Pasta Fagioli

Some time ago, I found a website claiming it had the ‘secret’ restaurant recipes of popular dishes.  It claimed this is the same pasta fagioli soup from Olive Garden.  I don’t know if that’s true, but it sure is tasty!

Pasta Fagioli
 
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Recipe type: Appetizer
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 small onion, diced (1 cup)
  • 1 large carrot, julienned (1 cup)
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 14.5-oz cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 15-oz can red kidney beans (w/ liquid)
  • 1 15-oz can great northern beans (w/ liquid)
  • 1 15-oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 12-oz can V-8 juice
  • 1 Tbsp white vinegar
  • 1½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp basil
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • ½ tsp thyme
  • ½ lb. (1/2 pkg) ditali pasta
Instructions
  1. Brown the ground beef in a large saucepan or pot over medium heat. Drain off most of the fat.
  2. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic and sauté for 10 minutes.
  3. Add remaining ingredients, except pasta, and simmer for 1 hour.
  4. About 50 minutes into the simmering, coo the pasta in 1½ to 2 quarts of boiling water over high heat. Cook for 10 minutes or just until pasta is al dente, or slightly tough. Drain.
  5. Add the pasta to the large pot of soup. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes more and serve.

 

Southwest Seasoning

This is a good seasoning for tacos.

Southwest Seasoning
 
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Recipe type: Spice Mix
Ingredients
  • 2 Tbsp chili powder
  • 2 Tbsp paprika
  • 1 Tbsp ground coriander
  • 1 Tbsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 Tbsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in a glass jar.
Notes
Makes about ⅔ of a cup.

 

 

Cajun Seasoning

Cajun Seasoning
 
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This is essentially Emeril Lagasse's Essense seasoning mix.
Recipe type: Spice Mix
Ingredients
  • 2½ Tbsp paprika
  • 2 Tbsp salt
  • 2 Tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp onion powder
  • 1 Tbsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 Tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 Tbsp dried thyme
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients thoroughly & store in a glass jar.
Notes
Makes about ⅔ of a cup of seasoning.

 

Ga’s Buttermilk Pie

My grandmother’s Buttermilk Pie is my all-time, hands-down, favorite dessert.  I’ve given this recipe to I don’t know how many people and everyone has loved it.  One of my best friends tell me this recipe got her accepted into her husband’s family.

Ga's Buttermilk Pie
 
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Recipe type: Dessert
Ingredients
  • ½ cup flour
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 6 eggs
  • 2 Tbsp vanilla
  • pinch of salt
Instructions
  1. Mix dry ingredients.
  2. Mix liquid ingredients, then add to dry ingredients.
  3. Pour into an unbaked pie crust.
  4. Bake at 350° for about an hour.
Notes
Makes 2 pies.

 

 

Auntie’s Sugar Cookies

  • 1 cup margarine
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • granulated sugar/sprinkles for final step
  1. In large bowl, combine margarine, vegetable oil, and granulated sugar; beat until creamy.
  2. Add powdered sugar,vanilla, and eggs; mix well.
  3. In a small bowl, sift together baking soda, flour, cream of tartar, and salt.
  4. Add to other ingredients and mix well.
  5. Cover dough and refrigerate at least two hours (or over night).
  6. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and roll in granulated sugar/sprinkles.
  7. Flatten on lightly greased cookie sheet, Preheat oven to 350° and bake until edges are light brown, about 12 minutes.
  8. Let cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet.