Week 11: Recipe #5--Mexican Chicken and Rice

This recipe is from the Smitten With My Kitchen blog.  Another pretty simple one, plus mostly made with ingredients I already have.  A great last minute recipe.  I served this with a green salad and fruit.

Photo from Smitten With My Kitchen blog

You'll Need:

• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 cups cooked, cubed chicken (you could use 1 rotisserie chicken--that's what I did)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 Tblsp. olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups cooked white rice
• 1 can corn, drained
• 1 can (15 oz.) black beans rinsed and drained
• 1 jar (7 oz.) roasted red peppers, drained and sliced
• 1 can (8 oz.) enchilada sauce
• cilantro, tortillas, salad, tortilla chips, sour cream (optional)

Preparation:

1. In a large skillet scramble egg and cook until set.  Remove and set aside.
2. In the same skillet saute chopped onion and garlic until onions are softened.  Stir in chicken, rice, beans, peppers, corn, and enchilada sauce; cook until heated through.  Stir in reserved egg.
3. You can top with some minced cilantro if desired.

Recipe and link:  http://smittenwithmykitchen.blogspot.com/2011/05/mexican-chicken-and-rice.html

Week 11: Recipe #4--Blazy's Pepperoni Studded Lasagna

This recipe is from Guy Fieri on the Food Network website (see link below).  I have never made one of his recipes before, but thought I would try this one, given my husband's obsession with pepperoni.  Lily likes it too, so this is a win-win at our house.  I served this with VEGGIES, seeing as it was pretty heavy.

Photo from foodnetwork.com

You'll Need:

• 2 pounds lasagna sheets
• 2 cups hand cut 1/8-inch slices pepperoni (Not buying the pre-cut WAS actually better)
• 4 cups tomato sauce, recipe follows below (You can buy tomato sauce if you are short on time, but this recipe is really good and can be made ahead)
• 1 pound ricotta
• 16 oz. shredded mozzarella
• 2 pounds bulk Italian sausage, cooked
• 3/4 cup grated parmesan

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Boil 6 quarts of water, add a pinch of salt, and cook pasta to almost done.  Remove from water and shock in ice bath.
3. In medium saucepan add pepperoni and saute over medium heat until crispy.  Remove from heat and drain on a paper towel.
4. In a 10 by 14 inch baking dish (I used a 13 x 9), pour one cup of tomato sauce in bottom and around sides.  Layer lasagna sheets on the bottom of the pan, overlapping by 1/2 inch.  Add 1/3 amount of ricotta, 1/3 amount of mozzarella, 1/3 amount of sausage, then sprinkle generously with parmesan, add 1/2 cup tomato sauce, and 1/4 cup of pepperoni.  Repeat this 2 more times.
5. On the very top sheet, top with remaining ricotta, tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and dust with parmesan.  Bake for approximately 45 minutes.  Remove from oven; let sit for 15 minutes.  Cut and serve immediately.

Tomato Sauce:

• 3 oz. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, minced
• 5 medium-sized garlic cloves, crushed
• 6 cups skinned and diced Roma tomatoes
• 2 Tblsp. thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
• 1 Tblsp. minced fresh oregano leaves
• salt and pepper

In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil.  Add onion and cook over medium to low heat until transparent.  Add garlic and cook until almost brown.  Then add tomatoes and cook for 1/2 hour over low to medium heat.  Add the basil and oregano and continue to cook for another 1/2 hour.  Season, to taste, with salt and pepper, cool and store in the fridge until ready to use. 

Recipe and link:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/guy-fieri/blazys-pepperoni-studded-lasagna-recipe/index.html

Week 11: Recipe #3--Crockpot Bean and Cheese Burrito Casserole

This crockpot recipe is from the blog, A Year of Slow Cooking.  It's a simple and tasty recipe; the only downside is that it's only 6-7 hours to cook on low, and that's if you have a 4-quart slow cooker.  If you have a larger one you have to reduce the cooking time by a few hours.  So, it's probably not a recipe to make if you are working all day.  I was able to make it when my husband had the day off, so he could put in the ingredients at the right time.  I served it with Spanish rice and fruit.

