Under My Nose
Edward Cullen sets a deadline of six months to find his true love before he turns thirty. Leaving his successful restaurant to drive a mule-drawn carriage in the French Quarter of New Orleans, he searches for the meaning of true love, because he has yet to understand it. Will he know when he finds her or will she be right under his nose? Can bubbly, buxom Bella tantalize his taste buds with beignets and an abundant
booty?
Let's do this AGAIN!
To my Beta Fran: Thank you for writing my wrongs, showing me where to place the commas, and being a true friend. I don't believe the readers truly understand all the work that goes into editing. It's time consuming, tedious, and frustrating. AND I hope you will Beta all my future work. Thank you from my heart.
To my two pre-readers, Eve and Jean! These ladies read with their hawk eyes scoping out errors, ideas and wonderful praise. I bless you two for all of your help and support. Love you dearly.
And to all of you readers … Thank you for giving me a chance. This story means a lot to me since it will become a screenplay. Say a prayer, maybe? Wish me luck? If all is well, we go to a movie premiere … together. I sincerely thank you.
Chapter 45: The Epilogue
EPOV:
Emmett protectively rushes us out the front door and down the steps keeping us safe from pummeling rice balls. Ms. Evie shows she still has one last trick from her sleeve. Richard does grab her and drag her inside the house, kicking and laughing hysterically. I know I am fucking done with all the nonsense, and Bella looks exhausted.
I don't like the twinkle in Emmett's eye. He's out of his Rosalie daze and up to something.
We settle in for the short, three-mile ride home in the limo. Leaning back on the seat, we both sag into the plush cushions. Bella leans her head on my shoulder and wraps her arms around my waist as I hold her close.
She notices the odd odor first crinkling her nose. "Edward, what is that God awful smell?"
I sit up and search around the back seat. "I hope Emmett didn't pull a 'Grumpy Old Men' fish-carcass-in-the-car thing."
Then, I hear the wailing, barking and high-pitched squealing coming from the back of the limo. "What was that?" I lower the divider and ask the driver, "Hey, Max, what the fuck is going on?"
"Your brother and some old lady tied something to the back fender a little while ago. As soon as he pushed you two into the limo, I caught the smell. I was going to check it out, but now we have a pack of animals back there."
Bella and I look out the window. There are dogs, cats and raccoons following behind us, as the wedding guests run into the house.
The limo starts to pull away. "Tighten your seat belts." Max speeds up, and the race begins.
The Uptown roads are kind to the passengers of a moving car. The pavement is smooth and bump free, but the back roads are treacherously rough with cracks, potholes and torn up piles of tar and cement. Bella and I get tossed around the back seat from the left to the right as Max maneuvers the limo away from the animals and get on the Interstate. Once he hits fifty, the animals fall behind, and we finally sit comfortably.
I think I cracked my tailbone.
When we arrive home an hour later, I see exactly what Ms. Evie and Emmett tied to the car. They didn't use empty cans. I see my best caviar and truffle jars, cut up fish heads and turkey carcasses from dinner hang over the bumper.
After throwing the garbage into the dumpster, I tip Max, thank him for the scenic route of NOLA and the animal chase tour. Then I grab Bella and head upstairs.
Yeah, I broke my tailbone. I lean on her all the way up; a sign of things to come.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Seven Months Later….
November … Thanksgiving Day
When I wake at the ripe hour of five am, I reach out to find I'm alone, and Bella's side of the bed is cold. Sitting up, I turn on the lamp and look around with no Bella in sight until I hear her retching heaves from the bathroom.
She slowly walks into the bedroom clutching a sleeve of saltines in her hand.
I look at her with puppy dog eyes. "I'm sorry."
She gives me a little smile, huffs and crawls back into bed and into my arms.
"You have nothing to be sorry about, Edward. I signed up for this." She squeezes me. "It's not that bad." She pats her small bump.
I pat her bump making circle motions. "Hey, how's my little Chicklet this morning? Are you giving Mommy a hard time?"
Bella mumbles, "I'd like for you to give me a hard time." She bats her eyes with a wicked smile.
"Are you all through tossing your saltines?" I point to the cracker in her hand.
"Pretty much. I could toss some other things around if you like." I get her sweet, innocent smile.
"Let me head for the head, and when I come back, I'll give you the hardest time ever." My warm, bare feet hit the cold floor, and I yelp, "Fuck, cold!"
Bella sings, "Come back real quick, and I'll warm you up."
I ask, "What about tossing other things?"
