Calzones

This is one of my family's very favorite meals. Because you make the dough for the crust in the bread machine, it is so easy. You can put the crust on the timer before work and have the dough ready when you get home. You can also brown the sausage the day before and refrigerate it until you get ready to make the calzone. My grandkids often request this for dinner. You can make the dough for the crust by hand if you don't have a bread machine.

Makes 1 - 1 pound calzone (I split it and make two smaller ones.)

Ingredients:
Crust
1 1/4 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon powdered dry milk
1 1/2 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Filling
3/4 cup pizza sauce
3/4 cup cooked sausage
1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

Directions:
1. Place water, salt, bread flour, dry milk, sugar, and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle and start. (We’ve doubled it and done it by hand many times.)
2. After cycle ends, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface; shape into a 16 x 10 inch rectangle. Transfer to a lightly greased cookie sheet. Spoon pizza sauce down center of dough; add sausage and cheese for filling. Make diagonal cuts 1 1/2 inches apart down each side, cutting to within 1/2 inch of the filling. Criss cross strips over filling, sealing with water. Brush top with melted butter. (I add pepperoni, green peppers, onions, browned ground beef and anything else I have and want to add.)
3. Bake at 350 degrees F. For 35 to 45 minutes.

Chicken with Clementine Glaze

This is so yummy...light and tender. It is also quick and easy. I added some brown rice and green salad. Very delectable dinner.

Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
6 clementines
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 chicken cutlets, pounded thin
Salt and pepper to taste
2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Directions
1. Cut the clementines in half and juice them.
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then cook the cutlets in the skillet, turning over once, until browned on both sides, about 6 minutes total. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
3. Pour off the excess oil from the skillet, then add the sugar and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 15 seconds. Add the clementine juice (be careful; it will steam up at first) and cook until thickened slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the butter and swirl with a spoon until it's evenly melted into the liquid, about 30 seconds. Add the lemon juice and swirl. Return the chicken to the skillet and turn to coat with sauce. If necessary, reduce heat to low and cook the chicken, covered, until cooked through. Serve with sauce.

I don't use the oil, I just spray the pan with non-stick cooking spray.
I only use about 2 teaspoons of butter, just enough for a touch of flavor and to make the glaze a little more creamy.
I'm going to try it with oranges when clementines are no longer in season.
About 4 points per serving.

Peppermint Fudge

I got this recipe from a guest at work. It is really good.

2 pkg vanilla chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
melt in microwave
Add
1-2 crushed peppermint candy canes

Stir until smooth. Can microwave a few seconds more if needed. Pour into a pan lined with foil and sprayed with pam. Let set. When set, lift foil out of pan and cut into squares.

Yam Rolls

You can't really taste the yams in these. They are a bit of an orange color. They are very light and flaky. An excellent roll.

1 Pkg. active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup shortening
2 eggs
3/4 cup lukewarm cooked and mashed sweet potatoes or yams
5 to 5 1/2 cups flour

Dissolve the yeast in water. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Mix until the dough is easy to handle. Turn onto lightly floured board and knead about 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl turning once. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 2 hours or longer. Two hours before baking, divide the dough into fourths, with 1/4 of the dough, roll out to a 12 inch circle. Spread with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Cut into 12 wedges. Roll each wedge up, beginning with the rounded edge. Shape these into crescents, and repeat with the remaining dough. Cover and let rise until light, about 1 hour. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.
Makes 48

I just poked the yam with a fork and microwaved it for about 10 minutes. It was a medium to large yam. After it was cooked, I slid the peeling off and mashed it with a fork.

Nacho Chicken Chowder

This is an easy soup to put together and cooks while you're doing whatever else you need to do. It tastes delicious. You would never guess it's as easy as it is. Wonderful on a cold day.

Makes 6 servings
Ingredients:
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 (14.5 oz) cans Mexican-style tomatoes
1 (10.75 oz) can condensed nacho cheese soup
1 (10 oz) pkg. frozen whole kernel corn (2 cups)
Shredded Mexican-style or cheddar cheese
Directions:
In a 3 1/2 to 4 quart slow cooker, stir together chicken, undrained tomatoes, soup, and corn.
Cover and cook on low heat for 4 to 5 hours or on high heat for 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
Sprinkle each serving with shredded cheese.

Birthday Cake Football

Another football cake. He likes balls. All kinds of balls.

Birthday Cake "Y"

What can I say...he's a BYU fan.