Lemon Bars

1 cup butter softened

1/2 cup white sugar

2 cups all purpose flour

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1/4 cup all purpose flour

2 lemons juiced

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust.
4. Bake for an additional 20 minutes in the preheated oven. The bars will firm up as they cool. Sprinkle with powder sugar.  After both pans have cooled, cut into uniform 2 inch squares and arrange in a checker board fashion.

I got this recipe from allrecipes.com We own a lemon tree and used fresh lemons.  Jesse enjoys fruit flavored desserts (I tend to like chocolate).  

Jesse- 4/5

Megan- 3.5/5

Bowties and Sausage

2 tbsp olive oil
1 lb. hot Italian sausage, casing removed and crumbled
1/2 tsp dried pepper flakes
1/2 cup diced onion
3 cloves minced garlic
1 1/2 cups light cream
20z can italian style chopped tomatoes
16z bowtie pasta
1/2 tsp salt
Parmesan cheese

Heat sausage, olive oil and pepper flakes in large fry pan.  Add onion, garlic and cook until tender.  Add tomatoes, cream and salt.  Simmer until thick.

Cook and drain pasta.  Add pasta to fry pan and toss.  Sprinkle with parsley and parmesan cheese.

This recipe if from my Aunt.  It is one of her family's favorite and has become one of Jesse's favorites.  This a  hearty meal and makes a lot.

Megan-4/5
Jesse-4.5/5

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup butter softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 package (11.5 oz) milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Mix everything together.  Drop spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake for 8-10 minutes.

I got this recipe from the back of the Kroger brand milk chocolate chip bag.  There are so many cookie recipes out there it is sometimes nice to have a simple chocolate chip cookie (I prefer mine warm).  I cooked with 2 cookie sheets in the oven at the same time so it took the cookies a few extra minutes to cook.

Megan-4.5/5
Jesse-4.5/5

Tortellini and White Bean Soup

• • 
    
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 ribs celery, sliced 
  • 1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained 
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth 
  • 1 8-oz. package fresh cheese or meat tortellini
  • 1 15-oz. can white beans, drained and rinsed
  • Salt, optional
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

  Preparation

  1. 1. Warm oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add celery, tomatoes and oregano and cook, stirring occasionally, until celery begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, 2 minutes longer.
  2. 2. Stir in broth and bring soup to a boil. Carefully add tortellini and beans and cook, stirring occasionally, until soup is heated through and tortellini are tender, about 7 minutes. Season with salt, if desired. Divide soup among 4 bowls, sprinkle each with 1 Tbsp. Parmesan and serve immediately.

  
  

  This recipe is from the magazine All You.  It was very easy and quick.  It would be a great quick dinner/lunch on a cold day.

  
  

  Megan-3/5

  Jesse- 3.5/5  

  
  

Old World Manicotti

Ingredients

12 large manicotti sheets
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
2 cups ricotta cheese
6 tablespoons of chopped fresh basil OR 2 tablespoons dried basil
1 (26z) jar prepared spaghetti sauce divided
1/2 grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 13x9 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain, rinse with cool water.  Let pasta dry on paper towels.

For filling in a medium bowl stir together 3 cups mozzarella with the ricotta and fresh basil.  Using a teaspoon carefully stuff pasta shells with prepared cheese mixture.

Spoon 2 cups spaghetti sauce into prepared baking dish.  Arrange stuffed pasta over sauce.  Pour remaining spaghetti sauce over top of pasta.  Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.

Bake manicotti for 15 minutes.  Sprinkle with the parmesan and bake for 10 more minutes.  Serve.

I got this recipe from a recipe card titled Grandma's Kitchen.  I used a little bit more sauce then the recipe because my jar was larger and I just used the entire thing.  The hardest part is getting the cheese filling into the shells without breaking the shells.

Megan-4/5
Jesse-4/5