Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday. Yay! If you're like me, you probably have plans for the weekend, whether yard work (I have a feeling I'll be mowing our yard, hopefully for the last time this year), another project around the house, or (one of my favorites) going for a walk/run, followed by binge-watching your favorite show or movies.

Of course, we still need to eat once in a while. To that end, here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Slow-Cooker Beef Stroganoff and a Power Cheeseburger. Enjoy!

FAJITA STYLE ONE-DISH CHICKEN DINNER

This comes from Food. Time: 35 minutes; Serves 2-3.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 (1 1/4 ounce) package fajita seasoning mix

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 red pepper

1 yellow pepper

grated cheddar cheese

2 cups cooked rice

vegetable oil (for frying)

Directions

Chop chicken breast into chunks.

Fry chicken quickly until almost cooked through.

Remove chicken from pan.

Cook peppers for 2-3 minutes.

Put chicken back in pan with peppers.

Add fajita seasoning and 1/4 cup water.

Cook until chicken is done.

Put mixture over rice and top with grated cheese.

OLD-FASHIONED MEATLOAF

This is from VeryWell Fit, and begins, “This lighter meatloaf recipe is similar to the one most of us enjoyed during our childhoods, but without all of the extra fat. Choose a lean ground beef or, better yet, ground turkey to cut down on the fat. And since you can't make meatloaf without breadcrumbs, why not replace the white, unrefined with whole wheat for added fiber? Also, using two egg whites in place of one whole egg will reduce the calories and fat while still helping to bind the mixture together.”

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 70 minutes; Servings: 8

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 pounds ground meat (85% to 90% lean, or ground turkey)

1 cup breadcrumbs (whole wheat)

1/4 cup onion (finely chopped or 1 tablespoon dehydrated onion flakes)

2 cloves garlic (minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)

1 teaspoon mustard powder

1 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon sage

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 large egg whites

1/4 cup water (or low-fat milk)

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients. Mix well, using your hands, but don't overmix because you will toughen the meat.

Turn mixture into a 9x5-inch loaf pan. Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips, and bake for about 1 hour.

To be sure the meatloaf is done, insert an instant-read meat thermometer into the center of the loaf. The temperature should register 155F when it is done.

About 10 to 15 minutes before you think the meatloaf will be done, you can cover it with barbecue sauce if you like.

International Meatloaf

If you are looking for a different kind of meatloaf, try kofta kebabs, a Middle Eastern grilled ground meat recipe. The spices in this meat mixture (traditionally lamb) are a delicious change of pace from the usual. If you don't have the time or inclination to place them on skewers, you can make them into oblong-oval shapes that look like sausages without the casings.

POWER CHEESEBURGER

This is from The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Maura Egan and Christine Muhlke developed this recipe in 2004, around the time of the Olympic Games in Athens, after talking with Shane Hamman, then the No. 1 weight lifter in America, capable of squatting more than 1,000 pounds. He ate two for lunch, amid his 5,000 calorie day. It’s pretty delicious.”

Yield: 1 cheeseburger, Time: 20 minutes

This was featured in “Food; Athens on 5,000 Calorires a Day”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/10971-power-cheeseburger.

Ingredients

8 ounces ground beef, like chuck

1 egg yolk, beaten

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon salt

2 to 3 slices sharp Cheddar cheese

1 sesame bun, halved and toasted if desired

Pickles

Ketchup and mustard

Preparation

In large bowl, combine beef, egg, paprika and salt. Mix well and form 1 large patty.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add patty and cook 4 minutes; turn over and top with cheese. Continue to cook an additional 3 to 4 minutes for medium rare.

Place the burger cheese side up on bun and top with pickles, ketchup and/or mustard. Place other bun half on top and serve.

