Guacamole with Red Pepper

This was so yummy! Seriously, most of it was gone in one sitting. It was tasty and a good flavor!
Guacamole with Red Pepper from Super Dips By Dorie Greenspan
Publication Date: 01/25/2009

Guacamole With Red Pepper
Get ready for next week's big game with this great dip—a classic guacamole with a twist.
Touchdown!
4 avocados, halved and pitted
Grated zest and juice of 1 limes (I just used lime juice)
4 slices red onion, diced (I used yellow onion)
1 jalapeno, finely diced (omitted - too spicy for me)
1/4 cup minced cilantro leaves (omitted because I didn't want to buy an entire bunch)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Tabasco (optional) (didn't add)
1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced

Scrape avocados into a bowl. Add lime zest and juice and mash with a spoon or fork until chunky or smooth—whichever you prefer. Stir in the onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and a good pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Next, add hot sauce, if desired. Fold in the red pepper. Serve with your favorite chips and wedges of bell peppers.
Serves 8. Per serving: 160 calories, 11g carbs, 2g protein, 13g fat, no cholesterol.

Zuppa Toscana Soup (Olive Garden Copycat recipe)

I love soup in cold weather and this soup is soooo good and came out pretty close to tasting like the Olive Garden soup. I will definitely make this again!

Zuppa Toscana (Olive Garden Copycat Recipe)
Source: Robbie's Recipes

Ingredients
1 pound spicy Italian sausage - crumbled
1/2 pound smoked bacon - chopped
4 cups water
2, 14.5 ounce cans (about 3 2/3 cups) chicken broth
2 large russet potatoes - scrubbed clean, cubed (I used 3 and could have used more, maybe 4-5, I like potatoes though)
2 garlic cloves - peeled, crushed
1 medium onion - peeled, chopped
2 cups chopped kale OR Swiss chard (I used Swiss chard it turned out Whole Foods is the only store I found near here with either of these ingredients. Oh how I miss Woodmans)
1 cup heavy whipping cream (I used half and half)
salt and pepper - to taste

Directions
1. In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown sausage, breaking into small pieces as you fry it; drain, set aside.
2. In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown bacon; drain, set aside.
3. Place water, broth, potatoes, garlic, and onion in a pot; simmer over medium heat until potatoes are tender.
4. Add sausage and bacon to pot; simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Add kale and cream to pot; season with salt and pepper; heat through.

Chicken-Sausage (Turkey Kielbasa) and Asparagus saute over Cheese Grits

This is definitely the most Southern dish I've cooked yet! But I have to admit, even the grits were yummy and this interesting combo actually is quite tasty!

Chicken-Sausage (Turkey Kielbasa) and Asparagus saute over Cheese Grits
from Every Day food, adjusted to serve 4 instead of 1
Serves 4

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 precooked chicken sausage, thinly sliced on the diagonal (I used 2 large links of turkey kielbasa.)
1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced (I used yellow onion.)
1/2 bunch asparagus, tough ends removed, cut into 1-inch lengths (I used a whole bunch.)
1 tsp. fresh thyme or 1/4 tsp. dried
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 c. grits or yellow cornmeal (I used 1 c. grits.)
2 tbsp. crumbled fresh goat cheese (I used about 1 c. sharp cheddar.)

1. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high. Cook sausage until browned, tossing occasionally, 1-2 minutes; transfer to a plate.
2. Reduce heat to medium. Add onions and cook until softened, 3-5 minutes.
3. Add asparagus, thyme and 1/3 c. water (I used about a cup and that was too much liquid. I would start with half a cup and add more as needed.) Cover and steam until asparagus is just tender and water has evaporated, about 6 minutes.
4. Add sausage and lemon juice, toss. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
5. In a small saucepan, bring 1 c. salt water to a boil. (I used 4 cups of liquid. 2 c. beef stock (chicken stock would work fine, too) and 2 c. water.)
6. Gradually whisk in grits.
7. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 6 minutes.
8. Stir in cheese and season with salt and pepper.
9. Serve sausage and asparagus over grits.
I topped grits with a touch of shredded cheese, too.

Mom's Basic Meatloaf

A basic meatloaf with ground beef, cracker crumbs, ketchup, chopped onion, and seasonings.
From About.recipes. com. Simple and yummy!

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound lean ground beef
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup cracker crumbs
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 egg, beaten

PREPARATION:
Mix all ingredients together gently. Form into a loaf and place in baking dish or loaf pan. Top with more ketchup if desired. Bake at 350° for about 1 hour. Serves 4.

Shrimp Fra Diavolo

Shrimp Fra Diavolo
adapted from Giada de Laurentiis, Everyday Italian

Ingredients:
1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 tsp. salt, plus more to taste
2 tsp. dried crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
3 TBSP olive oil1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 c. dry white wine
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
chopped fresh basil, for garnish
fresh parmesan, for garnish

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with 1 tsp. of salt and red pepper flakes.
2. In a large heavy skillet, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. Add the shrimp and saute until just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the shrimp to a large plate and set aside.
3. Add the onion to the same skillet and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the tomatoes with their juices, wine, garlic, and oregano, and simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
5. Return the shrimp and accumulated juices to the tomato mixture and toss to coat.
6. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Notes:
I served this over multi-grain, multi-colored farfalle pasta.
The next time make this I intend to use less of the ground red pepper. 1 tsp or like 1tsp and a 1/4 should be fine. 2 tsp. made it pretty spicy. This was actually better the next day because I stored the leftovers in the same container with the remaining pasta and it was less spicy.
Daniel tried this dish and he thought it was leftovers from Olive Garden! :) So it's good and pretty easy.

Roasted Potatoes

This recipe is off the Lipton Onion Soup mix box. It is very easy and good! I made this as a side with the George Foreman Chicken.

1 pack Onion Soup mix
1/3 cup olive oil
7-8 small Red Potatoes (use whatever potatoes you want...I wanted red and cut up enough to cover the bottom of the 9x13 pan)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Cut the potatoes into 4-6 pieces (depending on potato size) and place in a 9x13 baking dish.
Drizzle olive oil and soup mix on top and mix together (I used my hands).
Place in oven for about 30 minutes or until done