This is a classic Greek combination of baked eggplant only enhanced by the addition of feta cheese. Serve this vegetarian dish as an appetizer, side dish, or meatless or main dish.

INGREDIENTS:

2 pounds of eggplants (long slender type)

olive oil for frying

4 to 5 tablespoons of fresh chopped basil

5 cloves of garlic, minced

1 pound red ripe tomatoes, diced

1/2 pound Greek feta cheese, crumbled

salt and freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Wash the eggplants, then remove stems; slice lengthwise into about 3/4- inch slices.

 Fry lightly in olive oil until soft and only slightly browned.

Layer the eggplant slices in the bottom of a greased baking sheet..

In a bowl combine the chopped tomatoes, basil, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste;  spoon the mixture over the eggplant slices.

Top with feta cheese, and bake for about 40-45 minutes.

Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.

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Three ingredients, quick easy prep and you have one delicious appetizer! bottled or homemade pesto works fine, see my pesto recipe posted here on my food blog

Servings 6-8

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup prepared pesto

1/4 pound mozzarella cheese,  preferably fresh (for packaged cut ito abut 1/2-inch cubes — if using fresh mozzarella cheese, slice it)

1/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

INSTRUCTIONS:————————————————–

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Set rack to bottom position.

Grease a 9-inch pie plate.

Place the cheese squares or fresh slices in pie plate; bake for 4-6 minutes or until cheese begins to melt.

Remove from oven and drop the pesto by teaspoonfuls over hot cheese.

Top with Parmesan cheese.

Return to oven for 1 minute.

This does not make very much I suggest doubling amounts, this is great with grilled fish

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon butter

2 lemon slices, quartered

1 tablespoon fresh dill

pinch salt

INSTRUCTIONS:————————————————-

In a small saucepan combine the cornstarch with water and lemon juice; add in butter; cook stirring constantly over medium-low heat until thickened.

Remove from heat; stir in lemon slices, fresh dill and salt.

Garlic lovers can add in 2 teaspoon garlic powder in with the dry dressing mix

INSTRUCTIONS:

24 chicken wings or drumsticks

1/2 cup melted butter

1/4 cup hot pepper sauce (less, if desired)

3 tablespoons white vinegar

2  to 3  packages dry Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing mix (or as needed)

INSTRUCTIONS:————————————————

This is just as good if not better that the ones made in muffin tins and will also work using this using melted butter in place of the pan drippings of coarse  the pan drippings have better flavor,  the complete batter is baked in one pan then sliced into eight pieces

Servings 8

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 large eggs, room temperature

3/4 cup water, room temperature

1/2 cup beef pan drippings (or can use melted butter)

3/4 cup milk, room temperature

INSTRUCTIONS:——————————————-

Mix the flour and salt together in a medium bowl.

Make a well in the middle of the flour; add in milk and whisk until smooth.

Add in eggs and beat until blended.

Add in the water and continue beating until the mixture is light and frothy.

Set the mixture aside for about 1 hour (or you may cover and refrigerate overnight, if the batter has been refrigerated then it must come down to room temperature before using).

When your roast beef is ready to come out of the oven, get ready to use the prepared batter.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (allow to heat for 10 minutes, the oven must be hot).

Pour 1/2 cup roast beef drippings (or melted butter) into a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

Place the pan in the oven until the drippings in the pan sizzle.

Pour the prepared batter over the hot drippings and bake for 30 minutes (or until the sides have risen and are golden brown (DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DOOR WHILE BAKING!).

Slice into 8 equal pieces and serve immediately.

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If you don’t mind using canned soup (and I sure don’t!) this is quick easy and very tasty! I have also made this using  small cooked meatballs instead of the cooked sausage meat and let them simmer in the soup, both are great!

Since the dry packaged rice mix has lots of sodium I recommend using low-sodium condensed soup and use only half a package of the dry rice mix or your soup will be to thick, the soup thickens after  sitting

 I keep cooked bulk sausage in my freezer to have ready for recipes (such as this one!)

Servings 4

INGREDIENTS:

1 (10-3/4 ounce) can condensed low-sodium cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

1 (10-3/4 ounce) can condensed low sodium cream of chicken soup, undiluted

2 cans half and half cream or full-fat milk (use the cans from the soup)

cooked crumbed sausage meat (use as much as you like)

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 (133 gram) package Knorr Side Kicks (Harvet Chicken flavor)

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, or to taste

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:————————————————

In a medium saucepan whisk both soups with the half and half cream until smooth and combined; add in garlic powder, cooked sausage,  half a package of the dry rice mix and black pepper; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.

Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Mix in Parmesan cheese at the end and more pepper if needed.

You will also find this recipe on Recipezazz.com

This gravy may be made using canned chicken broth or defatted chicken or turkey pan drippings and also may be made using beef drippings or canned beef broth, if you are using chicken or turkey drippings from the pan defat in a fat separator firstly then if needed add in fat-free chicken broth or water to equal 2 cups there is no need to add in the bouillon powder and garlic powder with the drippings just heat on top of the stove in a saucepan and continue with the flour/milk mixture

Yield about 2-1/2 cups

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups fat-free chicken broth (or defatted pan drippings and if needed add in chicken broth to measure 2 cups)

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, or to taste

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder (can omit)

3 teaspoons OXO chicken bouillon granules (or 1 small envelope, omit the granules if using pan drippings)

4 tablespoons all-purpose flour (for a thicker gravy uncrease 1 tablespoon)

1/2 cup fat-free milk (or for a creamier flavor use 1/2 cup fat-free evaporated milk)

INSTRUCTIONS:———————————————–

In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan combine broth with black pepper, garlic powder and bouillon granules; cook stirring over medium-low heat until at a simmer.

In a small bowl whisk flour with milk until smooth; add into simmering broth and cook whisking constantly until smooth and thickened.

Season with more black pepper if needed.

You will also find this recipe and more of my favorites on Recipezazz.com