It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Baked Spaghetti and Almond, Toasted Oat and Cherry Trail Mix. Enjoy!
TACO CHILI
This was posted on the Vegetarian Times website on January 6, 2001. Makes 8 servings.
Ingredients
2 cups soy crumbles
1/2 cup canned soybeans
15-oz. can corn, drained
2 (28-oz.) cans diced tomatoes
30-oz. can chili beans
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
2 pkgs. taco seasoning
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
Preparation
In large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 to 45 minutes.
Serve with low-fat shredded cheese and tortilla chips.
SIMPLE VEGETARIAN SPINACH LASAGNA
This comes from Vicki Shanta Retelny, RDN at VeryWellFit. Vicki wrote, “There's nothing like lasagna to soothe a craving for a creamy, dreamy meal. With a foundation of vitamin C-rich tomato sauce, which is loaded with the carotenoid lycopene, this Italian classic takes on a healthy bend with a good dose veggies nestled in its layers.
“Chock full of leafy green spinach, this dish is good for your brain health, as eating a serving of veggies each day has shown to fend off cognitive decline. Spinach is also loaded with iron and calcium for a total body wellness boost.“
Total Time: 65 min; Prep Time: 20 min; Cook Time: 45 min; Servings 9 (1 cup each)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 package no-boil lasagna noodles
2 28-ounce cans tomato sauce
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon oregano
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 15-ounce container part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated
3 cups raw baby spinach leaves
Preparation
Preheat the oven the 350F.
On the stovetop over medium heat, pour the tomato sauce into a saucepan. Add salt, oregano, and garlic. Bring to a light boil, lower the heat, and simmer for a few minutes. Stir occasionally.
On the bottom of a 9x13 pan put a layer of tomato sauce. Place a layer of noodles on top, covering the bottom of the pan. Spread ricotta cheese on top of the noodles, top with spinach, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and coat with a small ladle full of sauce. Repeat the layers until you get to the top of the pan. Sprinkle the final layer with mozzarella cheese.
Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown on top.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a 10 minutes before serving.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Make this dish higher in fiber with whole wheat noodles, although they may only be available in the boil variety. Add other vegetables such a sliced carrots, zucchini, or eggplant. For an alternative green, use baby kale or arugula. Spread pesto between the layers or incorporate it into the tomato sauce for a rich, nutty flavor.
If you want to add meat, add cooked, diced chicken breast or ground turkey to the sauce. For a non-dairy twist, use vegan cheese in lieu of ricotta and mozzarella cheese.
Cooking and Serving Tips
To save time use no-boil lasagna noodles—they're quick and easy to assemble. Plus, the part-skim ricotta cheese and mozzarella reduce the fat but still offer good-quality protein.
This dish can be assembled and placed, uncooked and covered, in the refrigerator overnight. Simply heat and serve the next day. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container.
ALMOND, TOASTED OAT AND CHERRY TRAIL MIX
This was in a Weight Watchers' email several years ago. The program has changed, but I'm using the values from when this was sent.
This recipe began, “Take this energy-packed treat with you when you head to the great outdoors.”
POINTS® Value: 3; Servings: 6; Preparation Time: 8 minutes; Cooking Time: 25 minutes; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
1 cup uncooked old fashioned oats
2/3 cup dried cherries, chopped
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 tsp table salt
1 Tbsp Land O Lakes Stick Light Butter, or similar product, melted
1/4 cup honey
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a sided sheet pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, stir together rolled oats, cherries, almonds and salt. Drizzle with butter and honey and toss thoroughly. Spread mixture evenly on sheet pan. Bake, stirring occasionally to ensure even browning, about 20 to 25 minutes; let cool. Yields about 1/3 cup per serving. (You might want to double the recipe and store the mix for a few days in an airtight container.)
TURKEY BEAN SOUP
This comes from The Mayo Clinic Diet, and can be found online here.
I highly recommend checking out the site. Good food, tied in with the Mayo Clinic, so you can figure it’s not some fly-by-night junk food, but good tasting food that’s good for you.
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 pounds turkey, lean ground breast meat
2 medium onions, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup ketchup
1 can tomatoes (14.5 ounces), diced, no salt added
3 pieces bouillon, chicken, low-sodium
7 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoon basil, dried, crushed
1/4 teaspoon pepper, black ground
2 cups cabbage, shredded
1 cans cannellini beans (15 ounces), no-salt-added, drained
Directions
In a large saucepan, cook the ground turkey, onion, celery and garlic until the vegetables are softened and the turkey is cooked.
Drain off the fat and add the ketchup, tomatoes, bouillon, water, basil, pepper, cabbage and beans.
Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
BAKED SPAGHETTI
This is from the Food Network, and begins, “This mash-up of lasagna and spaghetti with meat sauce makes for a warming one-pan dinner. (And if you start with leftover cooked noodles and meat sauce, you're set for a super-fast weeknight meal.) Assemble the casserole ahead of time and bake when you're ready to serve.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Inactive Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes; Level: Intermediate; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/baked-spaghetti-3361814.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
8 ounces thin spaghetti
8 ounces sharp Cheddar, grated (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Heat a second large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring to break the meat up, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, garlic and a generous pinch of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the crushed and diced tomatoes, sugar and oregano and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti for 2 minutes less than the time indicated in the package directions. Strain well. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cover the bottom of a 13-by-9-by-2-inch pan with a third of the sauce. Add half the pasta and a third of the Cheddar; repeat the layers and add the last of the sauce; reserve the last of the Cheddar.
Bake for 30 minutes. Top with the remaining Cheddar and continue baking until it melts and the sauce bubbles, about 5 more minutes. Let cool in the dish for at least 10 minutes. Garnish with the parsley before cutting into squares.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
Showing posts with label Easy Slow-Cooker Lasagna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easy Slow-Cooker Lasagna. Show all posts
Friday, May 22, 2020
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Where's The Beef? - Double-Post Thursday
Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Today's double post deals with beef.
When I was growing up, beef was probably the most popular main food on many dinner plates. (There was also the popular Wendy's commercial during the 1980s that asked "Where's the Beef?")
Well, here's the beef, including Firehouse Chili Gumbo and Baked Spaghetti. Enjoy!
SIMPLE MEATLOAF WITH OPTIONAL TOPPING
This comes from Diana Rattray on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “This delicious and simple meatloaf recipe is a great fit for Sunday dinner. Feel free to use plain ketchup to top this dish, or, if you're feeling a little adventurous, make the optional topping. For a tasty meal, serve the meatloaf with homemade mashed potatoes and peas and carrots or your favorite vegetables.
“Note: Ground beef with a ratio of 80/20 or 85/20 will produce the moistest and most flavorful meatloaf. Baking the meatloaf in a specialty meatloaf pan or on a rack will help drain away some of the excess fat. If you don't have either, you can make a free-form loaf on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 80 minutes; Total Time: 95 minutes; Yield: 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Optional Glaze/Topping:
4 tablespoons ketchup
4 tablespoons maple syrup (or honey)
2 tablespoons Dijon (or similar mustard)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
For the Meatloaf:
2 pounds ground beef
2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup fine dry breadcrumbs (plain)
2 tablespoons dried minced onion (or 1/2 cup finely minced fresh onion)
1 1/2 teaspoons burger seasoning (or 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper)
1/2 cup ketchup (plus more for topping, if desired)
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
Heat over to 350 degrees F.
Srapy a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
If using the optional topping, in a small bowl, combine 4 tablespoons ketchup, maple syrup, mustard and Worcestershire until well mixed. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, eggs, milk, breadcrumbs, onion, burger seasoning, and 1/2 cup of ketchup.
Mix until well blended and pack into the prepared loaf pan.
Bake the meatloaf for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Carefully drain off any excess fat and then top the loaf with the optional topping mixture or about 4 tablespoons of ketchup. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes longer.
Serve and enjoy!
Tips
Ground beef with a ratio of 80/20 or 85/20 will produce the moistest and most flavorful meatloaf. Baking the meatloaf in a specialty meatloaf pan or on a rack will help drain away some of the excess fat. If you don't have either, you can make a free-form loaf on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan.
Experiment with meat mixtures in meatloaf. While beef gives excellent flavor and holds together well, adding a portion of lean ground pork will provide juiciness. Ground veal would add lightness to a loaf, and ground chicken or turkey would reduce some of the fat and calories.
Top the meatloaf with prepared barbecue sauce just before it's finished baking.
Use cracker crumbs or soft breadcrumbs in the meatloaf instead of fine dry breadcrumbs.
Line the loaf pan with parchment paper or foil, like a sling. Just grab the ends of the paper or foil and lift the meatloaf out of the pan when it's done.
Bake the meatloaf in individual muffin cups. Use about 1/4 cup of meatloaf mixture for each muffin cup.
Pack the meatloaf mixture into individual oiled ramekins, and then invert them onto a rimmed baking sheet for perfectly shaped individual meatloaves.
Instead of breadcrumbs, use crushed cheese crackers in the meat mixture.
Top a meatloaf with strips of bacon before baking, or add crumbled cooked bacon to the meat mixture.
ULTIMATE NACHOS
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1/2 lb. Extra lean ground beef
8 oz. Velveeta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
6 oz. Tortilla chips (about 7 cups)
1 cup shredded lettuce
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
1 can (10 oz) Ro Tel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, drained well
Directions
Brown meat in medium skillet; drain.
Microwave Velveeta in medium microwave-safe bowl on HIGH 1 minute or until completely melted, stirring after 30 seconds.
Place chips on large platter; top with Velveeta, meat and remaining ingredients.
BAKED SPAGHETTI
This is from the Food Network, and begins, “This mash-up of lasagna and spaghetti with meat sauce makes for a warming one-pan dinner. (And if you start with leftover cooked noodles and meat sauce, you're set for a super-fast weeknight meal.) Assemble the casserole ahead of time and bake when you're ready to serve.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Inactive Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes; Level: Intermediate; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/baked-spaghetti-3361814.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
8 ounces thin spaghetti
8 ounces sharp Cheddar, grated (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Heat a second large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring to break the meat up, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, garlic and a generous pinch of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the crushed and diced tomatoes, sugar and oregano and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti for 2 minutes less than the time indicated in the package directions. Strain well. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cover the bottom of a 13-by-9-by-2-inch pan with a third of the sauce. Add half the pasta and a third of the Cheddar; repeat the layers and add the last of the sauce; reserve the last of the Cheddar.
Bake for 30 minutes. Top with the remaining Cheddar and continue baking until it melts and the sauce bubbles, about 5 more minutes. Let cool in the dish for at least 10 minutes. Garnish with the parsley before cutting into squares.
FIREHOUSE CHILI GUMBO
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This recipe is adapted from the one that a Louisiana firefighter named Jeremy Chauvin entered into a national cook-off run by Hormel Foods in 2017, and that took home the prize for America’s Best Firehouse Chili. It is not really a chili in the Texas sense of the word. There is a roux at its base — it’s more like a chili gumbo, a bayou take on the original red. Serve with grated cheese and corn chips. Chauvin told me he was moved to enter the chili contest as a way to honor his brother Spencer, also a firefighter, who was killed in the line of duty in 2016. ‘I just want people to remember his sacrifice,’ he said.”
Yield: Serves 8 to 10; Time: 2 hours
This was featured in “This is the Best Firehouse Chili”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018961-firehouse-chili-gumbo.
Ingredients
For the Chili:
2 tablespoons neutral oil, like canola or grapeseed
3 pounds ground beef, ideally coarse-ground
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, or to taste
2 tablespoons chile powder
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 tablespoons steak sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
For the Gumbo:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced
2 medium shallots, peeled and diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
3 ribs celery, trimmed and diced
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 6-ounce cans tomato paste
2 8-ounce cans tomato sauce
1 to 2 cups tomato juice
1 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon apple-cider vinegar, or to taste
2 tablespoons hot sauce, or to taste
Preparation
Make the chili. Heat the oil in a large skillet or heavy-bottomed pot set over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook the beef, stirring often, until it has begun to brown at the edges. Using a slotted spoon, transfer browned meat to a bowl.
Pour off excess fat, turn heat down to medium and return the browned beef to the skillet or pot. Add salt, peppers, chile powder, turmeric, oregano and cumin, and stir to combine. Add steak sauce, Worcestershire sauce and diced tomatoes, and stir again. Cover the skillet or pot, and cook, stirring a few times, for 15 minutes or so.
Make the gumbo. Place a large pot with a heavy bottom over medium heat, and put the butter and oil into it. When the butter is melted and foaming, sprinkle the flour into the pan, and whisk to combine. Continue whisking until the mixture is golden brown, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Add the onion, shallots, bell peppers, celery and garlic, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables have started to soften, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Make the chili gumbo. Add the beef mixture to the pot with the vegetables along with the tomato paste, tomato sauce, tomato juice and ketchup, and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 to 45 minutes, then add apple-cider vinegar and hot sauce to taste. Take the pot off the heat, and serve, or allow to cool and refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to cure. Heat before serving.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
CHEESY TACO MEATLOAF
This comes from Campbell's Soup, and begins, “It takes just 10 minutes and a few ingredients to put together this scrumptious meatloaf...and when it comes out of the oven you've got two family favorites, tacos and meatloaf, combined into one tasty dish!”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hr 15 minutes; Serves: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Chunky Salsa or Pace® Picante Sauce - Medium
1 1/2 ounces tortilla chips, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
Set the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly mix the beef, 1 cup salsa, tortilla chips, egg, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a 3-quart shallow baking pan and shape into an 9x4-inch loaf.
