Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the day, including Mediterranean Chicken and Pasta and Rao's Meatballs With Marinara Sauce. Enjoy!
CHEESEBURGER STUFFED SHELLS
This is from Machismo on Tbsp., and begins, “Cheeseburgers? Good. Stuffed Shells? Good. Together? Amazing. Cheesy beef and onions are stuffed inside pasta shells and baked to hearty perfection.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 sweet onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. ground beef
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup ketchup
3 cups grated cheddar cheese, divided
18 large pasta shells (from a 16 oz. box)
Extra ketchup, for serving
Fresh oregano, garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, start heating a large pot of water for cooking the pasta.
Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking up the beef as it cooks, until the meat is well browned, another 8-10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in ketchup and 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese at the very end and remove mixture from the heat.
Cook shells according to package until they are al dente. Be careful not to overcook the shells or they will fall apart later. Drain shells and let cool briefly. (For best results, cook more than 18 shells in case any break or tear during cooking.)
Working one at a time, stuff each shell with a generous spoonful of cheeseburger filling and place in a large baking dish. Repeat process until you’ve used all of the cheeseburger mixture.
Add 1/4 cup of water to the baking dish and cover it tightly in foil. Bake shells for 15 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the top of the shells and bake uncovered for 10 more minutes, until cheese is completely melted.
Remove from oven and garnish shells with a drizzle of ketchup and sprinkle of fresh oregano, if desired. Serve warm.
MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN AND PASTA
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “A Dutch-oven meal means there are no extra pots to wash.” That’s a plus, as far as I’m concerned!
Serves: 6; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 pounds chicken pieces, skinned
salt or fresh ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup prunes, cut into quarters
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup capers, drained
1/4 cup green olives, pitted*
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crumbled
1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 ounces spaghetti
Directions
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. In large, nonstick skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil. Add chicken a few pieces at a time; cook, turning occasionally, until golden on all sides. Add remaining ingredients except pasta. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes or until chicken is tender. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain. Serve chicken and sauce over hot pasta.
To pit olives, gently hit each with a mallet or the side of a large knife. The olive will easily fall away from pit.
VEGETARIAN TORTILLA SOUP
This is from Alison Roman in The New York Times cooking email. Alison wrote, “This vegetarian version of tortilla soup is no less complex than its chicken counterpart, thanks to plenty of vegetables, spices and a secret ingredient: canned chipotles in adobo. Smoked and dried jalapeños softened in a vinegar-tomato mixture, these little powerhouses do much of the heavy lifting in this vegetarian soup, offering depth and a certain meatiness to an otherwise light and tangy broth.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 1 1/4 hours
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the Soup:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 jalapeño, seeds removed, finely chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons chile powder
2 chipotles in adobo, finely chopped
1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, drained and crushed
4 cups vegetable broth
2 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen and thawed
For the Tortillas and Assembly:
2 cups vegetable oil
8 small corn tortillas, cut into 1/4-inch strips
Kosher salt
1 avocado, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup crumbled queso fresco or shredded Cheddar or Monterey jack
3/4 cup sour cream or crema
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 red or yellow onion, finely chopped
Lime wedges, for serving
Preparation
Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and jalapeño and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and translucent, 5 to 8 minutes. Add chile powder and stir to coat. Cook a minute or two to toast the spices, then add chipotles and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to caramelize a bit on the bottom of the pot, concentrating their flavor.
Add vegetable broth, corn and 2 cups of water. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Simmer until flavors meld and broth tastes rich and flavorful, 15 to 20 minutes.
Heat oil in a large cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet or heavy-bottomed pot. Bring oil to 375 degrees and working in batches, fry tortilla strips until light golden brown and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt.
Place about 3/4 of the tortilla strips into broth and stir to submerge and soften for a few minutes. Divide soup among bowls and top with avocado, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, onion and remaining fried tortilla strips. Serve lime alongside for squeezing.
STIR-FRIRED KUNG PAO CHICKEN WITH CHILI PEPPERS
This is from Rhonda Parkinson on The Spruce. Ronda wrote, “In this healthier version of traditional Kung Pao Chicken, the chicken is stir-fried instead of deep-fried, reducing the fat content.”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 3 - 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless, 7 to 8 ounces each)
8 small dried red chili peppers
2 cloves garlic
2 green onions (spring onions, scallions)
4 tablespoons oil (for stir-frying, or as needed)
Optional: 1 teaspoon Szechuan peppercorn
1/2 cup peanuts (or cashews)
Optional: few drops sesame oil
For the Marinade:
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons Chinese rice wine (or dry sherry)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
For the Sauce:
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine (or dry sherry)
1 teaspoon sugar
Directions
Cut the chicken into 1-inch cubes.
Combine marinade ingredients, adding the cornstarch last. Marinate the chicken for 25 minutes.
While the chicken is marinating, prepare the sauce and vegetables: In a small bowl, combine the dark soy sauce, rice wine, and sugar. Set aside.
Cut the chilies in half so that they are approximately the same size as the chicken cubes. Remove the seeds.
Peel and finely chop the garlic. Cut the green onion on the diagonal into thirds.
