Turkey Tetrazzini

What  better way to use up Turkey leftovers then in a hearty casserole!?  I'd never had Turkey Tetrazzini growing up.  While I was working for a wealthy family I made this dish for them.  The wife called and asked what it was because her husband had eaten seconds!  She said that never happened and wanted the recipe.  I told her honestly that I'd gotten it from a magazine and couldn't remember which one it was but that I would look for it.  I never found it again but that encounter where someone had stopped to call me and tell me what I made was really great was a life changing experience.  That sounds cliche but if it weren't for someone thinking my cooking was great I wouldn't have delved into it with such passion and I honestly can say it wouldn't have become such a large part of my ministry to people around me.  This recipe was taken from Allrecipes.com and is one I've used the last few years . . . it isn't the "original" recipe that I used for my employers 9 years ago.

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package uncooked spaghetti
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups milk
1 2/3 cups grated Parmesan cheese
4 cups chopped cooked turkey

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9x13 in pan.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and place in the prepared baking dish.
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour. Mix in chicken broth and milk. Cook and stir until the mixture comes to a boil. Stir in about 1 1/3 cups Parmesan cheese, and remove from heat.
Mix chicken broth mixture and turkey with spaghetti. Top with remaining cheese. Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, until surface is lightly browned.

Bacon Wrapped Sausage

It's also no secret that the Palmers are crazed Bridge playing people.  When we have family gatherings we often have no less then two tables of Bridge going at a time.  We love to eat as well.  So while my parents and four brothers were here for Christmas we decided to have a few more people over to have a Bridge night.  I decided to make this appetizer and it went over very well!

Ingredients:
bacon (2 lbs)
little sausages (2 pkgs)

Sauce:
3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 c. ketchup
1 T. soy sauce

Wrap sausages in 1/3 strip of bacon.  Secure with toothpick.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes and drain fat.
Mix remaining ingredients and pour over wraps.
Bake at 325 for 30 minutes.

Spinach Artichoke Dip

My family has a tradition of having a snack after Christmas morning service and before opening presents. We then do a later meal that is our main meal of the day.  I like something hot to go with the crackers, cheese and summer sausage that Dad favors.  I decided to make Spinach Artichoke Dip because I could serve it alongside the crackers that we'd planned on serving.  this was the first time I'd made it in the crock pot and it turned out awesome!  The leftovers heated up nicely the next day for lunch as well.

Ingredients:
1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 box frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 c. sour cream
8 oz. cream cheese
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. red hot sauce
pepper to taste
8 oz Mozzarella cheese

Directions:
Mix everything together in a crock pot and cook until melted together.  Stir occasionally.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

My mother-in-laws meatballs are unique in that they aren't served with pasta and aren't made with beef.  This makes them quite a hit during potlucks or at family dinners.  They go well with cheesy potatoes and rolls!

Ingredients:
4 lbs pork sausage
4 eggs
1 1/2 c bread crumbs

Sauce:
3 c. ketchup
1/2 c. soy sauce
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. white vinegar

Directions:
Make balls of the meat, eggs and bread crumbs.  Place on cookie sheet and bake at 350 for a half hour.
Make sauce and heat meatballs in sauce until ready to serve.  A crockpot works well.

Dark Chocolate Cherry Fudge

This week I made my first batch of fudge!  My mom and sister have done this for years but I'd only tried one time and it was a mess. . .basically I tried some shortcuts and that batch was a flop.  So after many years I decided to give it a try after finding this recipe from Nestle.  This fudge will be Christmas gifts for the church staff to share during their weekly Wendy's lunch and also I'll take some to my book club this weekend (if I'm not in the hospital having a baby. . . ).

Christmas treat.

Ingredients
1 1/2 c. Sugar
2/3 c. Evaporated Milk
2 T butter
1/4 tsp. salt
2 c. miniature marshmellows
1 2/3 c. (10 oz) Dark Chocolate Morsels
3/4 c. (4 oz) dried cherries, coarsely chopped
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions
Line 8 inch square baking pan with foil.
Combine sugar, milk, butter and salt in medium heavy duty saucepan.  Bring to full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
Boil, stirring constantly for 4-5 minutes and remove from heat.
Stir in marshmallows, morsels, cherries and vanilla.  Stir vigorously for a minute or until marshmallows are melted. 
Pour into prepared baking pan then refrigerate 2 hours until firm.  Lift from pan. Cut into 48 pieces.