Where's the Beef?

Here are six beefy recipes to help you through the day, including Hawaiian Burgers and Slow Cooker Lasagna. Enjoy!

COMFORT MEATBALLS

This is from Ree Drummond of The Food Network’s The Pioneer Woman.

Total: 2 hr; Prep: 15 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 1 hr; Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/comfort-meatballs-recipe-2042533

Ingredients

Meatballs:

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

3/4 cup quick oats

1 cup milk

3 tablespoons very finely minced onion

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Plenty of ground black pepper

4 tablespoons canola oil

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Sauce:

1 cup ketchup

4 to 6 tablespoons minced onion

3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Dash of hot sauce, such as Tabasco

Directions

For the meatballs: In bowl, combine the ground beef and oats. Pour in the milk, and then add the onions, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Roll the mixture into tablespoon-size balls and refrigerate them for 30 to 45 minutes to firm.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Dredge the meatballs in the flour, and then brown the meatballs in batches until light brown. As they brown, place them into a rectangular baking dish.

For the sauce: Stir together the ketchup, onions, vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Drizzle the sauce evenly on the meatballs.

Bake until bubbly and hot, about 45 minutes.

SLOW COOKER LASAGNA

This is from Lauren Allen, whose site, Tastes Better From Scratch is one that you really, really should check out. Seriously. I’ll wait…

This yummy recipe makes 5 servings, and can be viewed on Lauren’s site here.

Ingredients

1/2 pound ground beef

1/2 pound Italian sausage (I use hot)

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 large onion, chopped*

1 tsp Italian seasoning

2 Tbsp parsley

2 tsp garlic powder

2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 (6 oz) can tomato paste

1 (29 oz) can tomato sauce

2 Tbsp granulated sugar

1 1/4 cups water

1 (8 oz) package regular lasagna noodles, uncooked

4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1-1/2 cups cottage cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

In a large skillet over medium heat brown the ground beef, Italian sausage and onion. Add salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, and water. Stir and simmer 15-20 minutes. (You could make the sauce in advance!)

Spread a fourth of the meat sauce into the bottom of your slow cooker. Arrange a third of the noodles over the sauce (break the noodles to fit, if necessary). Combine the mozzarella, cottage cheese and parmesan cheese; spoon a third of the mixture over noodles. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining meat sauce and sprinkle with extra mozzarella cheese, if desired.

Cover and cook on low for about 4-5 hours or until noodles are tender.

Recipe Notes

*You could substitute 1-2 Tbsp dried minced onion

BLACK BEAN SOUP

This is from Rian Handler on Delish. The recipe begins, “A warm and spicy black bean soup.”

Total Time: 35 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 servings

To view the recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium red onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp. minced jalapeños

1 tbsp. tomato paste

kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. cumin

3 (15-oz.) cans black beans, with liquid

1 qt. low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock

1 bay leaf

sour cream, for garnish

Sliced avocado, for garnish

Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Directions

In a large pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add jalapeños and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomato paste, stir to coat vegetables, and cook about a minute more. Season with salt, pepper, chili powder, and cumin and stir to coat.

Add black beans with their liquid and chicken broth. Stir soup, add bay leaf and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce to a simmer and let simmer until slightly reduced, about 15 minutes. Remove bay leaf.

Using an immersion blender or food processor, blend the soup to desired consistency.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream, sliced avocado, and cilantro.

CLASSIC BEEF CHILI WITH BEANS

This comes from Danny Seo, also in a recent TODAY Show Recipes email. This begins, “Green lifestyle guru Danny Seo uses grass-fed beef in his delicious classic chili. Since there are no strict standards for grass fed beef in the United States, the next best thing is to look for a mark on the package from a third party operation. The best mark is from the American Grassfed Association, which most sustainability experts agree has the best definition, procedures and certification methods for ensuring you're getting real grass fed products.” Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and medium diced

1 pound ground grass-fed beef

2 tablespoons chile powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 cups beef broth

15 ounces canned diced fire-roasted tomatoes

16 ounces jarred store-bought tomato salsa

15 ounces canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed

15 ounce canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 scallions, white and green parts, chopped

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

Tortilla chips, for serving

Preparation

In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and red pepper. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent.

Add the ground beef. Using a wooden spoon, break up the beef, cover the pot, and cook for 5 minutes, until the beef is browned.

Stir in the chile powder, cumin, coriander, salt and cayenne. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the beef broth, tomatoes and salsa. Bring to a simmer, then add the kidney and pinto beans. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Serve the chili garnished with the cheese, scallions, and cilantro. Accompany with tortilla chips.

HAWAIIAN BURGERS

Servings: 4

Source: The Diabetic Newsletter

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/25.shtml

Ingredients

1 pound extra-lean ground beef

4 slices fresh pineapple, or canned, unsweetened, water packed variety

1 clove garlic, minced

2 scallions, minced

1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

4 slices- 1 ounce each french bread

Directions

Mix the beef, garlic, scallions, ginger, and soy sauce together and form in 4 patties of equal size about 3/4" thick.

Grill or broil 4" from souce of heat, for 7 minutes for medium-rare turning once. Grill longer for well done burgers.

While burgers are grilling, brush 4 slices of fresh or canned water-packed unsweetened pineapple with 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce.

Grill until pineapple is heated through and seared with grill marks, about 6 minutes (2 minutes for canned pineapple).

Serve each patty open-face on a 1 oz toasted slice of French bread, topped with grilled slice, and garnished with 1 tablespoon minced green bell pepper.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 282; Protein: 20 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 401 mg; Carbohydrates: 23 g

HONOLULU BOB'S BURGERS

This comes from Country Bob's. Yield: 4 servings.

