Creamy (and parve!) Scalloped Potatoes

Another great recipe from my sister-in-law!

Ingredients:
7 Idaho potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
6 tbsp margarine or oil
2 large onions, chopped
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. mayo
1/2 tsp. salt
28 oz. chicken stock (3 and a half cups water with about a tbsp of chicken consomme)
black pepper
paprika

Heat oil in a large pan and add onions - cook for three minutes until soft. Stirring constantly, add flour, mayo, salt and stock. Stir until smooth and cook until sauce thickens, stirring constantly.

With a ladle or large spoon, place a layer of sauce across the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Spread a layer of overlapping potatoes, top with sauce, and repeat. You should have 3 sauce layers and 2 potato layers.

Sprinkle with pepper and paprika. Bake uncovered for 1 and 1/2 hours at 350 degrees.

Yum! Really hits the spot on a winter's day.

Strawberry-Mango Salad

I know everyone has a recipe for this, but here is a simple and easy one from my sis-in-law:

Strawberry-Mango Salad

One head iceberg lettuce, washed and checked (or one bag pre-washed and checked lettuce)
One carton strawberries, washed and checked
One mango
Sugar-coated almonds (recipe below)

1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 cup vinegar
1 tsp salt

Chop the strawberries and mango into small pieces, and tear the lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Place together in a large bowl and sprinkle with the sugar-coated almonds to taste.

In a separate container, shake the dressing ingredients together until well-mixed. When ready to serve, pour over salad and toss to distribute dressing.

Sugar-coated Almonds

1/2 c. sugar
1 c. slivered or sliced almonds
Melt sugar on low heat until liquid. Add almonds and stir until coated. Pour on greased tin foil. Let cool and break into pieces.

Awesome easy yuntif

Well I lucked out this Simchas Torah, with three meals provided in the shul so I only had to make one, instead of four full-fledgers. It was a meat meal, since we were having some boys, but I did miss having dairy for the second night. Too heavy, you know? The meal was a winner, with great and easy meat, orzo, chicken, broccoli quiche (which was the only non-winner) and a good dessert. Recipes to follow!

Chicken and Yummy Orzo

Orzo (this dish is from a friend, who said it was inspired by Kosher by Design):
Craisins
Canned mushrooms
Chopped onion
Tri-colored orzo
Chicken consomme

Saute the mushrooms and onion until soft, then add the craisins and cook for another 10 minutes, till everything looks soft and juicy. Meanwhile, cook the orzo in water mixed with plenty of chicken soup mix or consomme, for great flavor. Experiment with ratios, but I like a lot of craisin/onion/mushroom to my orzo. Drain orzo when cooked, and mix with the veg. mixture. Freezes well.

Chicken:
4-6 chicken breasts
1/2 cup brown sugar (loosely packed)
1/4 cup dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper

Marinate the chicken with remaining ingredients in a bag for as long as possible, but at least two hours. Cook at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done.

To serve: place orzo on a pretty serving dish. Slice each chicken breast into 2-4 pieces and scatter across orzo. Pretty, nutritious, and yum. Enjoy!

Also try:

Teriyaki steak recipe from Quick and Kosher (recipes from the bride who knew nothing) which basically calls for sauteed onion and mushrooms (only cook til soft, not caramelized), place atop washed and patted dry minute steaks or shoulder steaks or whatever you got, and pour a cup of teriyaki sauce over. I think that's it, will need to look again for more details. Cook at 350 for about an hour.

And also try: chocolate chip cookie pie from my favorite baking blogger, bakerella! Here's the recipe, and enjoy the blog - she is awesome. http://www.bakerella.com/chocolate-chip-cookie-pie%E2%80%A6-oh-my/