Stuffing

1/2 cup chopped onion
2 Tbsp butter
4 cups dry bread crumbs (about 7 slices cut into cubes)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp ground sage
1/4-1/2 cup chicken broth (you can leave out the salt and dissolve bullion cubes to make chicken broth--if the bread is very dry you need more liquid.)

Cook onion in butter. Stir seasonings into bread, then stir in onions and butter. Toss with enough liquid to moisten.

Bake at 350 degrees for half an hour, covered.

Chewy Noels

2 tbsp butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup chopped nuts
1/3 cup flour
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Powdered sugar

In a 9x9x2 inch pan, melt butter.

Slightly beat the eggs, then add the vanilla.

Stir together the brown sugar, nuts, flour, baking soda and salt and
add all of that to the eggs.

Carefully pour mixture over butter in pan; do not stir.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Sift powdered sugar over
top. Let cool. Dust again with powdered sugar. Cut into bars.

Microwave Mochi

Mochi is a Japanese sweet made with glutinous rice flour. I don't know how close to the actual thing this recipe is, but it's ridiculously tasty, and causes much glee in the creation process (it's highly reminiscent of slightly melted gummi bears in texture).

Ingredients:

• 1 lb glutinous rice flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3 cups
• Food coloring, if desired
• Potato starch
  

Directions:

• Butter a large, microwave safe dish.
• Mix rice flour, water, and sugar together in dish with wire whisk until smooth.
• Add food coloring (if desired).
• Cook in microwave on high for 14 minutes.
• Let cool. Use rubber scraper to loosen edges.
• Sprinkle potato starch in another pan. Dump cooked mochi into pan. Sprinkle more potato starch on top (to prevent stickiness).
• Cut into pieces with a plastic knife.

Easy & Delicious Chocolate Pudding

Yes--it's a from-scratch, homemade pudding that is really, really good! I made it for the first time yesterday and was delighted with the results :)

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

• In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt. gradually add milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Spoon into individual serving dishes. Chill until serving.
• Yield: 6-8 servings.

Best Fruit Salad

Cut into bite-size pieces:

Kiwis
Bananas

Add:

Frozen raspberries
Whole grapes (we like red or purple)

Mix it all together and let it sit for a few minutes. The frozen raspberries will thaw while cooling the other fruits to a pleasant temperature. The salad will be delicious.

Peck of Pickled Peppers

1. Buy a jar of pickles (I think Claussen works best)
2. Eat them
3. Cut fresh cucumbers and other vegetables (like peppers) and put them in the brine
4. refrigerate overnight
5. enjoy!

The brine is usually good for about two batches of pickles, more if you add salt and vinegar. They're incredibly crisp and tasty.

Houmus mac and cheese

Another mac and cheese-type dish. We use a box of the small shell pasta and this sauce (measurements are approximate since we just make it to taste in true Neinerschts fashion):

1/4 cup houmus
2 cups milk
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 cup cold water
1/3 cup sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Put cold water and flour in a sealed jar and shake until smooth. Warm milk on medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add 1/4 cup houmus. Continue to stir. when mixture is close to boiling, add water and flour combination; simmer for one minute. Stir in cheese and lemon juice and pour over pasta.

We usually add frozen baby peas too - at the very end so they don't get overcooked. any type of vegetable would work. I also like to add about 1/4 cup of pureed carrots (I'm lazy and buy the baby food version) - the sweetness of the carrots goes nicely with the houmus.