Double-Post Monday

Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's offerings include Taco Stuffed Peppers and One-Pan Spaghetti and Meatballs. Enjoy!

CHICKEN ALFREDO

This is from Naz Deravian in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yumminess, Naz wrote, "Chicken Alfredo is like a distant American cousin of the Roman fettuccine Alfredo. The original dish was created, in 1908, by Alfredo Di Lelio using only a handful of ingredients: namely rich sweet butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano and pasta water artfully tossed together. Heavy cream, while not traditional and only used in the American iteration, gives the sauce its rich flavor and creamy consistency and requires less tossing. The addition of well-seasoned chicken breasts makes this an American restaurant classic beloved by children and adults alike. The flat wide shape of fettuccine noodles is ideal for the cream sauce to embrace, but you can also use linguine or spaghetti. Be sure to use freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (a food processor does the job quickly) to ensure that the cheese is incorporated into the sauce — pre-grated cheese contains additives that don’t allow the cheese to melt properly. For something green, serve with a side of broccoli or a green salad."

Time: 55 minutes; Yield: 6 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024362-chicken-alfredo. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, you might seriously consider doing so. Great recipes, along with plenty of helpful cooking guides.

Ingredients

10 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 pound total), patted dry

Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 pound fettuccine, linguine or spaghetti

1-1/2 cups heavy cream

6 ounces (about 2 cups) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Fresh nutmeg, for grating (optional)

Fresh chopped parsley, for serving (optional)

Preparation

Take the butter out of the fridge, cut it into 10 tablespoons and set aside. Season both sides of the chicken breasts well with salt (about 2-1/2 teaspoons total) and pepper. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil for the pasta.

In a large pan that can accommodate the pasta later, place the oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, reduce heat to medium and add the chicken; cook for 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of butter, swirl it around the pan and continue cooking until the chicken is golden brown, about 3 minutes more. Flip the chicken, add another tablespoon of butter, swirl it around and cook the other side until golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Using tongs, lift the thinner end of each chicken breast to press the thicker ends on the pan to fully cook and take on a little color, about 1 minute each. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and rest for 3 minutes. Slice the chicken in 1/2-inch-thick diagonals and loosely tent with aluminum foil. Discard the oil, then wash and dry the pan (see Tip).

Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente, according to package directions. While the pasta cooks, add the cream to the pan and warm through over medium heat, about 2 minutes. Watch the cream very closely, reducing the heat if necessary to maintain a low simmer; you do not want it to come to a boil or simmer rapidly and split. Add the remaining 8 tablespoons of butter, stirring occasionally, until melted. If the pasta is not ready when the butter has melted and the cream sauce has slightly thickened, remove the sauce off the heat until ready to use.

When the pasta is ready, place the sauce over medium heat and set the pasta pot next to the saucepan. Use tongs or a spider strainer to transfer the pasta to the sauce. Alternatively, you can drain the pasta, if you prefer. Add the Parmigiano-Reggiano and quickly toss with the pasta and sauce. If using, grate a little fresh nutmeg onto the pasta, toss, then taste for salt and add as needed. Top with the sliced chicken and serve immediately, topped with parsley, if desired.

CROCK POT LASAGNA

This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, and begins, “Discover the fix-it-and-forget-it way to make lasagna! It's so easy.”

Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 jar (26 to 28 oz.) tomato pasta sauce

1 can (8 oz.) no-salt-added tomato sauce

1/2 pkg. (9 oz. = about 8) no-boil lasagna noodles

1 jar (1 lb.) Alfredo pasta sauce

3 cups (12 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Brown ground beef in large skillet over medium-high heat until thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain.

Spray 4 to 5 quart crock pot/slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Spread 3/4 cup of the tomato pasta sauce in bottom of sprayed slow cooker. Stir remaining tomato pasta sauce and tomato sauce into ground beef.

Layer 3 lasagna noodles over sauce in the crock pot/slow cooker, breaking noodles as necessary. Top with 1/3 of the Alfredo pasta sauce, spreading evenly. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Top with 1/3 of the ground beef mixture, spreading evenly.

Repeat layering twice, using 2 lasagna noodles in last layer. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over top.

Cover and cook on LOW heat setting for 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours. If desired, cut into wedges to serve.

