For years, Meatloaf was my go-to Sunday evening meal. It always came with potatoes (either mashed or baked), a green veggie, and dessert.
To that end, here are six yummy meatloaf recipes to help you through the day, including Easy Turkey Meatloaf and Melt-in-Your-Mouth Buttermilk Meatloaf. Enjoy!
CHEESY TACO MEATLOAF
This comes from Campbell’s Kitchen, begins, “It takes just 10 minutes and a few ingredients to put together this scrumptious meatloaf...and when it comes out of the oven you've got two family favorites, tacos and meatloaf, combined into one tasty dish!”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 16 minutes; Serves: 8 people
To view this online, go to https://www.campbells.com/kitchen/recipes/cheesy-taco-meatloaf/.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Chunky Salsa - Mild or Pace® Picante Sauce - Medium
1-1/2 ounces tortilla chips, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
Set the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly mix the beef, 1 cup salsa, tortilla chips, egg, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a 3-quart shallow baking pan and shape into an 9x4-inch loaf.
Bake for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.
Spread the remaining salsa over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
RANCHER'S MEATLOAF
This is from Everyday Diabetic Recipes, and begins, "Take your taste buds down to the ranch with this easy recipe for Rancher's Meatloaf. Filled with barbecue flavor, fiber-filled black beans, and good-for-ya veggies, this is one meatloaf that'll really get you saying, 'Yeehaw!'"
Cook Time: 1 hour 35 minutes; Serves: 10
To view this online, go to https://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Beef/Ranchers-Meatloaf.
Ingredients
2 pounds extra lean ground beef
1 (8-1/4-ounce) can julienne carrots, drained
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup cornflake crumbs
3 tablespoons minced onion
1/2 cup egg substitute
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons low-carb barbecue sauce
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9- x 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, carrots, black beans, cornflake crumbs, minced onion, egg substitute, and pepper; mix well. Place in loaf pan. Spread barbecue sauce evenly over top.
Bake 1-1/2 hours, or until no pink remains. Allow to sit 5 minutes. Pour off excess liquid, if any, then slice and serve.
EASY TURKEY MEATLOAF
This is from Melissa Knific in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Melissa wrote, "There’s really no reason not to celebrate meatloaf — it’s simple, budget-friendly, cleanup is a breeze and there are almost always leftovers for next-day sandwiches. While beef is often the go-to choice for the meat, turkey is a flavorful alternative that can take on a slew of mix-ins. Here, seasoned bread crumbs, garlic powder and Worcestershire do the work, but a teaspoon of Italian seasoning or a palmful of fresh, chopped thyme or sage can be added for an extra boost. Grated apple ensures the meatloaf isn’t dry; use any variety you have on hand. A sweet, slightly vinegary sauce is spooned over the meatloaf after it’s formed, caramelizing when baked (if you have a favorite bottled or from-scratch barbecue sauce feel free to use 2/3 cup of it instead). Serve this meatloaf with mashed potatoes and a green vegetable."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025481-easy-turkey-meatloaf. Also, if you haven't signed up for it already, sign up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
For the Meatloaf
Nonstick cooking spray
1 large egg
1-1/2 pounds ground turkey (90 percent lean)
1 medium apple, cored and grated (6 ounces)
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
3/4 cup seasoned panko bread crumbs
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1-1/4 teaspoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
For the Sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vinegar (cider, distilled, or white or red wine)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Preparation
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray.
Prepare the meatloaf: In a large bowl, beat the egg. Add ground turkey, apple, onion, panko, Worcestershire, garlic powder, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning, if using. Using hands, combine until everything is well mixed. Transfer to the prepared sheet pan and form into a football-shaped loaf, about 9-by-5 inches.
Make the sauce: In a small bowl, mix ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire and pepper until well combined. Pour evenly over the top of the meatloaf, allowing the sauce to drip down the sides.
Bake meatloaf until the temperature in the center registers 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 45 to 55 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
BEST TURKEY MEATLOAF
This is from the Food Network Kitchen, and begins, "A slightly lighter version of the all-American classic, this satisfying meatloaf uses chicken broth and soaked panko to stay moist, and a mix of fresh herbs for flavor. It’s the best turkey meatloaf you’ll find!"
Active Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/best-turkey-meatloaf-recipe-7217376.
Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon minced fresh sage
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, grated
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 pounds ground turkey
2 large eggs
1/2 cup ketchup
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, thyme, sage, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are softened, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring to incorporate. Stir in the Worcestershire. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
Add the panko to a large mixing bowl and pour over the chicken broth so the breadcrumbs soak up the liquid. Add the turkey, eggs, 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and the cooled onion mixture and mix well with your hands until well combined. Form the mixture into a 10-by-5-inch loaf on the foil-lined baking sheet. Coat the top and sides with the ketchup.
Put the meatloaf in the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Bake until a thermometer inserted in the center of the loaf reads 165 degrees F, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool slightly before slicing and serving.
>ITALIAN MEATLOAF
This is from Todd Coleman at The Spruce Eats. For this yumminess, he wrote, "This is a classic Italian-style meatloaf recipe. It is also free form style, which means it is shaped into a loaf by hand and baked on a sheet rather than baked in a bread loaf pan. We recommend using chuck beef to keep the loaf moist."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 70 minutes; Cool and Rest Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 110 minutes; Servings: 6 servings; Yield: 1 loaf
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/italian-meatloaf-recipe-5209784.
Ingredients
2 slices white bread, crusts removed
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the pan
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
6 ounces button mushrooms, finely chopped
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
4 slices bacon, chopped
1 pound ground beef, preferably chuck
1/2 pound ground pork
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 large eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
For the Glaze:
1/2 cup catsup
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Directions
Make the meatloaf
Gather the ingredients.
Heat the oven to 350 F. Finely chop the bread in a food processor. Set the breadcrumbs aside.
Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, mushrooms, and Italian seasoning and cook, stirring until soft and the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Set aside and let cool slightly.
Add the cooled vegetable mixture to the food processor along with the bacon, beef, and pork, and pulse until finely chopped—not puréed.
Add the mixture to a large bowl with the breadcrumbs, cream, soy sauce, Worcestershire, eggs, salt, and pepper. Using your hands, gently mix everything together until well combined.
Mold the meat mixture into a 9-inch-by-5-inch-sized loaf shape on a buttered, parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake until a meat thermometer inserted in the center reads 135 F, 40 to 45 minutes.
Make and Add the Glaze
Raise the heat to 500 F. In a small bowl, mix together the glaze ingredients.
Brush the meatloaf with the glaze and bake until well browned, about 12 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Tips
We recommend using chuck beef for this recipe because the beef should have sufficient fat content to prevent the loaf from drying out while cooking. Ground beef that's 80% lean/20% fat works great too.
Resting the loaf before serving prevents all those delicious juices from draining out when you cut into it.
Try using your food processor to speed up the process of finely chopping the raw vegetables. Cut them into chunks first and pulse until finely chopped, not pureed.
Use a 9-by-5 inch loaf pan to help mold the meatloaf. Just pack the mixture into the loaf pan, then invert onto the baking sheet and lift the pan off. By cooking the meatloaf on a baking sheet instead of a loaf pan, it cooks much faster and the extra fat can drain off, keeping it from turning out greasy.
MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH BUTTERMILK MEATLOAF
This is from John Mitzewich, who wrote for The Spruce Eats. John wrote, "This easy meatloaf recipe sure lives up to its name. The buttermilk works its tangy magic to make this meatloaf tender and delicious. This great recipe is finished with a glossy brown sugar glaze that's a perfect compliment to the flavorful meat. If you're craving meatloaf but on a stricter diet, you can also try kept meatloaf."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 8 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion (minced)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
2 1/2 pounds ground beef
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 eggs (beaten)
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1 cup breadcrumbs (plain)
For the Glaze:
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Directions
While there are multiple steps to this recipe, this meatloaf dish is broken down into workable categories to help you better plan for cooking.
For the Meatloaf:
Gather the ingredients.
In a sauté pan, on medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onions and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until translucent.
Remove from the heat, stir in the garlic, and let cool to room temperature.
Preheat oven to 325 F.
In a large bowl add the ground beef, the onions, and all the remaining meatloaf ingredients. Mix to incorporate.
Lightly grease the bottom of a shallow roasting pan with a few drops of oil.
Wet your hands with cold water and form the meatloaf mixture into a loaf shape, about 6 inches wide, by about 3 to 4 inches high.
Bake for 30 minutes.
For the Glaze:
Gather the ingredients.
While the meatloaf is baking combine the brown sugar, vinegar, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl for the glaze.
After 30 minutes, remove the meatloaf from the oven and evenly spread the glaze over the top with a spoon. If you like, you can put a little of the glaze on the sides, but most of it should go on the top.
Bake for about 30 minutes more. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the center to check to make sure meatloaf is done—at least 160 F/70 C.
Serve and enjoy!
Tip
Enjoy with mashed potatoes and green beans for a complete meal.
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Quick Breads
While homemade bread is wonderful, there are times whem we just don't have time for a loaf or two of homemade bread. Let's face it, letting yeast rise (usually twice, with many loaves) takes time.
That's where Quick Breads come in. Check out these six yummy quick bread recipes, including Browned Butter Jalapeno Cornbread and Fluffy Cheddar Biscuits. Enjoy!
TEA TIME SCONES
This is from the infamous-long-since-forgotten emailing list. Both my son and I were on several of these lists years ago. He forwarded this to me, as he had a thing for scones. The recipe makes 12 scones.
Ingredients
Cooking spray
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter or margarine
4 eggs
1/2 cup non-fat milk
Directions
Preheat oven to 425ºF. Lightly coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, chocolate chips, baking powder, and salt. With pastry blender, cut in butter to resemble coarse crumbs. In medium bowl, beat together eggs and milk. Add egg mixture to the dry ingredients. Stir only until dry ingredients cling together.
On floured surface, with lightly floured hands, pat dough to 3/4-inch thickness. With 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut dough. Reuse scraps. Place scones on prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire rack to cool.
BROWNED BUTTER JALAPENO CORNBREAD
This incomes from the Spring/Summer 2019 issue of Renew by UnitedHealthcare, page 26. It begins, "Browned butter adds nutty depth and jalapeno adds a kick to this classic crowd-pleaser, made mildly sweet with honey and moist with yogurt." Makes 9 servings
Ingredients
1/4 cup better
1/3 cup honey
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
Directions
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. In a small skillet, melt butter over medium heat, swirling the pan occasionally, until the butter foams, then turns to a toasty brown color, about 2 minutes. Remove rom heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the browned butter to a 9X9 inch baking pan, swirling to coat the bottom.
In a medium bowl, combine the remaining butter, honey, egg, yogurt and milk, whisking to combine.
Add the flour, cornmeal, salt and baking powder all at once. Stir together only until combined. Stir in the halapeno. Spread batter in prepared pan.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Serve warm.
Nutrition: Calories: 207, Total Fat: 6.6 g; Saturated Fat: 3.8 g; Cholesterol: 36.5 mg; Sodium: 87 mg; Carbs: 33.6 g; Dietary Fiber: 1.5 g; Protein: 4.3 g
CORNBREAD
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Our quick Cornbread recipe is not only made from scratch but is melt-in-your-mouth good. No matter if you're serving it as a side at a barbeque, alongside chili or even as a breakfast option, you can't go wrong with homemade Cornbread. With only four simple steps, our easy Cornbread recipe is one you'll want to make again and again. This is all thanks to the golden brown, crispy edges and incredible flavor. You'll knock our Cornbread recipe out of the park."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Makes 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
1 cup milk
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups yellow, white or blue cornmeal
1 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
Heat the oven to 400°F. Spray the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square pan or 9-inch round cake pan with the cooking spray.
In a 1-quart saucepan, heat the butter over low heat until melted.
In a large bowl, beat the melted butter, milk and egg with a fork or wire whisk until well mixed. Add the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt all at once; stir just until the flour is moistened (batter will be lumpy). Pour batter into the pan; use a rubber spatula to scrape batter from bowl. Spread batter evenly in pan and smooth top of batter.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm.
Expert Tips
Ground cornmeal is available in different grinds, from fairly fine to very coarse. A finer grind is good for baking a cake-like bread, while coarser grinds (like for grits or polenta that are often cooked into a spoonable hot cereal) can offer more texture and bite to our Cornbread recipe. Consider using a mixture of fine and coarse meals for a crumblier, more bread-like product.
Not all cornmeal is yellow; switch things up with a white or New Mexican blue cornmeal in our easy Cornbread recipe.
Mix a spoonful of clover honey or grated orange peel into softened butter to slather on the warm bread.
Bake the batter in a round or square baking pan or try a small cast-iron skillet, muffin tin, or in a heavy corn stick pan. Like for all quick breads, just grease the bottom of the pan or muffin cups so the bread can climb up the sides easily as it rises. For a corn stick pan completely grease the grooves so the sticks slide out without sticking.
MAPLE PECAN SWEET POTATO SCONES
This comes from United HealthCare, and begins, "Tender and fluffy, these spiced scones are full of veggies, whole grains and maple syrup and are best served warm. Even better? They’re easy enough to whip up for brunch or afternoon coffee."
Yields:12
You can view this online by clicking here.
Ingredients:
Scones
2-3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 stick cold butter, diced
2/3 cup sweet potato, cooked and mashed
1/3 cup real maple syrup
2 eggs
Glaze
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon real maple syrup
2–3 teaspoons milk
1/4 cup pecans, chopped
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger and nutmeg. Cut in the butter with two knives or a pastry blender until crumbly. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the sweet potato, maple syrup and eggs until blended.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and combine until a soft dough forms. Divide the dough in half and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Pat each half into a 6-inch circle about 1 inch thick. Transfer the two circles to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a knife, cut each circle into 6 wedges, gently separating the wedges with the knife until they are about 1/4 inch apart.
Bake the scones for 16–18 minutes or until golden. Whisk together the glaze ingredients and drizzle over the warm scones. Sprinkle with chopped pecans.
Yields 12. Calories: 231, Total fat: 10.8g, Saturated fat: 5.4g, Cholesterol: 51.3mg, Sodium: 96mg, Carbs: 30.8g, Dietary fiber: 3.7g, Sugars: 8.3g, Protein: 5.2g
FLUFFY CHEDDAR BISCUITS
This is from Erin Jeanne McDowell in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this wonderful recipe, Erin wrote, "These biscuits are golden and crisp outside, light and fluffy inside, and wonderfully cheesy inside and out. They come together in minutes, and triple basting them in butter (before baking, halfway through baking and once more when they come out of the oven) really takes them over the top. You may be tempted to skip the 3 tablespoons of sugar in this otherwise savory biscuit, but don’t: It’s the secret to the biscuit’s tender interior. Inspired by Red Lobster’s buttery biscuits, these are drop-style, which means you just scoop up the batter and gently plop it onto baking sheets. Try to handle the dough gently to avoid compressing it, which can result in a less-than-fluffy biscuit."
Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 12 biscuits
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020539-fluffy-cheddar-biscuits. While you're at it, if you haven't signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend it. Great recipes, lots of info. If you're like me, you won't regret it.
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon sweet or hot paprika
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus 6 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
8 ounces sharp or extra-sharp Cheddar, shredded (about 2 packed cups)
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
Preparation
Arrange the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, stir the flour, sugar, baking powder, garlic powder, salt and paprika to combine. Add the 1/2 cup cubed butter and toss until each piece is coated completely in flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter or your hands to rub the butter into the flour, continuing to work the mixture until the butter is almost fully blended into the dough. There can still be a few larger pieces of butter, but none should be larger than a pea. If the butter feels soft or melty at any point, refrigerate the mixture in the bowl for 15 minutes before continuing.
Stir in 1-1/2 cups of the cheese into the flour mixture. Make a well in the center of the bowl. In a liquid measuring cup or in a small bowl with a spout, whisk the buttermilk and egg until well combined. Pour the mixture into the medium bowl and, using a wooden spoon, stir until the mixture is combined. Near the end, you may have to fold it over itself a few times in the bowl to make sure it’s uniformly combined. (Resist the urge to use your hands so that the mixture doesn’t get too soft or compressed.)
Scoop the dough into 12 even portions (about 1/2 cup each) onto the prepared sheet pan. Stagger the biscuits on the baking sheets. (You should have 6 biscuits per sheet pan.)
Brush each biscuit with the melted butter (you won’t use it all) and divide the remaining shredded cheese among the tops of the biscuits (about 2 teaspoons per biscuit).
Transfer to the oven and bake the biscuits for 15 minutes, then brush each biscuit with butter again, and rotate the pans between the oven racks. Continue to bake until the biscuits are light golden and the cheese on top is deeply golden, 5 to 10 minutes more. The biscuits should spring back gently when touched in the center.
Brush the finished biscuits generously with the remaining butter. Cool at least 10 minutes before serving warm (or cool completely and serve at room temperature).
BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD WITH CORN KERNELS
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, though it states that it's from The Working Family's Cookbook.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cooking Time: 30 minutes; Serves 6 to 8
Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1-1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup fresh, or frozen and defrosted corn kernels
1 cup buttermilk
2 medium-size eggs, lightly beaten
Directions
Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put 1 tablespoon of butter in a 9-inch cast iron or ovenproof frying pan or a square baking pan and heat in the oven until it is hot and the butter is melted.
Meanwhile, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda and corn kernels in a bowl and mix to blend. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and combine with the buttermilk and eggs in a bowl. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients and stir just to combine (do not overmix).
Swirl the butter in the frying pan to coat the sides and pour the batter into the pan. Smooth the top of the batter and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a knife inserted in the center of the cornbread comes out clean.
That's where Quick Breads come in. Check out these six yummy quick bread recipes, including Browned Butter Jalapeno Cornbread and Fluffy Cheddar Biscuits. Enjoy!
TEA TIME SCONES
This is from the infamous-long-since-forgotten emailing list. Both my son and I were on several of these lists years ago. He forwarded this to me, as he had a thing for scones. The recipe makes 12 scones.
Ingredients
Cooking spray
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter or margarine
4 eggs
1/2 cup non-fat milk
Directions
Preheat oven to 425ºF. Lightly coat baking sheet with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, chocolate chips, baking powder, and salt. With pastry blender, cut in butter to resemble coarse crumbs. In medium bowl, beat together eggs and milk. Add egg mixture to the dry ingredients. Stir only until dry ingredients cling together.
On floured surface, with lightly floured hands, pat dough to 3/4-inch thickness. With 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut dough. Reuse scraps. Place scones on prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire rack to cool.
BROWNED BUTTER JALAPENO CORNBREAD
This incomes from the Spring/Summer 2019 issue of Renew by UnitedHealthcare, page 26. It begins, "Browned butter adds nutty depth and jalapeno adds a kick to this classic crowd-pleaser, made mildly sweet with honey and moist with yogurt." Makes 9 servings
Ingredients
1/4 cup better
1/3 cup honey
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
Directions
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. In a small skillet, melt butter over medium heat, swirling the pan occasionally, until the butter foams, then turns to a toasty brown color, about 2 minutes. Remove rom heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the browned butter to a 9X9 inch baking pan, swirling to coat the bottom.
In a medium bowl, combine the remaining butter, honey, egg, yogurt and milk, whisking to combine.
Add the flour, cornmeal, salt and baking powder all at once. Stir together only until combined. Stir in the halapeno. Spread batter in prepared pan.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Serve warm.
Nutrition: Calories: 207, Total Fat: 6.6 g; Saturated Fat: 3.8 g; Cholesterol: 36.5 mg; Sodium: 87 mg; Carbs: 33.6 g; Dietary Fiber: 1.5 g; Protein: 4.3 g
CORNBREAD
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Our quick Cornbread recipe is not only made from scratch but is melt-in-your-mouth good. No matter if you're serving it as a side at a barbeque, alongside chili or even as a breakfast option, you can't go wrong with homemade Cornbread. With only four simple steps, our easy Cornbread recipe is one you'll want to make again and again. This is all thanks to the golden brown, crispy edges and incredible flavor. You'll knock our Cornbread recipe out of the park."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Makes 12 servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
1 cup milk
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups yellow, white or blue cornmeal
1 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
Heat the oven to 400°F. Spray the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square pan or 9-inch round cake pan with the cooking spray.
In a 1-quart saucepan, heat the butter over low heat until melted.
In a large bowl, beat the melted butter, milk and egg with a fork or wire whisk until well mixed. Add the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt all at once; stir just until the flour is moistened (batter will be lumpy). Pour batter into the pan; use a rubber spatula to scrape batter from bowl. Spread batter evenly in pan and smooth top of batter.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm.
Expert Tips
Ground cornmeal is available in different grinds, from fairly fine to very coarse. A finer grind is good for baking a cake-like bread, while coarser grinds (like for grits or polenta that are often cooked into a spoonable hot cereal) can offer more texture and bite to our Cornbread recipe. Consider using a mixture of fine and coarse meals for a crumblier, more bread-like product.
Not all cornmeal is yellow; switch things up with a white or New Mexican blue cornmeal in our easy Cornbread recipe.
Mix a spoonful of clover honey or grated orange peel into softened butter to slather on the warm bread.
Bake the batter in a round or square baking pan or try a small cast-iron skillet, muffin tin, or in a heavy corn stick pan. Like for all quick breads, just grease the bottom of the pan or muffin cups so the bread can climb up the sides easily as it rises. For a corn stick pan completely grease the grooves so the sticks slide out without sticking.
MAPLE PECAN SWEET POTATO SCONES
This comes from United HealthCare, and begins, "Tender and fluffy, these spiced scones are full of veggies, whole grains and maple syrup and are best served warm. Even better? They’re easy enough to whip up for brunch or afternoon coffee."
Yields:12
You can view this online by clicking here.
Ingredients:
Scones
2-3/4 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 stick cold butter, diced
2/3 cup sweet potato, cooked and mashed
1/3 cup real maple syrup
2 eggs
Glaze
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon real maple syrup
2–3 teaspoons milk
1/4 cup pecans, chopped
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger and nutmeg. Cut in the butter with two knives or a pastry blender until crumbly. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the sweet potato, maple syrup and eggs until blended.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and combine until a soft dough forms. Divide the dough in half and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Pat each half into a 6-inch circle about 1 inch thick. Transfer the two circles to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a knife, cut each circle into 6 wedges, gently separating the wedges with the knife until they are about 1/4 inch apart.
Bake the scones for 16–18 minutes or until golden. Whisk together the glaze ingredients and drizzle over the warm scones. Sprinkle with chopped pecans.
Yields 12. Calories: 231, Total fat: 10.8g, Saturated fat: 5.4g, Cholesterol: 51.3mg, Sodium: 96mg, Carbs: 30.8g, Dietary fiber: 3.7g, Sugars: 8.3g, Protein: 5.2g
FLUFFY CHEDDAR BISCUITS
This is from Erin Jeanne McDowell in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this wonderful recipe, Erin wrote, "These biscuits are golden and crisp outside, light and fluffy inside, and wonderfully cheesy inside and out. They come together in minutes, and triple basting them in butter (before baking, halfway through baking and once more when they come out of the oven) really takes them over the top. You may be tempted to skip the 3 tablespoons of sugar in this otherwise savory biscuit, but don’t: It’s the secret to the biscuit’s tender interior. Inspired by Red Lobster’s buttery biscuits, these are drop-style, which means you just scoop up the batter and gently plop it onto baking sheets. Try to handle the dough gently to avoid compressing it, which can result in a less-than-fluffy biscuit."
Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 12 biscuits
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020539-fluffy-cheddar-biscuits. While you're at it, if you haven't signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend it. Great recipes, lots of info. If you're like me, you won't regret it.
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon sweet or hot paprika
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus 6 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
8 ounces sharp or extra-sharp Cheddar, shredded (about 2 packed cups)
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
Preparation
Arrange the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, stir the flour, sugar, baking powder, garlic powder, salt and paprika to combine. Add the 1/2 cup cubed butter and toss until each piece is coated completely in flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter or your hands to rub the butter into the flour, continuing to work the mixture until the butter is almost fully blended into the dough. There can still be a few larger pieces of butter, but none should be larger than a pea. If the butter feels soft or melty at any point, refrigerate the mixture in the bowl for 15 minutes before continuing.
Stir in 1-1/2 cups of the cheese into the flour mixture. Make a well in the center of the bowl. In a liquid measuring cup or in a small bowl with a spout, whisk the buttermilk and egg until well combined. Pour the mixture into the medium bowl and, using a wooden spoon, stir until the mixture is combined. Near the end, you may have to fold it over itself a few times in the bowl to make sure it’s uniformly combined. (Resist the urge to use your hands so that the mixture doesn’t get too soft or compressed.)
Scoop the dough into 12 even portions (about 1/2 cup each) onto the prepared sheet pan. Stagger the biscuits on the baking sheets. (You should have 6 biscuits per sheet pan.)
Brush each biscuit with the melted butter (you won’t use it all) and divide the remaining shredded cheese among the tops of the biscuits (about 2 teaspoons per biscuit).
Transfer to the oven and bake the biscuits for 15 minutes, then brush each biscuit with butter again, and rotate the pans between the oven racks. Continue to bake until the biscuits are light golden and the cheese on top is deeply golden, 5 to 10 minutes more. The biscuits should spring back gently when touched in the center.
Brush the finished biscuits generously with the remaining butter. Cool at least 10 minutes before serving warm (or cool completely and serve at room temperature).
BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD WITH CORN KERNELS
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, though it states that it's from The Working Family's Cookbook.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cooking Time: 30 minutes; Serves 6 to 8
Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1-1/4 cups yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup fresh, or frozen and defrosted corn kernels
1 cup buttermilk
2 medium-size eggs, lightly beaten
Directions
Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put 1 tablespoon of butter in a 9-inch cast iron or ovenproof frying pan or a square baking pan and heat in the oven until it is hot and the butter is melted.
Meanwhile, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda and corn kernels in a bowl and mix to blend. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and combine with the buttermilk and eggs in a bowl. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients and stir just to combine (do not overmix).
Swirl the butter in the frying pan to coat the sides and pour the batter into the pan. Smooth the top of the batter and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a knife inserted in the center of the cornbread comes out clean.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Double-Post Tuesday
Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday. Today's offerings include Ina Garten's Skillet-Roasted Lemon Chicken and Simple Potato Soup. Enjoy!
ANY-WAY-YOU-LIKE-IT CHILI
This is from Emma Christensen at TheKitchn. The recipe begins, "There are a million and one ways to make chili. All of them are excellent and all of them are sure to satisfy a large crowd of hungry people. Whether you like your chili with ground meat or chuck roast, pinto beans or no beans at all, the basic method for making it is the same. Want to make a very good pot of chili? Here’s how.
"Tips for Good Chili
"If you’re using meat, slow cook it. At its core, a chili is just another kind of braised dish. Even if you are using ground meat, you’re typically cooking tough, lean cuts that need some time to become tender. Simmer them gently in a fair amount of liquid, and after an hour or so, the meat is no longer chewy and instead becomes totally tender. The slow-cooking meat also turns a thin, soupy broth into something silky and substantive.
"Add the tomatoes at the end. After reading a few perspectives on how acidic ingredients can slow, or even prevent, meat from becoming tender, I’ve become a proponent of adding the tomatoes toward the end of cooking the chili. This might seem strange, but trust me: it all comes together just fine in the end.
"Make it your own. There is a heck of a lot of room to play here, so use this “recipe” more as a template. The exact ingredients you use from batch to batch can change; the only thing that stays the same is slow-cooking and a tasty reward at the end."
Serves: 8 to 10
To view this online, go to https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-chili-cooking-lessons-from-thekitchn-109352.
Ingredients
1 to 1-1/2 pounds ground meat or chuck roast (beef, buffalo, turkey or other) or vegetarian protein (tofu, Boca crumbles, or other) — slice roasts into cubes
1 large onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 to 2 other vegetables (like celery, carrots, or zucchini), diced (optional)
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings (choose 2-3): 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 tablespoon ground chipotle peppers, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
1 cup amber or brown ale or red wine
3 cups chicken, vegetable, or beef broth
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
3 cups (2 16-oz cans) cooked black beans, pinto beans, or kidney beans
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels (optional)
To serve: Shredded cheese, sour cream, diced avocados, chopped scallions, hot sauce, chopped cilantro
Equipment
Sharp knife
Cutting board
Large Dutch oven or soup pot
Instructions
Brown the meat. If using meat, warm a teaspoon of oil in a large heavy Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat and brown the meat. Break up ground meat as it browns, leaving pieces as large or small as you like them. If you're using chuck roast, make sure all sides of the beef cubes are seared dark brown. Transfer the browned meat from the pot to a clean dish.
If you're making a vegetarian chili with tofu or other protein, add it along with the beans in Step 6. Reduce the amount of stock and the cooking time by half.
