Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Cherry-Mallow Cake and Hearty Turkey Chili. Enjoy!
KENTUCKY CORN PUDDING
This is from that infamous long-since-forgotten-emailing-list. Very yummy. My late step-father was from Kentucky. I would have loved to have made this for him one last Christmas.
This recipe begins, “Corn on the cob was sometimes served at Christmas, but more often we had our corn the old southern way, as corn pudding. Great for a Thanksgiving as well.”
Serves 6 to 8
Ingredients
1 pint fresh corn, with pulp scraped from cob
2 egg yolks
1-1/2 tablespoons flour
1 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 egg whites, beaten to stiff peaks
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Combine corn, egg yolk, flour, milk, sugar, butter, salt and pepper. Mix well.
Fold in egg whites. Turn into a buttered baking dish and bake in preheated 350°F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until set.
QUICK PASTA PESTO
This was in a Weight Watchers' email several years ago. The recipe begins, “Pasta with cheese and cream sauces can rack up a lot of empty calories, but make simple substitutions, like swapping cream for evaporated skim milk, and you can enjoy your favorite pasta dishes anytime.”
POINTS® Value: 8; Servings: 4; Preparation Time | 5 min; Cooking Time: 10 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
3 Tbsp pesto sauce, sun-dried tomato variety preferred
3 cup mixed vegetables, chopped, fresh or frozen
1 cup fat-free evaporated milk
4 cup cooked pasta
1 oz part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
Directions
Heat a large nonstick pan coated with cooking spray. Add pesto sauce and vegetables; cook, stirring until softened, about 2 minutes.
Add milk, bring to a boil and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in pasta and cheese; cook until heated through. Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving.
CHERRY-MALLOW CAKE
This recipe is from the infamous long-since-forgotten-emailing-list and begins, “This cake is a snap to make because you use a mix. As the marshmallows melt, they rise to the top and make a glaze.”
Prep. time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 45 to 50 minutes; Serves: 15
Ingredients
4 cups miniature marshmallows, (about 3/4 of a 10-1/2 ounce package)
1 package (18-1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with vegetable cooking spray. Lay the marshmallows evenly over the bottom of the pan.
Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions. Pour the batter over the marshmallows. Spoon the cherry filling evenly over the cake batter.
Remove pan from oven and cool on wire racks.
After the cake is cool, cut into squares.
SLOW-COOKER BEEF & BROCCOLI
This comes from Delish, and begins, “The tender beef melts in your mouth.”
Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves 4-6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 1/2 lb. sirloin steak, thinly sliced
1 c. low-sodium beef broth
1/2 c. low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 c. brown sugar
3 tbsp. sesame oil
1 tbsp. sriracha
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 green onions, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
2 tbsp. cornstarch
2 c. broccoli florets
Sesame seeds, for garnish
Cooked jasmine rice, for serving
Directions
In a large slow-cooker, add steak. Add beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, Sriracha, garlic, and green onions.
Cover and cook on low until beef is tender and cooked through, 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
When the steak is tender, spoon a few tablespoons of the slow-cooker broth into a bowl and whisk with cornstarch. Pour into slow cooker and toss with the beef until combined. Add broccoli and cook, covered, 20 minutes more.
Garnish with sesame things and green onions and serve over rice.
CLASSIC LASAGNA
This comes from FamilyTime, and begins, “It's all about the layering when you make lasagna and is so easy when you start with a sauce already made and delicious.”
Serves: 12 servings (about 1 1/2 cups each); Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 cups ricotta cheese
12 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese (about 3 cups)
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 pound ground beef
1 jar (45 ounces) Prego® Three Cheese Italian Sauce
12 lasagna noodle, cooked and drained
Directions
Stir the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and eggs in a medium bowl and set it aside.
In a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, cook the beef until it's well browned, stirring often to break up the meat. Pour off any fat. Stir the sauce in the saucepan.
Spoon 1 cup meat mixture in each of two 2-quart shallow baking dishes. Top each with 2 lasagna noodles and about 1 1/4 cups cheese mixture. Repeat the layers. Top with the remaining 2 lasagna noodles, remaining meat mixture and the Parmesan cheese.
Bake at 400°F. for 30 minutes or it's until hot and bubbling. Let stand for 10 minutes.
Tip: To freeze, prepare lasagna but do not bake. Cover tightly with foil and freeze. Bake frozen lasagna uncovered at 350°F. for 1 hour 15 minutes or until hot. Or, refrigerate 24 hours to thaw. Bake thawed lasagna uncovered at 350°F. for 50 minutes or until hot. Let stand for 10 minutes.
HEARTY TURKEY CHILI
This comes from GE Appliances and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
2-15oz. cans chili-ready beans in chili gravy
1-12oz bottle beer (can use non-alcoholic)
1-14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes (chili ready)
1/2 c. chili sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
Directions
In a large saucepan, brown turkey and onion over medium/high heat until turkey is no longer pink and onions are tender.
Add meat to slow cooker.
Stir in undrained beans, beer, undrained tomatoes, chili sauce, chili powder, Cajun seasoning and garlic salt.
Cook in slow cooker on low for 4 hours.
CHEF'S NOTES:
If you are in a hurry, you can add the ingredients to a Dutch oven, cover and cook on stovetop over medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Flavors will not develop as fully, but dinner is done much quicker!
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Taco Tuesday
Here we are at another Taco Tuesday. Check out the Slow Cooker Pulled Orange Chicken Tacos with Pickled Vegetables, the Soft Tacos with Chicken and Tomato-Corn Salsa, and the rest of today's taco-y goodness. Enjoy!
VEGGIE TACOS WITH AVOCADO TOMATILLO SALSA
This is from Jeanine & Jack at Love & Lemons. The recipe starts off, “I know – another taco recipe already? Well, I like tacos. I’m sure you do too because you are here after all.”
Prep time: 10 mins; Cook time: 30 mins; Total time: 40 mins; Serves: serves 2-3
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 small Japanese eggplant, chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 cup chopped summer squash (yellow, pattypan, or zucchini)
1 red bell pepper, deseeded and sliced into 1-inch pieces
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil
6 corn or flour tortillas
1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 avocado, diced
handful of cilantro
1 serrano pepper, sliced (optional)
crumbled cotija cheese (optional)
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Avocado Tomatillo Sauce:
1/3 cup store-bought or homemade tomatillo salsa
1/4 cup pepitas
1/2 avocado
handful of spinach
2 tbsp olive oil
squeezes of lime, to taste
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the chopped eggplant, squash, red pepper and tomatoes onto the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and pinches of salt and pepper and roast until golden brown around the edges 25-30 minutes.
Meanwhile, make your sauce. In a food processor, blend together the tomatillo salsa, pepitas, avocado, spinach, olive oil, lime juice and pinches of salt and pepper, to taste. Chill until ready to use.
Assemble the tacos with the black beans, roasted vegetables, diced avocado, cilantro, serrano, cotija (if using), and a generous scoop of the avocado tomatillo sauce. Serve with extra sauce on the side.
Store extra sauce in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Notes
Vegan: skip the cotija cheese
Gluten free: use corn tortillas
BUFFALO TURKEY TACOS
Source: Jennie-O
Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/buffalo-turkey-tacos
Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package JENNIE-O Lean Ground Turkey
1/3 cup hot pepper wing sauce
8 hard corn taco shells, heated as specified on package
1 cup shredded lettuce
2 tomatoes, diced
1 avocado, sliced
1/2 cup blue cheese dressing
Directions
Cook turkey as specified on package. Always cook to well-done, 165F as measured by a meat thermometer.
Add hot pepper sauce. Stir to combine.
Fill tacos shells with lettuce, turkey mixture, tomatoes and avocado.
Drizzle with blue cheese dressing.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 220; Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 260 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Protein: 14 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g; Sugars: 1 g
BREAKFAST BURRITOS
This comes from Vegetarian Times (May 2005 issue, page 94), in an article featuring Inn Serendipity in Browntown, WI. The recipes begins, "This is the inn’s most popular breakfast item, and it’s a very versatile recipe—sturdy enough for dinner too. Use whatever vegetables are seasonal and abundant. Serve with salsa and sour cream. Note: You must start this dish one day ahead of serving." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/breakfast-burritos/.
Ingredients
2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 medium-sized onion, sliced
1 red bell pepper, cut lengthwise into 2-inch-thick slices
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 10-oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach
2 Tbs. fresh dill
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1-3/4 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
6 8-inch flour tortillas
4 large eggs, beaten
2 cups skim milk
1 Tbs. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. mustard powder
Preparation
Grease 9×13-inch baking dish.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and pepper 5 minutes, or until tender. Add garlic, and cook 2 minutes more. Stir in spinach, dill, salt and pepper; cover and cook 5 minutes, or until spinach has completely thawed. Season with pepper sauce, if desired, and stir in 3/4 cup shredded cheese.
Spoon 1/3 cup of spinach/veggie mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll tortilla tightly, and place seam side down in baking dish. Whisk together eggs, milk, flour and mustard powder, and pour over tortillas. Cover dish with foil, and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Bake burritos 45 minutes, or until eggs are set. Sprinkle with 1 cup cheese, and bake 5 minutes more, or until cheese has melted and begins to brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving with salsa and sour cream.
SOFT TACOS WITH CHICKEN AND TOMATO-CORN SALSA
This comes from Martha Rose Schulman, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Tomato-corn salsa is substantial, almost like a salad. These light, fresh tacos make a wonderful summer meal.” Yield: Serves four; Time: 15 minutes.
This was featured in “Sweet Corn: Getting an Earful in Summer”, and can be found online by clicking here.
Ingredients
1/2 small red or white onion, finely chopped
1 ear of corn, steamed for five minutes
1 pound ripe tomatoes, finely chopped
1 to 3 jalapeño or serrano peppers (to taste), seeded if desired and minced
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Salt to taste
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, poached and shredded (about 2 cups)
8 corn tortillas
1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese
Preparation
Place the chopped onion in a small bowl, and cover with cold water. Let sit for five minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water. Drain on paper towels. Cut the kernels off the steamed ear of corn.
Toss together the tomatoes, minced chiles, cilantro, onion and steamed corn. Season to taste with salt, and add up to 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice. Place the shredded chicken in a bowl, and season with 1 tablespoon lime juice and salt to taste.
Heat the tortillas. Wrap in aluminum foil, and heat through in a 350-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes; or heat through one at a time in a dry skillet over medium-high heat until flexible. Place one or two on each plate, top with shredded chicken and a generous spoonful of the salsa, and sprinkle some cheese on top. Serve, passing additional salsa if there is any at the table.
Tip
Advance preparation: The poached, shredded chicken will keep for three days in the refrigerator. The salsa can be assembled several hours before serving. Martha Rose Shulman can be reached at martha-rose-shulman.com.
SLOW COOKER PULLED ORANGE CHICKEN TACOS WITH PICKLED VEGETABLES
This comes from the American Heart Association, and begins, “Here is a fantastic American/Southern, barbecue beef recipe that you can make a 'set-it-and-forget-it" feast of chicken tacos.”
Makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Crock Pot Orange Chicken:
1 large halved orange (with peel on)
3/4 cup sugar-free, 100% orange juice
1 cup low-sodium chicken stock
14.5 oz canned, no salt added, diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
4 clove fresh garlic (minced), OR 4 tsp jarred, minced garlic
2 medium onions (coarsely chopped)
1 medium bell pepper (any color) coarsely chopped
2 Tbsp dried, salt-free Italian seasoning
1 cup water
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 2 pounds), all visible fat discarded
For the Pickled Vegetables:
1/3 cup carrots (about 1/2 a carrot) cut into bite-size strips
1/3 cup cucumber (cut into bite-size strips)
3/4 cup red onion (about half an onion) cut into thin strips
1/2 fresh, diced jalapeño (about 1 tablespoon, for spice) optional
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp sugar substitute/artificial sweetener
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp peppercorns
1/2 tsp coriander seeds (optional)
1 bay leaf
For the Tacos:
3/4 cup purple cabbage (shredded)
1/3 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves (small handful)
8 small corn tortillas
Tip: Keep the leftover shredded chicken to make a next-day salad with fresh vegetables or in tortilla soup.
Directions
For the Crock Pot Orange Chicken:
Combine the orange, orange juice, chicken stock, tomatoes, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, garlic, the 2 medium onions, Italian seasoning, bell pepper and water in crock-pot.
Add chicken and submerge under mixture. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Remove chicken, tomatoes, onions and pepper from crockpot using a slotted spoon and discard cooking liquid.
When cool enough to touch, shred meat by hand or with two forks. Set aside until assembly.
For the Pickled Vegetables:
In a medium bowl, combine carrots, cucumbers and red onion; set aside.
Combine jalapeno (optional), 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup water, sugar substitute, salt, peppercorns, coriander and bay leaf in small saucepot and bring to boil.
Remove from heat and pour over vegetables. Let marinate for 15-30 minutes.
For the Tacos:
Fill each tortilla with 2 oz. (1/2 cup) chicken, approx. 1/4 cup pickled vegetables, 2 tsp. sour cream, cabbage and cilantro leaves for garnish.
BUFFALO SOFT TACOS
4 Servings. Serving size: 1 taco
Source: Cooking Up Fun For Kids With Diabetes
View Recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/573.shtml
Ingredients
1/3 cup mild cayenne pepper sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot Sauce)
1 teaspoon corn oil
2 cups (about 10 ounces) diced cooked chicken breast
4 (8 inch) tortillas, warmed if desired
1/2 cup (2 ounces) finely shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup finely chopped lettuce
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons light ranch dressing
Directions
Put cayenne pepper sauce and oil in a large zip-top bag. Add cooked chicken, seal bag, and shake to coat chicken well. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow chicken to marinate.
