Chicken in Mushroom Sauce

(obviously not my photo)

Ingredients:

1 c. Shirley J Universal Sauce

4 8-oz. chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)

4 slices Swiss cheese

3 c. wild rice (cooked)

2 T. olive oil

2 c. mushrooms, any type (sliced)

1/2 cup green onion (chopped)

1 clove garlic (minced)

1/4 c. parsley (minced)

Pepper to taste

3 c. water

Directions:

Sear chicken in oil until it is brown on each side and cooked through. Set aside. Combine Shirley J Universal Sauce and water and bring to a simmer. Add the mushrooms, onions, garlic and parsley, and cook until the mushrooms are tender. Add pepper. Place chicken in baking dish, layer cheese on top of each chicken breast, and cover with sauce.

Bake at 350 degrees F. for 15-20 minutes until cheese starts to melt and is heated thoroughly. To serve, place the wild rice on serving dish and arrange chicken and sauce on top of the rice. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Zucchini Noodles & Shrimp with Creamy Tomato Sauce

What You Need:

4 large zucchini, julienned

1 cup Shirley J Universal Sauce

4 cups water

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

1 cup shrimp, peeled and de-veined

Directions:

Julienne zucchini into long strips, using vegetable stripper. Make strips like long noodles. Stop peeling when you reach the seeds. Set aside.

Combine Universal Sauce and water, stir and bring to a simmer. Add remaining ingredients, stir until combined and thick. Blanch noodles and set on platter. Ladle sauce over noodles and serve.

Cranberry BBQ Chicken Skewers

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb. chicken tenderloins

12 6-inch bamboo skewers

1 (16 oz) can of jellied cranberries

1/4 c. Shirley J BBQ Sauce Mix 1/2 c. water

Directions:

Place one skewer into each piece of chicken lengthwise. Salt and pepper to taste, grill or sear in a pan or BBQ until the chicken is fully cooked. Baste with sauce (below) during cooking, if desired.

Sauce:

Combine the Shirley J BBQ Seasoning, water and cranberries and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving. Use as a dip and as a basting sauce.

Chocolate Pudding Cake

This is a new twist using Shirley J, on an old recipe that my mom used to make. I have very fond memories of "Chocolate Pudding Cake". Sorry I forgot to take pictures before we gobbled it up.
Somehow it makes a yummy chocolate pudding on the bottom of the cake.

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix 3 cups Shirley J Muffin mix, 1/4 cup cocoa, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1 1/2 cup water. Mix well. Spread batter in the bottom of a 9 inch square ungreased pan. Combine 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa in a small bowl. Sprinkle over top of cake batter. Gently pour 1 1/2 cup bliling water over top of mixtures. Do not stir. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Serve with ice cream or whipping cream.

Tomato Penne Pasta with Cheese

Tomato Penne Pasta with Cheese
4 cups penne pasta (cooked)
2 T. Shirley J Pizza & Pasta Seasoning

1 tsp. garlic
1 cup Shirley J Universal Sauce
4 cups water
1 cup tomato sauce
½ cup Mozzarella cheese (grated)
1 cup fresh spinach chopped

Directions:
Combine Shirley J Universal Sauce and water, then tomato sauce, seasoning, garlic, spinach and cheese and simmer for 5 minutes. Pour sauce mixture over cooled pasta, stir to combine and serve hot.

Serves 6

Fresh Tomato and Spinach Creamy Soup

I have made this soup twice lately and I just love it. Sad that the fresh tomatoes are gone now.

In a large soup pan, saute in olive oil:
diced onion
red pepper flakes
garlic
fresh or dried basil

When onion is soft and transparent add:
diced fresh tomatoes
cut up fresh spinach

Stir for a minute or two then add:
4 cups of water with 1 cup of Shirley J White Cheddar Cheese sauce mixed together.

Bring to a boil to thicken and serve.

