Friday Food

It's finally Friday. Yay! Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Mom's Turkey Meatloaf and Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole With Cheddar Cheese. Enjoy!

BLACKBERRY COBBLER

This comes from Delish, and begins, “Summer is calling.”

Yields: 6; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

For the Blackberry Filling:

6 c. blackberries

1/2 c. sugar

Juice and zest of 1/2 lemon

1 tbsp. cornstarch

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Pinch kosher salt

For the Cobbler

1 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 c. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

4 tbsp. Butter, cubed

1/4 c. milk

1 large egg, lightly beaten

Egg wash, for brushing

Coarse sugar, for sprinkling

Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Directions

In a large bowl, toss blackberries with sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and zest, vanilla, and salt. Let sit 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350º. In another large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Work in the butter with your hands until combined, then stir in milk and egg until just combined.

Transfer the blackberry mixture to an oven-safe skillet and top with dollops of dough.

Brush dough with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Bake until biscuit topping is deeply golden and blackberry mixture bubbly, 45 minutes.

Let cool 10 minutes before serving with vanilla ice cream.

SPINACH OMELET

This is from a Weight Watcher's emailing list from y-e-a-r-s ago, and began, “If you like, add a chopped tomato to the mixture just before folding the omelet.”

When this was sent, it had a points value of 5.

Servings: 1; Preparation Time: 8 min; Cooking Time: 10 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

2 1/2 cup spinach, coarsely chopped (do not dry)

2 large egg(s)

2 tsp grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp table salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp olive oil

Directions

In a medium saucepan, cook spinach with just the water that clings to it until just wilted, about 2 minutes.

Drain well, squeezing out all liquid. Cool, then chop finely.

In a medium bowl, combine eggs, cheese, salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon water.

In a small nonstick skillet, heat oil. Pour egg mixture into pan; reduce heat and cook until base is set and top is still a little creamy, about 2 minutes.

Sprinkle spinach over one half of eggs; fold omelet in half and cook until eggs are completely set, about 1 minute longer. Serve at once.

MOM’S TURKEY MEATLOAF

This comes from Ellie Krieger of the Food Network’s Home Cooking.

Total: 1 hr 30 min; Prep: 15 min; Inactive: 15 min; Cook: 1 hr; Yield: 8 (1-inch thick) slices; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/moms-turkey-meatloaf-recipe-1946007.

Ingredients

3/4 cup quick-cooking oats

1/2 cup skim milk

1 medium onion, peeled

2 pounds ground turkey breast

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

2 eggs, beaten

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup ketchup

1/2 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a small bowl, stir together the oats and milk. Thinly slice 1/4 of the onion and set aside. Finely chop the remaining onion. In a large bowl combine the turkey, oat mixture, chopped onion, bell pepper, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, salt and a few grinds of pepper. Mix just until well combined.

Transfer the mixture to a 9 by 13-inch baking dish and shape into a loaf about 5 inches wide and 2 1/2 inches high. Pour the tomato sauce over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the sliced onions. Bake for about 1 hour or until an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees.F.

Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 to15 minutes before slicing.

EASY TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE WITH CHEDDAR CHEESE

This yumminess comes from Diana Rattray on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “For when you are looking to switch up your dinner routine, or just craving a bit of tuna, here's a quick and tasty tuna noodle casserole that is great for an everyday family meal, and is easy on the budget too. What more could you ask for?

“If you'd like to jazz up your tuna noodle casserole, instead of using bread crumb topping try crumbling up some potato chips or French fried onion rings over the casserole before baking. This alternative still provides a bit of a crunch, but offers a different flavor while doing so, in case you have any family members who aren't fans of onions.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

12 ounces medium egg noodles (cooked and drained)

2 cups green peas (cooked)

2 (10.75-ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese

2 (6-ounce) cans tuna (drained and flaked)

1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

1 cup soft breadcrumbs

2 tablespoons butter (melted)

Directions

Heat oven to 350 F.

Grease a 2 1/2 to 3-quart casserole dish.

