White Chicken Chili

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

 1 onion, chopped

 3  ribs of celery diced finely

 2 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers

 2 teaspoons ground cumin

 1 teaspoon dried oregano

 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

 2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth

 3 cups chopped cooked chicken breast

 3 (15 ounce) cans white beans

 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

 Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Slowly cook and stir the onion until tender. Mix in the garlic, jalapeno, green chile peppers, cumin, oregano and cayenne. Continue to cook and stir the mixture until tender, about 3 minutes. Mix in the chicken broth, chicken and white beans. Simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove the mixture from heat. Slowly stir in the cheese until melted. Serve warm.

Pineapple cheese ball

2 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese (softened) 1 (8 and 3/4 oz.) crushed pineapple (drained) 1/4 c. chopped bell pepper 2 tbsp. chopped onion 1 tbsp. seasoned salt 1 to 2 c. chopped pecans (add half to cheese ball and roll ball in remainder) Mix cream cheese, pineapple, bell pepper, onion, salt and pecans. Roll in remaining chopped pecans. Refrigerate to allow flavors to blend.

Easy Chicken Parm Casserole

INGREDIENTS

2-4 Chicken breasts cubed
Olive oil (just one dollop)
Minced garlic ( a smattering)
Red pepper flakes ( just a shake or two)
Marinara sauce (1 jar, like Classico)
Grated parmesan cheese
Mozzarella (twice as much as parm)
Croutons, seasoned (crushed)
...................................................................................

Cut chicken into bite sized cubes; In the bottom of a casserole dish add olive oil,
garlic, and the red pepper flakes. Add chicken on top, then cover chicken with
Marinara sauce; Cover with mozzarella and parmesan (2 to 1), then add croutons and
another layer of both cheeses. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

Cheese Ball

8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
5 oz. jar Kraft Old English
5 oz. jar Kraft Roca Blue
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 green onion

Mix ingredients together and form into a ball. Roll in chopped pecans.

Quick and Easy Microwave Corn on the Cob

2 cobs of corn (complete with husks on)

Place cobs in microwave and cook on high for 4 1/2 minutes. Remove from microwave and cut stalk end of corn about 1/2 inch from bottom of cob through husks. Peel back husk, removing silk also. Rub with butter, sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired and serve! So fast, easy and delicious!!!

Creamy Smashed Potatoes

6-8 large potatoes, cut into approx. 1 inch chunks
1 cube butter, softened
1-2 large spoonfuls of sour cream (about 3/4 cup)
1-2 Handfuls of shredded cheese

Place potatoes in pot with 1 tsp. salt and enough water to barely cover. Bring to a boil and cook for 15-20 min. Until potatoes are fork tender. Drain potatoes. Using potato masher, smash potatoes with butter until we'll combined. Stir in sour cream and cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Shrimp Scampi

1 lb. peeled raw shrimp (it's fine if it's frozen)
1/2 cube salted butter
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp. dried chives
Fresh cracked pepper

Heat butter in skillet with whole garlic cloves  for several minutes to infuse butter with garlic. Remove garlic and add shrimp. Sprinkle with cracked pepper and let cook for a couple of minutes til shrimp turns pink. Using tongs, turn shrimp over to cook on the other side. Sprinkle with chives. Remove when shrimp is cooked through (no longer transparent). Serve immediately.

Alfredo Sauce

2 c. whipping cream (not whipped)
4 oz. cream cheese
1 cube butter
1 tsp. smoked paprika (or regular)
1 tsp. garlic powder (can use garlic pepper)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese

Melt cream cheese and butter.  Slowly add a small amount of whipping cream and mix well.  Then add remaining whipping cream.  Bring to boil (simmer) and add seasonings (to taste).  Let simmer 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.  Add Parmesan cheese.  Serve with pasta, chicken, etc.

The sauce looks kind of strange until you get the whipping cream into it.  Then it smooths out rich and creamy!  I always double the recipe :)

I have tried a few alfredo sauce recipes, but they never tasted as good as Olive Garden's.  This is not an Olive Garden copycat recipe, but we do all love this sauce.  I got the recipe from Michelle at my work.