New Year's Day

It's New Year's Day, the beginning of 2021. If you're like me, you're probably glad that last year is over!

Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Kahuna Meatballs and One-Pot Chicken Lo Mein. Enjoy!

PUMPKIN MOUSSE

This comes from Lena Abraham, assistant food editor for Delish.com. This recipe begins, “Love the flavor but missing some crunch? Add a couple crushed graham crackers to the bottom of each serving dish for a makeshift crust.”

Yields: 4 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 10 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 (3.4-oz.) package instant vanilla pudding

1 tsp. pumpkin spice

1/2 tsp. cinnamon, plus more for garnish

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1 (15-oz.) can pumpkin purée

2 tbsp. maple syrup

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 c. whole milk

1 1/2 c. heavy cream

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk together pudding mix, spices, and salt. Add pumpkin, maple syrup, vanilla, and whole milk and beat with a hand mixer until smooth.

In another large bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Fold two-thirds of the whipped cream into pumpkin mixture until smooth. Spoon or pipe into serving dishes and top with remaining whipped cream. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon and serve.

CINNAMON BAKED DOUGHNUTS

This is from Ina Garten of the Food Network show, Barefoot Contessa.

Level: Easy; Total: 35 min; Active: 15 min; Yield: 12 doughnuts

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Baking spray with flour, such as Baker's Joy

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten

1 1/4 cups whole milk

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the topping:

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 doughnut pans well.

Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined.

Spoon the batter into the baking pans, filling each one a little more than three-quarters full. Bake for 17 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then tap the doughnuts out onto a sheet pan.

For the topping, melt the 8 tablespoons of butter in an 8-inch saute pan. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Dip each doughnut first in the butter and then in the cinnamon sugar, either on one side or both sides.

KAHUNA MEATBALLS

This recipe comes from Publix.

Servings: 6; Total Time: about 2 1/2 hours; Active Time: 20 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 fresh pineapple, cored and peeled

1 medium red onion

2 medium red (or green) bell peppers

1 lb fresh jalapeño-cheddar meatballs

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/3 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon sriracha

1 (12-ct) package Hawaiian sweet rolls (optional)

Directions

Cut pineapple (2 cups), onion, and bell peppers into large 1-inch chunks. Preheat large, nonstick sauté pan on medium-high 2–3 minutes. Place meatballs in pan; cook 3–4 minutes, or until browned on all sides. Transfer to slow cooker.

Add pineapple and vegetables to slow cooker. Combine brown sugar and cornstarch; whisk in soy sauce and sriracha until blended. Pour sauce over meatballs and vegetables.

Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 1/2–2 hours (or LOW for 3 hours) and until meatballs are 160°F. Serve meatballs with peppers, onions, pineapple, and sauce on Hawaiian rolls if desired.

SPINACH AND CHEESE BOUREKAS

This was from the Vegetarian Times editors (posted on their site on May 23, 2013), and begins, “Bourekas are savory filled pastries that Israelis often make with puff pastry. To lighten the recipe, this version calls for phyllo dough brushed with olive oil.”

24 Servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

8 cups spinach leaves

1 1/2 tsp. olive oil, plus 6 Tbs. for brushing phyllo, divided

1 small onion, finely chopped (1 cup)

1/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

1/3 cup feta cheese, finely crumbled

1 large egg, lightly beaten

12 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed

1 tsp. sesame seeds

Directions

Rinse and drain spinach and, with water still clinging to leaves, transfer to large skillet. Cover, and cook over medium-high heat 4 to 5 minutes, or until wilted. Cool, squeeze out liquid, and coarsely chop. (You should have 1 1/3 cups.)

Heat 1 1/2 tsp. oil in skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion, and cook 5 minutes. Add spinach; cook 2 minutes more. Transfer to bowl, and cool.

Stir ricotta and feta cheeses into spinach mixture. Stir in egg. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Preheat oven to 350˚F, and coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.

Lay 1 phyllo sheet on work surface with long side closest to you; brush phyllo with oil. Top with second phyllo sheet, and brush with oil. Cut phyllo sheets lengthwise into 4 long strips. Place 1 1/2 tsp. spinach mixture on bottom of first phyllo strip. Fold one bottom corner of strip over filling to make a triangle. Continue folding phyllo strip over filling (like a flag) until filling is encased in phyllo. Brush top with oil, and transfer to prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining phyllo, oil, and filling; sprinkle bourekas with sesame seeds.

Bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until triangles are crispy and golden-brown. Cool 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 81; Carbohydrate Content: 7 g; Cholesterol Content: 10 mg; Fat Content: 5 g; Fiber Content: 0.5 g; Protein Content: 2 g; Saturated Fat Content: 1 g; Sodium Content: 94 mg; Sugar Content: 0.5 g

CHICKEN BALSAMICO

This comes from FamilyTime, and begins, “Yes you can make a gourmet-style dish in just 30 minutes! It's as simple as this skillet chicken dish, served in a creamy balsamic sauce with olives, sun-dried tomatoes and feta cheese...yum!”

Serves: 4 servings; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast half (about 1 pound)

1 clove garlic, minced

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

3/4 cup water

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)

1 cup diced plum tomato or 1/2 cup thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes

1/2 cup sliced pitted kalamata olive

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed

1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Hot cooked orzo pasta

Directions

Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 10 minutes or until well browned on both sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet.

Stir the garlic, vinegar and water in the skillet. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Stir in the soup, tomatoes, olives, if desired, and oregano and heat to a boil. Return the chicken to the skillet. Reduce the heat to low. Cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Sprinkle with the cheese. Serve the chicken and sauce with the orzo.

ONE-POT CHICKEN LO MEIN

This is from tbls. (Tablespoon), and begins, “Just when you thought chicken lo mein couldn’t get any better, we went and figured out a way to make it easier using just one pot. Now there’s basically no excuse not to make it at home whenever the mood strikes.”

Prep Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 package (20 oz) boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut in 1-inch cubes

1/4 teaspoon salt

8 oz white mushrooms, thinly sliced

6 green onions, thinly sliced on the bias, whites and greens separated

1 carton (32 oz) Progresso™ reduced sodium chicken broth

1 cup coarsely shredded carrots

1 cup shredded red cabbage

1/4 cup oyster sauce

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon ground ginger

8 oz uncooked spaghetti (from 16-oz package), broken in half

Directions

In 5-quart Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and salt; cook 5 to 7 minutes without moving, until browned on first side. Stir; cook 2 to 4 minutes longer, stirring frequently, until chicken is no longer pink in center. Using slotted spoon, transfer to medium bowl; set aside.

Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to skillet, then stir in mushrooms and green onion whites. Cook over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened. Stir in broth, carrots, cabbage, oyster sauce, soy sauce and ginger. Heat to boiling over high heat. Stir in chicken and spaghetti; return to simmering, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered 14 to 16 minutes, stirring frequently, until spaghetti is cooked through and sauce is thickened.

Top with green onion greens.

Expert Tips

For best results, pat chicken dry before adding to hot oil.

Short on time? Use purchased preshredded carrots and red cabbage.