Heat the wok over medium-high to high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil.
When the oil is hot, add the chicken. Stir-fry until it turns white and is 80 percent cooked. Remove from the wok.
Add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and stir-fry until aromatic (about 30 seconds).
Add the chili peppers and the Szechuan peppercorn if using. Stir-fry briefly until they turn dark red.
Add the sauce to the wok. Bring to a boil.
Add the chicken back into the pan. Stir in the peanuts and the green onion.
Remove from the heat and stir in the sesame oil. Serve hot.
RED VELVET CHEESECAKE
Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchen
Total: 2 hr; Prep: 20 min; Cook: 1 hr 40 min; Yield: 10 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
For the crust:
1 1/2 cups finely crushed chocolate wafer cookies (about 28 cookies)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/3 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
For the filling:
4 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon red food coloring
Directions
Watch how to make this recipe.
Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix the cookie crumbs, melted butter, sugar and salt in a bowl. Press into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Put the pan on a baking sheet and bake until set, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely.
Make the filling: Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the flour, then beat in the eggs one at a time. Transfer 2 cups batter to a bowl; stir in the cocoa powder and food coloring. Pour the red batter into the crust, then pour the white batter on top. Using a spoon, pull some of the red batter up from the bottom of the cake and swirl. Bake until the edges are set but the center is still wobbly, about 1 hour, 20 minutes.
Turn off the oven but keep the cake inside to cool, 20 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan (don't remove the springform side), then transfer to a rack to cool. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before slicing.
RAO’S MEATBALLS WITH MARINARA SAUCE
This comes from Adam Nagourney in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Adam wrote, “This is one of the signature dishes at Rao’s, the East Harlem red-sauce joint that is best-known for a loyal, boldface-name clientele that makes it difficult to get a table. The restaurant now has satellites in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.”
Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Time: About 1 1/2 hours
This was featured in “At Rao’s In Los Angeles, Red Sauce And Rivalry”, and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 ounces salt pork, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons minced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 28-ounce cans imported Italian crushed tomatoes
6 leaves fresh basil, torn into small pieces
Pinch of dried oregano
Salt and ground black pepper
For the Meatballs:
1 pound ground lean beef
1/2 pound ground veal
1/2 pound ground pork
2 large eggs
1 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 small garlic clove, minced
Salt and ground black pepper
2 cups fine dry bread crumbs
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, lightly smashed
Preparation
Make the sauce: Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, then add the salt pork. Sauté until fat has rendered, about 5 minutes. Remove and discard salt pork. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and sauté just until softened. Add tomatoes with their juice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce is slightly thickened, about 45 minutes. Add the basil, oregano and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 1 minute more.
Make the meatballs: In a mixing bowl, combine the beef, veal and pork. Add the eggs, cheese, parsley and minced garlic, then salt and pepper as desired. Add the bread crumbs and mix well. Slowly add up to 2 cups water, 1/2 cup at a time, until the mixture is moist; all the water may not be needed. Shape into 1 1/2 -inch meatballs.
Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the smashed garlic and sauté until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes, then discard the garlic. Working in batches and taking care not to crowd the pan, add meatballs and fry until undersides are brown and slightly crisp, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn and brown the other sides, about 5 minutes more. Transfer cooked meatballs to paper towels to drain, then add to the marinara sauce. Mix gently and serve.
Showing posts with label Mediterranean Chicken & Pasta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mediterranean Chicken & Pasta. Show all posts
Monday, April 2, 2018
Monday, February 12, 2018
Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Here are six recipes to help you through the day, including Panettone Bread Pudding and Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Chili. Enjoy!
RED VELVET DOUGHNUTS
This is from Diana Rattry, Southern food expert for The Spruce. Diana wrote, “These red velvet doughnuts are as delicious as they are attractive. They make a wonderful treat for any time of the year, and the vibrant red color makes them an excellent choice for a Valentine's Day or Christmas morning.
“Glaze the doughnuts with a cream cheese frosting or plain vanilla icing and decorate them with red sugars or candies. These doughnuts will be an instant hit!”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield: 10 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Doughnuts
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (5 1/2 ounces)
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup buttermilk*
1 tablespoon red food coloring
4 tablespoons butter ( melted, cooled slightly)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
Vanilla Icing
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar (sift after measuring)
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 tablespoon butter (melted)
1 tablespoons water (or more, as needed)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Icing
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar (sift after measuring)
2 tablespoons cream cheese (softened)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons milk (or more, as needed)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Spray doughnut pans with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt. Stir with a whisk or spoon to blend thoroughly.
In a large bowl, whisk the egg with the buttermilk (or sour milk), red food coloring, melted butter, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and vinegar.
Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir just until blended.
Spoon the batter into a small plastic food storage bag.
Cut a small corner from the bag and pipe the batter into the cavities of the doughnut pan, filling them about half full.
Bake standard size doughnuts for about 10 to 12 minutes. Bake mini doughnuts for about 6 minutes.
Dip the tops of the doughnuts into the cream cheese or vanilla icing to glaze or spread with the icing (see below).
The recipe makes about 10 standard baked doughnuts or about 16 to 18 mini baked doughnuts.
