Super Simple Pasta Salad

Even kids will eat this one!
Colored rotini pasta
1 stalk chopped celery
1/2 pepper chopped (Red or Green)
1 green onion chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup fresh Parmesan cheese
1 tsp VE Pasta Seasoning
1 tsp VE Herb and garlic
1 tsp VE 3 Onion Mix

1. Cook Pasta according to instructions on box.
2. Mix together remaining ingredients and mix into cooked pasta.

Bruschetta Chicken Bake

1 - 19 oz. can stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 pkg Stove Top Stuffing mix for chicken
2 tsp VE Minced Garlic
1 1/2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
1 tsp VE Poultry Seasoning (or VE Pasta Seasoning)
1 cup grated mozzarella

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. In medium bowl add tomatoes, stuffing mix and garlic. Stir until stuffing mix is moistened. Set aside.
3. Place chicken pieces into a 13x9 baking dish. Sprinkle with seasoning and cheese. Top with stuffing mixture.
4. Bake for 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

Tuscan Bread Stuffing

Serves 8 to 10
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 cup red pepper, diced
3 Tbsp VE Tuscan Rub
3 cups chicken stock
8 cups day-old VE Focaccia bread, cubed
2 eggs, well beaten
2 tsp VE Sea Salt, ground
1 tsp VE Black Pepper, coarsely ground

1. Sauté onion and red pepper in olive oil over medium heat. Add VE Tuscan Rub and chicken stock. Remove from heat.
2. Pour over cubed Focaccia bread. Stir in beaten eggs. Season with VE Sea Salt and VE Pepper.
3. Place in lightly greased 9 x 13 baking dish and cover with lightly greased aluminum foil. Bake at 350°F, for 40 minutes.
4. Remove foil and bake for 20 minutes more or until top is golden and slightly crisp.

Chili Con Queso Dip

This dip mix is usually used as a dip for tortilla chips but it is truly very versatile as you can also use it as a dip for apples, broccoli, pita chips, etc. (just use your imagination).

500g. Velveeta – cut into cubes
1 cup milk
1 cup diced tomato - drained
2 tsp. VE Poco Picante Salsa Mix
2 tsp. VE Jalapeno Cheese Dip Mix

1. In a double boiler melt cheese in milk. stir until smooth.
2. In small bowl mix together tomatoes and spices. Add the cheese mixture.
3. Feel free to add more spice - as some people like it HOT.

Seasoned Carrots

2 lbs carrots, peeled and sliced
1 Tbsp VE 3 Onion Dip Mix
1 Tbsp margarine
VE Sea Salt and Pepper

1. Boil carrots and VE 3 Onion Dip Mix in a large saucepan. Cook to desired doneness.
2. Drain carrots. Toss with margarine and season to taste with VE Sea Salt and VE Pepper.

Heidi’s Bean Dip

by Heidi Frenette
1 can of refried beans
1/2 cup cheddar, shredded
1 can (398ml) diced tomatoes
3 Tbsp VE Poco Salsa
3 Tsp VE Jalapeño Cheese Dip Mix

1. Combine ingredients together and heat until warm.
2. Serve with Tortilla chips orPita Crisps.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

2 lbs potatoes, peeled and quartered
1-1/3 cup milk
1 Tbsp VE Classic Vinaigrette (or VE Herb and Garlic Dip Mix)
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp margarine
VE Sea Salt, to taste

1.Boil potatoes until tender. Drain and set aside.
2. Mix together milk and VE Classic Vinaigrette (or VE Herb & Garlic Dip Mix) and heat in a small saucepan. Add olive oil and margarine to milk mixture.
3. Add milk mixture to potatoes and mash together until smooth. Season with VE Sea Salt.

Tuscan Roasted Turkey

Turkey
Olive oil
1/2 Lemon
VE Tuscan Rub
VE Sea Salt
VE Lemon Pepper

1. Mix together olive oil, lemon juice and VE Tuscan Rub
2. Rub Tuscan mixture over surface of turkey.
3. Coarsely grind VE Sea Salt and VE Lemon Pepper over surface.
4. Cook Turkey at 350°F allow 15 to 20 minutes per pound. 1 hour before end of recommended cooking time, begin checking to see if cooked by inserting an Instant Read Thermometer into the inner thigh, just above the thigh bone. A stuffed turkey is cooked when the temperature registers 180°F (or 170°F unstuffed).

Frosted Mocha

2 Cups of strong coffee, chilled
6 Tbsp Chocolate Syrup
2 Cups milk
12 Coffee ice cube
VE Fireside Rim Trimmer

1. In advance make some coffee ice cubes by freezing some coffee in an ice cube tray.
2. Prepare 4 glasses by rimming with VE Fireside Rim Trimmer.
3. Blend the following in blender: 2 Cups of chilled strong coffee, chocolate syrup and milk.
4. Pour over coffee ice cubes in prepared glasses. Enjoy!

Pumkin Cheesecake

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) Philadelhia Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp VE Pumpkin Pie Spice (or VE Poudre Douce)
2 eggs
1 Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.) (OR use 1 1/4 cups crushed ginger snaps mixed with 1/4 melted butter)
1 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a large bowl beat together cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar, vanilla and spices in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat just until blended. Pour into crust.
3. Bake for 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Remove from oven and allow to cool then refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving.
4. Top with Cool Whip just before serving.
Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

Mex-icure Select Layered Dip

by Sharon Statham
1 19oz. Can black beans, drain and rinse
3 Tbsp VE Pueblo Bean Dip Mix
1/3 cup cold water
3 Avocadoes, peeled and cubed
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp Lemon juice
3-4 Tbsp Poco Picante Salsa Mix or VE Caliente Salsa Mix (divided)
2 cups sour cream
2-3 Tbsp VE Jalapeño Cheese Dip Mix
2 cups canned diced tomatos
2 cups finely grated Cheddar Cheese
3 Tbsp VE 3 Onion Dip Mix

1. In food proceeor blend together beans, Pueblo Bean Dip Mix and cold water in a food processor. Process until smooth. Spread onto bottom serving serving dish!
2. Again in food processor blend together Avocados, mayonnaise, lemon juice and 1-2 Tbsp of your choice of VE Salsa Mix. Blend until smooth. Spread over layer of bean mixture.
3. In small bowl mix together sour cream and Jalapeño Cheese Dip Mix. Spread over avocado layer.
4. Mix diced tomatoes and 2-3 Tbsp of your choice of Salsa Mix together. Let sit for at least about 1/2 hour to allow for the for Salsa Mix to soak up excess juices.
5. Using a fork dot the salsa mix evenly over the top of the sour cream layer.
6. Add the finely grated Cheddar Cheese on top. Sprinkle the 3 Onion Dip Mix on top of the cheddar cheese.