What’s Cooking Wednesday: Pumpkin Manicotti

Usually, we try to post delicious and simple recipes on What’s Cooking Wednesdays. However, in honor of Halloween taking place tomorrow night, I thought that something festive which might require a bit more effort would be fitting. Let me assure you, the extra work involved in this recipe is SO worth it!

Fluffy manicotti filled with savory pumpkin and creamy cheese and loaded from top to bottom with cream sauce and topped with crispy sage…. what is not to love! In fact, the next time I make this recipe, I plan on doubling it and freezing one to have on hand for later in the winter when I am craving it 🙂 Thanks so much to the folks over at Go Bold with Butter Blog for letting us borrow this recipe. Be sure to check out their blog for more great tips and recipes from them.

Ingredients:

• 1-8 oz. pkg manicotti pasta
• 3 C. Milk
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 Tbs. olive oil
• 8 Tbs. butter (divided)
• 1/8 c. sage leaves thinly sliced
• 1/4 c. flour
• 1 1/2 c. ricotta cheese
• 1 c. pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt (divided)
• 1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Boil Manicotti noodles in salted water for 5-8 minutes. Pasta should still be al dente. Drain, add a Tbs or 2 of oil and mix around in the pasta to keep the tubes from sticking to each other, then set aside.

Bring milk to a boil, lower to simmer, and add whole garlic cloves. Allow garlic to steep for about 15 mins, then remove from milk and discard.

Melt 2 tbs of butter in another med saucepan, add sage leaves, and cook until crisp. Remove leaves and set aside to drain. Add the remaining 6 tbs of butter to melt. Whisk in flour, stirring constantly and cook for 2 minutes until a very thick paste is formed. Slowly add warm milk to the flour and butter paste, stirring occasionally so sauce doesnt burn, cook for an additional 10 mins to thicken. Season with 1/2 tsp. Salt and remove from heat to cool.

Place 1/2 c. of sauce into the bottom of a 9×13 inch oiled casserole dish.

Mix Ricotta, pumpkin, egg, nutmeg, salt, and 1/2 c mozzarella and pour into a large Ziploc bag removing all air.

Snip off about 1/4 inch of the corner of the bag and squeeze mixture into both sides of the cooked manicotti tubes until filled. Place filled tubes tightly into casserole dish. Once dish is filled, top with remaining sauce, then mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Lastly, sprinkle crispy sage leaves over cheese, cover with foil, and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 10 mins or until sauce and cheese is golden brown and bubbly. Enjoy!

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Chris Sutton
Reliant Realty
Home Run Real Estate Team
931.444.7203
www.homerunrealestateteam.com
homerunrealestateteam@gmail.com

What’s Cooking Wednesday: Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

There are a few staple meals that everyone should have in their recipe box… a meal that freezes well, a great potluck dish, a quick Crock Pot recipe, and a hearty soup. There comes a time in between the beginning of fall and the end of winter whether you are coming down with a cold/flu, or you are just exhausted from the cold grey skies that await you outside. Don’t get me wrong, I love the cold weather and I await the beginning of fall like a kid awaiting a trip to Disney! There is just something so comforting about a warm cup of soup on a cold day.

I am so confident that you will love this recipe, that I anticipate all of you will include this Tomato soup recipe in your “staples” list as I have.

This recipe was found on Daydream Kitchen blog via our handy dandy search engine, Pinterest. Seriously, Pinterest has got to be the best thing for blogs since they were invented! I find all of my best recipes and tips on there.

Ingredients:

• 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
• 1 c. finely diced onions
• 1 c. finely diced carrots
• 1 c. finely diced celery
• 1/4 c. vegetable oil
• 4 c. chicken broth
• 1 Tbs. dried basil
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 c. flour
• 1/2 c. butter
• 1 c. parmesan cheese
• 2 c. half and half
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a large soup pot, add celery, onions, and carrots and saute for 5 mins

Add basil, oregano, bay leaf, tomatoes, and chicken broth and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer until the carrots are tender (15 mins)

Meanwhile, in a medium pot, melt the butter over low heat, then add the flour stirring constantly for about 5 mins. This is called a roux and will serve as the thickening agent to your soup. At first, it will look like a paste, then thicken into a play-dough like substance.

Slowly add in 1 c. of soup, stirring constantly, then add 3 more cups of soup 1 at a time until you have a smooth creamy mixture. Add this mixture back into your soup pot.

Stir and simmer until soup begins to thicken, then whisk in the parmesan cheese and warmed half and half, salt and pepper to taste and simmer for an additional 15-20 mins.

Thanks for checking out our blog! Enjoy this article? Subscribe to our blog for daily updates featuring home and property listings in Clarksville, TN, recipe of the week, home and yard maintenance tips, up to date financing information, and more events going on around Clarksville. You can also find us on Facebook here and follow us on Pinterest here.

