firm, add yellows to top of them
3. Spread a small amount of mustard over each piece of bread
4. Arrange the avocado slices over the mustard
5. Top the avocado with one eggs
6. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the eggs

Brunch Casserole

Brunch Casserole

This one goes against my own rules in that I did not cut it down to feed 2 people. I left the recipe as I got it for 12 people, however I did make several other modifications to suit our tastes. It is quite filling! Enjoy and freeze if you have leftovers.

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 eggs
• 4 egg whites
• 2 cups milk
• 1 tsp. ground mustard
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 8 slices firm white bread cubed
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Cook ground beef and onion until done
2. In a large bowl, beat eggs, egg whites, milk, mustard, salt and pepper
3. Stir in the bread cubes a little at a time
4. Add cheese and ground beef and mix
5. Pour into 13x9 inch baking dish 
6. Cover and refrigerate until morning
7. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 35 minutes

Kentucky Hot Brown Bake

For about 4-6 people for a brunch. Plan to have sandwiches for 2 later.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz crescent dough package
• 1 lb. smoked turkey lunch meat
• 8 slices Swiss Cheese
• 8 slices cooked beef bacon
• 3 Roma Tomatoes, sliced thin
• 4 eggs beaten

Each ingredient will be used twice - half at a time.

Directions:

1. Unroll the crescent dough and split into 2 squares
2. Place one square on the bottom of a greased 8 inch square baking dish
3. Press dough to fit the bottom of the pan
4. Layer half the turkey, bacon, cheese and tomatoes.
5. Pour 2 of the beaten eggs over the top
6. Repeat layers
7. Top with remaining dough square
8. Pour remaining eggs over the top
9. Bake at 350 degrees covered
10. Bake for another 20 minutes uncovered

Tuna Salad

Tuna Salad

(Why do some say tuna 'fish' salad? We don't say salmon fish croquettes.)

By now you know I like to experiment. I just really love variety. Here are some thoughts about making tuna salad apart from any recipe I have seen. Try these ingredients as variations:

• use real mayonnaise instead of Miracle Whip (I like the mayonnaise with olive oil)
• use a touch of fresh organic dill weed
• use some finely chopped shallots
• use some finely chopped celery (many may already to this)
• use some chopped egg (many may already do this)
• use some fresh chopped organic chives
• use some finely cut green onion

These ingredients can liven up a boring tuna salad.

Beef and Turkey Meat Loaf

Beef and Turkey Meat Loaf

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 lb. ground turkey
• 3/4 cup uncooked pin oats (steel cut oats)
• 1/4 large white onion, diced
• 1 egg
• sea salt and black pepper as needed
• 1 package dry onion soup
• 
  
• For gravy:
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 3/4 cup water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix beef, turkey, oats, onion, dry onion soup and egg until completely mixed
3. Roll mixture into baseball sized portions (or smaller)
4. Place portions in a glass baking dish
5. Bake for 30 minutes
6. Mix mushroom soup and water and stir well
7. Pour mushroom soup mixture over each meat loaf 
8. Bake another 30 minutes

Freeze meat loaf you don't use. If you like, you can also make burger patties out of the leftover meat mixture.