(sinful) Yummy Recipes

As requested...here are the recipes for the dinner/dessert I made last night:

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup

1 c. (spicy) ground sausage (I use turkey sausage)
2 medium potatoes-cut lengthwise and cut into 1/4" slices (not peeled)
3/4 c. onions, diced
6 slices bacon crumbled (turkey bacon does NOT work well in this recipe)
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
2 cups kale leaves, cut in half and then sliced
1 cup chicken base/broth
1 quart water
1/3 c. heavy whipping cream

Brown sausage and drain. Cook bacon until crispy in stock pot. Remove and drain on a paper towel. Saute onions in bacon drippings until soft and add garlic, cooking an additional minute. Add chicken broth, water and potatoes. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Add crumbled bacon, sausage, kale and cream. Simmer another 10 minutes. Serve with warm garlic bread-sticks and fresh salad!

Banana Cream Cheesecake

Crust:
1 3/4 c. Crushed graham cracker crumbs
1/4 c. sugar (or less...I think 1/8 c. is plenty)
1/2 c. butter (melted)

Combine 1 1/2 c. of the graham crumbs and sugar-mix well. (you'll save the remaining 1/2 c. of graham crumbs for topping) Stir in butter. Press into 9 x 13 greased pan. Bake at 350 for 5-7 minutes. Then let cool completely.

1st layer of filling:
1/2 c. sugar
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened (I used light)
1/2 carton cool whip (again, I used light)

In a bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Fold in cool whip and set aside.

2nd layer of filling:
1 1/2 c. cold milk (I use skim)
1 (3.4 oz) pkg Banana Cream Instant Pudding
Remaining 1/2 carton of cool whip

Whip until thickens and fold in remaining 1/2 carton of cool whip.

3-4 firm bananas sliced

Arrange bananas on crust. Spread cream cheese mixture onto bananas (sometimes spreads better if slightly warm). Arrange another layer of bananas and top with pudding mixture. Sprinkle with graham cracker crust and refrigerate 1-2 hours.


Enjoy Peeps!!