Confessions of a Foodie

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Showing posts with label Quick Skillet Ziti. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quick Skillet Ziti. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Pasta Party

“Everything you see, I owe to spaghetti.” - La bella Sophia Loren, a walking advertisement for carbo loading.

Found in Loose Cannons: Devastating Dish from the World's Wildest Women, complied by Autumn Stephens, page 20

I stumbled across the above quote while looking for quotes for another one of my blogs (Quote of the Day), and figured it fit in perfectly for one of my pasta party posts.

Today's offerings include Chicken Spaghetti and Quick Skillet Ziti. Enjoy!

CREAMY ROASTED RED PEPPER PENNE

This is from Lindsay Funston on Delish. Lindsay wrote, “With a super-light cream sauce, this spinach and roasted red pepper penne is addictive.”

Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4

To view this online, click here.

Note: This recipe originally called for chicken broth, which I've exchanged for veggie broth. Also, if you can get hold of a veggie version of heavy cream – maybe soy? Whatever – go for it.

Ingredients

12 oz. penne

1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 c. baby spinach

1 c. sliced jarred roasted red peppers

1/2 c. heavy cream

1/2 c. low-sodium vegetable broth

1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

freshly grated Parmesan, for serving

Directions

In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook penne according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water, and return to pot.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and garlic and cook until soft, 5 minutes, then add spinach and roasted red peppers. Cook until wilted and warmed through, 3 minutes.

Stir in heavy cream, vegetable broth, and 1/4 cup pasta water and bring to a simmer.

Add cooked penne to pan and stir until coated, then season with crushed red pepper flakes.

Garnish with Parmesan and serve.

CHICKEN FAJITA PASTA

This is from tbsp.com, and begins, “Tex-Mex meets Italian in this awesomely easy weeknight dinner dish.”

Prep: 20 minutes; Total: 40 minutes; Servings: 4

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 lb. chicken breast, sliced thin

1 packet Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix chicken

1/4 cup water

1/2 red bell pepper, sliced thin

1/2 green bell pepper, sliced thin

1/2 yellow bell pepper, sliced thin

1/2 red onion, sliced thin

1/2 lb. spaghetti (1/2 of a 16 oz. box)

4 oz. cheddar cheese, grated

Salt and pepper

Directions

In a large skillet, add olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken and cook, stirring regularly, until chicken is cooked through, around 8 minutes.

Add chicken seasoning to the skillet along with 1/4 cup water and stir together. Add sliced bell peppers and onion and cook until they are softened a bit.

Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package until al dente. When pasta is cooked through, use tongs to move it directly from the cooking water to the chicken fajita skillet. Stir to combine, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Top the skillet with grated cheddar cheese and reduce heat to low until cheese is melted. Serve hot.

QUICK SKILLET ZITI

This is from Family Time, and begins, “Ground beef and pasta are a winning combination for quick weekday meals that are nostalgic and full of good taste.”

Serves 4 (1 1/4 cups each); Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

Prego® Marinara Italian Sauce or 1 jar (24 ounces) Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce

5 cups tube-shaped pasta (ziti), cooked and drained

Grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook the beef in a 10-inch skillet until it's well browned, stirring often to break up the meat. Pour off any fat.

Stir the sauce and pasta in the skillet and heat through. Sprinkle with the cheese.

CHICKEN SPAGHETTI

Is it a chicken dish? Spaghetti? Both! This yummy recipes is from Ree Drummond of The Food Network’s The Pioneer Woman, and begins, “With spaghetti and mushroom sauce, and light and dark meat chicken with bell peppers, Ree Drummond's casserole is like two meals in one. Cooking the spaghetti in the same liquid as the chicken infuses it with flavor, and the Cheddar thickens the sauce so it coats each piece of meat.”

Total: 1 hr 40 min; Active: 20 min; Yield: 8 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/chicken-spaghetti-recipe.

Ingredients

1 whole raw chicken, cut into 8 pieces

1 pound thin spaghetti, broken into 2-inch pieces

2 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar

1/4 cup finely diced green bell pepper

1/4 cup finely diced red bell pepper

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Two 10 3/4-ounce cans cream of mushroom soup

1 medium onion, finely diced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the chicken pieces to the boiling water and boil for a few minutes, then return the heat to medium-low and simmer, 30 to 45 minutes.

Remove the chicken and 2 cups of the chicken cooking broth from the pot. When the chicken is cool, remove the skin and pick out the meat (a mix of dark and white) to make 2 generous cups.

Cook the spaghetti in the same chicken cooking broth until al dente. Do not overcook. When the spaghetti is cooked, combine with the chicken, mushroom soup, 1 1/2 cups cheese, the green peppers, red peppers, onions, seasoned salt, cayenne, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir in 1 cup of the reserved chicken cooking broth, adding an additional cup if needed.

Place the mixture in a casserole pan and top with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Cover and freeze up to 6 months, cover and refrigerate up to 2 days or bake immediately until bubbly, about 45 minutes. (If the cheese on top starts to get too cooked, cover with foil).

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN PARMESAN PASTA

This comes from Chungah Rhee on her wonderful site, Damn Delicious. If you haven’t checked out her site, which I definitely recommend, you should!

For this recipe, Chungah wrote, “Save time/effort and make everyone’s FAVORITE Italian dish in your crockpot. You can also freeze half for another meal!”

Yield: 8 servings; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes

1 onion, diced

1 tablespoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

1 pound penne

1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions:

Season chicken with salt and pepper, to taste. Place chicken into a 6-qt slow cooker.

In a large bowl, combine crushed tomatoes, onion, basil, oregano, parsley and red pepper flakes, if using. Stir into the slow cooker and gently toss to combine. Cover and cook on low heat for 4 hours.

Remove chicken from the slow cooker and shred, using two forks.

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well.

Stir pasta and chicken into the slow cooker; top with cheeses. Cover and cook on low heat for an additional 10-20 minutes, or until the cheeses have melted.

Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.

CHEESE-STUFFED SHELLS IN MARINARA SAUCE

This is from Familytime, and begins, “A traditional Italian-style favorite is made easier for you! Combine Buitoni Marinara Sauce with stuffed shells, add a tossed salad and warm bread and sit down to a satisfying meal!” Serves: 6; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

12 dried jumbo whole-wheat or regular pasta shells, prepared according to package directions

1 cup (4 ounces)shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, divided

1 cup fat free or reduced-fat ricotta cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 large egg

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 container (15 oz.) BUITONI® refrigerated Marinara Sauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degree F.

Combine 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg and pepper in a medium bowl. Stuff each shell evenly with cheese mixture; place in ungreased 12 x 71/2-inch (2-quart rectangular) baking dish. Pour sauce over shells.

Bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

For Freeze Ahead:

Prepare as above; do not bake. Do not top with remaining mozarella cheese. Cover; freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Monday, February 5, 2018

Pasta Party - Double-Post Monday

Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's double post deals with one of my favorites foods, pasta, for a pasta party. Here are six yummy pasta recipes to try out, including Cheeseburger Stuffed Shells and Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Pasta. Enjoy!

QUICK SKILLET ZITI

This is from Family Time, and begins, “Ground beef and pasta are a winning combination for quick weekday meals that are nostalgic and full of good taste.”

