Herbed New Potatoes

12 small new potatoes
4 tsp butter
4 tsp minced fresh parsley
4 tsp minced fresh chives

Peel 1/2 inch strip around the center of each potato and immediately place potatoes in a medium saucepan of cold water

Add enough additional water to the saucepan to cover the potatoes by 2 inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil until the potatoes are easily pierced by a fork but firm, about 20 minutes; drain. Do not overcook. Cover to keep warm.

Place the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH until melted, about 5-10 seconds. Stir in minced parsley and chives. Pour the butter mixture over the potatoes and toss to coat.

Spoon the potatoes into a serving bowl. Garnish with sprigs of parsley, if desired. Serve immediately.

VARIATION:
for variety, sprinkle with chopped cooked bacon and/or finely minced green onions.

Chunky Potato Soup

3 medium red potatoes
2 cups water
1 small onion
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
crushed red pepper flakes
ground black pepper
3 cups milk
1/2 tsp sugar
1 cup shredded cheddard cheese
1 cup cubed cooked ham

Peel potatoes and cut into 1-in cubes
Bring water to a boil in large saucepan. Add potatoes and cook until tender. Drain, reserving liquid. Set aside potatoes. Measure 1 cup cooking liquid, adding water, if necessary; set aside.
Peel and finely chop onion. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion to saucepan;cook, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent and tender, but not brown.
Add flour to saucepan; season with pepper flakes and blakc pepper to taste. Cook 3-4 mintues.
Gradually add potatoes, reserved 1 cup cooking liquid, milk and sugar to onion mix. Stir well. Add cheese and ham. Simmer over low heat 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Would be really yummy in a bread bowl!

Mahi Mahi Taco's with Mango Salsa

I took this recipe from 2 different recipe's on the food network- It's really yummy

combine:
Paprika
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Kosher Salt
Cinnamon
Red Pepper Flakes
Cayenne
Black Pepper

I just kindof guessed at the amounts until it smelled good.

Coat the fish and grill or broil until flakey
Shred with a fork

Make salsa:
1 mango
2 tomatoes
1 red onion
1/2 jalenpeno
3 T cilantro
2 limes, juiced
salt and pepper to taste.

We accidently left out the jalenpeno and it was still yummy.

Warm taco shells and add the fish and the salsa, not much else was needed!

Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Pie

1/2 cup chocolate syrup
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups creisp rice cereal
1/4 cup sour cream
1 quart chocolate chip ice cream, softened

Coat bottom and sides of an 8-in pie plate lightly with butter.

Combine chocolate syrup and chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high until hot, about 45 seconds. Stir until smooth. Reserve 1/4 cup of the chocolate mixture.

Combine remaining chocolate mixture and cereal in a medium bowl and mix to coat cereal. Press mixture over bottom and up sides of prepared pie plate. Freeze until firm, about 15 mintues.

Combine reserved chocolate mixture and the sour cream in a small bowl and mix well. Spread half the ice cream in the prepared pie plate. Drizzle with half the sour cream mixture. Top with remaining ice cream and drizzle with remaining sour cream mixture. Freeze pie, covered, until firm about 1 hour.

Nana's Banana Bread

(not my nana, just the name it came with!)
5 TBSP butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 packed brown sugar
1 large egg
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bottom only of 9x5x3 in loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Beat butter in large bowl with an electric mixer set at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add sugar and brown sugar, beat well. Add egg, egg whites and vanilla; beat until well blended. Add mashed banana, and beat on high speed 30 seconds.

Combine flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder in medium bowl. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternatly with cream, ending with flour mixture. Add walnuts to batter; mix well.

Pour batter evenly into prepared loaf pan. Bake until browned and toothpick inserted near center comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 min.

Cook bread in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan; cool completely on wire rack. Slice and serve with butter and jam.

Sweet Cinnamon Roll Biscuits

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup veg. oil
3/4 cup butter milk
1 stick of buttered, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl and mix well. Stir in vegetable oil. Add buttermilk and stir just unitl blended.

Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Roll dough into a 15x8 rectangle.

Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9-inch round baking pan lightly.

Spread butter over the dough. Combine granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix well. Sprinkle over butter. Roll up rectangle, jelly roll fashion, starting from one long side. Pinch seam to seal

Cut the roll inot 1 1/2 in slices. Arrange the slices, cut side up, in prepared baking pan. Bake until lightly browned, about 15-20 minutes (mine took 20) Remove from oven.

The recipe suggest topping it with milk. We topped it with glaze (melted frosting) like the "real" (pillsbury) one's have.

My kids helped make these and they were so good- better than the "real" ones and way easier than making the yeast type from scratch.

Apple, Grape and Celery Salad

Serves 4
1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced on the diagonal, plus leaves for garnish
1 Granny Smith apple, cored, halved, and thinly sliced
1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and ground pepper

Spread pecans on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until lightly browned, 4 to 6 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine. Garnish with celery leaves.