Vanilla Icing
In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on low speed, combine the sifted powdered sugar with the light corn syrup, melted butter, 1 tablespoon of water and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Beat the icing, adding more water in small amounts until the desired consistency is reached.
Cream Cheese Icing
In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on low speed, combine the powdered sugar with the softened cream cheese, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons of milk.
Beat the icing, adding more milk in small amounts until the desired consistency is reached.
*Sour milk is a good buttermilk substitute. To make sour milk, put 1 1/2 teaspoons of white vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup. Add milk to the 1/2-cup line. Stir and let stand for about 5 minutes. It might look curdled, but that's okay.
PANETTONE BREAD PUDDING
This is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, “If you’ve bought a loaf of truly fantastic panettone, made in the Italian tradition from a natural starter, the kind that’s airy and melting, we hope you don’t have any leftovers. But if you find yourself with an excess of mass-produced panettone, or simply very old panettone that’s past its prime, here’s how to transform it into something special. Cut it into thick slices, as the pastry chef Elisabeth Prueitt does with brioche, when she makes her bread pudding at Tartine Bakery in San Francisco. Toast them. Now layer the bread in a wide dish, and pour over a whisked custard of milk and eggs. It will look like too much liquid, but as it bakes, the panettone will soak it all up, becoming moist and tender and impossibly rich. It’s close enough to a casserole of French toast to make it ideal for a special holiday breakfast, but sweet enough to step in as dessert on a cold night. Vanilla would be a classic way to flavor the custard, but panettone tends to be quite sweet and perfumed already, so taste the bread first before adding extras.”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 10 minutes plus 1 hour baking
This was featured in “Panettone Has Become an Obsession for American Bakers,” and can be viewed here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
6 to 8 slices panettone
6 eggs
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 cups whole milk
Confectioners' sugar, to garnish
Preparation
Heat the oven to 350 degrees and butter a deep baking dish that will fit all the bread slices in a single layer, overlapping slightly, about 9 by 5 inches. Place the sliced panettone on a sheet pan and lightly toast it in the oven so that it’s still flexible, but dry to the touch, about 10 minutes. Arrange toast in the baking dish.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar and salt, then add the milk and whisk until smooth. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer over the panettone, allowing the excess mixture to fill up the pan. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the bread has soaked up all the custard and puffed up, and the custard is no longer runny. Allow to cool at least 30 minutes before serving, then use a fine-mesh sieve to dust all over with confectioners' sugar and serve.
SLOW COOKER SWEET AND SPICY CHILI
This recipe is from Kellie Hemmerly on TODAY’s, and begins, “This Sweet and Spicy Chili is made in the slow cooker for deep, concentrated flavor. The BEST chili recipe around, I use a secret ingredient to create a sweet-tart background to this slightly spicy recipe.”
Kellie’s website, The Suburban Soapbox, looks pretty cool; I recommend checking it out!
Anyway, to view this recipe online, click here.
Servings: 1 cup; Yield: 10-12 servings; Prep Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 4 hr
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef (I used 80-20)
1 large onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 large jalapeno peppers, minced (remove the seeds and veins for less heat...leave them for more heat)
1/4 cup chili powder
3 tablespoons ground cumin
3 tablespoons ground cayenne pepper
2 tablespoon crushed red pepper
6 ounce jar of chopped sweet peppers and juice
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 - 28 ounce can tomato sauce
1 - 28 ounce can crushed fire roasted tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
In a large frying pan, brown the ground beef until no longer pink and transfer to the slow cooker using a slotted spoon. Drain off all but two tablespoons of fat and add the onions to the pan. Cook the onions over med-high heat until they begin to soften. Add the peppers to the onions and sauté until softened. Add the garlic and jalapeno peppers, cooking for one minute longer. Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker with the beef.
Add the chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, sweet peppers and juice to the beef mixture and stir to combine. Add the brown sugar, tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes stirring thoroughly to be sure all the ingredients are incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook in the slow cooker on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours.
Serve with your favorite chili toppings, we love greek yogurt, sour cream, shredded cheddar, green onions, and pickled jalapenos...just to name a few.
MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN AND PASTA
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “A Dutch-oven meal means there are no extra pots to wash.” That’s a plus, as far as I’m concerned!
Serves: 6; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 pounds chicken pieces, skinned
salt or fresh ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup prunes, cut into quarters
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup capers, drained
1/4 cup green olives, pitted*
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crumbled
1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 ounces spaghetti
Directions
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. In large, nonstick skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil. Add chicken a few pieces at a time; cook, turning occasionally, until golden on all sides. Add remaining ingredients except pasta. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes or until chicken is tender. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain. Serve chicken and sauce over hot pasta.
To pit olives, gently hit each with a mallet or the side of a large knife. The olive will easily fall away from pit.
BAKED POTATO CASSEROLE
I'm really not sure where I found this recipe. It's been kicking around my computer for a while.
Ingredients:
8 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 cup Carnation Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk
1/2 cup light sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups (8 oz. Pkg) shredded 2% cheddar cheese, divided
6 slices turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided
Sliced green onions (optional)
Directions:
Place potatoes in large saucepan. Cover with water, bring to a boil. Cook over medium-high heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. Drain.
Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease 2 1/2 – to 3-quart casserole dish.
Return potatoes to saucepan, add evaporated milk, sour cream, salt and pepper. Beat with hand-held mixer until smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese and half of bacon. Spoon mixture into prepared casserole dish.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, remaining bacon and green onions. Bake for an additional 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.
STUFFED PEPPERS WITH GROUND BEEF AND RICE
This is from Diana Rattray of The Spruce. Diana wrote, “Stuffed bell peppers make a delicious everyday meal with a tossed salad, or mashed or baked potatoes served alongside. The filling in this classic version includes ground beef and rice. Because the ground beef is not browned before it's added to the peppers, it should be quite lean. Replace the ground beef with ground turkey for a lighter option.
“This tried-and-true recipe is a family favorite, and many people consider the dish a comfort food. Make these easy stuffed peppers and find out why this dish is so popular!”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 85 minutes; Total Time: 110 minutes; Yield: 6 servings.
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
6 green bell peppers (or a combination of red and green)
1 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 clove garlic (crushed)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
2 teaspoons salt (divided)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (divided)
1 egg (lightly beaten)
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 1/2 cups long-grain rice (cooked)
Optional: Shredded mild cheddar cheese (about 1/2 to 3/4 cup)
Directions
Cut the tops off of the bell peppers and rinse them under cold water; remove seeds and cut away the white ribs, which might be bitter. Chop the edible part of tops and set aside. Place the peppers in a large pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until the oil is hot and the butter is foamy. Sauté the chopped bell pepper (from the tops), chopped onion, and chopped celery for about 5 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Add the (undrained) canned diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, crushed garlic, oregano, basil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg with the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Gently stir to blend; add ground beef, cooked rice, and 1 cup of the tomato sauce mixture. Mix well.
Heat the oven to 350 F.
Stuff the peppers loosely with the ground beef mixture and place them in a 13-by-9-by-2-inch baking pan. Pour the remaining tomato mixture over the stuffed peppers.
Bake the peppers for about 45 minutes, or until the meat mixture is thoroughly cooked. The meat should be cooked in that amount of time, but if you want to be sure, check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer. The minimum safe temperature is 160 F for ground beef, pork or lamb, or 165 F for ground turkey or chicken.
Tips and Variations
Top stuffed peppers with a small amount of shredded cheddar cheese just before they are done and then return them to the oven and bake just until the cheese has melted.
Use green bell peppers or red bell peppers, or any combination of colors.
Ground turkey or ground chicken may be used to replace all or part of the ground beef in the recipe. Or add some extra-lean ground pork to the ground beef.
The peppers may also be halved horizontally so you have two halves to fill. You won't have the extra chopped pepper from the tops, but you can chop an extra bell pepper.
RED VELVET DOUGHNUTS
This is from Diana Rattry, Southern food expert for The Spruce. Diana wrote, “These red velvet doughnuts are as delicious as they are attractive. They make a wonderful treat for any time of the year, and the vibrant red color makes them an excellent choice for a Valentine's Day or Christmas morning.
“Glaze the doughnuts with a cream cheese frosting or plain vanilla icing and decorate them with red sugars or candies. These doughnuts will be an instant hit!”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Yield: 10 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Doughnuts
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (5 1/2 ounces)
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup buttermilk*
1 tablespoon red food coloring
4 tablespoons butter ( melted, cooled slightly)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
Vanilla Icing
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar (sift after measuring)
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 tablespoon butter (melted)
1 tablespoons water (or more, as needed)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Icing
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar (sift after measuring)
2 tablespoons cream cheese (softened)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons milk (or more, as needed)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Spray doughnut pans with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt. Stir with a whisk or spoon to blend thoroughly.
In a large bowl, whisk the egg with the buttermilk (or sour milk), red food coloring, melted butter, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and vinegar.
Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir just until blended.
Spoon the batter into a small plastic food storage bag.
Cut a small corner from the bag and pipe the batter into the cavities of the doughnut pan, filling them about half full.
Bake standard size doughnuts for about 10 to 12 minutes. Bake mini doughnuts for about 6 minutes.
Dip the tops of the doughnuts into the cream cheese or vanilla icing to glaze or spread with the icing (see below).
The recipe makes about 10 standard baked doughnuts or about 16 to 18 mini baked doughnuts.
Vanilla Icing
In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on low speed, combine the sifted powdered sugar with the light corn syrup, melted butter, 1 tablespoon of water and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Beat the icing, adding more water in small amounts until the desired consistency is reached.
Cream Cheese Icing
In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on low speed, combine the powdered sugar with the softened cream cheese, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons of milk.
Beat the icing, adding more milk in small amounts until the desired consistency is reached.
*Sour milk is a good buttermilk substitute. To make sour milk, put 1 1/2 teaspoons of white vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup. Add milk to the 1/2-cup line. Stir and let stand for about 5 minutes. It might look curdled, but that's okay.