Pour chicken and sauce in a microwave-safe dish, cover, and heat 2 minutes or until hot (or pour chicken and marinade in a pan and warm on the stove over medium heat).
Lay 4 flour tortillas on the counter. Spoon 1/4 of chicken in the center of each one. Drizzle with the warm marinade if you want to. Top each with 1/4 of the cheese and 1/4 of the lettuce. Drizzle each with 1/4 of the dressing.
Fold each taco in half, or roll it up. Slice in half if you want to.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 351; Protein: 30 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 1220 mg; Cholesterol: 72 mg; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Dietary Fiber: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 4 Meat, lean
VEGGIE TACOS WITH AVOCADO TOMATILLO SALSA
This is from Jeanine & Jack at Love & Lemons. The recipe starts off, “I know – another taco recipe already? Well, I like tacos. I’m sure you do too because you are here after all.”
Prep time: 10 mins; Cook time: 30 mins; Total time: 40 mins; Serves: serves 2-3
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 small Japanese eggplant, chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 cup chopped summer squash (yellow, pattypan, or zucchini)
1 red bell pepper, deseeded and sliced into 1-inch pieces
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil
6 corn or flour tortillas
1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 avocado, diced
handful of cilantro
1 serrano pepper, sliced (optional)
crumbled cotija cheese (optional)
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Avocado Tomatillo Sauce:
1/3 cup store-bought or homemade tomatillo salsa
1/4 cup pepitas
1/2 avocado
handful of spinach
2 tbsp olive oil
squeezes of lime, to taste
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the chopped eggplant, squash, red pepper and tomatoes onto the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and pinches of salt and pepper and roast until golden brown around the edges 25-30 minutes.
Meanwhile, make your sauce. In a food processor, blend together the tomatillo salsa, pepitas, avocado, spinach, olive oil, lime juice and pinches of salt and pepper, to taste. Chill until ready to use.
Assemble the tacos with the black beans, roasted vegetables, diced avocado, cilantro, serrano, cotija (if using), and a generous scoop of the avocado tomatillo sauce. Serve with extra sauce on the side.
Store extra sauce in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Notes
Vegan: skip the cotija cheese
Gluten free: use corn tortillas
BUFFALO TURKEY TACOS
Source: Jennie-O
Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/buffalo-turkey-tacos
Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package JENNIE-O Lean Ground Turkey
1/3 cup hot pepper wing sauce
8 hard corn taco shells, heated as specified on package
1 cup shredded lettuce
2 tomatoes, diced
1 avocado, sliced
1/2 cup blue cheese dressing
Directions
Cook turkey as specified on package. Always cook to well-done, 165F as measured by a meat thermometer.
Add hot pepper sauce. Stir to combine.
Fill tacos shells with lettuce, turkey mixture, tomatoes and avocado.
Drizzle with blue cheese dressing.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 220; Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 260 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Protein: 14 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g; Sugars: 1 g
BREAKFAST BURRITOS
This comes from Vegetarian Times (May 2005 issue, page 94), in an article featuring Inn Serendipity in Browntown, WI. The recipes begins, "This is the inn’s most popular breakfast item, and it’s a very versatile recipe—sturdy enough for dinner too. Use whatever vegetables are seasonal and abundant. Serve with salsa and sour cream. Note: You must start this dish one day ahead of serving." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/breakfast-burritos/.
Ingredients
2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 medium-sized onion, sliced
1 red bell pepper, cut lengthwise into 2-inch-thick slices
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 10-oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach
2 Tbs. fresh dill
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1-3/4 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
6 8-inch flour tortillas
4 large eggs, beaten
2 cups skim milk
1 Tbs. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. mustard powder
Preparation
Grease 9×13-inch baking dish.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and pepper 5 minutes, or until tender. Add garlic, and cook 2 minutes more. Stir in spinach, dill, salt and pepper; cover and cook 5 minutes, or until spinach has completely thawed. Season with pepper sauce, if desired, and stir in 3/4 cup shredded cheese.
Spoon 1/3 cup of spinach/veggie mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll tortilla tightly, and place seam side down in baking dish. Whisk together eggs, milk, flour and mustard powder, and pour over tortillas. Cover dish with foil, and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Bake burritos 45 minutes, or until eggs are set. Sprinkle with 1 cup cheese, and bake 5 minutes more, or until cheese has melted and begins to brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving with salsa and sour cream.
SOFT TACOS WITH CHICKEN AND TOMATO-CORN SALSA
This comes from Martha Rose Schulman, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “Tomato-corn salsa is substantial, almost like a salad. These light, fresh tacos make a wonderful summer meal.” Yield: Serves four; Time: 15 minutes.
This was featured in “Sweet Corn: Getting an Earful in Summer”, and can be found online by clicking here.
Ingredients
1/2 small red or white onion, finely chopped
1 ear of corn, steamed for five minutes
1 pound ripe tomatoes, finely chopped
1 to 3 jalapeño or serrano peppers (to taste), seeded if desired and minced
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Salt to taste
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, poached and shredded (about 2 cups)
8 corn tortillas
1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese
Preparation
Place the chopped onion in a small bowl, and cover with cold water. Let sit for five minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water. Drain on paper towels. Cut the kernels off the steamed ear of corn.
Toss together the tomatoes, minced chiles, cilantro, onion and steamed corn. Season to taste with salt, and add up to 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice. Place the shredded chicken in a bowl, and season with 1 tablespoon lime juice and salt to taste.
Heat the tortillas. Wrap in aluminum foil, and heat through in a 350-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes; or heat through one at a time in a dry skillet over medium-high heat until flexible. Place one or two on each plate, top with shredded chicken and a generous spoonful of the salsa, and sprinkle some cheese on top. Serve, passing additional salsa if there is any at the table.
Tip
Advance preparation: The poached, shredded chicken will keep for three days in the refrigerator. The salsa can be assembled several hours before serving. Martha Rose Shulman can be reached at martha-rose-shulman.com.
SLOW COOKER PULLED ORANGE CHICKEN TACOS WITH PICKLED VEGETABLES
This comes from the American Heart Association, and begins, “Here is a fantastic American/Southern, barbecue beef recipe that you can make a 'set-it-and-forget-it" feast of chicken tacos.”
Makes 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Crock Pot Orange Chicken:
1 large halved orange (with peel on)
3/4 cup sugar-free, 100% orange juice
1 cup low-sodium chicken stock
14.5 oz canned, no salt added, diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
4 clove fresh garlic (minced), OR 4 tsp jarred, minced garlic
2 medium onions (coarsely chopped)
1 medium bell pepper (any color) coarsely chopped
2 Tbsp dried, salt-free Italian seasoning
1 cup water
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 2 pounds), all visible fat discarded
For the Pickled Vegetables:
1/3 cup carrots (about 1/2 a carrot) cut into bite-size strips
1/3 cup cucumber (cut into bite-size strips)
3/4 cup red onion (about half an onion) cut into thin strips
1/2 fresh, diced jalapeño (about 1 tablespoon, for spice) optional
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp sugar substitute/artificial sweetener
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp peppercorns
1/2 tsp coriander seeds (optional)
1 bay leaf
For the Tacos:
3/4 cup purple cabbage (shredded)
1/3 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves (small handful)
8 small corn tortillas
Tip: Keep the leftover shredded chicken to make a next-day salad with fresh vegetables or in tortilla soup.
Directions
For the Crock Pot Orange Chicken:
Combine the orange, orange juice, chicken stock, tomatoes, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, garlic, the 2 medium onions, Italian seasoning, bell pepper and water in crock-pot.
Add chicken and submerge under mixture. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Remove chicken, tomatoes, onions and pepper from crockpot using a slotted spoon and discard cooking liquid.
When cool enough to touch, shred meat by hand or with two forks. Set aside until assembly.
For the Pickled Vegetables:
In a medium bowl, combine carrots, cucumbers and red onion; set aside.
Combine jalapeno (optional), 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup water, sugar substitute, salt, peppercorns, coriander and bay leaf in small saucepot and bring to boil.
Remove from heat and pour over vegetables. Let marinate for 15-30 minutes.
For the Tacos:
Fill each tortilla with 2 oz. (1/2 cup) chicken, approx. 1/4 cup pickled vegetables, 2 tsp. sour cream, cabbage and cilantro leaves for garnish.
BUFFALO SOFT TACOS
4 Servings. Serving size: 1 taco
Source: Cooking Up Fun For Kids With Diabetes
View Recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/573.shtml
Ingredients
1/3 cup mild cayenne pepper sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot Sauce)
1 teaspoon corn oil
2 cups (about 10 ounces) diced cooked chicken breast
4 (8 inch) tortillas, warmed if desired
1/2 cup (2 ounces) finely shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup finely chopped lettuce
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons light ranch dressing
Directions
Put cayenne pepper sauce and oil in a large zip-top bag. Add cooked chicken, seal bag, and shake to coat chicken well. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow chicken to marinate.
Pour chicken and sauce in a microwave-safe dish, cover, and heat 2 minutes or until hot (or pour chicken and marinade in a pan and warm on the stove over medium heat).
Lay 4 flour tortillas on the counter. Spoon 1/4 of chicken in the center of each one. Drizzle with the warm marinade if you want to. Top each with 1/4 of the cheese and 1/4 of the lettuce. Drizzle each with 1/4 of the dressing.
Fold each taco in half, or roll it up. Slice in half if you want to.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 351; Protein: 30 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 1220 mg; Cholesterol: 72 mg; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Dietary Fiber: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 4 Meat, lean
Monday, August 24, 2026
Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's offerings include Fried Chicken Biscuits With Hot Honey Butter and, for dessert, Cast-Iron Apple and Blackberry Crumble. Enjoy!
CHICKEN SPAGHETTI
This comes from Southern Living, and begins, "Give your traditional chicken casserole a break and serve this bright and lively chicken spaghetti. You only need a Dutch oven and a 9-x-13 baking dish to create this delicious meal, meaning there is less clean-up afterwards. Cook and shred your chicken in advance to save time."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes; Serves: 10
To view this online, go to https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/easy-chicken-spaghetti.
Ingredients
6 cups unsalted chicken stock
1 (14-oz.) bone-in, skin-on chicken breast, skin removed
3 (7-oz.) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, skin removed
12 ounces uncooked spaghetti
1 (5-oz.) can evaporated milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon lower-sodium Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons hot sauce
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1-1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (about 1 medium onion)
1 1/2 cups chopped red bell pepper (about 1 large pepper)
2 cups chopped tomatoes (about 3 medium tomatoes)
4 ounces sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Bring stock to a boil in a Dutch oven over high. Add chicken to stock. Cover; reduce heat to medium. Cook until a thermometer inserted in thickest piece of chicken registers 160°F, about 25 minutes. Remove chicken; let stand until ready to use. (Inner temperature of chicken will rise as it stands.)
Return stock to a boil over high. Add pasta to Dutch oven, and cook until just tender, about 9 minutes. Transfer pasta to a medium bowl (reserving stock). Return stock to a boil over high; boil until liquid is reduced to about 2-1/2 cups, about 1 minute. Whisk together evaporated milk and flour in a small bowl. Stir into stock; boil until slightly thickened, 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and salt. Pour stock mixture over pasta.
Return Dutch oven to medium-high heat. Add butter, onion, and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat; add pasta mixture back to Dutch oven. Shred chicken, discarding bones. (You should have about 4- 1/2 cups meat.) Add chicken and tomatoes to Dutch oven; toss to coat. Pour mixture into a 13- x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with cheese. Lightly coat aluminum foil with cooking spray. Cover with foil; bake until cheese is melted, 25 to 30 minutes.
Chef's Notes
You don't have to be a food stylist to create a casserole that looks as good as it tastes. Instead of pouring the pasta mixture from the pot into the baking dish, use tongs and a large spoon to twirl the noodles into nests, as shown below.
TURKEY MEATLOAF
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking email. Sam wrote, “This is a recipe that helps explain the Twitter-era term ‘humblebrag.’ I made it for the celebrated writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron after a different recipe resulted in a disaster and I had to discard the result with only a few hours before my dinner with -- did I mention? -- Nora Ephron. It derives from a meatball dish once cooked by the chef Mark Ladner at the restaurant Lupa in Manhattan, and published as a recipe in Details magazine in the early years of the century. I scaled it up over the years, increasing some spices here and there, lessening others, until I had what I thought to be a pretty terrific meatloaf. But don't take my word for it. ‘This is remarkable,’ Ms. Ephron told me. I'm bragging about it still.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.
This was featured in “Potlucky” and can be viewed online here.
Note: This recipe calls for 1 cup red wine. If, like me, you don’t keep wine or any alcohol around the house, I imagine you could replace this with 1 cup water. Yes, this will affect the taste a little, but it’s do-able.
Ingredients
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup fresh bread crumbs of any provenance
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup whole milk
1 pound ground turkey
1 pound sweet Italian pork sausage, casing removed, crumbled
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces bacon, chopped
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, preferably San Marzano, seeds removed
1 cup red wine
1/4 bunch mint
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Combine 2/3 of the garlic, the rosemary, pepper flakes, bread crumbs, salt and pepper. Add the milk and mix. Add the turkey and sausage and mix once more to combine; don’t overmix. Transfer onto a board and shape into a fine meatloaf, about 9 inches long and 4 inches wide.
Place in a baking pan with high sides (a 9 x12 pan with 2-inch sides works well), drizzle with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and bake for 25 minutes, turning halfway through to brown evenly. Remove from the oven and reduce the heat to 325 degrees.
Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, fry the bacon in the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil until it starts to curl and its fat is rendered. Add the onions and remaining garlic, cooking until the onions are translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and wine and bring to a boil.
Pour the sauce over the meatloaf, cover tightly with foil and bake until a meat thermometer inserted at the center reads 150 degrees, 20 to 30 minutes.