Serves 4 (1 1/4 cups each); Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

Prego® Marinara Italian Sauce or 1 jar (24 ounces) Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce

5 cups tube-shaped pasta (ziti), cooked and drained

Grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook the beef in a 10-inch skillet until it's well browned, stirring often to break up the meat. Pour off any fat.

Stir the sauce and pasta in the skillet and heat through. Sprinkle with the cheese.

SLOW COOKER LASAGNA

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

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

Ingredients

1/2 pound ground beef

1/2 pound Italian sausage (I use hot)

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 large onion, chopped*

1 tsp Italian seasoning

2 Tbsp parsley

2 tsp garlic powder

2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 (6 oz) can tomato paste

1 (29 oz) can tomato sauce

2 Tbsp granulated sugar

1 1/4 cups water

1 (8 oz) package regular lasagna noodles, uncooked

4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1-1/2 cups cottage cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

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

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

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

Recipe Notes

*You could substitute 1-2 Tbsp dried minced onion

LIGHT LASAGNA

This is from a long-since-forgotten emailing list (possibly a Weight Watchers email), and starts off, “This is from my new cookbook "Fix it and Forget it Light" Lowfat Crockpot recipes.-Sams' Club.”

Makes 8 servings

4 1/2 C fat free, low sodium meatless spaghetti sauce

1/2 C water

16-oz fat-free ricotta cheese

2 C shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided

3/4 C parmesan cheese, divided

1 egg

2 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp Italian seasoning

8 oz box no-cook lasagna noodles.

Mix spaghetti sauce and 1/2 c water in a bowl.

In a separate bowl, mix ricotta, 1 1/2c mozzarella cheese, 1/2 c parmesan cheese, egg, garlic and seasoning.

Spread 1/4 of the sauce mixture in bottom of slow cooker. Top with 1/3 of the noodles. Breaking to fit if needed.

Spread with 1/3 of the cheese mixture, making sure noodles are covered.

Repeat layers twice more.

Spread with remaining sauce.

Cover. Cook on low 5 hours.

Sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Cover. Let stand 10 min to allow cheese to melt.

Per serving: 360 celeries (90 calories from fat = 25% fat) 10 grams fat (4.5g saturated, 0 trans) 40 mg cholesterol, 870 mg sodium, 39g total carbohydrates (6g fiber, 10g sugar) 25g protein, 50% DV calcium, 10% DV iron.

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN PARMESAN PASTA

This comes from Chungah Rhee on her wonderful site, Damn Delicious. If you haven’t checked out her site, which I definitely recommend, you should!

For this recipe, Chungah wrote, “Save time/effort and make everyone’s FAVORITE Italian dish in your crockpot. You can also freeze half for another meal!”

Yield: 8 servings; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes

1 onion, diced

1 tablespoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

1 pound penne

1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions:

Season chicken with salt and pepper, to taste. Place chicken into a 6-qt slow cooker.

In a large bowl, combine crushed tomatoes, onion, basil, oregano, parsley and red pepper flakes, if using. Stir into the slow cooker and gently toss to combine. Cover and cook on low heat for 4 hours.

Remove chicken from the slow cooker and shred, using two forks.

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well.

Stir pasta and chicken into the slow cooker; top with cheeses. Cover and cook on low heat for an additional 10-20 minutes, or until the cheeses have melted.

Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.

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.

CHICKEN SPAGHETTI

Is it a chicken dish? Spaghetti? Both! This yummy recipes is from Ree Drummond of The Food Network’s The Pioneer Woman, and begins, “With spaghetti and mushroom sauce, and light and dark meat chicken with bell peppers, Ree Drummond's casserole is like two meals in one. Cooking the spaghetti in the same liquid as the chicken infuses it with flavor, and the Cheddar thickens the sauce so it coats each piece of meat.”

Total: 1 hr 40 min; Active: 20 min; Yield: 8 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/chicken-spaghetti-recipe.

Ingredients

1 whole raw chicken, cut into 8 pieces

1 pound thin spaghetti, broken into 2-inch pieces

2 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar

1/4 cup finely diced green bell pepper

1/4 cup finely diced red bell pepper

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Two 10 3/4-ounce cans cream of mushroom soup

1 medium onion, finely diced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the chicken pieces to the boiling water and boil for a few minutes, then return the heat to medium-low and simmer, 30 to 45 minutes.

Remove the chicken and 2 cups of the chicken cooking broth from the pot. When the chicken is cool, remove the skin and pick out the meat (a mix of dark and white) to make 2 generous cups.

Cook the spaghetti in the same chicken cooking broth until al dente. Do not overcook. When the spaghetti is cooked, combine with the chicken, mushroom soup, 1 1/2 cups cheese, the green peppers, red peppers, onions, seasoned salt, cayenne, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir in 1 cup of the reserved chicken cooking broth, adding an additional cup if needed.

Place the mixture in a casserole pan and top with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Cover and freeze up to 6 months, cover and refrigerate up to 2 days or bake immediately until bubbly, about 45 minutes. (If the cheese on top starts to get too cooked, cover with foil).

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Pasta Party! Double-Post Thursday

Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also Double-Post Thursday. Today's double post deals with having a pasta party!

If you love pasta as much as I do, you're sure to find something you like from today's six recipes, including Cheese-Stuffed Shells in Marinara Sauce and Quick Skillet Ziti. Enjoy!

SLOW COOKER BAKED ZITI

This is from Ashley Fehr, “a high school teacher turned food blogger” in Canada. Her food blog, The Recipe Rebel is really nice. Check it out!

This recipe begins, “This Slow Cooker Baked Ziti is actually made completely in the crockpot -- even the pasta! It is so much easier than the traditional version but packs all of the same flavor!”

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 4 hours; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes.

To view this online (and to read Ashley’s notes on the recipe), click here.

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef, turkey or Italian sausage

1 onion, finely chopped

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 (28oz) can diced tomatoes

1 650ml (around 22 ounces) jar pasta sauce (about 2 1/2 cups)

2 1/2 cups water or chicken broth

1 375g (about 13-14 ounces) box Penne or Ziti (or other short) pasta (about 4 cups)

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion until browned. Stir in garlic and salt and cook 1 minute.

Add beef mixture, basil, parsley, tomatoes, pasta sauce and water to a 4qt (or larger) slow cooker. Stir.

Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.

Add pasta and stir until combined. Cover and continue cooking for 20-45 minutes (depending on how hot your slow cooker is) -- check and stir at the 20 minute mark.

Sprinkle with cheese and cover for 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted.

CAULIFLOWER MAC AND CHEESE

This is from Sheela Prakash on TheKitchn. Sheela wrote, “What if I told you that you could have a rich and creamy bowl of mac and cheese while also packing in over a pound of cauliflower? Sounds like a trick, right? No so fast! This recipe does just that, thanks to a base of cheesy cauliflower sauce.”

Serves 8

To view this online, click here.

For the cauliflower cheese sauce:

2 cloves garlic, crushed

3 sprigs fresh thyme

2 bay leaves

2 medium heads cauliflower, cut into florets

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 cup grated Gruyère cheese

1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the macaroni and cheese:

1 pound dry cavatappi pasta or medium pasta shells

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 cup fresh or panko breadcrumbs

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Arrange a rack in the top third of the oven and heat to 400°F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.

Make the cauliflower cheese sauce: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, thyme, and bay leaves and boil for 5 minutes to infuse water.

