Recipe Exchange

Through the Enrichment portion of my ward's Relief Society program we have a monthly Recipe Exchange. The hostess gets to choose the theme for the evening. I love cooking, and entertaining so I couldn't ask for a more fun evening with a bunch of my girl friends and GREAT food. Tonight's theme was CHEESE. Check out the recipes I provided!


Steamed Asparagus with
Warm Goat Cheese

1 lb fresh asparagus steamed and blanched
5 oz fresh goat cheese
Panko-Japanese bread crumbs
Flour
Olive oil

Cut the goat cheese into discs, dredge in flour, then into Panko, Freeze for 15min. In a skillet heat 2 Tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Add cheese disks until browned, about 1 min per side. Serve with asparagus and lemon wedges.


Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Bake

1 pkg (16 oz) Stuffing for chicken
1 ½ lb boneless chicken breasts, cut in 1” cubes
1 pkg (16 oz) frozen broccoli, thawed
1 can (10oz) cream of chicken soup
½ lb (8oz) Velveeta cheese cut in cubes

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare stuffing as directed; set aside. Combine remaining ingredients; spoon into a 9x13” pan. Top with the stuffing. Bake 40 min or until chicken is done! You can substitute the broccoli for other frozen vegetables.


Goat Cheese Bruschetta
1 package cream cheese
1 large tube goat cheese from Costco
(sometimes I double this recipe, or change the proportions if I like)
Cream together with mixer and spread on platter.

6 chopped Roma Tomatoes (Use Roma)
2-3 cloves garlic chopped (not minced, it will be way to strong if you do mince)
One good handful of fresh basil chopped (leave out stems)
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1-2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar (to your taste)
Let marinate for 10 minutes and then drain.
Lightly salt with coarse grained salt
Spread mixture over cheese platter. Then serve on bread.

Toasted Baguette
2 French Baguette. (Buy the French kind)

Slice bread(1/2 inch or less thick) at a diagonal and brush both sides well with olive oil. Place on cookie sheet and raise rack in oven and broil on high until toasty. Quickly remove! Warning: You must keep an eye on the bread at this point because you can burn it badly very quickly. Don't leave the oven-site to do other things! Believe me I know!! Depending on your oven to toast the bread properly it will take 30 seconds to 90 seconds. You don't have to put your oven rack up to the highest rack.


Easy Fruit Dip

1 (8oz) brick of cream cheese
1 container of marshmallow fluff

Combine together and serve. Best with strawberries!!!


I can't take credit for coming up with these recipes, but I will take credit for how awesome they tasted!!!

Chocolate Covered Popcorn

This one is inspired by my fantasitcally creative Mother-in-law. She makes a cute little treats for the girls for just about every holiday/season. She has made different kinds of chocolate covered popcorn and I thought it'd be fun to make a Spring inspired mix. I love the Spring. And the colors are the preface to the the colors of summer.

So here's the recipe. I made 4 double batches in about one and a half hours. So a small/normal batch is a snap!

Chocolate Covered Popcorn
1 bag Merkens Chocolate...the disks (3 cups)
2 bags butter popcorn
1-2 cups mini-marshmallows

Pop the popcorn as directed and try to get out as many kernels the best you can. I keep the popcorn in a huge bowl. And combine with the marshmallows. Melt the chocolate using your defrost feature on the microwave or a double boiler. Once smooth, pour on top of the popcorn and cover the popcorn stiring gentley trying not to break the popcorn. Pour the mixture on to wax paper. Once cooled break apart and enjoy. Have fun experimenting with different colors for seasons, party favors for baby showers and fun little gifts for friends.

Check out my mother-in-law's website. The link is on my Shay and Co. blog!

Now here's your part! I want some comments! I want to hear your favorite Spring recipe or Spring tradition. Bring them on!!! Share with me, and everyone who stops on by!

AND this could be your prize! I'll only give away ONE. But I'll have a drawing of all the Spring comments on this post!