Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday. Yay!

What are your plans for the weekend? (Do you have plans for the weekend?) I'm still not sure what I'll be doing yet; probably some work around the house, maybe some grocery shopping, a movie or two in the evening, or maybe even a couple of naps.

Anywho, no matter what our plans are, we still have to eat. Here are today's recipes to get us through the weekend...Check out the Turkey Veggie Sloppy Joes, the Hearty Ham and White Bean Soup, or any of the other yummy recipes in today's post. Enjoy!

SLOW-COOKER BEEF BARBACOA NACHOS WITH QUESO

This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "No need for an oven with these slow-cooker beef barbacoa nachos with quasi."

Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/slow-cooker-beef-barbacoa-nachos-with-queso.

Ingredients

2-1/2 lb boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of fat and cut into 4 pieces

1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ beef barbacoa slow cooker seasoning mix

1 cup chopped onions

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

8 cups tortilla chips (8 oz)

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 oz)

1 cup Old El Paso™ traditional refried beans, heated (from 16-oz can)

12 oz Kraft™ Velveeta™ original cheese product, cut into cubes

3/4 cup Old El Paso™ Thick ‘n Chunky medium salsa

Sliced green onions

Diced avocado

Diced tomato

Old El Paso™ pickled jalapeño slices

Preparation

Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, mix Barbacoa ingredients. Cover; cook on High heat setting 4 to 5 hours, or Low heat setting 8 to 9 hours or until tender. Transfer beef to cutting board; shred with two forks. Reserve 2 cups shredded beef for nachos. Save remaining for another use.

Heat oven to 400°F. Line large rimmed baking pan with foil.

Spread half of chips evenly in pan. Sprinkle half of the Cheddar cheese over the chips; top with half of the refried beans and half of the barbacoa. Repeat layers. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted.

Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat Queso ingredients over medium-low heat. Cook until melted, stirring occasionally.

Drizzle 1 cup of the queso over nachos. Sprinkle with Toppings. Serve immediately with extra queso on the side.

DUTCH OVEN CHICKEN AND VINAIGRETTE

This is from Dorie Greenspan in The New York Times cooking newsletter. She wrote, "This is a simple dish: chicken that’s a little bit braised and a little bit roasted in a covered Dutch oven. The seasonings — garlic, onions, herbs and lemon — are basic and border on assertive until they cook together, when their aromas intensify and their flavors soften. Putting half the aromatics in the pot with oil and wine, tucking the other half inside the chicken and cooking in this enclosed, steamy environment means that everything that goes into the pot goes into the chicken. When the chicken’s cooked through, pour off the pan juices, crush the tender garlic and add sharp mustard and vinegar to make a vinaigrette that’s as good over salad greens as over the chicken."

Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 2 hours

This was featured in "A Holy-Grail, One-Pot Roast Chicken", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022498-dutch-oven-chicken-and-vinaigrette.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 medium onion (preferably yellow), trimmed, peeled and cut into eighths

1 head garlic, cut crosswise

5 fresh thyme sprigs

5 fresh rosemary sprigs

Fine or coarse sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)

1/2 lemon

3/4 cup white wine

For the Vinaigrette:

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons wine vinegar (preferably sherry)

1 teaspoon walnut oil (optional)

For Serving:

3 to 4 handfuls salad greens

Preparation

Make the chicken: Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Pour 3 tablespoons of the olive oil into a Dutch oven large enough to hold the chicken, then toss in all but 1 piece of the onion. Add the garlic and 4 sprigs each of the thyme and rosemary. Stir to coat, then season generously with salt and pepper.

Pat the chicken dry, season the inside with salt and pepper, and tuck in the remaining piece of onion and herb sprigs. Rub the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the lemon half over the bird, and then pop the lemon inside it with the herbs and onion. Settle the chicken into the pot, breast side up. Pour in the wine and cover.

Roast the chicken for 60 minutes, then check on it: It’s done when a thermometer plunged into the thickest part of the thigh has reached 165 degrees. If it’s done but doesn’t have enough color for you, you can run it under the broiler for a few minutes; if it’s not done, remove the lid and continue to roast until done, 15 to 30 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a platter, cover loosely with a foil tent, and let rest.

While the chicken rests, make the vinaigrette: Pour off the pan drippings, measure out 6 tablespoons and return them to the pot. (If your drippings are scant or very dark, you can still use them. Keep any extra drippings for another use.) Hold onto the garlic but discard the onion and herbs from the pot. Place the pot over medium heat, pour in 1/2 cup water, and boil for a couple of minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any stuck bits. You should have about 1/3 cup of drippings; if they’re very chunky, strain them when you add them to the vinaigrette.

Working in a medium bowl, mash 6 to 8 cloves of the soft garlic with the mustard, then whisk in the vinegar. Slowly whisk in the reserved liquid, followed by the walnut oil, if using. Taste for salt and pepper, then pour the vinaigrette into a small pitcher.

To serve, carve the chicken, cutting it into quarters or eighths, and arrange on the platter. Pour over a little of the vinaigrette. Dress the salad greens lightly with vinaigrette and serve on the platter or in a shallow bowl. Pass the rest of the sauce at the table.

LOADED BAKED POTATO

This yumminess is from Tara Holland on TheKitchn, a site I absolutely love (along with its sibling site, Apartment Therapy). If you haven't checked out either site, feel free to; they're both fantastic.

This starts off, "With its creamy, buttery center and crispy bacon topping, a loaded baked potato is comfort food at its best. Every cheesy, decadent bite is better than the last, and when you’ve polished off the center, you’re treated to the salty, crackly skin."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.thekitchn.com/loaded-baked-potato-recipe-23198227.

Ingredients

6 slices regular or thick-cut bacon (about 7 ounces)

4 large russet potatoes (8 to 10 ounces each)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 medium scallions

1 bunch fresh chives

3/4 cup sour cream, divided

1/4 cup whole or 2% milk

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper or black pepper

Directions

Arrange 2 shelves to divide the oven into thirds, then heat the oven to 400ºF. Meanwhile, wash and scrub 4 large russet potatoes. Prick each potato all over with a fork. Rub the potatoes all over with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place 6 slices bacon in a single layer on the foil.

Place the bacon on the upper rack and the potatoes directly on the lower rack. Bake until the bacon is crisp and golden-brown, 15 to 20 minutes, and the potatoes have crisp skin and are fork-tender, about 1 hour.

When the bacon is ready, immediately transfer to a clean cutting board. Cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide pieces.

Meanwhile, shred 8 ounces cheddar cheese on the large holes of a box grater (about 2 cups). Cut 5 tablespoons unsalted butter into a few pieces and place in a large bowl. Thinly slice 3 medium scallions, keeping the whites and dark green parts separate. Finely chop 1 bunch fresh chives until you have 4 tablespoons. Transfer the scallion whites and 3 tablespoons of the chives to the bowl of butter. Reserve the scallion greens and remaining 1 tablespoon chives for garnish.

When potatoes are ready, set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Discard the foil from the baking sheet, then line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut a slit lengthwise most of the way down each potato, making sure the halves are still connected. Carefully scoop out the potato flesh and place in the bowl of butter, leaving about 1/4-inch potato flesh as the shell. Place the potato shells skin-side down on the baking sheet.

Coarsely mash the potato-butter mixture directly in the bowl with a potato masher or fork until the butter is melted. Add half of the bacon, 1 cup of the cheese, 6 tablespoons of the sour cream, 1/4 cup milk, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, the remaining 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon white or black pepper. Mix thoroughly with rubber spatula until combined.

Divide the mixture between the potato shells, mounding the mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake on the upper rack until the cheese is melted, about 8 minutes.

Sprinkle with the remaining bacon and reserved scallion greens. Dollop with the remaining 6 tablespoons sour cream and sprinkle with the reserved chives.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

TURKEY VEGGIE SLOPPY JOES

This is from The Mayo CLinic.

Serves 10; Serving size: 1 sandwich

To view this online, go to http://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/recipe/turkey-veggie-sloppy-joes.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground turkey breast meat (or 12 ounces soy-based crumbles)

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)

1 medium carrot, finely chopped

1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1-1/2 cups zucchini, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 can low-sodium tomato paste (6 ounces) 1 1/2 cups water

1 tablespoon mild chili powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

5 ounces reduced-fat cheddar cheese, thinly sliced 10 whole-wheat hamburger buns

Directions

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté ground turkey until browned, about 7 minutes. Add onion and sauté 2 minutes. Add carrot and green pepper and sauté 2 minutes. Add zucchini and garlic and sauté 2 minutes more.

Add tomato paste and water, stirring until the paste has dissolved. Add chili powder, paprika, oregano and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until the mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes.

Preheat broiler. Divide cheese among the bottom halves of the hamburger buns. Transfer both halves of the buns to the broiler, open-faced, and toast until the cheese has melted and the buns are toasted.

Remove buns from the broiler and fill each sandwich with the meat-vegetable mixture. Serve immediately.

HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP

This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."

Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap

And now, on to the soup.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces

1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin

1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds

12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces

1 quart chicken broth

1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes

2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.

ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS

This comes from Kraft and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups water, divided

1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked

2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles

1 small zucchini, chopped

1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning

1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided

1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded

Directions

Heat grill to medium-high heat.

Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.

Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.

Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).

Chicken

There was a time when chicken was reserved for the Sunday or holiday dinner table. (Think early- to mid-twentieth century).

Now it's an any time, anywhere meal. Check out the Chicken Marsala, Grandma’s Chicken Casserole, and the rest of today's offerings. Enjoy!

CHICKEN BREASTS WITH LEMON

This is from Pierre Franey in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. (Hint: If you haven't signed up for their enewsletter, I highly recommend it. You'll be able to access their yummy recipes, guides, and tips for cooking.)

This recipe begins, "In this recipe, which Pierre Franey brought to The Times in 1992 in one of his 60-Minute Gourmet columns, two teaspoons of lemon zest are added to a simple sauce of lemon juice, thyme, garlic and shallots. It is, at once, lively and elegant. To round it out, it needs a sturdy accompaniment. Mr. Franey suggested mashed potatoes with garlic and basil, with just a little olive oil swirled in."

Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

This was featured in "60-Minute Gourmet," and can be found online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/4117-chicken-breasts-with-lemon.

Ingredients

1/2 cup flour for dredging

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

4 skinless boneless chicken breasts, about 6 ounces each

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried

2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots

2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic

2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 cup chicken broth, fresh or canned

2 tablespoons butter

Preparation

Season flour with salt and pepper, and dredge the chicken all over. Remove the excess flour.

Heat the oil in a heavy skillet large enough to hold the chicken pieces in one layer. Add chicken and cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 5 minutes or until lightly browned.

Flip the chicken and cook for 5 minutes more, or until cooked through. Carefully remove the oil from the skillet, leaving the chicken. Discard the oil.

Add the thyme, shallots and garlic, and cook for about a minute. Do not burn the garlic. Add the lemon rind, the lemon juice and the broth.

Scrape the skillet to dissolve the brown particles that cling to the bottom. Add the butter, and cook for 3 minutes longer. Serve immediately.

DUTCH OVEN CHICKEN AND VINAIGRETTE

This is from Dorie Greenspan in The New York Times cooking newsletter. She wrote, "This is a simple dish: chicken that’s a little bit braised and a little bit roasted in a covered Dutch oven. The seasonings — garlic, onions, herbs and lemon — are basic and border on assertive until they cook together, when their aromas intensify and their flavors soften. Putting half the aromatics in the pot with oil and wine, tucking the other half inside the chicken and cooking in this enclosed, steamy environment means that everything that goes into the pot goes into the chicken. When the chicken’s cooked through, pour off the pan juices, crush the tender garlic and add sharp mustard and vinegar to make a vinaigrette that’s as good over salad greens as over the chicken."

Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 2 hours

This was featured in "A Holy-Grail, One-Pot Roast Chicken", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022498-dutch-oven-chicken-and-vinaigrette.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 medium onion (preferably yellow), trimmed, peeled and cut into eighths

1 head garlic, cut crosswise

5 fresh thyme sprigs

5 fresh rosemary sprigs

Fine or coarse sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)

1/2 lemon

3/4 cup white wine

For the Vinaigrette:

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons wine vinegar (preferably sherry)

1 teaspoon walnut oil (optional)

For Serving:

3 to 4 handfuls salad greens

Preparation

Make the chicken: Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Pour 3 tablespoons of the olive oil into a Dutch oven large enough to hold the chicken, then toss in all but 1 piece of the onion. Add the garlic and 4 sprigs each of the thyme and rosemary. Stir to coat, then season generously with salt and pepper.

Pat the chicken dry, season the inside with salt and pepper, and tuck in the remaining piece of onion and herb sprigs. Rub the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the lemon half over the bird, and then pop the lemon inside it with the herbs and onion. Settle the chicken into the pot, breast side up. Pour in the wine and cover.

Roast the chicken for 60 minutes, then check on it: It’s done when a thermometer plunged into the thickest part of the thigh has reached 165 degrees. If it’s done but doesn’t have enough color for you, you can run it under the broiler for a few minutes; if it’s not done, remove the lid and continue to roast until done, 15 to 30 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a platter, cover loosely with a foil tent, and let rest.

While the chicken rests, make the vinaigrette: Pour off the pan drippings, measure out 6 tablespoons and return them to the pot. (If your drippings are scant or very dark, you can still use them. Keep any extra drippings for another use.) Hold onto the garlic but discard the onion and herbs from the pot. Place the pot over medium heat, pour in 1/2 cup water, and boil for a couple of minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any stuck bits. You should have about 1/3 cup of drippings; if they’re very chunky, strain them when you add them to the vinaigrette.

Working in a medium bowl, mash 6 to 8 cloves of the soft garlic with the mustard, then whisk in the vinegar. Slowly whisk in the reserved liquid, followed by the walnut oil, if using. Taste for salt and pepper, then pour the vinaigrette into a small pitcher.

To serve, carve the chicken, cutting it into quarters or eighths, and arrange on the platter. Pour over a little of the vinaigrette. Dress the salad greens lightly with vinaigrette and serve on the platter or in a shallow bowl. Pass the rest of the sauce at the table.

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.

GRANDMA'S CHICKEN CASSEROLE

This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "When it comes to weeknight dinner, casseroles are king. This super-simple, five-ingredient chicken casserole recipe comes together quickly and bakes up beautifully. It’s sure to be your quick-meal go to for at-home dinners and a reliable favorite for bake-and-take potluck dinners."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

3 cups chopped cooked chicken

2 cans (10.5 oz each) condensed cream of chicken soup

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (8 oz)

3 cups Progresso™ plain panko crispy bread crumbs

6 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F.

Place chicken evenly in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Spoon and spread soup evenly over chicken; sprinkle with cheese.

In medium bowl, stir bread crumbs and melted butter; sprinkle over cheese. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until cheese is melted and bread crumbs are golden brown and thoroughly heated.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

tip 1

Your grandma probably didn’t use panko bread crumbs, which are crispy crumbs used in Japanese cooking. But she’d definitely embrace them if she were given a box. Panko makes topping a casserole quick and ensures there’s good texture and contrast to the creamy center of the hot dish.

tip 2

Leftover roast turkey is a great substitute for chicken in this recipe—especially the day after Thanksgiving.

tip 3

Sub in crispy French-fried onions to top the casserole or try Colby-Monterey Jack cheese blend instead of cheddar cheese.

CHICKEN WITH PEPPERS

Recipe Yield: Servings: 4

Source: 1,001 Recipes For People with Diabetes

Book Title: 1,001 Recipes For People with Diabetes

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chicken-with-peppers.

Ingredients

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cups frozen stir-fry pepper blend

1 can (15 ounces) chunky Italian-seasoned tomato sauce

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Saute chicken and garlic in oil in large skillet until lightly browned. Push chicken to side of pan; add stir-fry pepper blend and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce. Heat to boiling; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 215; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 674 m; Cholesterol: 71 mg; Protein: 28.5 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Vegetable, 3 Meat

GRILLED CHICKEN TORTA SLIDERS

This comes from Old El Paso, and begins, "Get your torta on with these simple, fresh, party-sized chicken sandwiches."

Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/grilled-chicken-torta-sliders.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ chicken taco seasoning mix

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (3/4 lb)

8 slider buns, split

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1/2 cup Old El Paso™ refried beans (from 16-oz can)

1/2 medium avocado, pitted, peeled, thinly sliced

2 slices (1 oz each) Monterey Jack cheese, quartered

2 green onions, thinly sliced on the bias

Chopped fresh cilantro, if desired

Old El Paso™ Thick 'n Chunky salsa, if desired

Directions

Heat gas or charcoal grill. In small bowl, mix oil and taco seasoning mix. Rub chicken breasts with oil mixture.

Place chicken on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 12 to 15 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F). Let stand 5 minutes. Cut each breast in quarters.

Meanwhile, brush cut sides of buns with melted butter and place, cut sides down, on grill. Cook 30 to 60 seconds or until cut sides are browned. Turn, and grill 30 to 60 seconds longer or until grill marks appear. Place beans in small microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on High 60 to 90 seconds or until softened and easy to stir. Spread bottom bun halves with beans. Top with avocado, then top with chicken.

Top chicken with cheese, remaining ingredients and tops of buns.

Expert Tips

Craving a little more heat? Opt for pepper Jack cheese.

Cutting green onions on the bias is easier (since they don’t roll around your cutting board) and are more beautiful, providing a slender slaw-like appearance.

Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday. Yay!

What are your plans for the weekend? (Do you have plans for the weekend?) I'm still not sure what I'll be doing this weekend.

Amywho, getting on to today's recipes...Check out the Turkey Veggie Sloppy Joes, the Hearty Ham and White Bean Soup, or any of the other yummy recipes in today's post. Enjoy!

SLOW-COOKER BEEF BARBACOA NACHOS WITH QUESO

This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "No need for an oven with these slow-cooker beef barbacoa nachos with quasi."

Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/slow-cooker-beef-barbacoa-nachos-with-queso.

Ingredients

2 1/2 lb boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of fat and cut into 4 pieces

1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ beef barbacoa slow cooker seasoning mix

1 cup chopped onions

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

8 cups tortilla chips (8 oz)

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 oz)

1 cup Old El Paso™ traditional refried beans, heated (from 16-oz can)

12 oz Kraft™ Velveeta™ original cheese product, cut into cubes

3/4 cup Old El Paso™ Thick ‘n Chunky medium salsa

Sliced green onions

Diced avocado

Diced tomato

Old El Paso™ pickled jalapeño slices

Preparation

Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, mix Barbacoa ingredients. Cover; cook on High heat setting 4 to 5 hours, or Low heat setting 8 to 9 hours or until tender. Transfer beef to cutting board; shred with two forks. Reserve 2 cups shredded beef for nachos. Save remaining for another use.

Heat oven to 400°F. Line large rimmed baking pan with foil.

Spread half of chips evenly in pan. Sprinkle half of the Cheddar cheese over the chips; top with half of the refried beans and half of the barbacoa. Repeat layers. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted.

Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat Queso ingredients over medium-low heat. Cook until melted, stirring occasionally.

Drizzle 1 cup of the queso over nachos. Sprinkle with Toppings. Serve immediately with extra queso on the side.

DUTCH OVEN CHICKEN AND VINAIGRETTE

This is from Dorie Greenspan in The New York Times cooking newsletter. She wrote, "This is a simple dish: chicken that’s a little bit braised and a little bit roasted in a covered Dutch oven. The seasonings — garlic, onions, herbs and lemon — are basic and border on assertive until they cook together, when their aromas intensify and their flavors soften. Putting half the aromatics in the pot with oil and wine, tucking the other half inside the chicken and cooking in this enclosed, steamy environment means that everything that goes into the pot goes into the chicken. When the chicken’s cooked through, pour off the pan juices, crush the tender garlic and add sharp mustard and vinegar to make a vinaigrette that’s as good over salad greens as over the chicken."

Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 2 hours

This was featured in "A Holy-Grail, One-Pot Roast Chicken", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022498-dutch-oven-chicken-and-vinaigrette.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 medium onion (preferably yellow), trimmed, peeled and cut into eighths

1 head garlic, cut crosswise

5 fresh thyme sprigs

5 fresh rosemary sprigs

Fine or coarse sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)

1/2 lemon

3/4 cup white wine

For the Vinaigrette:

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons wine vinegar (preferably sherry)

1 teaspoon walnut oil (optional)

For Serving:

3 to 4 handfuls salad greens

Preparation

Make the chicken: Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Pour 3 tablespoons of the olive oil into a Dutch oven large enough to hold the chicken, then toss in all but 1 piece of the onion. Add the garlic and 4 sprigs each of the thyme and rosemary. Stir to coat, then season generously with salt and pepper.

Pat the chicken dry, season the inside with salt and pepper, and tuck in the remaining piece of onion and herb sprigs. Rub the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the lemon half over the bird, and then pop the lemon inside it with the herbs and onion. Settle the chicken into the pot, breast side up. Pour in the wine and cover.

Roast the chicken for 60 minutes, then check on it: It’s done when a thermometer plunged into the thickest part of the thigh has reached 165 degrees. If it’s done but doesn’t have enough color for you, you can run it under the broiler for a few minutes; if it’s not done, remove the lid and continue to roast until done, 15 to 30 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a platter, cover loosely with a foil tent, and let rest.

While the chicken rests, make the vinaigrette: Pour off the pan drippings, measure out 6 tablespoons and return them to the pot. (If your drippings are scant or very dark, you can still use them. Keep any extra drippings for another use.) Hold onto the garlic but discard the onion and herbs from the pot. Place the pot over medium heat, pour in 1/2 cup water, and boil for a couple of minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any stuck bits. You should have about 1/3 cup of drippings; if they’re very chunky, strain them when you add them to the vinaigrette.

Working in a medium bowl, mash 6 to 8 cloves of the soft garlic with the mustard, then whisk in the vinegar. Slowly whisk in the reserved liquid, followed by the walnut oil, if using. Taste for salt and pepper, then pour the vinaigrette into a small pitcher.

To serve, carve the chicken, cutting it into quarters or eighths, and arrange on the platter. Pour over a little of the vinaigrette. Dress the salad greens lightly with vinaigrette and serve on the platter or in a shallow bowl. Pass the rest of the sauce at the table.

LOADED BAKED POTATO

This yumminess is from Tara Holland on TheKitchn, a site I absolutely love (along with its sibling site, Apartment Therapy). If you haven't checked out either site, feel free to; they're both fantastic.

This starts off, "With its creamy, buttery center and crispy bacon topping, a loaded baked potato is comfort food at its best. Every cheesy, decadent bite is better than the last, and when you’ve polished off the center, you’re treated to the salty, crackly skin."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.thekitchn.com/loaded-baked-potato-recipe-23198227.

Ingredients

6 slices regular or thick-cut bacon (about 7 ounces)

4 large russet potatoes (8 to 10 ounces each)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 medium scallions

1 bunch fresh chives

3/4 cup sour cream, divided

1/4 cup whole or 2% milk

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper or black pepper

Directions

Arrange 2 shelves to divide the oven into thirds, then heat the oven to 400ºF. Meanwhile, wash and scrub 4 large russet potatoes. Prick each potato all over with a fork. Rub the potatoes all over with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place 6 slices bacon in a single layer on the foil.

Place the bacon on the upper rack and the potatoes directly on the lower rack. Bake until the bacon is crisp and golden-brown, 15 to 20 minutes, and the potatoes have crisp skin and are fork-tender, about 1 hour.

When the bacon is ready, immediately transfer to a clean cutting board. Cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide pieces.

Meanwhile, shred 8 ounces cheddar cheese on the large holes of a box grater (about 2 cups). Cut 5 tablespoons unsalted butter into a few pieces and place in a large bowl. Thinly slice 3 medium scallions, keeping the whites and dark green parts separate. Finely chop 1 bunch fresh chives until you have 4 tablespoons. Transfer the scallion whites and 3 tablespoons of the chives to the bowl of butter. Reserve the scallion greens and remaining 1 tablespoon chives for garnish.

When potatoes are ready, set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Discard the foil from the baking sheet, then line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut a slit lengthwise most of the way down each potato, making sure the halves are still connected. Carefully scoop out the potato flesh and place in the bowl of butter, leaving about 1/4-inch potato flesh as the shell. Place the potato shells skin-side down on the baking sheet.

Coarsely mash the potato-butter mixture directly in the bowl with a potato masher or fork until the butter is melted. Add half of the bacon, 1 cup of the cheese, 6 tablespoons of the sour cream, 1/4 cup milk, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, the remaining 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon white or black pepper. Mix thoroughly with rubber spatula until combined.

Divide the mixture between the potato shells, mounding the mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake on the upper rack until the cheese is melted, about 8 minutes.

Sprinkle with the remaining bacon and reserved scallion greens. Dollop with the remaining 6 tablespoons sour cream and sprinkle with the reserved chives.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

TURKEY VEGGIE SLOPPY JOES

This is from The Mayo CLinic.

Serves 10; Serving size: 1 sandwich

To view this online, go to http://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/recipe/turkey-veggie-sloppy-joes.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground turkey breast meat (or 12 ounces soy-based crumbles)

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)

1 medium carrot, finely chopped

1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1 1/2 cups zucchini, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 can low-sodium tomato paste (6 ounces) 1 1/2 cups water

1 tablespoon mild chili powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

5 ounces reduced-fat cheddar cheese, thinly sliced 10 whole-wheat hamburger buns

Directions

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté ground turkey until browned, about 7 minutes. Add onion and sauté 2 minutes. Add carrot and green pepper and sauté 2 minutes. Add zucchini and garlic and sauté 2 minutes more.

Add tomato paste and water, stirring until the paste has dissolved. Add chili powder, paprika, oregano and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until the mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes.

Preheat broiler. Divide cheese among the bottom halves of the hamburger buns. Transfer both halves of the buns to the broiler, open-faced, and toast until the cheese has melted and the buns are toasted.

Remove buns from the broiler and fill each sandwich with the meat-vegetable mixture. Serve immediately.

HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP

This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."

Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap

And now, on to the soup.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces

1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin

1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds

12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces

1 quart chicken broth

1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes

2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.

ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS

This comes from Kraft and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups water, divided

1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked

2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles

1 small zucchini, chopped

1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning

1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided

1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded

Directions

Heat grill to medium-high heat.

Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.

Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.

Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).

Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday. Yay!

What are your plans for the weekend? (Do you have plans for the weekend?) I'm still not sure what I'll be doing this weekend.

Anywho, getting on to today's recipes...Check out the Turkey Veggie Sloppy Joes, the Hearty Ham and White Bean Soup, or any of the other yummy recipes in today's post. Enjoy!

SLOW-COOKER BEEF BARBACOA NACHOS WITH QUESO

This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "No need for an oven with these slow-cooker beef barbacoa nachos with quasi."

Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/slow-cooker-beef-barbacoa-nachos-with-queso.

Ingredients

2 1/2 lb boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of fat and cut into 4 pieces

1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ beef barbacoa slow cooker seasoning mix

1 cup chopped onions

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

8 cups tortilla chips (8 oz)

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 oz)

1 cup Old El Paso™ traditional refried beans, heated (from 16-oz can)

12 oz Kraft™ Velveeta™ original cheese product, cut into cubes

3/4 cup Old El Paso™ Thick ‘n Chunky medium salsa

Sliced green onions

Diced avocado

Diced tomato

Old El Paso™ pickled jalapeño slices

Preparation

Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, mix Barbacoa ingredients. Cover; cook on High heat setting 4 to 5 hours, or Low heat setting 8 to 9 hours or until tender. Transfer beef to cutting board; shred with two forks. Reserve 2 cups shredded beef for nachos. Save remaining for another use.

Heat oven to 400°F. Line large rimmed baking pan with foil.

Spread half of chips evenly in pan. Sprinkle half of the Cheddar cheese over the chips; top with half of the refried beans and half of the barbacoa. Repeat layers. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted.

Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat Queso ingredients over medium-low heat. Cook until melted, stirring occasionally.

Drizzle 1 cup of the queso over nachos. Sprinkle with Toppings. Serve immediately with extra queso on the side.

DUTCH OVEN CHICKEN AND VINAIGRETTE

This is from Dorie Greenspan in The New York Times cooking newsletter. She wrote, "This is a simple dish: chicken that’s a little bit braised and a little bit roasted in a covered Dutch oven. The seasonings — garlic, onions, herbs and lemon — are basic and border on assertive until they cook together, when their aromas intensify and their flavors soften. Putting half the aromatics in the pot with oil and wine, tucking the other half inside the chicken and cooking in this enclosed, steamy environment means that everything that goes into the pot goes into the chicken. When the chicken’s cooked through, pour off the pan juices, crush the tender garlic and add sharp mustard and vinegar to make a vinaigrette that’s as good over salad greens as over the chicken."

Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 2 hours

This was featured in "A Holy-Grail, One-Pot Roast Chicken", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022498-dutch-oven-chicken-and-vinaigrette.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 medium onion (preferably yellow), trimmed, peeled and cut into eighths

1 head garlic, cut crosswise

5 fresh thyme sprigs

5 fresh rosemary sprigs

Fine or coarse sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)

1/2 lemon

3/4 cup white wine

For the Vinaigrette:

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons wine vinegar (preferably sherry)

1 teaspoon walnut oil (optional)

For Serving:

3 to 4 handfuls salad greens

Preparation

Make the chicken: Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Pour 3 tablespoons of the olive oil into a Dutch oven large enough to hold the chicken, then toss in all but 1 piece of the onion. Add the garlic and 4 sprigs each of the thyme and rosemary. Stir to coat, then season generously with salt and pepper.

Pat the chicken dry, season the inside with salt and pepper, and tuck in the remaining piece of onion and herb sprigs. Rub the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the lemon half over the bird, and then pop the lemon inside it with the herbs and onion. Settle the chicken into the pot, breast side up. Pour in the wine and cover.

Roast the chicken for 60 minutes, then check on it: It’s done when a thermometer plunged into the thickest part of the thigh has reached 165 degrees. If it’s done but doesn’t have enough color for you, you can run it under the broiler for a few minutes; if it’s not done, remove the lid and continue to roast until done, 15 to 30 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a platter, cover loosely with a foil tent, and let rest.

While the chicken rests, make the vinaigrette: Pour off the pan drippings, measure out 6 tablespoons and return them to the pot. (If your drippings are scant or very dark, you can still use them. Keep any extra drippings for another use.) Hold onto the garlic but discard the onion and herbs from the pot. Place the pot over medium heat, pour in 1/2 cup water, and boil for a couple of minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any stuck bits. You should have about 1/3 cup of drippings; if they’re very chunky, strain them when you add them to the vinaigrette.

Working in a medium bowl, mash 6 to 8 cloves of the soft garlic with the mustard, then whisk in the vinegar. Slowly whisk in the reserved liquid, followed by the walnut oil, if using. Taste for salt and pepper, then pour the vinaigrette into a small pitcher.

To serve, carve the chicken, cutting it into quarters or eighths, and arrange on the platter. Pour over a little of the vinaigrette. Dress the salad greens lightly with vinaigrette and serve on the platter or in a shallow bowl. Pass the rest of the sauce at the table.

LOADED BAKED POTATO

This yumminess is from Tara Holland on TheKitchn, a site I absolutely love (along with its sibling site, Apartment Therapy). If you haven't checked out either site, feel free to; they're both fantastic.

This starts off, "With its creamy, buttery center and crispy bacon topping, a loaded baked potato is comfort food at its best. Every cheesy, decadent bite is better than the last, and when you’ve polished off the center, you’re treated to the salty, crackly skin."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.thekitchn.com/loaded-baked-potato-recipe-23198227.

Ingredients

6 slices regular or thick-cut bacon (about 7 ounces)

4 large russet potatoes (8 to 10 ounces each)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 medium scallions

1 bunch fresh chives

3/4 cup sour cream, divided

1/4 cup whole or 2% milk

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper or black pepper

Directions

Arrange 2 shelves to divide the oven into thirds, then heat the oven to 400ºF. Meanwhile, wash and scrub 4 large russet potatoes. Prick each potato all over with a fork. Rub the potatoes all over with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place 6 slices bacon in a single layer on the foil.

Place the bacon on the upper rack and the potatoes directly on the lower rack. Bake until the bacon is crisp and golden-brown, 15 to 20 minutes, and the potatoes have crisp skin and are fork-tender, about 1 hour.

When the bacon is ready, immediately transfer to a clean cutting board. Cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide pieces.

Meanwhile, shred 8 ounces cheddar cheese on the large holes of a box grater (about 2 cups). Cut 5 tablespoons unsalted butter into a few pieces and place in a large bowl. Thinly slice 3 medium scallions, keeping the whites and dark green parts separate. Finely chop 1 bunch fresh chives until you have 4 tablespoons. Transfer the scallion whites and 3 tablespoons of the chives to the bowl of butter. Reserve the scallion greens and remaining 1 tablespoon chives for garnish.

When potatoes are ready, set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Discard the foil from the baking sheet, then line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut a slit lengthwise most of the way down each potato, making sure the halves are still connected. Carefully scoop out the potato flesh and place in the bowl of butter, leaving about 1/4-inch potato flesh as the shell. Place the potato shells skin-side down on the baking sheet.

Coarsely mash the potato-butter mixture directly in the bowl with a potato masher or fork until the butter is melted. Add half of the bacon, 1 cup of the cheese, 6 tablespoons of the sour cream, 1/4 cup milk, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, the remaining 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon white or black pepper. Mix thoroughly with rubber spatula until combined.

Divide the mixture between the potato shells, mounding the mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake on the upper rack until the cheese is melted, about 8 minutes.

Sprinkle with the remaining bacon and reserved scallion greens. Dollop with the remaining 6 tablespoons sour cream and sprinkle with the reserved chives.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

TURKEY VEGGIE SLOPPY JOES

This is from The Mayo CLinic.

Serves 10; Serving size: 1 sandwich

To view this online, go to http://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/recipe/turkey-veggie-sloppy-joes.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground turkey breast meat (or 12 ounces soy-based crumbles)

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)

1 medium carrot, finely chopped

1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1 1/2 cups zucchini, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 can low-sodium tomato paste (6 ounces) 1 1/2 cups water

1 tablespoon mild chili powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

5 ounces reduced-fat cheddar cheese, thinly sliced 10 whole-wheat hamburger buns

Directions

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté ground turkey until browned, about 7 minutes. Add onion and sauté 2 minutes. Add carrot and green pepper and sauté 2 minutes. Add zucchini and garlic and sauté 2 minutes more.

Add tomato paste and water, stirring until the paste has dissolved. Add chili powder, paprika, oregano and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until the mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes.

Preheat broiler. Divide cheese among the bottom halves of the hamburger buns. Transfer both halves of the buns to the broiler, open-faced, and toast until the cheese has melted and the buns are toasted.

Remove buns from the broiler and fill each sandwich with the meat-vegetable mixture. Serve immediately.

HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP

This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."

Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap

And now, on to the soup.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces

1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin

1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds

12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces

1 quart chicken broth

1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes

2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.

ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS

This comes from Kraft and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups water, divided

1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked

2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles

1 small zucchini, chopped

1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning

1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided

1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded

Directions

Heat grill to medium-high heat.

Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.

Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.

Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).

Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday. Yay!

What are your plans for the weekend? (Do you have plans for the weekend?) I'm still not sure what I'll be doing yet; probably some work around the house, maybe some grocery shopping, a movie or two in the evening, or maybe even a couple of naps.

Amywho, no matter what our plans are, we still have to eat. Here are today's recipes to get us through the weekend...Check out the Turkey Veggie Sloppy Joes, the Hearty Ham and White Bean Soup, or any of the other yummy recipes in today's post. Enjoy!

SLOW-COOKER BEEF BARBACOA NACHOS WITH QUESO

This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "No need for an oven with these slow-cooker beef barbacoa nachos with quasi."

Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/slow-cooker-beef-barbacoa-nachos-with-queso.

Ingredients

2-1/2 lb boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of fat and cut into 4 pieces

1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ beef barbacoa slow cooker seasoning mix

1 cup chopped onions

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

8 cups tortilla chips (8 oz)

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 oz)

1 cup Old El Paso™ traditional refried beans, heated (from 16-oz can)

12 oz Kraft™ Velveeta™ original cheese product, cut into cubes

3/4 cup Old El Paso™ Thick ‘n Chunky medium salsa

Sliced green onions

Diced avocado

Diced tomato

Old El Paso™ pickled jalapeño slices

Preparation

Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, mix Barbacoa ingredients. Cover; cook on High heat setting 4 to 5 hours, or Low heat setting 8 to 9 hours or until tender. Transfer beef to cutting board; shred with two forks. Reserve 2 cups shredded beef for nachos. Save remaining for another use.

Heat oven to 400°F. Line large rimmed baking pan with foil.

Spread half of chips evenly in pan. Sprinkle half of the Cheddar cheese over the chips; top with half of the refried beans and half of the barbacoa. Repeat layers. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted.

Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat Queso ingredients over medium-low heat. Cook until melted, stirring occasionally.

Drizzle 1 cup of the queso over nachos. Sprinkle with Toppings. Serve immediately with extra queso on the side.

DUTCH OVEN CHICKEN AND VINAIGRETTE

This is from Dorie Greenspan in The New York Times cooking newsletter. She wrote, "This is a simple dish: chicken that’s a little bit braised and a little bit roasted in a covered Dutch oven. The seasonings — garlic, onions, herbs and lemon — are basic and border on assertive until they cook together, when their aromas intensify and their flavors soften. Putting half the aromatics in the pot with oil and wine, tucking the other half inside the chicken and cooking in this enclosed, steamy environment means that everything that goes into the pot goes into the chicken. When the chicken’s cooked through, pour off the pan juices, crush the tender garlic and add sharp mustard and vinegar to make a vinaigrette that’s as good over salad greens as over the chicken."

Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 2 hours

This was featured in "A Holy-Grail, One-Pot Roast Chicken", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022498-dutch-oven-chicken-and-vinaigrette.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 medium onion (preferably yellow), trimmed, peeled and cut into eighths

1 head garlic, cut crosswise

5 fresh thyme sprigs

5 fresh rosemary sprigs

Fine or coarse sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)

1/2 lemon

3/4 cup white wine

For the Vinaigrette:

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons wine vinegar (preferably sherry)

1 teaspoon walnut oil (optional)

For Serving:

3 to 4 handfuls salad greens

Preparation

Make the chicken: Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Pour 3 tablespoons of the olive oil into a Dutch oven large enough to hold the chicken, then toss in all but 1 piece of the onion. Add the garlic and 4 sprigs each of the thyme and rosemary. Stir to coat, then season generously with salt and pepper.

Pat the chicken dry, season the inside with salt and pepper, and tuck in the remaining piece of onion and herb sprigs. Rub the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the lemon half over the bird, and then pop the lemon inside it with the herbs and onion. Settle the chicken into the pot, breast side up. Pour in the wine and cover.

Roast the chicken for 60 minutes, then check on it: It’s done when a thermometer plunged into the thickest part of the thigh has reached 165 degrees. If it’s done but doesn’t have enough color for you, you can run it under the broiler for a few minutes; if it’s not done, remove the lid and continue to roast until done, 15 to 30 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a platter, cover loosely with a foil tent, and let rest.

While the chicken rests, make the vinaigrette: Pour off the pan drippings, measure out 6 tablespoons and return them to the pot. (If your drippings are scant or very dark, you can still use them. Keep any extra drippings for another use.) Hold onto the garlic but discard the onion and herbs from the pot. Place the pot over medium heat, pour in 1/2 cup water, and boil for a couple of minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any stuck bits. You should have about 1/3 cup of drippings; if they’re very chunky, strain them when you add them to the vinaigrette.

Working in a medium bowl, mash 6 to 8 cloves of the soft garlic with the mustard, then whisk in the vinegar. Slowly whisk in the reserved liquid, followed by the walnut oil, if using. Taste for salt and pepper, then pour the vinaigrette into a small pitcher.

To serve, carve the chicken, cutting it into quarters or eighths, and arrange on the platter. Pour over a little of the vinaigrette. Dress the salad greens lightly with vinaigrette and serve on the platter or in a shallow bowl. Pass the rest of the sauce at the table.

LOADED BAKED POTATO

This yumminess is from Tara Holland on TheKitchn, a site I absolutely love (along with its sibling site, Apartment Therapy). If you haven't checked out either site, feel free to; they're both fantastic.

This starts off, "With its creamy, buttery center and crispy bacon topping, a loaded baked potato is comfort food at its best. Every cheesy, decadent bite is better than the last, and when you’ve polished off the center, you’re treated to the salty, crackly skin."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.thekitchn.com/loaded-baked-potato-recipe-23198227.

Ingredients

6 slices regular or thick-cut bacon (about 7 ounces)

4 large russet potatoes (8 to 10 ounces each)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 medium scallions

1 bunch fresh chives

3/4 cup sour cream, divided

1/4 cup whole or 2% milk

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper or black pepper

Directions

Arrange 2 shelves to divide the oven into thirds, then heat the oven to 400ºF. Meanwhile, wash and scrub 4 large russet potatoes. Prick each potato all over with a fork. Rub the potatoes all over with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place 6 slices bacon in a single layer on the foil.

Place the bacon on the upper rack and the potatoes directly on the lower rack. Bake until the bacon is crisp and golden-brown, 15 to 20 minutes, and the potatoes have crisp skin and are fork-tender, about 1 hour.

When the bacon is ready, immediately transfer to a clean cutting board. Cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide pieces.

Meanwhile, shred 8 ounces cheddar cheese on the large holes of a box grater (about 2 cups). Cut 5 tablespoons unsalted butter into a few pieces and place in a large bowl. Thinly slice 3 medium scallions, keeping the whites and dark green parts separate. Finely chop 1 bunch fresh chives until you have 4 tablespoons. Transfer the scallion whites and 3 tablespoons of the chives to the bowl of butter. Reserve the scallion greens and remaining 1 tablespoon chives for garnish.

When potatoes are ready, set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Discard the foil from the baking sheet, then line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut a slit lengthwise most of the way down each potato, making sure the halves are still connected. Carefully scoop out the potato flesh and place in the bowl of butter, leaving about 1/4-inch potato flesh as the shell. Place the potato shells skin-side down on the baking sheet.

Coarsely mash the potato-butter mixture directly in the bowl with a potato masher or fork until the butter is melted. Add half of the bacon, 1 cup of the cheese, 6 tablespoons of the sour cream, 1/4 cup milk, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, the remaining 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon white or black pepper. Mix thoroughly with rubber spatula until combined.

Divide the mixture between the potato shells, mounding the mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake on the upper rack until the cheese is melted, about 8 minutes.

Sprinkle with the remaining bacon and reserved scallion greens. Dollop with the remaining 6 tablespoons sour cream and sprinkle with the reserved chives.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

TURKEY VEGGIE SLOPPY JOES

This is from The Mayo CLinic.

Serves 10; Serving size: 1 sandwich

To view this online, go to http://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/recipe/turkey-veggie-sloppy-joes.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground turkey breast meat (or 12 ounces soy-based crumbles)

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)

1 medium carrot, finely chopped

1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1 1/2 cups zucchini, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 can low-sodium tomato paste (6 ounces) 1 1/2 cups water

1 tablespoon mild chili powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

5 ounces reduced-fat cheddar cheese, thinly sliced 10 whole-wheat hamburger buns

Directions

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté ground turkey until browned, about 7 minutes. Add onion and sauté 2 minutes. Add carrot and green pepper and sauté 2 minutes. Add zucchini and garlic and sauté 2 minutes more.

Add tomato paste and water, stirring until the paste has dissolved. Add chili powder, paprika, oregano and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until the mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes.

Preheat broiler. Divide cheese among the bottom halves of the hamburger buns. Transfer both halves of the buns to the broiler, open-faced, and toast until the cheese has melted and the buns are toasted.

Remove buns from the broiler and fill each sandwich with the meat-vegetable mixture. Serve immediately.

HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP

This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."

Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap

And now, on to the soup.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces

1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin

1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds

12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces

1 quart chicken broth

1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes

2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.

ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS

This comes from Kraft and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups water, divided

1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked

2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles

1 small zucchini, chopped

1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning

1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided

1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded

Directions

Heat grill to medium-high heat.

Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.

Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.

Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).

Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday. Yay!

What are your plans for the weekend? (Do you have plans for the weekend?) I'm still not sure what I'll be doing this weekend.

Amywho, getting on to today's recipes...Check out the Turkey Veggie Sloppy Joes, the Hearty Ham and White Bean Soup, or any of the other yummy recipes in today's post. Enjoy!

SLOW-COOKER BEEF BARBACOA NACHOS WITH QUESO

This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "No need for an oven with these slow-cooker beef barbacoa nachos with quasi."

Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/slow-cooker-beef-barbacoa-nachos-with-queso.

Ingredients

2 1/2 lb boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of fat and cut into 4 pieces

1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ beef barbacoa slow cooker seasoning mix

1 cup chopped onions

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

8 cups tortilla chips (8 oz)

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 oz)

1 cup Old El Paso™ traditional refried beans, heated (from 16-oz can)

12 oz Kraft™ Velveeta™ original cheese product, cut into cubes

3/4 cup Old El Paso™ Thick ‘n Chunky medium salsa

Sliced green onions

Diced avocado

Diced tomato

Old El Paso™ pickled jalapeño slices

Preparation

Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, mix Barbacoa ingredients. Cover; cook on High heat setting 4 to 5 hours, or Low heat setting 8 to 9 hours or until tender. Transfer beef to cutting board; shred with two forks. Reserve 2 cups shredded beef for nachos. Save remaining for another use.

Heat oven to 400°F. Line large rimmed baking pan with foil.

Spread half of chips evenly in pan. Sprinkle half of the Cheddar cheese over the chips; top with half of the refried beans and half of the barbacoa. Repeat layers. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted.

Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat Queso ingredients over medium-low heat. Cook until melted, stirring occasionally.

Drizzle 1 cup of the queso over nachos. Sprinkle with Toppings. Serve immediately with extra queso on the side.

DUTCH OVEN CHICKEN AND VINAIGRETTE

This is from Dorie Greenspan in The New York Times cooking newsletter. She wrote, "This is a simple dish: chicken that’s a little bit braised and a little bit roasted in a covered Dutch oven. The seasonings — garlic, onions, herbs and lemon — are basic and border on assertive until they cook together, when their aromas intensify and their flavors soften. Putting half the aromatics in the pot with oil and wine, tucking the other half inside the chicken and cooking in this enclosed, steamy environment means that everything that goes into the pot goes into the chicken. When the chicken’s cooked through, pour off the pan juices, crush the tender garlic and add sharp mustard and vinegar to make a vinaigrette that’s as good over salad greens as over the chicken."

Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 2 hours

This was featured in "A Holy-Grail, One-Pot Roast Chicken", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022498-dutch-oven-chicken-and-vinaigrette.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 medium onion (preferably yellow), trimmed, peeled and cut into eighths

1 head garlic, cut crosswise

5 fresh thyme sprigs

5 fresh rosemary sprigs

Fine or coarse sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)

1/2 lemon

3/4 cup white wine

For the Vinaigrette:

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons wine vinegar (preferably sherry)

1 teaspoon walnut oil (optional)

For Serving:

3 to 4 handfuls salad greens

Preparation

Make the chicken: Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Pour 3 tablespoons of the olive oil into a Dutch oven large enough to hold the chicken, then toss in all but 1 piece of the onion. Add the garlic and 4 sprigs each of the thyme and rosemary. Stir to coat, then season generously with salt and pepper.

Pat the chicken dry, season the inside with salt and pepper, and tuck in the remaining piece of onion and herb sprigs. Rub the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the lemon half over the bird, and then pop the lemon inside it with the herbs and onion. Settle the chicken into the pot, breast side up. Pour in the wine and cover.

Roast the chicken for 60 minutes, then check on it: It’s done when a thermometer plunged into the thickest part of the thigh has reached 165 degrees. If it’s done but doesn’t have enough color for you, you can run it under the broiler for a few minutes; if it’s not done, remove the lid and continue to roast until done, 15 to 30 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a platter, cover loosely with a foil tent, and let rest.