She slowly enunciates, "I'll toss, turn and tantalize … tease, torture and titillate … touch, tickle and titivate."
I raise an eyebrow. "Is that going to involve two of my most favorite, voluptuous things?"
She slides under the covers, removes her top, throws it at me, and clutched the blanket around her breasts, looking down she sings, "It could be…"
I fucking run to the bathroom.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Now that my woman carries my child, I forbid, yeah, forbid her to lift anything heavy. She finishes off seasoning the turkey; I lift it, and put it into the oven.
Alice saunters in with her enormous belly protruding, and her hands rubbing her back. She sits carefully on a stool by the island and sighs.
I bring her a hot cup of herbal tea. She looks up and smiles at me. "Thanks, Edward."
"How are you doing this morning?"
Alice quips, "With four weeks to go, I want them out." She shakes her head. "Man that sounds so bad."
Jasper walks in, hair tousled, and the sleep still in his eyes. "Why didn't you wake me?" He kisses Alice's head and sits next to her.
"Because you finally got some sleep and I didn't have the heart." She smooths down his hair.
Alice is on bed rest. With less than four weeks to go, her triplets are quite rambunctious. We didn't want Jasper and her alone, so we invited them to stay with us.
"Huey, Dewey, and Louie, acting up?" Bella asks.
"More like Curly, Larry, and Moe!" Jasper spits as he accepts a cup of coffee from me. "Thanks."
Alice sighs. "I just can't get comfortable."
Bella jumps in. "You know what might work, the recliners in the living room. You could put them side by side." She looks at Jasper. "You'd still be close."
Alice nods her head. "Yeah, I think we'll try that tonight. Okay, Jasper?"
He leans his jaw on his arm over the island and shakes himself awake. "Yeah, sure, anything you want, Ali."
Bella reassures Alice, "We're not going to make this a late evening."
"And Jazz and I can pull the chairs around so you two can watch TV if you want," I add.
"Thanks, Edward. I'm sorry I'm such a pain." Alice apologizes.
"Man, I'm tired, but I love all this Mommy energy." Jasper reaches over and pats Alice's hand. "All in one shot."
"That depends. If baby number three is a boy, too, we have to try one more time for a girl." She gives him the pleading look.
He raises his hands in defeat. "I know, I know, it's all about the pink."
"Bella, I hope you have a girl. Then, she can betroth one of my boys to you."
Jasper looks puzzled. "Can you do that?"
"I'm just saying, Jazz. It will be great having kids growing up together so close in age."
I huff. "We did."
"Oh, Edward, could you take the jam kugel out of the refrigerator and heat it on three-fifty?" She turns to Alice. "Edward and I did all the side dishes yesterday … in throw-away tins. No clean up."
"Smart girl." She cringes.
Jasper gently grabs her hand. "What's wrong?"
"It's a small twinge. One of the kids moved, and the domino effect happened."
Jasper laughs. "Yeah, Larry smacked Moe and Moe poked Curly."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Everyone arrives promptly at five. Emmett and Rosalie, who now live together, bring a case of sparkling cider from Carlson Orchards. Apparently, Rose is friends with the owners, and they help with many of the charity functions with the B.A.B.E.S.
We'll expect the entire troop when Bella gives birth in late February. Rose says all the sisters are taking time off to ride down for the "Harley" baby, and Mardi Gras.
Sally and Richard walk in without Ms. Evie. She's on a promotion tour for her book, 'Romancing a Man and Keeping Him'. I don't want to fucking read it.
Mama Jean, arrives with Garrett, and Steven Gish. No, no romances. I have to respect these three and their love and commitment for their late spouses, but they have an allegiance.
The dining room is alive with chatter, and silverware clanking on dishes. Everyone helps themselves to the sides while I carve the turkey.
Renee and Charlie are not with us, but they are together. Her hip didn't heal properly. They are in a Navy Hospital, in Haifa, because of Charlie's connections.
Sally taps a knife to her glass. "I'd like to announce something. Get you all before you dig in."
Richard grabs her hand.
I look at Bella, who is smiling with tears in her eyes. I don't get it.
"After our little Alice gives birth to her triplets, Richard and I are taking a short trip." She clears her throat, squeezes Richard's hand and smiles. "Bella, I'll be here for the birth of my first grandchild, I promise. Richard and I … Oh, I'll just say it…"
Bella interrupts, "You're getting married."
She nods her head. "Yeah. But we don't want a ceremony. I've had too many, and we don't want to subject ourselves to Ms. Evie's handiwork."