Photo from A Year of Slow Cooking blog

You'll Need:

• 1 small onion, peeled and diced
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 2 cans (14.5 oz. each) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (4 oz.) roasted green chiles, undrained
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
• 8 flour tortillas
• 4 cups cooked pinto beans (three 15-oz. cans, drained)
• 4 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
• optional garnishes:  sour cream, sliced avocado, etc.

Preparation:

1. In a mixing bowl, stir together the onion, bell pepper, tomatoes, chiles, and spices.
2. Put a layer of tortillas into the bottom of your cooker--you may need to tear them a bit to get good coverage.  Add a scoop of the onion/tomato mixture and layer on a healthy spoonful of beans and then a layer of cheese.  Repeat layers until you've run out of ingredients.  Top with a healthy dose of cheese.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours (if using a 6-qt, do 3 to 4 hours on low, then click it over to warm--there's nothing really to cook--you're just heating thoroughly and getting the cheese to get that yummy crust).
4. Top with desired garnishes.

Recipe and link:  http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2011/05/bean-and-cheese-burrito-casserole-slow.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AYearOfCrockPotting+%28A+Year+of+Slow+Cooking%29

Week 11: Recipe #2--Mini Meatball Sandwiches

Here is another yummy Pioneer Woman recipe (see link below).  Very simple, and who doesn't love a meatball sandwich???  Plus, they're so tiny and cute!  I served this with a green salad.

Photo from Pioneer Woman

You'll Need:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup Panko or other bread crumbs
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 Tblsp. olive oil
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 1 jar (large) marinara sauce
• 12 whole dinner rolls (or slider rolls)
• 4 slices provolone cheese, cut into four wedges each

Preparation:

1. Mix meat with bread crumbs, garlic, salt, pepper, and milk.  Knead together with hands.  Roll into heaping tablespoon-sized rolls.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add onions and cook for one minute.  Add meatballs between the onions and brown for one minute.  (You might have to do this in two batches, depending on the size of your skillet.)
3. Pour in jar marinara; shake pan gently to mix.  Put on lid and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
4. When ready to serve, cut each dinner roll in half.  Place a wedge of provolone on the top and bottom of each roll.  Spoon a meatball with the sauce on to the bottom bun; top with the top bun.
5. Serve immediately!

Recipe and link:  http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/07/16-minute-meal-3-mini-meatball-sandwiches/

Week 11: Recipe #1--Spanish Style Tuna Cakes

This is a Rachel Ray recipe that I recently found on her magazine website (see link below).  I like it because it has very few ingredients (most of which I already have in my pantry), and it's pretty quick and easy to make.  Plus, it's one of those things I never would have thought to make--it's different, but tasty.  I served this with fruit and bread.

Photo from Rachel Ray

You'll Need:

• Two 5-oz. cans tuna, drained
• 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup chopped pimiento-stuffed spanish olives, 1 Tblsp. olive juice reserved
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 Tblsp. finely chopped red onion
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 package mixed lettuce

Preparation:

1. In a large bowl, combine the tuna, breadcrumbs, olives, raisins, egg, onion, and cumin; season with salt and pepper.  Form into 4 patties.
2. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat.  Add the patties and cook, turning once, until golden, about 8 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and the olive juice; season with salt and pepper.  Add the lettuce and toss to coat.  Serve the tuna cakes on the salad.

Recipe and link:  http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/budget-recipes/Spanish-Style-Tuna-Cakes

Week 10: Recipe #5--Oktoberfest: German Brats and Pomme Frites

WARNING:  This is not a quick meal to make.  Nor is it very health-conscious.  However, it is extremely good.  This is a favorite meal of mine that my friend Mark makes.  Soooooooooooo tasty!  I love the curry ketchup; vital to this recipe.  If you can't find it at your local grocery store, it's worth hunting down.  Mark usually serves this with a fruit salad, to add something healthy to this not-so-healthy meal.

You'll Need:

• potatoes (use 1-2 pounds per person), cut into fries
• vegetable oil
• salt and pepper, to taste
• Oktoberfest sausages
• hoagie buns
• curry ketchup (we buy ours at a European store here in Salem; I buy 2 kinds--Heinz and Hela)
• curry powder
• regular ketchup

Preparation:

1. Put the cut fries in a large pot filled with cold water and ice.  Put in the refrigerator for several hours.
2. When you are ready to start the fries (and you will need to start early, especially if you are making a lot), then heat up the oil on high in a large pot; it will take a long time.  While it is heating up, you'll need to take out the fries and pat them dry on paper towels or dish towels.  You want them to be pretty dry when you put them in the oil.  
3. When you notice that the oil is really hot (somewhat moving around) you can begin putting fries in.  Not too much at a time.  Turn the heat down a bit between medium and medium-high.  Now I was really tempted to constantly be checking them and poking at them, but Mark had to remind me to LEAVE THEM ALONE.  You'll want to cook them so they just slightly begin to brown.  You don't want to pull them out soggy, but you don't want them fully cooked either.  It's a fine line that took me a few times to master.  You will be frying them a second time right before eating them, so this is just the first round.
4. When taking them out, put them on a paper towel. After you have finished all of the fries, you can start on the brats.
5. Cut the brats lengthwise almost in half, so that you can unfold them but they are not in two pieces.  Lay them flat on a griddle at 375 degrees (or you could use an outside grill) and baste them with a combination of the following:  ketchup, the two curry ketchups, and curry powder.  Adjust the amounts to your taste preferences.  Flip them over and baste the other side as well.  Cook until the sausages are done.
6. As the sausages are cooking, you can fry the fries one more time until cooked.  I like mine crispy.  As you take them out, put them on a cookie sheet.  Sprinkle them with salt and pepper.  Place in the oven at 200 degrees to keep them warm, especially if you won't be eating them right away.  
7. Toast the hoagie buns and spread the curry ketchup mixture on them as well.  Put in the sausages, grab a handful of fries, and enjoy!

***Mark also serves a traditional German drink that is made of one part Coke and one part Fanta.  He says that's the true way to enjoy this meal.  Personally, I don't like to drink my calories...plus there are enough in here as is!

Week 10: Recipe #4--Mexican Flatbread Pizza

I got this recipe from the Pioneer Woman last summer.  I searched for it recently and couldn't find it on her site again, so I don't have a link.  It is pretty tasty, has simple ingredients, and kids like it.  It does have quite a few steps which, though not difficult, can take some time.  I usually serve this with spanish rice and fruit.

You'll Need:

• 1 can large biscuits (non-flaky, 8 biscuits per can)
• 1 can refried beans
• 3 Tblsp. salsa or picante sauce
• 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• pico de gallo
• 2 cups cooked ground beef, seasoned to taste (I usually add taco seasoning)
• shredded iceberg lettuce
• 3 Tblsp. salsa
• 5 Tblsp. sour cream
• cilantro for garnish

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 375.  Flour work surface and roll out each biscuit until very flat.  Brush very lightly with olive oil.  Bake for 8 minutes, or until starting to turn golden.  Remove from oven and set aside.
2. Mix refried beans with salsa.  Heat on stovetop.
3. Heat up cooked ground beef.
4. To assemble, spread refried beans over each flatbread.  Top with plenty of beef.  Sprinkle shredded cheddar over the top.  Return to oven for 3 minutes, or until melted and bubbly.  Top with plenty of pico de gallo and lettuce.
5. Mix together salsa and sour cream.  Drizzle over the top of each pizza.  Garnish with cilantro.  Cut into wedges and serve immediately.