Nancy's Notes From Florida

Stuffed Mushrooms
September 18, 2015

Ingredients

(2) 16 oz. packages whole white mushrooms
3 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1⁄2 cup mayonnaise
1⁄2 cup sour cream
14 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
10 oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1⁄3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3⁄4 tsp. garlic powder
4 Tbsp. shredded Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove stems from mushrooms and discard or save for another use. Clean mushrooms and pat dry with paper towel. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream in a small bowl. Add artichokes, spinach, mozzarella cheese, garlic powder, and shredded Parmesan cheese.

Fill each mushroom cap with 1 Tbsp. spinach mixture. Place mushrooms on greased baking sheet and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until tender. Transfer to platter and serve warm.


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Butternut Squash Soup
September 18, 2015

Ingredients

2 Tbsp. butter
1 onion, diced
1 pound peeled butternut squash, cubed
1 carrot, diced
¼ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
Pinch ground cloves
1 quart low-salt chicken broth
2 sprigs thyme
1 cup half-and-half
2 Tbsp. unsulphured molasses

Directions

Melt butter over medium heat in large soup pot. Add onion and cook until translucent. Then add squash and carrots. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring often. Add spices and cook until vegetables start to caramelize. Add chicken broth and thyme. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Remove from heat and discard thyme sprigs. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup. (It can be frozen at this stage.) Stir in molasses to blend. Add half-and-half and mix to combine. Ladle into individual bowls and serve hot.

If frozen, defrost gradually and then reheat in large pot. Stir in molasses and half-and-half and serve as above.


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Minestrone Soup
September 18, 2015

Ingredients

49 oz. container low fat chicken broth
28 oz. can petite diced tomatoes, undrained
15 oz. can whole white potatoes, drained & halved
15-1/2 oz. can cannellini beans, drained
9 oz. package frozen cut green beans
8 oz. package shredded carrots
1 large onion, cut into chunks
1/4 red bell pepper, diced
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill
3/4 cup Ditalini pasta

Directions

Combine all ingredients except pasta in large soup pot and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add pasta, cook for additional 10 minutes. Serve hot.


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Sweet Onion Chowder
September 18, 2015

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter
4 to 5 large sweet onions, peeled and sliced
1 tsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. fresh dill, chopped
11 oz. can white corn, drained
(4) 14 oz. cans Swanson’s low fat, low sodium chicken broth
2 Tbsp. flour
½ cup half-and-half

Directions

Melt butter in soup pot. Add onions. Stir and simmer, covered, on medium heat until softened, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle in the sugar and mix again, cooking a few more minutes. Then add dill and corn. In a separate bowl, whisk flour into broth to blend. Pour into pot and whisk until smooth. Heat to a boil and simmer for 10 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat and gently stir in half-and-half. Ladle into individual bowls and serve hot.


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Cranberry Bread
September 18, 2015

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
1 cup light brown sugar
½ tsp. baking soda
1½ tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg, lightly beaten
¾ cup whole milk
12 oz. bag fresh cranberries
Cinnamon Sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a loaf pan. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a medium bowl, stir together melted butter, egg, and milk. Add liquids to flour mixture. Stir to combine, then fold in cranberries. Put batter into prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top. Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool briefly on rack, then slice and serve.


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