Chimichangas

Original recipe from here.

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground turkey
• 3/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 large diced bell pepper
• 1 can whole kernel corn
• 1 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 cups taco sauce
• 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
• 8 (12 inch) flour tortillas
• Shredded cheese
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted, or cooking spray

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Brown the ground meat in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease, and add the onion, bell pepper, corn and spices. Cook for about 5 more minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Stir in the taco sauce. Cook until heated through, then remove from heat, and set aside.
3. Open the can of beans, and spread a thin layer of beans onto each of the tortillas. Spoon the beef mixture (less than you think) down the center, and then top with as much shredded cheese as you like. Roll up the tortillas, and place them seam-side down onto a baking sheet. Brush the tortillas with melted butter.
4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

Sweet Pork

2 pounds pork
3 cans Coke (NOT diet)
1/4 c. brown sugar
dash garlic salt
1/4 c. water
1 can diced green chilies
3/4 (10 oz) can red enchilada sauce
1 c. brown sugar

Put the pork in a heavy duty Ziploc bag to marinade. Add about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 c. of brown sugar. Marinade for a few hours or overnight.

Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily, but don't let it get TOO dry). Remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. Shred pork.

In a food processor or blender, blend 1/2 can Coke, chilies, enchilada sauce and remaining brown sugar (about a cup, you can add a little more or less to taste..). If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little.

Put shredded pork and sauce in crock pot and cook on low for 2 hours. That's it!

Seasoned Chicken

• 2-3 Chicken Breasts
• 1 tablespoon  dried parsley, crushed
• 2 teaspoons of dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

 Cook chicken with seasonings. Shred if using on tzatziki sandwiches.

Summer Pizza

From The New York Times

1. Make your pizza dough.
2. When ready to cook, press one ball into about a 10-inch round. Use a little flour, if needed, to prevent sticking and a rolling pin, if desired. Film a 10-inch skillet with olive oil and turn heat to medium. When oil shimmers, put dough in pan and adjust heat so it browns evenly without burning. (If dough puffs up unevenly in spots, push bubbles down.)
3. Turn dough, then top browned side with tomato sauce, cheese, a bit of salt and pepper, and, if you like, prosciutto and/or basil leaves. If top is now heavily laden, cover pan and continue cooking, or run it under broiler, just until toppings become hot. With only a couple of toppings, just cook until bottom browns. Repeat with remaining dough; serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

Maple Salmon

Courtesy of AllRecipes.com

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 pound salmon

Directions

1. In a small bowl, mix the maple syrup, soy sauce, garlic, garlic salt, and pepper.
2. Place salmon in a shallow glass baking dish, and coat with the maple syrup mixture. Cover the dish, and marinate salmon in the refrigerator 30 minutes, turning once.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
4. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven, and bake salmon uncovered 20 minutes, or until easily flaked with a fork.

Fish Tacos

Courtesy of Kelly

Ingredients

• 1/2 to 1 pound of tilapia
• garlic salt, cumin, dill and parsley to taste
• Coleslaw (directions below)

Directions

1. Thaw tilapia or other mild-flavored fish. Heat oven to 450.
2. Rinse fish and pat dry. Place on greased baking sheet. Season with garlic salt, cumin, dill and parsley.
3. Bake until fish is cooked (no longer transparent and easily flakes or pulls apart). Flake the fish into chunks.
4. Heat crunchy taco shells per directions on box.
5. Put fish and coleslaw in each taco.
6. Add your favorite salsa on top and there's dinner!
   

Coleslaw- Kelly style

Ingredients

• finely shredded cabbage
• 2T mayonnaise (I used light)
• 1 t lemon or lime juice
• garlic salt to taste

Directions

1. I buy a bag of finely shredded cabbage (about a dollar here).
2. Add mayonnaise, lemon juice and garlic salt to taste.
3. Blend with your hand. You want enough "sauce" to have a little bit on each piece of cabbage but not drenching it. It really just comes down to what you like.

