TORTELLINI

Mustard-Dill Tortellini Salad Skewers

  Short on time and need a quick but tasty appetizer, then give these a try.  They are so good!!!!!    The Mustard Dill Vinaigrette makes this dish simple incredible, you can taste a hint of mustard and dill and the sugar adds a little sweetness to the vinaigrette. Serve this dish as a salad or on skewers. What I like about the skewers is there is no cleanup and no dishes to wash. I think these look festive and fun to put on your table. The different colors bring a nice platter to the table.  I hope you enjoy serving these as much as I do.     Cheers!!!  Susan   

Recipe  for Mustard-Dill Tortellini Salad Skewers

1 (9oz) package refrigerated cheese-filled torellini

1 (8oz ) package frozen sugar snap peas

68 (4inch) wooden skewers

1pt. grape tomatoes, cut in half

1.  Cook tortellini according to package directions; drain. Rinse under cold running water.

2. Place sugar snap peas in a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap. Microwave at High 2 minutes. Let 

stand, covered, 2 minutes. Rinse under cold running water.

3.  Thread each skewer with 1 sugar snap pea, 1tortellini , and 1 tomato half. Place tortellini on a plate.

Pour Mustard-Dill  Vinaigrette over the skewers, turning to coat. Cover and chill 4 hours. Transfer to 

serving plate. 

Mustard-Dill Vinaigrette:    

Whisk together 1/2 C white wine vinegar,2Tbsp chopped fresh dill, 3Tbsp Dijon mustard, 2 pressed garlic cloves, and 2 tsp sugar.  Add 1/4 cups olive oil. Whisk constantly until thoroughly combined. Whisk in kosher salt and pepper to taste. Cover and chill.        

APPETIZER

Mushroom-Onion Tartlets

    

What can I say about these...just looking at the picture makes me hungry. These little bits are filled with so much flavor. You can taste the mushrooms,onions,cheese,and the cream cheese crust with a hint of thyme in them is so yummy!!! They are a great appetizer for any party, so if your looking for a great New Years Eve dish give these a try and I guarantee you won't be bringing any home. They are that good!!

                                                                              

  So here is the recipe for you to try. It makes 24 mini Tartlets                                                                                 

4oz cream cheese

3T butter, divided

3/4cup plus 1 teaspoon all purpose flour, divided

8oz fresh mushrooms coarsely chopped

1/2cup chopped green onions

1egg

1//4cup thyme

1/2shredded swiss cheese

1. Place cream cheese and 2T butter in large bowl and mix together on low for about 1 min. Stop and scrape bowl. Add 3/4 cup of flour. Mix for another minute. Form mixture into a ball and wrap in waxed paper and chill for 1 hour. Clean out bowl and beater.

2. Divide chilled dough into 24 pieces. Press each piece into miniature muffin cup (greased, if desired).

3.Meanwhile, melt remaining 1 T of butter in 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and onions. Cook and stir until tender. Remove from heat. Cool slightly

4. Place egg, remaining 1 teaspoon flour and thyme in mixer bowl. Turn mixer to medium and beat about 30 second. Stir in cheese and cooled mushrooms mixture. Spoon into pastry-lined muffin cups. Bake at 375'F for 15-20 minutes or until egg mixture is puffed and golden brown. 

Serve them on a simple white plate...

                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                        

German Apple Pancake

Oven-Baked Breakfast

An Apple a Day Keeps The Doctor Away

Did you know that apples are high in vitamin C which is an antioxidant that helps with boosting your immune system? Apples also fight tooth decay..cleaning and killing off bacteria. Apples act as an enzyme which helps to break down your food faster. What I love most about apples is that they contain fiber about 4 grams per apple, so I thought I would share this recipe with you.  This is a simple twist to making pancakes. It's so easy to put together and it taste so good.  I love to serve this dish warm with some powered sugar. I served this dish at the Lions Gate Inn Bed & Breakfast. It was a hit!!

                                               

 Prep time 20 minutes                                                                                    
 Total time 50 minutes
1/2 C flour
1T sugar
1/2 salt
2 eggs
2/3 half-n-half
1t vanilla
2 unsalted butter

11/4 pounds apples (3 to 4 large), peeled,cored,quartered,and sliced thick            

1/4 C packed brown sugar

1/4 t cinnamon

1 t lemon juice

confectioners sugar for dusting.

                                                       

Turn your oven on to 425'  Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar,and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, and vanilla. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until no lumps remain.
Melt the butter in a 10-inch ovenproof nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the apples, brown sugar and cinnamon and cook until the apples are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the lemon juice.
Quickly pour the batter around the edges of the skillet, then over the apples. Place the skillet into the oven .
Bake until the pancake has risen above the edges of the skillet and is brown, about 18 minutes.
Loosen the pancake with a spatula and invert the pancake onto a large plate or serving platter. Dust with confectioners sugar, and cut into wedges before serving.   Serves up to 6

The past 10 plus years Dave and I have gone apple picking. We love to take our baskets and go find a good apple orchard locally.  For many years we canned our own apples sauce, and dried lots of apples that we use in our homemade granola.  Give this a try and let me know what you think.      Enjoy Susan

                                                                            