INDIAN BUTTER CHICKPEAS

This is from Melissa Clark, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “A vegetarian riff on Indian butter chicken, this fragrant stew is spiced with cinnamon, garam masala and fresh ginger, and is rich and creamy from the coconut milk. You could add cubed tofu here for a soft textural contrast, or cubed seitan for a chewy one. Or serve it as it is, over rice to catch every last drop of the glorious sauce. You won’t want to leave any behind.”

Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

This was featured in “The Meat-Lover’s Guide to Eating Less Meat”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020739-indian-butter-chickpeas.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 large onion, minced

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste

4 garlic cloves, finely grated or minced

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons sweet paprika

2 teaspoons garam masala

1 small cinnamon stick

1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled plum tomatoes

1 (15-ounce) can coconut milk

2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained

Ground cayenne (optional)

Cooked white rice, for serving

1/2 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, for serving

Preparation

Melt butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook until golden and browned around the edges, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. (Don’t be tempted to turn the heat up to medium-high; keeping the heat on medium ensures even browning without burning the butter.)

Stir in garlic and ginger, and cook another 1 minute. Stir in cumin, paprika, garam masala and cinnamon stick, and cook another 30 seconds.

Add tomatoes with their juices. Using a large spoon or flat spatula, break up and smash the tomatoes in the pot (or you can use a pair of kitchen shears to cut the tomatoes while they are still in the can). Stir in coconut milk and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, and continue to cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, and continuing to mash up the tomatoes if necessary to help them break down.

Stir in chickpeas and a pinch of cayenne if you like. Bring the pot back up to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 10 minutes. Taste and add more salt if necessary.

Serve spooned over white rice, and topped with cilantro.

SLOW-COOKER BEEF STROGANOFF

This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "When you transform a classic special-occasion meal into an easy-breezy weeknight dinner, it’s no wonder that you’re a top-rated recipe by hundreds of home cooks. Find out what all the buzz is about and try this beef stroganoff slow cooker recipe the next time you’re in need of mealtime inspiration."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 8

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter

2 lb boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into 3x1/2x1/4-inch strips

1 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 can (10.5 oz) condensed golden mushroom or cream of mushroom soup

1 carton (8 oz) sliced fresh mushrooms

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

4 oz cream cheese, cubed (from 8-oz package)

1 container (8 oz) sour cream

6 cups hot cooked noodles or rice

Directions

In 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add beef strips, onion and garlic; cook 7 to 9 minutes or until beef is browned.

In 3 1/2- to 4 1/2-quart slow cooker, mix beef mixture, soup, mushrooms, salt and pepper.

Cover; cook on low heat setting 5 to 6 hours or until beef is tender.

Stir cream cheese into beef mixture until melted. Stir in sour cream until well blended. Serve over noodles.

Expert Tips

Sprinkle with finely chopped fresh parsley for a bright finish.

Beef sirloin steak is more tender than other cuts of beef that are used for stews. Cooking the beef in butter until browned, results in the best flavor. Then the very low heat of the slow cooker keeps the meat tender.

With the slow braising of the stroganoff, the cream cheese creates an instantly smooth sauce, that combined with the sour cream stays thick and rich.

It’s easier to cut the beef into clean slices when it’s partially frozen for about 1 hour.

To save precious minutes in the morning, use minced garlic in a jar. You could also cut up the beef the night before and refrigerate.

BAKED POTATO CASSEROLE

Today's final recipe is from that infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.

Ingredients

8 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks

1 cup Carnation Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk

1/2 cup light sour cream

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 cups (8 oz. Pkg) shredded 2% cheddar cheese, divided

6 slices turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided

Sliced green onions (optional)

Directions

Place potatoes in large saucepan. Cover with water, bring to a boil. Cook over medium-high heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. Drain.

Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease 2 1/2 to 3-quart casserole dish.

Return potatoes to saucepan, add evaporated milk, sour cream, salt and pepper. Beat with hand-held mixer until smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese and half of bacon. Spoon mixture into prepared casserole dish.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, remaining bacon and green onions. Bake for an additional 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.