2 pounds ground beef

Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce

4 slices Cheddar Cheese

4 well-drained canned pineapple slices

Divide ground beef into 4 portions & shape each into a patty. Grill over hot coals until cooked on one side. Turn patties over. Spread with Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce & top with pineapple slices. Grill for several min-utes or until cooked through. Add cheese slices. Grill until cheese melts. Top with additional Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce & serve as desired.

Double-Post Monday

Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Here are six recipes to get you through the day, including Slow-Cooker Cheesy Potato Soup and Chicken Pot Pie Turnovers. Enjoy!

CROCKPOT APPLE BUTTER

I love homemade apple butter, and this is probably one of the easiest recipes I've found. It comes from Erin Huffstetler, About.com's Frugal Living expert. Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 720 minutes; Total Time: 750 minutes; Yield: Varies

To view this online, click here.

Erin writes, “Pull out your crock pot, and whip up a delicious batch of apple butter. Here's how:”

Ingredients

6 lbs apples

1-1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Preparation

Peel, core and slice apples.

Put the apples, sugar and spices in a crock pot (4 quarts or larger), cover and cook on high for one hour.

Remove the lid, and cook on low (stirring occasionally), until the apple butter reaches a spreadable consistency and is dark brown in color.

Transfer to hot, sterilized jars, taking care not to fill past the headspace line.

To Can: Process the jars for 10 minutes in a water bath canner.

Refrigerate any jars that fail to seal properly.

To Freeze: Allow the jars to cool. Then, place in the freezer. Use within a year, for the best quality.

Tips:

Use a variety of apples for the best flavor

Want to speed up the process? Turn your crock pot on high, and stir more frequently

Have a super-big crock pot? This recipe doubles and triples beautifully

Prefer to make your apple butter on the stove? No problem. Just set your pot to a low simmer. No recipe modifications are required

Warning: Processing times vary by altitude. Check with your local extension office for times specific to your area.

APPLE CRISP WITH PUMPKIN SPICE MORSELS

This easy, yummy recipe comes from Very Best Baking. Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cooking Time: 20 minutes; Skill Level: Easy; Makes 16 servings, 1/2 cup each

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 cans (21 oz. each) apple pie filling

1 cup (6 oz.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Pumpkin Spice Morsels, divided

1 package (17.5 oz.) oatmeal cookie mix

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut into pieces

Whipped topping (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375° F.

Spread pie filling into ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle 1/4 cup morsels over filling. Place cookie mix into large bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives until mixture is crumbly. Stir in remaining 3/4 cup morsels. Sprinkle mixture over filling.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly around edges and topping is lightly browned. Serve warm. Top with whipped topping, if desired.

SLOW-COOKER CHEESY POTATO SOUP

This soup recipe comes from Tablespoon.com, and starts off, “A hot, hearty soup is waiting for you when you get home if you rely on your slow cooker!” Prep Time: 15 min; Total Time: 6 hr 45 min; Servings: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Reynolds™ Slow Cooker Liners

1 bag (32 oz) frozen southern-style diced hash brown potatoes, thawed

1/2 cup frozen chopped onion (from 12-oz bag), thawed

1 medium stalk celery, diced (1/2 cup)

1 carton (32-oz) Progresso™ chicken broth

1 cup water

3 tablespoons Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour

1 cup milk

1 bag (8 oz) shredded American-Cheddar cheese blend (2 cups)

1/4 cup real bacon pieces (from 2.8-oz package)

4 medium green onions, sliced (1/4 cup)

Directions

Place Reynolds™ Slow Cooker Liners inside a 5- to 6 1/2 -qt slow cooker bowl. Make sure that liner fits snugly against the bottom and sides of bowl and pull the top of the liner over rim of bowl.

In lined slow cooker, mix potatoes, onion, celery, broth and water.

Cover; cook on Low heat setting 6 to 8 hours.

In small bowl, mix flour into milk; stir into potato mixture. Increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook 20 to 30 minutes or until mixture thickens. Stir in cheese until melted. Garnish individual servings with bacon and green onions. Sprinkle with pepper if desired.

CHICKEN POT PIE TURNOVERS

This yummy recipe comes from Melissa d'Arabian, The Food Network's Ten Dollar Dinners. Total Time: 1 hr 25 min; Prep: 20 min; Inactive: 10 min; Cook: 55 min; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Easy

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/chicken-pot-pie-turnovers-recipe.print.html?oc=linkback

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 onion, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons dried thyme

1 tablespoon flour, plus more for dusting

1/2 cup white wine

1 cup chicken stock

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 cup frozen peas

1 1/2 cups cubed or shredded cooked chicken

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 egg

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. Cook the onions, carrots, and celery with salt and pepper, to taste, until the carrots soften, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and cook for an additional minute, stirring frequently. Add the flour and cook off the raw flavor, about 1 minute more. Turn up the heat to medium-high and deglaze the pan with the wine. Whisk in the stock and Dijon mustard. Add the peas and chicken and cook on a very low simmer until the sauce thickens up into a gravy, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

On a lightly floured surface, unfold the pastry dough and cut into 4 even squares (cut once horizontally and once vertically). Gently roll out each square, increasing the size of the square by about 20 percent. Place the squares on a baking sheet and spoon the chicken mixture in the center. Fold the squares diagonally to create triangles. Pinch the edges together to create turnovers (use a little water if needed to bind). Press the edges with a fork to create a decorative border. Whisk the egg with a splash of water and brush the turnovers with the egg wash. Cut a small slit in the top to allow the steam to escape during baking. Bake the turnovers until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let cool at least 10 minutes before serving as the insides will be very hot.

