Cranberry and Vanilla Bean Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients

• 18 oz. fresh cranberries
• 1 cup brown sugar
• seeds from one vanilla bean
• juice from 1 lemon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons corn starch
• 1 3/4 sticks salted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for greasing pan
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cup oats
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch rectangular pan.
2. To make the filling, combine the cranberries, brown sugar, vanilla bean seeds and lemon juice in a large pot with a lid.
3. Cook on medium heat with the lid on for 5-6 minutes until the berries begin to soften and release their juices.
4. Continue to cook for an additional 3-4 minutes so that some of the juice begins to evaporate.
5. Stir in the corn starch to thicken the filling. I like to dust the corn starch in through a fine mesh sieve when I add it to avoid getting any big clumps.
6. Mix together the butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Combine until damp by mixing with your hands. 
7. Press half the oat mixture into the prepared pan. 
8. Spread top with the cranberry filling.
9. Sprinkle the other half of the oat mixture over the preserves and pat lightly.
10. Bake until light brown, 30 to 40 minutes.
11. Let cool completely, chill, and then cut into squares.

Notes
Other flavors can be used.

Source
http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2015/11/cranberry-vanilla-bean-pie-bars.html

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/strawberry-oatmeal-bars-recipe.html

Easy Oven-Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb small red potatoes, cut into fourths (3/4-inch chunks)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Roast uncovered 25 to 35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender and browned.

Notes
- Be sure to cut the potatoes into pieces that are about the same size so they roast evenly. Or look for bite-size potatoes that can be roasted whole.
- Line the pan with foil, which helps crisp up the potatoes and makes for easy clean up.
- Try lemon pepper or Italian seasoning for a flavor twist.

Source
https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/easy-oven-roasted-potatoes/fbd35018-9c25-4b44-a11a-16b31c21333c

Tortellini Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cups sweet Vidalia or yellow onion, peeled and diced small (about 1 large onion)
• 1 1/2 cups carrots, peeled and sliced into thin rounds (about 2 large carrots)
• 1 cup celery, diced small (about 2 large stalks)
• 3 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced
• 64 ounces (8 cups) low-sodium chicken broth
• 10-16 ounces cheese tortellini
• 2 to 3 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
• 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (use storebought rotisserie chicken to save time; or roast or cook your own chicken in a skillet)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, optional (1/2 lemon is fine)
• 1/3 cup fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley leaves (stems discarded), finely chopped (optional)

Directions

1. To a large Dutch oven or stockpot, add the oil, onion, carrots, celery, and sauté over medium-high head for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until vegetables begin to soften. Stir intermittently.
2. Add the garlic and sauté for another 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Add the chicken broth, tortellini, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, pepper, and bring to a boil. Allow mixture to boil gently for about 5 to 6 minutes or until tortellini are tender and cooked through. Stir intermittently. At any time while making the soup, if the overall liquid level is lower than you like and you prefer more broth, adding a cup or two of extra chicken broth or water is okay. At the end you will adjust the salt level.
4. Add the chicken, parsley, optional lemon juice (brightens up the flavor), and boil 1 to 2 minutes, or until chicken is warmed through.
5. Taste soup and add salt to taste. Make any necessary seasoning adjustments (i.e. more salt, pepper, herbs, etc.), remove the bay leaves, and serve immediately. 

Notes
- Soup will keep airtight in the fridge for 5 to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
YIELD: about 10 cups
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: about 20 minutes
TOTAL TIME: about 30 minutes

Source
http://www.averiecooks.com/2015/11/easy-30-minute-homemade-chicken-tortellini-soup.html

Quick Creamy Salad Dressing

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups mayo
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• juice from 1/2 lemon
• big pinch of sugar
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Whisk together all ingredients until combined.

Homemade Margarita Mix

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup lime juice (about 10 limes)

Directions

1. Squeeze the lime juice into a bowl or measuring cup.
2. Heat the water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved.
3. Let the mixture cool a bit before adding in the lime juice, mix together, and pour into a bottle.
4. Refrigerate the mix for up to two weeks. 

Notes
To make a margarita with this, just mix 1 shot of tequila, half a shot of triple sec and some ice. It's super simple! Don't forget to salt your rim.

Source
http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2015/10/homemade-margarita-mix.html

Thai Meatloaf Surprise

Ingredients

• 1 - 1.5 lbs ground turkey
• 3 eggs, hard-boiled
• 1 egg, whisked
• 1/2 cup zucchini, grated
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1 cup breadcrumbs or panko
• 1/2 Tbs mint, chopped
• 1/4 cup basil, chopped
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp ginger, peeled and minced
• 2 Tbs soy sauce
• 1/2 Tbs fish sauce (optional)
• 1/4 cup Sweet chili sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. In a large bowl mix to combine egg, zucchini, coconut milk, breadcrumbs, mint, basil, cilantro, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and fish sauce.
3. Fold in ground turkey.
4. Pour 1/2 turkey mixture into loaf pan.
5. Lay eggs in the middle, end to end.
6. Top with remaining turkey mixture.
7. Cover entire loaf with Sweet chili sauce
8. Bake at 350º for 60 minutes.
9. Rest loaf for 15 min before cutting.
10. Garnish with parsley.

Notes
- Serve with rice, cucumber salad, http://theglamoroushousewife.com/2014/05/sweet-asian-slaw

Source
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNDNXpDEphY

http://theglamoroushousewife.com/2015/09/making-it-modern-meatloaf-surprise-vs-thai-meatloaf