PANETTONE BREAD PUDDING
This is from Tejal Rao in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, “If you’ve bought a loaf of truly fantastic panettone, made in the Italian tradition from a natural starter, the kind that’s airy and melting, we hope you don’t have any leftovers. But if you find yourself with an excess of mass-produced panettone, or simply very old panettone that’s past its prime, here’s how to transform it into something special. Cut it into thick slices, as the pastry chef Elisabeth Prueitt does with brioche, when she makes her bread pudding at Tartine Bakery in San Francisco. Toast them. Now layer the bread in a wide dish, and pour over a whisked custard of milk and eggs. It will look like too much liquid, but as it bakes, the panettone will soak it all up, becoming moist and tender and impossibly rich. It’s close enough to a casserole of French toast to make it ideal for a special holiday breakfast, but sweet enough to step in as dessert on a cold night. Vanilla would be a classic way to flavor the custard, but panettone tends to be quite sweet and perfumed already, so taste the bread first before adding extras.”
Yield: 8 servings; Time: 10 minutes plus 1 hour baking
This was featured in “Panettone Has Become an Obsession for American Bakers,” and can be viewed here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
6 to 8 slices panettone
6 eggs
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 cups whole milk
Confectioners' sugar, to garnish
Preparation
Heat the oven to 350 degrees and butter a deep baking dish that will fit all the bread slices in a single layer, overlapping slightly, about 9 by 5 inches. Place the sliced panettone on a sheet pan and lightly toast it in the oven so that it’s still flexible, but dry to the touch, about 10 minutes. Arrange toast in the baking dish.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar and salt, then add the milk and whisk until smooth. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer over the panettone, allowing the excess mixture to fill up the pan. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the bread has soaked up all the custard and puffed up, and the custard is no longer runny. Allow to cool at least 30 minutes before serving, then use a fine-mesh sieve to dust all over with confectioners' sugar and serve.
SLOW COOKER SWEET AND SPICY CHILI
This recipe is from Kellie Hemmerly on TODAY’s, and begins, “This Sweet and Spicy Chili is made in the slow cooker for deep, concentrated flavor. The BEST chili recipe around, I use a secret ingredient to create a sweet-tart background to this slightly spicy recipe.”
Kellie’s website, The Suburban Soapbox, looks pretty cool; I recommend checking it out!
Anyway, to view this recipe online, click here.
Servings: 1 cup; Yield: 10-12 servings; Prep Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 4 hr
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef (I used 80-20)
1 large onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 large jalapeno peppers, minced (remove the seeds and veins for less heat...leave them for more heat)
1/4 cup chili powder
3 tablespoons ground cumin
3 tablespoons ground cayenne pepper
2 tablespoon crushed red pepper
6 ounce jar of chopped sweet peppers and juice
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 - 28 ounce can tomato sauce
1 - 28 ounce can crushed fire roasted tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
In a large frying pan, brown the ground beef until no longer pink and transfer to the slow cooker using a slotted spoon. Drain off all but two tablespoons of fat and add the onions to the pan. Cook the onions over med-high heat until they begin to soften. Add the peppers to the onions and sauté until softened. Add the garlic and jalapeno peppers, cooking for one minute longer. Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker with the beef.
Add the chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, sweet peppers and juice to the beef mixture and stir to combine. Add the brown sugar, tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes stirring thoroughly to be sure all the ingredients are incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook in the slow cooker on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours.
Serve with your favorite chili toppings, we love greek yogurt, sour cream, shredded cheddar, green onions, and pickled jalapenos...just to name a few.
MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN AND PASTA
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “A Dutch-oven meal means there are no extra pots to wash.” That’s a plus, as far as I’m concerned!
Serves: 6; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 pounds chicken pieces, skinned
salt or fresh ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup prunes, cut into quarters
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup capers, drained
1/4 cup green olives, pitted*
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crumbled
1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 ounces spaghetti
Directions
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. In large, nonstick skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil. Add chicken a few pieces at a time; cook, turning occasionally, until golden on all sides. Add remaining ingredients except pasta. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes or until chicken is tender. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain. Serve chicken and sauce over hot pasta.
To pit olives, gently hit each with a mallet or the side of a large knife. The olive will easily fall away from pit.
BAKED POTATO CASSEROLE
I'm really not sure where I found this recipe. It's been kicking around my computer for a while.
Ingredients:
8 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 cup Carnation Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk
1/2 cup light sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups (8 oz. Pkg) shredded 2% cheddar cheese, divided
6 slices turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided
Sliced green onions (optional)
Directions:
Place potatoes in large saucepan. Cover with water, bring to a boil. Cook over medium-high heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. Drain.
Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease 2 1/2 – to 3-quart casserole dish.
Return potatoes to saucepan, add evaporated milk, sour cream, salt and pepper. Beat with hand-held mixer until smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese and half of bacon. Spoon mixture into prepared casserole dish.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, remaining bacon and green onions. Bake for an additional 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.
STUFFED PEPPERS WITH GROUND BEEF AND RICE
This is from Diana Rattray of The Spruce. Diana wrote, “Stuffed bell peppers make a delicious everyday meal with a tossed salad, or mashed or baked potatoes served alongside. The filling in this classic version includes ground beef and rice. Because the ground beef is not browned before it's added to the peppers, it should be quite lean. Replace the ground beef with ground turkey for a lighter option.