Transfer the meatloaf to a platter and let stand, tented with foil, for 10 minutes. Cut into thick slices, spoon tomato sauce over the top and scatter with torn mint leaves.
FRIED CHICKEN BISCUITS WITH HOT HONEY BUTTER
This is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Tejal wrote, "This recipe for chicken biscuits could be a weeknight dinner with a side of greens, but it's made to travel, and perfectly suited for a picnic. The biscuit dough, adapted from Sam Sifton's all-purpose biscuit recipe, is lightly kneaded here, so it's not too tender to work in a sandwich. The chicken tenders, inspired by Masaharu Morimoto's katsu in the cookbook "Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking," are pounded and coated in panko for plenty of crunch. Prepare both components the day you want to eat them, giving yourself at least one extra hour for everything to cool before you assemble, so the sandwich stays crisp. You can also cook well in advance, and assemble the sandwiches the next day. Either way, cooling the chicken completely, on a wire rack, is crucial. If you prefer breast meat over thigh, feel free to swap it in."
Yield: 6 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours, plus cooling
This was featured in "Grab Your Picnic Baskets: The Party’s Moving Outside", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018818-fried-chicken-biscuits-with-hot-honey-butter.
Note: The article is well worth reading; I thoroughly enjoyed it! (Thanks for a great read, and great recipes, Tejal!) Also, check out Sam Sifton's guide, "How to Make Fried Chicken". It's a helpful guide, whether you're a long-time cook, or just starting out.
Ingredients
For the biscuits:
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
7 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
1-1/2 cups whole milk
For the chicken:
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cayenne
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
3 eggs
3 cups panko bread crumbs
Canola or other neutral oil, for frying
For the butter:
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 tablespoons honey
Hot sauce, a vinegary variety such as Crystal, to taste
Sliced dill pickles, for serving
Preparation
Prepare the biscuits: In a bowl, use a fork to mix the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Add butter and use the fork to mash it into the flour until the mixture resembles large, lumpy crumbs. Stir in milk until a dough comes together.
Flour your hands, then gently gather and knead the dough in the bowl for 2 to 3 minutes, or until it springs back slightly to the touch. (If the dough is sticky, sprinkle additional flour as needed.) Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap and rest dough in fridge for half hour.
Heat oven to 425 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough to 1 to 1-1/2 inch thickness. Use a floured knife or round cutter to cut 6 biscuits, about 3 1/2 inches wide. Reroll the scraps and cut again as needed.
Place biscuits on a baking sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they have puffed up and the tops are slightly golden. Let cool completely on a wired rack at room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container if not using until the next day.
Prepare the chicken: Trim excess fat and any membranes from the meat, then lightly hammer the thickest parts of the thighs with a mallet or rolling pin. Season each side with salt.
Mix flour, cayenne and salt in one wide bowl. Beat eggs in a second wide bowl, and place panko in a third. Dip each chicken thigh in flour, coating it all over and patting off the excess, then in egg, allowing extra egg to drip off, then in panko, making sure each thigh is entirely coated in bread crumbs, and using your hands to press loose crumbs into any places where they look scarce.
In a large, heavy bottomed skillet, pour in oil to a 2-inch depth and heat to 350 degrees. Fry 2 thighs at a time, flipping them over every two minutes or so, until golden brown and crisp all over, about 8 minutes total. Transfer to a wire rack set over a paper towel-lined sheet pan and season lightly with salt. Let cool entirely at room temperature, at least 1 hour. At this point, you can assemble the sandwiches or transfer the rack to the fridge and leave the chicken uncovered overnight.
Assemble the sandwiches: When both the chicken and biscuits have cooled (or the next day), mix together soft butter, honey and hot sauce until smooth. Cut open cooled biscuits, smear each cut side with honey butter, and sandwich with a piece of chicken. If traveling, loosely wrap each sandwich in a piece of parchment paper and pack side by side in a hard container, in a single layer, so the sandwiches aren’t crushed. Serve with additional hot sauce and pickles on the side.
TEX-MEX BEEF AND RICE SKILLET
This is from tbsp., and begins, “Wherein we turn a humble pound of ground beef into a supremely satisfying and totally doable meal in a matter of minutes. Now you never have to wonder what’s for dinner. You’re welcome.”
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup diced yellow onion
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1 can (10 oz) Old El Paso™ enchilada sauce
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix
3 cups cooked white rice
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend (4 oz)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Directions
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef 6 to 8 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until brown. Drain, and wipe out skillet.
Add oil to skillet, and heat over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and corn. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender.
Stir in beef, enchilada sauce and taco seasoning mix. Heat to simmering; stir in rice. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until rice is heated through.
Top with cheese and cilantro.
PERFECT ROAST CHICKEN
This is from Ina Garten on the Food Network. Prep Time: 20 minutes; Inactive Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes; Makes 8 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 (5 to 6 pound) roasting chicken
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large bunch fresh thyme, plus 20 sprigs
1 lemon, halved
1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, melted
1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced
4 carrots cut into 2-inch chunks
1 bulb of fennel, tops removed, and cut into wedges
Olive oil
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pin feathers and pat the outside dry. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, both halves of lemon, and all the garlic. Brush the outside of the chicken with the butter and sprinkle again with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken. Place the onions, carrots, and fennel in a roasting pan. Toss with salt, pepper, 20 sprigs of thyme, and olive oil. Spread around the bottom of the roasting pan and place the chicken on top.
Roast the chicken for 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Remove the chicken and vegetables to a platter and cover with aluminum foil for about 20 minutes. Slice the chicken onto a platter and serve it with the vegetables.
CAST-IRON APPLE AND BLACKBERRY CRUMBLE
This is from Matt Abdoo and was posted on the TODAY Show’s site. Matt wrote, “My dad used to make this for me growing up! Apples from upstate New York are some of the best in the country. They always added the perfect amount of tartness and sweetness to this crispy crumble.
“Technique tip: Use your favorite apples for a signature taste and to make it your own.
“Swap option: Pears work great and so do peaches! You can also use a 10- by 15-inch baking dish if not using the grill.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, go to https://www.today.com/recipes/cast-iron-apple-blackberry-crumble-recipe-t154818.
Ingredients
Crumble Topping
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 packs (1 cup) apple-cinnamon instant oatmeal
1 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
8 ounces (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, grated
Apple Filling
2 pounds honey crisp apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 pound granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 pint blackberries
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Preparation
Pre-heat oven or grill to 350°F.
For the crumble topping:
In a medium sized mixing bowl combine flour, apple-cinnamon instant oatmeal, chopped pecans, light brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cold grated butter until it forms a coarse crumble.
For the apple filling:
In another large mixing bowl combine the apples with melted butter, flour, corn starch, lemon juice, light brown sugar, salt and spices and toss to fully coat the apples. Next fold in the blackberries and pour the apple mixture into a 12-inch cast iron pan.
To assemble:
Fully coat the top of the apple mixture with the crumble topping and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
Allow the crumble to cool slightly, and then serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Or chill overnight and serve cold.
CHICKEN SPAGHETTI
This comes from Southern Living, and begins, "Give your traditional chicken casserole a break and serve this bright and lively chicken spaghetti. You only need a Dutch oven and a 9-x-13 baking dish to create this delicious meal, meaning there is less clean-up afterwards. Cook and shred your chicken in advance to save time."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes; Serves: 10
To view this online, go to https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/easy-chicken-spaghetti.
Ingredients
6 cups unsalted chicken stock
1 (14-oz.) bone-in, skin-on chicken breast, skin removed
3 (7-oz.) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, skin removed
12 ounces uncooked spaghetti
1 (5-oz.) can evaporated milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon lower-sodium Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons hot sauce
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1-1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (about 1 medium onion)
1 1/2 cups chopped red bell pepper (about 1 large pepper)
2 cups chopped tomatoes (about 3 medium tomatoes)
4 ounces sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Bring stock to a boil in a Dutch oven over high. Add chicken to stock. Cover; reduce heat to medium. Cook until a thermometer inserted in thickest piece of chicken registers 160°F, about 25 minutes. Remove chicken; let stand until ready to use. (Inner temperature of chicken will rise as it stands.)
Return stock to a boil over high. Add pasta to Dutch oven, and cook until just tender, about 9 minutes. Transfer pasta to a medium bowl (reserving stock). Return stock to a boil over high; boil until liquid is reduced to about 2-1/2 cups, about 1 minute. Whisk together evaporated milk and flour in a small bowl. Stir into stock; boil until slightly thickened, 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and salt. Pour stock mixture over pasta.
Return Dutch oven to medium-high heat. Add butter, onion, and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat; add pasta mixture back to Dutch oven. Shred chicken, discarding bones. (You should have about 4- 1/2 cups meat.) Add chicken and tomatoes to Dutch oven; toss to coat. Pour mixture into a 13- x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with cheese. Lightly coat aluminum foil with cooking spray. Cover with foil; bake until cheese is melted, 25 to 30 minutes.
Chef's Notes
You don't have to be a food stylist to create a casserole that looks as good as it tastes. Instead of pouring the pasta mixture from the pot into the baking dish, use tongs and a large spoon to twirl the noodles into nests, as shown below.
TURKEY MEATLOAF
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking email. Sam wrote, “This is a recipe that helps explain the Twitter-era term ‘humblebrag.’ I made it for the celebrated writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron after a different recipe resulted in a disaster and I had to discard the result with only a few hours before my dinner with -- did I mention? -- Nora Ephron. It derives from a meatball dish once cooked by the chef Mark Ladner at the restaurant Lupa in Manhattan, and published as a recipe in Details magazine in the early years of the century. I scaled it up over the years, increasing some spices here and there, lessening others, until I had what I thought to be a pretty terrific meatloaf. But don't take my word for it. ‘This is remarkable,’ Ms. Ephron told me. I'm bragging about it still.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour 30 minutes.
This was featured in “Potlucky” and can be viewed online here.
Note: This recipe calls for 1 cup red wine. If, like me, you don’t keep wine or any alcohol around the house, I imagine you could replace this with 1 cup water. Yes, this will affect the taste a little, but it’s do-able.
Ingredients
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup fresh bread crumbs of any provenance
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup whole milk
1 pound ground turkey
1 pound sweet Italian pork sausage, casing removed, crumbled
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces bacon, chopped
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, preferably San Marzano, seeds removed
1 cup red wine
1/4 bunch mint
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Combine 2/3 of the garlic, the rosemary, pepper flakes, bread crumbs, salt and pepper. Add the milk and mix. Add the turkey and sausage and mix once more to combine; don’t overmix. Transfer onto a board and shape into a fine meatloaf, about 9 inches long and 4 inches wide.
Place in a baking pan with high sides (a 9 x12 pan with 2-inch sides works well), drizzle with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and bake for 25 minutes, turning halfway through to brown evenly. Remove from the oven and reduce the heat to 325 degrees.
Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, fry the bacon in the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil until it starts to curl and its fat is rendered. Add the onions and remaining garlic, cooking until the onions are translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and wine and bring to a boil.
Pour the sauce over the meatloaf, cover tightly with foil and bake until a meat thermometer inserted at the center reads 150 degrees, 20 to 30 minutes.
Transfer the meatloaf to a platter and let stand, tented with foil, for 10 minutes. Cut into thick slices, spoon tomato sauce over the top and scatter with torn mint leaves.
FRIED CHICKEN BISCUITS WITH HOT HONEY BUTTER
This is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Tejal wrote, "This recipe for chicken biscuits could be a weeknight dinner with a side of greens, but it's made to travel, and perfectly suited for a picnic. The biscuit dough, adapted from Sam Sifton's all-purpose biscuit recipe, is lightly kneaded here, so it's not too tender to work in a sandwich. The chicken tenders, inspired by Masaharu Morimoto's katsu in the cookbook "Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking," are pounded and coated in panko for plenty of crunch. Prepare both components the day you want to eat them, giving yourself at least one extra hour for everything to cool before you assemble, so the sandwich stays crisp. You can also cook well in advance, and assemble the sandwiches the next day. Either way, cooling the chicken completely, on a wire rack, is crucial. If you prefer breast meat over thigh, feel free to swap it in."
Yield: 6 servings; Time: 1 1/2 hours, plus cooling
This was featured in "Grab Your Picnic Baskets: The Party’s Moving Outside", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018818-fried-chicken-biscuits-with-hot-honey-butter.
Note: The article is well worth reading; I thoroughly enjoyed it! (Thanks for a great read, and great recipes, Tejal!) Also, check out Sam Sifton's guide, "How to Make Fried Chicken". It's a helpful guide, whether you're a long-time cook, or just starting out.
Ingredients
For the biscuits:
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
7 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
1-1/2 cups whole milk
For the chicken:
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cayenne
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
3 eggs
3 cups panko bread crumbs
Canola or other neutral oil, for frying
For the butter:
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 tablespoons honey
Hot sauce, a vinegary variety such as Crystal, to taste
Sliced dill pickles, for serving
Preparation
Prepare the biscuits: In a bowl, use a fork to mix the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Add butter and use the fork to mash it into the flour until the mixture resembles large, lumpy crumbs. Stir in milk until a dough comes together.
Flour your hands, then gently gather and knead the dough in the bowl for 2 to 3 minutes, or until it springs back slightly to the touch. (If the dough is sticky, sprinkle additional flour as needed.) Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap and rest dough in fridge for half hour.
Heat oven to 425 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough to 1 to 1-1/2 inch thickness. Use a floured knife or round cutter to cut 6 biscuits, about 3 1/2 inches wide. Reroll the scraps and cut again as needed.
Place biscuits on a baking sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they have puffed up and the tops are slightly golden. Let cool completely on a wired rack at room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container if not using until the next day.
Prepare the chicken: Trim excess fat and any membranes from the meat, then lightly hammer the thickest parts of the thighs with a mallet or rolling pin. Season each side with salt.
