Dish 39 - Creamy Tortellini Casserole

Creamy Tortellini Casserole

Prep Time: 20min; Total Time: 35min; Serves: 4

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp butter or margarine
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups milk
1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup frozen sweet peas, thawed
1 packet fresh tortellini
1/2 cup finely crushed buttery crackers

Method:

1. Heat oven to 350oF. Spray casserole dish with cooking spray.
2. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Cook carrots and onion in butter about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in flour and salt. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until mixture is bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in cheese, peas and tortellini. Spoon into casserole dish. Sprinkle with crackers.
4. Bake uncovered about 15 minutes, or until edge begins to bubble.
   

Recipe Source: From Betty Crocker

Dish 38 - Pumpkin Fudge Brownies

Pumpkin Fudge Brownies

Ingredients:

1/3 cup applesauce (no sugar added)
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup plain flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup cocoa*
1/2 cup choc chips
1/4 tsp Cinnamon

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350oF.
2. In a large bowl, mix all wet ingredients together.
3. Add flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder*. Stir until well-blended.
4. Fold in chocolate chips.
5. Spread batter into greased pan (9x9in) and sprinkle with cinnamon.
6. Bake 20-25 minutes, until a fork inserted into the middle comes out clean.
   

Notes: *the cocoa made the brownies, well, very "cocoa-y". I would suggest reducing the amount of cocoa used but this is a matter of taste. If you are worried about tasting the pumpkin, well you can't! They just taste like chocolately goodness! Admittedly, I preferred my other brownie recipe to this one, but wouldn't be opposed to making this again, with reduced cocoa.

Recipe Source: From Savvy Eats

Dish 37 - Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Prep Time: 15min; Total Time: 8hr15min; Serves: 8

Ingredients:

2 pounds beef stew meat
1 cup chopped onion
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 pkt french onion soup
6oz canned mushrooms
1/4 tsp pepper
8oz cream cheese, cubed
8oz sour cream
6 cups cooked pasta

Method:

1. In slow cooker, mix beef, onion, soups, mushrooms and pepper.
2. Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 10 hours, or until beef is very tender.
3. Stir cream cheese into beef mixture until melted. Stir sour cream into beef mixture. Serve over pasta.
   

Recipe Source: From Betty Crocker

Dish 36 - Chicken & Rice Casserole

Chicken & Rice Casserole with Roasted Red Peppers

Prep Time: 30min; Total Time: 30min; Serves: 6

Ingredients:

2 pkts quick rice (250gm each)
500ml chicken stock
370gms cooked chicken, shredded
200gm roasted bell peppers, chopped
1/3 cup Italian salad dressing
1/4 cup Mozzarella cheese
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Method:

1. Add rice and stock to large fry pan and heat rice.
2. Add chicken, roasted peppers and salad dressing; mix well. Cover; cook over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until thorough heated, stirring occasionally. Pour mixture into ungreased casserole dish. Sprinkle with cheese.
3. Grill under heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley.
   

Recipe Source: Adapted from Betty Crocker

Dish 35 - Potato Salad

Potato Salad

Ingredients:
Potatoes
Eggs
Bacon
Spring Onions
Parsley
Potato Salad Dressing (I use ETA brand)

Method:

1. Cut up potatoes into desired size, leaving skin on. Boil until firm but tender. Allow to cool
   
2. Meanwhile, hard boil the eggs. Once cool, cut up into small cubes.
   
3. Finely dice the bacon and pan fry until cooked through.
4. Finely slice spring onions and finely chop parsley.
   
5. Mix together all ingredients in a bowl and add salad dressing.
   
6. Place in a fridge until chilled/required.
   

Note: I have not included any quantities in the ingredients as I was not given any myself. Use quantities to your desired taste.

Recipe Source: Verbally through a friend.

Dish 34 - Grandma Ellie's Brownies

Grandma Ellie's Brownies

9 6&1/2-in Pieces

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 sq (2oz) unsweetened chocolate (I used good quality Nestle 70% cocoa dark cooking chocolate)
1/2 cup butter or margarine (if you use unsalted butter, add 1/4 tsp salt to recipe)
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350oF and grease a 7x7-in square pan.
   
2. In a metal bowl over a saucepan of boiling water, melt the chocolate and butter until smooth. Remove from heat.
3. Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and mix well.
4. Pour into pre-greased pan and even out mixture.
5. Bake in oven 25 minutes and test with a toothpick to ensure it's done.
6. Enjoy!
   

Recipe Source: Grandma Ellie's recipe book, with additional instructions from a delightful cousin!

Dish 33 - Nell's Pizza Special

Nell's Pizza Special

Makes Approximately 5-6 Individual Pizzas

Ingredients:
Pizza Crust:
1 pkt instant dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp or 1/4 ounce)
1 tsp sugar
1 cup warm water
3 cups sifted all purpose flour
(NB: ensure you don't use 3 cups flour, sifted (subtle, but important difference!) or else you get too much flour in the dough, which happened to me! I just kept adding a little water at a time until I got the consistency I wanted)
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp oil or melted shortening
Pizza Toppings:
Leggos pizza sauce (flavoured tomato paste)
Bacon, finely chopped
Red & green capsicum, finely chopped
Canned pineapple
Red onion, finely chopped
Mozzarella cheese, grated
(NB: I have not specified quantities as this will depend on your own taste and preferences)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180oC
   
2. Add yeast to warm water and sugar and let stand for a few minutes. Stir.
3. Add about 1/2 the flour and beat until smooth.
4. Add shortening and salt with more flour and mix in with your hands until dough begins to clean sides of bowl.
5. Beat hard and turn out onto board.
6. Divide dough into number of pizzas required. Roll out to desired circumference/thickness (you may need to do this a number of times, depending on the elasticity of the dough).
7. Brush with olive oil. Place on oven trays and bake for 10 minutes then remove.
8. Increase oven temperature to 200oC
   
9. Spread pizza sauce on each base. Add each of the ingredients, amounts as desired and top with mozzarella.
10. Place in over and bake until cheese is golden brown. This could be between 10 and 20 minutes, depending on the size of the pizza and amount of topping.
    

Recipe Source: Pizza Crust - From my Grandma Ellie; Pizza Topping - My own design