“This tried-and-true recipe is a family favorite, and many people consider the dish a comfort food. Make these easy stuffed peppers and find out why this dish is so popular!”
Prep Time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 85 minutes; Total Time: 110 minutes; Yield: 6 servings.
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
6 green bell peppers (or a combination of red and green)
1 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 clove garlic (crushed)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
2 teaspoons salt (divided)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (divided)
1 egg (lightly beaten)
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 1/2 cups long-grain rice (cooked)
Optional: Shredded mild cheddar cheese (about 1/2 to 3/4 cup)
Directions
Cut the tops off of the bell peppers and rinse them under cold water; remove seeds and cut away the white ribs, which might be bitter. Chop the edible part of tops and set aside. Place the peppers in a large pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until the oil is hot and the butter is foamy. Sauté the chopped bell pepper (from the tops), chopped onion, and chopped celery for about 5 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Add the (undrained) canned diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, crushed garlic, oregano, basil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg with the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Gently stir to blend; add ground beef, cooked rice, and 1 cup of the tomato sauce mixture. Mix well.
Heat the oven to 350 F.
Stuff the peppers loosely with the ground beef mixture and place them in a 13-by-9-by-2-inch baking pan. Pour the remaining tomato mixture over the stuffed peppers.
Bake the peppers for about 45 minutes, or until the meat mixture is thoroughly cooked. The meat should be cooked in that amount of time, but if you want to be sure, check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer. The minimum safe temperature is 160 F for ground beef, pork or lamb, or 165 F for ground turkey or chicken.
Tips and Variations
Top stuffed peppers with a small amount of shredded cheddar cheese just before they are done and then return them to the oven and bake just until the cheese has melted.
Use green bell peppers or red bell peppers, or any combination of colors.
Ground turkey or ground chicken may be used to replace all or part of the ground beef in the recipe. Or add some extra-lean ground pork to the ground beef.
The peppers may also be halved horizontally so you have two halves to fill. You won't have the extra chopped pepper from the tops, but you can chop an extra bell pepper.
Monday, January 29, 2018
Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the day, including Turkey Meatloaf with Feta and Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Cheeseburger Stuffed Shells. Enjoy!
SLOW COOKER SWEET AND SPICY CHILI
This recipe is from Kellie Hemmerly on TODAY’s, and begins, “This Sweet and Spicy Chili is made in the slow cooker for deep, concentrated flavor. The BEST chili recipe around, I use a secret ingredient to create a sweet-tart background to this slightly spicy recipe.”
Kellie’s website, The Suburban Soapbox, looks pretty cool; I recommend checking it out!
Anyway, to view this recipe online, click here.
Servings: 1 cup; Yield: 10-12 servings; Prep Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 4 hr
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef (I used 80-20)
1 large onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 large jalapeno peppers, minced (remove the seeds and veins for less heat...leave them for more heat)
1/4 cup chili powder
3 tablespoons ground cumin
3 tablespoons ground cayenne pepper
2 tablespoon crushed red pepper
6 ounce jar of chopped sweet peppers and juice
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 - 28 ounce can tomato sauce
1 - 28 ounce can crushed fire roasted tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
In a large frying pan, brown the ground beef until no longer pink and transfer to the slow cooker using a slotted spoon. Drain off all but two tablespoons of fat and add the onions to the pan. Cook the onions over med-high heat until they begin to soften. Add the peppers to the onions and sauté until softened. Add the garlic and jalapeno peppers, cooking for one minute longer. Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker with the beef.
Add the chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, sweet peppers and juice to the beef mixture and stir to combine. Add the brown sugar, tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes stirring thoroughly to be sure all the ingredients are incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook in the slow cooker on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours.
Serve with your favorite chili toppings, we love greek yogurt, sour cream, shredded cheddar, green onions, and pickled jalapenos...just to name a few.
TURKEY MEATLOAF WITH FETA AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES
This is from Giada de Laurentiis on the Food Network show, Giada at Home.
Total: 1 hr 5 min; Prep: 15 min; Inactive: 5 min; Cook: 45 min; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Vegetable cooking spray
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup chopped garlic and herb-marinated sun-dried tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced, optional
2 eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons whole milk
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound ground turkey, preferably dark meat
Directions
Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Spray a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, if using, eggs, milk, feta, salt, and pepper. Add the turkey and gently stir to combine, being careful not to overwork the meat.
Carefully pack the meat mixture into the prepared pan and bake until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and slice. Put on a serving platter and serve.
CHEESEBURGER STUFFED SHELLS
This is from Machismo on Tbsp., and begins, “Cheeseburgers? Good. Stuffed Shells? Good. Together? Amazing. Cheesy beef and onions are stuffed inside pasta shells and baked to hearty perfection.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 sweet onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. ground beef
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup ketchup
3 cups grated cheddar cheese, divided
18 large pasta shells (from a 16 oz. box)
Extra ketchup, for serving
Fresh oregano, garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, start heating a large pot of water for cooking the pasta.
Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking up the beef as it cooks, until the meat is well browned, another 8-10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in ketchup and 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese at the very end and remove mixture from the heat.
Cook shells according to package until they are al dente. Be careful not to overcook the shells or they will fall apart later. Drain shells and let cool briefly. (For best results, cook more than 18 shells in case any break or tear during cooking.)
Working one at a time, stuff each shell with a generous spoonful of cheeseburger filling and place in a large baking dish. Repeat process until you’ve used all of the cheeseburger mixture.
Add 1/4 cup of water to the baking dish and cover it tightly in foil. Bake shells for 15 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the top of the shells and bake uncovered for 10 more minutes, until cheese is completely melted.
Remove from oven and garnish shells with a drizzle of ketchup and sprinkle of fresh oregano, if desired. Serve warm.
MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN AND PASTA
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “A Dutch-oven meal means there are no extra pots to wash.” That’s a plus, as far as I’m concerned!
Serves: 6; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 pounds chicken pieces, skinned
salt or fresh ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup prunes, cut into quarters
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup capers, drained
1/4 cup green olives, pitted*
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crumbled
1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 ounces spaghetti
Directions
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. In large, nonstick skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil. Add chicken a few pieces at a time; cook, turning occasionally, until golden on all sides. Add remaining ingredients except pasta. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes or until chicken is tender. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain. Serve chicken and sauce over hot pasta.
To pit olives, gently hit each with a mallet or the side of a large knife. The olive will easily fall away from pit.
BAKED APPLES
This came from an old Weight Watcher’s email, and had a points value of 3 points each. I have no idea what the new points value each serving would have now, nor do I have the exact email to find the recipe. Very yummy, though.
4 apples, small
1 C applesauce, unsweetened
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 C water
2 C vanilla nonfat yogurt
1/4 ground cinnamon
4 tsp pecans or walnuts, toasted & chopped
Core apples, leaving bottom intact so they can be filled. Place upright in small glace microwaveable baking dish. Stir applesauce, cinnamon & brown sugar. Spoon mixture into apples. Pour water into bottom of baking dish. Cover dish & microwave at medium for 12-15 minutes until apples are soft. Remove from microwave & allow to cool. Spoon yogurt over each apple, garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon & toasted pecans or walnuts.
LEMON CAKE WITH STRAWBERRIES
This comes from Rebecca Franklin, About.com's French Food expert. She writes, “This French olive oil cake recipe makes a tangy, simple cake from ingredients already in most kitchens. A little lemon and a bit of olive oil create a lusciously light texture in this recipe, which is derived from a classic pound cake. Serve it with coffee or tea for a simple sweet, or as part of a breakfast buffet. It's guaranteed to be a hit at the dessert table and it's preparation is amazingly effortless.” Prep Time: 720 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 765; Yield: 1 cake.
Yes, I did a double-take, too, on the prep and total times. However, the strawberry sauce has to marinate for up to 24 hours.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 ounces extra light olive oil
2 eggs
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/3 cup plain yogurt
1 2/3 cup granulated sugar
3 cups self-rising flour
Macerated strawberries:
2 pounds strawberries, hulled and sliced or chopped
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Preparation
How to make fresh strawberry sauce: Toss the strawberries with the sugar and lemon juice and allow them to marinate in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
How to make olive oil cake: Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan and set it aside.
Whisk the olive oil, eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, yogurt, and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. Stir in the flour until it is completely incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake the cake for 45 minutes, until the surface is light golden brown and the cake tests done with a wooden pick in the center.
Allow the olive oil cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, and then loosen the sides and remove the cake from the pan. Allow the cake to continue cooling on a wire rack. Serve it with the macerated strawberries.
SLOW COOKER SWEET AND SPICY CHILI
This recipe is from Kellie Hemmerly on TODAY’s, and begins, “This Sweet and Spicy Chili is made in the slow cooker for deep, concentrated flavor. The BEST chili recipe around, I use a secret ingredient to create a sweet-tart background to this slightly spicy recipe.”
Kellie’s website, The Suburban Soapbox, looks pretty cool; I recommend checking it out!
Anyway, to view this recipe online, click here.
Servings: 1 cup; Yield: 10-12 servings; Prep Time: 20 min; Cooking Time: 4 hr
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef (I used 80-20)
1 large onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 large jalapeno peppers, minced (remove the seeds and veins for less heat...leave them for more heat)
1/4 cup chili powder
3 tablespoons ground cumin
3 tablespoons ground cayenne pepper
2 tablespoon crushed red pepper
6 ounce jar of chopped sweet peppers and juice
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 - 28 ounce can tomato sauce
1 - 28 ounce can crushed fire roasted tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
In a large frying pan, brown the ground beef until no longer pink and transfer to the slow cooker using a slotted spoon. Drain off all but two tablespoons of fat and add the onions to the pan. Cook the onions over med-high heat until they begin to soften. Add the peppers to the onions and sauté until softened. Add the garlic and jalapeno peppers, cooking for one minute longer. Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker with the beef.
Add the chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, sweet peppers and juice to the beef mixture and stir to combine. Add the brown sugar, tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes stirring thoroughly to be sure all the ingredients are incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste and cook in the slow cooker on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours.
