Serves 6-8.

Ingredients:

• 1lb chicken breasts, cut into 1-in cubes
• 1 c. onion, diced
• 1 c. carrots, sliced
• 1 c. celery, sliced
• 2 potatoes, unpealed, cubed
• 15oz. Italian-style stewed tomatoes
• 1/4 c. mushrooms, loosely chooped
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 2 tsp. Splenda (optional)
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 2 c. chicken broth

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Serves 4.

Ingredients:

• 15oz can of diced tomatoes, drained
• 1-3 canned chipotle chiles en adobo
• 1 tbsp sauce from can of chipotle
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 to 1 1/4 lbs. medium-large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 3-4 cups cooked brown rice

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Serves 6 – 8.

Ingredients:

• 1 graham cracker pie crust
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1 cap almond extract
• 1 can cherry pie filling, chilled

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Serves 6 – 8.

Ingredients:

• 1 chocolate cookie pie crust
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 pkg. white chocolate instant pudding mix
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1 cap almond extract
• 1 handful milk chocolate chips
• 1 can cherry pie filling, chilled

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Serves 8.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. okra, sliced
• 1/2 cup oil, divided
• 1 cup Tony Chachere’s® Creole Instant Roux Mix
• 2-1/2 Qt. cold water
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 8 oz. tomato paste
• 15 oz. diced tomatoes w/ chilis (Ro-Tel brand is best)
• 1 lb. crab meat, shredded
• 1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Cajun seasoning to taste
• 6 cups cooked white rice

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I recently attended a baby shower where the hostess had made the cutest “finger” sandwiches using cookie cutters shaped like hand and footprints. It was precious and a bit hit at the party.

Another fun use for smaller cookie cutters is cutting vegetables like zucchini, yellow squash, and cucumbers into various little shapes for whatever theme your party or holiday is. (Pampered Chef sells a small set of cutters that make everything from your common heart to chili peppers.)

Last holiday season, someone had used a fall leaf cookie cutter to cut tiny dough leaves to use along the top of her pumpkin pie on the edge of the pie crust.

Cookie cutters aren’t just for cookies anymore. You can use them for making fun-shaped everything to entice your kids to eat — I know that cheese and lunch meat always tasted better when it was star-shaped as a kid. )

Feel free to add your own suggestions to the comments section below!

Ingredients:

• 1lb lean ground beef
• 2lb block of “mild mexican” Velveeta
• 1 & 1/2 3oz bags of Hormel bacon bits (The real shredded bacon, not the baconish flavored TVP)
• 1 can of Rotel chopped peppers & tomatos, “Hot” flavor
• Tony Chachere’s to taste

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