Add the cauliflower and cook until very fork tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cauliflower to a rimmed baking sheet or medium bowl out of the water, leaving the herbs and garlic behind in the pot (do not drain the pot).

Place 1/2 of the cauliflower in a blender or food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Scoop out 3/4 cup of the cooking liquid and add it to the blender along with 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil. Blend until very smooth, about 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer the purée to a large bowl. Repeat with the remaining cauliflower, 3/4 cup of cooking liquid, and remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil; transfer to the same bowl.

Add the cheddar, Gruyère, mustard, salt, and pepper into the purée and whisk to combine. Taste and season with more salt and pepper as needed; set aside.

For the macaroni and cheese: Bring the pot of infused water back to a boil. Add the pasta and cook per package instructions until just al dente. Meanwhile, combine the melted butter and breadcrumbs in a small bowl; set aside.

Drain the pasta, discard the herbs and garlic cloves, and add the pasta to the bowl of cauliflower sauce. Stir gently until the pasta is entirely coated.

Transfer the mixture to the baking dish and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over the top, followed by the grated Parmesan.

Transfer the dish to the oven and bake until the sauce is bubbling and the top is golden-brown, 15 to 20 minutes. If the pasta becomes bubbly before the top is golden, you can run the dish under the broiler for a minute or two to crisp the topping.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Make ahead: After transferring the pasta and cauliflower sauce mixture to the baking dish, it can be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 day. Return to room temperature, sprinkle the buttered breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese on top, and proceed with baking.

Freezing: After transferring the pasta and cauliflower sauce mixture to the baking dish, it can be also be covered tightly with aluminum foil and frozen for up to 2 months. Bake, frozen and covered, at 350°F, for 1 hour. Uncover, sprinkle with the buttered breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese, and bake until the topping is golden-brown, 15 to 20 minutes more.

QUICK PASTA PESTO

This was in a Weight Watchers' email several years ago. The recipe begins, “Pasta with cheese and cream sauces can rack up a lot of empty calories, but make simple substitutions, like swapping cream for evaporated skim milk, and you can enjoy your favorite pasta dishes anytime.”

POINTS® Value: 8; Servings: 4; Preparation Time | 5 min; Cooking Time: 10 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

3 Tbsp pesto sauce, sun-dried tomato variety preferred

3 cup mixed vegetables, chopped, fresh or frozen

1 cup fat-free evaporated milk

4 cup cooked pasta

1 oz part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded



Directions

Heat a large nonstick pan coated with cooking spray. Add pesto sauce and vegetables; cook, stirring until softened, about 2 minutes.

Add milk, bring to a boil and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in pasta and cheese; cook until heated through. Yields about 1 1/2 cups per serving.

CHEESE-STUFFED SHELLS IN MARINARA SAUCE

This is from Familytime, and begins, “A traditional Italian-style favorite is made easier for you! Combine Buitoni Marinara Sauce with stuffed shells, add a tossed salad and warm bread and sit down to a satisfying meal!” Serves: 6; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

12 dried jumbo whole-wheat or regular pasta shells, prepared according to package directions

1 cup (4 ounces)shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, divided

1 cup fat free or reduced-fat ricotta cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 large egg

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 container (15 oz.) BUITONI® refrigerated Marinara Sauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degree F.

Combine 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg and pepper in a medium bowl. Stuff each shell evenly with cheese mixture; place in ungreased 12 x 71/2-inch (2-quart rectangular) baking dish. Pour sauce over shells.

Bake for 25 minutes or until bubbly. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

For Freeze Ahead:

Prepare as above; do not bake. Do not top with remaining mozarella cheese. Cover; freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

QUICK SKILLET ZITI

This is from Family Time, and begins, “Ground beef and pasta are a winning combination for quick weekday meals that are nostalgic and full of good taste.”

Serves 4 (1 1/4 cups each); Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

Prego® Marinara Italian Sauce or 1 jar (24 ounces) Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce

5 cups tube-shaped pasta (ziti), cooked and drained

Grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook the beef in a 10-inch skillet until it's well browned, stirring often to break up the meat. Pour off any fat.

Stir the sauce and pasta in the skillet and heat through. Sprinkle with the cheese.

PUMPKIN ALFREDO PASTA

This is from Delish, and begins, “This gourd-eous pasta is irresistibly creamy.” Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

kosher salt

1 lb. pasta

extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 c. sage leaves

Flaky sea salt

1 onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 15-oz. can pumpkin purée

1/4 c. dry white wine

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into slices and chilled

1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan

1 c. sour cream

Directions

Bring an 8-quart stock pot of water to a boil and generously season with salt. Cook pasta according to al dente package directions.

Meanwhile, in a small skillet over medium-high heat add 4 to 5 tablespoon olive oil; when oil is hot but not smoking add dry sage leaves and fry 4 to 5 seconds until crispy. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle with sea salt; set aside.

In a large skillet over medium heat sauté onions and garlic, about 1 minute. Add pumpkin and white wine and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in cheese and butter until melted and creamy. Stir in sour cream and pasta until well coated.

Garnish with fried sage leaves and serve.

Monday, November 27, 2017

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 Easy Chicken Pot Pie and Chile Relleno Stuffed Peppers. Enjoy!

ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP

From a long-since-forgotten-emailing-list.

Prep Time 15 minutes; Cooking Time 60 minutes; Serves 10

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef

1 egg, (or 2 egg whites)

1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs

3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons grated onion

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

6 cups chicken broth

6 cups water

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon celery salt

2/3 cup orzo, (tiny rice shaped grains of pasta)

2 cups thinly sliced escarole

grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Combine first 7 ingredients and form into tiny balls, about 1/2 inch in diameter.

Bring 6 cups of water to a slow boil in a stockpot. Add the chicken broth and season with onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, salt and pepper to taste.

Add the meatballs, and cook for a few minutes until done. Remove the meatballs with a slotted spoon. Add the orzo and cook for about 5 minutes.

Add the escarole. Add the meatballs back to the soup pot, heat and serve.

Top with Parmesan cheese.

Tips

The secret to this recipe's flavor is the cheese, add a tablespoon or two to the finished soup to enhance the flavor!

TACO STUFFED PEPPERS

This comes from Lauren Miyahira on Delish, and begins, “Taco 'bout a healthy dinner!”

Total Time: 35 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 Onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

1 clove garlic, minced

1 lb. ground beef

kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp. Chopped cilantro

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. smoked paprika

3 bell peppers, halved (seeds removed)

1 c. shredded Cheddar

1 c. Shredded Monterey Jack

1 c. Shredded lettuce

Pico de gallo, for serving

Hot sauce, for serving

Lime wedges, for serving

Directions

Preheat oven to 375° and spray a large baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat about 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Add onion and cook until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain fat.

Add chili powder, ground cumin, and paprika to beef mixture, then season with salt and pepper.

Drizzle bell peppers with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the peppers, cut side up, in the baking dish and spoon meat mixture into each pepper. Top with cheese and bake until the cheese is melted and the peppers are crisp-tender, about 20 minutes.

Top each pepper with lettuce and serve with pico de gallo, hot sauce, and lime wedges.

QUICK SKILLET ZITI

This is from Family Time, and begins, “Ground beef and pasta are a winning combination for quick weekday meals that are nostalgic and full of good taste.”

