181 easy optional Recipes

chocolate chips , any will do (my favorite is dark chocolate), eggs (room temperature ), very hot coffee, scalded milk (can use coffee creamer, 1/2 & 1/2, can milk), rum (optional) or 1 -2 tbsp orange liqueur (optional) or 1 -2 tbsp cherry flavored liqueur (optional) or 1 -2 tbsp mint liqueur, etc (optional)

butter, minced garlic, half-and-half cream, heavy cream, shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese, canned grated parmesan cheese, nutmeg, parsley flakes, salt and pepper, mushrooms, drained (optional), cooked chicken breasts (optional) or 1 lb cooked shrimp (optional) or 1 lb cooked crabmeat (optional), pasta , prepared according package directions

spice cake mix, pack pumpkin (the small can), chopped walnuts (optional) or 1 cup chopped pecans (optional) or 1/2 cup raisins (optional), cream cheese frosting (optional)

chopped well-rinsed leeks, white and light green parts only (discard dark green tops), celery, diced, olive oil, garlic cloves, minced, dried thyme or 1 tbsp fresh thyme, stripped from stem, fresh bay leaves, vegetable stock (i used 1 of each) or 2 quarts beef stock (i used 1 of each), spaghetti sauce, diced turnips, diced carrots, sliced fresh green beans, salt or substitute, black pepper, cayenne pepper sauce (optional), red bell pepper, seeded and diced, frozen corn, frozen peas, fully cooked meatballs (optional) or 1 lb chopped cooked beef (optional) or 1 lb other cooked meat (optional), uncooked macaroni noodles, grated parmesan cheese (optional)

ground pork, green onions, light soya sauce, garlic powder, seasoning salt, eggs, water chestnut (optional), wonton wrappers (about 70 per package), chicken broth, brandy (optional), bok choy (optional) or sweet peas (optional) or shrimp, etc.. (optional)

cake mix (any flavor ), vegetable oil or 1/3 cup canola oil, eggs, nuts (any additional ingredients) (optional) or raisins (any additional ingredients) (optional) or chocolate chips (any additional ingredients) (optional) or butterscotch chips (any additional ingredients) (optional)

pasta , of your choice, garlic clove, herbed feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes (in a cello bag or oil-packed), olive oil, chopped fresh basil (or 2 tsp dried basil), chopped toasted pine nuts (optional) or 1/3 cup pecans (optional) or 1/3 cup walnuts (optional)

dry pinto beans, water, diced tomatoes (optional), butter (optional) or 2 tbsp olive oil (optional), onion, finely chopped (optional), water (optional) or 3/4 cup broth (optional), salt and pepper, to taste

unbleached all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, dutch-processed cocoa powder, espresso powder (optional, but very good ), milk, vanilla extract, vegetable oil, brown sugar, dutch-processed cocoa powder, espresso powder (optional, but very good ), water or 1 1/2 cups hot brewed coffee

mixed dried fruit , diced if need be, self raising flour, sweetened condensed milk, water, rum (optional) or 1 dash brandy (optional)

ground lamb (or other lean ground meat of your choice), onion , chopped (optional, if short on time, use chopped frozen s), garlic cloves, minced (optional, use more or less or garlic power, according to taste), curry powder (use high quality, such as madras), water (or use low sodium chicken or vegetable stock, i usually use homemade), fresh marinara sauce (such as buitoni), baby spinach (or up to 1 lb of chopped fresh or frozen spinach, or kale, or other green of your choice)

all-purpose flour, salt, unsalted butter, softened, cream cheese, softened, sugar , plus, sugar, cinnamon, apricot preserves or 1 cup raspberry jam, loosely packed raisins (optional) or 1 cup currants (optional) or 1 cup dried cherries (optional) or 1 cup cranberries, chopped (optional), walnuts (1/4 lb) or 1 1/4 cups pecans, finely chopped (1/4 lb), milk , for brushing cookie

gluten-free flour, mix (i like the bisquick gluten free), soymilk, applesauce, vegetable oil, raisins (chopped ) (optional) or 1/4 cup blueberries (chopped) (optional) or 1/4 cup strawberry (chopped) (optional), cinnamon (optional)

cream of chicken soup, sour cream, picante or enchilada sauce, chili powder, cooked chicken chopped, monterey jack cheese shredded, flour tortillas, tomato (optional) chopped, green onion (optional) sliced

olive oil, unsalted butter, onion, chopped, flour, cooked chicken (i use recipe # #188329), chicken stock, frozen peas, potato, diced and boiled, chopped carrot, salt, pepper , to taste, hot sauce (optional but recommended ), dried oregano, grated garlic, ready-made pie crust (optional if needing to save time), grated parmesan cheese (optional), flour, cold butter or 1 cup shortening, salt, egg, cold water, vinegar

onion, chopped, garlic cloves, minced, butter, grain rice (cooked ), cooked chicken (optional) or 2 cups turkey (optional) or 2 cups ham, diced (optional), cheddar cheese, shredded, fresh parsley, minced, milk, eggs, lightly beaten, worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper

strawberries, fresh, hulled and sliced, sugar, cool whip, thawed, strawberry, whole (optional for garnish ), mint, fresh (optional for garnish )

carrot, diced, red pepper, diced, garlic cloves, halved, shallots, sliced thick, olive oil, coarse salt , to taste, fresh cracked pepper , to taste, fresh ginger, grated, vegetable stock (or whatever stock you like, sometimes i ll use shrimp stock and garnish the soup with sauteed shrimp), soy sauce, hot sauce (optional, i like louisiana hot sauce or aardvark sauce), greek yogurt (or tofu sour cream, for vegans), crouton (can be store-bought, or make your own)