Serve with your favorite chili toppings, we love greek yogurt, sour cream, shredded cheddar, green onions, and pickled jalapenos...just to name a few.
TURKEY MEATLOAF WITH FETA AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES
This is from Giada de Laurentiis on the Food Network show, Giada at Home.
Total: 1 hr 5 min; Prep: 15 min; Inactive: 5 min; Cook: 45 min; Yield: 4 to 6 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Vegetable cooking spray
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup chopped garlic and herb-marinated sun-dried tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced, optional
2 eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons whole milk
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound ground turkey, preferably dark meat
Directions
Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Spray a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, if using, eggs, milk, feta, salt, and pepper. Add the turkey and gently stir to combine, being careful not to overwork the meat.
Carefully pack the meat mixture into the prepared pan and bake until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and slice. Put on a serving platter and serve.
CHEESEBURGER STUFFED SHELLS
This is from Machismo on Tbsp., and begins, “Cheeseburgers? Good. Stuffed Shells? Good. Together? Amazing. Cheesy beef and onions are stuffed inside pasta shells and baked to hearty perfection.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 50 minutes; Servings: 4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 sweet onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. ground beef
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup ketchup
3 cups grated cheddar cheese, divided
18 large pasta shells (from a 16 oz. box)
Extra ketchup, for serving
Fresh oregano, garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, start heating a large pot of water for cooking the pasta.
Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking up the beef as it cooks, until the meat is well browned, another 8-10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in ketchup and 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese at the very end and remove mixture from the heat.
Cook shells according to package until they are al dente. Be careful not to overcook the shells or they will fall apart later. Drain shells and let cool briefly. (For best results, cook more than 18 shells in case any break or tear during cooking.)
Working one at a time, stuff each shell with a generous spoonful of cheeseburger filling and place in a large baking dish. Repeat process until you’ve used all of the cheeseburger mixture.
Add 1/4 cup of water to the baking dish and cover it tightly in foil. Bake shells for 15 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the top of the shells and bake uncovered for 10 more minutes, until cheese is completely melted.
Remove from oven and garnish shells with a drizzle of ketchup and sprinkle of fresh oregano, if desired. Serve warm.
MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN AND PASTA
This is from FamilyTime, and begins, “A Dutch-oven meal means there are no extra pots to wash.” That’s a plus, as far as I’m concerned!
Serves: 6; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 pounds chicken pieces, skinned
salt or fresh ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup prunes, cut into quarters
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup capers, drained
1/4 cup green olives, pitted*
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crumbled
1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 ounces spaghetti
Directions
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. In large, nonstick skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil. Add chicken a few pieces at a time; cook, turning occasionally, until golden on all sides. Add remaining ingredients except pasta. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes or until chicken is tender. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain. Serve chicken and sauce over hot pasta.
To pit olives, gently hit each with a mallet or the side of a large knife. The olive will easily fall away from pit.
BAKED APPLES
This came from an old Weight Watcher’s email, and had a points value of 3 points each. I have no idea what the new points value each serving would have now, nor do I have the exact email to find the recipe. Very yummy, though.
4 apples, small
1 C applesauce, unsweetened
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 C water
2 C vanilla nonfat yogurt
1/4 ground cinnamon
4 tsp pecans or walnuts, toasted & chopped
Core apples, leaving bottom intact so they can be filled. Place upright in small glace microwaveable baking dish. Stir applesauce, cinnamon & brown sugar. Spoon mixture into apples. Pour water into bottom of baking dish. Cover dish & microwave at medium for 12-15 minutes until apples are soft. Remove from microwave & allow to cool. Spoon yogurt over each apple, garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon & toasted pecans or walnuts.
LEMON CAKE WITH STRAWBERRIES
This comes from Rebecca Franklin, About.com's French Food expert. She writes, “This French olive oil cake recipe makes a tangy, simple cake from ingredients already in most kitchens. A little lemon and a bit of olive oil create a lusciously light texture in this recipe, which is derived from a classic pound cake. Serve it with coffee or tea for a simple sweet, or as part of a breakfast buffet. It's guaranteed to be a hit at the dessert table and it's preparation is amazingly effortless.” Prep Time: 720 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 765; Yield: 1 cake.
Yes, I did a double-take, too, on the prep and total times. However, the strawberry sauce has to marinate for up to 24 hours.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
6 ounces extra light olive oil
2 eggs
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/3 cup plain yogurt
1 2/3 cup granulated sugar
3 cups self-rising flour
Macerated strawberries:
2 pounds strawberries, hulled and sliced or chopped
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Preparation
How to make fresh strawberry sauce: Toss the strawberries with the sugar and lemon juice and allow them to marinate in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
How to make olive oil cake: Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan and set it aside.
Whisk the olive oil, eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, yogurt, and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. Stir in the flour until it is completely incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake the cake for 45 minutes, until the surface is light golden brown and the cake tests done with a wooden pick in the center.
Allow the olive oil cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, and then loosen the sides and remove the cake from the pan. Allow the cake to continue cooling on a wire rack. Serve it with the macerated strawberries.
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