Bake for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.
Spread the remaining salsa over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
When I was growing up, beef was probably the most popular main food on many dinner plates. (There was also the popular Wendy's commercial during the 1980s that asked "Where's the Beef?")
Well, here's the beef, including Firehouse Chili Gumbo and Baked Spaghetti. Enjoy!
SIMPLE MEATLOAF WITH OPTIONAL TOPPING
This comes from Diana Rattray on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “This delicious and simple meatloaf recipe is a great fit for Sunday dinner. Feel free to use plain ketchup to top this dish, or, if you're feeling a little adventurous, make the optional topping. For a tasty meal, serve the meatloaf with homemade mashed potatoes and peas and carrots or your favorite vegetables.
“Note: Ground beef with a ratio of 80/20 or 85/20 will produce the moistest and most flavorful meatloaf. Baking the meatloaf in a specialty meatloaf pan or on a rack will help drain away some of the excess fat. If you don't have either, you can make a free-form loaf on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 80 minutes; Total Time: 95 minutes; Yield: 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Optional Glaze/Topping:
4 tablespoons ketchup
4 tablespoons maple syrup (or honey)
2 tablespoons Dijon (or similar mustard)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
For the Meatloaf:
2 pounds ground beef
2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup fine dry breadcrumbs (plain)
2 tablespoons dried minced onion (or 1/2 cup finely minced fresh onion)
1 1/2 teaspoons burger seasoning (or 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper)
1/2 cup ketchup (plus more for topping, if desired)
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
Heat over to 350 degrees F.
Srapy a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
If using the optional topping, in a small bowl, combine 4 tablespoons ketchup, maple syrup, mustard and Worcestershire until well mixed. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, eggs, milk, breadcrumbs, onion, burger seasoning, and 1/2 cup of ketchup.
Mix until well blended and pack into the prepared loaf pan.
Bake the meatloaf for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Carefully drain off any excess fat and then top the loaf with the optional topping mixture or about 4 tablespoons of ketchup. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes longer.
Serve and enjoy!
Tips
Ground beef with a ratio of 80/20 or 85/20 will produce the moistest and most flavorful meatloaf. Baking the meatloaf in a specialty meatloaf pan or on a rack will help drain away some of the excess fat. If you don't have either, you can make a free-form loaf on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan.
Experiment with meat mixtures in meatloaf. While beef gives excellent flavor and holds together well, adding a portion of lean ground pork will provide juiciness. Ground veal would add lightness to a loaf, and ground chicken or turkey would reduce some of the fat and calories.
Top the meatloaf with prepared barbecue sauce just before it's finished baking.
Use cracker crumbs or soft breadcrumbs in the meatloaf instead of fine dry breadcrumbs.
Line the loaf pan with parchment paper or foil, like a sling. Just grab the ends of the paper or foil and lift the meatloaf out of the pan when it's done.
Bake the meatloaf in individual muffin cups. Use about 1/4 cup of meatloaf mixture for each muffin cup.
Pack the meatloaf mixture into individual oiled ramekins, and then invert them onto a rimmed baking sheet for perfectly shaped individual meatloaves.
Instead of breadcrumbs, use crushed cheese crackers in the meat mixture.
Top a meatloaf with strips of bacon before baking, or add crumbled cooked bacon to the meat mixture.
ULTIMATE NACHOS
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1/2 lb. Extra lean ground beef
8 oz. Velveeta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
6 oz. Tortilla chips (about 7 cups)
1 cup shredded lettuce
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
1 can (10 oz) Ro Tel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, drained well
Directions
Brown meat in medium skillet; drain.
Microwave Velveeta in medium microwave-safe bowl on HIGH 1 minute or until completely melted, stirring after 30 seconds.
Place chips on large platter; top with Velveeta, meat and remaining ingredients.
BAKED SPAGHETTI
This is from the Food Network, and begins, “This mash-up of lasagna and spaghetti with meat sauce makes for a warming one-pan dinner. (And if you start with leftover cooked noodles and meat sauce, you're set for a super-fast weeknight meal.) Assemble the casserole ahead of time and bake when you're ready to serve.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Inactive Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes; Level: Intermediate; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/baked-spaghetti-3361814.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
8 ounces thin spaghetti
8 ounces sharp Cheddar, grated (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Heat a second large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring to break the meat up, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, garlic and a generous pinch of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the crushed and diced tomatoes, sugar and oregano and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti for 2 minutes less than the time indicated in the package directions. Strain well. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cover the bottom of a 13-by-9-by-2-inch pan with a third of the sauce. Add half the pasta and a third of the Cheddar; repeat the layers and add the last of the sauce; reserve the last of the Cheddar.
Bake for 30 minutes. Top with the remaining Cheddar and continue baking until it melts and the sauce bubbles, about 5 more minutes. Let cool in the dish for at least 10 minutes. Garnish with the parsley before cutting into squares.
FIREHOUSE CHILI GUMBO
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “This recipe is adapted from the one that a Louisiana firefighter named Jeremy Chauvin entered into a national cook-off run by Hormel Foods in 2017, and that took home the prize for America’s Best Firehouse Chili. It is not really a chili in the Texas sense of the word. There is a roux at its base — it’s more like a chili gumbo, a bayou take on the original red. Serve with grated cheese and corn chips. Chauvin told me he was moved to enter the chili contest as a way to honor his brother Spencer, also a firefighter, who was killed in the line of duty in 2016. ‘I just want people to remember his sacrifice,’ he said.”
Yield: Serves 8 to 10; Time: 2 hours
This was featured in “This is the Best Firehouse Chili”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018961-firehouse-chili-gumbo.
Ingredients
For the Chili:
2 tablespoons neutral oil, like canola or grapeseed
3 pounds ground beef, ideally coarse-ground
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, or to taste
2 tablespoons chile powder
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 tablespoons steak sauce
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
For the Gumbo:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced
2 medium shallots, peeled and diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
3 ribs celery, trimmed and diced
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 6-ounce cans tomato paste
2 8-ounce cans tomato sauce
1 to 2 cups tomato juice
1 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon apple-cider vinegar, or to taste
2 tablespoons hot sauce, or to taste
Preparation
Make the chili. Heat the oil in a large skillet or heavy-bottomed pot set over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook the beef, stirring often, until it has begun to brown at the edges. Using a slotted spoon, transfer browned meat to a bowl.
Pour off excess fat, turn heat down to medium and return the browned beef to the skillet or pot. Add salt, peppers, chile powder, turmeric, oregano and cumin, and stir to combine. Add steak sauce, Worcestershire sauce and diced tomatoes, and stir again. Cover the skillet or pot, and cook, stirring a few times, for 15 minutes or so.
Make the gumbo. Place a large pot with a heavy bottom over medium heat, and put the butter and oil into it. When the butter is melted and foaming, sprinkle the flour into the pan, and whisk to combine. Continue whisking until the mixture is golden brown, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Add the onion, shallots, bell peppers, celery and garlic, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables have started to soften, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
Make the chili gumbo. Add the beef mixture to the pot with the vegetables along with the tomato paste, tomato sauce, tomato juice and ketchup, and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 to 45 minutes, then add apple-cider vinegar and hot sauce to taste. Take the pot off the heat, and serve, or allow to cool and refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to cure. Heat before serving.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
CHEESY TACO MEATLOAF
This comes from Campbell's Soup, and begins, “It takes just 10 minutes and a few ingredients to put together this scrumptious meatloaf...and when it comes out of the oven you've got two family favorites, tacos and meatloaf, combined into one tasty dish!”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hr 15 minutes; Serves: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Chunky Salsa or Pace® Picante Sauce - Medium
1 1/2 ounces tortilla chips, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
Set the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly mix the beef, 1 cup salsa, tortilla chips, egg, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a 3-quart shallow baking pan and shape into an 9x4-inch loaf.
Bake for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.
Spread the remaining salsa over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Lasagna
If you love lasagna as much as I do, today's post is for you. Try out the Mexican Lasagna or Slow Cooker Lasagna, then go from there. Enjoy!
QUICK, HIGH-PROTEIN VEGGIE LASAGNA
This recipe is from Vegetarian Times, and was posted on their website on January 2, 2005. It begins, “This easy-to-follow recipe provides you with 21 grams of protein per serving, thanks to the soy "steak" strips. The lasagna can be assembled quickly since you don't have to cook the pasta first. Excerpted from Diet Simple by Katherine Tallmadge.” Makes 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. minced garlic
12 oz. soy "steak" strips
1/2 lb. eggplant, cubed
1 ripe tomato, cubed
1 zucchini, diced
2 1/2 cups marinara sauce
2 tsp. dried oregano, or to taste
1 9-oz. pkg. oven-ready lasagna sheets
2 cups low-fat ricotta cheese
2 cups low-fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray nonstick 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat, and brown garlic 2 to 3 minutes. Add soy strips, and sauté 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggplant, tomato, zucchini and 1 cup of marinara sauce; cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in oregano, salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, place 6 sheets of lasagna in bottom of pan, overlapping as needed to fill gaps. Spoon in eggplant mixture, and top with layer of ricotta cheese. Place remaining lasagna strips over ricotta, and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Spread remaining marinara sauce on top, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and cover pan tightly with foil. Bake 30 to 45 minutes, or until top layer of pasta is soft. Remove and serve.
MEXICAN LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “A delicious twist on lasagna!”
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6-8 large tortillas
1 lb ground beef
1 packet Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix
1/3 medium onion, diced
1 can (19 oz) Old El Paso™ mild red enchilada sauce
1 can (16 oz) Old El Paso™ refried beans, any type
1 1/2 cup cheddar or mexican blend cheese
3 small or medium tomatoes, diced
Cilantro, as desired
Black olives, as desired
Sour cream, for topping
Shredded lettuce, for topping
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large non-stick skillet on stove, cook onions and beef until cooked through. Remove skillet from heat, drain off grease and stir in taco seasoning. Set aside.
Cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with a thin coat of enchilada sauce. Layer tortilla halves in the bottom of the pan with the cut (straight) sides facing outward toward edges of pan. Cut pieces of another tortilla as needed to fill in any gaps and create a solid tortilla layer in the bottom of the pan.
Continue layering ingredients in the following order, making sure to save enough of each ingredient to form a second layer: refried beans, enchilada sauce, beef and onion mixture, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and chopped cilantro and black olives (if desired).
Using equal amounts of ingredients as the first layer, form your second layer in the following order: tortillas, beans, enchilada sauce, meat and onions, cheese, tomatoes, cilantro and olives.
Top with a final layer of tortillas, and cover with a thin coating of enchilada sauce and cheese.
Bake lasagna for 30-45 minutes until cheese is melted and tortillas start to crisp. Serve with sour cream, lettuce and additional toppings as desired.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
I’d been making lasagna for years, using a favorite cookbook. One time, my oldest son took the same recipe, and replaced the meat with eggplant. His came out tasting better than when I made it.
I tried recreating the eggplant version, but it never quite came out the same. So, I ended up changing the recipe drastically, changing ingredients and amounts. The funny thing is that, while I use one or two packages of tofu crumbles instead of meat, it tastes enough like meat to fool several non-vegetarians. One person, after eating this, even looked at me aghast, asking, “What are you, some kind of vegetarian?” Never heard from him again.
Ingredients
Tomato sauce:
2 – 3 onions, chopped
3 – 5 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can tomatoes
2 – 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste
2 T oil
1 T oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
1 or 2 – 10 oz. package tofu crumbles
Cheese layer:
2 C sour cream
2 C cottage cheese
2 eggs
4 C mozzarella, grated
2 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 C Parmesan cheese
Directions
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients, stir well, simmer for 1 hour. While sauce is cooking, in a separate pot, cook 16 oz. lasagna noodles
Make cheese layer:
Mix ingredients together in large bowl.
Assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 9” X 13” pan, place half the cooked lasagna noodles length-wise. Top with half the cheese mixture, then half the tomato sauce. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Let cool a few minutes before cutting, as it tends to be a little runny when it first comes out of the oven. Serve with a salad and a loaf of hot Italian bread. Very yummy.
SLOW COOKER LASAGNA
This was posted on Pure Wow, and is from Ali, whose blog, GimmeSomeOven, is absolutely fantastic! If you’ve never checked it out, you really should. Go ahead, I’ll wait. (Tap, tap, tap…)
Okay, so Ali starts this recipe off with, “This Slow Cooker Lasagna recipe is easy to make and customize with your favorite ingredients in the crock pot!”
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes; Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 4 hours; Yield: 10 - 12 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/slow-cooker-lasgana-recipe/print/.
