Let it SNOW

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I am ready for some snow to go with all the pretty Christmas lights.

So, I haven't tried any of Giada's recipes, so I'm looking forward to making her chicken carbonara!

MONDAY - Mexican Casserole - Low Fat

TUESDAY - New - Chinese

WEDNESDAY - Seafood - Shrimp Pasta

THURSDAY - Italian - Chicken Carbonara (Giada's)

FRIDAY - Date Night

SATURDAY - Soups On! - Chicken Noodle Classic

SUNDAY - Traditional - Crock Pot Chicken over Rice

Thanksgiving Week

We'll only be cooking 2 days this week since we're going up to my parents for Thanksgiving. They've put me in charge of the desserts and I'm thinking about making this:

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE PIE

Pastry Dough:
1 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
4 tablespoon(s) cold butter or margarine, cut into pieces
4 tablespoon(s) shortening
5 tablespoon(s) (or more if needed) ice water

Cheesecake Filling:
1 package(s) (8-ounce) reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
1/2 cup(s) granulated sugar
1/4 cup(s) (packed) brown sugar
1 can(s) (15-ounce) pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon(s) ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon(s) ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
3 large eggs
1/2 cup(s) heavy or whipping cream
2 tablespoon(s) molasses
1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract

Directions
Prepare Pastry Dough: In large bowl, combine flour and salt. With pastry blender or using two knives scissors-fashion, cut in the butter and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Sprinkle in ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing lightly with fork after each addition, until dough is just moist enough to hold together. Shape dough into disk; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes or overnight. (If chilled overnight, let stand 15 minutes at room temperature before rolling.)

On lightly floured surface, with floured rolling pin, roll dough into 14-inch round. Gently ease dough into 9 1/2-inch deep-dish ceramic or glass pie plate, gently pressing dough against side and bottom of plate. Trim dough edge, leaving 1-inch overhang. Fold overhang under; pinch to form high decorative edge. Refrigerate pie shell until firm, about 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line pie shell with foil and fill with pie weights, dry beans, or uncooked rice. Bake pie shell 15 to 20 minutes or until set. Remove foil and weights and bake 5 to 8 minutes longer or until shell is golden. If shell puffs up during baking, gently press it down with back of spoon. Reset oven control to 350 degrees F.

Meanwhile, prepare Cheesecake Filling: In large bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese and sugars until smooth. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt; beat until blended, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Add eggs, cream, molasses, and vanilla; beat until well blended, occasionally scraping bowl. Pour filling into hot pie shell.
Bake pie 40 to 45 minutes or until filling is puffed and set at edges but still jiggles slightly in center. Cool pie completely on wire rack, then cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours or until firm and well chilled.

And of course of delicious APPLE PIE:

Meradith Viera's Apple Pie

INGREDIENTS
• Apples - any combination, but Granny Smith and Macs are preferred
• Egg whites
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. apple pie spice (or allspice, cinnamon, mace)
• Butter
• Egg yolks
• Prepared pie crust

DIRECTIONS
Prepare pie crust, put in pie plate.
Brush crust with beaten egg white and set aside.
Peel and cut up apples in chunks and fill up crust. Put sugar and apple pie spice on top of apples.
Put one pat of butter, cut into 4 pieces, on top of apples. Put crust on top.
Mix egg yolks with a little bit of milk and brush on top.
Cut slits in crust.
Bake 10 minutes at 400 degrees and 30 minutes at 350.
Serve.

Oooh, I'm so excited for Thanksgiving!

Yummmmm

MONDAY - Mexican - Southwest Turkey Tacos with Spice Corn Salsa (see below)
TUESDAY - New - Pork Chops and Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce (not so new but sounds good)
WEDNESDAY - Seafood - Shrimp Scampi
THURSDAY - Italian - Lasagne and French Bread
FRIDAY - Date Night
SATURDAY - Soups On! - Taco Soup with Tortilla Chips
SUNDAY - Traditional - Sunday Dinner at Mom B's

SOUTHWEST TURKEY TACOS WITH SPICE CORN SALSA

SALSA

1 1/2 cups fresh, canned drained or frozen thawed whole kernel corn, pat dry

1/2 cup chopped Roma tomatoes

3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion

3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 medium fresh serrano pepper, seeded, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon chipotle pepper powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cumin seedblack pepper, to taste

TACOS

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 cups shredded leftover cooked Butterball® Turkey

chipotle pepper powder, to taste

12 (6 to 7-inch ) corn tortillas

shredded lettuce, to taste

sour cream, if desired

Heat dry corn in a nonstick pan (without oil) on medium-high for 2 to 3 minutes or, until toasted. Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl and add corn. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to allow flavors to blend.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet on medium-high. Add leftover Butterball turkey and saute 4 to 5 minutes, or until heated through. Stir in additional chipotle pepper powder to taste. In a separate skillet, warm tortillas for about 1 minute per side or until heated through. Keep warm.Fold each tortilla in half to form a “shell.” Add shredded lettuce, 1/4 cup turkey and 1/4 cup corn salsa to each shell. Top with sour cream.

Bring on the Heat

When I say heat I mean temperature. It's cold outside!

MONDAY - Mexican - Beef Tacos

TUESDAY - New Night - Beef Stroganoff (still haven't tried it!)

WEDNESDAY - Seafood - Baked Salmon with Broccoli

THURSDAY - Italian - Spaghetti Pie and salad

FRIDAY - Date Night

SATURDAY - Soups On! - Chicken and Wild Rice Soup (See Below)

SUNDAY - Traditional - Baked potatoes with Chili

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

1 (6-oz) Uncle Ben’s Long Grain & Wild Rice Mix
1 T. Olive Oil
1 ½ c. red onion, chopped
1 c. celery, chopped
1 c. carrot, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pkg. mushrooms, quartered
¼ c. flour
½ tsp. tarragon
¼ tsp. thyme
2 c. water
2 T. cooking sherry (or red wine vinegar)
2 (15-oz) cans chicken broth
1 (12-oz) can evaporated milk
3 c. chicken, cooked & shredded

Prepare rice according to package direction; set aside. Sauté onion, celery, carrot, garlic, and mushrooms in olive oil for 6 minutes. Add flour, tarragon, and thyme, cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add water, sherry, broth, and milk. Return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in cooked rice and chicken. Cook until heated through.

Comfort Food

MONDAY - Mexican - Enchiladas and Spanish Rice

TUESDAY - Comfort - Ham and Cheesy Potato Casserole

WEDNESDAY - Sandwich - Rachael Rays Phili Cheese Steak

THURSDAY - Italian - Alfredo with tomato and mushrooms

FRIDAY - Date Night

SATURDAY - Soups On! - Chicken Tortilla Soup

SUNDAY - Traditional - Chicken Roll-ups