Combine the noodles, peas, soup, milk, cheese, and tuna. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Spoon into the prepared baking dish.

Toss breadcrumbs with butter and sprinkle over the top or the casserole.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until hot and bubbly and crumbs are browned.

Tips and Variations

Top the casserole with French fried onions, crumbled cheese crackers, or crumbled potato chips and omit the soft bread crumbs and melted butter.

Instead of peas, use 2 cups of cooked peas and carrots or mixed vegetables.

Add some sliced sauteed mushrooms to the casserole mixture.

Add a few tablespoons of diced drained pimientos to the casserole.

Use cream of celery soup instead of cream of mushroom soup. Or, if you prefer a homemade sauce, omit the soups and the 1/2 cup of milk and replace them with about 2 1/2 to 3 cups of thickened white sauce.

ONE-POT PARMESAN CHICKEN ZITI WITH ARTICHOKES AND SPINACH

This comes from Tablespoon's emailing list. It begins, “Creamy mac and cheese grows up with baby spinach, artichokes and Parmesan in this edgy version of everyone's favorite one-pot wonder.” Prep Time: 35 min; Total Time: 35 min; Servings: 8

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

4 cups water

2 cans (12 oz each) evaporated milk

1 teaspoon salt

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 lb uncooked ziti pasta

2 teaspoons cornstarch

2 cups shredded deli rotisserie chicken

1 can (14 oz) Progresso™ artichoke hearts, drained, coarsely chopped

6 oz shredded Parmesan cheese (about 1 1/2 cups)

Juice of 2 medium lemons (about 2/3 cup)

2 tablespoons butter

4 cups baby spinach (5-oz package)

1/2 teaspoon pepper, if desired

Directions

In Dutch oven, heat water, 1 can of the evaporated milk, the salt, garlic and pasta to simmering over medium heat. Simmer 12 to 14 minutes, stirring frequently, until pasta is tender.

In medium bowl, beat remaining can of evaporated milk and the cornstarch; stir in chicken and artichoke hearts. Add to mixture in Dutch oven; return to simmering, and continue to simmer 1 to 3 minutes or until thickened and mixture coats back of spoon.

Remove from heat; stir in half of the cheese and the lemon juice. Stir until cheese melts, then add remaining cheese (reserving 1/4 cup for serving, if desired) and butter; stir again.

Add spinach, and stir until wilted. Serve with reserved cheese and pepper.

ORANGE RICOTTA BARS

This is from Michelle Stark, food editor for the Tampa Bay Times. She also has her own site, Stark From Scratch.

Makes about 12 bars.

To view this online, click here.

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

8 ounces ricotta cheese

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Zest from 1 orange (save a pinch for the glaze)

Juice from half of that orange

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

For the glaze:

2 tablespoons milk

Pinch of orange zest

1 cup confectioners' sugar, more if needed

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

Fresh mint, for garnish

Orange slices, for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a square baking pan (I used a 9- by 9-inch pan) with cooking spray.

Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl; should take between 20 and 30 seconds. Add to a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar, orange zest and juice, and mix. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, and whisk until the batter is smooth.

Add in the flour, baking powder and salt, and gently mix until everything is incorporated. Pour batter into the pan and bake for 40 minutes. You can start checking after 30-35 minutes, but mine took the full 40. The bars will be slightly brown around the edges, but don't let them get too brown. Make sure a toothpick or knife inserted into the center of the bars comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, gently run a knife or spatula around the edge of the pan to loosen bars, then flip pan over carefully so the bars wiggle out. Let bars cool on a baking rack for another 15 to 30 minutes, or until cool to the touch.

Meanwhile, make the glaze: Mix all glaze ingredients in a small bowl, whisking to thoroughly combine. If very thin, add more confectioners' sugar. You want it somewhat runny; it won't be thick like frosting.

When the bars are cool, cut into 10 to 12 squares. Gently spread about 1 tablespoon of glaze on each square (it will be drippy; that's okay). Top each one with a fresh mint sprig and orange slice. Serve immediately, or refrigerate but let come to room temperature before serving.