Ingredients
1 pound ground Italian sausage (I used spicy) or ground beef*
2 (24-ounce) jars of good-quality Italian pasta sauce**
16 uncooked no-boil lasagna noodles
32 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups chopped fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup finely-chopped fresh basil
Directions
Add the ground Italian sausage (or ground beef) to a large saute pan, and cook over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through, using a large spoon to stir and break up the meet into small crumbles as it cooks. Remove from heat and drain off any excess grease. Set aside.
Meanwhile, as the meat is cooking, go ahead and get ready to assemble the lasagna. Begin by spraying the insert of a large 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Then layer the ingredients in the following order:
Spread 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce evenly along the bottom of the slow cooker.
Layer about 4 lasagna noodles — breaking them into smaller pieces as needed to fit — evenly over the sauce to cover the bottom of the slow cooker.
Layer about 1/3 of the ricotta cheese (a little over 1 cup) evenly on top of the noodles. (I found it was easiest to do this in small spoonfuls, and then spread them out with a spatula. It’s totally ok if it’s messy and uneven!)
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the shredded Mozzarella cheese and 2 Tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese in an even layer on top of the ricotta.
Layer about 1/3 of the cooked ground meat in an even layer on top of the cheeses.
Layer about 1/3 of the chopped spinach in an even layer on top of the ground meat.
Layer 1 cup of pasta sauce in an even layer on top of the spinach.
Repeat with another layer of noodles, ricotta, Mozzarella/Parmesan, ground meat, spinach, and sauce. Then repeat with another layer of noodles, ricotta, Mozzarella/Parmesan, ground meat, spinach, and sauce. Then add one more layer of noodles, sauce, and Mozzarella.
Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours, or until the noodles are tender.
Turn off the heat, and sprinkle the top of the lasagna evenly with the remaining Parmesan and fresh basil. Serve immediately. (Or if you let the lasagna sit and rest for 30 minutes, it will cut into pieces much more easily.)
BUDGET-FRIENDLY PASTITSIO (GREEK LASAGNA)
This is from Diabetes Food Hub, and begins, “This version of Greek Lasagna is a great family meal that pairs well with a green salad topped with a little feta cheese and light Greek salad dressing.”
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 12; Serving Size: 1 slice
View this online at https://www.diabetesfoodhub.org/recipes/budget-friendly-pastitsio-greek-lasagna.html.
Ingredients
1 spray Nonstick cooking spray
1 medium onion (diced)
20 oz lean ground turkey (93% fat-free)
2 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground oregano
1/2 tsp salt (optional)
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 can tomato sauce (15 ounce, low-sodium)
1 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
1 lbs brown rice or quinoa penne pasta (or whole wheat penne pasta)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp whole wheat flour
2 cups skim milk
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
1 egg
Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 8
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking sheet with cooking spray. Set aside.
Add cooking spray to a large nonstick sauté pan. Sauté onions for 4-5 minutes or until translucent. Add in ground turkey and sauté for 8-10 minutes, or until turkey is cooked through.
Add cinnamon, oregano, salt (optional), ground black pepper, and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer for 5-7 minutes or until just starting to thicken.
Stir in parsley and set aside.
Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt. Drain and stir immediately into turkey mixture. Pour the pasta and turkey mixture into the baking sheet and press down so it is evenly spread in the pan.
Add the olive oil to a small sauce pan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook the flour for 1-2 minutes, taking care not to brown it. Stir constantly.
Slowly whisk in the skim milk and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Whisk in the nutmeg and parmesan cheese.
In a small bowl, whisk the egg and then slowly whisk in the hot milk mixture to temper the egg. Add the rest of the milk mixture to the egg and then pour over the top of the pasta, spreading to coat the entire thing.
Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 30 minutes or until bubbly and top is golden brown.
QUICK, HIGH-PROTEIN VEGGIE LASAGNA
This recipe is from Vegetarian Times, and was posted on their website on January 2, 2005. It begins, “This easy-to-follow recipe provides you with 21 grams of protein per serving, thanks to the soy "steak" strips. The lasagna can be assembled quickly since you don't have to cook the pasta first. Excerpted from Diet Simple by Katherine Tallmadge.” Makes 10 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. minced garlic
12 oz. soy "steak" strips
1/2 lb. eggplant, cubed
1 ripe tomato, cubed
1 zucchini, diced
2 1/2 cups marinara sauce
2 tsp. dried oregano, or to taste
1 9-oz. pkg. oven-ready lasagna sheets
2 cups low-fat ricotta cheese
2 cups low-fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray nonstick 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat, and brown garlic 2 to 3 minutes. Add soy strips, and sauté 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggplant, tomato, zucchini and 1 cup of marinara sauce; cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in oregano, salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, place 6 sheets of lasagna in bottom of pan, overlapping as needed to fill gaps. Spoon in eggplant mixture, and top with layer of ricotta cheese. Place remaining lasagna strips over ricotta, and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Spread remaining marinara sauce on top, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and cover pan tightly with foil. Bake 30 to 45 minutes, or until top layer of pasta is soft. Remove and serve.
MEXICAN LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “A delicious twist on lasagna!”
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6-8 large tortillas
1 lb ground beef
1 packet Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix
1/3 medium onion, diced
1 can (19 oz) Old El Paso™ mild red enchilada sauce
1 can (16 oz) Old El Paso™ refried beans, any type
1 1/2 cup cheddar or mexican blend cheese
3 small or medium tomatoes, diced
Cilantro, as desired
Black olives, as desired
Sour cream, for topping
Shredded lettuce, for topping
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large non-stick skillet on stove, cook onions and beef until cooked through. Remove skillet from heat, drain off grease and stir in taco seasoning. Set aside.
Cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with a thin coat of enchilada sauce. Layer tortilla halves in the bottom of the pan with the cut (straight) sides facing outward toward edges of pan. Cut pieces of another tortilla as needed to fill in any gaps and create a solid tortilla layer in the bottom of the pan.
Continue layering ingredients in the following order, making sure to save enough of each ingredient to form a second layer: refried beans, enchilada sauce, beef and onion mixture, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and chopped cilantro and black olives (if desired).
Using equal amounts of ingredients as the first layer, form your second layer in the following order: tortillas, beans, enchilada sauce, meat and onions, cheese, tomatoes, cilantro and olives.
Top with a final layer of tortillas, and cover with a thin coating of enchilada sauce and cheese.
Bake lasagna for 30-45 minutes until cheese is melted and tortillas start to crisp. Serve with sour cream, lettuce and additional toppings as desired.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
VEGETARIAN LASAGNA
I’d been making lasagna for years, using a favorite cookbook. One time, my oldest son took the same recipe, and replaced the meat with eggplant. His came out tasting better than when I made it.
I tried recreating the eggplant version, but it never quite came out the same. So, I ended up changing the recipe drastically, changing ingredients and amounts. The funny thing is that, while I use one or two packages of tofu crumbles instead of meat, it tastes enough like meat to fool several non-vegetarians. One person, after eating this, even looked at me aghast, asking, “What are you, some kind of vegetarian?” Never heard from him again.
Ingredients
Tomato sauce:
2 – 3 onions, chopped
3 – 5 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz. can tomatoes
2 – 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 – 6 oz. cans tomato paste
2 T oil
1 T oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
1 or 2 – 10 oz. package tofu crumbles
Cheese layer:
2 C sour cream
2 C cottage cheese
2 eggs
4 C mozzarella, grated
2 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 C Parmesan cheese
Directions
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients, stir well, simmer for 1 hour. While sauce is cooking, in a separate pot, cook 16 oz. lasagna noodles
Make cheese layer:
Mix ingredients together in large bowl.
Assemble:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In 9” X 13” pan, place half the cooked lasagna noodles length-wise. Top with half the cheese mixture, then half the tomato sauce. Repeat. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Let cool a few minutes before cutting, as it tends to be a little runny when it first comes out of the oven. Serve with a salad and a loaf of hot Italian bread. Very yummy.
SLOW COOKER LASAGNA
This was posted on Pure Wow, and is from Ali, whose blog, GimmeSomeOven, is absolutely fantastic! If you’ve never checked it out, you really should. Go ahead, I’ll wait. (Tap, tap, tap…)
Okay, so Ali starts this recipe off with, “This Slow Cooker Lasagna recipe is easy to make and customize with your favorite ingredients in the crock pot!”
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes; Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 4 hours; Yield: 10 - 12 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/slow-cooker-lasgana-recipe/print/.
Ingredients
1 pound ground Italian sausage (I used spicy) or ground beef*
2 (24-ounce) jars of good-quality Italian pasta sauce**
16 uncooked no-boil lasagna noodles
32 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups chopped fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup finely-chopped fresh basil
Directions
Add the ground Italian sausage (or ground beef) to a large saute pan, and cook over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through, using a large spoon to stir and break up the meet into small crumbles as it cooks. Remove from heat and drain off any excess grease. Set aside.
Meanwhile, as the meat is cooking, go ahead and get ready to assemble the lasagna. Begin by spraying the insert of a large 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Then layer the ingredients in the following order:
Spread 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce evenly along the bottom of the slow cooker.
Layer about 4 lasagna noodles — breaking them into smaller pieces as needed to fit — evenly over the sauce to cover the bottom of the slow cooker.
Layer about 1/3 of the ricotta cheese (a little over 1 cup) evenly on top of the noodles. (I found it was easiest to do this in small spoonfuls, and then spread them out with a spatula. It’s totally ok if it’s messy and uneven!)
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the shredded Mozzarella cheese and 2 Tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese in an even layer on top of the ricotta.
Layer about 1/3 of the cooked ground meat in an even layer on top of the cheeses.
Layer about 1/3 of the chopped spinach in an even layer on top of the ground meat.
Layer 1 cup of pasta sauce in an even layer on top of the spinach.
Repeat with another layer of noodles, ricotta, Mozzarella/Parmesan, ground meat, spinach, and sauce. Then repeat with another layer of noodles, ricotta, Mozzarella/Parmesan, ground meat, spinach, and sauce. Then add one more layer of noodles, sauce, and Mozzarella.
Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours, or until the noodles are tender.
Turn off the heat, and sprinkle the top of the lasagna evenly with the remaining Parmesan and fresh basil. Serve immediately. (Or if you let the lasagna sit and rest for 30 minutes, it will cut into pieces much more easily.)
BUDGET-FRIENDLY PASTITSIO (GREEK LASAGNA)
This is from Diabetes Food Hub, and begins, “This version of Greek Lasagna is a great family meal that pairs well with a green salad topped with a little feta cheese and light Greek salad dressing.”
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Servings: 12; Serving Size: 1 slice
View this online at https://www.diabetesfoodhub.org/recipes/budget-friendly-pastitsio-greek-lasagna.html.
Ingredients
1 spray Nonstick cooking spray
1 medium onion (diced)
20 oz lean ground turkey (93% fat-free)
2 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground oregano
1/2 tsp salt (optional)
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 can tomato sauce (15 ounce, low-sodium)
1 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
1 lbs brown rice or quinoa penne pasta (or whole wheat penne pasta)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp whole wheat flour
2 cups skim milk
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
1 egg
Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 8
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking sheet with cooking spray. Set aside.
Add cooking spray to a large nonstick sauté pan. Sauté onions for 4-5 minutes or until translucent. Add in ground turkey and sauté for 8-10 minutes, or until turkey is cooked through.
Add cinnamon, oregano, salt (optional), ground black pepper, and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer for 5-7 minutes or until just starting to thicken.
Stir in parsley and set aside.
Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt. Drain and stir immediately into turkey mixture. Pour the pasta and turkey mixture into the baking sheet and press down so it is evenly spread in the pan.
Add the olive oil to a small sauce pan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook the flour for 1-2 minutes, taking care not to brown it. Stir constantly.
Slowly whisk in the skim milk and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Whisk in the nutmeg and parmesan cheese.
In a small bowl, whisk the egg and then slowly whisk in the hot milk mixture to temper the egg. Add the rest of the milk mixture to the egg and then pour over the top of the pasta, spreading to coat the entire thing.
Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 30 minutes or until bubbly and top is golden brown.
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Where's the Beef?
For those of us around during the 1980s, we probably remember the old Where's the Beef? commercials.
Well, here are six beefy recipes to get you going, including Savory Meatloaf and Easy Slow-Cooker Lasagna. Enjoy!
MEXICAN LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “A delicious twist on lasagna!”
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6-8 large tortillas
1 lb ground beef
1 packet Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix
1/3 medium onion, diced
1 can (19 oz) Old El Paso™ mild red enchilada sauce
1 can (16 oz) Old El Paso™ refried beans, any type
1 1/2 cup cheddar or mexican blend cheese
3 small or medium tomatoes, diced
Cilantro, as desired
Black olives, as desired
Sour cream, for topping
Shredded lettuce, for topping
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large non-stick skillet on stove, cook onions and beef until cooked through. Remove skillet from heat, drain off grease and stir in taco seasoning. Set aside.
Cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with a thin coat of enchilada sauce. Layer tortilla halves in the bottom of the pan with the cut (straight) sides facing outward toward edges of pan. Cut pieces of another tortilla as needed to fill in any gaps and create a solid tortilla layer in the bottom of the pan.