Chicken Cranberry Braid

I made this braid for dinner tonight. It was quite a hit! It was so easy and really worked up fast.
I was out of Shirley J Honey White Bread Mix so I made this one out of the Shirley J Honey Wheat Bread Mix.

Mix bread according to package directions, use 1/2 batch recipe. Let bread rest for 15-20 minutes after mixing, per instructions on bag.

Mix filling: 1 (12oz.) canned chicken, 1/2 c. chopped celery, 1/2 cup dried cranberries, 4 oz. Mozzarella cheese, 1/4 c. almonds, slivered, 1/2 c. mayo, 2 TB Dijon mustard.

Remove bread to floured surface; roll out into approximately 12x18" rectangle. Place dough rectangle on 12x18" sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Make 4" cuts approximately 1" wide along each edge of the rectangle, leaving 4" in center for filling. Place filling in middle of dough rectangle, smooth to fill to the edge of dough cuts. Fold the edges of the dough over to middle of the pan, covering the fillings.

Alternate sides and tuck strips of dough under each other, giving the appearance of a woven top. Cover and let rise for 10 minutes in a warm place. Brush with egg whites and bake in 350 oven for approximately 20 minutes or until golden brown.















Slice and serve with Shirley J White Cheddar Sauce over the top.

Tomato, mozzarella,and fresh basil

I learned about this delightful combination in New York. I have been making different versions of this all summer and I never get tired of it. It tastes so fresh and light. It looks beautiful on a platter too.

Slice homegrown tomatoes.

Slice fresh mozzarella cheese

Top with fresh basil, chopped

Mix olive oil and Shirley J Pizza Pasta seasoning to taste.

Pour oil and seasoning mixture over tomato, mozzarella and serve.

I have also made it with cherry tomatoes and cubed chesse.

Shirly J Lemon Bars

I made lemon bars in about 40 minutes total mixing and baking. They were so easy and fast and turned out delicious!

4 cups Shirley J Universal Cookie Mix

2/3 cups water

Mix together and press dough into prepared 9x13 pan.

Spread 1/2 can of lemon pie filling on top of dough.

Bake @ 350 for 30 minutes or until done.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar, cool and enjoy.

Cheeseburger Paradise Soup

6 Medium Potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 small carrot, grated
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 Tbsp chopped seeded jalapeno pepper
3 cups water
2 Tbsp plus 2 tsp beef bouillon granules (I used Shirley J)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/8 tsp pepper
2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 lb. sliced fresh mushrooms
2 Tbsp butter
5 cups milk, divided
6 Tbsp flour
1 package (16 oz) process cheese (Velveeta), cubed (I used Shirley J to taste...sorry, I don't have any idea how much I put in)

In a soup kettle, combine the first nine ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and mushrooms in butter over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add to soup. Stir in 4 cups milk; heat through.

In a small bowl, combine flour and remaining milk until smooth; gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in cheese until melted. Garnish with crumbled bacon.

Notes:
First, I would really pay attention to how much water they said to use because it'll never thicken if you don't. Live and learn.

Second, I used Shirley J for the beef bouillon and the cheese sauce. It was fabulous!

Third, I would really suggest letting it thicken before you add in the cheese. No matter how hungry you are it'll be worth it to wait for just 2 more minutes. :)

Creamy White Chicken Chili

This was the month's winning recipe from the Shirley J Blog: Creamy White Chicken Chili submitted by Jessica Olsen of Michigan. We're having it for dinner tonight.

Creamy White Chicken Chili

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce Base
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts(3-4), cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 1/2 TB garlic powder
1 TB oil
2 cans (15 1/2 ounces each) Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cup of made up Shirley J Chicken Broth (see Shirley J Chicken Bouillon label for recipe)
2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chilies
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cup water

Directions:
In a large saucepan, saute chicken, onion and garlic powder in oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add beans, broth, chilies and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Make Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce in separate pan. Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream and Shirley J Universal Cream Sauce mixture. Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired. Serve immediately. This is especially good served with tortilla chips, lettuce, and tomatoes.

Makes about 6 servings.