Melissa's Alfredo Sauce

• 2 chicken bouillon cubes
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese (in the green can)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Dissolve chicken bouillon cubes in 1/2 cup water.

Melt butter over low heat in saucepan.

Gradually stir in flour.

Continue stirring and gradually add milk.

Add chicken bouillon.

Increase heat to medium and continue stirring.

Cook until thickened.

Stir in parmesan cheese and garlic powder. Let the sauce sit for a few minutes so that the cheese can rehydrate and melt.

Serve over hot pasta and garnish with parsley.

Serve with grilled shrimp or chicken, steamed broccoli, 1 pound pasta of choice, garlic bread or biscuits.

Adapted from Food.com

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

• 1 (15 ounces) can garbanzo beans, drained, reserve liquid
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (I used vegetable oil in a pinch)
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter (or any other nut butter)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 or 2 strips of jarred roasted red pepper and small amount of its juice

Layer the ingredients in your Nutribullet, blender, or food processor. Add approximately half of the reserved bean liquid. Process until as smooth as you like it. Refrigerate for several hours before serving.

I adapted this recipe.

Creamy Spinach and Mushroom Chicken

 

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 3-4 chicken breasts, halved crosswise
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 10 ounces Cremini mushrooms, sliced

• 3 teaspoons minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream or half & half
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 cup baby spinach, stems removed (I just used a big handful)

Place 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet. Melt butter over medium heat. Add chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Brown chicken until internal temperature is 165 degrees F. Remove from pan. Melt an additional 1 tablespoon of butter and olive oil together. Saute mushrooms until they are soft. Remove from pan.

Place 2 tablespoons of butter in skillet. Add garlic and saute until fragrant. Add flour and allow to cook for a minute or two to remove the raw flour taste. Slowly stir in chicken broth and garlic powder. Add the heavy cream. Stir until sauce is thickened. Add Parmesan cheese and stir until melted in the sauce. Season sauce with salt and pepper, as needed. Stir in baby spinach and allow to wilt. Add chicken and mushrooms back to the skillet and coat chicken with the sauce. Serve over your favorite pasta.

Original recipe here.

Melissa's Quick Pantry Salsa

• 28 ounces canned tomatoes, any type (see note below)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ⅛-¼ teaspoon black pepper

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

Cook’s notes: (1) I use the 28 ounce can of petite diced tomatoes and blend about ½ of the can with the spices before adding back in the rest of the can. You can use a 14 ounce can of diced or petite diced tomatoes and a 14 ounce can of crushed tomatoes.

(2) Add fresh cilantro if you have it on hand.

(3) Fresh onion and/or garlic can be used instead of powder.

Southern Milk Gravy

• 1 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or butter, bacon grease)
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• generous pinch of black pepper

In a skillet, combine flour and oil. Over medium heat, stir for about 2 minutes until mixture is a very light tan color. Add milk and stir flour mixture to combine. Add salt and pepper. Stir constantly until mixture comes to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes or until gravy is as thick as you prefer. Makes 1 cup.

Cook's notes: Once your gravy is cooking, there is not a good way to make it thicker but if you need it thinner add a little more milk. 

You can add cooked, drained sausage to this to make a sausage gravy.

No Velveeta Creamy Macaroni & Cheese

This is a healthier version of a favorite food...

• 1 1/2 cups (1/2 pound) elbow macaroni, dry
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 4 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons butter
• pinch nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1 cup (4 ounces) freshly grated Colby Jack cheese

Boil pasta in salted water until tender. Drain and return to pan.

Combine milk and egg in a saucepan. Whisk in cornstarch over medium heat and stir constantly until mixture boils and becomes thick. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and spices, until butter melts.

Stir in cheese until it melts.

Mix with pasta and enjoy!

Adapted from here.

Melissa's Pico De Gallo

• 6 Roma (Plum) tomatoes, diced
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 1 lime, juice of
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic (I used jarred)
• 2 jalapeno peppers, diced (remove stems, seeds and membranes if you don't want heat)
• 1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
• salt

Mix all ingredients in a bowl;add cilantro and salt to taste. Place in refrigerator and allow to set for several hours. Serve with your favorite foods or chips.

This is not from anyone else's recipe.

Mamaw Mobley's Chocolate Gravy

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cocoa
• 3/4 cup evaporated milk
• 2 tablespoons margarine, to add at the end

1. Stir together sugar and cocoa in a 2 quart saucepan. Stir in milk.
2. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture come to a boil.
3. Mixture will "puff up" in the pan, but should not boil over. It will eventually boil back down, about 2 minutes or so. When it has done this, boil for about 30 seconds longer, until you are happy with the consistency.
4. Stir in margarine and serve over fried eggs and biscuits.

*This is a passed down family recipe.

Melissa's Ranch Dressing By The Cup

    

 

 

 

•  ½ cup mayonnaise, (or 1/4 cup mayonnaise and 1/4 cup sour cream)
•  ¼ cup milk
•  1 teaspoon dried parsley flaked, crushed in hand
•  1 teaspoon onion powder
•  ½ teaspoon garlic powder
•  ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt
•  Dash pepper 

Whisk ingredients together and place in a jar. Put in refrigerator and allow to set for several hours or overnight.

Update 4/21: I wanted more of a tangy "buttermilk" flavor so I used both mayonnaise and sour cream and I have updated the ingredient list to reflect this.

Melissa's Honey Mustard Sauce & Dressing

                        

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 4 teaspoons (1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon) prepared yellow mustard
• 2 tablespoons honey

1. Mix ingredients and serve.

Homemade Tartar Sauce

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon dill relish
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

1. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and serve with your favorite seafood.

Commercial Style Mild Enchilada Sauce

• 8 ounces tomato sauce
• ½ cup water
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon Louisiana hot sauce

Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Makes 1 cup.

Cook’s notes: A large can of enchilada sauce is 19 ounces=2 cups.