Entertaining
Entertaining is something that comes naturally to me. On this page, you will find creative and inexpensive ways to have fun with family and friends. I have written Easy Entertaining, which is for the person who wants to host a gathering, but wants to keep it affordable and simple.
Winter Comfort Food
Winter months can bring about short days and long nights. The cold, crisp days and nights call for fires in the fireplace, cozy blankets, and comfort food. Pastas, potatoes, and stews are perfect for these days. Here are a few of my favorite winter recipes. Enjoy!
Spaghetti with Italian Sausage
|
1 package of Italian sausage links
3 cups fresh spinach 1 pound of spaghetti 1 stick of butter 4 garlic cloves Salt and pepper to taste ½ cup parmesan cheese In a skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian Sausage links, cover with a lid and turn ever 3-4 minutes. Once browned remove from the skillet and slice them. Put them back in the skillet and cook until the middle is no longer pink. Remove the sausage from the skillet and add the spinach. Cook the spinach until it is wilted. While cooking the sausage and spinach, boil 5-7 cups of water in a pot. Once boiling add 1 tsp of salt. Add the spaghetti noodles and cook for 8-10 minutes or until soft. Peel and chop 4 garlic cloves. Drain the noodles and put into a bowl. Mix with the butter, add the garlic, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, and sausage. Serve warm. Serves 5-6 people. |
|
Rosemary Chicken Crockpot Meal
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts frozen
5-6 small Yukon Gold Potatoes
1 can of diced tomatoes
12 ounces of frozen green beans
2 bullion cubes
salt and pepper
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons of rosemary
Wash and cut the potatoes into one inch cubed pieces. Put the frozen chicken in the crockpot and put the potatoes around the perimeter of the chicken. Season with the spices. Add the tomatoes and green beans on top of the potatoes and chicken. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook on low for 7-8 hours. Serves 4.
5-6 small Yukon Gold Potatoes
1 can of diced tomatoes
12 ounces of frozen green beans
2 bullion cubes
salt and pepper
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons of rosemary
Wash and cut the potatoes into one inch cubed pieces. Put the frozen chicken in the crockpot and put the potatoes around the perimeter of the chicken. Season with the spices. Add the tomatoes and green beans on top of the potatoes and chicken. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook on low for 7-8 hours. Serves 4.
Baked Spaghetti
16 oz Dry Spaghetti
1 lb bulk italian sausage
1 ½ -2 jars of spaghetti sauce
1tsp italian seasoning
1tsp garlic powder
⅓ C Heavy Cream
6- Provolone cheese slices
½ C Parmesan Cheese
In a skillet brown the italian sausage, drain the grease. Boil the dry spaghetti in a pot of salted water. Add the spaghetti sauce and seasonings to the browned sausage. Bring to a boil and simmer on low for 20 min. Add the heavy cream. Drain the spaghetti and add to the sauce. Stir the spaghetti and the sauce together. Add ½ of the spaghetti to the 9x13 pan and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Add the rest of the spaghetti and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Cover and bake at 350 for 15 min. Uncover and add provolone slices, bake until they are melted. Serves 6-8 people.
1 lb bulk italian sausage
1 ½ -2 jars of spaghetti sauce
1tsp italian seasoning
1tsp garlic powder
⅓ C Heavy Cream
6- Provolone cheese slices
½ C Parmesan Cheese
In a skillet brown the italian sausage, drain the grease. Boil the dry spaghetti in a pot of salted water. Add the spaghetti sauce and seasonings to the browned sausage. Bring to a boil and simmer on low for 20 min. Add the heavy cream. Drain the spaghetti and add to the sauce. Stir the spaghetti and the sauce together. Add ½ of the spaghetti to the 9x13 pan and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Add the rest of the spaghetti and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Cover and bake at 350 for 15 min. Uncover and add provolone slices, bake until they are melted. Serves 6-8 people.
