What should I make for.....?!


Question: Easter dinner? I not a great chef, and not too experienced, so something simple...it will be the first Easter that I will be cooking for my family! (usually we have all holiday dinners at my moms)?


Answers: Easter dinner? I not a great chef, and not too experienced, so something simple...it will be the first Easter that I will be cooking for my family! (usually we have all holiday dinners at my moms)?

There are so many wonderful things you could have!

Pasta is always a favorite! It's not too expensive and guests are always impressed! You could do a make-ahead pasta like manicotti or lasagne. Here are a few. (You may need to double, etc. to serve the number of guests you will be having.)

Manicotti

1 package Hillshire Farm Italian Sausage (Mild)
1 (12 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 can tomato paste
1 can water
salt and pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 box fresh mushrooms, sliced
Filling
1 container ricotta cheese
2-3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 package frozen spinach, chopped or 8 ounces fresh spinach, chopped fine
1 egg
salt and pepper
1 box manicotti, boil as directed on package

Squeeze out of casing into hot kettle.
Brown.
Add tomato sauce, tomato paste and water.
Add salt, pepper, garlic powder and oregano.
Put mushrooms in 30 minutes before preparing dish.
Stuff Manicotti with cheese mixture.
Put some sauce on the bottom of 9 x 13 pan.
Place Manicotti in rows so they're not touching each other.
Pour remaining sauce on top.
Top with some Mozzarella.
Put in oven at 350F degrees until it bubbles.

www.recipezaar.com/8640

Here are a few other make-aheads:

Five Cheese Pasta
Kosher salt
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup crushed tomatoes in thick tomato puree
1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano (1 1/2 ounces)
1/2 cup shredded imported Italian fontina (1 1/2 ounces)
1/4 cup crumbled Italian Gorgonzola (1 1/2 ounces)
2 tablespoons ricotta cheese
1/4 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced
6 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 pound imported penne rigate pasta
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
Bring 5 quarts of salted water to a boil in a stockpot.

Combine all the ingredients except the penne and butter in a large mixing bowl. Mix well. Drop the penne into the boiling water and parboil for 4 minutes. Drain well in a colander and add to the ingredients in the mixing bowl, tossing to combine. Divide the pasta mixture among 6 shallow ceramic gratin dishes (1 1/2 to 2 cup capacity). Dot with the butter and bake until bubbly and brown on top, 7 to 10 minutes.

(You can leave the gorgonzola out! I have done that when I am feeding folks that don'tlike it!)

edit: I put this in one big casserole to heat...

This is a really easy, wonderful alfredo recipe. You could add steamed broccoli and/or chicken breast, even sauted shrimp to make it more elegant:

Creamy Alfredo Sauce

8 ounces dry fettuccine pasta
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1 pinch ground nutmeg
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
In a medium saucepan, combine cream cheese, Parmesan, margarine, milk, garlic powder and basil and stir over low heat until smooth and creamy, 10 to 15 minutes. Toss sauce with pasta and sprinkle with nutmeg. Serve.

Here are some other great pasta favorites of mine:

Fettucini Carbonara

1/2 pound bacon
1/4 cup whipping cream
4 beaten eggs
1 pound fettucini, cooked
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup snipped parsley
Heat oven-proof serving dish in 250 degree
oven. In skillet cook bacon till crisp. Drain; crumble. Heat cream till just warm. Remove from heat; beat in eggs. Toss pasta with butter. Pour egg mixture atop. Toss till well-coated. Add bacon, cheese, and parsley; toss to mix.
Sprinkle with pepper. Serves 6.



Chicken Scampi
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried oregano
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp lemon juice
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, sliced lengthwise into thirds

In a skillet heat the butter and olive oil on medium high heat until butter is melted. Add parsley, basil, oregano, garlic and salt and mix together. Stir in lemon juice.
Then add chicken pieces and saute for 3 minutes or until white. Lower the heat and cook for about 10-15 mintues or until chicken is cooked through. More butter can be added if needed. Serve chicken over hot angel hair, or other pasta and pour some of the sauce over it all.

