A Doorstep Garden

Turn an old boot into a stylish planter

You need

old boot/pebbles /potting soil /small bunch of annual flowers

How to

Remove the lace from the boot or loosen it enough to allow the tongue to be pulled forward

Fill the bottom of the boot with a layer of pebbles to provide drainage

Pack in a 2 inch layer of potting soil

Fill in the root base of annual flowers

Gently pack more soil around and on top of the roots

These will be needed to be watered often .

Easy Baked Manicotti

These look good, I have never tried these before, but looks like a good alternative to pasta

You need

2 cups spaghetti sauce
1 3/4 cup Ricotta Cheese
1 1/2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 egg beaten
1/4 cup Pesto
12 Manicotti shells,cooked, rinsed in cold water

How to

Heat oven to 350

Spread 3/4 cup sauce onto bottom of 12x9 baking dish Mix cheese,egg, and pesto until well blended;spoon into resealable plastic bag. Use scissors to cut small corner from bottom of bag

Fill Manicotti shells by squeezing cheese mixture into both sides of each shell;place in baking dish. Top with remaining sauce;cover

Bake 40 minutes or until heated through

Cuban Calzones

Bill and I have been redoing our sun porch this week so I haven't been doing much posting. But I just found these recipes for 2 from Pillsbury, thought you might like to try. I have a bunch more so will post when I can.

You need

2 frozen buttermilk or southern style biscuits
1 1/2 teaspoons yellow mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons mayo or salad dressing
2 oz sliced pork
2 oz sliced ham
4 dill pickles sliced
2 tablespoons shredded Swiss cheese
1 egg beaten
1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion

How to

Heat oven to 350 Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray

Place biscuits on plate. Microwave uncovered for 3- 45 seconds,turning halfway through time. Press and stretch each biscuit into 6 inch round

In a bowl stir mustard,mayo until smooth. Spread mustard mixture on each round Arrange pork and ham sliced over mustard to within 1/2 inch of edge Folding if necessary. Top each round with two pickle slices;sprinkle with cheese. Brush egg around edges of biscuit rounds. Fold dough over filling;press edges with fork to seal Brush with egg ;sprinkle with onion

Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Churros

1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons oil
1 cup flour
2 quarts oil
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
2 1/2 tablespoons white sugar

How to

Combine sugar,vegetable oil, water and salt in saucepan and heat this mixture over medium heat to boil. Remove saucepan from heat and add flour to form a ball. Take a seep skillet and heat the oil to 375 degrees.

With the help of a pastry bag pipe strips of dough into the hot oil. Fry these pipes until they turn golden brown and then blot them over paper towels. Then combine cinnamon powder and sugar and toll the fried drained churros in this mixture

Mojito Lemon Lime Cocktail

What you need

1 pkt Crystal Light lemonade flavor drink

2 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup rum

6 mint sprigs

3 cups club soda

6 lime slices

Empty contents of drink mix packet into large pitcher. Add water and rum stir until drink mix is completely dissolved

Add mint Refrigerate until ready to serve

Stir in club soda. Serve over ice cubes Add lime slice to each glass

Note-- For a non alcoholic version, prepare as directed omitting the rum, increasing the water to 3 cups and adding a few drops of rum extract

Mexican Layered Dip

What you need

1 pkg Neufchatel cheese

1 tbsp taco seasoning

1 cup Salsa

1 cup rinsed canned black beans

4 green onions chopped

1 cup Shredded Cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded lettuce

2 tbsp sliced black olives

3 pkg baked tortilla chips

Beat Neufchatel with mixer until creamy. Add seasoning mix;mix well. Spread onto bottom of serving plate . Top with all remaining ingredients except chips Refrigerate 1 hour

Cinco De Mayo Celebration Dinner

I have put together a complete Cinco De Mayo dinner for you from main course to dessert. Hope you enjoy and maybe make your planning a little easier

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

You need

2 1/2 cups cooked chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 pkg Shredded Colby and Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
12 flour tortillas
1 1/2 cup Salsa

How to

Mix chicken, soup, 1 cup cheese, 1/2 cup sour cream and 3 tbsp cilantro until blended Spoon down centers of tortillas, adding about 1/4 cup to each ;roll up

Place seam sides down, top with salsa and remaining cheese

Bake 25 minutes or until heated through. Top with remaining sour cream and cilantro