Serves 4 (1 1/4 cups each); Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

Prego® Marinara Italian Sauce or 1 jar (24 ounces) Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce

5 cups tube-shaped pasta (ziti), cooked and drained

Grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook the beef in a 10-inch skillet until it's well browned, stirring often to break up the meat. Pour off any fat.

Stir the sauce and pasta in the skillet and heat through. Sprinkle with the cheese.

EASY CHICKEN POT PIE

This comes from Christin Mahrlig of Spicy Southern Kitcen. Christin wrote, “This easy to make Chicken Pot Pie utilizes refrigerated pie crusts and rotisserie chicken to make a super delicious and comforting pot pie loaded with chicken, potatoes, peas, and carrots.”

Prep Time: 20 mins; Cook Time: 30 mins; Total Time: 50 mins

To view this online, go to https://spicysouthernkitchen.com/easy-chicken-pot-pie/.

Ingredients

1 cup peeled and diced potato

3/4 cup sliced carrot

1/2 cup Challenge butter

2/3 cup diced onion

1 1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 cup milk

3 cups shredded chicken from a rotisserie chicken

1 cup peas

2 refrigerated pie crusts

1 egg beaten together with 1 tablespoon water to make an egg wash

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Place potatoes and carrots in a small saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil for 5-8 minutes to soften. Drain.

Melt 1/2 cup butter in a large sauté pan. Add onions and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.

Add salt, pepper, thyme, and poultry seasoning. Sprinkle flour on top and cook for 1 minute, stirring to evenly cook the flour.

Gradually whisk in chicken broth and then milk. Add potatoes and carrots and let simmer for a few minutes to thicken. Check for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if desired.

Stir in chicken and peas. Turn heat off.

Fit 1 pie crust into the bottom of a deep dish pie plate. Pour filling into pie shell.

Place second pie crust on top and trim excess. Press the two pie crusts together to seal and crimp edge using your fingers.

Brush egg white on top of the pot pie and use a knife to cut 4 slits to let steam escape.

Place on a baking sheet and place in oven and bake for 30 minutes.

CHILE RELLENO STUFFED PEPPERS

This comes from Molly Watson, a Local Foods Expert for The Spruce. Molly wrote, “Stuffed peppers don't have to be bland and boring, these chile relleno-inspired peppers are full of tons of flavor. The zesty and satisfying filling of spicy chorizo, diced zucchini, poblano chile, and potatoes gets a creamy edge from queso fresco. The topping of melted and browned jack cheese ain't too shabby either.

“Note that the potatoes and cheese add a bit of filling power, while the peppers, zucchini, and aromatics mean you're getting a decent dose of veggies in the mix. Rice and beans on the side are tasty and round out these peppers nicely, but simply a few tortillas or some bread fills out the meal too. You might also like these Baked Chiles Rellenos.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 80 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

4 green bell peppers

1 tablespoon olive oil, divided

1 small red onion

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 links Mexican chorizo (the kind in casings like bratwurst or Italian sausages)

2 Russett potatoes

1 zucchini

1 poblano chile

2 cloves garlic

6 ounces queso fresco*

3 ounces Monterey jack cheese

1/2 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves

Directions

Preheat an oven to 375F.

Rinse the peppers clean and pat them dry. Use a sharp knife to cut out and remove the stems. Cut the peppers in half lengthwise; cut out and discard any white-ish parts from inside, and discard any seeds clinging to the sides.

Lightly grease a large baking dish using about a teaspoon of the olive oil, lay the peppers inside in a single layer, and set aside.

Peel and finely chop the onion. Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil in a large frying pan over medium heat, add the onion and salt and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is softened, about 3 minutes.

Remove the chorizo from its casings and add it to the onion. Continue to cook, stirring frequently and breaking up the chorizo into small bits as it cooks.

Meanwhile, peel and chop the potatoes. Add the to the pan, cover and cook, stirring occasionally to keep it from sticking, until the potato is tender, about 10 minutes.

While the potato cooks, chop the zucchini and chile and add them to the mixture for the last 5 minutes of the potato cooking time.

While that all cooks, peel and mince the garlic. Add it to the mixture and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.

Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Crumble in the queso fresco and toss to combine. Divide the mixture between the 8 peppers halves.

Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. While they bake, grate the jack cheese. Uncover the pan sprinkle it on top of the stuffed peppers, and bake until bubbling and browned.

Serve hot, garnished with cilantro, if you like.

Make Ahead Tip: Make the peppers up through step 9 the day or morning before, cover and chill until ready to bake.

*Queso fresco means "fresh cheese" and is a softly firm milky cheese common in Mexican cooking. Look for it in the dairy case with other cheese. It crumbles easily into creamy chunks. If you can't find it, ricotta is frequently mentioned as a suitable substitute, although won't look as nice, or make the bit of effort and drain cottage cheese (just put it in a sieve or fine colander for about ten minutes) to dry it out a bit—it works great!

RAISIN BREAD PUDDING

This recipe begins, “Brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg will fill your kitchen with sweet aromas and sweet memories of happy faces around your table. Serve this with whipped cream or with milk for breakfast for a change of pace.”

Prep. time: 20 minutes; Serves: 8; Cooking time: 35 minutes

Source: Nestle® Very Best Baking

Ingredients

16 slices bread, cubed

1 cup raisins

2 cans (12 oz. each) NESTLÉ ® Carnation ® Evaporated Milk

4 eggs, slightly beaten

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, ground

1 jar caramel sauce, (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 12 x 8-inch baking dish.

Combine bread and raisins in large bowl. Combine evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon and nutmeg in medium bowl. Pour egg mixture over bread mixture; combine well. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Friday, November 17, 2017

Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Quick Skillet Zit and Red Velvet Vampire Cupcakes. Enjoy!

SOUTHERN CHICKEN AND DUMPLING SOUP

This comes from Tbsp., and begins, “Chicken and dumplings is classic comfort food, and nothing’s more comforting than knowing it’s assembled and ready to go in your freezer.”

Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 4

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken

1 medium carrot, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices (about 1/2 cup)

1 celery rib, halved lengthwise, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices (about 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley

3/4 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/3 cup milk

1 tablespoon butter

1 carton (32 oz) Progresso™ chicken broth

Directions

In medium bowl, mix chicken, carrot, celery and parsley.

In small bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt and pepper.

In 1-quart saucepan, heat milk and butter over medium heat until warm and butter is melted. Add warm milk mixture to flour mixture; stir until just combined. Transfer to surface sprinkled with flour; knead lightly once or twice until smooth. Using rolling pin sprinkled with flour, roll to 1/8-inch thickness. Using knife, cut rolled-out dumpling dough into 1 1/2x1-inch strips.

In 4-quart saucepan, heat broth to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium; stir in chicken mixture and dumplings. Heat to simmering; cook uncovered 7 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until dumplings are cooked through and tender.

To freeze: Mix chicken, carrot, celery and parsley in 1-quart resealable freezer plastic bag. In small bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. In 1-quart saucepan, heat milk and butter over medium heat until warm and butter is melted. Add warm milk mixture to flour mixture; stir until just combined. Transfer to surface sprinkled with flour; knead lightly once or twice until smooth. Using rolling pin sprinkled with flour, roll to 1/8-inch thickness. Using knife, cut rolled-out dumpling dough into 1 1/2x1-inch strips. Transfer to 1-quart resealable freezer plastic bag. Freeze both bags up to 3 months. When ready to serve: In 4-quart saucepan, heat broth to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to medium; stir in contents of both bags. Heat to simmering; cook uncovered 7 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until dumplings are cooked through and tender.

TEX-MEX BEEF AND RICE SKILLET

This is from tbsp., and begins, “Wherein we turn a humble pound of ground beef into a supremely satisfying and totally doable meal in a matter of minutes. Now you never have to wonder what’s for dinner. You’re welcome.”

Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Servings: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 cup diced yellow onion

1 medium red bell pepper, diced

1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels

1 can (10 oz) Old El Paso™ enchilada sauce

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

3 cups cooked white rice

1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend (4 oz)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef 6 to 8 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until brown. Drain, and wipe out skillet.

Add oil to skillet, and heat over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and corn. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender.

Stir in beef, enchilada sauce and taco seasoning mix. Heat to simmering; stir in rice. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until rice is heated through.

Top with cheese and cilantro.

QUICK SKILLET ZITI

This is from Family Time, and begins, “Ground beef and pasta are a winning combination for quick weekday meals that are nostalgic and full of good taste.”

Serves 4 (1 1/4 cups each); Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

Prego® Marinara Italian Sauce or 1 jar (24 ounces) Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce

5 cups tube-shaped pasta (ziti), cooked and drained

Grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook the beef in a 10-inch skillet until it's well browned, stirring often to break up the meat. Pour off any fat.

Stir the sauce and pasta in the skillet and heat through. Sprinkle with the cheese.

HOME/MADE MUSHROOM LASAGNA

This comes from Sam Sifton at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Monica Byrne, with her partner, Leisah Swenson, runs a tiny restaurant in Red Hook, Brooklyn, called Home/Made. A plurality of words that appear on the Home/Made menu: ‘cheese,’ ‘smoked,’ ‘bacon,’ ‘caramelized.’ Three of those four appear in Byrne’s lasagna, leaving out only bacon, which would be a fine addition. She layers smoked mozzarella over a painting of rich, garlicky béchamel and sheets of pasta, then radicchio roasted into sweetness and tossed in sauce. Sautéed mushrooms add heft and loamy funkiness, and a mixture of Fontina and Gruyère add zing.”

Yield: 6 to 8 servings; Time: 2 hours

This was featured in “Gooey Wild-Mushroom Lasagna” and can be viewed onlinehere.

Ingredients

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil or herb oil

6 large shallots, peeled and minced

1 1/2 pounds mushrooms, wild or best available oyster, shiitake, cremini, trimmed and sliced

1 cup dry white wine

1 softball-size head of radicchio, halved, cored and cut into 1/2-inch slices

Kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, or herb oil

3 large cloves garlic, peeled and minced

4 tablespoons flour, ideally instant or all-purpose

3 cups whole milk

1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg

1 cup Gruyère cheese, grated

1 cup Fontina cheese, grated

2 tablespoons best-quality truffle oil (optional)

2 9-ounce boxes of no-boil lasagna sheets

1 baseball-size ball of smoked mozzarella, sliced

1 cup fresh Parmesan, grated

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350. Place a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add 1/4 cup of the olive oil or herb oil. When it begins to shimmer, add half of the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent. Add mushrooms and toss to coat, then cook until they begin to color but are still plump, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Add white wine to deglaze pan and allow to cook down into a syrup, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Put the mushrooms into a large bowl and reserve.

Meanwhile, in another bowl, toss the radicchio with 1/4 cup olive oil or herb oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread the strips out onto a baking pan and place in the oven until the strips are lightly browned around the edges, approximately 15 minutes. Combine with mushrooms and reserve.

Make the béchamel. Place a saucepan over medium heat and melt the butter. When it foams, add the rest of the shallots and cook until they begin to turn translucent. Add the garlic and stir to combine, then cook until the garlic has started to soften. Sprinkle flour over the top and stir to combine, then cook gently until the mixture has turned light brown and gives off a nutty scent, approximately 10 minutes. Add milk to the mixture, whisking all the while, until the sauce is thick and creamy. Add the nutmeg and 1/4 cup of grated Gruyère and 1/4 cup of grated Fontina, then stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Reserve a cup of béchamel. Pour the rest over the mixture of mushrooms and radicchio, and stir to combine. Add truffle oil, if using.

Assemble lasagna. Spread plain béchamel across the bottom of a 9- by-13-inch baking pan. Place a layer of lasagna sheets across the sauce, being careful not to overlap. Spread a generous layer of mushroom mixture on top of the pasta, and follow with some grated Fontina and Gruyère. Put another layer of pasta above the cheese, and top with smoked mozzarella. Repeat until the pasta is gone and the pan is full. Top with remaining cheeses and a generous amount of grated Parmesan. Cover with a buttered sheet of aluminum foil and place in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove foil and cook until top is golden and bubbling.

APRICOT AND NUT COOKIES WITH AMARETTO ICING

This is from Giada De Laurentiis of The Food Network’s Everyday Italian.

Total: 2 hr 49 min; Prep: 4 min; Inactive: 2 hr 30 min; Cook: 15 min; Yield: 2 to 2 1/2 dozen cookies; Level: Easy

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Cookies:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 large egg

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup dried apricots, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted

2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

Icing:

1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

5 to 7 tablespoons almond flavored liqueur (recommended: Amaretto)

Directions

For the Cookies: In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg. Stir in the flour until just blended. Mix in the apricots, almonds, and pine nuts.

Transfer the dough to a sheet of plastic wrap and shape into a log, about 12-inches long and 1 1/2-inches in diameter. Wrap the dough in the plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 heavy baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cut the dough log crosswise into 1/4 to 1/2 inch-thick slices. Transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly apart. Bake until the cookies are golden around the edges, about 15 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before icing.

For the Icing: Place the confectioners' sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Gradually whisk in the almond flavored liqueur, until the mixture is of drizzling consistency.

Place the wire rack over a baking sheet. Using a spoon or fork, drizzle the cookies with the icing, allowing any excess icing to drip onto the baking sheet. Allow the icing to set before serving, about 30 minutes.

RED VELVET VAMPIRE CUPCAKES

This is from The Food Network, and begins, “No, these cupcakes don't need bandages. What looks like a gory encounter with the Count himself is just raspberry jam brightened with a drop of red food coloring. And if you dare sink your own teeth into them, you'll find that more raspberry jam and chocolate await in the center.”

Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes; Active: 1 hour; Yield: 12 cupcakes; Level: Easy

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

1 3/4 cups cake flour (see Cook's Note)

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup Dutch process cocoa powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon fine salt

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon red food coloring, plus a drop for the filling

2 teaspoons cider vinegar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 large egg, at room temperature

One 3-ounce semisweet chocolate bar

1 teaspoon coconut oil

1 cup raspberry jam

Cream Cheese Frosting:

One 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Special equipment: a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip and a plastic straw

For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

Sift the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt into a large bowl. Whisk together the buttermilk, oil, sour cream, food coloring, vinegar, vanilla and egg in another large bowl.

Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just incorporated. Divide the batter among the cupcake liners. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out with a few moist crumbs, 16 to 18 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the tin and cool completely on a wire rack.

Microwave the chocolate and coconut oil together in a small microwave-safe bowl until mostly melted, about 1 minute. Stir, then microwave again until completely smooth, about 15 seconds more.