Continue layering ingredients in the following order, making sure to save enough of each ingredient to form a second layer: refried beans, enchilada sauce, beef and onion mixture, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and chopped cilantro and black olives (if desired).
Using equal amounts of ingredients as the first layer, form your second layer in the following order: tortillas, beans, enchilada sauce, meat and onions, cheese, tomatoes, cilantro and olives.
Top with a final layer of tortillas, and cover with a thin coating of enchilada sauce and cheese.
Bake lasagna for 30-45 minutes until cheese is melted and tortillas start to crisp. Serve with sour cream, lettuce and additional toppings as desired.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
CHEESY TACO MEATLOAF
This comes from Campbell's Soup, and begins, “It takes just 10 minutes and a few ingredients to put together this scrumptious meatloaf...and when it comes out of the oven you've got two family favorites, tacos and meatloaf, combined into one tasty dish!”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hr 15 minutes; Serves: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Chunky Salsa or Pace® Picante Sauce - Medium
1 1/2 ounces tortilla chips, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
Set the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly mix the beef, 1 cup salsa, tortilla chips, egg, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a 3-quart shallow baking pan and shape into an 9x4-inch loaf.
Bake for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.
Spread the remaining salsa over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
SAVORY MEATLOAF
This also comes from Campbell's Soup, and begins, “Meatloaf is the definition of comfort food and this saucy version shines when the family gathers for a good meal.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hr 30 minutes; Serves: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Tomato Soup
1/2 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup water
Directions
Thoroughly mix the beef, 1/2 cup soup, bread crumbs, egg, onion, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a shallow 3-quart baking pan and shape firmly into an 8 x 4-inch loaf.
Bake at 350°F. for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through. Let the meatloaf stand for 10 minutes before slicing.
Heat 2 tablespoons pan drippings, remaining soup and water in a 1-quart saucepan over medium-high heat until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Serve the soup mixture with the meatloaf.
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.
CLASSIC NACHOS
This is from Better Homes & Gardens, and begins, “These five-ingredient nachos are a cinch to make for a large crowd. Bake a batch for your next party and serve with an array of topping options, like cilantro, jalapeno peppers, sour cream and salsa.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Bake Time: 20 minutes at 350°; Servings: 8
View this online here.
Ingredients
5 cups bite-sized tortilla chips (6 ounces)
1 pound ground beef
1 15 ounce can black beans or pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup bottled chunky salsa
1 1/2 – 2 cups shredded cheddar, Colby Jack, or Mexican cheese blend (6 ounces)
Optional toppings (such as thinly sliced green onion, snipped fresh cilantro, seeded and sliced fresh jalapeño chile pepper, sour cream, and/or additional bottled chunky salsa)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange half of the tortilla chips on an 11- or 12-inch ovenproof platter or pizza pan; set aside.
In a large skillet cook ground beef over medium heat until brown. Drain off fat.
Stir the black beans and the 1 cup salsa into the beef. Spoon half of the mixture over chips. Sprinkle with half the cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until cheese melts. Remove from oven. Top with remaining chips, beef mixture, and cheese. Bake for 10 minutes more or until cheese melts.
If desired, top with green onion, cilantro, jalapeño chile pepper, sour cream, and/or additional salsa.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 368 calories, (8 g saturated fat, 3 g polyunsaturated fat, 7 g monounsaturated fat), 61 mg cholesterol, 638 mg sodium, 26 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 23 g protein.
Well, here are six beefy recipes to get you going, including Savory Meatloaf and Easy Slow-Cooker Lasagna. Enjoy!
MEXICAN LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “A delicious twist on lasagna!”
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6-8 large tortillas
1 lb ground beef
1 packet Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix
1/3 medium onion, diced
1 can (19 oz) Old El Paso™ mild red enchilada sauce
1 can (16 oz) Old El Paso™ refried beans, any type
1 1/2 cup cheddar or mexican blend cheese
3 small or medium tomatoes, diced
Cilantro, as desired
Black olives, as desired
Sour cream, for topping
Shredded lettuce, for topping
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large non-stick skillet on stove, cook onions and beef until cooked through. Remove skillet from heat, drain off grease and stir in taco seasoning. Set aside.
Cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with a thin coat of enchilada sauce. Layer tortilla halves in the bottom of the pan with the cut (straight) sides facing outward toward edges of pan. Cut pieces of another tortilla as needed to fill in any gaps and create a solid tortilla layer in the bottom of the pan.
Continue layering ingredients in the following order, making sure to save enough of each ingredient to form a second layer: refried beans, enchilada sauce, beef and onion mixture, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and chopped cilantro and black olives (if desired).
Using equal amounts of ingredients as the first layer, form your second layer in the following order: tortillas, beans, enchilada sauce, meat and onions, cheese, tomatoes, cilantro and olives.
Top with a final layer of tortillas, and cover with a thin coating of enchilada sauce and cheese.
Bake lasagna for 30-45 minutes until cheese is melted and tortillas start to crisp. Serve with sour cream, lettuce and additional toppings as desired.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
CHEESY TACO MEATLOAF
This comes from Campbell's Soup, and begins, “It takes just 10 minutes and a few ingredients to put together this scrumptious meatloaf...and when it comes out of the oven you've got two family favorites, tacos and meatloaf, combined into one tasty dish!”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hr 15 minutes; Serves: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Chunky Salsa or Pace® Picante Sauce - Medium
1 1/2 ounces tortilla chips, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
Set the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly mix the beef, 1 cup salsa, tortilla chips, egg, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a 3-quart shallow baking pan and shape into an 9x4-inch loaf.
Bake for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.
Spread the remaining salsa over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
SAVORY MEATLOAF
This also comes from Campbell's Soup, and begins, “Meatloaf is the definition of comfort food and this saucy version shines when the family gathers for a good meal.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hr 30 minutes; Serves: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Tomato Soup
1/2 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup water
Directions
Thoroughly mix the beef, 1/2 cup soup, bread crumbs, egg, onion, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a shallow 3-quart baking pan and shape firmly into an 8 x 4-inch loaf.
Bake at 350°F. for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through. Let the meatloaf stand for 10 minutes before slicing.
Heat 2 tablespoons pan drippings, remaining soup and water in a 1-quart saucepan over medium-high heat until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Serve the soup mixture with the meatloaf.
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.
CLASSIC NACHOS
This is from Better Homes & Gardens, and begins, “These five-ingredient nachos are a cinch to make for a large crowd. Bake a batch for your next party and serve with an array of topping options, like cilantro, jalapeno peppers, sour cream and salsa.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Bake Time: 20 minutes at 350°; Servings: 8
View this online here.
Ingredients
5 cups bite-sized tortilla chips (6 ounces)
1 pound ground beef
1 15 ounce can black beans or pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup bottled chunky salsa
1 1/2 – 2 cups shredded cheddar, Colby Jack, or Mexican cheese blend (6 ounces)
Optional toppings (such as thinly sliced green onion, snipped fresh cilantro, seeded and sliced fresh jalapeño chile pepper, sour cream, and/or additional bottled chunky salsa)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange half of the tortilla chips on an 11- or 12-inch ovenproof platter or pizza pan; set aside.
In a large skillet cook ground beef over medium heat until brown. Drain off fat.
Stir the black beans and the 1 cup salsa into the beef. Spoon half of the mixture over chips. Sprinkle with half the cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until cheese melts. Remove from oven. Top with remaining chips, beef mixture, and cheese. Bake for 10 minutes more or until cheese melts.
If desired, top with green onion, cilantro, jalapeño chile pepper, sour cream, and/or additional salsa.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 368 calories, (8 g saturated fat, 3 g polyunsaturated fat, 7 g monounsaturated fat), 61 mg cholesterol, 638 mg sodium, 26 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 23 g protein.
Monday, June 17, 2019
Lasagna - Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's double post deals with yummy lasagna, including Mexican Lasagna and Slow Cooker Lasagna. Enjoy!
SIMPLE VEGETARIAN SPINACH LASAGNA
This is from Vicki Shanta Retelny, RDN on the VeryWellFit site. Vicki wrote, “There's nothing like lasagna to soothe a craving for a creamy, dreamy meal. With a foundation of vitamin C-rich tomato sauce, which is loaded with the carotenoid lycopene, this Italian classic takes on a healthy bend with a good dose veggies nestled in its layers.
“Chock full of leafy green spinach, this dish is good for your brain health, as eating a serving of veggies each day has shown to fend off cognitive decline. Spinach is also loaded with iron and calcium for a total body wellness boost.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 65 minutes; Servings: 9 (1 cup each)
To view this online, go to https://www.verywellfit.com/vegetarian-spinach-lasagna-4144632.
Ingredients
1 package no-boil lasagna noodles
2 28-ounce cans tomato sauce
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon oregano
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 15-ounce container part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated
3 cups raw baby spinach leaves
Directions
Preheat the oven the 350F.
On the stovetop over medium heat, pour the tomato sauce into a saucepan. Add salt, oregano, and garlic. Bring to a light boil, lower the heat, and simmer for a few minutes. Stir occasionally.
On the bottom of a 9x13 pan put a layer of tomato sauce. Place a layer of noodles on top, covering the bottom of the pan. Spread ricotta cheese on top of the noodles, top with spinach, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and coat with a small ladle full of sauce. Repeat the layers until you get to the top of the pan. Sprinkle the final layer with mozzarella cheese.
Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown on top.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a 10 minutes before serving.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Make this dish higher in fiber with whole wheat noodles, although they may only be available in the boil variety. Add other vegetables such a sliced carrots, zucchini, or eggplant. For an alternative green, use baby kale or arugula. Spread pesto between the layers or incorporate it into the tomato sauce for a rich, nutty flavor.
If you want to add meat, add cooked, diced chicken breast or ground turkey to the sauce. For a non-dairy twist, use vegan cheese in lieu of ricotta and mozzarella cheese.
Cooking and Serving Tips
To save time use no-boil lasagna noodles—they're quick and easy to assemble. Plus, the part-skim ricotta cheese and mozzarella reduce the fat but still offer good-quality protein.
This dish can be assembled and placed, uncooked and covered, in the refrigerator overnight. Simply heat and serve the next day. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container.
MEXICAN LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “A delicious twist on lasagna!”
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6-8 large tortillas
1 lb ground beef
1 packet Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix
1/3 medium onion, diced
1 can (19 oz) Old El Paso™ mild red enchilada sauce
1 can (16 oz) Old El Paso™ refried beans, any type
1 1/2 cup cheddar or mexican blend cheese
3 small or medium tomatoes, diced
Cilantro, as desired
Black olives, as desired
Sour cream, for topping
Shredded lettuce, for topping
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large non-stick skillet on stove, cook onions and beef until cooked through. Remove skillet from heat, drain off grease and stir in taco seasoning. Set aside.
Cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with a thin coat of enchilada sauce. Layer tortilla halves in the bottom of the pan with the cut (straight) sides facing outward toward edges of pan. Cut pieces of another tortilla as needed to fill in any gaps and create a solid tortilla layer in the bottom of the pan.
Continue layering ingredients in the following order, making sure to save enough of each ingredient to form a second layer: refried beans, enchilada sauce, beef and onion mixture, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and chopped cilantro and black olives (if desired).
Using equal amounts of ingredients as the first layer, form your second layer in the following order: tortillas, beans, enchilada sauce, meat and onions, cheese, tomatoes, cilantro and olives.
Top with a final layer of tortillas, and cover with a thin coating of enchilada sauce and cheese.
Bake lasagna for 30-45 minutes until cheese is melted and tortillas start to crisp. Serve with sour cream, lettuce and additional toppings as desired.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
HOME/MADE MUSHROOM LASAGNA
This comes from Sam Sifton at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Monica Byrne, with her partner, Leisah Swenson, runs a tiny restaurant in Red Hook, Brooklyn, called Home/Made. A plurality of words that appear on the Home/Made menu: ‘cheese,’ ‘smoked,’ ‘bacon,’ ‘caramelized.’ Three of those four appear in Byrne’s lasagna, leaving out only bacon, which would be a fine addition. She layers smoked mozzarella over a painting of rich, garlicky béchamel and sheets of pasta, then radicchio roasted into sweetness and tossed in sauce. Sautéed mushrooms add heft and loamy funkiness, and a mixture of Fontina and Gruyère add zing.”
Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 2 hours
This was featured in “Gooey Wild-Mushroom Lasagna” and can be viewed onlinehere.
Ingredients
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil or herb oil
6 large shallots, peeled and minced
1 1/2 pounds mushrooms, wild or best available oyster, shiitake, cremini, trimmed and sliced
1 cup dry white wine
1 softball-size head of radicchio, halved, cored and cut into 1/2-inch slices
Kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, or herb oil
3 large cloves garlic, peeled and minced
4 tablespoons flour, ideally instant or all-purpose
3 cups whole milk
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 cup Gruyère cheese, grated
1 cup Fontina cheese, grated
2 tablespoons best-quality truffle oil (optional)
2 9-ounce boxes of no-boil lasagna sheets
1 baseball-size ball of smoked mozzarella, sliced
1 cup fresh Parmesan, grated
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Place a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add 1/4 cup of the olive oil or herb oil. When it begins to shimmer, add half of the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent. Add mushrooms and toss to coat, then cook until they begin to color but are still plump, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Add white wine to deglaze pan and allow to cook down into a syrup, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Put the mushrooms into a large bowl and reserve.
