Blueberry Scone Muffins

What you need:

2 cups Bisquick Baking Mix
3 TBSP sugar
1 egg
2/3 cup water
1/4 tsp vanilla, butter, and nut extract or just vanilla
5 TBSP canned blueberries

How you do it:

Preheat to 375*
Strain the juice from the berries
Mix all ingredients well
Pour into muffin pan
Makes about 6 Large or 12 medium
Before you bake them you can top with strudel mix
(1 TBSP soften butter, 1/8 tsp Cinnamon, 1/4 tsp sugar, 2 tsp Flour it should be clumpy)
Bake until golden brown, about 8-10 minutes.

Why their good:

The Bisquick is easy, and gives the muffins a scone like texture and the strudel topping is sweet. Perfect for breakfast with a hot cup of coffee.

Enjoy and Mangia Tutto!

Sick Soup

What you need:

1 (10oz)Can of Tomato Soup
1 (10oz)Can of Cream of Chicken
1 lb of Pastina/Orzo (Stars, Alphabet etc)
4 TBSP of Butter
1 tsp Italian Seasonings
6 cups of water

How you do it:

In a LARGE pot mix everything except your pastina
Bring to a boil then add your pastina
Pastina will cook fairly quick but let some of the water boil out.
The consistency you want is porridge like, thick and creamy
Feel free to add sliced carrots or cooked chicken


Why it's good:

Ok, I know the combination sounds bazaar but it really works. The name Sick Soup is because my dad made it for us whenever we were sick. The tomato soup is a good source of Vitamin C which is great for your immunity and chicken is a natural decongestant. The soup itself also offers plenty of calories to give you energy and electrolytes to keep you hydrated. It's gentle on your stomach so you don't have to only eat bland rice or crackers. It really is an amazing little potion. For less than $4 you could feed a whole house of sniffles. My dad topped my bowl with Parmesan Cheese and a slice of bread and butter.

Enjoy, Mangia Tutto and Get Well!

Breaded White Fish

What you need:

1 lb White Fish Filets (catfish, tilapia, flounder)
1 cup All Purpose Flour
1 egg
1/2 TBSP Salt
2 tsp black Pepper
1/2 TBSP Paprika
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Tarragon
3/4 tsp Garlic Powder

How you do it:

In a large plate or shallow bowl combine dry ingredients
In a separate bowl, beat egg
Dip filets in egg then flour mix
Pan fry in Olive Oil about 2 minutes per side
-or- deep fry for 3 to 4 minutes
Until Brown and crispy

Why it's good:

The fish is crispy and flaky. The white fish is sweet and the breading is the perfect compliment. You could use this breading mix for any white fish. I served my filets with homemade potato chips.

Enjoy and Mania Tutto!

Split Chicken Stuffed with Parmesan Rice

What you need:

5 Split Chicken Breast on the bone (with Skin)
1 2/3 cups white rice (uncooked)
1 can (15 oz) Chicken Broth
3 TBSP Parmesan Cheese
2 TBSP Butter
1/2 tsp Parsley
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Black Pepper

1 can (10 oz) Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 tsp Dried Rosemary leaves

How you do it:

Preheat oven to 380*
In a bowl rinse Rice leave rice wet then add
Melted butter, Parmesan, Garlic powder, Pepper, Salt
Parsley and 2/3 cup of Chicken broth
Create pockets under the skin of the chicken breast
Fill pockets with rice mixture and place chicken in a baking pan
With a sharp knife make a small split in the top of the rice pocket

In a bowl mix Cream of Mushroom, Rosemary and the remaining chicken broth
Pour mushroom mix over the chicken.
Cover with tin foil
Bake for 1 1/2 hours, then remove foil and bake another 1/2 hour to brown skin.
Use pan drippings to make gravy

Why it's so good:

The chicken is tender and juicy, the gravy is smooth and velvety. The rice is steamed inside the chicken infusing it with flavor. Serve hot with gravy on a bed of corn. I made this dinner to feed five spending only about $15 dollars at the store buying 3 cans of corn, a can of cream of mushroom, a can of chicken broth, chicken and rice. Cheap, easy, impressive and delicious. Perfect fare for a dinner party.