Bella bites the inside of her cheek. This time I don't intervene. "Why not go to the courthouse … um … Edward and I could come with you."
Alice grunts.
We all look at her.
"What?" She takes a deep breath. "Bella, you want to go to the bathroom with me? I feel a little weird."
Both women hobble down the hallway.
I stand next to Jazz as we watch our girls disappear into my room.
Emmett with a mouthful of food mumbles, "Relax you guys, they're only going to the head!"
And within seconds we hear a piercing scream.
Jazz and I take off down the hallway.
We find Alice on the toilet with Bella holding her hand.
Alice breathes quickly, taking massive breaths. "Edward …" She puffs short breaths. "I broke my water on the toilet." She looks up at me with tears streaming down her face. "I swear … I didn't make a … mess." She lets out another shrill scream that lingers into a moan.
Jazz lunges forward and kneels at Alice's feet. "What can I do?"
She breathes. "You already did it, Jazz!" She cries out, "Oh, the pressure. I feel pressure." She grabs her stomach.
Sally runs past me, mumbling, "She's in labor. Jasper, move over."
Jasper crawls off to the side as Sally kneels. "Alice, let me take a look, Baby."
Sally lifts Alice's dress and moans and then, becomes cheery. "Okay, I see a head. Jasper, you need to carry Alice to the bed. Bella prop up pillows. Edward, call the paramedics. And I'm going to wash my hands."
Alice protests, "I'm going to mess up the sheets."
I yell, "Alice, I don't fucking care."
Jasper carefully places Alice in the middle of the bed. Bella piles pillows behind Alice's back and around her arms while Jasper sits next to her on one side and Bella on the other.
Sally comes out from the bathroom with a pile of towels and instructs me, "Edward, would you boil some water? No, actually, get someone else to do it. Bella's going to need you here."
I run out of the room, and tell Emmett to boil water. Rosalie offers, thank God. Mama Jeans walks into the bedroom with me.
"Sally, is there anything I can do?"
Sally crawls up on the bed and sits in between Alice's legs. "Yeah, when we get the first baby out, I'll hand him to you. Okay?"
Mama Jean stands to the side of the bed with a towel in her hands.
Alice grits her teeth.
Jasper is silent.
"You all right, man?" I say to him.
He turns to me and quietly says, "I'm cool, Edward." He holds Alice's hand. "I'm here, Baby."
Alice's smiles. Then, she screams, "Oh dear God, this hurts."
Sally looks as though she's about to catch a ball with her hands out.
"Alice, sweet girl, I need you to push." Sally soothes.
Alice huff and puffs. "I'm trying."
Jasper whispers in her ear, "C'mon, Ali, it's like taking a dump. Just push."
Alice moans. "And you know what it's like being in labor, Jazz?" She breathes quickly in short puffs again.
Bella watched with wide eyes. I know what she is thinking.
"Stop thinking that you know what I'm thinking. I'm just watching, Edward," she yells at me.
I shrug.
From the living room, Emmett roars, "You can do it, Alice. Man up!"
Alice shouts in short breaths, "You shut up, Emmett. You just shut up!"
Sally announces, "The baby's head is crowning. Push, Alice."
Alice's face contorts as her hands ball, and she breathes heavily.
"Edward, I need a scissor." Sally shouts out.
I run into the bathroom, get the scissors and hand them to Sally.
It's touch and go for about an hour. Alice pushes, the baby inches out and she pushes some more. Finally, I stop short and watch Sally lift the baby out from Alice. I freeze in motion and hold my breath. Then, I hear the baby cry.
Sally triumphantly giggles, "It's a boy with dark hair." She looks at her watch and reports the time.
Mama Jean takes him into the bathroom as Rosalie comes in the room.
I look at Bella as tears stream down her face. She looks back at me.
"Okay people, no time for gawking, we have more babies to deliver. Where the hell is that ambulance?" Sally complains.
"Want me to call again, Sally?" I ask.
"Naw, it's Nawlins, Edward. They'll be here when they get here." Sally readies herself for the second child.
A minute later, Alice pushed out another dark-haired boy as Sally calls the time. She lies back on the pillows and breathes heavily. "Please, dear God, make this last one a girl. Please."
Bella wipes Alice's face with a towel. "You're doing great, Alice."
"Thanks, Bella. I feel as though my vagina is ripped in two …" Alice huffs.
"Well, technically ripped by two!"
Alice shouts, "Shut up, Emmett! And why the hell is he in the hallway?"