CLASSIC BEEF CHILI WITH BEANS

This comes from Danny Seo, also in a recent TODAY Show Recipes email. This begins, “Green lifestyle guru Danny Seo uses grass-fed beef in his delicious classic chili. Since there are no strict standards for grass fed beef in the United States, the next best thing is to look for a mark on the package from a third party operation. The best mark is from the American Grassfed Association, which most sustainability experts agree has the best definition, procedures and certification methods for ensuring you're getting real grass fed products.” Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and medium diced

1 pound ground grass-fed beef

2 tablespoons chile powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 cups beef broth

15 ounces canned diced fire-roasted tomatoes

16 ounces jarred store-bought tomato salsa

15 ounces canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed

15 ounce canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 scallions, white and green parts, chopped

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

Tortilla chips, for serving

Preparation

In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and red pepper. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent.

Add the ground beef. Using a wooden spoon, break up the beef, cover the pot, and cook for 5 minutes, until the beef is browned.

Stir in the chile powder, cumin, coriander, salt and cayenne. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the beef broth, tomatoes and salsa. Bring to a simmer, then add the kidney and pinto beans. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Serve the chili garnished with the cheese, scallions, and cilantro. Accompany with tortilla chips.

DEVIL’S FOOD MARSHMALLOW CUPCAKES

This comes from Nichelle Stephens, About.com’s Cupcakes expert. Nichelle wrote, “Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, and Cocoa Cremes are the chocolate snack cakes that have been the dessert for kids and adults lunches for decades. However, there's a better way to get a chocolate fix by baking the cakes from scratch. The essential components are chocolate cupcake, marshmallow filling and chocolate ganache frosting.

“Tip: An easy way to make chocolate ganache is to use chocolate candy melts. I have used Chocoley's Bada Bing dark chocolate candy melts.

“This chocolate cupcake recipe is from the cookbook, Home Baked Comfort by Kim Laidlaw.

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 18 cupcakes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Devil’s Food Cupcakes

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup natural cocoa powder

2/3 cup boiling water

1 cup buttermilk

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp kosher salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

3 large eggs

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Cream Filling

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

3 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature

1 tbsp heavy cream

1/2 cup of marshmallow fluff

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Chocolate Ganache

1 cup of dark chocolate candy melts

6 tbsp of heavy cream

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Place one 12 cupcake cavity and one 6 cavity pan with cupcake liners. In a small bowl, whisk the cocoa powder into the boiling water. Let cool to lukewarm, then whisk in the buttermilk. In a small bowl, pour the cocoa powder into the boiling water and whisk. Let cool and set aside. Using another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.

In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, use the attachment to butter and sugars together on medium until well combined.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Add the vanilla along with the final egg. Reduce speed to low to add the dry ingredients ins 3 additions alternately with the cocoa buttermilk mixture in 2 additions. Beat until just combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Use a scoop to divide the batter evenly into 18 wells of the baking pans.

Bake until the cupcakes are puffed and slightly springy to the touch and toothpick inserted into one of the cupcakes comes out clean which will be about 20 minutes. Let cool in pans for about 5 minutes. Then remove from pans and let cool completely on a wire rack.

To make the filling, in the mixing bowl, sift the sugar over the butter. Use the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the marshmallow fluff, vanilla and cream. Beat until light and fluffy.

Using a paring knife or an apple corer, create a hollow about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch deep in the center of each cupcake. Fill each hollow with a spoonful of the filling.

To make the ganache, in a heatproof bowl set over barely simmering water in a saucepan. Melt the butter and chocolate with the corn syrup and cream, stirring constantly with a whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly.

Spread the filled cupcakes with the ganache. The filled and frosted cupcakes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Chili - Double Post Monday

Surprise! It's Double-Post Monday!

I know I've started having double posts on Thursday, but I keep running across really fantastic recipes to send out that I may have to have an occasional double post on other days...that, or start posting regularly on Saturdays. I'm not sure how this will play out, but we'll see what happens.

In the meantime, here are six yummy chili recipes to help you through the day. I've always had a thing for chili...Check these recipes out, and see how you like them! Enjoy!

TURKEY CHILI

This comes from Pierre Franey in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “You might not think of chili as an easy weeknight dish, but this turkey version from Pierre Franey will change your mind. It's fabulous, it's healthy and it can be ready in about a half hour. A combination of dark and white meat really adds depth and richness of flavor, so try to find a mix, but all white meat (or a mixture of ground beef and turkey) will yield a stellar batch too.” Yield: 6 servings or more; Time: 35 minutes.

This was featured in “60 Minute Gourmet” and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 pounds turkey meat, white and dark combined

2 cups coarsely chopped onions

2 tablespoons chopped garlic

1 large sweet red pepper, cored, deveined and coarsely chopped

1 cup chopped celery

1 jalapeno pepper, cored, deveined and finely chopped

1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped, or 1 tablespoon, dried

2 bay leaves

3 tablespoons chili powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

3 cups canned diced tomatoes

2 cups chicken broth, fresh or canned

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 15-ounce cans of red kidney beans, drained

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup sour cream (optional)

Sliced lime for garnish (optional)

Preparation

Heat the oil over high heat in a large heavy pot and add the turkey meat. Cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes, chopping down and stirring with the side of a heavy kitchen spoon to break up any lumps.

Add the onions, garlic, sweet pepper, celery, jalapeno pepper, oregano, bay leaves, chili powder and cumin. Stir to blend well. Cook for 5 minutes.

Add the tomatoes, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.

Add the drained beans and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes longer. Serve in bowls with cheddar cheese, and sour cream and lime wedges, if desired.

TEXAS CHILI

This is one of my dad’s recipes. Whenever Dad fixed this, he’d have to make 2 batches of chili: this for those brave enough to try it, another for everyone else, somewhat cooler.

This can be found in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking.

3 balls ground beef suet

4 slices back, cut

2 lbs. stew beef, cut small

2 lbs. chopped chuck

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 T paprika

1 tsp. oregano

3/4 tsp. cumin

1 2/3 T salt

3/4 tsp. black pepper

1/4 tsp. cayenne

6 – 99 T chili powder

2 – 4 walnut-size pieces suet

2 Bermuda onions

1 can beef broth

3 cans measured water

6 C tomatoes & juice

1 1/2 lbs. drained kidney beans

In heavy pot place 3 balls suet with bacon. Cook out fat. Add & brown beef & chopped chuck. After browning, add garlic. Cook lightly. Add remainder of spices. In another pot, heat 2-4 pieces of suet. Add onions. Cook until almost burned. Add to meat pot. Deglaze pot with meat broth. Add water, tomatoes & juice. Mash tomatoes into chili. Cover & simmer slowly 1 1/2 – 2 hours. Uncover. Cook down for about 1/2 hour, adding kidney beans. Serves 6-8.

COMFORTING CROCK POT CHILI

This one begins, “This classic and simple crock pot chili is sure to please your taste buds!”

http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetic-recipes/general/468-comforting-crock-pot-chili

Ingredients

1 pound ground turkey breast or very lean ground beef

1 large onion — finely chopped

5 oz pinto beans — rinsed and drained

8 1/2 oz corn — rinsed and drained

15 oz tomato sauce

14 1/2 oz diced tomatoes

10 oz diced tomato and green chilies

1 tbs. chili powder

1 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. salt

Directions

In nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook ground meat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Transfer meat to Crock Pot. Add remaining ingredients and stir until combined. Cook on "high" for 4 hours; remove lid and stir quickly halfway through.

Nutritional Facts: Servings 8; Serving size 1 cup; Per serving: Calories 214; Carbohydrate 24 g; Protein 16 g; Fat 6 g; Saturated Fat 2 g; Sodium 901 mg; Fiber 5

TEXAS-STYLE CHILI

This comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, “Texas-style chili is a bean-free stew that’s usually made with chunks of slow-cooked beef. Here, eggplant stands in for meat in the traditional thick, spicy sauce. Serve with chopped green onions, cilantro, jalapeño, tomato, shredded cheese, sour cream, and corn chips.” Serves 6.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients:

3 mulato or pasilla dried chiles

2 costeno dried chiles

1 cascabel dried chile

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks

1 medium onion, cut into chunks

4 cloves garlic, peeled

1 15-oz. can whole tomatoes

1 1/2 Tbs. chili powder

2 tsp. light brown sugar or 1 tsp. molasses, optional

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. dried oregano

4 medium Japanese eggplant, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks

2 Tbs. masa harina

Instructions:

Place dried chiles in medium bowl, and cover with 1 1/2 cups boiling water. Let stand 20 minutes, or until soft, pushing chiles under water occasionally. Let liquid cool until chiles are easy to handle.

Remove tough stems and seeds from rehydrated chiles, using soaking liquid to rinse away seeds. Coarsely chop chiles, and strain liquid to remove seeds. Set aside.

Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, onion, and garlic, and sear 1 to 2 minutes, or until beginning to brown. Add chiles with soaking liquid, tomatoes with juice, chili powder, brown sugar (if using), cumin, oregano, and 4 cups water. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cover, and simmer 30 minutes.

Remove pot from heat, and blend chiles and vegetables with immersion blender until smooth. Stir in eggplant chunks, then cover pot, and simmer 30 minutes over medium heat, or until eggplant is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in masa harina, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Nutrition Information: Calories: 148; Protein: 4 g; Total Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 21 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 242 mg; Fiber: 7 g; Sugar: 10 g

TOMATILLO TURKEY CHILI

Makes 6 servings.

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=1314

View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1314.shtml

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. canola oil

1 cup chopped onion

2 medium green bell peppers, seeded and chopped

1 large red, orange or yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 lb. lean ground turkey meat

4 cloves garlic, minced

1-2 fresh Fresno or jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely sliced

1 Tbsp. coriander

1 Tbsp. oregano

1 tsp. chili powder, or to taste

1 tsp. cumin

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 cups diced tomatillos or 2 (11 oz.) cans

1 cup frozen yellow corn

1 (15 oz.) can no salt added pinto beans, rinsed and drained

2 cups low-fat, reduced-sodium chicken broth

1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro

1/3 cup chopped green onions

Lime wedges for garnish

1/2 cup non-fat, plain, Greek yogurt, optional

Directions

Quick cooking directions:

In large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell peppers and saute until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add turkey and saute until meat begins to brown, about 5 minutes.

Stir in garlic, Fresno or jalapeno peppers, coriander, oregano, chili powder and cumin. Salt and pepper to taste. Saute 2 minutes, stirring often.

Add tomatillos, corn, beans and broth. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for a minimum of 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Divide chili among six serving bowls. Garnish with cilantro, green onions, lime wedges and yogurt, optional.

Slow cooking directions:

In medium skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Saute onion and turkey until turkey almost cooked through, but still slightly pink, about 5 minutes.

In slow cooker, add turkey-onion mixture and remaining ingredients except cilantro, green onions, lime and yogurt. Stir until combined. Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours, stirring occasionally.

Divide chili among six serving bowls. Garnish with cilantro, green onions, lime wedges and yogurt, optional.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 256; Protein: 19 g; Fat: 9 g; Sodium: 75 mg; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Dietary Fiber: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 29 g

CLASSIC BEEF CHILI WITH BEANS

This comes from Danny Seo, also in a recent TODAY Show Recipes email. This begins, “Green lifestyle guru Danny Seo uses grass-fed beef in his delicious classic chili. Since there are no strict standards for grass fed beef in the United States, the next best thing is to look for a mark on the package from a third party operation. The best mark is from the American Grassfed Association, which most sustainability experts agree has the best definition, procedures and certification methods for ensuring you're getting real grass fed products.” Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and medium diced

1 pound ground grass-fed beef

2 tablespoons chile powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 cups beef broth

15 ounces canned diced fire-roasted tomatoes

16 ounces jarred store-bought tomato salsa

15 ounces canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed

15 ounce canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 scallions, white and green parts, chopped

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

Tortilla chips, for serving

Preparation

In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and red pepper. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent.

Add the ground beef. Using a wooden spoon, break up the beef, cover the pot, and cook for 5 minutes, until the beef is browned.

Stir in the chile powder, cumin, coriander, salt and cayenne. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the beef broth, tomatoes and salsa. Bring to a simmer, then add the kidney and pinto beans. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Serve the chili garnished with the cheese, scallions, and cilantro. Accompany with tortilla chips.

Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday, time for the weekend. I don't know about you, but weekends never seem long enough - except when they last too long. (This is sure to make sense with too many of us!)

No matter. Here are today's recipes to help you through the weekend. Hope your weekend it good. Enjoy!

APPLE CINNAMON EMPANADAS

It seems that there are quite a few good websites for finding delicious, yet simple recipes. One of the ones I’ve found is FamilyTime. This recipe begins, “Serve these warm with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce for a great finale to a Mexican meal. Paired with steaming mugs of hot chocolate, these make a wonderful breakfast as well!” Serves: 36 servings; Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 packages(12 ounces each) STOUFFER'S® Frozen Harvest apples, cooked according to pkg. directions, chilled

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 (36 ct.) package frozen roll dough, defrosted according to pkg. directions

1/4 cup milk

1/3 cup butter, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 375° F. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets.

Combine cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar and vanilla extract in medium bowl; mix until smooth. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon in small bowl.

Place dough for 1 roll on lightly floured surface; roll into 4-inch circle. Spoon about 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture and 1 tablespoon Harvest Apples onto lower half; brush edges with milk. Fold dough in half; crimp edges with fork. Repeat with remaining dough.

Brush each empanada with butter; sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Place on prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown; serve warm.

LOADED NACHOS

This is from Sam Sifton, in The New York Times cooking e-newspaper. Sam wrote, “Nachos are among the most ubiquitous of America’s pastime foods. At ballgames, carnivals or bowling alleys you can expect a pile of limp tortilla chips, drowned in warm yellow cheese product. But nachos should, and can, be better than this.

“Try them showered in good shredded cheese and accompanied by a fragrant meat sauce, the fire of jalapeños, the chill and silkiness of sour cream, the tart excellence of a good tomato, with shredded lettuce and thin-sliced radishes. Here is avocado; there, the awesome funk of chopped cilantro.

“Want some bacon on there as well, or a slash of hot sauce? Go to! Some will add beans. Others black olives, chopped raw onion. Please do.

“But take care to layer well. Layering is the key to loaded nacho perfection.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 30 minutes.

This was featured in “Super Bowl 50 Playbook Calls for Loaded Nachos” and can be found online here.

Ingredients

1/4 pound slab or thick-cut bacon, diced

1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced

1 1/2 pounds ground beef, like chuck or sirloin

3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

2 tablespoons ancho chile powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons smoked paprika, hot or mild

1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

1 teaspoon light brown sugar

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 to 2/3 cup chicken stock, homemade or low-sodium, or water

1 12- to-16-ounce bag corn tortilla chips

1/2 head iceberg or romaine lettuce, shredded

1/2 cup pickled jalapeños

2 avocados, pitted and sliced

2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese

3 radishes, cleaned and thinly sliced

2 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced into quarters

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves

2 limes, cut into eighths, for garnish

Hot sauce, if desired

Preparation

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a large sauté pan with high sides over medium-high heat and add the bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the pieces are crisp, about 5 to 7 minutes, then remove the bacon and set aside.

Add the onions to the bacon fat and sauté, stirring occasionally, until they have softened and started to go brown around the edges, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and garlic and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the chile powder, cumin, salt, paprika, black pepper, sugar, cornstarch and red pepper flakes and stir to combine and toast the spices. Add enough chicken stock or water to loosen the mixture, and allow it to simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 to 6 minutes. (Add a little more stock or water if mixture is too thick.)

Assemble the nachos on a half sheet pan: Put a layer of tortilla chips on the pan and cover with about 1/3 of the meat sauce, then add about 1/3 of the lettuce, 1/3 of the jalapeños, some avocado slices and a handful of the Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses. Top with more tortilla chips, more meat sauce, more lettuce, jalapeños, avocado and cheese, then make a final layer of chips, meat, bacon, jalapeños, avocado and cheese. Top with crumbled Cotija cheese and slide the sheet pan into the oven to bake until the cheeses have melted through, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Top cooked nachos with the sliced radishes and tomatoes, and dot the tray with teaspoons of sour cream. Scatter the cilantro over the top and serve, accompanied by limes and hot sauce.

ALL-PURPOSE BISCUITS

This also comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Biscuits are what take us into the kitchen today to cook: fat, flaky mounds of quick bread, golden brown, with a significant crumb. Composed of flour, baking powder, fat and a liquid, then baked in a hot oven, they are an excellent sop for sorghum syrup, molasses or honey. They are marvelous layered with country ham or smothered in white sausage gravy, with eggs, with grits. Biscuits are easy to make.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour.

This was featured in “A Quest for New York’s Perfect Biscuit”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 scant tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

5 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, preferably European style

1 cup whole milk

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425. Sift flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl. Transfer to a food processor. Cut butter into pats and add to flour, then pulse 5 or 6 times until the mixture resembles rough crumbs. (Alternatively, cut butter into flour in the mixing bowl using a fork or a pastry cutter.) Return dough to bowl, add milk and stir with a fork until it forms a rough ball.

Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and pat it down into a rough rectangle, about an inch thick. Fold it over and gently pat it down again. Repeat. Cover the dough loosely with a kitchen towel and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.

Gently pat out the dough some more, so that the rectangle is roughly 10 inches by 6 inches. Cut dough into biscuits using a floured glass or biscuit cutter. Do not twist cutter when cutting; this crimps the edges of the biscuit and impedes its rise.

Place biscuits on a cookie sheet and bake until golden brown, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

SIRI’S ONE-POT MEXICAN PASTA

This comes from Siri Daly in a recent TODAY Show Recipes email. It begins, “Give the dish some color and style it your way with a variety of toppings like chopped avocado, thinly sliced scallions and spicy jalapeños.” Makes 6-8 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound ground turkey

1/2 package store-bought taco seasoning

12 ounces frozen squash, thawed

8 ounces pasta

2 cups chicken stock

8 ounces store-bought jarred taco sauce

1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, plus more for serving

Chopped avocado, scallions and jalapeños, for serving (optional)

Preparation

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

Add the ground turkey and cook until no longer pink.

Add the taco seasoning and squash, and cook for a few more minutes, until everything is combined.

Add the pasta, chicken stock and taco sauce and bring to a boil.

Stir everything up, cover the pot, lower to a simmer and cook for another 10 minutes.

Uncover, add the cheese, and simmer until the cheese has melted and sauce has thickened. Add a little more cheese on the top before serving, plus your favorite garnishes like chopped avocado, scallions and jalapeños.

CLASSIC BEEF CHILI WITH BEANS

This comes from Danny Seo, also in a recent TODAY Show Recipes email. This begins, “Green lifestyle guru Danny Seo uses grass-fed beef in his delicious classic chili. Since there are no strict standards for grass fed beef in the United States, the next best thing is to look for a mark on the package from a third party operation. The best mark is from the American Grassfed Association, which most sustainability experts agree has the best definition, procedures and certification methods for ensuring you're getting real grass fed products.” Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and medium diced

1 pound ground grass-fed beef

2 tablespoons chile powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 cups beef broth

15 ounces canned diced fire-roasted tomatoes

16 ounces jarred store-bought tomato salsa

15 ounces canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed

15 ounce canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 scallions, white and green parts, chopped

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

Tortilla chips, for serving

Preparation

In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and red pepper. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent.

Add the ground beef. Using a wooden spoon, break up the beef, cover the pot, and cook for 5 minutes, until the beef is browned.

Stir in the chile powder, cumin, coriander, salt and cayenne. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the beef broth, tomatoes and salsa. Bring to a simmer, then add the kidney and pinto beans. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Serve the chili garnished with the cheese, scallions, and cilantro. Accompany with tortilla chips.

DEVIL’S FOOD MARSHMALLOW CUPCAKES

This comes from Nichelle Stephens, About.com’s Cupcakes expert. Nichelle wrote, “Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, and Cocoa Cremes are the chocolate snack cakes that have been the dessert for kids and adults lunches for decades. However, there's a better way to get a chocolate fix by baking the cakes from scratch. The essential components are chocolate cupcake, marshmallow filling and chocolate ganache frosting.

“Tip: An easy way to make chocolate ganache is to use chocolate candy melts. I have used Chocoley's Bada Bing dark chocolate candy melts.

“This chocolate cupcake recipe is from the cookbook, Home Baked Comfort by Kim Laidlaw.

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 18 cupcakes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Devil’s Food Cupcakes

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup natural cocoa powder

2/3 cup boiling water

1 cup buttermilk

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp kosher salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

3 large eggs

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Cream Filling

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

3 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature

1 tbsp heavy cream

1/2 cup of marshmallow fluff

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Chocolate Ganache

1 cup of dark chocolate candy melts

6 tbsp of heavy cream

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Place one 12 cupcake cavity and one 6 cavity pan with cupcake liners. In a small bowl, whisk the cocoa powder into the boiling water. Let cool to lukewarm, then whisk in the buttermilk. In a small bowl, pour the cocoa powder into the boiling water and whisk. Let cool and set aside. Using another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.

In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, use the attachment to butter and sugars together on medium until well combined.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Add the vanilla along with the final egg. Reduce speed to low to add the dry ingredients ins 3 additions alternately with the cocoa buttermilk mixture in 2 additions. Beat until just combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Use a scoop to divide the batter evenly into 18 wells of the baking pans.