Enjoy and Mangia Tutto!

*All day Chili* in 30 minutes

What you need:

1 1/4 lbs Ground Turkey
15 oz can of Red Kidney Beans
15 oz can of Diced Tomatoes with Mild Green Chilies
15 oz can of No Salt Tomato Sauce
1/4 Chopped Onion
2 TBSP Olive Oil
2 1/2 TBSP Chili Mix
1/2 TBSP Salt
1/4 tsp Thyme
1/8 tsp Black Pepper

How you do it:

In a pot brown turkey, olive oil and onion on Med. High heat
Stir a few times to break it up, when there is no more pink
*Strain some of the liquid from the diced tomatoes and bean cans
Add your 3 cans and other ingredients
When you see bubbling, cover with lid
Turn down to Med. Low heat for 20 minutes

Why it's so good:

It's so EASY, and good chili could simmer for a while. I call it "All Day Chili" because it tastes like it's been on the stove all day, but it hasn't. The Diced Tomatoes are the secret, because that blend has been marinating together since they canned it. It has a little bite but you could defiantly add your favorite hot sauce to really turn up the heat. Serve it with the traditional corn bread and top it with cheese. Again, the turkey is lower fat so we add the olive oil, if you choose beef you don't need to add the oil.

Enjoy and Mangia Tutto!

Cream Shrimp Soup

What you need:

2 Cups or a pint of Heavy Cream
1 cup water
1/2 lb raw de-veined but shell on shrimp
2 TBSP butter
1 1/2 TBSP flour
1 TBSP onion (estimate)

2 tsp Old Bay
1/4 tsp paprika
1/3 tsp salt
1/8 black pepper

How you do it:

In a medium size pot boil water, shrimp as is, and onion for 10 minutes on high
*While that's boiling get a bowl of cold water for shrimp
After 10 minutes strain through mesh screen into measuring pitcher
Put shrimp in the cold water
Then peel and cut them down to smaller pieces and set aside
The broth in the measuring glass will be between 1/2 cup and 3/4 of a cup

Pour 1/4 cup of just the broth back into the pot
Add butter and flour
On medium high heat cook flour mixture until thick and smooth
Then add the rest of the broth and remaining ingredients
Stir until well combined and thick, keep stirring!
Add shrimp and cream
Bring to a boil on high then simmer on medium heat
When the soup is done it will coat a spoon (about 5-8 minutes)

Why it's so good:

I love the simple shrimp taste of this soup. Since seafood stock or shrimp broth is hard to come by we had to make our own. It's creamy with just a small kick from the Old Bay Seasoning. If you want it spicier add some diced red peppers to the broth phase. You can also add more Old Bay or a little Cayenne Pepper to kick it up. I serve it with some Oyster Cracker or Saltines, but it is heaven with some toasted Italian Bread drizzled with Light Olive Oil.

Enjoy and Mangia Tutto!

Garlic Cheese Biscuits

What you need:

2 1/4 cups Bisquick Mix
2/3 cup Milk
1/4 cup shredded cheddar
1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack
1/2 tsp Minced Garlic
2 TBSP melted butter
Salt and Pepper


How you do it:

Heat oven to 450*
Mix Bisquick, Milk and Garlic
Fold in cheeses
Spoon mixture onto greased backing sheet or oven stone
*These are drop biscuits so you don't need to roll them out and form them
Brush or drizzle each with some butter
Sprinkle on some salt and pepper
Cook until golden brown and cheese is melting (8-10 minutes)

Why they're so good:

Again, it's cheese. They are warm and cheesy. They are great in the morning, as a ham and egg sandwich. You can make them small as an appetizer or large for a side to soups, salads or chili. You can even add some Old Bay and serve them with seafood.

Enjoy and Mangia Tutto!