While the chicken rests, make the vinaigrette: Pour off the pan drippings, measure out 6 tablespoons and return them to the pot. (If your drippings are scant or very dark, you can still use them. Keep any extra drippings for another use.) Hold onto the garlic but discard the onion and herbs from the pot. Place the pot over medium heat, pour in 1/2 cup water, and boil for a couple of minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any stuck bits. You should have about 1/3 cup of drippings; if they’re very chunky, strain them when you add them to the vinaigrette.

Working in a medium bowl, mash 6 to 8 cloves of the soft garlic with the mustard, then whisk in the vinegar. Slowly whisk in the reserved liquid, followed by the walnut oil, if using. Taste for salt and pepper, then pour the vinaigrette into a small pitcher.

To serve, carve the chicken, cutting it into quarters or eighths, and arrange on the platter. Pour over a little of the vinaigrette. Dress the salad greens lightly with vinaigrette and serve on the platter or in a shallow bowl. Pass the rest of the sauce at the table.

LOADED BAKED POTATO

This yumminess is from Tara Holland on TheKitchn, a site I absolutely love (along with its sibling site, Apartment Therapy). If you haven't checked out either site, feel free to; they're both fantastic.

This starts off, "With its creamy, buttery center and crispy bacon topping, a loaded baked potato is comfort food at its best. Every cheesy, decadent bite is better than the last, and when you’ve polished off the center, you’re treated to the salty, crackly skin."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.thekitchn.com/loaded-baked-potato-recipe-23198227.

Ingredients

6 slices regular or thick-cut bacon (about 7 ounces)

4 large russet potatoes (8 to 10 ounces each)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 medium scallions

1 bunch fresh chives

3/4 cup sour cream, divided

1/4 cup whole or 2% milk

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper or black pepper

Directions

Arrange 2 shelves to divide the oven into thirds, then heat the oven to 400ºF. Meanwhile, wash and scrub 4 large russet potatoes. Prick each potato all over with a fork. Rub the potatoes all over with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place 6 slices bacon in a single layer on the foil.

Place the bacon on the upper rack and the potatoes directly on the lower rack. Bake until the bacon is crisp and golden-brown, 15 to 20 minutes, and the potatoes have crisp skin and are fork-tender, about 1 hour.

When the bacon is ready, immediately transfer to a clean cutting board. Cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide pieces.

Meanwhile, shred 8 ounces cheddar cheese on the large holes of a box grater (about 2 cups). Cut 5 tablespoons unsalted butter into a few pieces and place in a large bowl. Thinly slice 3 medium scallions, keeping the whites and dark green parts separate. Finely chop 1 bunch fresh chives until you have 4 tablespoons. Transfer the scallion whites and 3 tablespoons of the chives to the bowl of butter. Reserve the scallion greens and remaining 1 tablespoon chives for garnish.

When potatoes are ready, set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Discard the foil from the baking sheet, then line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut a slit lengthwise most of the way down each potato, making sure the halves are still connected. Carefully scoop out the potato flesh and place in the bowl of butter, leaving about 1/4-inch potato flesh as the shell. Place the potato shells skin-side down on the baking sheet.

Coarsely mash the potato-butter mixture directly in the bowl with a potato masher or fork until the butter is melted. Add half of the bacon, 1 cup of the cheese, 6 tablespoons of the sour cream, 1/4 cup milk, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, the remaining 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon white or black pepper. Mix thoroughly with rubber spatula until combined.

Divide the mixture between the potato shells, mounding the mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake on the upper rack until the cheese is melted, about 8 minutes.

Sprinkle with the remaining bacon and reserved scallion greens. Dollop with the remaining 6 tablespoons sour cream and sprinkle with the reserved chives.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

TURKEY VEGGIE SLOPPY JOES

This is from The Mayo CLinic.

Serves 10; Serving size: 1 sandwich

To view this online, go to http://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/recipe/turkey-veggie-sloppy-joes.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground turkey breast meat (or 12 ounces soy-based crumbles)

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)

1 medium carrot, finely chopped

1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1 1/2 cups zucchini, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 can low-sodium tomato paste (6 ounces) 1 1/2 cups water

1 tablespoon mild chili powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

5 ounces reduced-fat cheddar cheese, thinly sliced 10 whole-wheat hamburger buns

Directions

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté ground turkey until browned, about 7 minutes. Add onion and sauté 2 minutes. Add carrot and green pepper and sauté 2 minutes. Add zucchini and garlic and sauté 2 minutes more.

Add tomato paste and water, stirring until the paste has dissolved. Add chili powder, paprika, oregano and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until the mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes.

Preheat broiler. Divide cheese among the bottom halves of the hamburger buns. Transfer both halves of the buns to the broiler, open-faced, and toast until the cheese has melted and the buns are toasted.

Remove buns from the broiler and fill each sandwich with the meat-vegetable mixture. Serve immediately.

HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP

This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."

Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap

And now, on to the soup.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces

1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin

1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds

12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces

1 quart chicken broth

1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes

2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.

ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS

This comes from Kraft and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups water, divided

1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked

2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles

1 small zucchini, chopped

1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning

1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided

1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded

Directions

Heat grill to medium-high heat.

Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.

Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.

Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).

Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday. Yay!

What are your plans for the weekend? (Do you have plans for the weekend?) I'm planning to try having a yard sale on Saturday. I meant to have it each Saturday for the past few weeks, but each Saturday, it rained, or threatened to rain. Not having a garage (someone, years ago, turned it into a fourth bedroom) makes it a little dicey to set up when it's planning to rain. So, if (and it looks like a very big if) it doesn't rain, I'll have it this Saturday. If not, well, maybe next week. Of course, if I do have the yard sale, the next day'll be spent putting stuff away...

Amywho, getting on to today's recipes...Check out the Turkey Veggie Sloppy Joes, the Hearty Ham and White Bean Soup, or any of the other yummy recipes in today's post. Enjoy!

SLOW-COOKER BEEF BARBACOA NACHOS WITH QUESO

This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "No need for an oven with these slow-cooker beef barbacoa nachos with quasi."

Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes; Makes 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/slow-cooker-beef-barbacoa-nachos-with-queso.

Ingredients

2 1/2 lb boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of fat and cut into 4 pieces

1 package (0.85 oz) Old El Paso™ beef barbacoa slow cooker seasoning mix

1 cup chopped onions

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

8 cups tortilla chips (8 oz)

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 oz)

1 cup Old El Paso™ traditional refried beans, heated (from 16-oz can)

12 oz Kraft™ Velveeta™ original cheese product, cut into cubes

3/4 cup Old El Paso™ Thick ‘n Chunky medium salsa

Sliced green onions

Diced avocado

Diced tomato

Old El Paso™ pickled jalapeño slices

Preparation

Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, mix Barbacoa ingredients. Cover; cook on High heat setting 4 to 5 hours, or Low heat setting 8 to 9 hours or until tender. Transfer beef to cutting board; shred with two forks. Reserve 2 cups shredded beef for nachos. Save remaining for another use.

Heat oven to 400°F. Line large rimmed baking pan with foil.

Spread half of chips evenly in pan. Sprinkle half of the Cheddar cheese over the chips; top with half of the refried beans and half of the barbacoa. Repeat layers. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted.

Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat Queso ingredients over medium-low heat. Cook until melted, stirring occasionally.

Drizzle 1 cup of the queso over nachos. Sprinkle with Toppings. Serve immediately with extra queso on the side.

DUTCH OVEN CHICKEN AND VINAIGRETTE

This is from Dorie Greenspan in The New York Times cooking newsletter. She wrote, "This is a simple dish: chicken that’s a little bit braised and a little bit roasted in a covered Dutch oven. The seasonings — garlic, onions, herbs and lemon — are basic and border on assertive until they cook together, when their aromas intensify and their flavors soften. Putting half the aromatics in the pot with oil and wine, tucking the other half inside the chicken and cooking in this enclosed, steamy environment means that everything that goes into the pot goes into the chicken. When the chicken’s cooked through, pour off the pan juices, crush the tender garlic and add sharp mustard and vinegar to make a vinaigrette that’s as good over salad greens as over the chicken."