Bake until the cupcakes are puffed and slightly springy to the touch and toothpick inserted into one of the cupcakes comes out clean which will be about 20 minutes. Let cool in pans for about 5 minutes. Then remove from pans and let cool completely on a wire rack.

To make the filling, in the mixing bowl, sift the sugar over the butter. Use the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the marshmallow fluff, vanilla and cream. Beat until light and fluffy.

Using a paring knife or an apple corer, create a hollow about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch deep in the center of each cupcake. Fill each hollow with a spoonful of the filling.

To make the ganache, in a heatproof bowl set over barely simmering water in a saucepan. Melt the butter and chocolate with the corn syrup and cream, stirring constantly with a whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly.

Spread the filled cupcakes with the ganache. The filled and frosted cupcakes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Wednesday Recipes

Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the day. Enjoy!

Note: Please check out my Kickstarter campaign, which is in its final week. It's an all-or-nothing deal - meaning if the campaign doesn't reach its goal, none of the money is sent along. This is to help fund a documentary on homelessness, following 2 - 3 people as they struggle to get off the street. Backing starts at $10.

APPLE CINNAMON EMPANADAS

It seems that there are quite a few good websites for finding delicious, yet simple recipes. One of the ones I’ve found is FamilyTime. This recipe begins, “Serve these warm with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce for a great finale to a Mexican meal. Paired with steaming mugs of hot chocolate, these make a wonderful breakfast as well!” Serves: 36 servings; Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 packages(12 ounces each) STOUFFER'S® Frozen Harvest apples, cooked according to pkg. directions, chilled

1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 (36 ct.) package frozen roll dough, defrosted according to pkg. directions

1/4 cup milk

1/3 cup butter, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 375° F. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets.

Combine cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar and vanilla extract in medium bowl; mix until smooth. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon in small bowl.

Place dough for 1 roll on lightly floured surface; roll into 4-inch circle. Spoon about 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture and 1 tablespoon Harvest Apples onto lower half; brush edges with milk. Fold dough in half; crimp edges with fork. Repeat with remaining dough.

Brush each empanada with butter; sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Place on prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown; serve warm.

LOADED NACHOS

This is from Sam Sifton, in The New York Times cooking e-newspaper. Sam wrote, “Nachos are among the most ubiquitous of America’s pastime foods. At ballgames, carnivals or bowling alleys you can expect a pile of limp tortilla chips, drowned in warm yellow cheese product. But nachos should, and can, be better than this.

“Try them showered in good shredded cheese and accompanied by a fragrant meat sauce, the fire of jalapeños, the chill and silkiness of sour cream, the tart excellence of a good tomato, with shredded lettuce and thin-sliced radishes. Here is avocado; there, the awesome funk of chopped cilantro.

“Want some bacon on there as well, or a slash of hot sauce? Go to! Some will add beans. Others black olives, chopped raw onion. Please do.

“But take care to layer well. Layering is the key to loaded nacho perfection.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 30 minutes.

This was featured in “Super Bowl 50 Playbook Calls for Loaded Nachos” and can be found online here.

Ingredients

1/4 pound slab or thick-cut bacon, diced

1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced

1 1/2 pounds ground beef, like chuck or sirloin

3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

2 tablespoons ancho chile powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons smoked paprika, hot or mild

1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper

1 teaspoon light brown sugar

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 to 2/3 cup chicken stock, homemade or low-sodium, or water

1 12- to-16-ounce bag corn tortilla chips

1/2 head iceberg or romaine lettuce, shredded

1/2 cup pickled jalapeños

2 avocados, pitted and sliced

2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup crumbled Cotija cheese

3 radishes, cleaned and thinly sliced

2 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced into quarters

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves

2 limes, cut into eighths, for garnish

Hot sauce, if desired

Preparation

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put a large sauté pan with high sides over medium-high heat and add the bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the pieces are crisp, about 5 to 7 minutes, then remove the bacon and set aside.

Add the onions to the bacon fat and sauté, stirring occasionally, until they have softened and started to go brown around the edges, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and garlic and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the chile powder, cumin, salt, paprika, black pepper, sugar, cornstarch and red pepper flakes and stir to combine and toast the spices. Add enough chicken stock or water to loosen the mixture, and allow it to simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 to 6 minutes. (Add a little more stock or water if mixture is too thick.)

Assemble the nachos on a half sheet pan: Put a layer of tortilla chips on the pan and cover with about 1/3 of the meat sauce, then add about 1/3 of the lettuce, 1/3 of the jalapeños, some avocado slices and a handful of the Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses. Top with more tortilla chips, more meat sauce, more lettuce, jalapeños, avocado and cheese, then make a final layer of chips, meat, bacon, jalapeños, avocado and cheese. Top with crumbled Cotija cheese and slide the sheet pan into the oven to bake until the cheeses have melted through, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Top cooked nachos with the sliced radishes and tomatoes, and dot the tray with teaspoons of sour cream. Scatter the cilantro over the top and serve, accompanied by limes and hot sauce.

ALL-PURPOSE BISCUITS

This also comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Biscuits are what take us into the kitchen today to cook: fat, flaky mounds of quick bread, golden brown, with a significant crumb. Composed of flour, baking powder, fat and a liquid, then baked in a hot oven, they are an excellent sop for sorghum syrup, molasses or honey. They are marvelous layered with country ham or smothered in white sausage gravy, with eggs, with grits. Biscuits are easy to make.” Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 1 hour.