Mix flour, cayenne and salt in one wide bowl. Beat eggs in a second wide bowl, and place panko in a third. Dip each chicken thigh in flour, coating it all over and patting off the excess, then in egg, allowing extra egg to drip off, then in panko, making sure each thigh is entirely coated in bread crumbs, and using your hands to press loose crumbs into any places where they look scarce.
In a large, heavy bottomed skillet, pour in oil to a 2-inch depth and heat to 350 degrees. Fry 2 thighs at a time, flipping them over every two minutes or so, until golden brown and crisp all over, about 8 minutes total. Transfer to a wire rack set over a paper towel-lined sheet pan and season lightly with salt. Let cool entirely at room temperature, at least 1 hour. At this point, you can assemble the sandwiches or transfer the rack to the fridge and leave the chicken uncovered overnight.
Assemble the sandwiches: When both the chicken and biscuits have cooled (or the next day), mix together soft butter, honey and hot sauce until smooth. Cut open cooled biscuits, smear each cut side with honey butter, and sandwich with a piece of chicken. If traveling, loosely wrap each sandwich in a piece of parchment paper and pack side by side in a hard container, in a single layer, so the sandwiches aren’t crushed. Serve with additional hot sauce and pickles on the side.
TEX-MEX BEEF AND RICE SKILLET
This is from tbsp., and begins, “Wherein we turn a humble pound of ground beef into a supremely satisfying and totally doable meal in a matter of minutes. Now you never have to wonder what’s for dinner. You’re welcome.”
Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Servings: 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup diced yellow onion
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1 can (10 oz) Old El Paso™ enchilada sauce
1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix
3 cups cooked white rice
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend (4 oz)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Directions
In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef 6 to 8 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until brown. Drain, and wipe out skillet.
Add oil to skillet, and heat over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and corn. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender.
Stir in beef, enchilada sauce and taco seasoning mix. Heat to simmering; stir in rice. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until rice is heated through.
Top with cheese and cilantro.
PERFECT ROAST CHICKEN
This is from Ina Garten on the Food Network. Prep Time: 20 minutes; Inactive Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes; Makes 8 servings; Level: Intermediate
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 (5 to 6 pound) roasting chicken
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large bunch fresh thyme, plus 20 sprigs
1 lemon, halved
1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, melted
1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced
4 carrots cut into 2-inch chunks
1 bulb of fennel, tops removed, and cut into wedges
Olive oil
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pin feathers and pat the outside dry. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, both halves of lemon, and all the garlic. Brush the outside of the chicken with the butter and sprinkle again with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken. Place the onions, carrots, and fennel in a roasting pan. Toss with salt, pepper, 20 sprigs of thyme, and olive oil. Spread around the bottom of the roasting pan and place the chicken on top.
Roast the chicken for 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Remove the chicken and vegetables to a platter and cover with aluminum foil for about 20 minutes. Slice the chicken onto a platter and serve it with the vegetables.
CAST-IRON APPLE AND BLACKBERRY CRUMBLE
This is from Matt Abdoo and was posted on the TODAY Show’s site. Matt wrote, “My dad used to make this for me growing up! Apples from upstate New York are some of the best in the country. They always added the perfect amount of tartness and sweetness to this crispy crumble.
“Technique tip: Use your favorite apples for a signature taste and to make it your own.
“Swap option: Pears work great and so do peaches! You can also use a 10- by 15-inch baking dish if not using the grill.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, go to https://www.today.com/recipes/cast-iron-apple-blackberry-crumble-recipe-t154818.
Ingredients
Crumble Topping
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 packs (1 cup) apple-cinnamon instant oatmeal
1 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
8 ounces (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, grated
Apple Filling
2 pounds honey crisp apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 pound granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
1 pint blackberries
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Preparation
Pre-heat oven or grill to 350°F.
For the crumble topping:
In a medium sized mixing bowl combine flour, apple-cinnamon instant oatmeal, chopped pecans, light brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cold grated butter until it forms a coarse crumble.
For the apple filling:
In another large mixing bowl combine the apples with melted butter, flour, corn starch, lemon juice, light brown sugar, salt and spices and toss to fully coat the apples. Next fold in the blackberries and pour the apple mixture into a 12-inch cast iron pan.
To assemble:
Fully coat the top of the apple mixture with the crumble topping and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
Allow the crumble to cool slightly, and then serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Or chill overnight and serve cold.
Meatless Monday
It's Monday, time to get the week started. Hope your weekend was good. (Mine was.)
Since it's time for another Meatless Monday, here are six vegetarian recipes to get your week started off just right, including Coconut Red Curry With Tofu and No-Bake Chocolate Mousse Bars. Enjoy!
VEGAN FRIED “CHICKEN” WITH SEITAN
This is from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Vegan fried ‘chicken’ made with seitan. This fried seitan "chicken" dish is deep-fried, so it isn't particularly healthy, though it is cholesterol-free and it sure is mighty tasty! Deep fried seitan and a blend of spices create a dish that's really quite similar in appearance and taste to fried chicken. If you like southern fried chicken, try vegan southern fried seitan made with all the same ingredients including a spicy batter and a coat of flour to make it just the perfect amount of crispiness. Make sure you have some ketchup or mustard or something to serve alongside to dip your vegan fried chicken in.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield: 4 servings.
You can view this online here.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon salt (or seasoned salt)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
Optional: dash cayenne pepper
1-1/2 cups flour
Optional: 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1/4 cup mustard
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 cup water
1 lb. seitan (or another chicken substitute, cut into 1 to 2" square pieces)
Directions
In a medium to large bowl, mix together the salt, onion powder, garlic powder, flour, black pepper, cayenne, and nutritional yeast.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mustard and water. Add 1/3 cup of the flour mixture to the mustard mixture and combine well.
Add baking powder to the flour mixture and combine well.
Coat pieces of seitan or mock chicken with the mustard batter, then coat each piece with the dry flour mixture.
Fry chunks of "chicken" in the oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet for 3 to 5 minutes, turning once until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel, serve with ketchup, ranch dressing, honey mustard, hot sauce or barbecue sauce.
COWBOY COOKIES
This came from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1-1/3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
Layer the ingredients in 1 quart jar in order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding the next one. Include a card with the following instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.
In medium bowl, cream together 1/2 cup of butter or margarine, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Stir in entire contents of jar. You may need to use your hands to finish mixing. Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 11 to 13 minutes in preheated oven. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
FANTASTIC FRUIT SALAD
This comes from MyDailyMoment, and begins, “This refreshing fruit salad is delicious to the core, and if an apple a day keeps the doctor away, this will surely do the trick! No matter how you slice it, you're sure to be satisfied with healthy treat.”
Makes 4 servings.
View this online at https://www.mydailymoment.com/recipes/fantastic_fruit_salad.php.
Ingredients
1 red apple, cored and chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and chopped
1 nectarine, pitted and sliced
2 celery stalks, chopped
1/2 cup(s) dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 (8 oz.) container, nonfat lemon yogurt
Directions
In a large bowl, combine red apple, Granny Smith apple, nectarine, celery, dried cranberries, and walnuts. Mix in yogurt. Chill until ready to serve.
NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE BARS
This is from Samantha Seneviratne in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Samantha wrote, “Ethereal and ready to melt in your mouth, chocolate mousse bars are easy to make and even easier to eat. With so few ingredients, it’s important to use a chocolate you would be perfectly happy to snack out of hand. The instant espresso powder is optional but adds depth to this simple dessert. To cut beautiful, neat slices, use a long sharp knife warmed in hot water and wiped clean before each cut.”
Yield: 24 servings; Time: 30 minutes, plus chilling.
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019316-no-bake-chocolate-mousse-bars.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
18 whole graham crackers (about 9 1/2 ounces)
8 tablespoons (1 stick), melted
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
For the Filling:
1 pound semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
3 cups cold heavy cream, plus more for serving
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Whipped cream (optional)
Preparation
Make the crust: Line a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides. In a food processor, or in a resealable plastic bag, crush the graham crackers until you have fine crumbs (but stop before you have dust). You should have about 2 1/4 cups. Transfer the crumbs to a medium bowl. Add the butter, sugar and salt and stir until evenly moistened. Tip the crumbs into the prepared pan and press them down into an even layer on the bottom. Transfer to the freezer while you prepare the filling.
Make the filling: Set the chocolate in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup cream, espresso powder and salt until hot but not boiling. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate and let it stand for 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and whisk until smooth. Set aside to cool completely.
In a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the remaining 2 cups heavy cream until you have stiff peaks. Add the chocolate mixture and gently fold to combine. Pour the mixture over the prepared crust, and spread it out into an even layer. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 2 hours. To serve, cut the two edges without parchment free with a sharp knife then use the parchment overhang to transfer the bar to a cutting board. Cut into squares and serve with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.
COCONUT RED CURRY WITH TOFU
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Melissa wrote, “This simple weeknight red curry relies on jarred or canned red curry paste for flavor, which you can find at larger supermarkets and specialty markets. Transfer leftover canned curry paste to a jar, top it with a little oil and store in the refrigerator for up to a month. Or freeze for longer storage. Feel free to substitute other vegetables for the mushrooms and snow peas, though you might have to increase the cooking time slightly if using something dense like carrot or cubed winter squash.”
Yield: Serves 4; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in “Curry and Coconut Milk Fire Up a Weeknight Basic”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016196-coconut-red-curry-with-tofu.
Ingredients
14 ounces extra-firm tofu
1 tablespoon peanut or safflower oil
1-inch ginger root, peeled and minced
2 shallots or 1 small onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Thai chile or 2 serrano peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro stems
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, quartered
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
3 tablespoons prepared red curry paste
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
2 teaspoons Asian fish sauce
Zest and juice of 1 lime
1 cup snow peas
Basil and/or cilantro leaves, for garnish
Brown or white rice, for serving
Preparation
Cut tofu into 1-inch slabs and place on paper towel-lined baking sheet. Cover with another layer of paper towels and place another baking sheet on top. Let sit for 20 minutes. Cut into 1-inch cubes.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add ginger, shallots, garlic, chile and cilantro stems, and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt. Stir in curry paste and cook 2 minutes. Pour in coconut milk, scraping up any curry paste with a wooden spoon. Add fish sauce, lime zest and juice. Add tofu cubes and snow peas. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and the snow peas are tender, 7 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Taste and add more salt and/or fish sauce if needed.
Serve warm with brown rice and a scattering of torn basil and/or cilantro leaves on top.
SWEET POTATO STEW WITH CHICKPEAS & HARDY GREENS
This yumminess is from EmilyC at Food52. For this recipe, EmilyC wrote, "This autumnal stew is warming and cozy, ready in under 30 minutes, and layered with rich, vivid flavors. It features one of my favorite trios: sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and hardy greens. But the unexpected star of the stew is the vibrant broth, which is delicious enough to slurp on its own. Inspired by the flavors of Carla Lalli Music’s Sweet Potatoes With Tahini Butter, the broth is rich from butter, a little spicy from Aleppo pepper, and spiked with maple syrup, soy sauce, and lime juice.
"Because the broth is so essential to the deliciousness of this stew, reach for the best stock or broth you have: homemade chicken stock is great here, or a store-bought, low-sodium variety. If using vegetable broth, opt for homemade or a brand you know and like that’s more savory than sweet for the best balance of flavors.
"The first time I made this stew, I fully intended to swirl some tahini in at the end to thicken the broth. But then I remembered the opened container of hummus in my fridge and reached for it instead, reasoning that hummus (an ultra silky-smooth mix of chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice) would not only lend sheen and body, it’d boost the rich, chickpea flavor of the stew. It worked a charm, enlivening and enriching the entire pot. It’s a simple trick that has so many possibilities beyond this recipe."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Serves 4 to 6
To view this online, go to https://food52.com/recipes/84040-sweet-potato-stew-recipe-with-chickpeas-hardy-greens.
Ingredients
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
2 pounds sweet potatoes (about 2 large or 3 small), peeled and chopped into 3/4-inch chunks
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon maple syrup
4 cups chicken broth or stock, homemade or low-sodium store-bought (see author notes)
1 tablespoon soy sauce, or to taste (regular or low sodium)
1 15.5-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
3 cups to 4 cups (packed) kale, Swiss chard, collard or turnip greens, or mature (not baby) spinach
1 tablespoon lime juice, plus the finely grated zest, from 1 lime (Note: zest the lime before juicing)
3 tablespoons to 4 tablespoons plain hummus, homemade or store-bought
Directions
Heat butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and cook for about 5 minutes until softened. Add sweet potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and Aleppo pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes (stirring occasionally), or until the outsides lose their firmness.
Add maple syrup, stirring so it evenly coats the sweet potatoes. Cook for 1 to 2 more minutes, stirring constantly, to lightly caramelize the syrup.
Add broth, soy sauce, chickpeas, greens, and lime zest. Simmer gently for about 15 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
Lower heat, and stir in the lime juice and hummus, starting with 3 tablespoons hummus; stir until well integrated. Taste, and add another tablespoon of hummus, if desired, for extra richness and body. Taste for seasoning and balance, adding a bit more soy, lime juice, and/or salt to your liking. Turn off the heat. Divide the stew amongst bowls, and serve right away. (Any leftovers will keep well, tightly covered, for several days in the refrigerator. Reheat before serving.)
Since it's time for another Meatless Monday, here are six vegetarian recipes to get your week started off just right, including Coconut Red Curry With Tofu and No-Bake Chocolate Mousse Bars. Enjoy!