Yield: 4 servings; Time: About 2 hours

This was featured in "A Holy-Grail, One-Pot Roast Chicken", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022498-dutch-oven-chicken-and-vinaigrette.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

1/4 cup olive oil

1 medium onion (preferably yellow), trimmed, peeled and cut into eighths

1 head garlic, cut crosswise

5 fresh thyme sprigs

5 fresh rosemary sprigs

Fine or coarse sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)

1/2 lemon

3/4 cup white wine

For the Vinaigrette:

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons wine vinegar (preferably sherry)

1 teaspoon walnut oil (optional)

For Serving:

3 to 4 handfuls salad greens

Preparation

Make the chicken: Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Pour 3 tablespoons of the olive oil into a Dutch oven large enough to hold the chicken, then toss in all but 1 piece of the onion. Add the garlic and 4 sprigs each of the thyme and rosemary. Stir to coat, then season generously with salt and pepper.

Pat the chicken dry, season the inside with salt and pepper, and tuck in the remaining piece of onion and herb sprigs. Rub the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice from the lemon half over the bird, and then pop the lemon inside it with the herbs and onion. Settle the chicken into the pot, breast side up. Pour in the wine and cover.

Roast the chicken for 60 minutes, then check on it: It’s done when a thermometer plunged into the thickest part of the thigh has reached 165 degrees. If it’s done but doesn’t have enough color for you, you can run it under the broiler for a few minutes; if it’s not done, remove the lid and continue to roast until done, 15 to 30 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a platter, cover loosely with a foil tent, and let rest.

While the chicken rests, make the vinaigrette: Pour off the pan drippings, measure out 6 tablespoons and return them to the pot. (If your drippings are scant or very dark, you can still use them. Keep any extra drippings for another use.) Hold onto the garlic but discard the onion and herbs from the pot. Place the pot over medium heat, pour in 1/2 cup water, and boil for a couple of minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any stuck bits. You should have about 1/3 cup of drippings; if they’re very chunky, strain them when you add them to the vinaigrette.

Working in a medium bowl, mash 6 to 8 cloves of the soft garlic with the mustard, then whisk in the vinegar. Slowly whisk in the reserved liquid, followed by the walnut oil, if using. Taste for salt and pepper, then pour the vinaigrette into a small pitcher.

To serve, carve the chicken, cutting it into quarters or eighths, and arrange on the platter. Pour over a little of the vinaigrette. Dress the salad greens lightly with vinaigrette and serve on the platter or in a shallow bowl. Pass the rest of the sauce at the table.

LOADED BAKED POTATO

This yumminess is from Tara Holland on TheKitchn, a site I absolutely love (along with its sibling site, Apartment Therapy). If you haven't checked out either site, feel free to; they're both fantastic.

This starts off, "With its creamy, buttery center and crispy bacon topping, a loaded baked potato is comfort food at its best. Every cheesy, decadent bite is better than the last, and when you’ve polished off the center, you’re treated to the salty, crackly skin."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes; Makes 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.thekitchn.com/loaded-baked-potato-recipe-23198227.

Ingredients

6 slices regular or thick-cut bacon (about 7 ounces)

4 large russet potatoes (8 to 10 ounces each)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 medium scallions

1 bunch fresh chives

3/4 cup sour cream, divided

1/4 cup whole or 2% milk

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper or black pepper

Directions

Arrange 2 shelves to divide the oven into thirds, then heat the oven to 400ºF. Meanwhile, wash and scrub 4 large russet potatoes. Prick each potato all over with a fork. Rub the potatoes all over with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place 6 slices bacon in a single layer on the foil.

Place the bacon on the upper rack and the potatoes directly on the lower rack. Bake until the bacon is crisp and golden-brown, 15 to 20 minutes, and the potatoes have crisp skin and are fork-tender, about 1 hour.

When the bacon is ready, immediately transfer to a clean cutting board. Cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-wide pieces.

Meanwhile, shred 8 ounces cheddar cheese on the large holes of a box grater (about 2 cups). Cut 5 tablespoons unsalted butter into a few pieces and place in a large bowl. Thinly slice 3 medium scallions, keeping the whites and dark green parts separate. Finely chop 1 bunch fresh chives until you have 4 tablespoons. Transfer the scallion whites and 3 tablespoons of the chives to the bowl of butter. Reserve the scallion greens and remaining 1 tablespoon chives for garnish.

When potatoes are ready, set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Discard the foil from the baking sheet, then line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut a slit lengthwise most of the way down each potato, making sure the halves are still connected. Carefully scoop out the potato flesh and place in the bowl of butter, leaving about 1/4-inch potato flesh as the shell. Place the potato shells skin-side down on the baking sheet.

Coarsely mash the potato-butter mixture directly in the bowl with a potato masher or fork until the butter is melted. Add half of the bacon, 1 cup of the cheese, 6 tablespoons of the sour cream, 1/4 cup milk, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, the remaining 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon white or black pepper. Mix thoroughly with rubber spatula until combined.

Divide the mixture between the potato shells, mounding the mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake on the upper rack until the cheese is melted, about 8 minutes.

Sprinkle with the remaining bacon and reserved scallion greens. Dollop with the remaining 6 tablespoons sour cream and sprinkle with the reserved chives.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

TURKEY VEGGIE SLOPPY JOES

This is from The Mayo CLinic.

Serves 10; Serving size: 1 sandwich

To view this online, go to http://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/recipe/turkey-veggie-sloppy-joes.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground turkey breast meat (or 12 ounces soy-based crumbles)

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)

1 medium carrot, finely chopped

1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1 1/2 cups zucchini, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 can low-sodium tomato paste (6 ounces) 1 1/2 cups water

1 tablespoon mild chili powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

5 ounces reduced-fat cheddar cheese, thinly sliced 10 whole-wheat hamburger buns

Directions

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté ground turkey until browned, about 7 minutes. Add onion and sauté 2 minutes. Add carrot and green pepper and sauté 2 minutes. Add zucchini and garlic and sauté 2 minutes more.

Add tomato paste and water, stirring until the paste has dissolved. Add chili powder, paprika, oregano and pepper. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until the mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes.

Preheat broiler. Divide cheese among the bottom halves of the hamburger buns. Transfer both halves of the buns to the broiler, open-faced, and toast until the cheese has melted and the buns are toasted.

Remove buns from the broiler and fill each sandwich with the meat-vegetable mixture. Serve immediately.

HEARTY HAM AND WHITE BEAN SOUP

This is by Pam Anderson and was in the January 2010 issue of Runner's World (page 44; "The Athlete's Palate"). It begins, "The cabbage in this dish is rich in vitamin C and fiber, as well as phytonutrients that helpl protect against some cancers. To save time and speed up the cooking process, heat the broth and tomatoes in the microwave while chopping the vegetables."

Pam Anderson has a really great cooking site, called Three Many Cooks. I really recommend it. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap

And now, on to the soup.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 sweet onion, diced into medium pieces

1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

2 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin

1/2 cabbage, cored, cut into bite-size shreds

12 ounces lean ham steak, diced into small pieces

1 quart chicken broth

1 14.5-ounce can petite-diced tomatoes

2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, undrained

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

Heat the oil over medium-high in a soup kettles. Add the onion, saute until soft and golden, about five minutes. Add the Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant, about one minute. Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a full simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce heat to low, simmer gently (partially covered) until the vegetables are just cooked and flavors blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley; cover and let stand five minutes. Serve's six.

ITALIAN GRILLED STUFFED PEPPERS

This comes from Kraft and begins, “Discover these Italian Grilled Stuffed Peppers and bring a little bit of Italy into your kitchen! These grilled stuffed peppers are delicious!”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Servings: 6 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups water, divided

1-1/2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked

2 cups frozen BOCA Veggie Ground Crumbles

1 small zucchini, chopped

1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning

1-1/2 cups OLIVO by CLASSICO Traditional Pasta Sauce, divided

1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

1 large each red, yellow and green pepper, cut lengthwise in half, seeded

Directions

Heat grill to medium-high heat.

Bring 1-1/2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min. Stir in crumbles, zucchini, seasoning and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese; spoon into peppers.

Place each filled pepper half on center of 12-inch-square sheet heavy-duty foil. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Spoon 1 Tbsp. of the remaining water onto bottom of each foil packet. Double fold top and ends to seal packets, leaving room for heat circulation inside.

Grill 20 to 25 min. or until peppers are crisp-tender and filling is heated through (160ºF).