TACO STUFFED PEPPERS

This comes from Lauren Miyahira on Delish, and begins, “Taco 'bout a healthy dinner!”

Total Time: 35 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 Onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

1 clove garlic, minced

1 lb. ground beef

kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp. Chopped cilantro

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. smoked paprika

3 bell peppers, halved (seeds removed)

1 c. shredded Cheddar

1 c. Shredded Monterey Jack

1 c. Shredded lettuce

Pico de gallo, for serving

Hot sauce, for serving

Lime wedges, for serving

Directions

Preheat oven to 375° and spray a large baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat about 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Add onion and cook until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain fat.

Add chili powder, ground cumin, and paprika to beef mixture, then season with salt and pepper.

Drizzle bell peppers with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the peppers, cut side up, in the baking dish and spoon meat mixture into each pepper. Top with cheese and bake until the cheese is melted and the peppers are crisp-tender, about 20 minutes.

Top each pepper with lettuce and serve with pico de gallo, hot sauce, and lime wedges.

ONE-PAN SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS

This recipe comes from Pure Wow, and begins, “Guys, this lazy cook's one-pan spaghetti and meatballs recipe is a total game changer. The next time you want to get dinner on the table with ease—and not deal with a million dirty dishes--we've got you covered.” Makes 8 servings.

To view this online, go to https://www.purewow.com/recipes/one-pan-spaghetti-and-meatballs-recipe.

Ingredients

Meatballs

1 pound ground beef

1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 egg, whisked

1/2 cup plain bread crumbs

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Spaghetti

1 pound dried spaghetti

3 cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, plus more to taste

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Make the Meatballs: In a medium bowl, mix the beef with the garlic powder, parsley and Parmesan to combine. Add the egg and bread crumbs, and mix to combine.

Form the mixture into balls, using about 2 tablespoons of meat per ball.In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the meatballs to the pan and cook until they are fully cooked and golden brown all over, 3 to 5 minutes.

Make the Spaghetti: Remove the meatballs from the pan and set them aside. Drain any grease from the pan, and then fill it with three inches of water and a few pinches of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add the spaghetti in an even layer and boil until al dente, 8 to 9 minutes (or according to package directions).

Drain the spaghetti, then return it to the pan. Add the marinara sauce and meatballs; toss to coat. Garnish with Parmesan and parsley. Serve warm, immediately.

POTATO-LEEK SOUP WITH BACON

View this online at http://www.publix.com/recipes-planning/aprons-recipes/potato-leek-soup-with-bacon

Ingredients

3 large leeks, coarsely chopped

3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme

2 lb gold potatoes

3 slices bacon, chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 cups unsalted chicken stock (or broth)

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped

1/2 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt

Directions

Chop well-rinsed leeks (white part only; 2 cups); chop garlic and thyme. Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.

Preheat large stockpot on medium-low 2–3 minutes. Cut bacon into pieces. Place oil in pot, then add bacon; cook and stir 4–5 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon from pot. Place leeks and garlic in same pot; cook and stir 6–7 minutes or until tender (do not brown).

Stir in stock, salt, pepper, potatoes, and thyme; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.

Remove pot from heat; puree soup with a stick blender. (Or you can use an electric blender; let soup cool 5–8 minutes, then puree in batches until smooth.) Chop chives. Stir yogurt into soup; top each serving with bacon and chives. Serve warm or chill before serving.

ALMOST WHITE CASTLE HAMBURGERS

This comes from Chef Doozer on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 20 minutes; Serves: 12

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1-1/2 lbs ground chuck

1 (4 tablespoon) envelope onion soup mix

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons water

1/3 cup breadcrumbs

24 small square dinner rolls

American cheese (optional)

pickle (optional)

Sauce

1/2 cup mustard

1/2 cup ketchup

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Hamburgers: Mix first 6 ingredients and press into an ungreased 10 by 15 inch jelly roll pan.

Prick with a fork.

Bake for 10 minutes.

Drain off juices (if there's a lot of excess).

Cool.

Cut into 24 squares.

Place squares on dinner rolls.

Combine mustard and ketchup and spread on rolls.

Top with pickles and cheese, if desired.

This makes 12 servings of 2 hamburgers each.