VEGAN FRIED “CHICKEN” WITH SEITAN
This is from Jolinda Hackett, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. Jolinda wrote, “Vegan fried ‘chicken’ made with seitan. This fried seitan "chicken" dish is deep-fried, so it isn't particularly healthy, though it is cholesterol-free and it sure is mighty tasty! Deep fried seitan and a blend of spices create a dish that's really quite similar in appearance and taste to fried chicken. If you like southern fried chicken, try vegan southern fried seitan made with all the same ingredients including a spicy batter and a coat of flour to make it just the perfect amount of crispiness. Make sure you have some ketchup or mustard or something to serve alongside to dip your vegan fried chicken in.”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield: 4 servings.
You can view this online here.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon salt (or seasoned salt)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
Optional: dash cayenne pepper
1-1/2 cups flour
Optional: 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1/4 cup mustard
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 cup water
1 lb. seitan (or another chicken substitute, cut into 1 to 2" square pieces)
Directions
In a medium to large bowl, mix together the salt, onion powder, garlic powder, flour, black pepper, cayenne, and nutritional yeast.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mustard and water. Add 1/3 cup of the flour mixture to the mustard mixture and combine well.
Add baking powder to the flour mixture and combine well.
Coat pieces of seitan or mock chicken with the mustard batter, then coat each piece with the dry flour mixture.
Fry chunks of "chicken" in the oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet for 3 to 5 minutes, turning once until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel, serve with ketchup, ranch dressing, honey mustard, hot sauce or barbecue sauce.
COWBOY COOKIES
This came from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1-1/3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
Layer the ingredients in 1 quart jar in order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding the next one. Include a card with the following instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.
In medium bowl, cream together 1/2 cup of butter or margarine, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Stir in entire contents of jar. You may need to use your hands to finish mixing. Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 11 to 13 minutes in preheated oven. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
FANTASTIC FRUIT SALAD
This comes from MyDailyMoment, and begins, “This refreshing fruit salad is delicious to the core, and if an apple a day keeps the doctor away, this will surely do the trick! No matter how you slice it, you're sure to be satisfied with healthy treat.”
Makes 4 servings.
View this online at https://www.mydailymoment.com/recipes/fantastic_fruit_salad.php.
Ingredients
1 red apple, cored and chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and chopped
1 nectarine, pitted and sliced
2 celery stalks, chopped
1/2 cup(s) dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 (8 oz.) container, nonfat lemon yogurt
Directions
In a large bowl, combine red apple, Granny Smith apple, nectarine, celery, dried cranberries, and walnuts. Mix in yogurt. Chill until ready to serve.
NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE BARS
This is from Samantha Seneviratne in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Samantha wrote, “Ethereal and ready to melt in your mouth, chocolate mousse bars are easy to make and even easier to eat. With so few ingredients, it’s important to use a chocolate you would be perfectly happy to snack out of hand. The instant espresso powder is optional but adds depth to this simple dessert. To cut beautiful, neat slices, use a long sharp knife warmed in hot water and wiped clean before each cut.”
Yield: 24 servings; Time: 30 minutes, plus chilling.
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019316-no-bake-chocolate-mousse-bars.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
18 whole graham crackers (about 9 1/2 ounces)
8 tablespoons (1 stick), melted
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
For the Filling:
1 pound semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
3 cups cold heavy cream, plus more for serving
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Whipped cream (optional)
Preparation
Make the crust: Line a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides. In a food processor, or in a resealable plastic bag, crush the graham crackers until you have fine crumbs (but stop before you have dust). You should have about 2 1/4 cups. Transfer the crumbs to a medium bowl. Add the butter, sugar and salt and stir until evenly moistened. Tip the crumbs into the prepared pan and press them down into an even layer on the bottom. Transfer to the freezer while you prepare the filling.
Make the filling: Set the chocolate in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup cream, espresso powder and salt until hot but not boiling. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate and let it stand for 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and whisk until smooth. Set aside to cool completely.
In a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the remaining 2 cups heavy cream until you have stiff peaks. Add the chocolate mixture and gently fold to combine. Pour the mixture over the prepared crust, and spread it out into an even layer. Cover with plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 2 hours. To serve, cut the two edges without parchment free with a sharp knife then use the parchment overhang to transfer the bar to a cutting board. Cut into squares and serve with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.
COCONUT RED CURRY WITH TOFU
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Melissa wrote, “This simple weeknight red curry relies on jarred or canned red curry paste for flavor, which you can find at larger supermarkets and specialty markets. Transfer leftover canned curry paste to a jar, top it with a little oil and store in the refrigerator for up to a month. Or freeze for longer storage. Feel free to substitute other vegetables for the mushrooms and snow peas, though you might have to increase the cooking time slightly if using something dense like carrot or cubed winter squash.”
Yield: Serves 4; Time: 30 minutes
This was featured in “Curry and Coconut Milk Fire Up a Weeknight Basic”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016196-coconut-red-curry-with-tofu.
Ingredients
14 ounces extra-firm tofu
1 tablespoon peanut or safflower oil
1-inch ginger root, peeled and minced
2 shallots or 1 small onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Thai chile or 2 serrano peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro stems
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, quartered
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
3 tablespoons prepared red curry paste
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
2 teaspoons Asian fish sauce
Zest and juice of 1 lime
1 cup snow peas
Basil and/or cilantro leaves, for garnish
Brown or white rice, for serving
Preparation
Cut tofu into 1-inch slabs and place on paper towel-lined baking sheet. Cover with another layer of paper towels and place another baking sheet on top. Let sit for 20 minutes. Cut into 1-inch cubes.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add ginger, shallots, garlic, chile and cilantro stems, and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt. Stir in curry paste and cook 2 minutes. Pour in coconut milk, scraping up any curry paste with a wooden spoon. Add fish sauce, lime zest and juice. Add tofu cubes and snow peas. Simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and the snow peas are tender, 7 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Taste and add more salt and/or fish sauce if needed.
Serve warm with brown rice and a scattering of torn basil and/or cilantro leaves on top.
SWEET POTATO STEW WITH CHICKPEAS & HARDY GREENS
This yumminess is from EmilyC at Food52. For this recipe, EmilyC wrote, "This autumnal stew is warming and cozy, ready in under 30 minutes, and layered with rich, vivid flavors. It features one of my favorite trios: sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and hardy greens. But the unexpected star of the stew is the vibrant broth, which is delicious enough to slurp on its own. Inspired by the flavors of Carla Lalli Music’s Sweet Potatoes With Tahini Butter, the broth is rich from butter, a little spicy from Aleppo pepper, and spiked with maple syrup, soy sauce, and lime juice.
"Because the broth is so essential to the deliciousness of this stew, reach for the best stock or broth you have: homemade chicken stock is great here, or a store-bought, low-sodium variety. If using vegetable broth, opt for homemade or a brand you know and like that’s more savory than sweet for the best balance of flavors.
"The first time I made this stew, I fully intended to swirl some tahini in at the end to thicken the broth. But then I remembered the opened container of hummus in my fridge and reached for it instead, reasoning that hummus (an ultra silky-smooth mix of chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice) would not only lend sheen and body, it’d boost the rich, chickpea flavor of the stew. It worked a charm, enlivening and enriching the entire pot. It’s a simple trick that has so many possibilities beyond this recipe."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Serves 4 to 6
To view this online, go to https://food52.com/recipes/84040-sweet-potato-stew-recipe-with-chickpeas-hardy-greens.
Ingredients
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
2 pounds sweet potatoes (about 2 large or 3 small), peeled and chopped into 3/4-inch chunks
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon maple syrup
4 cups chicken broth or stock, homemade or low-sodium store-bought (see author notes)
1 tablespoon soy sauce, or to taste (regular or low sodium)
1 15.5-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
3 cups to 4 cups (packed) kale, Swiss chard, collard or turnip greens, or mature (not baby) spinach
1 tablespoon lime juice, plus the finely grated zest, from 1 lime (Note: zest the lime before juicing)
3 tablespoons to 4 tablespoons plain hummus, homemade or store-bought
Directions
Heat butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and cook for about 5 minutes until softened. Add sweet potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and Aleppo pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes (stirring occasionally), or until the outsides lose their firmness.
Add maple syrup, stirring so it evenly coats the sweet potatoes. Cook for 1 to 2 more minutes, stirring constantly, to lightly caramelize the syrup.
Add broth, soy sauce, chickpeas, greens, and lime zest. Simmer gently for about 15 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
Lower heat, and stir in the lime juice and hummus, starting with 3 tablespoons hummus; stir until well integrated. Taste, and add another tablespoon of hummus, if desired, for extra richness and body. Taste for seasoning and balance, adding a bit more soy, lime juice, and/or salt to your liking. Turn off the heat. Divide the stew amongst bowls, and serve right away. (Any leftovers will keep well, tightly covered, for several days in the refrigerator. Reheat before serving.)
Friday, August 21, 2026
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Yay! Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend, including Sweet Potato and Mustard Turkey Burgers and Glazed Baked Ham. Enjoy!
CARROT TART WITH RICOTTA AND FETA
This comes from Sue Li on The New York Times cooking email. Sue wrote, “Carrots work beautifully in this simple tart, but onions, parsnips, beets, zucchini or pumpkin work just as well. The key is to cook the vegetables before putting them on the tart, since the moisture released by baking raw vegetables would make the puff pastry soggy and prevent it from rising. Once you remove the tart from the oven, let it cool for 10 minutes before cutting to allow the cheese to firm up slightly. The tart can be served warm, or cooled to room temperature, and would make a great addition to a picnic.”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour.
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020174-carrot-tart-with-ricotta-and-feta.
Ingredients
Flour, for rolling out dough
1 (14-ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 pound multicolored carrots, scrubbed and sliced lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
Kosher salt and black pepper
8 ounces ricotta
4 ounces feta, crumbled
1 garlic clove, grated
Chopped fresh parsley, chervil or chives, for garnish
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry into a 10-by-14-inch rectangle. Using a paring knife, lightly score a border around the perimeter of the puff pastry about a 1/4-inch away from the edges. Place puff pastry on a parchment-lined baking sheet and prick the pastry inside the border using a fork to prevent puffing in the center. Bake on top rack until puff pastry is lightly golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
Meanwhile, toss carrots with 1 tablespoon oil, season generously with salt and pepper and spread into a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast carrots on the bottom rack (underneath the puff pastry) until the edges are golden brown and carrots are still crisp-tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
While puff pastry and carrots are in the oven, blend ricotta, feta and garlic in a food processor until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Spread the cheese mixture onto the puff pastry up to the border and arrange the carrots in a single layer on top. Bake until the carrots are tender and the edges of the cheese mixture are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with herbs before serving.
VEGAN LENTIL BURGERS
This comes from Bunny Erica on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Yield: 8-10 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup dry lentils, well rinsed
2-1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3/4 cup rolled oats, finely ground
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
Directions
Boil lentils in the water with the salt for around 45 minutes. Lentils will be soft and most of the water will be gone.
Fry the onions and carrot in the oil until soft, it will take about 5 minutes.
In a bowl mix the cooked ingredients with the pepper, soy sauce, oats and bread crumbs.
While still warm form the mixture into patties, it will make 8-10 burgers.
Burgers can then be shallow fried for 1-2 minutes on each side or baked at 200C for 15 minutes.
SWEET POTATO AND MUSTARD TURKEY BURGERS
This is from Taste for Life, and begins, “These burgers are moist and juicy and have a savory flavor that comes from a secret ingredient: A hefty amount of mustard. Half a cup may seem like a lot of mustard, but it’s what makes these burgers outstanding. Using grated sweet potato instead of traditional flour or breadcrumbs adds extra fiber and nutrients.”
Prep Time: 40 min prep time; Number of Servings: Makes 4 to 6 burgers
Recipe Source: The Living Kitchen by Tamara Green, BA, CNP and Sarah Grossman, BA, CNP ($28, Appetite, 2018)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup grated yellow onion
1 cup grated peeled sweet potato
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup spinach, finely chopped
1/2 cup gluten-free whole-grain mustard
1/2 tsp sea salt
Pinch of black pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use the grating attachment on your food processor and grate onion and sweet potato. You can also do this by hand with a box grater.
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until everything is well combined.
Measure 1/4 to 1/2 cup of burger meat and shape into a patty. Place on baking sheet and repeat.
Bake in oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until top begins to get slightly golden. You can flip burgers halfway through cooking time if you want even caramelization on both sides.
These burgers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days. You can also make a big batch and keep them in the freezer for 3 to 4 months for a quick meal option.
GLAZED BAKED HAM
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 12 lb. ham
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon mustard
1/4 cup pineapple juice
6 slices fresh or canned pineapple
6 maraschino cherries
Place ham, fat side up on rack in open roasting pan. Bake in 350*F oven for 3 to 3-1/2 hours. Combine sugar, mustard & pineapple juice. Remove ham from oven 45 minutes prior to completed baking time. Pour off excess fat. Spread 1/3 of the glaze on fat side. Arrange pineapple slices & cherries on the glaze, pressing firmly. Return to oven & baste with remaining glaze at 15 minute intervals.
MISSISSIPPI MUD PIE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 prepared 9-inch chocolate crumb pie crust
1 cup Powdered sugar
1 cup (6 oz.) NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, cut up
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup chopped nuts, divided (optional)
2 pints coffee ice cream, softened slightly, divided
1 garnish of whipped cream (optional)
Directions
Heat sugar, morsels, butter, cream & corn syrup in small, heavy-duty saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until butter is melted & mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract. Cool until slightly warm.
Drizzle 1/3 cup chocolate sauce in bottom of crust; sprinkle with 1/4 cup nuts. Layer 1 pint ice cream, scooping thin slices with a large spoon; freeze for 1 hour. Repeat with 1/3 cup sauce, 1/4 cup nuts and remaining ice cream. Drizzle with remaining sauce; top with remaining nuts. Freeze for 2 hours or until firm. Top with whipped cream before serving.
