Black Bean Vegetable Soup Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 4 cups vegetable stock
• 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (8.75 ounce) can whole kernel corn
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes

Directions

1. In large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; cook onion, garlic, and carrots, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until onion is softened. Add chili powder and cumin; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add stock, 1 can of the beans, corn, and pepper; bring to boil.
2. Meanwhile, in food processor or blender, puree together tomatoes and remaining can of beans; add to pot. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until carrots are tender.

Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons sherry
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 2 inch pieces
• 1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks, drained
• skewers

Directions

1. In a shallow glass dish, mix the soy sauce, brown sugar, sherry, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic powder. Stir the chicken pieces and pineapple into the marinade until well coated. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours.
2. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
3. Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken and pineapple alternately onto skewers. Grill 15 to 20 minutes, turning occasionally, or until chicken juices run clear.

Shoyu Chicken recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup soy sauce
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup water
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger root
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 teaspoon ground paprika (optional)
• 5 pounds skinless chicken thighs

Directions

1. Whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, water, garlic, onion, ginger, black pepper, oregano, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, and paprika in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Add the chicken thighs, and toss to evenly coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
2. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat, and lightly oil the grate.
3. Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade. Discard the remaining marinade. Grill the chicken thighs on the preheated grill until cooked through, about 15 minutes per side.

Cheesy Italian Tortellini

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 1/2 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 (16 ounce) jar marinara sauce
• 1 (4.5 ounce) can sliced mushrooms
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (9 ounce) package refrigerated or fresh cheese tortellini
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Crumble the ground beef and Italian sausage into a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain.
2. Combine the ground meats, marinara sauce, mushrooms, and tomatoes in a slow cooker. Cover, and cook on LOW heat for 7 to 8 hours.
3. Stir in the tortellini, and sprinkle the mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the top. Cover and cook for 15 more minutes on LOW, or until the tortellini is tender.

Sweet, Sticky and Spicy Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger root
• 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1/2 inch strips
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions

1. Mix together brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and hot sauce in a small bowl.
2. Lightly salt and pepper the chicken strips.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken strips and brown on both sides, about 1 minute per side. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Simmer uncovered until the sauce thickens, 8 to 10 minutes.

Sugar Cookies Recipe

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup shortening
• 2/3 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar for decoration

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, shortening and sugar. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, stir into the creamed mixture until dough comes together. Roll dough into walnut sized balls and roll the balls in sugar. Place them on an unprepared cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
3. Bake cookies 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until bottom is light brown. Remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.

Ice cream cupcakes Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 box cake mix (or homemade) for 6 cupcakes--I used half of the recipe for simple 'n' delicious chocolate cake on this site
• 1 small container of your favorite ice cream (about 1.5 quarts), thawed
• 1-16 oz container of frosting (or homemade)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease or line 12 cupcake molds.
2. Make cake mix according to directions. Drop 1 1/2-2 T of batter into each cup. Bake for 8-10 minutes. (You can pre-bake another batch of cupcakes or a regular small cake with any leftover batter. The recipe I used made a small 5" cake as well.) When a toothpick comes out clean, remove cupcakes from oven and allow to come to room temp. Cover and freeze for 4 hours, or until hard.
3. Scoop 1/2 c of ice cream (more or less to fill each cupcake full) into each cup and evenly spread out. Cover and return to freezer for 4 more hours, until frozen.
4. Frost and decorate the cupcakes anyway you wish. Refreeze or serve fresh. Enjoy!