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE...Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to visit Cook Happy. I appreciate each and everyone of you. The way I see it, all of you are a gift to me. I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father who loves me and teaches me to love others.  Christmas time always brings up so many special memories of  my family, and growing up. I am remembering Jesus and his birth. He was a baby that was born unto Mary and Joseph born in a manager. He came to save us!!! That makes me smile. Thank goodness he did, because I sure need a savior. My prayer for you this holiday season is that you remember what truely is important. It's not the gifts or decorations, or the food. To me it's remembering that Jesus is the light of the world, he brings hope to us all.  Lets spread lots of love and joy around this season. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Day. I am so looking forward to spending the evening with my family and attending a candlelight service at our church, and then on to spending time with both sides of our families. 
Cheers!!!  Susan

CLAY POT CHICKEN

This is probably one of the best ways to cook chicken. I bought this clay pot about 15 years ago. I use it to cook chicken, roast. ham, or just about anything. It creates so much juice and allows the chicken or (meat) to stay really moist. The secret is soaking the clay pot in water for 1/2 hour to absorb the water and moisture. Take a look at what I cooked up tonight...

yummy

rinse your chicken

soak your clay pot

butter,seasonings and herbs

stuff your chicken with lemon and thyme

add onion, carrots,celery

cooked chicken

 Start with your pot, soak it in the sink filled with water for about 1/2 hour. Get your chicken and wash it, clean out anything left in the chicken, pat it dry with a paper towel. Put it into your pot. Stuff it with thyme and your lemon slices. Melt 2T of butter and brush it on top of the chicken, sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Add you onions and carrots, and celery. Cover and bake for 1 hour at 375'
If your looking for a healthy and easy recipe with lots of flavor, this is it!!  Make some homemade mashed potatoes and serve with your chicken and vegetables. I used some of the juice and made gravy.
If your interested in a clay pot go online and you can find them near you.  
Cheers!!  Susan

                                                                            

The Guest Have Arrived

I had a wonderful day serving up lunch for my friend Sara and her daughter Jordan.. We had a great time watching Jordan open up her Christmas gift. I decided to serve a light lunch, with tea sandwiches with cucumbers and garlic cream cheese, and Tuna sandwiches with sweet relish. I thought it would be great to  serve them on decorative Christmas plates.  I made homemade Cream of Tomato Basil soup. I had a plate of some simple healthy snacks. For dessert...an assortment of sweets. I hope you can enjoy an afternoon with your friends during the holiday season. It makes for a great day. This makes me happy!! Enjoy Susan

Easy Blueberry Pancakes

umm!!

 BLUEBERRY PANCAKES....what could be better than fresh blueberry pancakes for breakfast, a great batter,a hot griddle, and some fresh blueberries makes for a very easy but tasty breakfast for your family. 
You can use your own favorite pancake batter, and use the recipe as is gives for the amount of pancakes you need. Set you griddle on 400'. Start with a little butter and olive oil on the griddle, this will give you the great crunchy crust on the outside of your pancakes.The blueberries you add right after you pour your batter on the skillet. Let them cook until you see the bubbles start to form and then flip. Plate up a stack,add some butter and syrup of your choice and finish it with some powered sugar.   Serving this for my family makes me happy   ENJOY!!  Susan


                                                                              

Apple Cheese Danish

                                          OVEN+BAKED `BREAKFAST

  This danish is absolutely delicious!!   Even the sleepyheads in your house will wake up to the aroma with a smile on there face. This breakfast idea is a great holiday treat for anyone.  The beauty of frozen puff pastry is that it gives you the chance to shine as brightly as a pastry chef.  This recipe is simple and really fun to put together. The combination of apples, cinnamon, cheese and puff pastry served warm, so good!!!  Go ahead give it a try and serve up a danish delight     ENJOY!! Susan

                                                                                 

                                                                                

     Recipe...
      1 pkg. (2sheets) frozen puff pastry
      2 pounds cooking apples, peeled and cored, thinly sliced
      2 T butter   
      1 C sugar
      2 T flour
      1 t cinnamon
      1/4 t nutmeg
      1 8oz pkg cream cheese
      1 egg
      1 t vanilla
      milk 
      2T coarse sugar         
  Preheat oven to 375'  unfold one pastry sheet place it on a 15x10 pan. Cook the pastry for 12 min. Remove fun oven and let stand. In a skillet put 2T butter and your sliced apples in the pan and cook until tender, about 12 minutes, remove from stove.  In a bowl take your cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and egg and blend together, Take the cream cheese and put it on your baked pastry, spread it evenly. Add your apple mixture and spread over the top. Take you last pastry sheet and put it over the cream cheese and apples. Pinch the sides together. Cut a few slits in the top. Take the milk and brush over the top, spread the rest of the sugar and cinnamon on top. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Take out of oven, let stand. Serve warm with some cream. 
                                                                                                             

My Inspirations for cooking

 Blogging...how fun is this. Thank you to my niece Katie who mentioned this idea to me. What a great way for me to share what I have come to love so much. I knew I loved being in the kitchen, but I didn't realize how much fun I would have. This past year I had a great opportunity to cook for a beautiful Bed & Breakfast called The Lions Gate Inn. I came into this job with just my simple skills and a few recipes.Wow...I now have an endless folder of easy,new and fun recipes. I began the search of collecting new and used cookbooks. I would hit a rummage sale or garage sale and usually hit the jackpot. I decided to serve our guest these great breakfast ideas and then get there feedback. I loved the challenge of trying something new everyday. Serving a great dish became my goal over and over. Today I had to take a picture of all my magazines laying on the floor. I love looking through a new cookbook, or magazine and finding something fun to cook, that makes me happy.
I hope you continue to come back and check it out. I have a ton of good recipe to share with you. Enjoy Susan