Cook the vegetables. In the same pot used to brown the meat, warm a tablespoon of oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the other vegetables and continue to cook until softened, another 5-8 minutes. Clear a space in the middle of the pan and add the garlic. Cook the garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds, then stir into the vegetables. It's normal for a dark sticky crust to start forming on the bottom of the pan.
Add the seasonings. Add the seasonings and 2 teaspoons of salt to the pan. Stir until the vegetables are coated and the spices are fragrant, another 30 seconds.
Deglaze the pan. Pour the beer or wine into the hot pan. Scrape up the dark sticky crust as the liquid bubbles. Continue scraping and stirring until the beer or wine has almost evaporated.
Add the broth and simmer. Add the browned meat back into the pan. Pour in the broth. Bring the chili to a simmer and cook for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meat has is very tender (cubes of chuck roast may take a bit longer). The chili will still look soupy.
Add the tomatoes and beans to the chili. Add the tomatoes, beans, corn (if using), and vegetarian protein (if using) to the pot. Simmer for another 10 minutes. Taste and add more seasonings or salt to taste.
Serve with garnishes. Chili is often best the day after it's been cooked. It will also keep for up to a week and freezes well for up to three months. Serve with cheese and other garnishes.
CHICKEN MARSALA
This is from Tyler Florence on the Food Network.
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/chicken-marsala-recipe-1951778.
Ingredients
4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
All-purpose flour, for dredging
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
8 ounces crimini or porcini mushrooms, stemmed and halved
1/2 cup sweet Marsala wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
Directions
Put the chicken breasts side by side on a cutting board and lay a piece of plastic wrap over them; pound with a flat meat mallet, until they are about 1/4-inch thick. Put some flour in a shallow platter and season with a fair amount of salt and pepper; mix with a fork to distribute evenly.
Heat the oil over medium-high flame in a large skillet. When the oil is nice and hot, dredge both sides of the chicken cutlets in the seasoned flour, shaking off the excess. Slip the cutlets into the pan and fry for 5 minutes on each side until golden, turning once – do this in batches if the pieces don't fit comfortably in the pan. Remove the chicken to a large platter in a single layer to keep warm.
Lower the heat to medium and add the prosciutto to the drippings in the pan, saute for 1 minute to render out some of the fat. Now, add the mushrooms and saute until they are nicely browned and their moisture has evaporated, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Pour the Marsala in the pan and boil down for a few seconds to cook out the alcohol. Add the chicken stock and simmer for a minute to reduce the sauce slightly. Stir in the butter and return the chicken to the pan; simmer gently for 1 minute to heat the chicken through. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
SIMPLE POTATO SOUP
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 4 servings; Time: 30
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter or extra-virgin olive oil
3 medium potatoes, any type, peeled and cut into small cubes
2 large leeks, well washed and chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 cups chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, preferably warmed
1/2 cup cream or milk
Directions
Place the butter or oil in a large, deep saucepan or casserole and turn the heat to medium. When the butter melts or the oil is hot, add the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 or 3 minutes.
Add the stock and cook until the vegetables are very tender, about 20 minutes. (You may prepare the soup in advance up to this point. Cover, refrigerate for up to 2 days, and reheat before proceeding.) Adjust seasoning and serve hot or puree and serve cold.
INA GARTEN’S SKILLET-ROASTED LEMON CHICKEN
This was sent in a TODAY Show’s email. It begins with this from Ina Garten, “I can't tell you how many times I've made this! I have the butcher butterfly the chicken so all I do is grind the thyme, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper, mix it with olive oil, and brush it on the chicken. When the lemon slices are roasted and caramelized, you can eat them with the chicken.
“Notes: Remove the ends of the lemon, cut in half through the stem ends, and slice thinly crosswise. Sometimes I sprinkle the chicken with minced fresh rosemary before allowing it to rest.
“Make-ahead tip: Assemble the chicken in the pan and refrigerate for a few hours before roasting.”
To view this online, click here.
Note: The recipe calls for 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio. I don’t keep alcohol around the house. Whenever I want to try a new recipe that has any kind of alcohol as an ingredient, I either use an alcohol-free version or, if it’s not available or I decide not to go that way, I substitute water. Ina, if you’re reading this, sorry! I still love your recipes!
Ingredients
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon whole fennel seeds
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup good olive oil
1 lemon, halved and sliced 1/4-inch thick (see note)
1 yellow onion, halved and sliced 1⁄4-inch thick
2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 (4-pound) chicken, backbone removed and butterflied
1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio
1 lemon, juiced
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 450ºF.
Place the thyme, fennel seeds, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a mini food processor and process until ground. Pour the olive oil into a small glass measuring cup, stir in the herb mixture, and set aside.
Distribute the lemon slices in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet and distribute the onion and garlic on top. Place the chicken, skin side down, on top of the onion and brush with about half the oil and herb mixture. Turn the chicken skin side up, pat it dry with paper towels (very important!), and brush it all over with the rest of the oil and herb mixture.
Roast the chicken for 30 minutes. Pour the wine into the pan (not on the chicken!) and roast for another 10 to 15 minutes, until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 155 to 160 degrees.
Remove the chicken from the oven, sprinkle it with the lemon juice, cover the skillet tightly with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Cut the chicken into quarters or eighths, sprinkle with salt, and serve hot with the pan juices, cooked lemon, and onion.
BEEF NOODLE SKILLET
This is from Ree Drummond on the Food Network.
Active Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/beef-noodle-skillet-8053162.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons salted butter
1 yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground chuck
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
12 ounces egg noodles
2-1/2 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon grainy mustard
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
A few dashes Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Directions
Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the ground chuck and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook the meat, crumbling as you go, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for about 30 seconds.
Add the noodles, broth, 1 cup hot water, the mustard, paprika and Worcestershire sauce. Give a big stir and bring to a simmer. Cover and allow everything to simmer, stirring occasionally and adding up to 1/2 cup more water if necessary, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has thickened, about 12 minutes. Stir in the sour cream and heavy cream and cook for 1 additional minute or until the pasta is tender.
Remove from the heat. Sprinkle over the chives and serve directly from the pan.
FETTUCCINE ALFREDO
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 4 Servings. 1 Serving size = 1 cup. 1 cup fettuccine alfredo provides a 1/2 serving of Benecol®
Ingredients
2 tbsp. Benecol® Regular spread
4 to 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 1/4 cups skim milk
3 tbsp flour
4 ounces fat free cream cheese
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
4 cups hot cooked fettuccine noodles (about 1/2 pound uncooked)
Directions
Heat Benecol & garlic slowly over low heat, 5 to 7 minutes, allowing full flavor of garlic to be released into Benecol.
Meanwhile, combine milk, flour, cream cheese, & Parmesan cheese in blender; then puree until smooth.
Add pureed mixture to Benecol® and garlic. Increase heat to medium-low and whisk continuously until mixture has thickened. Add freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Toss with fettuccine noodles.
ANY-WAY-YOU-LIKE-IT CHILI
This is from Emma Christensen at TheKitchn. The recipe begins, "There are a million and one ways to make chili. All of them are excellent and all of them are sure to satisfy a large crowd of hungry people. Whether you like your chili with ground meat or chuck roast, pinto beans or no beans at all, the basic method for making it is the same. Want to make a very good pot of chili? Here’s how.
"Tips for Good Chili
"If you’re using meat, slow cook it. At its core, a chili is just another kind of braised dish. Even if you are using ground meat, you’re typically cooking tough, lean cuts that need some time to become tender. Simmer them gently in a fair amount of liquid, and after an hour or so, the meat is no longer chewy and instead becomes totally tender. The slow-cooking meat also turns a thin, soupy broth into something silky and substantive.
"Add the tomatoes at the end. After reading a few perspectives on how acidic ingredients can slow, or even prevent, meat from becoming tender, I’ve become a proponent of adding the tomatoes toward the end of cooking the chili. This might seem strange, but trust me: it all comes together just fine in the end.
"Make it your own. There is a heck of a lot of room to play here, so use this “recipe” more as a template. The exact ingredients you use from batch to batch can change; the only thing that stays the same is slow-cooking and a tasty reward at the end."
Serves: 8 to 10
To view this online, go to https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-chili-cooking-lessons-from-thekitchn-109352.
Ingredients
1 to 1-1/2 pounds ground meat or chuck roast (beef, buffalo, turkey or other) or vegetarian protein (tofu, Boca crumbles, or other) — slice roasts into cubes
1 large onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 to 2 other vegetables (like celery, carrots, or zucchini), diced (optional)
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings (choose 2-3): 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 tablespoon ground chipotle peppers, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
1 cup amber or brown ale or red wine
3 cups chicken, vegetable, or beef broth
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
3 cups (2 16-oz cans) cooked black beans, pinto beans, or kidney beans
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels (optional)
To serve: Shredded cheese, sour cream, diced avocados, chopped scallions, hot sauce, chopped cilantro
Equipment
Sharp knife
Cutting board
Large Dutch oven or soup pot
Instructions
Brown the meat. If using meat, warm a teaspoon of oil in a large heavy Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat and brown the meat. Break up ground meat as it browns, leaving pieces as large or small as you like them. If you're using chuck roast, make sure all sides of the beef cubes are seared dark brown. Transfer the browned meat from the pot to a clean dish.
If you're making a vegetarian chili with tofu or other protein, add it along with the beans in Step 6. Reduce the amount of stock and the cooking time by half.
Cook the vegetables. In the same pot used to brown the meat, warm a tablespoon of oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the other vegetables and continue to cook until softened, another 5-8 minutes. Clear a space in the middle of the pan and add the garlic. Cook the garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds, then stir into the vegetables. It's normal for a dark sticky crust to start forming on the bottom of the pan.
Add the seasonings. Add the seasonings and 2 teaspoons of salt to the pan. Stir until the vegetables are coated and the spices are fragrant, another 30 seconds.
Deglaze the pan. Pour the beer or wine into the hot pan. Scrape up the dark sticky crust as the liquid bubbles. Continue scraping and stirring until the beer or wine has almost evaporated.
Add the broth and simmer. Add the browned meat back into the pan. Pour in the broth. Bring the chili to a simmer and cook for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meat has is very tender (cubes of chuck roast may take a bit longer). The chili will still look soupy.
Add the tomatoes and beans to the chili. Add the tomatoes, beans, corn (if using), and vegetarian protein (if using) to the pot. Simmer for another 10 minutes. Taste and add more seasonings or salt to taste.
Serve with garnishes. Chili is often best the day after it's been cooked. It will also keep for up to a week and freezes well for up to three months. Serve with cheese and other garnishes.
CHICKEN MARSALA
This is from Tyler Florence on the Food Network.
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/chicken-marsala-recipe-1951778.
Ingredients
4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
All-purpose flour, for dredging
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
8 ounces crimini or porcini mushrooms, stemmed and halved
1/2 cup sweet Marsala wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
Directions
Put the chicken breasts side by side on a cutting board and lay a piece of plastic wrap over them; pound with a flat meat mallet, until they are about 1/4-inch thick. Put some flour in a shallow platter and season with a fair amount of salt and pepper; mix with a fork to distribute evenly.
Heat the oil over medium-high flame in a large skillet. When the oil is nice and hot, dredge both sides of the chicken cutlets in the seasoned flour, shaking off the excess. Slip the cutlets into the pan and fry for 5 minutes on each side until golden, turning once – do this in batches if the pieces don't fit comfortably in the pan. Remove the chicken to a large platter in a single layer to keep warm.
Lower the heat to medium and add the prosciutto to the drippings in the pan, saute for 1 minute to render out some of the fat. Now, add the mushrooms and saute until they are nicely browned and their moisture has evaporated, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Pour the Marsala in the pan and boil down for a few seconds to cook out the alcohol. Add the chicken stock and simmer for a minute to reduce the sauce slightly. Stir in the butter and return the chicken to the pan; simmer gently for 1 minute to heat the chicken through. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
SIMPLE POTATO SOUP
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 4 servings; Time: 30
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter or extra-virgin olive oil
3 medium potatoes, any type, peeled and cut into small cubes
2 large leeks, well washed and chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 cups chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, preferably warmed
1/2 cup cream or milk
Directions
Place the butter or oil in a large, deep saucepan or casserole and turn the heat to medium. When the butter melts or the oil is hot, add the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 or 3 minutes.
Add the stock and cook until the vegetables are very tender, about 20 minutes. (You may prepare the soup in advance up to this point. Cover, refrigerate for up to 2 days, and reheat before proceeding.) Adjust seasoning and serve hot or puree and serve cold.
INA GARTEN’S SKILLET-ROASTED LEMON CHICKEN
This was sent in a TODAY Show’s email. It begins with this from Ina Garten, “I can't tell you how many times I've made this! I have the butcher butterfly the chicken so all I do is grind the thyme, fennel seeds, salt, and pepper, mix it with olive oil, and brush it on the chicken. When the lemon slices are roasted and caramelized, you can eat them with the chicken.
“Notes: Remove the ends of the lemon, cut in half through the stem ends, and slice thinly crosswise. Sometimes I sprinkle the chicken with minced fresh rosemary before allowing it to rest.
“Make-ahead tip: Assemble the chicken in the pan and refrigerate for a few hours before roasting.”
To view this online, click here.
Note: The recipe calls for 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio. I don’t keep alcohol around the house. Whenever I want to try a new recipe that has any kind of alcohol as an ingredient, I either use an alcohol-free version or, if it’s not available or I decide not to go that way, I substitute water. Ina, if you’re reading this, sorry! I still love your recipes!
Ingredients
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon whole fennel seeds
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup good olive oil
1 lemon, halved and sliced 1/4-inch thick (see note)
1 yellow onion, halved and sliced 1⁄4-inch thick
2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 (4-pound) chicken, backbone removed and butterflied
1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio
1 lemon, juiced
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 450ºF.
Place the thyme, fennel seeds, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a mini food processor and process until ground. Pour the olive oil into a small glass measuring cup, stir in the herb mixture, and set aside.
Distribute the lemon slices in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet and distribute the onion and garlic on top. Place the chicken, skin side down, on top of the onion and brush with about half the oil and herb mixture. Turn the chicken skin side up, pat it dry with paper towels (very important!), and brush it all over with the rest of the oil and herb mixture.
Roast the chicken for 30 minutes. Pour the wine into the pan (not on the chicken!) and roast for another 10 to 15 minutes, until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 155 to 160 degrees.
Remove the chicken from the oven, sprinkle it with the lemon juice, cover the skillet tightly with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Cut the chicken into quarters or eighths, sprinkle with salt, and serve hot with the pan juices, cooked lemon, and onion.
BEEF NOODLE SKILLET
This is from Ree Drummond on the Food Network.