Rosalie holds baby number one while Mama Jean holds number two.
Alice bears down for number three's exit, and a blonde head appears.
Sally sighs, "Oh, we have a blondie. Push, Alice."
Alice pushes with all of her might and groans, "Please, be my little girl. Please, be my little girl."
Jasper holds her hand in amazement as his daughter is born.
Sally cries, "Oh Alice, she is beautiful." Again, she shouts out the time.
Alice cries, "Oh thank God."
Mama Jean hands me the babyboy number two as she goes into the bathroom to clean off the little princess.
Emmett, Richard, Garrett and Steven all shout in the hallway.
And don't you know it, the paramedics finally show up.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
As the paramedics wheel Alice, the babies and Jasper to the hospital, we all stand by the door just staring. Whether it's shock, exhaustion or pure elation, we don't move.
Emmett finally speaks, "Well, that was a nice break from dinner."
Bella looks at all of us. "Yeah, dinner."
"Why don't you, Sally and Mama Jean change your clothes, I'll reheat everything and we'll polish off that turkey," I suggest.
Bella nods. "Sounds good, and I'll clean up the bed."
I quickly respond. "Leave it, Bella. I'll do it later."
"I'm just going to throw everything out and use the other set, okay?"
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Everyone hungrily chews as if they are starving animals, devouring every morsel.
Childbirth inspires the appetite.
Sally giggles. "I think this family should be thankful for holidays. April Fool's ... Thanksgiving … Mardi Gras?"
Bella swallows a bite. "Yeah, the wedding alone should have been a warning."
"So Monday, you want to go to the courthouse, guys?" Sally smiles.
"Yeah, I'd like that, Mom."
There's a knock at the door.
We all look at one another.
I get up; open the door to my mother and father.
Mom walks around me carrying a platter, "Hi everyone, sorry we're late."
Dad follows, "Did we miss the pie?"
In utter shock, I look at Bella and mouth, "I forgot all about them."
Her eyes go wide, as she smiles and shrugs.
Sally laughs.
Emmett roars.
We all fall in.
Dad looks around. "What's so funny?"
"Oh Carlisle, we didn't miss the pie," Mom laughs.
I grab Bella, hold her tight and whisper in her ear, "I love you."
"I love you, too." She kisses me.
Emmett shouts, "Get a room."
Richard laughs. "They already did."
I block out the chatter, kiss my wife and do the math.
The End or maybe not.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
A/N:
Now, let me rec Postapocalypticdepository stories, since she so graciously rec'd mine.
Skater Boy and Boarder Girl: 10137826
Never Judge by the Cover: 9056924
Boys Will Be: 8868006
Rude Awakenings: 8876785
It's a New Dawn, It's a New Year: 8862243 (complete)
And to: Midnight-Confessions 9182601 by ohgeefantasy
Careless Hearts 9881551 by ohgeefantasy
Pudding Cup: 10189248 (Entry in The Bad Boys of Twilight Contest. Awards: First Place Public Vote & Two Judges)And you get to read more, Gee extended the story… go read.
And to: Edward Cullen FBI Special Agent and Psychic 9626040 by Dinia Steel (complete)
Sequel: Edward Cullen & Friends - Down on the Bayou 10204063
And a shout out rec to: BURN 8999279 by compass54
Also, found this story: Finally in Phoenix 9987411 by laughablelamb
AND: A Crack in the Door 8874295 by jane-with-a-y
AND:New Beginning 10175667 by LadyBeck
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Recipes:
Cheap, easy recipes for the guys...
Texas Hash
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 small green pepper, diced
1 can (14-ounces) diced tomato (not drained)
½ cup uncooked instant rice
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Brown ground beef with onion and green pepper. Drain.
Place meat mixture with rest of ingredients in a small casserole. Mix well.
Cover and bake for 1 hour.
Breakfast Pizza
1 pound sausage, browned
1 package crescent rolls (refrigerated dough)
5 eggs, or equivalent substitute
1/4 cup milk
12 ounces frozen hash browns, thawed
1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Unroll crescent rolls and press into 9x13 inch pan.
Spoon sausage over crust. Sprinkle hash browns, sprinkle cheese over hash browns. Beat together eggs and milk, pour over top.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until bottom crust is browned and center set. Serve with salsa.
Beef Wellington
1 pound ground beef
1 package (9-ounces) cut broccoli, thawed and drained
1 cup mozzarella
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cans (8-ounces) Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
1 egg, beaten
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.