VEGETABLE-CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
Servings: 6 (Serving = 1-1/2 cup)
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/253.shtml
Ingredients
6 cups 1/3-less-salt chicken broth, divided
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup thinly sliced leek (white part only)
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup peeled and chopped turnip
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1-1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoons fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 ounces uncooked "no-yolk" broad noodles
1 cup diced cooked chicken
Directions
Place 1/3 cup chicken broth, celery, leek, carrot and turnip in large saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.
Stir in remaining 5 -2/3 cups chicken broth, parsley, thyme, rosemary, vinegar and black pepper. Bring to a boil; add noodles. Cook until noodles are tender; stir in chicken. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer until heated through.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 98; Protein: 10 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 73 mg; Cholesterol: 18 mg; Carbohydrates: 12 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Starch/Bread, 1 Lean Meat, 1/2 Vegetable
CARROT TART WITH RICOTTA AND FETA
This comes from Sue Li on The New York Times cooking email. Sue wrote, “Carrots work beautifully in this simple tart, but onions, parsnips, beets, zucchini or pumpkin work just as well. The key is to cook the vegetables before putting them on the tart, since the moisture released by baking raw vegetables would make the puff pastry soggy and prevent it from rising. Once you remove the tart from the oven, let it cool for 10 minutes before cutting to allow the cheese to firm up slightly. The tart can be served warm, or cooled to room temperature, and would make a great addition to a picnic.”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour.
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020174-carrot-tart-with-ricotta-and-feta.
Ingredients
Flour, for rolling out dough
1 (14-ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 pound multicolored carrots, scrubbed and sliced lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
Kosher salt and black pepper
8 ounces ricotta
4 ounces feta, crumbled
1 garlic clove, grated
Chopped fresh parsley, chervil or chives, for garnish
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry into a 10-by-14-inch rectangle. Using a paring knife, lightly score a border around the perimeter of the puff pastry about a 1/4-inch away from the edges. Place puff pastry on a parchment-lined baking sheet and prick the pastry inside the border using a fork to prevent puffing in the center. Bake on top rack until puff pastry is lightly golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
Meanwhile, toss carrots with 1 tablespoon oil, season generously with salt and pepper and spread into a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast carrots on the bottom rack (underneath the puff pastry) until the edges are golden brown and carrots are still crisp-tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
While puff pastry and carrots are in the oven, blend ricotta, feta and garlic in a food processor until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Spread the cheese mixture onto the puff pastry up to the border and arrange the carrots in a single layer on top. Bake until the carrots are tender and the edges of the cheese mixture are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with herbs before serving.
VEGAN LENTIL BURGERS
This comes from Bunny Erica on the Genius Kitchen site. Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Yield: 8-10 burgers
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup dry lentils, well rinsed
2-1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3/4 cup rolled oats, finely ground
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
Directions
Boil lentils in the water with the salt for around 45 minutes. Lentils will be soft and most of the water will be gone.
Fry the onions and carrot in the oil until soft, it will take about 5 minutes.
In a bowl mix the cooked ingredients with the pepper, soy sauce, oats and bread crumbs.
While still warm form the mixture into patties, it will make 8-10 burgers.
Burgers can then be shallow fried for 1-2 minutes on each side or baked at 200C for 15 minutes.
SWEET POTATO AND MUSTARD TURKEY BURGERS
This is from Taste for Life, and begins, “These burgers are moist and juicy and have a savory flavor that comes from a secret ingredient: A hefty amount of mustard. Half a cup may seem like a lot of mustard, but it’s what makes these burgers outstanding. Using grated sweet potato instead of traditional flour or breadcrumbs adds extra fiber and nutrients.”
Prep Time: 40 min prep time; Number of Servings: Makes 4 to 6 burgers
Recipe Source: The Living Kitchen by Tamara Green, BA, CNP and Sarah Grossman, BA, CNP ($28, Appetite, 2018)
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/2 cup grated yellow onion
1 cup grated peeled sweet potato
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup spinach, finely chopped
1/2 cup gluten-free whole-grain mustard
1/2 tsp sea salt
Pinch of black pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use the grating attachment on your food processor and grate onion and sweet potato. You can also do this by hand with a box grater.
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl until everything is well combined.
Measure 1/4 to 1/2 cup of burger meat and shape into a patty. Place on baking sheet and repeat.
Bake in oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until top begins to get slightly golden. You can flip burgers halfway through cooking time if you want even caramelization on both sides.
These burgers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days. You can also make a big batch and keep them in the freezer for 3 to 4 months for a quick meal option.
GLAZED BAKED HAM
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 12 lb. ham
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon mustard
1/4 cup pineapple juice
6 slices fresh or canned pineapple
6 maraschino cherries
Place ham, fat side up on rack in open roasting pan. Bake in 350*F oven for 3 to 3-1/2 hours. Combine sugar, mustard & pineapple juice. Remove ham from oven 45 minutes prior to completed baking time. Pour off excess fat. Spread 1/3 of the glaze on fat side. Arrange pineapple slices & cherries on the glaze, pressing firmly. Return to oven & baste with remaining glaze at 15 minute intervals.
MISSISSIPPI MUD PIE
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 prepared 9-inch chocolate crumb pie crust
1 cup Powdered sugar
1 cup (6 oz.) NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, cut up
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup chopped nuts, divided (optional)
2 pints coffee ice cream, softened slightly, divided
1 garnish of whipped cream (optional)
Directions
Heat sugar, morsels, butter, cream & corn syrup in small, heavy-duty saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until butter is melted & mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract. Cool until slightly warm.
Drizzle 1/3 cup chocolate sauce in bottom of crust; sprinkle with 1/4 cup nuts. Layer 1 pint ice cream, scooping thin slices with a large spoon; freeze for 1 hour. Repeat with 1/3 cup sauce, 1/4 cup nuts and remaining ice cream. Drizzle with remaining sauce; top with remaining nuts. Freeze for 2 hours or until firm. Top with whipped cream before serving.
VEGETABLE-CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
Servings: 6 (Serving = 1-1/2 cup)
Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/253.shtml
Ingredients
6 cups 1/3-less-salt chicken broth, divided
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup thinly sliced leek (white part only)
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup peeled and chopped turnip
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1-1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoons fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 ounces uncooked "no-yolk" broad noodles
1 cup diced cooked chicken
Directions
Place 1/3 cup chicken broth, celery, leek, carrot and turnip in large saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.
Stir in remaining 5 -2/3 cups chicken broth, parsley, thyme, rosemary, vinegar and black pepper. Bring to a boil; add noodles. Cook until noodles are tender; stir in chicken. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer until heated through.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 98; Protein: 10 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 73 mg; Cholesterol: 18 mg; Carbohydrates: 12 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Starch/Bread, 1 Lean Meat, 1/2 Vegetable
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Casseroles
For years, if someone mentioned Casseroles, the first thing many of us would think of was a way to use up left-overs. While casseroles might be a good way to do that, they're so much more. They can be a great way to get a bunch of ingredients together in one yummy dish.
A brief anecdote: When my maternal grandparents were newly-weds, my grandfather invited his boss home for dinner. My grandmother had gotten rave reviews about her chicken casserole, to the point that whenever their church or any other group had a potluck dinner, people would request that she bring along her chicken casserole. It needed, among other ingredients, an entire chicken; no left-overs here!
So, for grandpa's boss, it was grandma's chicken casserole. Unfortunately, the boss made the mistake of thinking that the casserole was a left-overs dish, and stated, "If you knew your husband was bringing home the boss, you might have fixed something better than left-overs!"
To say that the comment was not kindly taken was an understatement. Grandma was off and running her mouth, informing him that she'd had to go out and buy a fresh chicken that morning for the casserole. (This was at a time when chicken was expensive enough that it was usually saved for Sunday dinner, or special occasions - like the boss coming for a meal.)
Fortunately, the boss apologized, tasted the casserole, and was impressed.
Grandma and Grandpa
Unfortunately, while there is a recipe in this post called Grandma’s Chicken Casserole, it isn’t my Grandma's chicken casserole; I really wish I had a copy of it! However, check out the Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole, the Stuffed Pepper Casserole,, and the rest of today's offerings. Enjoy!
BEEF TORTILLA CASSEROLE
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, “An enchilada dinner kit creates a hearty beef casserole that's in the oven in just 20 minutes.”
Prep Time: 20 Minutes; Total Time: 50 Minutes; Makes 6 servings
View this online at https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/beef-tortilla-casserole.
Ingredients
1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 box (14.2 oz) Old El Paso™ enchilada dinner kit
1/2 cup water
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)
Preparation
Heat oven to 350°F. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and onion, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in both pouches enchilada sauce (from dinner kit), the seasoning mix (from dinner kit), water and chiles; heat until hot.
In ungreased 11x7-inch baking dish, spread 1 cup of the beef mixture. Cut tortillas (from dinner kit) in half. Place 6 tortilla halves on beef; spread with 1/2 cup of the sour cream. Top with 1/2 cup of the cheese, 1 cup of the beef mixture and remaining 6 tortilla halves. Top with remaining sour cream, remaining beef mixture and remaining cheese.
Bake 30 minutes. If desired, serve with additional sour cream, diced red bell pepper and chopped fresh cilantro.
Expert Tips
Serve a tossed salad with fruity chunks of pineapple, mango or oranges.
GRANDMA'S CHICKEN CASSEROLE
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "When it comes to weeknight dinner, casseroles are king. This super-simple, five-ingredient chicken casserole recipe comes together quickly and bakes up beautifully. It’s sure to be your quick-meal go to for at-home dinners and a reliable favorite for bake-and-take potluck dinners."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
2 cans (10.5 oz each) condensed cream of chicken soup
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (8 oz)
3 cups Progresso™ plain panko crispy bread crumbs
6 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.
Place chicken evenly in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Spoon and spread soup evenly over chicken; sprinkle with cheese.
In medium bowl, stir bread crumbs and melted butter; sprinkle over cheese. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until cheese is melted and bread crumbs are golden brown and thoroughly heated.
Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
tip 1
Your grandma probably didn’t use panko bread crumbs, which are crispy crumbs used in Japanese cooking. But she’d definitely embrace them if she were given a box. Panko makes topping a casserole quick and ensures there’s good texture and contrast to the creamy center of the hot dish.
tip 2
Leftover roast turkey is a great substitute for chicken in this recipe—especially the day after Thanksgiving.
tip 3
Sub in crispy French-fried onions to top the casserole or try Colby-Monterey Jack cheese blend instead of cheddar cheese.
CREAMY CRUNCHY CHICKEN CASSEROLE
This is from Everyday Diabetic Recipes, and begins, "Our Creamy Crunchy Chicken Casserole hits all the high notes. Plus, it comes together so quickly, you'll have this easy casserole recipe on the table before your gang can ask, 'What's for dinner?'"
Cook Time: 30 minutes; Serves: 6; Serving Size: 3/4 cup
To view this online, go to https://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Casseroles/Creamy-Crunchy-Chicken-Casserole.
Ingredients
3 cups cooked chicken breast (about 1lb.), chopped
3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar or mozzarella cheese
1 (10-3/4-ounce) can, reduced-fat and reduced-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup low-fat milk
1 cup chopped red or yellow bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup low-sodium crushed cornflakes
1/4 cup sliced almonds
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a 2-qt. casserole dish with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, stir together chicken, cheese, soup, milk, bell pepper, celery, green onions, and pepper. Pour into prepared casserole dish.
In a small bowl, stir together cornflakes and almonds. Sprinkle evenly over chicken mixture.
Bake, uncovered, about 30 minutes, or until heated through. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Want to make this ahead of time? No problem! Just assemble the casserole, cover tightly, freeze, thaw completely, then bake off!
CHICKEN BACON RANCH CASSEROLE
This is from the Pillsbury emailing list. It begins, "Level up your casserole game in the easiest way with a yummy Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole. Simple, hearty and guaranteed to please, this creamy chicken pasta dish will have the whole family asking for seconds. Prep your casserole in just 20 minutes, then let your oven do all the heavy lifting—this chicken bacon ranch pasta bake is the definition of comfort food!"
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb penne pasta, cooked and drained
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 jar (15 oz) Alfredo pasta sauce
1/2 cup ranch dressing
6 slices chopped cooked bacon
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)
Chopped parsley, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Grease or spray 13x9-inch pan.
In large bowl, place 1 lb cooked and drained penne pasta, 2 cups shredded cooked chicken, 1 jar (15 oz) Alfredo pasta sauce and 1/2 cup ranch dressing. Stir to combine. Pour mixture in pan; spread evenly.
Sprinkle 6 slices chopped cooked bacon evenly over top, then sprinkle with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz).
Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Tips from the Pillsbury Kitchens
tip 1
Don't skimp on the optional sprinkle of chopped parsley. It adds bright color and a fresh taste to your bacon ranch chicken bake.
Tip 2
If you don't have any leftover chicken, pick up a rotisserie chicken at your grocery store. A 2-lb bird will provide about 3 cups of meat.
Tip 3
To add a more distinct cheesy flavor to your chicken bacon casserole, use cheddar cheese instead of the mozzarella.
Tip 4
You can use any short pasta, including fusilli or rotini, in this Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole recipe. The short noodles make the casserole easy to scoop up and serve.
STUFFED PEPPER CASSEROLE
This is from TheDailyGourmet at AllRecipes, and begins, "Stuffed peppers are deconstructed in this casserole and given a subtle taco flair."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/stuffed-pepper-casserole-recipe-7372944.
Ingredients
nonstick cooking spray
1 pound ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles (such as RO-TEL®)
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
3 tablespoons taco seasoning
1-1/2 cups uncooked long grain rice
1 cup beef broth
4 ounces Colby cheese, shredded
4 ounces pepper Jack cheese, shredded
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, and cook and stir ground beef, onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and garlic until meat is browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain excess fat; season with salt and pepper. Stir in RO-TEL tomatoes, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning.