Meanwhile, in another bowl, toss the radicchio with 1/4 cup olive oil or herb oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread the strips out onto a baking pan and place in the oven until the strips are lightly browned around the edges, approximately 15 minutes. Combine with mushrooms and reserve.
Make the béchamel. Place a saucepan over medium heat and melt the butter. When it foams, add the rest of the shallots and cook until they begin to turn translucent. Add the garlic and stir to combine, then cook until the garlic has started to soften. Sprinkle flour over the top and stir to combine, then cook gently until the mixture has turned light brown and gives off a nutty scent, approximately 10 minutes. Add milk to the mixture, whisking all the while, until the sauce is thick and creamy. Add the nutmeg and 1/4 cup of grated Gruyère and 1/4 cup of grated Fontina, then stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Reserve a cup of béchamel. Pour the rest over the mixture of mushrooms and radicchio, and stir to combine. Add truffle oil, if using.
Assemble lasagna. Spread plain béchamel across the bottom of a 9- by-13-inch baking pan. Place a layer of lasagna sheets across the sauce, being careful not to overlap. Spread a generous layer of mushroom mixture on top of the pasta, and follow with some grated Fontina and Gruyère. Put another layer of pasta above the cheese, and top with smoked mozzarella. Repeat until the pasta is gone and the pan is full. Top with remaining cheeses and a generous amount of grated Parmesan. Cover with a buttered sheet of aluminum foil and place in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove foil and cook until top is golden and bubbling.
LOW-FAT VEGAN EGGPLANT LASAGNA
This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "Looking for the perfect vegan, low-fat eggplant lasagna recipe? This recipe is a classic lasagna made with eggplant and spinach, and very little else. There's no tofu or ricotta cheese substitute to round it out, just the necessary ingredients of lasagna noodles, eggplants, spinach, and tomato sauce layered together.." Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium eggplant, diced
2 10 ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, defrosted
1 64 ounce jar pre-made tomato sauce
1 pound lasagna noodles
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Heat the olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Sautee the garlic for two minutes, then add the eggplant and stir. Cover the frying pan and cook until the eggplant is just tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Cover the bottom of a 9x12 inch baking pan with 2 cups of the tomato sauce, then cover the tomato sauce with 4 or 5 uncooked noodles. Cover this with a thin layer of sauce, then add the cooked eggplant and another thin layer of sauce. Add another layer of noodles followed by a thing layer of sauce, then the spinach and another thin layer of sauce. Add the remaining noodles and sauce.
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45-50 minutes. Noodles are cooked when they can be pierced with a fork.
Makes six servings of eggplant and spinach lasagna. Reprinted with permission from The Compassionate Cook Cookbook.
Nutritional information, per serving: Calories: 347, Calories from Fat: 41; % Daily Value: Total Fat: 4.6g, 7%, Total Carbohydrates: 65.8g, 22%, Dietary Fiber: 9.2g, 37%, Protein: 16.3g, Vitamin A 199%, Vitamin C 83%, Calcium 14%, Iron 32%
SLOW COOKER LASAGNA
This was posted on Pure Wow, and is from Ali, whose blog, GimmeSomeOven, is absolutely fantastic! If you’ve never checked it out, you really should. Go ahead, I’ll wait. (Tap, tap, tap…)
Okay, so Ali starts this recipe off with, “This Slow Cooker Lasagna recipe is easy to make and customize with your favorite ingredients in the crock pot!”
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes; Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 4 hours; Yield: 10 - 12 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/slow-cooker-lasgana-recipe/print/.
Ingredients
1 pound ground Italian sausage (I used spicy) or ground beef*
2 (24-ounce) jars of good-quality Italian pasta sauce**
16 uncooked no-boil lasagna noodles
32 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups chopped fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup finely-chopped fresh basil
Directions
Add the ground Italian sausage (or ground beef) to a large saute pan, and cook over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through, using a large spoon to stir and break up the meet into small crumbles as it cooks. Remove from heat and drain off any excess grease. Set aside.
Meanwhile, as the meat is cooking, go ahead and get ready to assemble the lasagna. Begin by spraying the insert of a large 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Then layer the ingredients in the following order:
Spread 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce evenly along the bottom of the slow cooker.
Layer about 4 lasagna noodles — breaking them into smaller pieces as needed to fit — evenly over the sauce to cover the bottom of the slow cooker.
Layer about 1/3 of the ricotta cheese (a little over 1 cup) evenly on top of the noodles. (I found it was easiest to do this in small spoonfuls, and then spread them out with a spatula. It’s totally ok if it’s messy and uneven!)
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the shredded Mozzarella cheese and 2 Tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese in an even layer on top of the ricotta.
Layer about 1/3 of the cooked ground meat in an even layer on top of the cheeses.
Layer about 1/3 of the chopped spinach in an even layer on top of the ground meat.
Layer 1 cup of pasta sauce in an even layer on top of the spinach.
Repeat with another layer of noodles, ricotta, Mozzarella/Parmesan, ground meat, spinach, and sauce. Then repeat with another layer of noodles, ricotta, Mozzarella/Parmesan, ground meat, spinach, and sauce. Then add one more layer of noodles, sauce, and Mozzarella.
Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours, or until the noodles are tender.
Turn off the heat, and sprinkle the top of the lasagna evenly with the remaining Parmesan and fresh basil. Serve immediately. (Or if you let the lasagna sit and rest for 30 minutes, it will cut into pieces much more easily.)
SIMPLE VEGETARIAN SPINACH LASAGNA
This is from Vicki Shanta Retelny, RDN on the VeryWellFit site. Vicki wrote, “There's nothing like lasagna to soothe a craving for a creamy, dreamy meal. With a foundation of vitamin C-rich tomato sauce, which is loaded with the carotenoid lycopene, this Italian classic takes on a healthy bend with a good dose veggies nestled in its layers.
“Chock full of leafy green spinach, this dish is good for your brain health, as eating a serving of veggies each day has shown to fend off cognitive decline. Spinach is also loaded with iron and calcium for a total body wellness boost.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 65 minutes; Servings: 9 (1 cup each)
To view this online, go to https://www.verywellfit.com/vegetarian-spinach-lasagna-4144632.
Ingredients
1 package no-boil lasagna noodles
2 28-ounce cans tomato sauce
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon oregano
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 15-ounce container part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated
3 cups raw baby spinach leaves
Directions
Preheat the oven the 350F.
On the stovetop over medium heat, pour the tomato sauce into a saucepan. Add salt, oregano, and garlic. Bring to a light boil, lower the heat, and simmer for a few minutes. Stir occasionally.
On the bottom of a 9x13 pan put a layer of tomato sauce. Place a layer of noodles on top, covering the bottom of the pan. Spread ricotta cheese on top of the noodles, top with spinach, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and coat with a small ladle full of sauce. Repeat the layers until you get to the top of the pan. Sprinkle the final layer with mozzarella cheese.
Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown on top.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a 10 minutes before serving.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Make this dish higher in fiber with whole wheat noodles, although they may only be available in the boil variety. Add other vegetables such a sliced carrots, zucchini, or eggplant. For an alternative green, use baby kale or arugula. Spread pesto between the layers or incorporate it into the tomato sauce for a rich, nutty flavor.
If you want to add meat, add cooked, diced chicken breast or ground turkey to the sauce. For a non-dairy twist, use vegan cheese in lieu of ricotta and mozzarella cheese.
Cooking and Serving Tips
To save time use no-boil lasagna noodles—they're quick and easy to assemble. Plus, the part-skim ricotta cheese and mozzarella reduce the fat but still offer good-quality protein.
This dish can be assembled and placed, uncooked and covered, in the refrigerator overnight. Simply heat and serve the next day. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container.
MEXICAN LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “A delicious twist on lasagna!”
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6-8 large tortillas
1 lb ground beef
1 packet Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix
1/3 medium onion, diced
1 can (19 oz) Old El Paso™ mild red enchilada sauce
1 can (16 oz) Old El Paso™ refried beans, any type
1 1/2 cup cheddar or mexican blend cheese
3 small or medium tomatoes, diced
Cilantro, as desired
Black olives, as desired
Sour cream, for topping
Shredded lettuce, for topping
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large non-stick skillet on stove, cook onions and beef until cooked through. Remove skillet from heat, drain off grease and stir in taco seasoning. Set aside.
Cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with a thin coat of enchilada sauce. Layer tortilla halves in the bottom of the pan with the cut (straight) sides facing outward toward edges of pan. Cut pieces of another tortilla as needed to fill in any gaps and create a solid tortilla layer in the bottom of the pan.
Continue layering ingredients in the following order, making sure to save enough of each ingredient to form a second layer: refried beans, enchilada sauce, beef and onion mixture, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and chopped cilantro and black olives (if desired).
Using equal amounts of ingredients as the first layer, form your second layer in the following order: tortillas, beans, enchilada sauce, meat and onions, cheese, tomatoes, cilantro and olives.
Top with a final layer of tortillas, and cover with a thin coating of enchilada sauce and cheese.
Bake lasagna for 30-45 minutes until cheese is melted and tortillas start to crisp. Serve with sour cream, lettuce and additional toppings as desired.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
HOME/MADE MUSHROOM LASAGNA
This comes from Sam Sifton at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Monica Byrne, with her partner, Leisah Swenson, runs a tiny restaurant in Red Hook, Brooklyn, called Home/Made. A plurality of words that appear on the Home/Made menu: ‘cheese,’ ‘smoked,’ ‘bacon,’ ‘caramelized.’ Three of those four appear in Byrne’s lasagna, leaving out only bacon, which would be a fine addition. She layers smoked mozzarella over a painting of rich, garlicky béchamel and sheets of pasta, then radicchio roasted into sweetness and tossed in sauce. Sautéed mushrooms add heft and loamy funkiness, and a mixture of Fontina and Gruyère add zing.”
Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 2 hours
This was featured in “Gooey Wild-Mushroom Lasagna” and can be viewed onlinehere.
Ingredients
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil or herb oil
6 large shallots, peeled and minced
1 1/2 pounds mushrooms, wild or best available oyster, shiitake, cremini, trimmed and sliced
1 cup dry white wine
1 softball-size head of radicchio, halved, cored and cut into 1/2-inch slices
Kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, or herb oil
3 large cloves garlic, peeled and minced
4 tablespoons flour, ideally instant or all-purpose
3 cups whole milk
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 cup Gruyère cheese, grated
1 cup Fontina cheese, grated
2 tablespoons best-quality truffle oil (optional)
2 9-ounce boxes of no-boil lasagna sheets
1 baseball-size ball of smoked mozzarella, sliced
1 cup fresh Parmesan, grated
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350. Place a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add 1/4 cup of the olive oil or herb oil. When it begins to shimmer, add half of the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent. Add mushrooms and toss to coat, then cook until they begin to color but are still plump, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Add white wine to deglaze pan and allow to cook down into a syrup, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Put the mushrooms into a large bowl and reserve.
Meanwhile, in another bowl, toss the radicchio with 1/4 cup olive oil or herb oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread the strips out onto a baking pan and place in the oven until the strips are lightly browned around the edges, approximately 15 minutes. Combine with mushrooms and reserve.
Make the béchamel. Place a saucepan over medium heat and melt the butter. When it foams, add the rest of the shallots and cook until they begin to turn translucent. Add the garlic and stir to combine, then cook until the garlic has started to soften. Sprinkle flour over the top and stir to combine, then cook gently until the mixture has turned light brown and gives off a nutty scent, approximately 10 minutes. Add milk to the mixture, whisking all the while, until the sauce is thick and creamy. Add the nutmeg and 1/4 cup of grated Gruyère and 1/4 cup of grated Fontina, then stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Reserve a cup of béchamel. Pour the rest over the mixture of mushrooms and radicchio, and stir to combine. Add truffle oil, if using.
Assemble lasagna. Spread plain béchamel across the bottom of a 9- by-13-inch baking pan. Place a layer of lasagna sheets across the sauce, being careful not to overlap. Spread a generous layer of mushroom mixture on top of the pasta, and follow with some grated Fontina and Gruyère. Put another layer of pasta above the cheese, and top with smoked mozzarella. Repeat until the pasta is gone and the pan is full. Top with remaining cheeses and a generous amount of grated Parmesan. Cover with a buttered sheet of aluminum foil and place in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove foil and cook until top is golden and bubbling.
LOW-FAT VEGAN EGGPLANT LASAGNA
This comes from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. She wrote, "Looking for the perfect vegan, low-fat eggplant lasagna recipe? This recipe is a classic lasagna made with eggplant and spinach, and very little else. There's no tofu or ricotta cheese substitute to round it out, just the necessary ingredients of lasagna noodles, eggplants, spinach, and tomato sauce layered together.." Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium eggplant, diced
2 10 ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, defrosted
1 64 ounce jar pre-made tomato sauce
1 pound lasagna noodles
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Heat the olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Sautee the garlic for two minutes, then add the eggplant and stir. Cover the frying pan and cook until the eggplant is just tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Cover the bottom of a 9x12 inch baking pan with 2 cups of the tomato sauce, then cover the tomato sauce with 4 or 5 uncooked noodles. Cover this with a thin layer of sauce, then add the cooked eggplant and another thin layer of sauce. Add another layer of noodles followed by a thing layer of sauce, then the spinach and another thin layer of sauce. Add the remaining noodles and sauce.