Use a small sharp knife to cut out and remove a plug from the middle of each cupcake, making sure not to go all the way to the bottom and leaving a 1/4-inch border around the side (eat the plugs). Brush the holes with the melted chocolate and place in the freezer until the chocolate hardens, about 15 minutes.

Whisk together the jam, 1 drop of red food coloring and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl until completely smooth. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the jam into each of the chocolate holes; set aside.

For the cream cheese frosting: Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in the butter until smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Scrape into a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe on top of the cupcakes so the jam is covered.

Poke 2 holes into the frosting on each cupcake using the end of a plastic straw to resemble vampire bites, making sure you hit the cupcake and not the jam-filled hole. Drizzle the remaining jam into the holes to resemble blood.

Cook's Note

When measuring flour, we spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level off excess. (Scooping directly from the bag compacts the flour, resulting in dry baked goods.)

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Where's the Beef?

Does anyone remember the old commercial with the three little old ladies asking, "Where's the beef?" (Hint: you can see it here and here.)

Well, today's post is all about beef, with six beefy recipes to answer that old question, including Tex-Mex Beef and Rice Skillet and Taco Stuffed Peppers. Enjoy!

SLOW COOKER BEEF AND VEGETABLE TZIMMES

This was in a Weight Watchers' email several years ago. The recipe begins, “Honey-sweetened tzimmes is a classic dish for Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). Toss all the ingredients into a slow cooker in the morning before heading out to temple and you'll return home to a fabulous, no-fuss holiday meal.”

POINTS® Value: 8; Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 24 min; Cooking Time: 480 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

7 oz frozen chopped onions, about 2 cups

3 pound raw lean beef brisket, trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces (boneless)

2 large garlic clove(s), minced

2 medium sweet potato(es), peeled and cut into bite-size chunks

1/2 pound baby carrots, cut in half if large

8 small uncooked new potatoes, cut in half (unpeeled)

1 cup Dole Pitted Prunes, or other brand

4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, divided (from 2 small lemons)

5 tsp honey, divided

1 1/2 tsp table salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1 cup canned beef broth

Directions

Place onion, beef, garlic, sweet potatoes, carrots, new potatoes, prunes, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of honey in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add salt, pepper, cinnamon and broth; stir well.

Cook on low setting for 7 to 8 hours. About 5 minutes before serving, stir in remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and remaining 2 teaspoons of honey; cover and cook on low for 5 minutes. Yields about 1 1/2 cups of solids and gravy per serving.

Notes: You can substitute dried apricots for the prunes if you prefer.

For a thicker gravy, spoon 1 tablespoon of flour into a cup and stir in 1/4 cup of the tzimmes liquid until the mixture is lump-free. Add the flour mixture to the slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 10 minutes. (Adding the flour does not affect the recipe’s POINTS value.)

TEX-MEX BEEF AND RICE SKILLET

This is from tbsp., and begins, “Wherein we turn a humble pound of ground beef into a supremely satisfying and totally doable meal in a matter of minutes. Now you never have to wonder what’s for dinner. You’re welcome.”

Prep Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 35 minutes; Servings: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 cup diced yellow onion

1 medium red bell pepper, diced

1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels

1 can (10 oz) Old El Paso™ enchilada sauce

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

3 cups cooked white rice

1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend (4 oz)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef 6 to 8 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until brown. Drain, and wipe out skillet.

Add oil to skillet, and heat over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and corn. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender.

Stir in beef, enchilada sauce and taco seasoning mix. Heat to simmering; stir in rice. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until rice is heated through.

Top with cheese and cilantro.

TACO STUFFED PEPPERS

This comes from Lauren Miyahira on Delish, and begins, “Taco 'bout a healthy dinner!”

Total Time: 35 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 Onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

1 clove garlic, minced

1 lb. ground beef

kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp. Chopped cilantro

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. smoked paprika

3 bell peppers, halved (seeds removed)

1 c. shredded Cheddar

1 c. Shredded Monterey Jack

1 c. Shredded lettuce

Pico de gallo, for serving

Hot sauce, for serving

Lime wedges, for serving

Directions

Preheat oven to 375° and spray a large baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat about 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Add onion and cook until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain fat.

Add chili powder, ground cumin, and paprika to beef mixture, then season with salt and pepper.

Drizzle bell peppers with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the peppers, cut side up, in the baking dish and spoon meat mixture into each pepper. Top with cheese and bake until the cheese is melted and the peppers are crisp-tender, about 20 minutes.

Top each pepper with lettuce and serve with pico de gallo, hot sauce, and lime wedges.

STEAK MARSALA WITH CAULIFLOWER MASH
This is from The Food Network Kitchen. Total Time: 40 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 head cauliflower, cut into florets

2 sprigs rosemary (leaves from 1 sprig chopped)

Kosher salt

1 1/2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend (about 5 ounces)

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives Freshly ground pepper

4 beef eye-round steaks (1/2 inch thick; about 5 ounces each)

1 large shallot, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

8 ounces sliced white mushrooms (about 4 cups)

1/2 cup sweet Marsala wine or white wine

1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth

Directions

Combine 2 cups water, the cauliflower, whole rosemary sprig and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a pot and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook until the cauliflower is very tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to a food processor, discarding the rosemary. Add the cheese and 1 tablespoon butter and puree. Transfer to a bowl and fold in the chives; season with salt and pepper. Cover to keep warm.

Season the steaks on both sides with salt and pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over high heat until foamy and starting to brown, about 1 minute. Add the steaks and cook until browned, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.

Add 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium high and add the shallot, garlic and chopped rosemary. Cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the wine; cook until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth; cook until thickened, about 4 minutes. Add the steaks and any accumulated juices and the remaining 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet. Cook, turning the steaks to coat, 1 minute. Serve with the cauliflower puree.

QUICK SKILLET ZITI

This is from Family Time, and begins, “Ground beef and pasta are a winning combination for quick weekday meals that are nostalgic and full of good taste.”

Serves 4 (1 1/4 cups each); Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

Prego® Marinara Italian Sauce or 1 jar (24 ounces) Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce

5 cups tube-shaped pasta (ziti), cooked and drained

Grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook the beef in a 10-inch skillet until it's well browned, stirring often to break up the meat. Pour off any fat.

Stir the sauce and pasta in the skillet and heat through. Sprinkle with the cheese.

EASY LASAGNA

This was posted on AllRecipes, and begins, "A super easy and fast beef lasagna recipe. It is made with a prepared sauce, and requires no boiling of the noodles.”

Prep Time: 35 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes; 8 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef

1 onion, chopped 1 (4.5 ounce) can mushrooms, drained

1 (28 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce

1 (16 ounce) package cottage cheese

1 pint part-skim ricotta cheese

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 eggs

1 (16 ounce) package lasagna noodles

8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large skillet, cook and stir ground beef until brown. Add mushrooms and onions; saute until onions are transparent. Stir in pasta sauce, and heat through.

In a medium size bowl, combine cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and eggs.

Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 13x9 inch pan. Layer with uncooked lasagna noodles, cheese mixture, mozzarella cheese, and meat sauce. Continue layering until all ingredients are used, reserving 1/2 cup mozzarella. Cover pan with aluminum foil.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Uncover, and top with remaining half cup of mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and let stand 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Tip

Aluminum foil can be used to keep food moist, cook it evenly, and make clean-up easier.