Chris Sutton
Reliant Realty
Home Run Real Estate Team
931.444.7203
www.homerunrealestateteam.com
homerunrealestateteam@gmail.com

What’s Cooking Wednesday: Greek Marinated Chicken

I don’t know about you guys, but in my house, we eat a lot of chicken… I mean A LOT! It is generally a healthy and delicious meat that everyone enjoys to put on the table for my family: So I am always searching for new chicken recipes to keep it interesting around here at dinner time.

I’d like to share this recipe found on Budget Bytes blog. This lady really knows what the people want… delicious recipes that are both easy and budget friendly!  Definitely make sure you check out this recipe on her blog here for more yummy step-by-step pictures and other great dinner ideas.

Marinade Ingredients:

• 1 C. Plain Yogurt
• 2 Tbs. Olive Oil
• 4 cloves Minced Garlic
• 1/2 tsp. Dried Oregano
• 1 Lemon ( zest of 1 lemon, juice of 1/2)
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1/4 bunch (1 large handful) fresh Parsley roughly chopped

 

Combine all of the ingredients in a large Ziploc bag, tightly seal, and shake or squeeze to combine ingredients.

Add 3 1/2 – 4 lbs of bone-in chicken, seal bag, and turn over several times to ensure that all pieces are thoroughly coated in mixture. Place in fridge for at least 30 mins.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake chicken in a large casserole dish for 45 mins-1 hr. Chicken should come out golden brown and smelling of heaven!

Thanks for checking out our blog! Enjoy this article? Subscribe to our blog for daily updates featuring home and property listings in Clarksville, TN, recipe of the week, home and yard maintenance tips, up to date financing information, and more events going on around Clarksville. You can also find us on Facebook here and follow us on Pinterest here.

Chris Sutton
Reliant Realty
Home Run Real Estate Team
931.444.7203
www.homerunrealestateteam.com
homerunrealestateteam@gmail.com

What’s Cooking Wednesday: White Chicken Chili

This white chicken chili recipe will be a perfect fit with your week’s menu. It is easy and delicious! This recipe comes from Ali Ebright over at Gimme Some Oven blog. She has some great recipes on here and always posts deliciously vibrant photos of her creations. Be sure to check out her full post here. Thanks, Ali!

This Recipe couldn’t be simpler: It only has 5 ingredients!

Ingredients:

• 6 cups Chicken Broth
• 4 cups cooked, shredded chicken
• 2 (15oz) cans of Great Northern Beans
• 2 cups salsa verde
• 2 tsp. Cumin
• Toppings: Avocado, Cilantro, green onions

Ali swears that the salsa verde makes this soup and provides almost all of the seasonings needed to make this chili delish!

Just combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan, heat until boiling, cover, and reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes. Spoon the goodness into bowls and top with any or all of the toppings: you won’t be disappointed!

Thanks for checking out our blog! Enjoy this article? Subscribe to our blog for daily updates featuring home and property listings in Clarksville, TN, recipe of the week, home and yard maintenance tips, up to date financing information, and more events going on around Clarksville. You can also find us on Facebook here and follow us on Pinterest here.

Chris Sutton
Reliant Realty
Home Run Real Estate Team
931.444.7203
www.homerunrealestateteam.com
homerunrealestateteam@gmail.com

What’s Cooking Wednesday: Crock Pot Pesto Ranch Chicken

We all love a good Crock Pot recipe on a weeknight! What a great way to carve out a little more family time with less work for you. We found this recipe on Picky Palate Blog via Pinterest and highly recommend you check it out. It is chock full of great recipes and tips! This recipe literally could not be any simpler… there isn’t even any prep involved!

Ingredients:

• 8 boneless chicken thighs
• 6oz pesto
• 1pkg dry Ranch seasoning
• 1/2 c. Chicken Stock

Just place the Chicken in the bottom of the Crock Pot, Spread the pesto over the top, evenly sprinkle the dry Ranch seasoning on top, and add the chicken stock. Give it a good stir to coat the chicken in all of the ingredients and set that baby on high for 3-4 hrs or low for 6-8 hrs!

Now all you have to do is figure out what to do with all this extra time on your hands!

Thanks for checking out our blog! Enjoy this article? Subscribe to our blog for daily updates featuring home and property listings in Clarksville, TN, recipe of the week, home and yard maintenance tips, up to date financing information, and more events going on around Clarksville. You can also find us on Facebook here and follow us on Pinterest here.

Chris Sutton
Reliant Realty
Home Run Real Estate Team
931.444.7203
www.homerunrealestateteam.com
homerunrealestateteam@gmail.com

What’s Cooking Wednesdays: Butter Crumble Apple Pie

Since the first official day of fall was on Sunday, it got us thinking about our favorite fall recipes. As you all know, fall is apple season, so what better way to celebrate the beginning of fall than with a stellar apple pie recipe. And it’s easy to boot!