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45-50 minutes. Noodles are cooked when they can be pierced with a fork.
Makes six servings of eggplant and spinach lasagna. Reprinted with permission from The Compassionate Cook Cookbook.
Nutritional information, per serving: Calories: 347, Calories from Fat: 41; % Daily Value: Total Fat: 4.6g, 7%, Total Carbohydrates: 65.8g, 22%, Dietary Fiber: 9.2g, 37%, Protein: 16.3g, Vitamin A 199%, Vitamin C 83%, Calcium 14%, Iron 32%
SLOW COOKER LASAGNA
This was posted on Pure Wow, and is from Ali, whose blog, GimmeSomeOven, is absolutely fantastic! If you’ve never checked it out, you really should. Go ahead, I’ll wait. (Tap, tap, tap…)
Okay, so Ali starts this recipe off with, “This Slow Cooker Lasagna recipe is easy to make and customize with your favorite ingredients in the crock pot!”
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes; Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 4 hours; Yield: 10 - 12 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/slow-cooker-lasgana-recipe/print/.
Ingredients
1 pound ground Italian sausage (I used spicy) or ground beef*
2 (24-ounce) jars of good-quality Italian pasta sauce**
16 uncooked no-boil lasagna noodles
32 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups chopped fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup finely-chopped fresh basil
Directions
Add the ground Italian sausage (or ground beef) to a large saute pan, and cook over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through, using a large spoon to stir and break up the meet into small crumbles as it cooks. Remove from heat and drain off any excess grease. Set aside.
Meanwhile, as the meat is cooking, go ahead and get ready to assemble the lasagna. Begin by spraying the insert of a large 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Then layer the ingredients in the following order:
Spread 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce evenly along the bottom of the slow cooker.
Layer about 4 lasagna noodles — breaking them into smaller pieces as needed to fit — evenly over the sauce to cover the bottom of the slow cooker.
Layer about 1/3 of the ricotta cheese (a little over 1 cup) evenly on top of the noodles. (I found it was easiest to do this in small spoonfuls, and then spread them out with a spatula. It’s totally ok if it’s messy and uneven!)
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the shredded Mozzarella cheese and 2 Tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese in an even layer on top of the ricotta.
Layer about 1/3 of the cooked ground meat in an even layer on top of the cheeses.
Layer about 1/3 of the chopped spinach in an even layer on top of the ground meat.
Layer 1 cup of pasta sauce in an even layer on top of the spinach.
Repeat with another layer of noodles, ricotta, Mozzarella/Parmesan, ground meat, spinach, and sauce. Then repeat with another layer of noodles, ricotta, Mozzarella/Parmesan, ground meat, spinach, and sauce. Then add one more layer of noodles, sauce, and Mozzarella.
Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours, or until the noodles are tender.
Turn off the heat, and sprinkle the top of the lasagna evenly with the remaining Parmesan and fresh basil. Serve immediately. (Or if you let the lasagna sit and rest for 30 minutes, it will cut into pieces much more easily.)
Friday, May 24, 2019
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Baked Spaghetti and Almond, Toasted Oat and Cherry Trail Mix. Enjoy!
TACO CHILI
This was posted on the Vegetarian Times website on January 6, 2001. Makes 8 servings.
Ingredients
2 cups soy crumbles
1/2 cup canned soybeans
15-oz. can corn, drained
2 (28-oz.) cans diced tomatoes
30-oz. can chili beans
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
2 pkgs. taco seasoning
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
Preparation
In large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 to 45 minutes.
Serve with low-fat shredded cheese and tortilla chips.
SIMPLE VEGETARIAN SPINACH LASAGNA
This comes from Vicki Shanta Retelny, RDN at VeryWellFit. Vicki wrote, “There's nothing like lasagna to soothe a craving for a creamy, dreamy meal. With a foundation of vitamin C-rich tomato sauce, which is loaded with the carotenoid lycopene, this Italian classic takes on a healthy bend with a good dose veggies nestled in its layers.
“Chock full of leafy green spinach, this dish is good for your brain health, as eating a serving of veggies each day has shown to fend off cognitive decline. Spinach is also loaded with iron and calcium for a total body wellness boost.“
Total Time: 65 min; Prep Time: 20 min; Cook Time: 45 min; Servings 9 (1 cup each)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 package no-boil lasagna noodles
2 28-ounce cans tomato sauce
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon oregano
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 15-ounce container part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated
3 cups raw baby spinach leaves
Preparation
Preheat the oven the 350F.
On the stovetop over medium heat, pour the tomato sauce into a saucepan. Add salt, oregano, and garlic. Bring to a light boil, lower the heat, and simmer for a few minutes. Stir occasionally.
On the bottom of a 9x13 pan put a layer of tomato sauce. Place a layer of noodles on top, covering the bottom of the pan. Spread ricotta cheese on top of the noodles, top with spinach, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and coat with a small ladle full of sauce. Repeat the layers until you get to the top of the pan. Sprinkle the final layer with mozzarella cheese.
Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown on top.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a 10 minutes before serving.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Make this dish higher in fiber with whole wheat noodles, although they may only be available in the boil variety. Add other vegetables such a sliced carrots, zucchini, or eggplant. For an alternative green, use baby kale or arugula. Spread pesto between the layers or incorporate it into the tomato sauce for a rich, nutty flavor.
If you want to add meat, add cooked, diced chicken breast or ground turkey to the sauce. For a non-dairy twist, use vegan cheese in lieu of ricotta and mozzarella cheese.
Cooking and Serving Tips
To save time use no-boil lasagna noodles—they're quick and easy to assemble. Plus, the part-skim ricotta cheese and mozzarella reduce the fat but still offer good-quality protein.
This dish can be assembled and placed, uncooked and covered, in the refrigerator overnight. Simply heat and serve the next day. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container.
ALMOND, TOASTED OAT AND CHERRY TRAIL MIX
This was in a Weight Watchers' email several years ago. The program has changed, but I'm using the values from when this was sent.
This recipe began, “Take this energy-packed treat with you when you head to the great outdoors.”
POINTS® Value: 3; Servings: 6; Preparation Time: 8 minutes; Cooking Time: 25 minutes; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
1 cup uncooked old fashioned oats
2/3 cup dried cherries, chopped
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 tsp table salt
1 Tbsp Land O Lakes Stick Light Butter, or similar product, melted
1/4 cup honey
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a sided sheet pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, stir together rolled oats, cherries, almonds and salt. Drizzle with butter and honey and toss thoroughly. Spread mixture evenly on sheet pan. Bake, stirring occasionally to ensure even browning, about 20 to 25 minutes; let cool. Yields about 1/3 cup per serving. (You might want to double the recipe and store the mix for a few days in an airtight container.)
TURKEY BEAN SOUP
This comes from The Mayo Clinic Diet, and can be found online here.
I highly recommend checking out the site. Good food, tied in with the Mayo Clinic, so you can figure it’s not some fly-by-night junk food, but good tasting food that’s good for you.
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 pounds turkey, lean ground breast meat
2 medium onions, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup ketchup
1 can tomatoes (14.5 ounces), diced, no salt added
3 pieces bouillon, chicken, low-sodium
7 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoon basil, dried, crushed
1/4 teaspoon pepper, black ground
2 cups cabbage, shredded
1 cans cannellini beans (15 ounces), no-salt-added, drained
Directions
In a large saucepan, cook the ground turkey, onion, celery and garlic until the vegetables are softened and the turkey is cooked.
Drain off the fat and add the ketchup, tomatoes, bouillon, water, basil, pepper, cabbage and beans.
Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
BAKED SPAGHETTI
This is from the Food Network, and begins, “This mash-up of lasagna and spaghetti with meat sauce makes for a warming one-pan dinner. (And if you start with leftover cooked noodles and meat sauce, you're set for a super-fast weeknight meal.) Assemble the casserole ahead of time and bake when you're ready to serve.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Inactive Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes; Level: Intermediate; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/baked-spaghetti-3361814.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
8 ounces thin spaghetti
8 ounces sharp Cheddar, grated (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Heat a second large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring to break the meat up, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, garlic and a generous pinch of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the crushed and diced tomatoes, sugar and oregano and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti for 2 minutes less than the time indicated in the package directions. Strain well. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cover the bottom of a 13-by-9-by-2-inch pan with a third of the sauce. Add half the pasta and a third of the Cheddar; repeat the layers and add the last of the sauce; reserve the last of the Cheddar.
Bake for 30 minutes. Top with the remaining Cheddar and continue baking until it melts and the sauce bubbles, about 5 more minutes. Let cool in the dish for at least 10 minutes. Garnish with the parsley before cutting into squares.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
TACO CHILI
This was posted on the Vegetarian Times website on January 6, 2001. Makes 8 servings.
Ingredients
2 cups soy crumbles
1/2 cup canned soybeans
15-oz. can corn, drained
2 (28-oz.) cans diced tomatoes
30-oz. can chili beans
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
2 pkgs. taco seasoning
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
Preparation
In large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 to 45 minutes.
Serve with low-fat shredded cheese and tortilla chips.
SIMPLE VEGETARIAN SPINACH LASAGNA
This comes from Vicki Shanta Retelny, RDN at VeryWellFit. Vicki wrote, “There's nothing like lasagna to soothe a craving for a creamy, dreamy meal. With a foundation of vitamin C-rich tomato sauce, which is loaded with the carotenoid lycopene, this Italian classic takes on a healthy bend with a good dose veggies nestled in its layers.
“Chock full of leafy green spinach, this dish is good for your brain health, as eating a serving of veggies each day has shown to fend off cognitive decline. Spinach is also loaded with iron and calcium for a total body wellness boost.“
Total Time: 65 min; Prep Time: 20 min; Cook Time: 45 min; Servings 9 (1 cup each)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 package no-boil lasagna noodles
2 28-ounce cans tomato sauce
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon oregano
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 15-ounce container part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated
3 cups raw baby spinach leaves
Preparation
Preheat the oven the 350F.
On the stovetop over medium heat, pour the tomato sauce into a saucepan. Add salt, oregano, and garlic. Bring to a light boil, lower the heat, and simmer for a few minutes. Stir occasionally.
On the bottom of a 9x13 pan put a layer of tomato sauce. Place a layer of noodles on top, covering the bottom of the pan. Spread ricotta cheese on top of the noodles, top with spinach, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and coat with a small ladle full of sauce. Repeat the layers until you get to the top of the pan. Sprinkle the final layer with mozzarella cheese.
Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown on top.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a 10 minutes before serving.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Make this dish higher in fiber with whole wheat noodles, although they may only be available in the boil variety. Add other vegetables such a sliced carrots, zucchini, or eggplant. For an alternative green, use baby kale or arugula. Spread pesto between the layers or incorporate it into the tomato sauce for a rich, nutty flavor.
If you want to add meat, add cooked, diced chicken breast or ground turkey to the sauce. For a non-dairy twist, use vegan cheese in lieu of ricotta and mozzarella cheese.
Cooking and Serving Tips
To save time use no-boil lasagna noodles—they're quick and easy to assemble. Plus, the part-skim ricotta cheese and mozzarella reduce the fat but still offer good-quality protein.
This dish can be assembled and placed, uncooked and covered, in the refrigerator overnight. Simply heat and serve the next day. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container.
ALMOND, TOASTED OAT AND CHERRY TRAIL MIX
This was in a Weight Watchers' email several years ago. The program has changed, but I'm using the values from when this was sent.
This recipe began, “Take this energy-packed treat with you when you head to the great outdoors.”
POINTS® Value: 3; Servings: 6; Preparation Time: 8 minutes; Cooking Time: 25 minutes; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
1 cup uncooked old fashioned oats
2/3 cup dried cherries, chopped
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 tsp table salt
1 Tbsp Land O Lakes Stick Light Butter, or similar product, melted
1/4 cup honey
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a sided sheet pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, stir together rolled oats, cherries, almonds and salt. Drizzle with butter and honey and toss thoroughly. Spread mixture evenly on sheet pan. Bake, stirring occasionally to ensure even browning, about 20 to 25 minutes; let cool. Yields about 1/3 cup per serving. (You might want to double the recipe and store the mix for a few days in an airtight container.)
TURKEY BEAN SOUP
This comes from The Mayo Clinic Diet, and can be found online here.
I highly recommend checking out the site. Good food, tied in with the Mayo Clinic, so you can figure it’s not some fly-by-night junk food, but good tasting food that’s good for you.
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 pounds turkey, lean ground breast meat
2 medium onions, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup ketchup
1 can tomatoes (14.5 ounces), diced, no salt added
3 pieces bouillon, chicken, low-sodium
7 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoon basil, dried, crushed
1/4 teaspoon pepper, black ground
2 cups cabbage, shredded
1 cans cannellini beans (15 ounces), no-salt-added, drained
Directions
In a large saucepan, cook the ground turkey, onion, celery and garlic until the vegetables are softened and the turkey is cooked.
