Grilled Cheese Reinvented

sourdough bread

pepperjack cheese

cooked bacon

very thin apple slices (fuji were great!!)

lightly salted avocado

This was SO GOOD!! You have to try it!! Sorry for the bad picture, I was so hungry, I just snapped a quick one!

recipe via: just cook already

Playdough (cooked)

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1 T. oil

1 cup water (food coloring added)

2 tsp. cream of tartar

Stir over low heat until it forms a ball. Take out of pan & knead on counter. Keep refrigerated after each use.

Orzo Salad

Vinaigrette

Whisk:

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 T fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. honey

Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup olive oil

add salt & pepper

Cover & chill.

May be made 2 days prior.

Bring 6 cups chicken broth to a boil. Stir in 1 lb. Orzo, reduce heat to medium. Cover pan partially. Cook until tender, stirring occasionally. Drain, then transfer to a large, wide bowl. Toss. Once cool add:

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

7 oz. crumbled feta cheese

1 cup chopped, fresh basil

1 cup chopped green onions

Toss all together, add vinaigrette. May need more salt & pepper.

Serve at room temperature.

** May add 1/2 cup nuts (pine nuts or slivered almonds)

Mandarin Salad

romaine lettuce

spinach

iceberg lettuce (optional)

red onion, cut very fine

strawberries (whole, halved or quartered, depending on size)

or

mandarin oranges

or

red grapes

sliced or diced slivered almonds (toasted)

Dressing:

1 cup Mayo (not Miracle Whip)

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1 T. poppy seeds

Make dressing ahead. Toss just before serving.

Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

4 lbs. peeled, cubed potatoes

5 T. real butter

1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

6 cloves roasted garlic

1 - 1 1/2 cups warm skim milk (any milk will do)

1 T. salt, or to taste

1 tsp. fresh cracked black pepper, or to taste

Place potatoes in a large pot of cold water. Place onto stove top over high heat & bring to a boil. Once water is boiling, cook for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Drain & transfer to the work bowl of a stand or electric mixer. Mix on low until potatoes are mashed then add butter, Parmesan, garlic, milk, salt & pepper. Season to taste if needed. For thinner mashed potatoes add more milk, slowly until your desired consistency.

Scoop mashed potatoes onto serving plates & top with pork chops & soup gravy from crock pot.

**Roasted garlic: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bulb of garlic with skins on, wrap tightly in tin foil & bake for 1 hour. Remove from foil & let cool for 15 minutes. Remove garlic from skins, place in a bowl & mash with a fork until completely mashed.

Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops

6 pork chops, 1/2" thick

1 packet dry Ranch Dressing Seasoning

10 oz. can cream of chicken soup

Place pork chops, ranch seasoning & soup into crock pot over high heat for 4 hours or low heat for 6 hours.

Serve with Parmesan mashed potatoes.

via:Picky Palate

Sparkling Holiday Punch

3 cups cold water

3/4 cups sugar

5 cinnamon sticks

1 bottle Welch's Sparkling Red or White Grape Juice Cocktail, chilled

1 cup orange juice

1/2 cup lemon juice

3 bottles (16 oz each) lemon-lime soda, chilled

ice cubes made with Welch's Sparkling Red or Sparkling White Grape juice cocktail

Preparation

In medium saucepan, combine water, sugar & cinnamon sticks to make cinnamon syrup. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Reduce heat & simmer 5 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks, cover & refrigerate 2 hours. IN a large punch bowl, combine cinnamon syrup, Sparkling White Grape Juice cocktail, orange juice, lemon juice & soda. Add ice cubes. If desired, garnish with additional cinnamon sticks or float fruit-filled ice cubes, orange, lemon or lime slices.

Makes about 30 one-half cup servings.