In medium skillet, brown meat; drain well. Add broccoli, cheese, onion, sour cream, salt, and pepper; mix well. Simmer 10 minutes.
Separate dough into 4 long rectangles. On ungreased cookie sheet, overlap long sides of 2 rectangles 1/2 inch. Firmly press edges and perforations to seal.
Press or roll to form a 13 x 7-inch rectangle. Spoon half of mixture onto dough lengthwise. Bring long edges of dough rectangle over filling, overlapping edges slightly; pinch edge and ends to seal. Repeat with remaining dough.
Brush with egg; sprinkle with poppy seeds. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until deep golden brown.
Oven Fried Chicken
1 whole chicken, cut up
½ cup flour
1 tablespoon salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
¼ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Combine all dry ingredients in a plastic bag.
Wash your chicken and shake off excess water. Drop in bag and shake each piece.
Place in a metal pan skin side down and put in preheated oven.
Turn pieces over after about 20 minutes. Continue baking until crisp and browned and bleed clear.
Ham and Swiss Pockets
1 package refrigerated crescent rolls
2 tablespoons applesauce
1 tablespoon orange marmalade
1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
1 cup chopped fully cooked ham
Preheat 375 degrees F.
Unroll crescent rolls; separate into 4 portions. Pinch perforations to seal.
In a bowl, stir together the applesauce and marmalade. Stir in the cheese and ham.
Spoon ¼ of the mixture on each rectangle. Bring corners to centre atop of the filling; seal all open edges.
Place on baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 min or till golden. Cool up to 1 hour on a wire rack.
Beef BBQ
3 pounds ground beef, lean
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 celery ribs, finely chopped
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon mustard seed
3 ½ cups catsup
Brown meat in slow cooker or skillet on top of range on medium heat. Remove excess grease.
Transfer cooking pot to heating base or transfer meat to slow cooker. Add all remaining ingredients, stirring well to blend.
Cover and cook at low setting for 6-8 hours. Serve on buns or over hot dogs for chili dogs.
Potato Soup
4 large potatoes
⅔ cup butter
⅔ cup flour
1 ½ quarts milk
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
4 green onions, chopped
1 cup sour cream
2 cups crisp-cooked crumbled bacon
5 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
Bake potatoes in Microwave until tender.
Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Slowly blend in flour with a wire whisk until thoroughly blended.
Gradually add milk to the butter-flour mixture, whisking constantly. Whisk in salt and pepper and simmer over low heat, stirring constantly.
Cut potatoes in small chunks. When milk mixture is very hot, whisk in potatoes. Add green onion, sour cream and crumbled bacon. Heat thoroughly. Add cheese a little at a time until it is all melted in.
One Pot Pork Chop
4 pork chops (about 1 pound)
1 can tomato soup
½ cup water
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon caraway seeds or oregano (optional)
6-8 small whole potatoes or 3 medium, quartered
4 small carrots, split lengthwise and cut into 2 inch pieces
In skillet, brown chops. Pour off fat.
Add soup, water, Worcestershire sauce, salt, caraway, potatoes and carrots.
Cover; simmer 45 minutes or until tender.
Beef Stew
2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes
½ cup flour
2 tablespoons oil
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 onion, chopped
1 cup beef bouillon
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon sugar
6 carrots, peeled and sliced or quartered
1 cup sliced celery
4 potatoes, peeled and cut into eighths
12 small white onions
2 medium turnips, peeled and quartered (optional)
4 cups water
Coat meat with flour; set excess flour aside.
In large skillet or slow-cooking pot with browning unit, heat oil. Brown meat on all sides.
In slow-cooking pot, combine browned beef, bay leaf, Worcestershire sauce, chopped onion, bouillon, pepper, salt, sugar and vegetables. Pour water over all. Cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours.
Turn control on high. Thicken with flour left over from coating (about 1/4 cup) dissolved in a small amount of water.
Cover and cook on high 10 to 15 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Creamy Beef, Mushroom and Noodles
1 cup dry no-yolk egg noodles
1/4 each canola mayonnaise
¼ cup dry sherry
2 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
3 teaspoons canola oil, divided
¾ pound boneless sirloin steak, very thinly sliced
1 cup onions, thinly sliced
1 package of mushrooms, sliced
Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting any salt or fat.
Meanwhile, whisk together canola mayonnaise, sherry, bouillon, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Heat 1 teaspoon of canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Tilt skillet to coat bottom lightly. Cook beef 3 minutes and set aside on a separate plate.
Heat 1 teaspoon of canola oil, add onions, and cook 5 minutes or until just beginning to richly brown, stirring frequently.