Drain off the fat and add the ketchup, tomatoes, bouillon, water, basil, pepper, cabbage and beans.
Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
BAKED SPAGHETTI
This is from the Food Network, and begins, “This mash-up of lasagna and spaghetti with meat sauce makes for a warming one-pan dinner. (And if you start with leftover cooked noodles and meat sauce, you're set for a super-fast weeknight meal.) Assemble the casserole ahead of time and bake when you're ready to serve.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Inactive Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes; Level: Intermediate; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/baked-spaghetti-3361814.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
8 ounces thin spaghetti
8 ounces sharp Cheddar, grated (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Heat a second large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring to break the meat up, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, garlic and a generous pinch of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the crushed and diced tomatoes, sugar and oregano and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti for 2 minutes less than the time indicated in the package directions. Strain well. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cover the bottom of a 13-by-9-by-2-inch pan with a third of the sauce. Add half the pasta and a third of the Cheddar; repeat the layers and add the last of the sauce; reserve the last of the Cheddar.
Bake for 30 minutes. Top with the remaining Cheddar and continue baking until it melts and the sauce bubbles, about 5 more minutes. Let cool in the dish for at least 10 minutes. Garnish with the parsley before cutting into squares.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday (since not everyone loves tacos!). Today's offerings include Three-Cup Chicken and Apple-Cheddar Mac and Cheese. Enjoy!
THREE-CUP VEGETABLES
This is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, “This vegan dish is inspired by three-cup chicken, a deeply savory Taiwanese specialty that can be traced back to the 13th century, to the execution of Wen Tianxiang, a scholar-general of the Song dynasty who resisted Kublai Khan’s invasion. The night before Wen’s death, a guard is said to have made him the surprisingly pungent chicken dish with the prison’s limited resources. It has many variations, but usually calls for braising chicken in rice wine, soy sauce and sesame oil with plenty of ginger, garlic and basil. Here, root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes and turnips take the place of the chicken, but feel free to also add tofu and quick-cooking vegetables like broccoli or snap peas with the roots. Serve over rice or ramen noodles to soak up sauce.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this on the Times’ website, click here.
Note: If, like me, you don't keep alcohol around the house, don't panic. I've been known to add water (or a suitable broth) in place of wine in recipes.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola or other neutral oil
6 cups root vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes and-or turnips, cut into 1/4-inch slices and halved or quartered if large (about 2 pounds)
1 (1-inch) piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
10 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
3/4 cup Chinese rice wine
6 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 dried chiles, like chiles de árbol, or 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
2 cups fresh basil leaves, torn if large
Preparation
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add the vegetables, ginger and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender and browned in spots, 7 to 10 minutes.
Lower the heat to medium and stir in the rice wine, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar and red-pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the sauce has reduced, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in the basil.
THREE-CUP CHICKEN
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Ask 30 people how to make this simple Taiwanese recipe, and you’ll receive 30 different responses. Some fry the chicken before braising it, use more oil, less wine, different blends of soy sauce. Debates rage over how thick the sauce should be, over which parts of the chicken to use. (Few follow the folk recipe that calls for making the sauce with a cup each of sesame oil, soy sauce and rice wine. ‘If you actually cook it that way,’ says Eddie Huang, the Taiwanese-American chef who inspired the television program ‘Fresh Off the Boat,’ ‘you’ll be in trouble.’) Our reporting and testing led us to the recipe below. Use it as a starting point, and then make it your own.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in “A Taste of Taiwan,” and can be viewed online here.
Note: If, like me, you don't keep alcohol around the house, don't panic. I've been known to add water (or a suitable broth) in place of wine in recipes.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons sesame oil
1 2-to-3-inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced into coins, approximately 12
12 cloves of garlic, peeled
4 whole scallions, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 dried red peppers or 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
2 pounds chicken thighs, boneless or bone-in, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon unrefined or light brown sugar
1/2 cup rice wine
1/4 cup light soy sauce
2 cups fresh Thai basil leaves or regular basil leaves
Preparation
Heat a wok over high heat and add 2 tablespoons sesame oil. When the oil shimmers, add the ginger, garlic, scallions and peppers, and cook until fragrant, approximately 2 minutes.
Scrape the aromatics to the sides of the wok, add remaining oil and allow to heat through. Add the chicken, and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is browned and crisping at the edges, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
Add sugar and stir to combine, then add the rice wine and soy sauce, and bring just to a boil. Lower the heat, then simmer until the sauce has reduced and started to thicken, approximately 15 minutes.
Turn off the heat, add the basil and stir to combine. Serve with white rice.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
APPLE-CHEDDAR MAC AND CHEESE
This comes from FamilyTime, and begins, “Raise your hand if you like mac and cheese? And when it's teamed with apples, you'll want to raise both hands!” Serves: 4; Prep Time: 25 to 30 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups dry elbow macaroni
1 1/2 cups small diced, unpeeled, tart green or red apples
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 1/4 cups whole milk, lower fat milk can be substituted
1 small bay leaf
2 1/3 cup shredded sharp white or yellow Cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon dry sherry (see second note)
Salt to taste
Ground white pepper to taste
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs, regular bread crumbs can be substituted
Directions
Butter a 1 1/2-quart round casserole.
Cook the pasta in a large saucepan according to package directions until al dente. Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and drain well. Return the pasta to the saucepan and add the apples.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a heavy saucepan. Add the onions and cook over medium heat for about 3 minutes or until tender. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute or until fragrant. Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly until simmering gently. Add the bay leaf, reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring, for 10 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Remove and discard the bay leaf and then stir 2 cups of the cheese and the sherry into the milk. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until the cheese melts. Remove the pan from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add the cheese sauce to the pasta and apples and stir gently to combine. Transfer the mac and cheese to the casserole and sprinkle with the remaining cheese and the panko. Bake, uncovered, for about 30 minutes or just until heated through and lightly browned. Let stand for about 5 minutes before serving.
Note: You can bake the mac and cheese in individual ramekins. Butter them and bake for about 15 minutes.
Note: If you’re like me and don’t have alcohol around the house, no worries. Omit the Sherry, or add 1/2 teaspoon of milk or water with the cheese.
Per Serving: 600 calories; 33 g fat; 20 g saturated fat; 100 mg cholesterol; 660 mg sodium; 48 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 27g protein
SAVORY MEATLOAF
This comes from Campbell's Soup, and begins, “Meatloaf is the definition of comfort food and this saucy version shines when the family gathers for a good meal.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hr 30 minutes; Serves: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Tomato Soup
1/2 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup water
Directions
Thoroughly mix the beef, 1/2 cup soup, bread crumbs, egg, onion, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a shallow 3-quart baking pan and shape firmly into an 8 x 4-inch loaf.
Bake at 350°F. for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through. Let the meatloaf stand for 10 minutes before slicing.
Heat 2 tablespoons pan drippings, remaining soup and water in a 1-quart saucepan over medium-high heat until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Serve the soup mixture with the meatloaf.
BOMBOLONI
This comes from John Alberti and was posted on the TODAY Show website. John wrote, “Bomboloni are Italian doughnuts, and they are as much fun to say as they are to make and eat. They are like a party in your mouth, with their gooey centers and sugary, soft dough.
“Swap option: They are delightful even without a filling, but if you fill them with chocolate-hazelnut spread, jam or pastry cream.”
Cook Time: 5 minutes; Prep Time: 2 hours; Servings: 10. Special equipment: Round pastry cutter.
To view this online, go to https://www.today.com/recipes/bomboloni-recipe-t150524.
Ingredients
3 cups bread or all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons fast-acting dry yeast
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more for coating
1 lemon, zested
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup whole milk
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Vegetable oil, for frying
Chocolate-hazelnut spread, jam or pastry cream, for filling
Directions
In a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and lemon zest. Then add the eggs, milk, butter and vanilla extract, and mix well. Knead the dough in the stand mixer for 2 minutes, or if making the dough by hand, tip it onto a floured work surface and knead for about 5 minutes, until it's smooth and elastic but still quite sticky. Transfer the dough to a large, lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough until about 3/4 inch thick. Then, using a round pastry cutter the size of a cup, cut the dough into disks. Place the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise for another hour.
Heat oil in a large, deep pan to 350 F. Fry the doughnuts, in batches, for 4-5 minutes, turning halfway through the cooking time, until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Dredge the doughnuts in granulated sugar until completely covered.
Spoon the filling of your choice into a piping bag fitted with a medium nozzle. Make a small hole in the side of each doughnut, push in the nozzle and squeeze to fill the bomboloni. Serve warm.
THREE-CUP VEGETABLES
This is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, “This vegan dish is inspired by three-cup chicken, a deeply savory Taiwanese specialty that can be traced back to the 13th century, to the execution of Wen Tianxiang, a scholar-general of the Song dynasty who resisted Kublai Khan’s invasion. The night before Wen’s death, a guard is said to have made him the surprisingly pungent chicken dish with the prison’s limited resources. It has many variations, but usually calls for braising chicken in rice wine, soy sauce and sesame oil with plenty of ginger, garlic and basil. Here, root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes and turnips take the place of the chicken, but feel free to also add tofu and quick-cooking vegetables like broccoli or snap peas with the roots. Serve over rice or ramen noodles to soak up sauce.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this on the Times’ website, click here.
Note: If, like me, you don't keep alcohol around the house, don't panic. I've been known to add water (or a suitable broth) in place of wine in recipes.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola or other neutral oil
6 cups root vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes and-or turnips, cut into 1/4-inch slices and halved or quartered if large (about 2 pounds)
1 (1-inch) piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
10 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
3/4 cup Chinese rice wine
6 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 dried chiles, like chiles de árbol, or 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
2 cups fresh basil leaves, torn if large
Preparation
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add the vegetables, ginger and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender and browned in spots, 7 to 10 minutes.
Lower the heat to medium and stir in the rice wine, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar and red-pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the sauce has reduced, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in the basil.
THREE-CUP CHICKEN
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Ask 30 people how to make this simple Taiwanese recipe, and you’ll receive 30 different responses. Some fry the chicken before braising it, use more oil, less wine, different blends of soy sauce. Debates rage over how thick the sauce should be, over which parts of the chicken to use. (Few follow the folk recipe that calls for making the sauce with a cup each of sesame oil, soy sauce and rice wine. ‘If you actually cook it that way,’ says Eddie Huang, the Taiwanese-American chef who inspired the television program ‘Fresh Off the Boat,’ ‘you’ll be in trouble.’) Our reporting and testing led us to the recipe below. Use it as a starting point, and then make it your own.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in “A Taste of Taiwan,” and can be viewed online here.
Note: If, like me, you don't keep alcohol around the house, don't panic. I've been known to add water (or a suitable broth) in place of wine in recipes.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons sesame oil
1 2-to-3-inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced into coins, approximately 12
12 cloves of garlic, peeled
4 whole scallions, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 dried red peppers or 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
2 pounds chicken thighs, boneless or bone-in, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon unrefined or light brown sugar
1/2 cup rice wine
1/4 cup light soy sauce
2 cups fresh Thai basil leaves or regular basil leaves
Preparation
Heat a wok over high heat and add 2 tablespoons sesame oil. When the oil shimmers, add the ginger, garlic, scallions and peppers, and cook until fragrant, approximately 2 minutes.
Scrape the aromatics to the sides of the wok, add remaining oil and allow to heat through. Add the chicken, and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is browned and crisping at the edges, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.
Add sugar and stir to combine, then add the rice wine and soy sauce, and bring just to a boil. Lower the heat, then simmer until the sauce has reduced and started to thicken, approximately 15 minutes.
Turn off the heat, add the basil and stir to combine. Serve with white rice.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
APPLE-CHEDDAR MAC AND CHEESE
This comes from FamilyTime, and begins, “Raise your hand if you like mac and cheese? And when it's teamed with apples, you'll want to raise both hands!” Serves: 4; Prep Time: 25 to 30 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups dry elbow macaroni
1 1/2 cups small diced, unpeeled, tart green or red apples
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 1/4 cups whole milk, lower fat milk can be substituted
1 small bay leaf
2 1/3 cup shredded sharp white or yellow Cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon dry sherry (see second note)
Salt to taste
Ground white pepper to taste
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs, regular bread crumbs can be substituted
Directions
Butter a 1 1/2-quart round casserole.
Cook the pasta in a large saucepan according to package directions until al dente. Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and drain well. Return the pasta to the saucepan and add the apples.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a heavy saucepan. Add the onions and cook over medium heat for about 3 minutes or until tender. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute or until fragrant. Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly until simmering gently. Add the bay leaf, reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring, for 10 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Remove and discard the bay leaf and then stir 2 cups of the cheese and the sherry into the milk. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until the cheese melts. Remove the pan from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add the cheese sauce to the pasta and apples and stir gently to combine. Transfer the mac and cheese to the casserole and sprinkle with the remaining cheese and the panko. Bake, uncovered, for about 30 minutes or just until heated through and lightly browned. Let stand for about 5 minutes before serving.