This was featured in “A Quest for New York’s Perfect Biscuit”, and can be viewed online by clicking here.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 scant tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

5 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, preferably European style

1 cup whole milk

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425. Sift flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl. Transfer to a food processor. Cut butter into pats and add to flour, then pulse 5 or 6 times until the mixture resembles rough crumbs. (Alternatively, cut butter into flour in the mixing bowl using a fork or a pastry cutter.) Return dough to bowl, add milk and stir with a fork until it forms a rough ball.

Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and pat it down into a rough rectangle, about an inch thick. Fold it over and gently pat it down again. Repeat. Cover the dough loosely with a kitchen towel and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.

Gently pat out the dough some more, so that the rectangle is roughly 10 inches by 6 inches. Cut dough into biscuits using a floured glass or biscuit cutter. Do not twist cutter when cutting; this crimps the edges of the biscuit and impedes its rise.

Place biscuits on a cookie sheet and bake until golden brown, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

SIRI’S ONE-POT MEXICAN PASTA

This comes from Siri Daly in a recent TODAY Show Recipes email. It begins, “Give the dish some color and style it your way with a variety of toppings like chopped avocado, thinly sliced scallions and spicy jalapeños.” Makes 6-8 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound ground turkey

1/2 package store-bought taco seasoning

12 ounces frozen squash, thawed

8 ounces pasta

2 cups chicken stock

8 ounces store-bought jarred taco sauce

1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, plus more for serving

Chopped avocado, scallions and jalapeños, for serving (optional)

Preparation

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

Add the ground turkey and cook until no longer pink.

Add the taco seasoning and squash, and cook for a few more minutes, until everything is combined.

Add the pasta, chicken stock and taco sauce and bring to a boil.

Stir everything up, cover the pot, lower to a simmer and cook for another 10 minutes.

Uncover, add the cheese, and simmer until the cheese has melted and sauce has thickened. Add a little more cheese on the top before serving, plus your favorite garnishes like chopped avocado, scallions and jalapeños.

CLASSIC BEEF CHILI WITH BEANS

This comes from Danny Seo, also in a recent TODAY Show Recipes email. This begins, “Green lifestyle guru Danny Seo uses grass-fed beef in his delicious classic chili. Since there are no strict standards for grass fed beef in the United States, the next best thing is to look for a mark on the package from a third party operation. The best mark is from the American Grassfed Association, which most sustainability experts agree has the best definition, procedures and certification methods for ensuring you're getting real grass fed products.” Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Servings: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and medium diced

1 pound ground grass-fed beef

2 tablespoons chile powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 cups beef broth

15 ounces canned diced fire-roasted tomatoes

16 ounces jarred store-bought tomato salsa

15 ounces canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed

15 ounce canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 scallions, white and green parts, chopped

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

Tortilla chips, for serving

Preparation

In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and red pepper. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent.

Add the ground beef. Using a wooden spoon, break up the beef, cover the pot, and cook for 5 minutes, until the beef is browned.

Stir in the chile powder, cumin, coriander, salt and cayenne. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the beef broth, tomatoes and salsa. Bring to a simmer, then add the kidney and pinto beans. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Serve the chili garnished with the cheese, scallions, and cilantro. Accompany with tortilla chips.

DEVIL’S FOOD MARSHMALLOW CUPCAKES

This comes from Nichelle Stephens, About.com’s Cupcakes expert. Nichelle wrote, “Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, and Cocoa Cremes are the chocolate snack cakes that have been the dessert for kids and adults lunches for decades. However, there's a better way to get a chocolate fix by baking the cakes from scratch. The essential components are chocolate cupcake, marshmallow filling and chocolate ganache frosting.

“Tip: An easy way to make chocolate ganache is to use chocolate candy melts. I have used Chocoley's Bada Bing dark chocolate candy melts.

“This chocolate cupcake recipe is from the cookbook, Home Baked Comfort by Kim Laidlaw.

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 18 cupcakes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Devil’s Food Cupcakes

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup natural cocoa powder

2/3 cup boiling water

1 cup buttermilk

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp kosher salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

3 large eggs

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Cream Filling

3/4 cup confectioners' sugar

3 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature

1 tbsp heavy cream

1/2 cup of marshmallow fluff

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Chocolate Ganache

1 cup of dark chocolate candy melts

6 tbsp of heavy cream

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Place one 12 cupcake cavity and one 6 cavity pan with cupcake liners. In a small bowl, whisk the cocoa powder into the boiling water. Let cool to lukewarm, then whisk in the buttermilk. In a small bowl, pour the cocoa powder into the boiling water and whisk. Let cool and set aside. Using another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.

In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, use the attachment to butter and sugars together on medium until well combined.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Add the vanilla along with the final egg. Reduce speed to low to add the dry ingredients ins 3 additions alternately with the cocoa buttermilk mixture in 2 additions. Beat until just combined. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Use a scoop to divide the batter evenly into 18 wells of the baking pans.

Bake until the cupcakes are puffed and slightly springy to the touch and toothpick inserted into one of the cupcakes comes out clean which will be about 20 minutes. Let cool in pans for about 5 minutes. Then remove from pans and let cool completely on a wire rack.

To make the filling, in the mixing bowl, sift the sugar over the butter. Use the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the marshmallow fluff, vanilla and cream. Beat until light and fluffy.

Using a paring knife or an apple corer, create a hollow about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch deep in the center of each cupcake. Fill each hollow with a spoonful of the filling.

To make the ganache, in a heatproof bowl set over barely simmering water in a saucepan. Melt the butter and chocolate with the corn syrup and cream, stirring constantly with a whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly.

Spread the filled cupcakes with the ganache. The filled and frosted cupcakes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.