Scrape onions to one side of the skillet, add remaining 1 teaspoon of canola oil, and add mushrooms. Cook 4 minutes or until mushrooms begin to brown on the edges, stirring frequently.
Add beef and any accumulated juices. Cook 30 seconds or until most of the liquid has evaporated.
Remove from heat and stir in canola mayonnaise mixture until well blended. Serve over drained noodles.
Chicken Divan
10 ounces frozen package of broccoli, chopped
3 cups white cooked chicken meat, chopped
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon curry powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
2 cups sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
hot cooked rice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Remove the broccoli from the package and thaw in the microwave for 2- 3 minutes.
Drain broccoli and add to the bottom of a greased casserole dish along with the chopped chicken.
Combine the remaining ingredients except the cheese into a mixing bowl and stir until combined.
Pour the mixture over the top of the broccoli and chicken and top with grated cheese.
Place the casserole into the oven and bake 30 – 35 minutes until browned and bubbly. Serve over hot cooked rice.
Buffalo Chicken Tenders
breaded chicken tenders - about 4 per person
½ cup Louisiana Hot Sauce
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
4 tablespoons butter or margarine
Blue cheese salad dressing, for dipping
Prepare chicken tenders as directed on the package and keep warm.
Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and microwave for 1-2 minutes, until butter is melted.
Coat each piece of chicken into the hot sauce mixture; Serve immediately with Bleu cheese dressing.
Asian Beef and Noodles
1 ¼ pounds ground beef
2 packages (3-ounces) Oriental-flavor instant ramen noodles
2 cups frozen vegetable mixture
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons green onion, thinly sliced
In large skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes or until no longer pink, breaking up into 3/4 inch crumbles. Remove with slotted spoon; pour off drippings.
Season beef with one seasoning packet from noodles; set aside.
In same skillet, combine 2 cups water, noodles (broken into several pieces), vegetables, ginger, and remaining seasoning packet. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 3 minutes or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally.
Return beef to skillet; heat through. Stir in green onion before serving.
Creamy Potato and Leek Casserole
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 leeks (white part only), thinly sliced
3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 ⅔ cups chicken broth
½ teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1 jar of alfredo sauce
1 teaspoon salt
8 ounces shredded Italian six-cheese blend
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Grease a 11 by 7 inch glass baking dish
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté leeks for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender.
Stir in potatoes, garlic, broth and white pepper; reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
Gently stir in Alfredo sauce and salt just until coated. Spread in prepared baking dish and sprinkle with cheese.
Cover and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned.
Chicken Broccoli Casserole
2 packages broccoli, thawed and drained
4 chicken breasts, cooked and boned
2 pounds package Velveeta cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
½ cup mayonnaise
1 package of stuffing mix
3 tablespoons melted butter
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the broccoli in a well greased baking dish-9x13 size. Cut chicken into bite size pieces and spread over the broccoli.
In a bowl, mix together soup and mayonnaise. If you think the mixture seems too thick, add a little milk to the soup and mayonnaise. mixture. Pour over the chicken.
Top with thin slices of the Velveeta. Sprinkle the stuffing mix over the cheese and drizzle the melted butter over the stuffing. Bake for 1 hour.
Mac And Cheese
16 ounces package of elbow macaroni
4 cups shredded cheese, your choice
2 cups milk
3 eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cook macaroni according to package instructions.
Grease casserole dish.
Drain macaroni and place a thin layer in the dish. Sprinkle cheese over the layering macaroni and cheese until you've reached the top of the casserole dish.
Mix eggs and milk, salt, pepper and spices. Evenly pour egg/milk mixture over macaroni and cheese. Press down a little more to get everything to settle. Sprinkle a tad bit more cheese on the top of the egg milk mixture.
Bake in the middle rack of the oven for 45 minutes.
Better Burger Sauce
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1/2 bunch green onions, chopped
2 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and chopped
salt and pepper to taste
Worcestershire sauce to taste
Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Drain water, and allow to cool, then peel, chop, and set aside.
In a bowl, stir together the vinegar and sugar until sugar is completely dissolved. Stir in mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, parsley, green onions, and chopped egg, and stir until well blended. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
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We end our recipes with Edward's simple guy food.
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And please, review … it makes me happy.
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The End … Fini … Oy, I can't believe it … Maybe some outtakes of honeymoon, Bella's delivery… Hell, maybe a sequel… Let's see after the screenplay is finished… Don't forget to place me on author alert!