Note: You can bake the mac and cheese in individual ramekins. Butter them and bake for about 15 minutes.
Note: If you’re like me and don’t have alcohol around the house, no worries. Omit the Sherry, or add 1/2 teaspoon of milk or water with the cheese.
Per Serving: 600 calories; 33 g fat; 20 g saturated fat; 100 mg cholesterol; 660 mg sodium; 48 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 27g protein
SAVORY MEATLOAF
This comes from Campbell's Soup, and begins, “Meatloaf is the definition of comfort food and this saucy version shines when the family gathers for a good meal.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 1 hr 30 minutes; Serves: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Tomato Soup
1/2 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup water
Directions
Thoroughly mix the beef, 1/2 cup soup, bread crumbs, egg, onion, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a shallow 3-quart baking pan and shape firmly into an 8 x 4-inch loaf.
Bake at 350°F. for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through. Let the meatloaf stand for 10 minutes before slicing.
Heat 2 tablespoons pan drippings, remaining soup and water in a 1-quart saucepan over medium-high heat until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Serve the soup mixture with the meatloaf.
BOMBOLONI
This comes from John Alberti and was posted on the TODAY Show website. John wrote, “Bomboloni are Italian doughnuts, and they are as much fun to say as they are to make and eat. They are like a party in your mouth, with their gooey centers and sugary, soft dough.
“Swap option: They are delightful even without a filling, but if you fill them with chocolate-hazelnut spread, jam or pastry cream.”
Cook Time: 5 minutes; Prep Time: 2 hours; Servings: 10. Special equipment: Round pastry cutter.
To view this online, go to https://www.today.com/recipes/bomboloni-recipe-t150524.
Ingredients
3 cups bread or all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons fast-acting dry yeast
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more for coating
1 lemon, zested
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup whole milk
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Vegetable oil, for frying
Chocolate-hazelnut spread, jam or pastry cream, for filling
Directions
In a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and lemon zest. Then add the eggs, milk, butter and vanilla extract, and mix well. Knead the dough in the stand mixer for 2 minutes, or if making the dough by hand, tip it onto a floured work surface and knead for about 5 minutes, until it's smooth and elastic but still quite sticky. Transfer the dough to a large, lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough until about 3/4 inch thick. Then, using a round pastry cutter the size of a cup, cut the dough into disks. Place the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise for another hour.
Heat oil in a large, deep pan to 350 F. Fry the doughnuts, in batches, for 4-5 minutes, turning halfway through the cooking time, until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Dredge the doughnuts in granulated sugar until completely covered.
Spoon the filling of your choice into a piping bag fitted with a medium nozzle. Make a small hole in the side of each doughnut, push in the nozzle and squeeze to fill the bomboloni. Serve warm.
Friday, March 22, 2019
Friday Recipes
It's Friday, time to get ready for the weekend. Today's recipes include Baked Spaghetti and a Philadelphia-Cherry Danish Dessert. Yum! Enjoy!
THREE-CUP VEGETABLES
This is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, “This vegan dish is inspired by three-cup chicken, a deeply savory Taiwanese specialty that can be traced back to the 13th century, to the execution of Wen Tianxiang, a scholar-general of the Song dynasty who resisted Kublai Khan’s invasion. The night before Wen’s death, a guard is said to have made him the surprisingly pungent chicken dish with the prison’s limited resources. It has many variations, but usually calls for braising chicken in rice wine, soy sauce and sesame oil with plenty of ginger, garlic and basil. Here, root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes and turnips take the place of the chicken, but feel free to also add tofu and quick-cooking vegetables like broccoli or snap peas with the roots. Serve over rice or ramen noodles to soak up sauce.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this on the Times’ website, click here.
Note: If, like me, you don't keep alcohol around the house, don't panic. I've been known to add water (or a suitable broth) in place of wine in recipes.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola or other neutral oil
6 cups root vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes and-or turnips, cut into 1/4-inch slices and halved or quartered if large (about 2 pounds)
1 (1-inch) piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
10 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
3/4 cup Chinese rice wine
6 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 dried chiles, like chiles de árbol, or 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
2 cups fresh basil leaves, torn if large
Preparation
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add the vegetables, ginger and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender and browned in spots, 7 to 10 minutes.
Lower the heat to medium and stir in the rice wine, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar and red-pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the sauce has reduced, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in the basil.
BASIL CHICKEN SOUP
Prep Time: 15 Minutes; Cost: $; Servings: 4; Difficulty Level: 2
Source: The Diabetic Newsletter
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/basil-chicken-soup
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3-1/2 cups chicken broth (low-sodium)
1 large russet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup diced cooked chicken
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup shredded light jarlsberg cheese
Directions
In a 2 to 3 quart pan, combine butter, onion, and garlic. Stir occasionally over medium heat until onion is limp and slightly tinged with brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in flour to coat onion. Gradually stir in broth, and bring to a boil on high heat.
Add potato; cover and simmer over low heat until potato is tender when pierced, 15 to 20 minutes. Add chicken; cover and simmer just until chicken is hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in basil. Ladle into bowl and offer cheese to add to taste.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 237; Fat: 5.1 g; Sodium: 168 mg; Protein: 19 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 2-1/2 Low-Fat Meat
ULTIMATE NACHOS
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1/2 lb. Extra lean ground beef
8 oz. Velveeta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
6 oz. Tortilla chips (about 7 cups)
1 cup shredded lettuce
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
1 can (10 oz) Ro Tel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, drained well
Directions
Brown meat in medium skillet; drain.
Microwave Velveeta in medium microwave-safe bowl on HIGH 1 minute or until completely melted, stirring after 30 seconds.
Place chips on large platter; top with Velveeta, meat and remaining ingredients.
PHILADELPHIA-CHERRY DANISH DESSERT
This is from Kraft, and begins, “Skip the line at the bakeshop and make your own cherry Danish dessert! These PHILADELPHIA-Cherry Danish Dessert squares take just 15 minutes of prep.” Very yummy!
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Makes: 24 Servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cans (8 oz. each) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls, divided
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided
1 egg white
1 tsp. vanilla
1 can (20 oz.) cherry pie filling
3 Tbsp. milk
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.
Unroll 1 can crescent dough into 2 rectangles; press onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray, firmly pressing perforations and seams together to seal.
Beat cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, egg white and vanilla with mixer until blended; spread onto crust. Cover with pie filling.
Unroll remaining can of crescent dough into 2 rectangles; pat into 13x9-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations and seams together seal. Place over pie filling.
Bake 25 to 30 min. or until golden brown; cool slightly.
Mix milk and remaining sugar until blended; drizzle over dessert.
BAKED SPAGHETTI
This is from the Food Network, and begins, “This mash-up of lasagna and spaghetti with meat sauce makes for a warming one-pan dinner. (And if you start with leftover cooked noodles and meat sauce, you're set for a super-fast weeknight meal.) Assemble the casserole ahead of time and bake when you're ready to serve.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Inactive Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes; Level: Intermediate; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/baked-spaghetti-3361814.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
8 ounces thin spaghetti
8 ounces sharp Cheddar, grated (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Heat a second large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring to break the meat up, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, garlic and a generous pinch of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the crushed and diced tomatoes, sugar and oregano and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti for 2 minutes less than the time indicated in the package directions. Strain well. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cover the bottom of a 13-by-9-by-2-inch pan with a third of the sauce. Add half the pasta and a third of the Cheddar; repeat the layers and add the last of the sauce; reserve the last of the Cheddar.
Bake for 30 minutes. Top with the remaining Cheddar and continue baking until it melts and the sauce bubbles, about 5 more minutes. Let cool in the dish for at least 10 minutes. Garnish with the parsley before cutting into squares.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
THREE-CUP VEGETABLES
This is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Ali wrote, “This vegan dish is inspired by three-cup chicken, a deeply savory Taiwanese specialty that can be traced back to the 13th century, to the execution of Wen Tianxiang, a scholar-general of the Song dynasty who resisted Kublai Khan’s invasion. The night before Wen’s death, a guard is said to have made him the surprisingly pungent chicken dish with the prison’s limited resources. It has many variations, but usually calls for braising chicken in rice wine, soy sauce and sesame oil with plenty of ginger, garlic and basil. Here, root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes and turnips take the place of the chicken, but feel free to also add tofu and quick-cooking vegetables like broccoli or snap peas with the roots. Serve over rice or ramen noodles to soak up sauce.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 30 minutes.
To view this on the Times’ website, click here.
Note: If, like me, you don't keep alcohol around the house, don't panic. I've been known to add water (or a suitable broth) in place of wine in recipes.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola or other neutral oil
6 cups root vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes and-or turnips, cut into 1/4-inch slices and halved or quartered if large (about 2 pounds)
1 (1-inch) piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
10 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
3/4 cup Chinese rice wine
6 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 dried chiles, like chiles de árbol, or 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
2 cups fresh basil leaves, torn if large
Preparation
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add the vegetables, ginger and garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender and browned in spots, 7 to 10 minutes.
Lower the heat to medium and stir in the rice wine, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar and red-pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the sauce has reduced, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in the basil.
BASIL CHICKEN SOUP
Prep Time: 15 Minutes; Cost: $; Servings: 4; Difficulty Level: 2
Source: The Diabetic Newsletter
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/basil-chicken-soup
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3-1/2 cups chicken broth (low-sodium)
1 large russet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup diced cooked chicken
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup shredded light jarlsberg cheese
Directions
In a 2 to 3 quart pan, combine butter, onion, and garlic. Stir occasionally over medium heat until onion is limp and slightly tinged with brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in flour to coat onion. Gradually stir in broth, and bring to a boil on high heat.
Add potato; cover and simmer over low heat until potato is tender when pierced, 15 to 20 minutes. Add chicken; cover and simmer just until chicken is hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in basil. Ladle into bowl and offer cheese to add to taste.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 237; Fat: 5.1 g; Sodium: 168 mg; Protein: 19 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 2-1/2 Low-Fat Meat
ULTIMATE NACHOS
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1/2 lb. Extra lean ground beef
8 oz. Velveeta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
6 oz. Tortilla chips (about 7 cups)
1 cup shredded lettuce
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
1 can (10 oz) Ro Tel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, drained well
Directions
Brown meat in medium skillet; drain.
Microwave Velveeta in medium microwave-safe bowl on HIGH 1 minute or until completely melted, stirring after 30 seconds.
Place chips on large platter; top with Velveeta, meat and remaining ingredients.
PHILADELPHIA-CHERRY DANISH DESSERT
This is from Kraft, and begins, “Skip the line at the bakeshop and make your own cherry Danish dessert! These PHILADELPHIA-Cherry Danish Dessert squares take just 15 minutes of prep.” Very yummy!
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Makes: 24 Servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 cans (8 oz. each) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls, divided
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided
1 egg white
1 tsp. vanilla
1 can (20 oz.) cherry pie filling
3 Tbsp. milk
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.
Unroll 1 can crescent dough into 2 rectangles; press onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray, firmly pressing perforations and seams together to seal.
Beat cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, egg white and vanilla with mixer until blended; spread onto crust. Cover with pie filling.
Unroll remaining can of crescent dough into 2 rectangles; pat into 13x9-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations and seams together seal. Place over pie filling.
Bake 25 to 30 min. or until golden brown; cool slightly.
Mix milk and remaining sugar until blended; drizzle over dessert.
BAKED SPAGHETTI
This is from the Food Network, and begins, “This mash-up of lasagna and spaghetti with meat sauce makes for a warming one-pan dinner. (And if you start with leftover cooked noodles and meat sauce, you're set for a super-fast weeknight meal.) Assemble the casserole ahead of time and bake when you're ready to serve.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Inactive Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes; Level: Intermediate; Yield: 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/baked-spaghetti-3361814.
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
8 ounces thin spaghetti
8 ounces sharp Cheddar, grated (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Heat a second large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring to break the meat up, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onions, bell peppers, garlic and a generous pinch of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the crushed and diced tomatoes, sugar and oregano and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti for 2 minutes less than the time indicated in the package directions. Strain well. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Cover the bottom of a 13-by-9-by-2-inch pan with a third of the sauce. Add half the pasta and a third of the Cheddar; repeat the layers and add the last of the sauce; reserve the last of the Cheddar.
Bake for 30 minutes. Top with the remaining Cheddar and continue baking until it melts and the sauce bubbles, about 5 more minutes. Let cool in the dish for at least 10 minutes. Garnish with the parsley before cutting into squares.
EASY SLOW-COOKER LASAGNA
This is from tbsp. (Tablespoon.com), and begins, “This lasagna tastes like you spent all day making it, without all of the work.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 10
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen™ Organic Pasta Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
Directions
In a large skillet, brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.
Add spaghetti sauce and water to skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, egg and parsley.
Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Place half of the noodles and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (if the noodles don't fit exactly, break them to fit), cheese mixture and meat sauce.
Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or until noodles are soft, being careful not to overcook. (Don't try to speed up the process by cooking on high.) Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella and remaining Parmesan on top. Cover with the lid to melt the cheese and allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.
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