Pinterest is generally our go to site for recipes around here and once again, it didn’t disappoint! We found this awesome recipe on The Country Cook Blog. Be sure to check out the article on her page as well for her mouth-watering step-by-step photos!

Ingredients:

• 6 Granny Smith Apples – peeled, cored, and sliced thinly
• 1/4 c. all purpose flour
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1-9″ pie crust

Topping:

• 1/3 c. sugar
• 1 c. flour
• 1 stick room temperature butter

Place Pie crust into pie pan and crimp down the edges if desired.

After you have peeled, cored, and thinly sliced your apples, add the flour, sugar, and cinnamon and toss together to make certain that all apples are coated in the seasoning. Add to the pie pan on top of the crust.

In a separate bowl, mix together the flour and the sugar then add the softened butter and mash it into the flour/sugar mixture with a fork until combined and crumbly! Sprinkle crumble topping on top of apples and bake on the center rack of your oven for 45 mins or until the apples are soft and top is golden brown.

Thanks for checking out our blog! Enjoy this article? Subscribe to our blog for daily updates featuring home and property listings in Clarksville, TN, recipe of the week, home and yard maintenance tips, up to date financing information, and more events going on around Clarksville. You can also find us on Facebook here and follow us on Pinterest here.

Chris Sutton Realtor & Auctioneer
Reliant Realty & Reliant Realty Auction Division
Home Run Real Estate Team
931.444.7203
www.homerunrealestateteam.com

What’s Going On Clarksville: A Preview of This Weekend’s Events

 Thanks again to our good friends at ClarksvilleNow.com for providing us with the lineup for this weekend’s events! Here is a little preview from their website. To view the entire lineup click here.

Saturday September 21, 2013
Downtown Market -Peruse tons of local vendors selling everything from fresh produce, arts & crafts, jewelery, baked goods, and more from 8am-1pm at 1 Public Square in downtown Clarksville

Fort Campbell CFC Kick-Off Concert -the Vicroy in Oak Grove –  A fun event for the whole family! Tickets are just $15 for civilians and $10 for Federal Employees and can be purchased here on their website. Kids 5 and under are FREE! This event has inflatables, clowns, and face-painting for kids and food, drinks, and adult beverages will be available for purchase as well. Gates open at 4pm and Darryl Worley performs will perform at 7pm.

Clarksville Fitness Fest – 7am-2pm @ APSU Red Barn (601 College St)

Make sure to wear work out clothes to this event because you will get sweaty!

The day will include the ClarksVegas 10k/5k benefiting the APSU track and field team, fitness classes including yoga, zumba, and kickboxing, YMCA obstacle course, Rock Wall, well as a kids corner and booths set up for health and food education.

Jazz On the Lawn – Bring the whole family to Beachaven Winery this Saturday for live music at Jazz on the Lawn featuring the band CJQ from 6:30-9:30pm. Sit back under the stars and sweeping trees sipping Beachaven’s finest wines in the vineyard and enjoy the company of friends or dance the summer night away. Lawn chairs, picnic baskets, and snacks are welcome but please leave all pets and outside alcoholic beverages at home.

Planning for Next Weekend? Antique Tractor and Engine Show, Downtown Market, Oak Grove Butterfly Festival, and the opening of the clarksville pumpkin patches.

Thanks for checking out our blog! Enjoy this article? Subscribe to our blog for daily updates featuring home and property listings in Clarksville, TN, recipe of the week, home and yard maintenance tips, up to date financing information, and more events going on around Clarksville. You can also find us on Facebook here and follow us on Pinterest here.

Chris Sutton
Reliant Realty
Home Run Real Estate Team
931.444.7203
www.homerunrealestateteam.com
homerunrealestateteam@gmail.com

What’s Cooking Wednesday: Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Pasta

We found this delicious recipe on Mrs. Schwartz’s Kitchen via Pinterest. Be sure to check out the full article on her blog to view all of the mouth-watering photos that she’s posted illustrating a step-by-step process!

Ingredients

• 3 chicken breasts
• 1 lb penne pasta
• 1 red bell pepper chopped
• 6 green onions chopped
• 3 tbs butter
• 1/4 c flour
• 28 oz enchilada sauce
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1-1/2 c shredded mexican cheese blend

Cooking Instructions

Spray a large skillet with Pam and fully cook chicken breasts with a bit of salt and pepper.

Cut chicken into small cubes and set aside

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and ass pasta. Cook for about 6 mins so that it is still firm since it will finish cooking in the oven.

Add butter to the skillet to de-glaze the pan and cook for about 2-3 mins.

Pour in enchilada sauce and whisk until thick and bubbly. Stir in cream cheese until just combined. Then add chopped pepper, onion, and chicken and stir until all ingredients are coated in the sauce.