Active Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/beef-noodle-skillet-8053162.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons salted butter
1 yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground chuck
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon tomato paste
12 ounces egg noodles
2-1/2 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon grainy mustard
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
A few dashes Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Directions
Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the ground chuck and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook the meat, crumbling as you go, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for about 30 seconds.
Add the noodles, broth, 1 cup hot water, the mustard, paprika and Worcestershire sauce. Give a big stir and bring to a simmer. Cover and allow everything to simmer, stirring occasionally and adding up to 1/2 cup more water if necessary, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has thickened, about 12 minutes. Stir in the sour cream and heavy cream and cook for 1 additional minute or until the pasta is tender.
Remove from the heat. Sprinkle over the chives and serve directly from the pan.
FETTUCCINE ALFREDO
This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list. Makes 4 Servings. 1 Serving size = 1 cup. 1 cup fettuccine alfredo provides a 1/2 serving of Benecol®
Ingredients
2 tbsp. Benecol® Regular spread
4 to 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 1/4 cups skim milk
3 tbsp flour
4 ounces fat free cream cheese
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
4 cups hot cooked fettuccine noodles (about 1/2 pound uncooked)
Directions
Heat Benecol & garlic slowly over low heat, 5 to 7 minutes, allowing full flavor of garlic to be released into Benecol.
Meanwhile, combine milk, flour, cream cheese, & Parmesan cheese in blender; then puree until smooth.
Add pureed mixture to Benecol® and garlic. Increase heat to medium-low and whisk continuously until mixture has thickened. Add freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Toss with fettuccine noodles.
Taco Tuesday
If it's Tuesday, it's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's offerings include Shrimp Tacos and Mini Chicken and Bacon Tacos. Enjoy!
EASY CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Kris Osborne on Simply Recipes.
To view this online, go to https://www.simplyrecipes.com/ground-chicken-taco-recipe-8639156
Makes 4 to 8 servings (depending on how you’re serving and if you’re making side dishes)
Ingredients
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 pound ground chicken
2 tablespoons taco seasoning, plus more as needed to taste
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
Fresh lime juice to finish, optional
Tortillas, for serving
Optional toppings, for serving:
Grated cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
Salsa or Pico de Gallo
Guacamole or avocado
Shredded lettuce
Sour cream
Hot sauce
Lime wedges
Directions
Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and add the oil. When it starts to shimmer, add the ground chicken and cook, stirring regularly and breaking it up into small pieces, until no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning and stir until well combined.
Add the black beans and tomatoes. If the tomatoes and their juices are on the thicker side, fill the tomato can up to about 1/4 full with water and add that as well. Stir to combine. Bring everything to a simmer, cover, and reduce the heat to medium-low, cooking for 10 minutes.
While the chicken cooks, warm or char your tortillas and get your favorite toppings ready. Remove the lid and stir everything. Taste and add more taco seasoning and/or lime juice, if using, to taste. Depending on the brand or recipe of taco seasoning, you may not need any more. Serve hot in tortillas with shredded cheese, salsa, or any other taco fixings of your choice.
3 Easy Substitutions
You can easily substitute ground chicken for ground turkey, ground beef, sausage, or plant-based alternatives. Depending on what you use, you may need to adjust the amount of taco seasoning to get the flavor just right for your protein of choice.
Pinto beans have a slightly nuttier, earthier flavor compared to black beans, and they work really well in these tacos. When adding them to the chicken, you can mash up some of the beans to get a creamier texture similar to refried beans.
Use diced tomatoes with chilies (like the Ro-Tel brand) as an easy way to add heat and a zestier flavor. You may want to reduce the amount of taco seasoning since the diced tomatoes with chilies are already seasoned.
THAI-STYLE COCONUT CURRY CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Kay Chun at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kay wrote, "This weeknight chicken dish takes advantage of super flavorful jarred curry paste and pairs it with silky coconut milk to create a meal that comes together in just 20 minutes. Each step in this deceptively simple dish coaxes maximum flavor out of relatively few ingredients: Toasting the curry paste in the pan concentrates its taste, searing the chicken in the mixture ensures it's properly coated, and simmering in creamy coconut milk tenderizes the meat. A splash of lime juice and a spoonful of pico de gallo brighten and lighten the rich curry. Fold the mixture into tacos or try the curry chicken as a topping for grain bowls, cauliflower rice, sautéed broccoli or leafy greens."
Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield; 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019815-thai-style-coconut-curry-chicken-tacos. While you're at it, sign up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, if you haven't already. I highly recommend it. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons canola oil
3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sliced 1/4-inch thick
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup unsweetened full-fat coconut milk
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from approximately 2 limes), plus wedges for serving
1 large tomato, finely chopped (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
1 avocado, sliced (optional)
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over low heat. Add the curry paste and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is softened, about 3 minutes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook over medium heat, stirring, until no longer pink, 2 or 3 minutes.
Stir in the coconut milk and simmer until the sauce is thickened and the chicken starts to caramelize, about 15 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons lime juice.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, make the pico de gallo: Toss the tomato, onion, cilantro and the remaining 2 tablespoons lime juice; season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chicken mixture among the tortillas. Top with the pico de gallo and avocado, if using. Serve with lime wedges.
EASY CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Kristina Felix at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kristina wrote, "Tender chicken tacos using boneless, skinless thighs make a flavorful weeknight meal that, if you warm up your tortillas while the chicken cooks, will be ready in about half an hour. After browning the chicken, add water to release the browned bits from the bottom of the pan, then chop the meat into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken to the pan, letting it simmer in the rich gravy that forms, then serve directly from the pan for easier cleanup. The marinade works with any vinegar-based hot sauce, which you can also offer as a topping. Serve taqueria-style with minced onion, cilantro, lime wedges, and hot sauce, or if you have more time, add guacamole, salsa verde or pico de gallo to your spread. For a heartier meal, serve alongside rice or beans, or both."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 8 tacos
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026853-easy-chicken-tacos. While you're at it, sign up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, if you haven't already. I highly recommend it. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, about 1-1/2 pounds
3 garlic cloves, grated
1 lime, juiced, plus lime wedges for serving
1 tablespoon vinegar-based hot sauce (such as Crystal, Tabasco or Louisiana brands), plus more if desired for serving
1 teaspoon onion powder
4 tablespoons vegetable or avocado oil, divided
Salt and black pepper
8 corn or flour tortillas, warmed
Minced onion and cilantro, for serving
Guacamole, salsa verde, pico de gallo or pickled vegetables, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Mix the chicken, garlic, lime juice, hot sauce, onion powder, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper in a bowl and toss to combine, making sure the chicken is thoroughly coated in the mixture.
Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or other large heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high. Add chicken in a single layer and cook until browned and edges begin to crisp, 6 to 8 minutes per side. Using tongs or a fork, move the chicken from the pan to a cutting board. Adjust heat to medium-low, carefully add ½ cup water and scrape up the browned bits with a wooden spoon or spatula. Keep the skillet over medium-low while you proceed with the next step.
Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and return to the skillet. Toss to coat in the pan sauce and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 more minutes; turn off heat. Serve straight from the skillet with warm tortillas, onions and cilantro and your choice of additional toppings.
CHEESEBURGER TACOS
This is from Family Time, and begins, “Cheeseburger tacos are a tasty take on tried-and-true burgers. Try them filled with lettuce, onion and pickle relish and seasoned with savory taco seasoning mix.”
Serves: 6; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound lean lean beef
3/4 cup water
1 packet (1.25-oz.) ORTEGA® Taco Seasoning Mix
8 ounces pasteurized prepared cheese, cubed
2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
12 ORTEGA® Taco Shells or White Corn Taco Shells, warmed
2 cups shredded lettuce
2 cups chopped tomato
1 cup sweet pickle relish
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup ORTEGA® Medium Taco Sauce
Directions
Brown beef; drain. Stir in water and seasoning mix; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes or until thickened. Add cheese and mustard; stir until cheese is melted.
Fill taco shells with beef mixture. Top with lettuce, tomato, relish, onion and taco sauce.
MINI CHICKEN AND BACON TACOS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "You can't go wrong with a chicken, bacon and ranch taco flavor combination, and Old El Paso's Soft Tortilla Bowls™ are the perfect way to deliver these mini chicken tacos to your mouth. You can cook from scratch or you can pick up an easy rotisserie chicken and some pre-cooked bacon; do what works for you and your schedule to enjoy this delicious take on mini tacos."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/mini-chicken-and-bacon-tacos.
Ingredients
1 package (12 count) Old El Paso™ Mini Soft Tortilla Bowls
1 cup chopped deli rotisserie chicken
1 cup Old El Paso™ Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 cup chopped cooked bacon
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/3 cup Old El Paso™ Zesty Ranch sauce
1/2 cup quartered grape tomatoes
Preparation
Heat oven to 375°F. In ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish, place tortilla bowls.
In small bowl, mix chicken, 1/2 cup of the cheese, the bacon, green onions and sauce; mix well.
Divide chicken mixture evenly among tortilla bowls; top with remaining cheese.
Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted. Top with tomatoes and additional green onions and sauce, if desired.
Expert Tips
Serve these with fresh vegetables for a hearty snack or a light lunch.
Don’t care for tomatoes? Leave them out, and they’re just as delicious.
Leftover cooked chicken can be substituted for the deli rotisserie chicken in this recipe.
Nutrition: 6 servings (2 bowls each); 1 Serving: Calories 250 (Calories from Fat 120); Total Fat 13g (Saturated Fat 6g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 45mg; Sodium 590mg; Total Carbohydrate 17g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 1g); Protein 14g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 2%; Calcium 15%; Iron 8%
Exchanges: 1 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Very Lean Meat, 1 High-Fat Meat, 1 Fat; Carbohydrate Choice: 1
SHRIMP TACOS
This is from Ree Drummond at the Food Network. Active Time: 16 minutes; Total Time: 16 minutes; Yield: 8 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/shrimp-tacos-3703357.
Ingredients
Slaw:
1 jalapeno, sliced
1/2 head green cabbage, thinly sliced
1/2 head purple cabbage, thinly sliced
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
Shrimp:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1-1/2 pounds peeled and deveined shrimp, tails removed
One 6-ounce can Mexican tomato sauce or enchilada sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon butter
For serving:
16 corn tortillas, warmed according to the package instructions
Pico de gallo
Avocado slices
Sour cream
Grated pepper jack cheese
Lime wedges
Directions
For the slaw: Combine the sliced jalapeno and shredded green and purple cabbage in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the milk, mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, cayenne and salt. Pour the milk mixture over the cabbage and jalapeno and toss to combine. (Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours if you have the time.) Before serving, toss in the cilantro.
For the shrimp: Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over high heat. Throw in the shrimp and cook, tossing it around, until opaque, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and pour in the tomato or enchilada sauce, stirring to combine. Stir in the cumin and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Add the butter, then remove from the heat.
Serve the warm tortillas with the shrimp, slaw, pico de gallo, avocado slices, sour cream and pepper jack cheese, then let everyone build their own tacos. Be sure to squeeze the lime wedges over the top at the end!
EASY CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Kris Osborne on Simply Recipes.
To view this online, go to https://www.simplyrecipes.com/ground-chicken-taco-recipe-8639156
Makes 4 to 8 servings (depending on how you’re serving and if you’re making side dishes)
Ingredients
1 tablespoon neutral oil
1 pound ground chicken
2 tablespoons taco seasoning, plus more as needed to taste
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
Fresh lime juice to finish, optional
Tortillas, for serving
Optional toppings, for serving:
Grated cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
Salsa or Pico de Gallo
Guacamole or avocado
Shredded lettuce
Sour cream
Hot sauce
Lime wedges
Directions
Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and add the oil. When it starts to shimmer, add the ground chicken and cook, stirring regularly and breaking it up into small pieces, until no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning and stir until well combined.
Add the black beans and tomatoes. If the tomatoes and their juices are on the thicker side, fill the tomato can up to about 1/4 full with water and add that as well. Stir to combine. Bring everything to a simmer, cover, and reduce the heat to medium-low, cooking for 10 minutes.
While the chicken cooks, warm or char your tortillas and get your favorite toppings ready. Remove the lid and stir everything. Taste and add more taco seasoning and/or lime juice, if using, to taste. Depending on the brand or recipe of taco seasoning, you may not need any more. Serve hot in tortillas with shredded cheese, salsa, or any other taco fixings of your choice.
3 Easy Substitutions
You can easily substitute ground chicken for ground turkey, ground beef, sausage, or plant-based alternatives. Depending on what you use, you may need to adjust the amount of taco seasoning to get the flavor just right for your protein of choice.
Pinto beans have a slightly nuttier, earthier flavor compared to black beans, and they work really well in these tacos. When adding them to the chicken, you can mash up some of the beans to get a creamier texture similar to refried beans.
Use diced tomatoes with chilies (like the Ro-Tel brand) as an easy way to add heat and a zestier flavor. You may want to reduce the amount of taco seasoning since the diced tomatoes with chilies are already seasoned.
THAI-STYLE COCONUT CURRY CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Kay Chun at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kay wrote, "This weeknight chicken dish takes advantage of super flavorful jarred curry paste and pairs it with silky coconut milk to create a meal that comes together in just 20 minutes. Each step in this deceptively simple dish coaxes maximum flavor out of relatively few ingredients: Toasting the curry paste in the pan concentrates its taste, searing the chicken in the mixture ensures it's properly coated, and simmering in creamy coconut milk tenderizes the meat. A splash of lime juice and a spoonful of pico de gallo brighten and lighten the rich curry. Fold the mixture into tacos or try the curry chicken as a topping for grain bowls, cauliflower rice, sautéed broccoli or leafy greens."
Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield; 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019815-thai-style-coconut-curry-chicken-tacos. While you're at it, sign up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, if you haven't already. I highly recommend it. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons canola oil
3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sliced 1/4-inch thick
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup unsweetened full-fat coconut milk
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from approximately 2 limes), plus wedges for serving
1 large tomato, finely chopped (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
1 avocado, sliced (optional)
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over low heat. Add the curry paste and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is softened, about 3 minutes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook over medium heat, stirring, until no longer pink, 2 or 3 minutes.
Stir in the coconut milk and simmer until the sauce is thickened and the chicken starts to caramelize, about 15 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons lime juice.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, make the pico de gallo: Toss the tomato, onion, cilantro and the remaining 2 tablespoons lime juice; season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chicken mixture among the tortillas. Top with the pico de gallo and avocado, if using. Serve with lime wedges.