Friday, October 20, 2017

Friday Recipes

It's finally Friday. Here are six yummy recipes to help you through the weekend, including Quick Skillet Ziti and Pumpkin Soup. Enjoy!

SLOW COOKER BAKED ZITI

This is from Ashley Fehr, “a high school teacher turned food blogger” in Canada. Her food blog, The Recipe Rebel is really nice. Check it out!

This recipe begins, “This Slow Cooker Baked Ziti is actually made completely in the crockpot -- even the pasta! It is so much easier than the traditional version but packs all of the same flavor!”

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 4 hours; Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes.

To view this online (and to read Ashley’s notes on the recipe), click here.

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef, turkey or Italian sausage

1 onion, finely chopped

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 (28oz) can diced tomatoes

1 650ml (around 22 ounces) jar pasta sauce (about 2 1/2 cups)

2 1/2 cups water or chicken broth

1 375g (about 13-14 ounces) box Penne or Ziti (or other short) pasta (about 4 cups)

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion until browned. Stir in garlic and salt and cook 1 minute.

Add beef mixture, basil, parsley, tomatoes, pasta sauce and water to a 4qt (or larger) slow cooker. Stir.

Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.

Add pasta and stir until combined. Cover and continue cooking for 20-45 minutes (depending on how hot your slow cooker is) -- check and stir at the 20 minute mark.

Sprinkle with cheese and cover for 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted.

SHEET-PAN CIDER-MUSTARD CHICKEN WITH ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

This is from Tbsp., and begins, “Coating chicken in an apple-mustard glaze and roasting with butternut squash on a sheet pan is as easy as it gets. But don’t think for a second that this all-in-one meal isn’t flavorful. That glaze is pure magic.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes; Servings: 4

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed

2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard

4 tablespoons olive oil

4 bone-in skin-on chicken breasts

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

6 cups 1-inch cubes butternut squash (from 2 1/2-lb squash)

Directions

Heat oven to 425°F. Spray 18x13-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. In small bowl, beat apple juice concentrate, mustard and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil with whisk. Reserve 3 tablespoons of the apple juice mixture; set aside.

Season chicken with 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Place on one side of baking sheet, and brush with remaining apple juice mixture.

Place squash on other side of baking sheet. Season with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Drizzle remaining 2 tablespoons oil over squash; toss to coat. Roast 30 to 40 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when thickest part is cut to bone (at least 165°F) and squash is tender.

Drizzle reserved 3 tablespoons apple juice mixture over chicken breasts, and serve.

SLOW COOKER BEEF AND VEGETABLE TZIMMES

This was in a Weight Watchers' email several years ago. The recipe begins, “Honey-sweetened tzimmes is a classic dish for Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). Toss all the ingredients into a slow cooker in the morning before heading out to temple and you'll return home to a fabulous, no-fuss holiday meal.”

POINTS® Value: 8; Servings: 8; Preparation Time: 24 min; Cooking Time: 480 min; Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

7 oz frozen chopped onions, about 2 cups

3 pound raw lean beef brisket, trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces (boneless)

2 large garlic clove(s), minced

2 medium sweet potato(es), peeled and cut into bite-size chunks

1/2 pound baby carrots, cut in half if large

8 small uncooked new potatoes, cut in half (unpeeled)

1 cup Dole Pitted Prunes, or other brand

4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, divided (from 2 small lemons)

5 tsp honey, divided

1 1/2 tsp table salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1 cup canned beef broth

Directions

Place onion, beef, garlic, sweet potatoes, carrots, new potatoes, prunes, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of honey in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add salt, pepper, cinnamon and broth; stir well.

Cook on low setting for 7 to 8 hours. About 5 minutes before serving, stir in remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and remaining 2 teaspoons of honey; cover and cook on low for 5 minutes. Yields about 1 1/2 cups of solids and gravy per serving.

Notes: You can substitute dried apricots for the prunes if you prefer.

For a thicker gravy, spoon 1 tablespoon of flour into a cup and stir in 1/4 cup of the tzimmes liquid until the mixture is lump-free. Add the flour mixture to the slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 10 minutes. (Adding the flour does not affect the recipe’s POINTS value.)

MEZZI RIGATONI WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SPICY SAUSAGEbr />
This wonderful recipe is from Giada De Laurentiis, star of The Food Network's Giada At Home, and posted on The Today Show's cooking e-newsletter. The recipe begins, “Need to put dinner on the table but the fridge and pantry are looking scarce? You're in luck because Giada De Laurentiis has two delicious meals that only use five simple ingredients. Here, the celebrity chef is sharing two great five-ingredient recipes: mezzi rigatoni with butternut squash and spicy sausage, plus flat iron steak with piquillo pepper pesto.”

To view this online, go to http://www.today.com/recipes/mezzi-rigatoni-butternut-squash-spicy-sausage-t64641

Ingredients

1 pound mezzi rigatoni pasta

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus 3 tablespoons for finishing

1 pound spicy Italian sausage, casing removed

1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/3 inch pieces

1 1/2 cups water

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided

2 cups roughly chopped baby arugula

Preparation

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until just al dente. Drain well reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon into bite sized pieces, until the sausage is cooked though. Add the diced squash to the pan and stir to combine. Add the water and season with the salt. Using the wooden spoon, make sure all of the squash is submerged. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the squash is tender and the liquid has reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Add the cooked pasta and 3/4 cup parmesan. Stir vigorously to combine, breaking up the squash slightly as you go and thinning with pasta water as needed until the pasta is coated in a light and creamy sauce. Stir in the arugula and the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Cook just until the arugula is wilted. Serve topped with the remaining Parmesan.

QUICK SKILLET ZITI

This is from Family Time, and begins, “Ground beef and pasta are a winning combination for quick weekday meals that are nostalgic and full of good taste.”

Serves 4 (1 1/4 cups each); Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

Prego® Marinara Italian Sauce or 1 jar (24 ounces) Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce

5 cups tube-shaped pasta (ziti), cooked and drained

Grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook the beef in a 10-inch skillet until it's well browned, stirring often to break up the meat. Pour off any fat.

Stir the sauce and pasta in the skillet and heat through. Sprinkle with the cheese.

PUMPKIN SOUP

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cooking Time: 20 minutes; Serves 6

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 tablespoons chopped onion

2 tablespoons flour

6 cups chicken broth

one 15-ounce can unsweetened pumpkin puree

one 8-ounce jar applesauce

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 cup heavy cream

freshly ground pepper, to taste

croutons, optional

Heat the butter in a large saucepan and saute the onions over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir until mixed. Add the chicken broth and pumpkin and stir until smooth.

Add the remaining ingredients except the cream, pepper, and croutons. Stir well, cover and simmer gently for about 20 minutes until hot and the flavors have blended.

Stir in the cream and heat until hot. Garnish with freshly ground pepper and serve immediately with crisp croutons, if desired.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Wednesday Recipes

It's feeling a little cooler in Florida...not cold, but nice out. With the lower humidity, it almost feels like autumn. Yay! And now, today's six recipes. Enjoy!

QUICK SKILLET ZITI

This comes from FamilyTime. It starts with, “Ground beef and pasta are a winning combination for quick weekday meals that are nostalgic and full of good taste.” Serves: 4 servings (1 1/ 4 cups each); Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes.

To view this online, click here.

Note: If you're a vegetarian, as I am, you can replace the ground beef with a variety of tofu crumbles.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

Prego® Marinara Italian Sauce or 1 jar (24 ounces) Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce

5 cups tube-shaped pasta (ziti), cooked and drained

Grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook the beef in a 10-inch skillet until it's well browned, stirring often to break up the meat. Pour off any fat.

Stir the sauce and pasta in the skillet and heat through. Sprinkle with the cheese.

PUMPKIN RISOTTO

This comes from Danette St. Onge, About.com's Italian Food expert. She writes, "A warm and comforting dish for fall or winter, this pumpkin risotto, a classic from Northern Italy, is easy to make and would make a great side dish for Thanksgiving dinner. Pureeing half of the pumpkin gives the risotto a lovely orange color and makes it so that the pumpkin flavor is distributed evenly through the dish, rather than just in the spoonfuls with pumpkin chunks. You can use any other winter squash in place of pumpkin, for example, acorn squash or butternut squash. This dish can easily be made vegetarian by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, or heartier by topping the finished dish with crisp-fried pancetta or bacon, or fresh sage leaves fried in butter until crisp." Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 45 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view online, click here.

Ingredients

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 clove garlic, finely minced

1 pound pumpkin (or other winter squash), cut into small chunks

4 small shallots, finely minced

2 cups Arborio or Carnaroli rice

1 cup dry white wine

6 cups of hot chicken or vegetable broth

1/2 cup freshly grated or shaved Parmigiano Reggiano

Other optional toppings for serving:

finely chopped parsley

fried and crumbled pancetta or bacon

sage leaves fried in butter till crisp

chopped fresh rosemary

Preparation

In a large saucepan, heat the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter over low heat, then add the garlic and pumpkin. Cook for abut 20 minutes, stirring often, until the pumpkin softens and starts to break down. Remove from heat and separate into two halves -- puree one half in a food processor. Set aside.

In another large saucepan, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons of the remaining butter over low heat. Add the shallots and cook until soft and transparent, about 8 minutes.

Add the rice and stir well with a wooden spoon to coat the rice evenly with the oil and butter. Add the white wine and continue cooking, stirring constantly, until the rice has absorbed the wine.

Add 3 cups of the broth and continue cooking and stirring until the liquid has been absorbed. Then add 1 more cup of broth and cook, stirring, until absorbed. Repeat until all 6 cups of broth have been used and the rice is al dente (tender but still chewy).

Stir in the pumpkin puree and chunks, lowering the heat to very low. Add the Parmigiano and remaining butter and stir until both are melted and the mixture is creamy.

Serve immediately in shallow bowls, with additional grated Parmigiano, if desired.

SOUTHWEST SALSA RICE BITES

This comes from FamilyTime, courtesy Rice to the Rescue! Recipe Contest "Best Whole Grain Brown Rice" Winner-Janet Gilbert. It starts off, "These little appetizers are perfect for your next party, or make them for a casual weekend gathering. Either way, amazing!" Makes 48 rice bites; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 to 20 minutes

To view this online, go to http://www.familytime.com/recipe/showrecipe.aspx?recipeid=67946.

Ingredients

3 cups cooked brown rice, cooled

1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese

4 large eggs

One 16-ounce jar medium or hot, thick, chunky salsa

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3/4 cup crushed corn or tortilla chips

Additional salsa and sour cream for garnish (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Mix together the rice and cheese in a large bowl and set aside.

In a medium bowl, beat the eggs until well blended. Stir in the salsa, sour cream, salt and pepper. Add the salsa mixture to the rice and cheese and mix well.

Spray miniature muffin pans with flavorless vegetable cooking spray. Spoon approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons of the rice mixture into each cup, filling to just below the rim. Sprinkle the crushed chips over the mixture and press lightly with the back of a spoon to adhere. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Serve warm with additional salsa and sour cream, if desired.

Per Serving: 287 calories; 14 g fat; 784 mg sodium; 31 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 10 g protein

MINI FRENCH SILK COOKIE PIES

This is also from the Tablespoon newsletter. This one begins, “Decadent mini pies with chocolate chip cookie crust and French silk filling. They are simply too cute to eat just one!” Prep Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hr. 15 minutes; Yields: 24 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 (16.5 ounce) roll Pillsbury™ refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted and cooled

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 large pasteurized eggs, at room temperature

Whipped cream, for serving

Chocolate shavings, for serving

Directions

Prepare the Crust: Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin. Divide chocolate chip cookie dough into 24 pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Place dough in prepared muffin tin cups.

Bake dough until deep golden brown and set, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and use the bottom of a shot glass to make an impression in each cup. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. With a butter knife, gently remove each cookie cup from the tin and transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Prepare the Filling: In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl, cream the butter until smooth. Gradually beat in the granulated sugar, continuing to combine until the mixture is light-colored and very well blended. Beat in the salt. Once the melted chocolate is completely cooled, beat in the chocolate and vanilla extract. If using a standing mixer, switch to the whisk attachment. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for a full five minutes on high speed after each addition. (Don’t cheat!)

Spoon the French silk pie filling into each of the cooled cookie cups. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes. Serve topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

CHICKEN WITH PICANTE PEACH SALSA

This comes from Campbell's Kitchen, and starts off, “Jazzed-up chicken sports a sweet-and-spicy glaze made with peach preserves, Pace® Picante Sauce, cumin and chili powder, and is served with a flavorful peach salsa.” Prep: 10 min; Total: 25 min; Serves 6

To view this recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

2/3 cup Pace® Picante Sauce

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 can (about 15 ounces) peach halves in heavy syrup, drained and diced

1/3 cup chopped red bell pepper or green bell pepper

2 green onions, sliced (about 1/4 cup)

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1 3/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1/2 cup peach preserves or apricot preserves

Directions

Stir 1/3 cup picante sauce, lime juice, peaches, pepper and onions in a medium bowl. Reserve the mixture to serve with the chicken.

Stir the cumin and chili powder in a small bowl. Season the chicken as desired. Sprinkle the chicken with the cumin mixture. Stir the remaining picante sauce and preserves in a small bowl.

Lightly oil the grill rack and heat the grill to medium. Grill the chicken for 15 minutes or until it's cooked through, turning and brushing often with the preserve mixture. Discard the remaining preserve mixture.

Serve the chicken with the peach salsa mixture.

ITALIAN PEPPERONI-VEGETABLE QUICHE

This comes from the Tablespoon newsletter, and starts “Bake up a cheesy quiche loaded with colorful, good-for-you veggies.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 60 minutes; Yield: 6 servings

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1 box Pillsbury™ refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box

1 box (7 oz) Green Giant™ Immunity Blend frozen broccoli, carrots and pepper strips in an olive oil seasoning

1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (6 oz)

1/2 cup chopped seeded tomato

1/2 cup sliced pepperoni, chopped

5 eggs

3/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Directions

Heat oven to 375°F. Place pie crust in ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate as directed on box for One-Crust Filled Pie.

Microwave broccoli, carrots and peppers as directed on box.

Sprinkle 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese in crust. Top with tomato and pepperoni. Spoon broccoli, carrots and peppers over pepperoni. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. In small bowl, beat eggs, milk and Italian seasoning. Pour egg mixture over cheese.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until crust is golden brown and knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes before serving.