Spread rice in the bottom of the baking dish; pour in beef broth. Fold pepper mixture into rice with a spatula, and spread evenly into the dish. Sprinkle with Colby cheese and pepper Jack cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven, covered with foil, until rice is tender, about 50 minutes. Remove foil and cook until cheese is golden, about 5 minutes more.
GROUND BEEF CASSEROLE WITH POTATOES AND CHEESE
This yumminess comes from Diana Rattray on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “Corn, tomatoes, and potatoes and cheese make this ground beef casserole a whole meal. The casserole is similar to a cottage pie or this crockpot Chinese pie.
“If your ground beef is not extra lean you might want to brown it first. See the tips for instructions.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 75 minutes; Total Time: 95 minutes; Yield: Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound extra-lean ground beef (90% or better)*
1 cup chopped onion
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 cups corn kernels or 1 can (15 ounces), drained
16 ounces diced frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed, or about 3 to 4 cups mashed potato or cooked diced potato
1/4 cup flour
1 green bell pepper, chopped
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups shredded sharp or mild Cheddar cheese
Directions
Combine beef, onion, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. In a separate bowl, combine corn, potatoes, flour, melted butter, and chopped green bell pepper.
Pat the beef mixture into a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; top with the corn and potato mixture.
Bake uncovered at 375° for 45 minutes; sprinkle with the cheese and bake ground beef casserole 15 to 20 minutes longer, or until browned and potatoes are tender.
*If the ground beef is not extra lean, you might want to brown it first. Brown the beef with the onions win a large skillet over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain well and then mix it with the tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. Proceed with the recipe.
A brief anecdote: When my maternal grandparents were newly-weds, my grandfather invited his boss home for dinner. My grandmother had gotten rave reviews about her chicken casserole, to the point that whenever their church or any other group had a potluck dinner, people would request that she bring along her chicken casserole. It needed, among other ingredients, an entire chicken; no left-overs here!
So, for grandpa's boss, it was grandma's chicken casserole. Unfortunately, the boss made the mistake of thinking that the casserole was a left-overs dish, and stated, "If you knew your husband was bringing home the boss, you might have fixed something better than left-overs!"
To say that the comment was not kindly taken was an understatement. Grandma was off and running her mouth, informing him that she'd had to go out and buy a fresh chicken that morning for the casserole. (This was at a time when chicken was expensive enough that it was usually saved for Sunday dinner, or special occasions - like the boss coming for a meal.)
Fortunately, the boss apologized, tasted the casserole, and was impressed.
Grandma and Grandpa
Unfortunately, while there is a recipe in this post called Grandma’s Chicken Casserole, it isn’t my Grandma's chicken casserole; I really wish I had a copy of it! However, check out the Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole, the Stuffed Pepper Casserole,, and the rest of today's offerings. Enjoy!
BEEF TORTILLA CASSEROLE
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, “An enchilada dinner kit creates a hearty beef casserole that's in the oven in just 20 minutes.”
Prep Time: 20 Minutes; Total Time: 50 Minutes; Makes 6 servings
View this online at https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/beef-tortilla-casserole.
Ingredients
1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 box (14.2 oz) Old El Paso™ enchilada dinner kit
1/2 cup water
1 can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso™ chopped green chiles
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)
Preparation
Heat oven to 350°F. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and onion, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in both pouches enchilada sauce (from dinner kit), the seasoning mix (from dinner kit), water and chiles; heat until hot.
In ungreased 11x7-inch baking dish, spread 1 cup of the beef mixture. Cut tortillas (from dinner kit) in half. Place 6 tortilla halves on beef; spread with 1/2 cup of the sour cream. Top with 1/2 cup of the cheese, 1 cup of the beef mixture and remaining 6 tortilla halves. Top with remaining sour cream, remaining beef mixture and remaining cheese.
Bake 30 minutes. If desired, serve with additional sour cream, diced red bell pepper and chopped fresh cilantro.
Expert Tips
Serve a tossed salad with fruity chunks of pineapple, mango or oranges.
GRANDMA'S CHICKEN CASSEROLE
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "When it comes to weeknight dinner, casseroles are king. This super-simple, five-ingredient chicken casserole recipe comes together quickly and bakes up beautifully. It’s sure to be your quick-meal go to for at-home dinners and a reliable favorite for bake-and-take potluck dinners."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Makes 8 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
2 cans (10.5 oz each) condensed cream of chicken soup
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (8 oz)
3 cups Progresso™ plain panko crispy bread crumbs
6 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F.
Place chicken evenly in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Spoon and spread soup evenly over chicken; sprinkle with cheese.
In medium bowl, stir bread crumbs and melted butter; sprinkle over cheese. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until cheese is melted and bread crumbs are golden brown and thoroughly heated.
Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
tip 1
Your grandma probably didn’t use panko bread crumbs, which are crispy crumbs used in Japanese cooking. But she’d definitely embrace them if she were given a box. Panko makes topping a casserole quick and ensures there’s good texture and contrast to the creamy center of the hot dish.
tip 2
Leftover roast turkey is a great substitute for chicken in this recipe—especially the day after Thanksgiving.
tip 3
Sub in crispy French-fried onions to top the casserole or try Colby-Monterey Jack cheese blend instead of cheddar cheese.
CREAMY CRUNCHY CHICKEN CASSEROLE
This is from Everyday Diabetic Recipes, and begins, "Our Creamy Crunchy Chicken Casserole hits all the high notes. Plus, it comes together so quickly, you'll have this easy casserole recipe on the table before your gang can ask, 'What's for dinner?'"
Cook Time: 30 minutes; Serves: 6; Serving Size: 3/4 cup
To view this online, go to https://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Casseroles/Creamy-Crunchy-Chicken-Casserole.
Ingredients
3 cups cooked chicken breast (about 1lb.), chopped
3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar or mozzarella cheese
1 (10-3/4-ounce) can, reduced-fat and reduced-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup low-fat milk
1 cup chopped red or yellow bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup low-sodium crushed cornflakes
1/4 cup sliced almonds
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a 2-qt. casserole dish with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, stir together chicken, cheese, soup, milk, bell pepper, celery, green onions, and pepper. Pour into prepared casserole dish.
In a small bowl, stir together cornflakes and almonds. Sprinkle evenly over chicken mixture.
Bake, uncovered, about 30 minutes, or until heated through. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Want to make this ahead of time? No problem! Just assemble the casserole, cover tightly, freeze, thaw completely, then bake off!
CHICKEN BACON RANCH CASSEROLE
This is from the Pillsbury emailing list. It begins, "Level up your casserole game in the easiest way with a yummy Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole. Simple, hearty and guaranteed to please, this creamy chicken pasta dish will have the whole family asking for seconds. Prep your casserole in just 20 minutes, then let your oven do all the heavy lifting—this chicken bacon ranch pasta bake is the definition of comfort food!"
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 lb penne pasta, cooked and drained
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 jar (15 oz) Alfredo pasta sauce
1/2 cup ranch dressing
6 slices chopped cooked bacon
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz)
Chopped parsley, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Grease or spray 13x9-inch pan.
In large bowl, place 1 lb cooked and drained penne pasta, 2 cups shredded cooked chicken, 1 jar (15 oz) Alfredo pasta sauce and 1/2 cup ranch dressing. Stir to combine. Pour mixture in pan; spread evenly.
Sprinkle 6 slices chopped cooked bacon evenly over top, then sprinkle with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 oz).
Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Tips from the Pillsbury Kitchens
tip 1
Don't skimp on the optional sprinkle of chopped parsley. It adds bright color and a fresh taste to your bacon ranch chicken bake.
Tip 2
If you don't have any leftover chicken, pick up a rotisserie chicken at your grocery store. A 2-lb bird will provide about 3 cups of meat.
Tip 3
To add a more distinct cheesy flavor to your chicken bacon casserole, use cheddar cheese instead of the mozzarella.
Tip 4
You can use any short pasta, including fusilli or rotini, in this Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole recipe. The short noodles make the casserole easy to scoop up and serve.
STUFFED PEPPER CASSEROLE
This is from TheDailyGourmet at AllRecipes, and begins, "Stuffed peppers are deconstructed in this casserole and given a subtle taco flair."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/stuffed-pepper-casserole-recipe-7372944.
Ingredients
nonstick cooking spray
1 pound ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles (such as RO-TEL®)
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
3 tablespoons taco seasoning
1-1/2 cups uncooked long grain rice
1 cup beef broth
4 ounces Colby cheese, shredded
4 ounces pepper Jack cheese, shredded
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, and cook and stir ground beef, onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and garlic until meat is browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain excess fat; season with salt and pepper. Stir in RO-TEL tomatoes, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning.
Spread rice in the bottom of the baking dish; pour in beef broth. Fold pepper mixture into rice with a spatula, and spread evenly into the dish. Sprinkle with Colby cheese and pepper Jack cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven, covered with foil, until rice is tender, about 50 minutes. Remove foil and cook until cheese is golden, about 5 minutes more.
GROUND BEEF CASSEROLE WITH POTATOES AND CHEESE
This yumminess comes from Diana Rattray on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “Corn, tomatoes, and potatoes and cheese make this ground beef casserole a whole meal. The casserole is similar to a cottage pie or this crockpot Chinese pie.
“If your ground beef is not extra lean you might want to brown it first. See the tips for instructions.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 75 minutes; Total Time: 95 minutes; Yield: Serves 6.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound extra-lean ground beef (90% or better)*
1 cup chopped onion
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 cups corn kernels or 1 can (15 ounces), drained
16 ounces diced frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed, or about 3 to 4 cups mashed potato or cooked diced potato
1/4 cup flour
1 green bell pepper, chopped
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups shredded sharp or mild Cheddar cheese
Directions
Combine beef, onion, tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. In a separate bowl, combine corn, potatoes, flour, melted butter, and chopped green bell pepper.
Pat the beef mixture into a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; top with the corn and potato mixture.
Bake uncovered at 375° for 45 minutes; sprinkle with the cheese and bake ground beef casserole 15 to 20 minutes longer, or until browned and potatoes are tender.
*If the ground beef is not extra lean, you might want to brown it first. Brown the beef with the onions win a large skillet over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain well and then mix it with the tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. Proceed with the recipe.
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Chicken
There was a time when Chicken was reserved for Sunday or holiday dinners. (Think early- to mid-twentieth century.)
Now, it's more of an anytime meal. To that end, here are six chicken recipes to help you through the day, including Sweet and Sour Chicken with Vegetables and Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff. Enjoy!
CHICKEN SPAGHETTI
This comes from Southern Living, and begins, "Give your traditional chicken casserole a break and serve this bright and lively chicken spaghetti. You only need a Dutch oven and a 9-x-13 baking dish to create this delicious meal, meaning there is less clean-up afterwards. Cook and shred your chicken in advance to save time."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes; Serves: 10
To view this online, go to https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/easy-chicken-spaghetti.
Ingredients
6 cups unsalted chicken stock
1 (14-oz.) bone-in, skin-on chicken breast, skin removed
3 (7-oz.) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, skin removed
12 ounces uncooked spaghetti
1 (5-oz.) can evaporated milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon lower-sodium Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons hot sauce
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (about 1 medium onion)
1 1/2 cups chopped red bell pepper (about 1 large pepper)
2 cups chopped tomatoes (about 3 medium tomatoes)
4 ounces sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Bring stock to a boil in a Dutch oven over high. Add chicken to stock. Cover; reduce heat to medium. Cook until a thermometer inserted in thickest piece of chicken registers 160°F, about 25 minutes. Remove chicken; let stand until ready to use. (Inner temperature of chicken will rise as it stands.)
Return stock to a boil over high. Add pasta to Dutch oven, and cook until just tender, about 9 minutes. Transfer pasta to a medium bowl (reserving stock). Return stock to a boil over high; boil until liquid is reduced to about 2-1/2 cups, about 1 minute. Whisk together evaporated milk and flour in a small bowl. Stir into stock; boil until slightly thickened, 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and salt. Pour stock mixture over pasta.
Return Dutch oven to medium-high heat. Add butter, onion, and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat; add pasta mixture back to Dutch oven. Shred chicken, discarding bones. (You should have about 4-1/2 cups meat.) Add chicken and tomatoes to Dutch oven; toss to coat. Pour mixture into a 13- x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with cheese. Lightly coat aluminum foil with cooking spray. Cover with foil; bake until cheese is melted, 25 to 30 minutes.
Chef's Notes
You don't have to be a food stylist to create a casserole that looks as good as it tastes. Instead of pouring the pasta mixture from the pot into the baking dish, use tongs and a large spoon to twirl the noodles into nests, as shown below.
SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES
This is from Everyday Diabetic Recipes, and begins, "Looking for a veggie-packed all-in-one chicken dish? This is it! This skillet meal takes no time to whip together. And, with its great color and nutrition plus authentic Asian flavor, it's sure to be a hit."
Cook Time: 12 minutes; Serves: 6; Serving Size: 4 ounces chicken strips and 3/4 cup veggies
To view this online, go to https://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Chicken/Sweet-and-Sour-Chicken-with-Vegetables-103208.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola oil
1-1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks in syrup, drained and liquid reserved
1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 cup fresh broccoli florets
1 medium-sized red bell pepper, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon ketchup
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup fresh snow peas, trimmed
Directions
In a large skillet or wok, heat oil over high heat. Add chicken and stir-fry for 4 to 5 minutes, or until no pink remains.
Add pineapple chunks, water chestnuts, broccoli, and red pepper. Stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
In a small bowl, combine the reserved pineapple liquid, the soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, cornstarch, and sugar; mix well. Stir into skillet or wok and cook 3 minutes. Add snow peas and cook 1 minute, or until sauce has thickened. Serve immediately.
