Toscana Kale Soup

This is really good! To feed my family I usually double the recipe. So if you are having guests you may want to at least triple it or maybe even more!! I make this for Tommy all the time and he loves it! This was passed along in my ward and everyone still talks about how yummy this recipe is. You can get Kale right next to the lettuce. It is a rubbery thick lettuce that is extremely heathly. Enjoy!!

Toscana soup recipe:
2 3/4 c. chicken broth
1/4 c. heavy cream
1 med russet potato (or 2-3 small red)
2 c. chopped kale
1/2 lb. Italian sausage (spicy to taste)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Combine broth and cream over med. heat. Cube unpeeled potato and add. Add kale. Sauté sausage and break into small pieces and add to soup. Add spices and simmer about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Golden Graham Chex Crunch

This is the BEST ever!! Since my sister has been here I have made it about 3-4 times. It's so yummy warm or cold! It is a great movie/game snack!

Golden Graham Rice Chex Crunch

1 box Rice Chex
1 box Golden Grahams
6-12 oz. slivered or sliced almonds-Mix together in a large bowl-

In a large sauce pan combine:
2 cups sugar
2 cups Karo syrup (light corn syrup)
3 cubes butter
1 tsp. vanilla

Boil mixture for 2 minutes to a soft ball stage. Pour over cereal and mix evenly to coat cereal. Pour over saran wrap to cool.It's so yummy warm and gooey too!

Spinach Fruit Salad

I make this salad recipe a lot when we get together with friends and really like it. It's a really heathly salad!!

Here is that salad recipe:

½ cup good olive oil
¼ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup sugar
2 garlic cloves, crushed
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
¼ tsp dry mustard
¼ tsp onion powder

Mix in a jar and shake!

Pour over mixed greens and spinach, add slivered almonds or any kind of nut you like, blueberries, raspberries, green onions and serve!!

Fruit Dessert Pizza

Sugar Cookie Dough
2/3 C shortening
3/4 C. sugar
1 tsp. grated orange peel
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
4 T milk
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt.

Mix together and chill for about 1 hour in the fridge. Spread in bar pan and bake at 375 for about 15 minutes. (I doubled the recipe for the one I made-It may have been a little thick)

As for the frosting. I do not really have a recipe. I just add 8 oz. cream cheese, a little vanilla and enough powered sugar to taste good and be a good consistency for frosting. So after the dough has cooled I spread the frosting over it.

As for fruit. I have found that fresh fruit tastes the best although you can use canned fruit if it is well drained. I usually use Kiwi, Strawberies, raspberries, fresh pears or apples (cut really small). I put a little lemon juice on the ones I made to keep the fruit looking fresh. Wait to put the fruit on until you are close to serving.

Italian Lasagna

This is really the yummiest lasagna ever!! It came from my cousin in California and every time I have made it everyone asks for the recipe. It has a lot of ingredients but it is SO worth it!!


1 lb. Italian Sausage (can be hot...I use a mixture of both) I even put in 1 1/2 lbs.
2 cans chopped stewed italian tomatoes (possibly three if you put 1 1/2 lbs. sausage)
2 (6 oz.) cans tomato paste2 coves garlic, minced
**1T Parsley (Fresh)
**1T Basil (Fresh)
**24 oz. cottage cheese (or ricotta cheese)
**1/2 c. fresh parmesan cheese
**2 eggs
**1 1/2 t. salt
**1/2 t. ground pepper1 mozzarella ball (I use a little more than that...I just get the double pack at Costco and use 1 1/2 of it)
lasagna noodles Cook noodles and then drain (run cold water over them)...set aside.

Mix together ** ingredients...and then set aside. Cook sausage and then add garlic, tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook for 20 min. until sauce is thick. In a 13x9 inch pan layer noodles, sausage mixture, mozzarella slices, noodles, cottage cheese mixture, noodles.... and then repeat again so you have noodles between each layer. Bake 375 for 30-40 minutes. Let stand for 15 min. before serving.Enjoy!

Bow-Tie Spinach Salad

This is the recipe I made for you guys when we had the girls night


Bow-Tie Pasta and Spinach Salad (This makes a large quantity; recipe may be halved)

1 16 oz bow-tie pasta, cooked and drained

Blend the following ingredients in a blender:
1 cup oil
2/3 cup teriyaki sauce
2/3 cup white vinegar
6 Tbs. sugar
1/2 tsp, salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
(You may cut down a little on the oil and increase the teriyaki sauce if desired)

Pour over pasta, mixing gently to coat well. Marinate several hours or overnight.

Just before serving, combine:
2 10 oz. bags of baby spinach, long stems removed
1 6 oz. bag Craisins 1
1 6 oz. bag of roasted peanuts
2 cans mandarin oranges, drained well
2 cans sliced water chestnuts, drained well
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds (toast in 300 degree oven for 10-15 minutes)

**I also added teriyaki marinated chicken-cut into little pieces

Grilled Chicken Wild RIce Salad

(this picture makes it look gross but it is really good)

This is the perfect summer salad, fresh, full of veggies and satisfying! Try it and you'll see!!!! Serve it with some crusty french bread and fruit and you'll have a meal nobody can refuse!!

2 boxes white and wild rice cooked per box directions. ( I used rice a roni brand ).

3-5 grilled chicken breasts, sliced into bite size pieces ( I seasoned mine with salt, pepper, garlic salt, and olive oil, grilled it and then squeezed fresh lime juice over it ).

4 green onions, chopped

1 green or red bell pepper, diced

3 oz snow peas, chopped into bite size pieces- (I like small pieces-- smaller than the picture shows)

2-3 med avocados, diced

1 c. chopped almonds ( or pecans ), toasted.


Combine cooked rice, chicken, green onions, bell pepper, snow peas, cooled nuts and toss.
Add dressing and avocados right before serving and toss together. Can be eaten warm or cold.

Dressing:
2 cloves garlic
2 t. dijon mustard
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1/4 t. sugar
1/3 c. seasoned rice wine vinegar (i just used plain, because that is what I had on hand...)
1/3 c. olive oil

Mix all together in blender, adding oil in a slow stream last.