Marinara Sauce

3 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 onions, diced

2 cloves garlic, chopped or pressed

1 (6 pound 4 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

3 1/2 T minced fresh parsley

2 1/8 t dried oregano leaves

1/4 t dried basil leaves

1 3/4 t salt

1 whole bay leaf

Heat oil over medium heat until hot. 

Add onions & saute until onions are clear, about 5 minutes. 

Add garlic & cook just until garlic becomes fragrant, about 2 minutes.

Add remaining ingredients & bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low & simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. 

Remove bay leaf & serve (you can puree this in a blender or food processor to your desired consistency).

Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing

Put all these ingredients in a screw top jar & give it a good shake for an Italian restaurant worthy dressing. For a full meal, fry one chicken breast in 3T olive oil & 1t granulated garlic until done, slice or chop, & serve on top of the greens. A couple of breadsticks & you'll feel like you're at the Olive Garden!

1 c mayo

1/2 c Vinegar

1/3 c Water

1/4 c corn syrup

2 1/2 T Parmesan cheese, grated

2 t Worcestershire sauce

1 t salt

1 t lemon juice

1 t granulated garlic

1/2 t dry mustard

1/4 t onion powder

1/4 t parsley

1/4 t pepper

1/8 t basil

1/8 t oregano

1/8t red pepper flakes

Pan Fried Manicotti Noodles

Cook these noodles like you would crepes. It takes some getting used to, but it will be totally worth it! Roll these noodles around any meat or cheese filling you like (I used a lasagna recipe)  & enjoy restaurant-style goodness in your own kitchen. Leftover noodles can be frozen for later flat or filled. Let thaw before using.

1 c water

5 eggs

1 3/4 c flour

1/2 t salt

1. Mix water & eggs together in a blender.
   
2. Add flour 1/2 cup at a time, blending well, until all flour is incorporated.
   
3. Grease a light skillet with a thin coating of Crisco on a paper towel (you will be lifting this frequently) & heat over medium heat.
   
4. Remove pan from heat & pour 1/8 to 1/4 cup noodle batter into center turning pan to make a smooth, pancake-like mass.
   
5. Cook noodles 10 seconds on each side being careful not to let them brown (they should be the pasty yellow color of cooked pasta).
   
6. Stack noodles on a warmed platter to keep warm.
   *Don't forget to run the greased paper towel over the pan every 5 or so noodles!*
7. Spread about 1 tablespoon of filling onto each noodle, roll, & place in a baking dish.
   
8. Cover noodles with tomato, cheese, or cream pasta sauce when pan is full.
9. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Cherry Tea Bread

I made this for Mother's Day and it seems it was a hit!

· 1/2 cup walnuts -- coarsely chopped
· 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
· 1 teaspoon double-acting baking powder
· 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
· 1/4 teaspoon salt
· 1 1/4 cups sweet cherries in juice -- drained
· 8 tablespoons unsalted butter -- softened
· 3/4 cup sugar
· 1/4 cup honey
· 2 large eggs
· 1/3 cup fresh orange juice

Preheat oven to 350°. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together into a bowl. In a second bowl, combine the cherries and the nuts. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter until it is light and fluffy; add the sugar and honey gradually, beating the mixture until it is very light. Add the eggs, one at a time. With mixer at lowest speed, add the flour mixture (reserving 1/4 cup), alternating it with the orange juice. Toss the cherry-nut mixture with the reserved 1/4 cup of flour, and fold it into the batter. Turn the batter into a buttered and floured loaf pan, approximately 9 x 5 x 3 inches. Bake the bread in the center of the oven for 1 hour. Cool the loaf for 15 minutes in the pan; unmold the bread on a rack to cool completely. Wrap the cherry bread loaf in plastic wrap and keep for a day before serving.

Teriyaki Chicken Marinade

This great marinade is enough for 1 or two large chicken breasts. I use one large chicken breast & serve it on top of a bed of lettuce & spinach topped with DeAnn's Oriental Creamy Dressing. Voilà! Dinner for four on only $3.00! Eat it up!

1/4 c Olive Oil

1/2 c Soy Sauce

1/4 c Honey

1/8 c Cider Vinegar

1 t Ground Ginger

1/4 t Granulated Garlic

1. Combine all ingredients in a large plastic bag.
   
2. Marinate chicken 20 to 30 minutes.
   
3. Grill or pan-fry chicken 20 to 30 minutes until done.