EASY CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Kristina Felix at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kristina wrote, "Tender chicken tacos using boneless, skinless thighs make a flavorful weeknight meal that, if you warm up your tortillas while the chicken cooks, will be ready in about half an hour. After browning the chicken, add water to release the browned bits from the bottom of the pan, then chop the meat into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken to the pan, letting it simmer in the rich gravy that forms, then serve directly from the pan for easier cleanup. The marinade works with any vinegar-based hot sauce, which you can also offer as a topping. Serve taqueria-style with minced onion, cilantro, lime wedges, and hot sauce, or if you have more time, add guacamole, salsa verde or pico de gallo to your spread. For a heartier meal, serve alongside rice or beans, or both."
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 8 tacos
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026853-easy-chicken-tacos. While you're at it, sign up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, if you haven't already. I highly recommend it. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, about 1-1/2 pounds
3 garlic cloves, grated
1 lime, juiced, plus lime wedges for serving
1 tablespoon vinegar-based hot sauce (such as Crystal, Tabasco or Louisiana brands), plus more if desired for serving
1 teaspoon onion powder
4 tablespoons vegetable or avocado oil, divided
Salt and black pepper
8 corn or flour tortillas, warmed
Minced onion and cilantro, for serving
Guacamole, salsa verde, pico de gallo or pickled vegetables, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Mix the chicken, garlic, lime juice, hot sauce, onion powder, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper in a bowl and toss to combine, making sure the chicken is thoroughly coated in the mixture.
Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or other large heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high. Add chicken in a single layer and cook until browned and edges begin to crisp, 6 to 8 minutes per side. Using tongs or a fork, move the chicken from the pan to a cutting board. Adjust heat to medium-low, carefully add ½ cup water and scrape up the browned bits with a wooden spoon or spatula. Keep the skillet over medium-low while you proceed with the next step.
Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and return to the skillet. Toss to coat in the pan sauce and cook, stirring frequently, for 3 more minutes; turn off heat. Serve straight from the skillet with warm tortillas, onions and cilantro and your choice of additional toppings.
CHEESEBURGER TACOS
This is from Family Time, and begins, “Cheeseburger tacos are a tasty take on tried-and-true burgers. Try them filled with lettuce, onion and pickle relish and seasoned with savory taco seasoning mix.”
Serves: 6; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound lean lean beef
3/4 cup water
1 packet (1.25-oz.) ORTEGA® Taco Seasoning Mix
8 ounces pasteurized prepared cheese, cubed
2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
12 ORTEGA® Taco Shells or White Corn Taco Shells, warmed
2 cups shredded lettuce
2 cups chopped tomato
1 cup sweet pickle relish
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup ORTEGA® Medium Taco Sauce
Directions
Brown beef; drain. Stir in water and seasoning mix; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes or until thickened. Add cheese and mustard; stir until cheese is melted.
Fill taco shells with beef mixture. Top with lettuce, tomato, relish, onion and taco sauce.
MINI CHICKEN AND BACON TACOS
This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "You can't go wrong with a chicken, bacon and ranch taco flavor combination, and Old El Paso's Soft Tortilla Bowls™ are the perfect way to deliver these mini chicken tacos to your mouth. You can cook from scratch or you can pick up an easy rotisserie chicken and some pre-cooked bacon; do what works for you and your schedule to enjoy this delicious take on mini tacos."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/mini-chicken-and-bacon-tacos.
Ingredients
1 package (12 count) Old El Paso™ Mini Soft Tortilla Bowls
1 cup chopped deli rotisserie chicken
1 cup Old El Paso™ Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 cup chopped cooked bacon
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/3 cup Old El Paso™ Zesty Ranch sauce
1/2 cup quartered grape tomatoes
Preparation
Heat oven to 375°F. In ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish, place tortilla bowls.
In small bowl, mix chicken, 1/2 cup of the cheese, the bacon, green onions and sauce; mix well.
Divide chicken mixture evenly among tortilla bowls; top with remaining cheese.
Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted. Top with tomatoes and additional green onions and sauce, if desired.
Expert Tips
Serve these with fresh vegetables for a hearty snack or a light lunch.
Don’t care for tomatoes? Leave them out, and they’re just as delicious.
Leftover cooked chicken can be substituted for the deli rotisserie chicken in this recipe.
Nutrition: 6 servings (2 bowls each); 1 Serving: Calories 250 (Calories from Fat 120); Total Fat 13g (Saturated Fat 6g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 45mg; Sodium 590mg; Total Carbohydrate 17g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 1g); Protein 14g
% Daily Value: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 2%; Calcium 15%; Iron 8%
Exchanges: 1 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Very Lean Meat, 1 High-Fat Meat, 1 Fat; Carbohydrate Choice: 1
SHRIMP TACOS
This is from Ree Drummond at the Food Network. Active Time: 16 minutes; Total Time: 16 minutes; Yield: 8 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/shrimp-tacos-3703357.
Ingredients
Slaw:
1 jalapeno, sliced
1/2 head green cabbage, thinly sliced
1/2 head purple cabbage, thinly sliced
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
Shrimp:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1-1/2 pounds peeled and deveined shrimp, tails removed
One 6-ounce can Mexican tomato sauce or enchilada sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon butter
For serving:
16 corn tortillas, warmed according to the package instructions
Pico de gallo
Avocado slices
Sour cream
Grated pepper jack cheese
Lime wedges
Directions
For the slaw: Combine the sliced jalapeno and shredded green and purple cabbage in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the milk, mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, cayenne and salt. Pour the milk mixture over the cabbage and jalapeno and toss to combine. (Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours if you have the time.) Before serving, toss in the cilantro.
For the shrimp: Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over high heat. Throw in the shrimp and cook, tossing it around, until opaque, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and pour in the tomato or enchilada sauce, stirring to combine. Stir in the cumin and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Add the butter, then remove from the heat.
Serve the warm tortillas with the shrimp, slaw, pico de gallo, avocado slices, sour cream and pepper jack cheese, then let everyone build their own tacos. Be sure to squeeze the lime wedges over the top at the end!
Monday, June 16, 2025
Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's double post includes Classic Chicken Pot Pie, Chicken Marsala, and Spicy Portuguese Beef Steak Kabobs. Ladies and Gentlemen, start your taste buds! Enjoy!
BARBECUE LASAGNA
This is one of the yummy recipes from a long-since-forgotten emailing list that my son was on for a few years. Makes 8 servings.
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 cup ketchup
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
6 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Colby or mild cheddar cheese
1 cup (8 ounces) small-curd cottage cheese
1 egg
Directions
In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. For barbecue sauce, combine the next 13 ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Spread about 1/4 cup barbecue sauce in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Layer with three noodles and half of the beef.
Spread with half of the remaining barbecue sauce; sprinkle with half of the mozzarella, cheddar and Colby cheeses. Repeat layers.
Combine cottage cheese and egg; spoon evenly over the top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until lightly browned. Let stand for about 10 minutes before cutting.
MEAT LOAF
This is from Ina Garten on the Food Network. Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Makes 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/meat-loaf-recipe-1921718.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon good olive oil
3 cups chopped yellow onions (3 onions)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup canned chicken stock or broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 1/2 pounds ground chuck (81 percent lean)
1/2 cup plain dry bread crumbs (recommended: Progresso)
2 extra-large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup ketchup (recommended: Heinz)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan. Add the onions, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent but not brown. Off the heat, add the Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, and tomato paste. Allow to cool slightly.
In a large bowl, combine the ground chuck, onion mixture, bread crumbs, and eggs, and mix lightly with a fork. Don't mash or the meat loaf will be dense. Shape the mixture into a rectangular loaf on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Spread the ketchup evenly on top. Bake for 1 to 1-1/4 hours, until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F and the meat loaf is cooked through. (A pan of hot water in the oven, under the meat loaf, will keep the top from cracking.) Serve hot.
ROASTED CARROTS AND PARSNIPS
This was in the November/December 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 50. It begins, "Whole sage leaves and thyme sprigs are tossed with carrots and parsnips to add aromatic flavor as they roast." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/roasted-carrots-and-parsnips/.
Ingredients
3-4 carrots, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices (2 1/2 cups)
3-4 parsnips, peeled and cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices (2 1/2 cups)
1-1/2 Tbs. olive oil
8 fresh sage leaves
6 thyme sprigs
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss together all ingredients in large baking dish, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Roast 15 minutes, then shake dish to loosen vegetables. Roast 15 minutes more, then shake again, and roast 10 minutes more, or until tender.
CHICKEN MARSALA
This is from Tyler Florence on the Food Network.
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/chicken-marsala-recipe-1951778.
Ingredients
4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
All-purpose flour, for dredging
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
8 ounces crimini or porcini mushrooms, stemmed and halved
1/2 cup sweet Marsala wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
Directions
Put the chicken breasts side by side on a cutting board and lay a piece of plastic wrap over them; pound with a flat meat mallet, until they are about 1/4-inch thick. Put some flour in a shallow platter and season with a fair amount of salt and pepper; mix with a fork to distribute evenly.
Heat the oil over medium-high flame in a large skillet. When the oil is nice and hot, dredge both sides of the chicken cutlets in the seasoned flour, shaking off the excess. Slip the cutlets into the pan and fry for 5 minutes on each side until golden, turning once – do this in batches if the pieces don't fit comfortably in the pan. Remove the chicken to a large platter in a single layer to keep warm.
Lower the heat to medium and add the prosciutto to the drippings in the pan, saute for 1 minute to render out some of the fat. Now, add the mushrooms and saute until they are nicely browned and their moisture has evaporated, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Pour the Marsala in the pan and boil down for a few seconds to cook out the alcohol. Add the chicken stock and simmer for a minute to reduce the sauce slightly. Stir in the butter and return the chicken to the pan; simmer gently for 1 minute to heat the chicken through. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
SPICY PORTUGUESE BEEF STEAK KABOBS
Recipe Yield: Yield: 6 servings
Source: The Beef Checkoff
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/spicy-portuguese-beef-steak-kabobs.
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds boneless beef top sirloin steak, cut 1-1/4 inches thick
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
Seasoning:
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
Directions
Cut beef steak into 1-1/4-inch pieces. Combine seasoning ingredients in medium bowl. Add beef; toss.
Alternately thread beef and bell pepper onto six 10-inch metal skewers
Place kabobs on grid over medium, ash-covered coals.
Grill, covered, 8 to 10 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 9 to 11 minutes) for medium rare (145F) to medium (160F) doneness, turning once.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 214; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 98 mg; Cholesterol: 76 mg; Protein: 26 g; Carbohydrates: 2 g
CLASSIC CHICKEN POT PIE
This is from Diana Rattray on the Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, "Our classic chicken pot pie is loaded with tender chunks of chicken and vegetables in a thick, creamy gravy. A double crust makes the chicken pie satisfying and filling—make a homemade, buttery crust from scratch or make it even easier with convenient store-bought refrigerated crusts. Whichever option you choose, you will fall in love with this comforting pot pie.
"Feel free to customize this pie to suit your family's tastes. Add some celery or potatoes to the pie or cut back on the vegetables and add extra chicken. Or replace the fresh chicken breasts with leftover cooked chicken or turkey. Fresh herbs are another excellent option. Fresh or dried thyme is called for, but you may want to use a mixture of herbs. Chives, sage, and rosemary are some great alternatives.
"Serve chicken pot pie with a salad or fresh vegetables on the side. Sliced tomatoes and cucumbers make an excellent side dish with the pie, or you might serve it with a mound of freshly made coleslaw. Or serve the chicken pie with a cooked vegetable, such as green beans with bacon, a simple dish of sautéed asparagus with lemon, or roasted Brussels sprouts."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 74 minutes; Cooling Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 104 minutes; Makes 8 servings; Yield: 1 pie
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/chicken-pot-pie-with-herbs-3053112.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1-1/2 cups diced carrots
1/2 cup diced onion
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1-3/4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
2 (9-inch) homemade or store-bought pie crusts, divided
1 large egg, optional
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 400 F.
Melt the butter in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the carrots, onion, and chicken, and cook, stirring until the chicken is mostly cooked through and the vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes.
Add the flour and continue stirring until the mixture is well combined, about 1 minute.
Add the chicken broth and cook, stirring frequently until well combined, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the cream, peas, parsley, and thyme. Add salt and pepper, adjusting the seasoning to your liking. Let the filling cool slightly.
Line a 9-inch pie plate with 1 sheet of pie crust.
Add the filling mixture, smoothing it out evenly in the dish.
Top with the remaining pie crust. Trim the pastry and crimp the edge as desired. Cut a few vents in the top of the crust to allow steam to escape. If desired, mix the egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush the egg wash over the top crust.
Place the prepared pie on a baking sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake until the crust is golden brown, and the filling begins bubbling up through the vents, 35 to 45 minutes. Cool the pie on a rack before slicing and serving, about 10 minutes.
Glass Bakeware Warning
Do not use glass bakeware when broiling, or when a recipe calls for adding liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Place a glass pie plate on an unheated baking sheet before placing the pie in the oven. Even if it states oven safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.
Tips
To save time on baking day, prepare the filling and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. When it's time to bake, gently heat the filling until warm, fill the crust, and bake as directed.
To avoid a soggy bottom, you may blind-bake or par-bake the untrimmed bottom crust. Fill, trim, and then top with the remaining crust. Tuck it under the trimmed bottom crust and crimp or flute as desired.
To keep the edges of your crust from getting too brown, cover with foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.
How to Make Ahead and Freeze Unbaked Pot Pie
To Freeze: Prepare the pot pie in a metal or foil pie pan, but do not add an egg wash. Wrap the pie tightly in foil and place it in the freezer.
To Bake From Frozen: Cover the frozen pie with a sheet of foil and bake at 400 F for 30 minutes. Remove the foil—apply an egg wash, if desired—and continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
To Defrost, Then Bake: Place the frozen pie in the refrigerator and let it thaw for about 24 hours. Cover the pie with foil and bake it at 400 F for 20 minutes. Remove the foil—apply an egg wash, if desired—and continue to bake for about 25 to 35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
Recipe Variations
Swap out 1/2 cup of the diced carrots with diced or sliced celery.
Make the pie with leftover turkey or shredded rotisserie chicken.
Swap about 1/4 to 1/3 of the chicken with diced ham for a chicken and ham pie.
If you aren't a fan of peas, use thawed frozen cut green beans instead.
How to Store and Freeze
To store leftover chicken pot pie, simply cover tightly with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator, where it will keep for three to five days. You can also freeze cooked chicken pot pie for up to six months.
What temperature should chicken pot pie be cooked to?
Use a food thermometer to check that the filling is thoroughly cooked; it should register at least 165 F when inserted into the center of the pie. This goes for leftovers as well.
What is the difference between chicken pie and chicken pot pie?
While there's no definitive difference between the two terms, some believe a pot pie is made with a top crust, and some think a chicken pie is made with more chicken and fewer vegetables.
BARBECUE LASAGNA
This is one of the yummy recipes from a long-since-forgotten emailing list that my son was on for a few years. Makes 8 servings.
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 cup ketchup
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
6 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Colby or mild cheddar cheese
1 cup (8 ounces) small-curd cottage cheese
1 egg
Directions
In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. For barbecue sauce, combine the next 13 ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Spread about 1/4 cup barbecue sauce in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Layer with three noodles and half of the beef.
Spread with half of the remaining barbecue sauce; sprinkle with half of the mozzarella, cheddar and Colby cheeses. Repeat layers.
Combine cottage cheese and egg; spoon evenly over the top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until lightly browned. Let stand for about 10 minutes before cutting.
MEAT LOAF
This is from Ina Garten on the Food Network. Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes; Makes 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/meat-loaf-recipe-1921718.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon good olive oil
3 cups chopped yellow onions (3 onions)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup canned chicken stock or broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 1/2 pounds ground chuck (81 percent lean)
1/2 cup plain dry bread crumbs (recommended: Progresso)
2 extra-large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup ketchup (recommended: Heinz)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan. Add the onions, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent but not brown. Off the heat, add the Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, and tomato paste. Allow to cool slightly.
In a large bowl, combine the ground chuck, onion mixture, bread crumbs, and eggs, and mix lightly with a fork. Don't mash or the meat loaf will be dense. Shape the mixture into a rectangular loaf on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Spread the ketchup evenly on top. Bake for 1 to 1-1/4 hours, until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F and the meat loaf is cooked through. (A pan of hot water in the oven, under the meat loaf, will keep the top from cracking.) Serve hot.
ROASTED CARROTS AND PARSNIPS
This was in the November/December 2010 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 50. It begins, "Whole sage leaves and thyme sprigs are tossed with carrots and parsnips to add aromatic flavor as they roast." Makes 8 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/roasted-carrots-and-parsnips/.
Ingredients
3-4 carrots, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices (2 1/2 cups)
3-4 parsnips, peeled and cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices (2 1/2 cups)
1-1/2 Tbs. olive oil
8 fresh sage leaves
6 thyme sprigs
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss together all ingredients in large baking dish, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Roast 15 minutes, then shake dish to loosen vegetables. Roast 15 minutes more, then shake again, and roast 10 minutes more, or until tender.
CHICKEN MARSALA
This is from Tyler Florence on the Food Network.
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/chicken-marsala-recipe-1951778.
Ingredients
4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
All-purpose flour, for dredging
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
8 ounces crimini or porcini mushrooms, stemmed and halved
1/2 cup sweet Marsala wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
Directions
Put the chicken breasts side by side on a cutting board and lay a piece of plastic wrap over them; pound with a flat meat mallet, until they are about 1/4-inch thick. Put some flour in a shallow platter and season with a fair amount of salt and pepper; mix with a fork to distribute evenly.
Heat the oil over medium-high flame in a large skillet. When the oil is nice and hot, dredge both sides of the chicken cutlets in the seasoned flour, shaking off the excess. Slip the cutlets into the pan and fry for 5 minutes on each side until golden, turning once – do this in batches if the pieces don't fit comfortably in the pan. Remove the chicken to a large platter in a single layer to keep warm.
Lower the heat to medium and add the prosciutto to the drippings in the pan, saute for 1 minute to render out some of the fat. Now, add the mushrooms and saute until they are nicely browned and their moisture has evaporated, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Pour the Marsala in the pan and boil down for a few seconds to cook out the alcohol. Add the chicken stock and simmer for a minute to reduce the sauce slightly. Stir in the butter and return the chicken to the pan; simmer gently for 1 minute to heat the chicken through. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
SPICY PORTUGUESE BEEF STEAK KABOBS
Recipe Yield: Yield: 6 servings
Source: The Beef Checkoff
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/spicy-portuguese-beef-steak-kabobs.
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds boneless beef top sirloin steak, cut 1-1/4 inches thick
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
Seasoning:
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
Directions
Cut beef steak into 1-1/4-inch pieces. Combine seasoning ingredients in medium bowl. Add beef; toss.
Alternately thread beef and bell pepper onto six 10-inch metal skewers
Place kabobs on grid over medium, ash-covered coals.
Grill, covered, 8 to 10 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 9 to 11 minutes) for medium rare (145F) to medium (160F) doneness, turning once.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 214; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 98 mg; Cholesterol: 76 mg; Protein: 26 g; Carbohydrates: 2 g
CLASSIC CHICKEN POT PIE
This is from Diana Rattray on the Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, "Our classic chicken pot pie is loaded with tender chunks of chicken and vegetables in a thick, creamy gravy. A double crust makes the chicken pie satisfying and filling—make a homemade, buttery crust from scratch or make it even easier with convenient store-bought refrigerated crusts. Whichever option you choose, you will fall in love with this comforting pot pie.
"Feel free to customize this pie to suit your family's tastes. Add some celery or potatoes to the pie or cut back on the vegetables and add extra chicken. Or replace the fresh chicken breasts with leftover cooked chicken or turkey. Fresh herbs are another excellent option. Fresh or dried thyme is called for, but you may want to use a mixture of herbs. Chives, sage, and rosemary are some great alternatives.
"Serve chicken pot pie with a salad or fresh vegetables on the side. Sliced tomatoes and cucumbers make an excellent side dish with the pie, or you might serve it with a mound of freshly made coleslaw. Or serve the chicken pie with a cooked vegetable, such as green beans with bacon, a simple dish of sautéed asparagus with lemon, or roasted Brussels sprouts."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 74 minutes; Cooling Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 104 minutes; Makes 8 servings; Yield: 1 pie
To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/chicken-pot-pie-with-herbs-3053112.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1-1/2 cups diced carrots
1/2 cup diced onion
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1-3/4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
2 (9-inch) homemade or store-bought pie crusts, divided
1 large egg, optional
Directions
Gather the ingredients.
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 400 F.
Melt the butter in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the carrots, onion, and chicken, and cook, stirring until the chicken is mostly cooked through and the vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes.
Add the flour and continue stirring until the mixture is well combined, about 1 minute.
Add the chicken broth and cook, stirring frequently until well combined, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the cream, peas, parsley, and thyme. Add salt and pepper, adjusting the seasoning to your liking. Let the filling cool slightly.
Line a 9-inch pie plate with 1 sheet of pie crust.
Add the filling mixture, smoothing it out evenly in the dish.
Top with the remaining pie crust. Trim the pastry and crimp the edge as desired. Cut a few vents in the top of the crust to allow steam to escape. If desired, mix the egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush the egg wash over the top crust.
Place the prepared pie on a baking sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake until the crust is golden brown, and the filling begins bubbling up through the vents, 35 to 45 minutes. Cool the pie on a rack before slicing and serving, about 10 minutes.
Glass Bakeware Warning
Do not use glass bakeware when broiling, or when a recipe calls for adding liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Place a glass pie plate on an unheated baking sheet before placing the pie in the oven. Even if it states oven safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.
Tips
To save time on baking day, prepare the filling and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. When it's time to bake, gently heat the filling until warm, fill the crust, and bake as directed.
To avoid a soggy bottom, you may blind-bake or par-bake the untrimmed bottom crust. Fill, trim, and then top with the remaining crust. Tuck it under the trimmed bottom crust and crimp or flute as desired.
To keep the edges of your crust from getting too brown, cover with foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.
How to Make Ahead and Freeze Unbaked Pot Pie
To Freeze: Prepare the pot pie in a metal or foil pie pan, but do not add an egg wash. Wrap the pie tightly in foil and place it in the freezer.
To Bake From Frozen: Cover the frozen pie with a sheet of foil and bake at 400 F for 30 minutes. Remove the foil—apply an egg wash, if desired—and continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
To Defrost, Then Bake: Place the frozen pie in the refrigerator and let it thaw for about 24 hours. Cover the pie with foil and bake it at 400 F for 20 minutes. Remove the foil—apply an egg wash, if desired—and continue to bake for about 25 to 35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
Recipe Variations
Swap out 1/2 cup of the diced carrots with diced or sliced celery.
Make the pie with leftover turkey or shredded rotisserie chicken.
Swap about 1/4 to 1/3 of the chicken with diced ham for a chicken and ham pie.
If you aren't a fan of peas, use thawed frozen cut green beans instead.
How to Store and Freeze
To store leftover chicken pot pie, simply cover tightly with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator, where it will keep for three to five days. You can also freeze cooked chicken pot pie for up to six months.
What temperature should chicken pot pie be cooked to?
Use a food thermometer to check that the filling is thoroughly cooked; it should register at least 165 F when inserted into the center of the pie. This goes for leftovers as well.
What is the difference between chicken pie and chicken pot pie?
While there's no definitive difference between the two terms, some believe a pot pie is made with a top crust, and some think a chicken pie is made with more chicken and fewer vegetables.
Meatless Monday
It's Monday, the beginning of another week. As always, we'll start off the week with another Meatless Monday. Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to get the week off to a good start, including Lucali Salad, Stuffed Peppers, and Strawberry-Rhubarb Dump Cake. Enjoy!
ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This is from VeryWellFit, and begins, "Vegetable casseroles are a great way to enjoy fresh produce from the farmers market or make use of a bumper crop. But they can also be loaded with cream and cheese making for a very heavy and high-caloric dish.
"To make this zucchini casserole recipe healthier, instead of adding cream to the sauce it is enriched with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs. The zucchini is then topped with just a bit of cheese. You may notice the absence of breadcrumbs, which also helps cut down on the calories. To compensate for the breadcrumbs' job of soaking up some of the liquid the vegetables exude during cooking, this recipe calls for starting the casserole on a higher heat to dry it out a bit, and then adding the last of the cheese on the top (otherwise it gets too brown or could even burn).
"This zucchini casserole recipe works well with any kind of zucchini or green summer squash, including a combination of squashes."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup onion (chopped, about 1/2 of a medium onion)
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
3/4 pound tomatoes (fresh or canned—about a 1-pound can of whole tomatoes, drained)
1 teaspoon Italian herbs (or oregano)
Salt and pepper
1 pound zucchini (approximately 2 medium)
1 cup Italian cheese mixture (grated, packaged, or your own mix including mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté the onion in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
Cut each tomato into 3 to 5 pieces and add to the oil, along with the herbs, salt, and pepper.
Cook over medium heat until the liquid is mostly gone (but not dry), stirring occasionally—you should end up without about 1 cup of the mixture. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into slices approximately 1/4 inch thick. These can be either round slices, or lengthwise. Take the largest slices and line the bottom of a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch pan, or a similarly-sized round pan.
Spread about 1/4 of the tomatoes on top of the zucchini (don't even try to spread evenly; it won't work), followed by 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Continue layering the sauce, zucchini, and cheese. It should come out to 4 layers, but if it only makes 3, just try to divide things relatively evenly. Don't put the final layer of cheese on yet.
Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the rest of the cheese, and lower the temperature to 375F. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
Ingredient Substitutions and Cooking Tips
If you'd like to cut down on the fat even more, substitute low-fat or fat-free cheese. Just keep in mind that when you remove the fat, you also lessen the cheeses' melt-ability.
LAYERED VEGETABLE TORTE
This is from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, "Getting this vegetable torte right takes a little time. You really must grill (or pan-grill) or roast all the vegetables well — they have to become quite tender — before assembling the torte. Ultimately, you want the vegetables to almost melt together. Grilling is the technique of choice because it gives the vegetables a hint of smokiness."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "A Vegetable Torte Starts at the Grill", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013213-layered-vegetable-torte.
Ingredients
1 large eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch slices
4 medium zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 portobello mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, or more as needed
Salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a grill; the heat should be medium-high, and the rack about 4 inches from flame. Brush eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms lightly with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; if roasting, grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Roast or grill vegetables on both sides until soft.
Coat bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with oil. Layer a third of the eggplant slices into bottom of the pan, then layer in half the zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and basil, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and pepper. Repeat layers until all vegetable are used. Press the top with a spatula or spoon to make the torte as compact as possible. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil.
Bake torte in oven until hot throughout and browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing outer ring of pan, then let cool for another 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.
LUCALI SALAD
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Sam wrote, "Mark Iacono sometimes serves a version of this salad at Lucali, his candlelit church of pizza in Brooklyn. It’s what he calls a “bottom of the bowl” salad, reminiscent of what’s left after a long Sunday dinner with family, with tomatoes, black olives and red onion deeply marinated in a vinegar-heavy dressing. He layers these above and below cold, crisp lettuce, adds a final drizzle of dressing and serves the salad with a meatball on top of it. But it goes as well plain alongside a pizza or under a sausage that’s been simmered in sauce, with stuffed shells or lasagna or eggplant Parm. You don’t need fancy tomatoes or lettuce with bona fides, just strong vinaigrette and enough time to allow the tomatoes to bleed out in it before you assemble the salad and serve."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
This was featured in "Most House Salads Are Terrible. Make Yours Shockingly Superb.", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019208-lucali-salad.
Ingredients
For the salad:
5 smallish tomatoes, halved and cut into fifths
1/2 smallish red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 rib celery with leaves, ideally from the heart, chopped
18 canned, pitted black olives, plus 2 tablespoons olive brine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
1 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves and brown bits removed, roughly torn
For the dressing:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, red onion and celery in a large bowl. Add the olives, bruising each slightly between finger and thumb, and the olive brine.
Add the salt, peppers, olive oil and red-wine vinegar to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Wash and dry the lettuce, then put in a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the salad.
Make the dressing. There will be a lot left over, which you can cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks. Combine the olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt, black pepper and lemon pepper in a jar or large bowl. Cover the jar, and shake until emulsified, or use a whisk to achieve the same result in the bowl. Set aside.
Assemble the salad. Spoon onto a large platter enough of the tomato mixture and accumulated juices to cover its bottom. Arrange some of the iceberg across the top of the tomatoes, and drizzle a little dressing over it. Add some more of the tomato mixture, then another round of the iceberg. Drizzle with some more of the dressing, and then repeat. Serve immediately, so the lettuce does not wilt, either with Italian bread or topped with meatballs, perhaps alongside spaghetti or pizza.
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB DUMP CAKE
This yumminess comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Made with only six ingredients and the help of Betty Crocker™ cake mix, this dump dessert is weeknight- and crowd-friendly!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups sliced rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
10 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
In large bowl, toss strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and cornstarch; spread evenly in baking dish. Top with cake mix, and pour melted butter over top, making sure to cover top with butter as much as you can.
Bake about 1 hour or until bubbly and topping is browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Expert Tips
May use fresh or frozen fruit. If using frozen, do not thaw before using.
Make sure to spread out cake mix so there are no large mounds on top of cake.
ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This is from VeryWellFit, and begins, "Vegetable casseroles are a great way to enjoy fresh produce from the farmers market or make use of a bumper crop. But they can also be loaded with cream and cheese making for a very heavy and high-caloric dish.
"To make this zucchini casserole recipe healthier, instead of adding cream to the sauce it is enriched with tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs. The zucchini is then topped with just a bit of cheese. You may notice the absence of breadcrumbs, which also helps cut down on the calories. To compensate for the breadcrumbs' job of soaking up some of the liquid the vegetables exude during cooking, this recipe calls for starting the casserole on a higher heat to dry it out a bit, and then adding the last of the cheese on the top (otherwise it gets too brown or could even burn).
"This zucchini casserole recipe works well with any kind of zucchini or green summer squash, including a combination of squashes."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/3 cup onion (chopped, about 1/2 of a medium onion)
3 cloves garlic (chopped)
3/4 pound tomatoes (fresh or canned—about a 1-pound can of whole tomatoes, drained)
1 teaspoon Italian herbs (or oregano)
Salt and pepper
1 pound zucchini (approximately 2 medium)
1 cup Italian cheese mixture (grated, packaged, or your own mix including mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone)
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 F.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Sauté the onion in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, until the garlic is fragrant.
Cut each tomato into 3 to 5 pieces and add to the oil, along with the herbs, salt, and pepper.
Cook over medium heat until the liquid is mostly gone (but not dry), stirring occasionally—you should end up without about 1 cup of the mixture. This should take about 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the zucchini into slices approximately 1/4 inch thick. These can be either round slices, or lengthwise. Take the largest slices and line the bottom of a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch pan, or a similarly-sized round pan.
Spread about 1/4 of the tomatoes on top of the zucchini (don't even try to spread evenly; it won't work), followed by 1/4 cup of the cheese.
Continue layering the sauce, zucchini, and cheese. It should come out to 4 layers, but if it only makes 3, just try to divide things relatively evenly. Don't put the final layer of cheese on yet.
Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the rest of the cheese, and lower the temperature to 375F. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown.
Ingredient Substitutions and Cooking Tips
If you'd like to cut down on the fat even more, substitute low-fat or fat-free cheese. Just keep in mind that when you remove the fat, you also lessen the cheeses' melt-ability.
LAYERED VEGETABLE TORTE
This is from Mark Bittman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Mark wrote, "Getting this vegetable torte right takes a little time. You really must grill (or pan-grill) or roast all the vegetables well — they have to become quite tender — before assembling the torte. Ultimately, you want the vegetables to almost melt together. Grilling is the technique of choice because it gives the vegetables a hint of smokiness."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 1 hour
This was featured in "A Vegetable Torte Starts at the Grill", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013213-layered-vegetable-torte.
Ingredients
1 large eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch slices
4 medium zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 portobello mushrooms, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, or more as needed
Salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh
Preparation
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a grill pan over medium-high heat, or prepare a grill; the heat should be medium-high, and the rack about 4 inches from flame. Brush eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms lightly with half the oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; if roasting, grease 2 baking sheets with oil. Roast or grill vegetables on both sides until soft.
Coat bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with oil. Layer a third of the eggplant slices into bottom of the pan, then layer in half the zucchini, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and basil, sprinkling each layer with a bit of salt and pepper. Repeat layers until all vegetable are used. Press the top with a spatula or spoon to make the torte as compact as possible. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bread crumbs, and drizzle with about 1 tablespoon oil.
Bake torte in oven until hot throughout and browned on top, about 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before removing outer ring of pan, then let cool for another 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.
LUCALI SALAD
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking newsletter. Sam wrote, "Mark Iacono sometimes serves a version of this salad at Lucali, his candlelit church of pizza in Brooklyn. It’s what he calls a “bottom of the bowl” salad, reminiscent of what’s left after a long Sunday dinner with family, with tomatoes, black olives and red onion deeply marinated in a vinegar-heavy dressing. He layers these above and below cold, crisp lettuce, adds a final drizzle of dressing and serves the salad with a meatball on top of it. But it goes as well plain alongside a pizza or under a sausage that’s been simmered in sauce, with stuffed shells or lasagna or eggplant Parm. You don’t need fancy tomatoes or lettuce with bona fides, just strong vinaigrette and enough time to allow the tomatoes to bleed out in it before you assemble the salad and serve."
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: 40 minutes
This was featured in "Most House Salads Are Terrible. Make Yours Shockingly Superb.", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019208-lucali-salad.
Ingredients
For the salad:
5 smallish tomatoes, halved and cut into fifths
1/2 smallish red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 rib celery with leaves, ideally from the heart, chopped
18 canned, pitted black olives, plus 2 tablespoons olive brine
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
1 head iceberg lettuce, outer leaves and brown bits removed, roughly torn
For the dressing:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
Preparation
Combine the tomatoes, red onion and celery in a large bowl. Add the olives, bruising each slightly between finger and thumb, and the olive brine.
Add the salt, peppers, olive oil and red-wine vinegar to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands or a wooden spoon. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Wash and dry the lettuce, then put in a bowl, cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the salad.
Make the dressing. There will be a lot left over, which you can cover and store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks. Combine the olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt, black pepper and lemon pepper in a jar or large bowl. Cover the jar, and shake until emulsified, or use a whisk to achieve the same result in the bowl. Set aside.
Assemble the salad. Spoon onto a large platter enough of the tomato mixture and accumulated juices to cover its bottom. Arrange some of the iceberg across the top of the tomatoes, and drizzle a little dressing over it. Add some more of the tomato mixture, then another round of the iceberg. Drizzle with some more of the dressing, and then repeat. Serve immediately, so the lettuce does not wilt, either with Italian bread or topped with meatballs, perhaps alongside spaghetti or pizza.
SUMMER VEGETABLE CHILI
This is from the Food Network.
Prep Time: 14 minutes; Cook Time: 26 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/summer-vegetable-chili-recipe-2112338.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 poblano chile pepper, seeded and diced
2 portobello mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
2 cups frozen corn (preferably fire-roasted), thawed
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added pinto beans
1 14-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and/or torn fresh cilantro, for topping (optional)
8 corn tortillas, warmed
Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add all but a few tablespoons of the chopped red onion. Stir in the garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the poblano, mushrooms and corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then stir and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the chili is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide the chili among bowls. Top with the cheese, sour cream and/or cilantro; sprinkle with the reserved red onion. Serve with the tortillas.
STUFFED PEPPERS
Recipe Yield: Servings: 8
Source: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
Book Title: The New American Heart Association Cookbook
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/stuffed-peppers.
Ingredients
4 large bell peppers, any color or combination
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 medium crookneck squash, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1/2 cup diced onion (1 medium)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced, or 1 tsp bottled minced garlic
2 cups cooked brown rice (1/2 to 2/3 cup uncooked)
1/2 cup grated fat-free or low-fat Cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1/4 cup sliced water chestnuts (2 ounces)
1 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut peppers in half lengthwise, removing stems, ribs, and seeds. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat bottom. Saute tomatoes, crookneck squash, zucchini, onion, and garlic until zucchini is tender-crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Don't overcook.
In a medium bowl, combine rice, cheese, and water chestnuts. Gently stir into skillet. Stuff pepper halves with vegetable mixture. Place in 9-inch round or square casserole dish, then carefully pour tomato juice around peppers. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 119; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 68 mg; Cholesterol: 1 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 23 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Low-Fat Milk, 2 Vegetable
STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB DUMP CAKE
This yumminess comes from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Made with only six ingredients and the help of Betty Crocker™ cake mix, this dump dessert is weeknight- and crowd-friendly!"
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups sliced rhubarb
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ yellow cake mix
10 tablespoons butter, melted
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
In large bowl, toss strawberries, rhubarb, sugar and cornstarch; spread evenly in baking dish. Top with cake mix, and pour melted butter over top, making sure to cover top with butter as much as you can.
Bake about 1 hour or until bubbly and topping is browned. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Expert Tips
May use fresh or frozen fruit. If using frozen, do not thaw before using.
Make sure to spread out cake mix so there are no large mounds on top of cake.
Friday, June 13, 2025
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including 30-Minute Chili With Ground Beef and Beans and Old-Fashioned Meatloaf. Enjoy!
CREAMY CHEESY MACARONI
This yummy recipe comes from The Mayo Clinic Diet. If you haven’t check out the site, you should. (That, as well as the main site, https://www.mayoclinic.org, have a lot of good stuff to check out.)
Serves 10; Serving size: 1 cup
To view this online, go to http://diet.mayoclinic.org/food-fitness/recipe-for-creamy-cheesy-macaroni-/17551.
Ingredients
1 package pasta, whole-wheat, elbow macaroni (14.5 ounces)
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese, nonfat
2 tablespoons oil, canola
1/2 cup flour, all-purpose
1/2 teaspoon pepper, black ground
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups milk, fat-free
2 cups cheese, cheddar, sharp, reduced-fat, shredded
2 cups tomatoes, cherry, cut in half
Instructions
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, blend cottage cheese in a food processor until smooth. Set aside.
In a large saucepan over a medium heat, combine oil, flour, pepper and garlic powder; stir until mixed. Gradually stir in the milk and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes or until thickened and smooth. Add the blended cottage cheese and cheddar cheese, stirring until melted.
Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. After the macaroni has been cooked and drained, place it in the prepared casserole dish. Pour the cheese mixture over the macaroni and mix until blended. Bake at 350 F for about 30 minutes or until heated through. Top with tomatoes just before serving.
SIMPLE VEGETARIAN SPINACH LASAGNA
This is from Vicki Shata Retelny, RDN, at VeryWellFit. She wrote, “There's nothing like lasagna to soothe a craving for a creamy, dreamy meal. With a foundation of vitamin C-rich tomato sauce, which is loaded with the carotenoid lycopene, this Italian classic takes on a healthy bend with a good dose veggies nestled in its layers.
“Chock full of leafy green spinach, this dish is good for your brain health, as eating a serving of veggies each day has shown to fend off cognitive decline. Spinach is also loaded with iron and calcium for a total body wellness boost.“
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 65 minutes; Servings: 9 (1 cup each)
To view this online, go to https://www.verywellfit.com/vegetarian-spinach-lasagna-4144632.
Ingredients
1 package no-boil lasagna noodles
2 28-ounce cans tomato sauce
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon oregano
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 15-ounce container part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated
3 cups raw baby spinach leaves
Preparation
Preheat the oven the 350F.
On the stovetop over medium heat, pour the tomato sauce into a saucepan. Add salt, oregano, and garlic. Bring to a light boil, lower the heat, and simmer for a few minutes. Stir occasionally.
On the bottom of a 9x13 pan put a layer of tomato sauce. Place a layer of noodles on top, covering the bottom of the pan. Spread ricotta cheese on top of the noodles, top with spinach, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and coat with a small ladle full of sauce. Repeat the layers until you get to the top of the pan. Sprinkle the final layer with mozzarella cheese.
Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown on top.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a 10 minutes before serving.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Make this dish higher in fiber with whole wheat noodles, although they may only be available in the boil variety. Add other vegetables such a sliced carrots, zucchini, or eggplant. For an alternative green, use baby kale or arugula. Spread pesto between the layers or incorporate it into the tomato sauce for a rich, nutty flavor.
If you want to add meat, add cooked, diced chicken breast or ground turkey to the sauce. For a non-dairy twist, use vegan cheese in lieu of ricotta and mozzarella cheese.
Cooking and Serving Tips
To save time use no-boil lasagna noodles—they're quick and easy to assemble. Plus, the part-skim ricotta cheese and mozzarella reduce the fat but still offer good-quality protein.
This dish can be assembled and placed, uncooked and covered, in the refrigerator overnight. Simply heat and serve the next day. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container.
SIMPLEST STRAWBERRY TART
This comes from Emily Weinstein in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Emily wrote, “This gorgeous tart is adapted from "Sweeter Off the Vine," by Yossy Arefi, a cookbook of fruit desserts for every season. It's an ideal vehicle for the ripest strawberries at the height of the season, a dessert that makes more of a splash than just serving berries and cream but still has that simple charm. The only tricky part is the crust, which could crack as you transfer it to a serving board. But if that happens, don't despair. It's meant to be effortlessly loose and casual, and you can cover the damage with swirls of mascarpone and a blanket of berries.”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour, plus 2 hours’ chilling.
This was featured in “’Sweeter Off the Vine’: A Cookbook Made for Instagram,” and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018052-simplest-strawberry-tart.
Ingredients
For the Rye Crust:
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup rye flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
9 tablespoons/ very cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 large egg, lightly beaten, for egg wash
For the Tart:
1 cup mascarpone, at room temperature
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 pound small, sweet strawberries
3 tablespoons high-quality strawberry jam
Preparation
Prepare the crust: Whisk the flours and salt together in a large bowl. Combine apple cider vinegar with 5 tablespoons ice water.
Working quickly, add butter to the flour mixture and toss to coat. Use your fingers or the palms of your hands to press each cube of butter into the flour, ensuring that each butter piece gets coated, until the mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-size lumps. If at any time the butter seems warm or soft, briefly refrigerate the bowl. Alternatively, you can pulse the butter and flour together in a food processor.
Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of the cold vinegar-water mixture over the flour mixture. Use a gentle hand or wooden spoon to stir the water into the flour until just combined. If using a food processor, pulse a few more times, or until the dough begins to come together. If the dough seems dry, add more of the cold vinegar-water mixture, a couple of teaspoons at a time. You have added enough water when you can pick up a handful of the dough and easily squeeze it together without it falling apart.
Form the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight. (Dough keeps for up to 3 months in the freezer wrapped in a double layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Thaw in refrigerator before using.)
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 400 degrees.
On a lightly floured piece of parchment paper, roll out the pie crust into an oval about 15 x 6 inches and just under 1/4-inch thick. Use a paring knife or pastry cutter to trim any rough edges and move the parchment paper and crust to a baking sheet, preferably rimless. Dock the crust with a fork to prevent it from puffing up too much in the oven. Brush the surface of the crust from edge to edge with the egg wash.
Bake until crust is deep golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Check on the crust halfway through baking; if any bubbles have appeared, use a spatula to press them flat. Cool the crust completely on the pan.
