Jambalaya

6 slices bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup chopped celery
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 onion, chopped
1/2 pound cubed cooked ham
1/2 pound cubed cooked chicken
1/2 pound cubed smoked sausage
2 (14.5 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes, with liquid
2 cups beef broth
2 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
2 cups uncooked white rice

Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add bacon, and cook until crisp. Remove bacon pieces with a slotted spoon, and set aside. Add celery, bell pepper, and onion to the bacon drippings, and cook until tender.
Add the ham, chicken and sausage to the pot, and pour in the tomatoes, beef broth and chicken broth. Season with thyme and Cajun seasoning. Bring to a boil, and add the rice. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes, until the rice is tender.
Stir in the bacon just before serving, and heat through.

Serve with a good, hearty bread and a salad and you've got an amazing meal that everyone will love!

Makes about 8 generous servings.

Mini Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 (6 ounce) package butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease mini-muffin pan with cooking spray.
Sift together the flour, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Whisk together the eggs, butter, and pumpkin in a separate bowl. Mix the flour mixture with the egg mixture. Stir in the butterscotch chips; pour into each cup of the muffin pan to about 3/4 full.
Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 10 to 12 minutes.

If you don't lick the batter bowl clean, then you should get about 48 mini muffins. These are heavenly! You must try them right now. Get off the computer and go make them. NOW!

Beef Stew Pie

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 pound boneless beef round steak, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
2-1/4 cups water, divided
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 bay leaf
4 medium potatoes
1-1/2 cups sliced carrots
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
Pastry for single-crust pie (9 inches)

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine 3 tablespoons flour, salt and pepper. Add beef in batches; shake to coat. In a large skillet, saute beef in oil until browned. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until onion is tender. Add 1/4 cup water, stirring to scrape browned bits.
Combine 1-1/2 cups water, tomato paste, Italian seasoning and basil; stir into skillet. Add bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until meat is tender.
Meanwhile, wrap potatoes in aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 350 oven for 1 hour. Potatoes should be almost done, but still firm. Remove from foil and cut into bite-size chunks. Skin should slide right off, but it is okay if left on.
Cover carrots with water in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer until tender (about 10 minutes).
Once the beef mixture has simmered and meat is tender, combine the remaining flour and water until smooth; gradually stir into meat mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Discard bay leaf. Stir in potatoes, carrots and parsley. Transfer to a greased 2-qt. baking dish.
On a floured surface, roll out pastry to fit dish. Place over filling; flute edges. Cut slits in top. Bake at 425° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes. Yield: 4-6 servings.

While this dish sounds like a lot of work, it really isn't all that difficult. Preparation is the key. It is a magnificent dish you HAVE to try!

Chicken Chile Lasagna

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
8 green onions, chopped
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin, divided
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh cilantro
3 cups cubed cooked chicken
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups Chicken Broth
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, drained
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
12 flour tortillas
Directions
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, onions, 1-1/2 cups Mexican-cheese blend, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon cumin and cilantro until blended. Stir in chicken; set aside.
In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat. Stir in Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, chilies, thyme, salt, pepper and remaining cumin.
Spread 1/2 cup of the cheese sauce in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Top with two tortillas, a third of the chicken mixture and a fourth of the cheese sauce. Repeat tortilla, chicken and cheese sauce layers twice. Top with remaining tortillas, cheese sauce and Mexican cheese.
Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer or until heated through. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.
I also think this would be good made as enchiladas. Simply fill the tortillas with the chicken mixture, roll up and place seam side down in the baking dish. Then pour the cheese sauce over top, top with remaining cheese, and bake as directed on recipe. Very rich = Very delicious!