Sausage and Potatoes
Sausage and Potatoes
1 Kielbasa
4-5 yellow potatoes
1 bag frozen green beans
1 can of diced tomatoes
salt and pepper
garlic powder
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 cup of water
Put the water and bouillon cube in the bottom of the crock pot. Dice the potatoes into one inch pieces and add to the crock pot. Add salt and pepper and ¼ teaspoon of the garlic Cut the kielbaska into a few pieces and put in the crock pot. Add the frozen green beans and the can of diced tomatoes. Add salt and pepper and the remaining garlic. Cook in the slow cooker on low for 5-6 hours.
I added a jiffy box of corn bread.
1 Kielbasa
4-5 yellow potatoes
1 bag frozen green beans
1 can of diced tomatoes
salt and pepper
garlic powder
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 cup of water
Put the water and bouillon cube in the bottom of the crock pot. Dice the potatoes into one inch pieces and add to the crock pot. Add salt and pepper and ¼ teaspoon of the garlic Cut the kielbaska into a few pieces and put in the crock pot. Add the frozen green beans and the can of diced tomatoes. Add salt and pepper and the remaining garlic. Cook in the slow cooker on low for 5-6 hours.
I added a jiffy box of corn bread.
Soup is on!
Easy Cream of Broccoli
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
1 can of water ½ bag of frozen broccoli Shredded cheese Crackers Put 2 cans of soup and one can of water in a small crock pot on high for 4 hours. Stir until mixed thoroughly. I cut the broccoli into small pieces after it is cooked, I like it better that way. Garnish with shredded cheese. 
|
Chicken and Rice Soup
4 cups of water
2 chicken bouillon cubes One carrot chopped 2 chicken breasts ¼ to ½ teaspoon of onion powder ¼ to ½ teaspoon of garlic powder 1 cup of rice Salt and pepper to taste Put water into a pot with the chicken breast and bouillon cubes. Chop the carrot into small pieces and add to the pot. Cook on med/high until the chicken is cooked. Remove the chicken breast and chop it into bite sized pieces. Add the chicken back in the pot. Add one cup of rice to the soup. Simmer on medium/low heat for about 20 min until the rice is cooked. Serves 3-4. |
Cowboy Chili
1 pound of stew meat
2 tablespoons of cowboy chili spice (or chili powder)
2 large cans of chili beans
1 can diced tomatoes
2-3 tablespoons of olive oil
½ yellow onion
salt and pepper to taste
Chop onion into small pieces. Cut stew meat into smaller pieces. Heat olive oil in large pot over medium heat. Brown the stew meat and onion in the oil, about 5 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink. Add the cans of chili beans, tomatoes and the cowboy chili spice (or chili powder). Bring to a boil and simmer on low for about 1 hour.
Add cooked spaghetti and shredded cheese if you like.
2 tablespoons of cowboy chili spice (or chili powder)
2 large cans of chili beans
1 can diced tomatoes
2-3 tablespoons of olive oil
½ yellow onion
salt and pepper to taste
Chop onion into small pieces. Cut stew meat into smaller pieces. Heat olive oil in large pot over medium heat. Brown the stew meat and onion in the oil, about 5 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink. Add the cans of chili beans, tomatoes and the cowboy chili spice (or chili powder). Bring to a boil and simmer on low for about 1 hour.
Add cooked spaghetti and shredded cheese if you like.
|
|
Hearty Italian Soup
1 pound of beef stew meat
1/2 onion
3 tablespoons of olive oil
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 small can of tomato paste
2 carrots
2 stalks of celery
3 bouillon cubes
1 teaspoon of pepper
1 teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons of italian seasoning
8 cups of water
1 cup of orzo (pasta that looks like rice)
Cut the beef stew meat into small pieces. Chop the onion into small pieces. Put the olive oil into a large pot and heat the oil over medium heat for 1 min. Add the stew meat and onion to the pot. Cook until the onion is transparent and the meat has been browned. Add the 8 cups of water, 3 bouillon cubes, salt and pepper, italian seasoning, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Cover turn on medium/high and bring to a boil. Chop the carrots and the celery. Add to the boiling soup, stirring a few times. Stir, turn the soup down to low and simmer for 1 hour until the meat and vegetables are tender (stirring occasionally). Add one cup of orzo. Stir and let cook about 20 min on low (stirring occasionally). Once the pasta is cooked and the soup has thickened. It is ready to serve.
Serves 6-8 people.