Pour contents into a greased 9x13in pan, sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake at 350 for about 20 mins.

Enjoy!!

Thanks for checking out our blog! Enjoy this article? Subscribe to our blog for daily updates featuring home and property listings in Clarksville, TN, recipe of the week, home and yard maintenance tips, up to date financing information, and more events going on around Clarksville. You can also find us on Facebook here and follow us on Pinterest here.

Chris Sutton Realtor & Auctioneer
Reliant Realty & Reliant Realty Auction Division
Home Run Real Estate Team
931.444.7203
www.homerunrealestateteam.com

What’s Cooking Wednesday: Easy Baked Ziti

It is imperative that every cook has a knock-out recipe that also freezes beautifully in their collection to have on hand when the situation arrives for a potluck, late night at work, or a friend/relative needs a little help in the meal department.

I don’t know about you but when I have a friend or family member in need, dropping off a nice, comforting meal always makes me feel like I am contributing when I don’t know how else to help. And if you already have one of these babies in the freezer ready to go, its effortless!

We found this recipe on Six Sisters’ Stuff blog via Pinterest and it makes 2-8×8 pans of baked Ziti so it is the perfect amount to eat one immediately for dinner and save one in the freezer for later!

Baked Ziti
Ingredients

• 1 pound dry ziti pasta (or really any kind of pasta would work- I actually used Penne pasta)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 pound lean ground beef (season with pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and minced garlic)
• 2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce (I added a zucchini to my sauce just for more veggies!)
• 8 slices provolone cheese
• 1 1/2 cups sour cream
• 6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 7-8 minutes; drain.
2. In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer 15 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray 2 8×8 inch pans with non-stick cooking spray. Layer as follows in each pan: 1/4 of the ziti, 1/4 of the sauce, 4 slices of Provolone cheese, 1/2 of sour cream,  1/4 of ziti, 1/4 mozzarella cheese and 1/4 of sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese and remaining mozzarella cheese.
4. Place 8×8 on top of cookie sheet in the oven to prevent spills and bake covered for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheeses are melted.

We hope this recipe makes as big of an impact on your family as it did on ours and don’t forget to spread the love to friends/family!

Thanks for checking out our blog! Enjoy this article? Subscribe to our blog for daily updates featuring home and property listings in Clarksville, TN, recipe of the week, home and yard maintenance tips, up to date financing information, and more events going on around Clarksville. You can also find us on Facebook here and follow us on Pinterest here.

Chris Sutton
Reliant Realty
Home Run Real Estate Team
931.444.7203
www.homerunrealestateteam.com
homerunrealestateteam@gmail.com

What’s Going on Clarksville: A Preview of This Weekend’s Events

Thanks again to our good friends at ClarksvilleNow.com for providing us with the lineup for this weekend’s events! Here is a little preview from their website. To view the entire lineup click here.
Saturday August 31, 2013
Downtown Market -Peruse tons of local vendors selling everything from fresh produce, arts & crafts, jewelery, baked goods, and more from 8am-1pm at 1 Public Square in downtown Clarksville.

  Clarksville Sunrise Century Bike Tour (Labor Day Classic) – Clarksville Sunrise Rotary Club is hosting its annual fundraiser with this 100 ,62, or 33 miles bike ride.

Each tour begins at Rossview High School (1237 Rossview Rd, Clarksville) with the 100 mi ride beginning at 6:45am for the Elite 100 and the Century at 7am, the 62 mi ride beginning at 8am, and the 33 mi ride beginning at 7 am.

Registration is required for this event. Here is a link to purchase tickets for your tour.

Day Out with Thomas: – Kids of all ages will love this event! Taking place at the TN Central Railway Museum in Nashville, TN (220 Willow St), this event will feature a 25 min train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, meet and greet with Sir Topham Hatt (the controller of the railway), and a stop at the Imagination Station.

Kids will enjoy tons of hands-on arts and crafts activities , temporary tattoos, stamps, storytelling and more!

Tickets can be purchased here for $14-$20 and it is asked that you and your family arrive 1hr before your scheduled train departure time.

Movies in the Park – This week’s feature film will be the 1939 classic, Gone with the Wind which will begin at dusk at Liberty Park. Come early (aprox 6pm) for the Move before the Movie event!

Planning for Next Weekend? Here is what’s coming up: RiverFest, Jazz on the Lawn, and the Downtown Market.

Thanks for checking out our blog! Enjoy this article? Subscribe to our blog for daily updates featuring home and property listings in Clarksville, TN, recipe of the week, home and yard maintenance tips, up to date financing information, and more events going on around Clarksville. You can also find us on Facebook here and follow us on Pinterest here.

Chris Sutton
Reliant Realty
Home Run Real Estate Team
931.444.7203
www.homerunrealestateteam.com
homerunrealestateteam@gmail.com