Better-Than-Classic Stuffed Shells

Courtesy of Julie Lindstrom
Makes 24 shells

24 dried jumbo pasta shells
2 cup ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella or pizza cheese
2 eggs
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 or 3 garlic cloves, pressed
Salt and pepper
1 jar spaghetti sauce

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions, to al dente. Drain and reserve shells.
3. Mix ricotta, mozzarella, eggs, spinach and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Evenly spread about 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce in a 9 x 13 inch glass baking dish.
5. Spoon ricotta mixture evenly among them, about 1 heaping tablespoons each.
6. Lay the shells side by side, open side up, in the dish. Spoon remaining spaghetti sauce over top. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese evenly over the marinara sauce.
7. Cover with foil and bake 35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Pizza Hut Pizza Dough

Pizza Hut Dough
1T sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 cup warm water
2 T veg oil for dough
4 cups flour
1/4 C non fat dry milk
1 package yeast
9 ounces veg oil for pans

Put yeast, sugar, salt and dry milk in large bowl.  Add water and stir to mix well.  Let sit for 2 minutes.  Add oil and stir again.  Add flour and stir.  Turn out on flat surface and knead 10 minutes.  Divide dough into 3 balls.  Oil pans on bottom. The recipe would have you use 3oz / pan. Its a lot. Just put a good layer in the bottom of the pan so the dough doesn't stick.  Roll dough out in circles and place in pans (dough doesn't need to come up the sides of the pans very much - or at all).  Cover with dish cloth and rise 1 1/2 hours. ( we skipped letting them raise and they turn out great).
Cook at 475 -- I think we cooked them about 13 minutes -- it's hard to tell when - I say overcook a little so that they are cooked through the middle.

Tortellini Soup

• 1 pkg fresh spinach (prepare by taking off stems while soup is cooking. Can also chop if you want)
• 1-49oz can chicken broth
• 2pkgs 8oz tortellini (cheese or meat filled) I prefer cheese
• 1 lb of italian sausage cooked (reg flavor works too. just buy the tube)
• 1/2 lb. of mushrooms sliced
• 1 onion diced
• 1-2 carrots, diced
• 1 can Italian tomatoes chopped up
• 2 t dry basil
• Parmesean cheese and salt and pepper to taste (add some salt and pepper while cooking and just put cheese on table when serving)

Cook and set aside sausage. in 8-19 qt. pan saute onion, mushrooms, carrots in 2-3 T of butter. Add broth, meat, tomatoes, basil to vegetables and cook 20-30 min. May add salt and pepper to taste or let people do it themselves.

Add tortellini and cook 6-8 min more or until done. Add spinach and cook an additional 2-3 min. Serve with parmesan cheese.

Fried Rice

Courtesy of Kelly

I'm changing this to be written as I made it. The original recipe link is at the bottom though.

Ingredients
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 C onion, chopped
2 cups cooked rice, cold
3/4 C carrots, shredded or grated
2 tablespoons soy sauce
black pepper to taste
1/2 cup chopped ham

Directions
In a small bowl, beat egg with water. Pam spray a large skillet over medium low heat. Add egg and leave flat for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from skillet and cut into shreds.
Heat oil in same skillet; add onion and saute until soft (Kelly note: I always cook onion with garlic salt). Then add rice, carrots, soy sauce, pepper and ham. Stir fry together for about 5 minutes, then stir in egg. Serve hot.

2 notes
1. The ham I used was very finely diced, so you may want to add more ham if you use bigger pieces
2. I cooked the rice while I chopped the onion, cooked the egg, etc. You can't put the rice in warm (don't know why) but I rinsed my rice in cold water a couple times to get it cold which worked fine. That way you won't have to make the rice far ahead of time.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chinese-Chicken-Fried-Rice-II/Detail.aspx

Enchiladas

• 1 or 2 Chicken Breasts
• Taco Seasoning
• 8oz Cream Cheese
• 1 Medium Onion
• Cheddar Cheese
• Tortillas
• Red Enchiladas Sauce
• Mozzarella Cheese

The yield is about eight enchiladas. An 8x8 pan holds four or five enchiladas.

1. Cook chicken and season liberally with taco seasoning. Shred.
2. Combine cream cheese, chicken, diced onion and shredded cheddar. Sprinkle with pepper.
3. Coat the bottom of your 8x8 or 13x9 with enchilada sauce. Coat each tortilla with enchilada sauce, put in filling and roll.
4. Place in pan. Pour more sauce over the top and sprinkle with cheeses.
5. Bake until warm and melty.
6. Serve with sour cream, salsa, pico de gallo or fresh tomato.

Vegetable Penne

Ingredients

• Pasta
• Ground turkey
• McCormick's Montreal chicken seasoning
• Tomato sauce seasoned with Italian seasoning or Spaghetti sauce
• Mushrooms
• Onion
• Zucchini
• Frozen spinach
• Parmesan

Directions

1. