Confessions of a Foodie

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Showing posts with label Baked Rajma (Punjabi-Style Red Beans With Cream). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baked Rajma (Punjabi-Style Red Beans With Cream). Show all posts

Monday, July 12, 2021

Double-Post Monday

Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's offerings include Jumbo Cheesy Italian Meatballs and Apple Pecan Chicken Salad. Enjoy!

HAN OAK GALBIJJIM

This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, "This is a home cook’s take on the short-rib stew the chef Peter Cho serves at Han Oak, the beautiful homestyle Korean restaurant in Portland, Ore., that he runs with his wife, Sun Young Park. It is fragrant and sweet, with deep caramelized flavors that come in part from roasting the meat and vegetables separately before combining them in the braising liquid. Cho fries rice cakes before adding them to the stew, but you can just slide them in plain, if you prefer. Either way, the addition of greens at the end gives the dish an exciting brightness, a zip that many galbijjims lack."

Yield: 6 servings; Time: 2 hours

This was featured in "A Secret Ingredient Makes This Chef’s Galbijjim Perfect. Just Don’t Tell Mom.", and cam be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019918-han-oak-galbijjim.

Ingredients

3 pounds mixed root vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, onions and sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

5 tablespoons neutral oil, like canola or vegetable oil

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

4 pounds bone-in short ribs, cut by a butcher into 2-inch pieces

2 medium-size Asian pears, peeled, cored and diced

1 large red onion, peeled and diced

12 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

2 tablespoons roughly chopped ginger

3 cups chicken stock

1 12-ounce can Coca-Cola

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup rice-wine vinegar

2 tablespoons gochugaru (Korean chile flakes), or to taste

4 cups roughly chopped kale, optional

1 pound Korean rice cakes, optional

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

3 scallions, trimmed and both white and green parts thinly sliced

3 radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced

Sesame seeds, to taste

Preparation

Heat oven to 425. Toss the root vegetables in a large bowl with 2 tablespoons of oil, and season with an aggressive amount of salt and pepper. Turn the vegetables onto a sheet pan. Put the short ribs in the same bowl, and toss with 1 tablespoon of oil and a lot of salt and pepper, then put the ribs on another sheet pan, bone sides down. Place both pans in the oven and roast, turning the pans once or twice, until the vegetables are soft and caramelized and the ribs are well browned, approximately 40 minutes. Set the pans aside until ready to use.

While the vegetables and ribs cook, place a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, and swirl into it the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. When it shimmers, add the pears, onion, garlic and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are softened and browning, approximately 15 minutes.

Turn heat to high, add the stock, Coca-Cola, honey, soy sauce, rice-wine vinegar and gochugaru, and bring the mixture to a lively simmer. Cook until pears are tender, approximately 20 minutes. Transfer to a blender or food processor, and purée the sauce until smooth, then return it to the pot.

Add the cooked short ribs and whatever fat has rendered from them to the pot, cover it and cook over medium-low heat for approximately 90 minutes, or until very tender.

When the meat can be flaked from the bone, add the roasted vegetables to the pot, along with the rice cakes. Cook until the vegetables are hot and the rice cakes (if using) are sticky, then add the greens, and stir them around until they have just started to turn tender.

Drizzle with the sesame oil, top with the scallions, radishes and sesame seeds to taste. Serve immediately.

BAKED RAJMA (PUNJABI-STYLE RED BEANS WITH CREAM)

This is from Tejal Rao at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, "Punjabi-style rajma, or red beans, in a thick, spicy tomato gravy is comforting, quick and comes together with what you have in the pantry. This one-pan baked version lets the oven do the work of reducing the sauce. When the dish comes out, scatter with cilantro, if you’ve got it, and some quick-pickled onion. The key is to take your time with the base, letting the onion mixture cook out properly, so the final sauce is mellow and deeply flavored. You can try the same recipe with different beans — use whatever you’ve got, from chickpeas to cannellini. Serve it over rice, ideally, but if you’re in a pinch, a side of hot flour tortillas, or even buttered toast, will make it into a delicious meal."

Yield: 4 servings; Time: 1 hour

This was featured in "The Indisputable King of Bean Dishes", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021035-baked-rajma-punjabi-style-red-beans-with-cream.

Ingredients

1 red onion

4 garlic cloves

1 fresh green chile

1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled

2 tablespoons neutral oil

1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 (28-ounce) can crushed, diced, chopped or whole tomatoes

2 (15-ounce) cans kidney beans, drained

1/2 teaspoon red chile powder

1/4 teaspoon garam masala

1/2 cup heavy cream or 1 cup diced mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves

For the Pickle:

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

Preparation

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Quarter the onion, then thinly slice one portion. Set aside sliced onion. Add the remaining onion to a food processor, along with the garlic, chile and ginger. Purée until fairly smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

In a large, deep ovenproof skillet, heat the oil over medium. Add the cumin seeds and cook until lightly toasted, about 30 seconds. Add the onion mixture and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the excess liquid has evaporated and the mixture is just starting to take on a golden color, 8 to 10 minutes.

While the mixture cooks, purée the canned tomatoes and their juices, if using diced, chopped or whole tomatoes.

Add the beans and chile powder to the onion mixture, and mix well. Use a fork to mash a tablespoon or so of the beans against the side of the skillet to help thicken the sauce.

Add the crushed or puréed tomatoes and garam masala to the beans, and mix well. Drizzle the top with cream or scatter with cheese, then slide into the oven and bake, uncovered, until the sauce has thickened and the top is lightly browned, 30 to 40 minutes.

Prepare the pickle: While the beans are baking, bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Transfer 1/4 cup hot water to a small bowl. Stir in the sugar and salt until dissolved. Add the reserved onion slices to the boiling water in the saucepan, turn off the heat and, after 1 minute, drain the onion. Transfer the softened onion to the small bowl and stir in the vinegar.

When the beans are ready, fish out the pickled onion slices and arrange on top, letting a few drops of the pickling liquid flick over the beans to season them. Garnish with cilantro and serve with hot rice, buttered toast or flour tortillas.

APPLE PECAN CHICKEN SALAD

This is from Linda Larsen, who wrote for About.com and The Spruce Eats. Linda wrote, "Apple pecan chicken salad is a fan-favorite main dish salad recipe. The combination of tender chicken, crisp pecans, tart apples, and a creamy honey mustard dressing is fantastic.

"Like all chicken salads, using a rotisserie chicken often brings the best results. Most other chicken cooking methods do not come close to matching the tender result of these grocery store birds. There is just something about roasting chickens while on a spit that results in the most tender and flavorful meat. Remove the meat from the bird and cut it into large chunks.

"You can double or triple this recipe if you would like. When hot summer weather is at hand, there's nothing nicer than having a huge batch of fabulous apple pecan chicken salad in the fridge, ready and waiting for you. Just add some bakery muffins or breadsticks, some iced tea or white wine, and you have a fabulous meal with absolutely no cooking at all."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 0 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.thespruceeats.com/apple-pecan-chicken-salad-481444.

Ingredients

1/2 cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons honey mustard

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Salt (to taste)

Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

3 cups cooked chicken (chopped)

1 Granny Smith apple (chopped)

1 cup small pecans

1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries

Directions

Gather the ingredients.

In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, honey mustard, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.

Stir in the cooked chicken, the chopped apple, pecans, and dried cherries or cranberries to coat.

Cover and chill the salad for 1 to 2 hours before serving.

Enjoy!

Tips

Store any leftovers of the salad, well covered, in the refrigerator for up to three days.

You can cook your own chicken for this apple pecan chicken salad recipe. Try baking chicken breasts, on the bone or off, in parchment paper, or simmer them gently in water until they just reach 160 F. When the meat stands after cooking, the temperature will rise to 165 F, which is the safe final temperature for chicken breasts.

Or try cooking a whole chicken on a rotisserie on your grill; you need special equipment and instructions for that task. You can cook large batches of chicken this way, let the meat cool, cube it, then store it in the freezer in 2 cup portions for recipes like this one.

MUSHROOM BOLOGNESE WITH FETTUCCINE

This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "A lighter take on the classic Italian sauce, this vegetarian bolognese is packed with mushrooms and vegetables in a rich tomato base. Served with fettuccine, you’ll have a hearty dinner for just 300 calories."

Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 8

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup diced onions

1/2 cup diced carrot

1/4 cup finely chopped celery

4 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 packages (8 oz each) baby bella mushrooms, coarsely chopped

2 packages (8 oz each) white button mushrooms, coarsely chopped

1 can (28 oz) Muir Glen™ organic crushed tomatoes with basil, undrained

1 can (15 oz) Muir Glen™ organic tomato sauce

1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon soy sauce

12 oz uncooked fettuccine (from 16-oz box)

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired

1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves, if desired

Directions

In 5-quart Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook onions, carrots, celery, garlic and salt in oil 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Remove vegetable mixture from Dutch oven to small bowl.

In same Dutch oven, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms; cook 14 to 19 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender and liquid has evaporated.

Stir in vegetable mixture, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, thyme, oregano and red pepper flakes; heat to simmering; reduce heat to medium-low. Continue cooking uncovered 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce is starting to thicken. Remove from heat; stir in soy sauce.

Meanwhile, cook fettuccine as directed on package; drain. Serve fettuccine with sauce. Garnish with shredded Parmesan cheese and basil.

Expert Tips

Prefer a creamier sauce? If desired, stir in 1/3 cup half-and-half or heavy whipping cream after removing sauce from heat.

Cooked fettuccine may be stirred into the bolognese or topped with sauce, based on your preference.

CARIBBEAN JERK SLIDERS

This is from Eddie Jackson on the Food Network.

Total Time: 50 minutes; Active Time: 50 minutes; Yield: 8 servings; Level: Intermediate

To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/eddie-jackson/caribbean-jerk-sliders-1-8080961.

Ingredients

1 pound ground chuck

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice

1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 1/2 teaspoons red pepper flakes

1 1/2 teaspoons light brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Nonstick cooking spray, for the pan

8 standard slices mild Cheddar

8 brioche slider buns

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Jerk Ketchup, recipe follows

8 Red Ale Onion Rings, recipe follows

Jerk Ketchup:

1 cup ketchup

Juice of 1 lime

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Red Ale Onion Rings:

About 4 cups canola oil

2 large Vidalia onions

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup red ale

Coarse sea salt

Special equipment: a deep-fry thermometer; a spider

Directions

Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat.

Combine the beef, salt, allspice, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, pepper flakes, brown sugar, thyme and black pepper in a large bowl and gently mix until just combined.

Form the meat into eight 2-ounce patties, then press the center of each with your thumb to create an indent. Coat the grill pan with cooking spray.

Grill the sliders indent-side up until the internal temperature registers 150 degrees F, 2 to 3 minutes per side, placing a slice of cheese on each patty once you flip them. Cover the patties on the grill pan with a metal bowl to allow the cheese to melt. (The cheese will melt over the sides of the patties.) Remove the patties to a plate and cover loosely with foil to rest.

Meanwhile, brush the buns with the melted butter and grill until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes per side.

Assemble the sliders by putting a tablespoon-sized dollop of the Ketchup on the bun tops and bottoms, then top each bottom with a patty. Finish with one Onion Ring on top of each slider. Close sliders and serve immediately.

Jerk Ketchup:

Yield: 1 1/4 cups

Combine the ketchup, lime juice, allspice, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, pepper flakes, brown sugar, thyme and salt in a medium nonreactive bowl and mix until incorporated.

Red Ale Onion Rings:

Pour 4 inches oil into an 8-quart Dutch oven and bring to 350 degrees F over medium-high heat.

Meanwhile, peel the onions and slice into 1/2-inch-thick rings.

Combine the flour, salt, garlic powder and black pepper in a large bowl. Whisk in the ale until the ingredients are combined. The batter should be thick but slightly loose.

Place a wire rack in a sheet pan. Working in batches, dip the onion rings into the batter. Drain any excess batter back into the bowl, then slowly lower the onions into the hot oil. Cook, flipping the onions every 30 seconds, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the onions to a wire rack with a spider and lightly season with sea salt.

Cook’s Note

Make the Jerk Ketchup to use immediately, or store in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 4 days.

JUMBO CHEESY ITALIAN MEATBALLS

This is from the Food Network. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 50 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/jumbo-cheesy-italian-meatballs-2268948.

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing

3 1/2 cups torn stale Italian bread (about 1/4 loaf)

1 cup whole milk

2 large eggs

2 pounds ground beef chuck

1 small bunch parsley, chopped (about 1 cup)

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 clove garlic, grated

Kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

4 mini mozzarella balls (bocconcini)

For the sauce:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

3 to 4 sprigs basil, plus chopped leaves for topping

Kosher salt

Ricotta cheese, for topping

Directions

Make the meatballs: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and brush a baking sheet with olive oil. Pulse the bread in a food processor to make coarse crumbs. Transfer to a small bowl, add the milk and set aside to soak. Lightly beat the eggs in a large bowl, then add the beef, parsley, parmesan, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and the red pepper flakes; mix with your hands to combine. Add the bread-milk mixture and mix until just combined (do not overmix).

Dampen your hands and shape the meat mixture into 4 large balls. Make an indentation in the center of each with your thumb and stuff with a mini mozzarella ball, then mold the meat around the cheese. Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet and bake until browned and firm, 25 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic softens, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, 1 cup water, the basil sprigs and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes.

Remove the meatballs from the oven and add to the sauce, spooning some of the sauce on top. Continue cooking, occasionally spooning the sauce over the meatballs, until tender and cooked through, about 6 minutes. Serve with ricotta and chopped basil.

You can form all of these meatballs a day ahead; cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.

Friday, July 31, 2020

Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Pasta and Chili Carnivale. Enjoy!

KOREAN BARBECUE-STYLE MEATBALLS

This yumminess is from Kay Chun in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Kay wrote, "These meatballs, inspired by traditional Korean barbecue, bring the savory-sweet flavors of caramelized meat without the need for a grill. As the meatballs bake, the soy sauce marries the garlic and scallions to create a glaze. This meatball mixture can be made ahead and left to marinate in the fridge for 3 hours or even overnight. Use ground beef that is 85 percent lean meat, 15 percent fat, or 80 percent lean and 20 percent fat for juicier meatballs. The Ritz crackers here make for a more tender meatball, but feel free to substitute plain dry bread crumbs. The meatballs are tasty on their own, but for a simple dipping sauce, combine 2 tablespoons soy sauce and 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar. Serve over steamed rice with kimchi, or as a sandwich with mayonnaise or marinara sauce."

Yield: 4 servings; Time: 20 minutes

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019763-korean-barbecue-style-meatballs.

Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped scallions

2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup finely crushed Ritz crackers (12 crackers)

1 pound ground beef (round or chuck)

Preparation

Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients and use your hands to gently mix.

Shape the meat into 12 golf-ball-size rounds (about 2 inches in diameter), and arrange on a greased rimmed baking sheet.

Bake until golden and cooked through, about 15 minutes. Serve warm.

Tips

Leftover meatballs freeze well and can be reheated in the oven at 375 degrees until warmed through (about 20 minutes).

To make the Ritz crumbs, place the crackers in a resealable plastic bag and lightly crush them with the back of a wooden spoon or measuring cup.

STOVE TOP EASY CHEESY CHICKEN BAKE

This is from My Food and Family, and begins, "Creamy and cheesy comfort food: This is just about the yummiest thing you can look forward to making in just 40 minutes after a hard day."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Makes 6 servings, about 1 1/3 cups each

To view this online, go to https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/recipe/095138/stove-top-easy-cheesy-chicken-bake.

Ingredients

1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix for Chicken

1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces

1 pkg. (14 oz.) frozen broccoli florets, thawed, drained

1 can (10-3/4 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup milk

1-1/2 cups KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Directions

Heat oven to 400ºF.

Prepare stuffing as directed on package.

Combine remaining ingredients; spoon into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Top with stuffing.

Bake 30 min. or until chicken is done and casserole is heated through.

Kitchen Tips

Substitute:

Prepare using fresh broccoli florets.

BAKED RAJMA (PUNJABI-STYLE RED BEANS WITH CREAM

This is from Tejal Rao at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, "Punjabi-style rajma, or red beans, in a thick, spicy tomato gravy is comforting, quick and comes together with what you have in the pantry. This one-pan baked version lets the oven do the work of reducing the sauce. When the dish comes out, scatter with cilantro, if you’ve got it, and some quick-pickled onion. The key is to take your time with the base, letting the onion mixture cook out properly, so the final sauce is mellow and deeply flavored. You can try the same recipe with different beans — use whatever you’ve got, from chickpeas to cannellini. Serve it over rice, ideally, but if you’re in a pinch, a side of hot flour tortillas, or even buttered toast, will make it into a delicious meal."

Yield: 4 servings; Time: 1 hour

This was featured in "The Indisputable King of Bean Dishes", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021035-baked-rajma-punjabi-style-red-beans-with-cream.

Ingredients

1 red onion

4 garlic cloves

1 fresh green chile

1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled

2 tablespoons neutral oil

1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 (28-ounce) can crushed, diced, chopped or whole tomatoes

2 (15-ounce) cans kidney beans, drained

1/2 teaspoon red chile powder

1/4 teaspoon garam masala

1/2 cup heavy cream or 1 cup diced mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves

For the Pickle:

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

Preparation

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Quarter the onion, then thinly slice one portion. Set aside sliced onion. Add the remaining onion to a food processor, along with the garlic, chile and ginger. Purée until fairly smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

In a large, deep ovenproof skillet, heat the oil over medium. Add the cumin seeds and cook until lightly toasted, about 30 seconds. Add the onion mixture and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the excess liquid has evaporated and the mixture is just starting to take on a golden color, 8 to 10 minutes.

While the mixture cooks, purée the canned tomatoes and their juices, if using diced, chopped or whole tomatoes.

Add the beans and chile powder to the onion mixture, and mix well. Use a fork to mash a tablespoon or so of the beans against the side of the skillet to help thicken the sauce.

Add the crushed or puréed tomatoes and garam masala to the beans, and mix well. Drizzle the top with cream or scatter with cheese, then slide into the oven and bake, uncovered, until the sauce has thickened and the top is lightly browned, 30 to 40 minutes.

Prepare the pickle: While the beans are baking, bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Transfer 1/4 cup hot water to a small bowl. Stir in the sugar and salt until dissolved. Add the reserved onion slices to the boiling water in the saucepan, turn off the heat and, after 1 minute, drain the onion. Transfer the softened onion to the small bowl and stir in the vinegar.

When the beans are ready, fish out the pickled onion slices and arrange on top, letting a few drops of the pickling liquid flick over the beans to season them. Garnish with cilantro and serve with hot rice, buttered toast or flour tortillas.

CHILI CARNIVALE

Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings

Source: TBC

Recipe and photo appears courtesy of Cattlemen's Beef Promotion Board.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chili-carnivale.

Ingredients

2 pounds Ground Beef (95% lean)

1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes, undrained

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes with mild green chilies

1 can (14 to 14-1/2 ounces) regular or reduced-sodium beef broth

1 bottle (12 ounces) regular or light beer

1 medium yellow onion, diced

2 medium green, red, yellow or orange bell peppers, diced

1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

1/3 cup chili powder

1 large jalapeno pepper, seeded, finely chopped

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed, drained

Lime wedges and baked tortillas chips (optional)

Toppings:

Sliced cherry tomatoes, sliced green onions, sliced serranos or jalapenos, chopped onion

Directions

Heat stockpot over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Remove drippings.

Add tomatoes, beef broth, beer, onions, bell peppers, tomato paste, chili powder, jalapeno pepper, garlic, cumin and oregano to stockpot, stirring to combine. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in black beans and continue to simmer 15 minutes or until thickened to desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

Season with salt and black pepper, as desired. Garnish with Toppings, as desired. Serve with lime wedges and baked tortilla chips, if desired.

Note: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Ground Beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160F. Color is not a reliable indicator of Ground Beef doneness.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 318; Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Fiber: 7.5 g; Sodium: 955 mg; Cholesterol: 76 mg; Protein: 32 g; Carbohydrates: 28 g

TURKEY SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI PASTA

This is from the Food Network.

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 2 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/turkey-sausage-and-broccoli-pasta-recipe-1957827.

Ingredients

8 ounces rigatoni

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound turkey sausage

Red pepper flakes, to taste

1 onion, chopped

3/4 cups chicken stock

1/2 red pepper, sliced

1 1/2 cups broccoli florets

Directions

Prepare rigatoni according to directions on box. Remove sausage meat from casing, set aside. In hot skillet saute onions. Add pepper and crumbled sausage meat. Stir and cook over medium high heat for 5 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Add chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Add florets and cover to steam. Once broccoli is tender add rigatoni to pan. Stir to coat. Serve.

CAPELLINI WITH TOMATOES AND BASIL

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

Yield: 6 servings; Level: Easy

To view this inline, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/capellini-with-tomatoes-and-basil-recipe-1949902.

Ingredients

Kosher salt

1/2 cup good olive oil, plus extra for the pot

2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)

4 pints small cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes

18 large basil leaves, julienned

2 tablespoons chopped fresh curly parsley

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

3/4 pound dried capellini or angel hair pasta

1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Extra chopped basil and grated Parmesan, for serving

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons of salt and a splash of oil to the pot.

Meanwhile, heat the 1/2 cup of olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan. Add the garlic to the oil and cook over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, thyme, 2 teaspoons salt, the pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to soften but don't break up.

While the tomatoes are cooking, add the capellini to the pot of boiling water and cook for 2 minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water.

Place the pasta in a large serving bowl, add the tomatoes and Parmesan and toss well. Add some of the pasta water if the pasta seems too dry. Serve large bowls of pasta with extra basil sprinkled on top and a big bowl of extra Parmesan on the side.