Prepare the tart: While the crust is cooling, combine mascarpone and 2 tablespoons sugar. Hull the strawberries and cut them into 1/4-inch slices.
Carefully slide the cooled crust off the baking sheet onto a serving platter or board. Spread mascarpone over the top in an even layer, dot with jam, then arrange sliced strawberries in a single, slightly overlapping layer in a decorative pattern. Sprinkle the tart with the remaining tablespoon of sugar. (Omit this final sprinkling if your strawberries are particularly sweet.) Slice and serve immediately.
OLD-FASHIONED MEATLOAF
This comes from Verywellfit, and begins, “This lighter meatloaf recipe is similar to the one most of us enjoyed during our childhoods, but without all of the extra fat. Choose a lean ground beef or, better yet, ground turkey to cut down on the fat. And since you can't make meatloaf without breadcrumbs, why not replace the white, unrefined with whole wheat for added fiber? Also, using two egg whites in place of one whole egg will reduce the calories and fat while still helping to bind the mixture together.”
Total Time: 70; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground meat (85% to 90% lean, or ground turkey)
1 cup breadcrumbs (whole wheat)
1/4 cup onion (finely chopped or 1 tablespoon dehydrated onion flakes)
2 cloves garlic (minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon sage
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 large egg whites
1/4 cup water (or low-fat milk)
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients. Mix well, using your hands, but don't overmix because you will toughen the meat.
Turn mixture into a 9x5-inch loaf pan. Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips, and bake for about 1 hour.
To be sure the meatloaf is done, insert an instant-read meat thermometer into the center of the loaf. The temperature should register 155F when it is done.
About 10 to 15 minutes before you think the meatloaf will be done, you can cover it with barbecue sauce if you like.
International Meatloaf
If you are looking for a different kind of meatloaf, try kofta kebabs, a Middle Eastern grilled ground meat recipe. The spices in this meat mixture (traditionally lamb) are a delicious change of pace from the usual. If you don't have the time or inclination to place them on skewers, you can make them into oblong-oval shapes that look like sausages without the casings.
30-MINUTE CHILI WITH GROUND BEEF AND BEANS
This comes from Diana Rattray, a southern food cook on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “This ground beef chili is hearty and delicious, and it takes only 30 minutes from start to finish! Don't feel overwhelmed by the list of ingredients, many are suggested toppings.
“The ground beef is quickly browned, then it is combined with a spice mixture, beans, and tomatoes for a quick and easy meal for a busy day. It's also easy on the budget.
“Make a pan of cornbread to go with the chili, along with a salad or slaw, or serve it with hot cooked rice and warm tortillas.
“If you're making this for a party game day gathering, offer several toppings with the chili and add a bowl of tortilla chips to the menu. The recipe is easily doubled.”
Total Time: 30 mins; PrepTime: 5 mins; Cook: 25 mins; Yield: 6 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Seasoning Mix:
3 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons onion (dried minced)
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the Chili:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef (at least 85% lean)
1 can/14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
1 can/14.5 ounces diced tomatoes with mild green chile peppers*
1 can/8 ounces tomato sauce
1 can/15 to 16 ounces black beans (undrained)
salt to taste
Optional: shredded cheddar, cheddar-jack, or a Mexican blend of cheeses
For Toppings (optional):
sour cream
green onion (chopped)
red onion (chopped)
lettuce (shredded)
cilantro
guacamole
tomatoes (diced)
Directions
In a small bowl or cup, combine the chili powder with the dried minced onion, cumin, oregano, sugar, garlic powder, and the black and cayenne peppers. Blend well and set aside.
In a Dutch oven or large sauté pan over medium heat, brown the ground beef, turning and breaking up with a spatula as it cooks.
Drain the ground beef well. Return the beef to the pan over medium heat. Add the chili seasoning mix and stir to blend.
Add the 2 cans of tomatoes, tomato sauce, and undrained black beans. Stir to blend ingredients.
Bring the chili to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
Taste and add salt, as needed.
Serve with a Tex-Mex cornbread or classic Southern cornbread, biscuits, crackers, or tortilla chips, along with shredded cheese and your favorite toppings.
Tip
If you don't have diced tomatoes with chile peppers, use regular diced tomatoes and add mild green chile peppers. Or, use about 1 to 1-1/2 cups of chunky mild to medium salsa in place of the second can of tomatoes.
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.
CREAMY CHEESY MACARONI
This yummy recipe comes from The Mayo Clinic Diet. If you haven’t check out the site, you should. (That, as well as the main site, https://www.mayoclinic.org, have a lot of good stuff to check out.)
Serves 10; Serving size: 1 cup
To view this online, go to http://diet.mayoclinic.org/food-fitness/recipe-for-creamy-cheesy-macaroni-/17551.
Ingredients
1 package pasta, whole-wheat, elbow macaroni (14.5 ounces)
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese, nonfat
2 tablespoons oil, canola
1/2 cup flour, all-purpose
1/2 teaspoon pepper, black ground
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups milk, fat-free
2 cups cheese, cheddar, sharp, reduced-fat, shredded
2 cups tomatoes, cherry, cut in half
Instructions
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, blend cottage cheese in a food processor until smooth. Set aside.
In a large saucepan over a medium heat, combine oil, flour, pepper and garlic powder; stir until mixed. Gradually stir in the milk and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes or until thickened and smooth. Add the blended cottage cheese and cheddar cheese, stirring until melted.
Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. After the macaroni has been cooked and drained, place it in the prepared casserole dish. Pour the cheese mixture over the macaroni and mix until blended. Bake at 350 F for about 30 minutes or until heated through. Top with tomatoes just before serving.
SIMPLE VEGETARIAN SPINACH LASAGNA
This is from Vicki Shata Retelny, RDN, at VeryWellFit. She wrote, “There's nothing like lasagna to soothe a craving for a creamy, dreamy meal. With a foundation of vitamin C-rich tomato sauce, which is loaded with the carotenoid lycopene, this Italian classic takes on a healthy bend with a good dose veggies nestled in its layers.
“Chock full of leafy green spinach, this dish is good for your brain health, as eating a serving of veggies each day has shown to fend off cognitive decline. Spinach is also loaded with iron and calcium for a total body wellness boost.“
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 65 minutes; Servings: 9 (1 cup each)
To view this online, go to https://www.verywellfit.com/vegetarian-spinach-lasagna-4144632.
Ingredients
1 package no-boil lasagna noodles
2 28-ounce cans tomato sauce
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon oregano
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 15-ounce container part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated
3 cups raw baby spinach leaves
Preparation
Preheat the oven the 350F.
On the stovetop over medium heat, pour the tomato sauce into a saucepan. Add salt, oregano, and garlic. Bring to a light boil, lower the heat, and simmer for a few minutes. Stir occasionally.
On the bottom of a 9x13 pan put a layer of tomato sauce. Place a layer of noodles on top, covering the bottom of the pan. Spread ricotta cheese on top of the noodles, top with spinach, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and coat with a small ladle full of sauce. Repeat the layers until you get to the top of the pan. Sprinkle the final layer with mozzarella cheese.
Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown on top.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a 10 minutes before serving.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Make this dish higher in fiber with whole wheat noodles, although they may only be available in the boil variety. Add other vegetables such a sliced carrots, zucchini, or eggplant. For an alternative green, use baby kale or arugula. Spread pesto between the layers or incorporate it into the tomato sauce for a rich, nutty flavor.
If you want to add meat, add cooked, diced chicken breast or ground turkey to the sauce. For a non-dairy twist, use vegan cheese in lieu of ricotta and mozzarella cheese.
Cooking and Serving Tips
To save time use no-boil lasagna noodles—they're quick and easy to assemble. Plus, the part-skim ricotta cheese and mozzarella reduce the fat but still offer good-quality protein.
This dish can be assembled and placed, uncooked and covered, in the refrigerator overnight. Simply heat and serve the next day. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container.
SIMPLEST STRAWBERRY TART
This comes from Emily Weinstein in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Emily wrote, “This gorgeous tart is adapted from "Sweeter Off the Vine," by Yossy Arefi, a cookbook of fruit desserts for every season. It's an ideal vehicle for the ripest strawberries at the height of the season, a dessert that makes more of a splash than just serving berries and cream but still has that simple charm. The only tricky part is the crust, which could crack as you transfer it to a serving board. But if that happens, don't despair. It's meant to be effortlessly loose and casual, and you can cover the damage with swirls of mascarpone and a blanket of berries.”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 1 hour, plus 2 hours’ chilling.
This was featured in “’Sweeter Off the Vine’: A Cookbook Made for Instagram,” and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018052-simplest-strawberry-tart.
Ingredients
For the Rye Crust:
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup rye flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
9 tablespoons/ very cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 large egg, lightly beaten, for egg wash
For the Tart:
1 cup mascarpone, at room temperature
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 pound small, sweet strawberries
3 tablespoons high-quality strawberry jam
Preparation
Prepare the crust: Whisk the flours and salt together in a large bowl. Combine apple cider vinegar with 5 tablespoons ice water.
Working quickly, add butter to the flour mixture and toss to coat. Use your fingers or the palms of your hands to press each cube of butter into the flour, ensuring that each butter piece gets coated, until the mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-size lumps. If at any time the butter seems warm or soft, briefly refrigerate the bowl. Alternatively, you can pulse the butter and flour together in a food processor.
Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of the cold vinegar-water mixture over the flour mixture. Use a gentle hand or wooden spoon to stir the water into the flour until just combined. If using a food processor, pulse a few more times, or until the dough begins to come together. If the dough seems dry, add more of the cold vinegar-water mixture, a couple of teaspoons at a time. You have added enough water when you can pick up a handful of the dough and easily squeeze it together without it falling apart.
Form the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight. (Dough keeps for up to 3 months in the freezer wrapped in a double layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Thaw in refrigerator before using.)
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 400 degrees.
On a lightly floured piece of parchment paper, roll out the pie crust into an oval about 15 x 6 inches and just under 1/4-inch thick. Use a paring knife or pastry cutter to trim any rough edges and move the parchment paper and crust to a baking sheet, preferably rimless. Dock the crust with a fork to prevent it from puffing up too much in the oven. Brush the surface of the crust from edge to edge with the egg wash.
Bake until crust is deep golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Check on the crust halfway through baking; if any bubbles have appeared, use a spatula to press them flat. Cool the crust completely on the pan.
Prepare the tart: While the crust is cooling, combine mascarpone and 2 tablespoons sugar. Hull the strawberries and cut them into 1/4-inch slices.
Carefully slide the cooled crust off the baking sheet onto a serving platter or board. Spread mascarpone over the top in an even layer, dot with jam, then arrange sliced strawberries in a single, slightly overlapping layer in a decorative pattern. Sprinkle the tart with the remaining tablespoon of sugar. (Omit this final sprinkling if your strawberries are particularly sweet.) Slice and serve immediately.
OLD-FASHIONED MEATLOAF
This comes from Verywellfit, and begins, “This lighter meatloaf recipe is similar to the one most of us enjoyed during our childhoods, but without all of the extra fat. Choose a lean ground beef or, better yet, ground turkey to cut down on the fat. And since you can't make meatloaf without breadcrumbs, why not replace the white, unrefined with whole wheat for added fiber? Also, using two egg whites in place of one whole egg will reduce the calories and fat while still helping to bind the mixture together.”
Total Time: 70; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground meat (85% to 90% lean, or ground turkey)
1 cup breadcrumbs (whole wheat)
1/4 cup onion (finely chopped or 1 tablespoon dehydrated onion flakes)
2 cloves garlic (minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon sage
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 large egg whites
1/4 cup water (or low-fat milk)
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients. Mix well, using your hands, but don't overmix because you will toughen the meat.
Turn mixture into a 9x5-inch loaf pan. Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips, and bake for about 1 hour.
To be sure the meatloaf is done, insert an instant-read meat thermometer into the center of the loaf. The temperature should register 155F when it is done.
About 10 to 15 minutes before you think the meatloaf will be done, you can cover it with barbecue sauce if you like.
International Meatloaf
If you are looking for a different kind of meatloaf, try kofta kebabs, a Middle Eastern grilled ground meat recipe. The spices in this meat mixture (traditionally lamb) are a delicious change of pace from the usual. If you don't have the time or inclination to place them on skewers, you can make them into oblong-oval shapes that look like sausages without the casings.
30-MINUTE CHILI WITH GROUND BEEF AND BEANS
This comes from Diana Rattray, a southern food cook on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “This ground beef chili is hearty and delicious, and it takes only 30 minutes from start to finish! Don't feel overwhelmed by the list of ingredients, many are suggested toppings.
“The ground beef is quickly browned, then it is combined with a spice mixture, beans, and tomatoes for a quick and easy meal for a busy day. It's also easy on the budget.
“Make a pan of cornbread to go with the chili, along with a salad or slaw, or serve it with hot cooked rice and warm tortillas.
“If you're making this for a party game day gathering, offer several toppings with the chili and add a bowl of tortilla chips to the menu. The recipe is easily doubled.”
Total Time: 30 mins; PrepTime: 5 mins; Cook: 25 mins; Yield: 6 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Seasoning Mix:
3 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons onion (dried minced)
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the Chili:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef (at least 85% lean)
1 can/14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
1 can/14.5 ounces diced tomatoes with mild green chile peppers*
1 can/8 ounces tomato sauce
1 can/15 to 16 ounces black beans (undrained)
salt to taste
Optional: shredded cheddar, cheddar-jack, or a Mexican blend of cheeses
For Toppings (optional):
sour cream
green onion (chopped)
red onion (chopped)
lettuce (shredded)
cilantro
guacamole
tomatoes (diced)
Directions
In a small bowl or cup, combine the chili powder with the dried minced onion, cumin, oregano, sugar, garlic powder, and the black and cayenne peppers. Blend well and set aside.
In a Dutch oven or large sauté pan over medium heat, brown the ground beef, turning and breaking up with a spatula as it cooks.
Drain the ground beef well. Return the beef to the pan over medium heat. Add the chili seasoning mix and stir to blend.
Add the 2 cans of tomatoes, tomato sauce, and undrained black beans. Stir to blend ingredients.
Bring the chili to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
Taste and add salt, as needed.
Serve with a Tex-Mex cornbread or classic Southern cornbread, biscuits, crackers, or tortilla chips, along with shredded cheese and your favorite toppings.
Tip
If you don't have diced tomatoes with chile peppers, use regular diced tomatoes and add mild green chile peppers. Or, use about 1 to 1-1/2 cups of chunky mild to medium salsa in place of the second can of tomatoes.
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.
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