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

2 servings 25 min 10 min prep

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
4 ounces linguine, cooked al dente
2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
2 tablespoons butter
1 thinly sliced green onion
1-2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Place chicken and Cajun seasoning in a bowl and toss to coat.
In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté chicken in butter or margarine until chicken is tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Reduce heat add green onion, heavy cream, tomatoes, basil, salt, garlic powder, black pepper and heat through.
Pour over hot linguine and toss,with Parmesan cheese.

Traditional Shrimp Scampi
Preparation time: 30-35 minutes but if you purchase your shrimp already peeled and de-veined the prep time should be reduced to about 15 minutes. Serves 6-8.


Ingredients:
2 pounds medium-size fresh shrimp (either 16-20 count or smaller ones), peeled and de-veined or unpeeled and un-deveined
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
4 cloves garlic, crushed
3/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup dry white wine (chardonnay or pinot grigio)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Instructions:
Peel and de-vein shrimp unless you purchased P & D shrimp. You may choose to butterfly the shrimp as well (see note below)
Sauté green onions, parsley, and garlic in butter until onions are tender
Reset heat to low and add shrimp. The shrimp should be added in a single layer on the pan (cook two batches if necessary or use two pans).
Continue cooking, stirring frequently for 4 to 5 minutes
Remove shrimp with a slotted spoon to a serving dish and keep warm
Add remaining ingredients to butter mixture and simmer for 2 minutes
Pour butter mixture over shrimp

Serve this shrimp recipe over linguine or Angle Hair pasta. If you wish to do likewise, cook about 1 pound of the pasta of your choice. She then adds freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top.

These shrimp are also excellent when served over rice.


Spicy Shrimp Scampi
Preparation time: 20 minutes. Serves 4

Ingredients:
2 pounds of scampi (shrimp) Use P & D shrimp (peeled and deveined) or clean, peel and de-vein the shrimp yourself
Flour
4 tablespoons of olive oil
2 cloves of finely chopped garlic
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 ounce Brandy (you can buy a 1 ounce bottle of brandy at most liquor outlets)
1 cup of tomato sauce
Pinch of salt
2 ounces of butter
Fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions:
Lightly coat the shrimp with flour
Heat the oil oil in a large skillet over medium heat
Add the shrimp, garlic, crushed red pepper and sauté
Pour brandy into pan and ignite with a long lighter (stand back as it will flare up and do not flame the pan under cupboards or near other flamables)
Add the tomato sauce, a pinch of salt and simmer for 2 minutes
Add the butter to thicken and shake the pan to combine
Add salt if needed
Sprinkle with parsley before serving and Parmesan cheese if you wish.

And you have to have the best sides. Here are my favorites:

Homemade garlic bread:

1 cube real butter
3-4 cloves garlic, minced

Saute together about 5 minutes.
Spread on fresh sliced french bread with a pastry brush. Heat under the broiler until light brown. Yummy!!

Caesar Coleslaw

1 pkg pre-made coleslaw
1/4-1/2 cup shredded parmesean cheese
1/2 pkg caesar croutons
1 bottle creamy caesar dressing

Toss first three ingredients together. Add enough dressing to coat. It's even good the next day!

Then they won't like what you will cook. Have a potluck easter dinner

http://www.recipelink.com/easter.html

You can go to just about any grocery store and buy a pre-cooked, pre-sliced spiral ham.

Heat it up. Use the glaze provided with the ham. OR next time, use pineapple and maraschino cherries with a "Champagne Sauce" made with ginger ale.

Serve with some of your favorite veggies.

Dessert? EASY! Ask others to make or bring their favorite and/or you know each enjoys making for everyone AND everyone enjoys!

Thanks for asking your Q! I enjoyed answering it!
Happy Easter!

VTY,
Ron Berue
Yes, that is my real last name!

Start off with leek or spring onion soup (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/v...

Main course: Virginia smoked ham (just stick in a thermometer and place in oven) or roast lamb rubbed with rosemary, scalloped potatoes (fairly easy: http://www.cookingnook.com/best-scallope... steamed asparagus.

If serving wine, I would go with a Riesling with the ham and a Cabernet or Bordeaux for the lamb.

For desert, buy a good carrot cake or something from a good bakery. Dessert is the most time-consuming and most prone to failure.





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