SHEET-PAN CHICKEN WITH RHUBARB AND RED ONION
This recipe is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yummy recipe, Melissa wrote, "This easy yet robust dish celebrates rhubarb’s savory side. Here, a bit of honey, some sliced sweet red onion and the rich juices of roasted chicken thighs and drumsticks temper its tartness. Serve this dish with a crackly baguette or some rice to catch the tangy sauce at the bottom of the pan. It’s the best part."
Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 3 to 4 servings
This recipe was featured in "Crisp Chicken, Tender Rhubarb and a Brilliant Sheet-Pan Meal," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023186-sheet-pan-chicken-with-rhubarb-and-red-onion. While you're at it, if you haven't signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1-3/4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks (see Tip)
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal), plus more as needed
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
1 large red onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
5 thyme sprigs
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
8 ounces rhubarb stalks, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
3 tablespoons honey, plus more to taste
1/2 cup cilantro or mint leaves and tender stems, torn
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees and line sheet pan with parchment paper. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season all over with coriander, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Place onion wedges on the prepared sheet pan and lightly season with more salt and pepper. Add chicken and thyme sprigs to the pan and drizzle 3 tablespoons oil over everything. Toss until well coated, then spread chicken and onions in a single layer. Roast for 10 minutes.
While the chicken is in the oven, combine rhubarb and 3 tablespoons honey in a medium bowl. Lightly drizzle with oil, add a pinch of salt and pepper, and toss until rhubarb is well coated.
Remove chicken from oven and carefully spoon rhubarb onto the hot pan around the onions and chicken. Continue roasting until the chicken is cooked through, and the rhubarb and onion are tender and caramelized, 25 to 35 minutes longer, tossing the rhubarb and onions (not the chicken) once about halfway through.
Stir the rhubarb and onions very well, making sure to incorporate all the browned bits and chicken juices from the bottom of the pan (this is the tastiest part). Then sample a piece of rhubarb. If it’s very tart, drizzle with a little more honey, tossing well. Serve chicken with rhubarb-onion mixture garnished with herbs.
Tip
You can substitute bone-in, skin on-breasts for the thighs and drumsticks. Just start checking 10 minutes earlier since white meat takes less time to cook than dark meat.
ONE-POT CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA
This is from the Food Network. Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/one-pot-cajun-chicken-pasta-8051436.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 4), cut into 1-inch pieces
2-1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
2 medium green bell peppers, stemmed, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
12 ounces smooth penne (see Cook's Note)
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
6 ounces cream cheese, cubed, at room temperature
Kosher salt
4 scallions, sliced, for serving
Directions
Heat the oil in large wide pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and Cajun seasoning and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken just starts to change color and the spices are toasted, about 2 minutes.
Add the peppers and onions and cook until they just begin to release some of their juices, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until softened, 1 minute.
Add the pasta, chicken broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When it boils, continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce is thickened and reduced by about half, about 15 minutes.
Remove from the heat and add the cream cheese and 1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt. Stir until the cream cheese is combined and melted. Don't worry if the sauce looks runny, it will thicken as it sits. Top with sliced scallions.
Cook’s Note
The success of this recipe depends upon the specific pasta shape suggested, so we do not recommend substitutions.
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN STROGANOFF
This is from the Food Network, and begins, "Move over beef -- chicken is in the house. This great weeknight meal takes less than 15 minutes to prep, then the slow cooker does the rest."
Active Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/slow-cooker-chicken-stroganoff-5536626.
Ingredients
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon tomato paste
One 1-ounce package dry onion soup mix
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces button mushrooms, quartered
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 1-3/4 pounds)
12 ounces egg noodles
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
Chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Special equipment: a 6-quart slow cooker
Directions
Whisk together the broth, flour, tomato paste, onion soup mix, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl until combined. Add to a 6-quart slow cooker and top with the mushrooms and chicken. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.
When ready to serve, bring a large pot of water to a boil; salt the water generously. Add the noodles and cook until al dente according to the package directions. Drain and toss in a large bowl with the butter until the butter is melted and the noodles are completely coated.
Transfer the chicken to a small bowl and shred with 2 forks. Whisk the cream cheese into the sauce until completely incorporated; stir in the chicken and noodles. Top with parsley before serving.
HEALTHY BBQ RANCH SALAD
This is from Everyday Diabetic Recipes, and begins, "If you love those barbecue ranch flavors then this healthy salad recipe is right up your alley. Our Healthy BBQ Ranch Salad has so much southwestern flavor, it'll have you saying "Yeehaw!" with every bite!"
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Serves: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Green-Salads/Healthy-BBQ-Ranch-Salad.
Ingredients
2 cups cooked, diced chicken breast
2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
5 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 tomato, diced
3/4 cup frozen corn, thawed
3/4 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup reduced fat shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
1/4 cup fat-free Ranch dressing
1/4 cup tortilla strips (see note)
Directions
In a small bowl, combine chicken and barbecue sauce; toss until evenly coated.
In a large bowl, place lettuce; top with chicken, tomato, corn, beans, onion, and cheese, if desired. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to combine.
Top with tortilla strips, if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
To make your own healthier tortilla strips, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Then, cut a 6" whole-wheat flour tortilal into thin strips and bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle over your salad and enjoy!
Now, it's more of an anytime meal. To that end, here are six chicken recipes to help you through the day, including Sweet and Sour Chicken with Vegetables and Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff. Enjoy!
CHICKEN SPAGHETTI
This comes from Southern Living, and begins, "Give your traditional chicken casserole a break and serve this bright and lively chicken spaghetti. You only need a Dutch oven and a 9-x-13 baking dish to create this delicious meal, meaning there is less clean-up afterwards. Cook and shred your chicken in advance to save time."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes; Serves: 10
To view this online, go to https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/easy-chicken-spaghetti.
Ingredients
6 cups unsalted chicken stock
1 (14-oz.) bone-in, skin-on chicken breast, skin removed
3 (7-oz.) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, skin removed
12 ounces uncooked spaghetti
1 (5-oz.) can evaporated milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon lower-sodium Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons hot sauce
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (about 1 medium onion)
1 1/2 cups chopped red bell pepper (about 1 large pepper)
2 cups chopped tomatoes (about 3 medium tomatoes)
4 ounces sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Bring stock to a boil in a Dutch oven over high. Add chicken to stock. Cover; reduce heat to medium. Cook until a thermometer inserted in thickest piece of chicken registers 160°F, about 25 minutes. Remove chicken; let stand until ready to use. (Inner temperature of chicken will rise as it stands.)
Return stock to a boil over high. Add pasta to Dutch oven, and cook until just tender, about 9 minutes. Transfer pasta to a medium bowl (reserving stock). Return stock to a boil over high; boil until liquid is reduced to about 2-1/2 cups, about 1 minute. Whisk together evaporated milk and flour in a small bowl. Stir into stock; boil until slightly thickened, 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and salt. Pour stock mixture over pasta.
Return Dutch oven to medium-high heat. Add butter, onion, and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat; add pasta mixture back to Dutch oven. Shred chicken, discarding bones. (You should have about 4-1/2 cups meat.) Add chicken and tomatoes to Dutch oven; toss to coat. Pour mixture into a 13- x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with cheese. Lightly coat aluminum foil with cooking spray. Cover with foil; bake until cheese is melted, 25 to 30 minutes.
Chef's Notes
You don't have to be a food stylist to create a casserole that looks as good as it tastes. Instead of pouring the pasta mixture from the pot into the baking dish, use tongs and a large spoon to twirl the noodles into nests, as shown below.
SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES
This is from Everyday Diabetic Recipes, and begins, "Looking for a veggie-packed all-in-one chicken dish? This is it! This skillet meal takes no time to whip together. And, with its great color and nutrition plus authentic Asian flavor, it's sure to be a hit."
Cook Time: 12 minutes; Serves: 6; Serving Size: 4 ounces chicken strips and 3/4 cup veggies
To view this online, go to https://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Chicken/Sweet-and-Sour-Chicken-with-Vegetables-103208.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola oil
1-1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks in syrup, drained and liquid reserved
1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 cup fresh broccoli florets
1 medium-sized red bell pepper, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon ketchup
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup fresh snow peas, trimmed
Directions
In a large skillet or wok, heat oil over high heat. Add chicken and stir-fry for 4 to 5 minutes, or until no pink remains.
Add pineapple chunks, water chestnuts, broccoli, and red pepper. Stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
In a small bowl, combine the reserved pineapple liquid, the soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, cornstarch, and sugar; mix well. Stir into skillet or wok and cook 3 minutes. Add snow peas and cook 1 minute, or until sauce has thickened. Serve immediately.
SHEET-PAN CHICKEN WITH RHUBARB AND RED ONION
This recipe is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yummy recipe, Melissa wrote, "This easy yet robust dish celebrates rhubarb’s savory side. Here, a bit of honey, some sliced sweet red onion and the rich juices of roasted chicken thighs and drumsticks temper its tartness. Serve this dish with a crackly baguette or some rice to catch the tangy sauce at the bottom of the pan. It’s the best part."
Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 3 to 4 servings
This recipe was featured in "Crisp Chicken, Tender Rhubarb and a Brilliant Sheet-Pan Meal," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023186-sheet-pan-chicken-with-rhubarb-and-red-onion. While you're at it, if you haven't signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1-3/4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks (see Tip)
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal), plus more as needed
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
1 large red onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
5 thyme sprigs
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
8 ounces rhubarb stalks, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
3 tablespoons honey, plus more to taste
1/2 cup cilantro or mint leaves and tender stems, torn
Preparation
Heat oven to 425 degrees and line sheet pan with parchment paper. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season all over with coriander, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Place onion wedges on the prepared sheet pan and lightly season with more salt and pepper. Add chicken and thyme sprigs to the pan and drizzle 3 tablespoons oil over everything. Toss until well coated, then spread chicken and onions in a single layer. Roast for 10 minutes.
While the chicken is in the oven, combine rhubarb and 3 tablespoons honey in a medium bowl. Lightly drizzle with oil, add a pinch of salt and pepper, and toss until rhubarb is well coated.
Remove chicken from oven and carefully spoon rhubarb onto the hot pan around the onions and chicken. Continue roasting until the chicken is cooked through, and the rhubarb and onion are tender and caramelized, 25 to 35 minutes longer, tossing the rhubarb and onions (not the chicken) once about halfway through.
Stir the rhubarb and onions very well, making sure to incorporate all the browned bits and chicken juices from the bottom of the pan (this is the tastiest part). Then sample a piece of rhubarb. If it’s very tart, drizzle with a little more honey, tossing well. Serve chicken with rhubarb-onion mixture garnished with herbs.
Tip
You can substitute bone-in, skin on-breasts for the thighs and drumsticks. Just start checking 10 minutes earlier since white meat takes less time to cook than dark meat.
ONE-POT CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA
This is from the Food Network. Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/one-pot-cajun-chicken-pasta-8051436.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 4), cut into 1-inch pieces
2-1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
2 medium green bell peppers, stemmed, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
12 ounces smooth penne (see Cook's Note)
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
6 ounces cream cheese, cubed, at room temperature
Kosher salt
4 scallions, sliced, for serving
Directions
Heat the oil in large wide pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and Cajun seasoning and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken just starts to change color and the spices are toasted, about 2 minutes.
Add the peppers and onions and cook until they just begin to release some of their juices, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until softened, 1 minute.
Add the pasta, chicken broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When it boils, continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce is thickened and reduced by about half, about 15 minutes.
Remove from the heat and add the cream cheese and 1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt. Stir until the cream cheese is combined and melted. Don't worry if the sauce looks runny, it will thicken as it sits. Top with sliced scallions.
Cook’s Note
The success of this recipe depends upon the specific pasta shape suggested, so we do not recommend substitutions.
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN STROGANOFF
This is from the Food Network, and begins, "Move over beef -- chicken is in the house. This great weeknight meal takes less than 15 minutes to prep, then the slow cooker does the rest."
Active Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/slow-cooker-chicken-stroganoff-5536626.
Ingredients
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon tomato paste
One 1-ounce package dry onion soup mix
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces button mushrooms, quartered
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 1-3/4 pounds)
12 ounces egg noodles
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
Chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Special equipment: a 6-quart slow cooker
Directions
Whisk together the broth, flour, tomato paste, onion soup mix, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl until combined. Add to a 6-quart slow cooker and top with the mushrooms and chicken. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.
When ready to serve, bring a large pot of water to a boil; salt the water generously. Add the noodles and cook until al dente according to the package directions. Drain and toss in a large bowl with the butter until the butter is melted and the noodles are completely coated.
Transfer the chicken to a small bowl and shred with 2 forks. Whisk the cream cheese into the sauce until completely incorporated; stir in the chicken and noodles. Top with parsley before serving.
HEALTHY BBQ RANCH SALAD
This is from Everyday Diabetic Recipes, and begins, "If you love those barbecue ranch flavors then this healthy salad recipe is right up your alley. Our Healthy BBQ Ranch Salad has so much southwestern flavor, it'll have you saying "Yeehaw!" with every bite!"
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Serves: 4
To view this online, go to https://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Green-Salads/Healthy-BBQ-Ranch-Salad.
Ingredients
2 cups cooked, diced chicken breast
2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
5 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 tomato, diced
3/4 cup frozen corn, thawed
3/4 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup reduced fat shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)
1/4 cup fat-free Ranch dressing
1/4 cup tortilla strips (see note)
Directions
In a small bowl, combine chicken and barbecue sauce; toss until evenly coated.
In a large bowl, place lettuce; top with chicken, tomato, corn, beans, onion, and cheese, if desired. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to combine.
Top with tortilla strips, if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
To make your own healthier tortilla strips, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Then, cut a 6" whole-wheat flour tortilal into thin strips and bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle over your salad and enjoy!
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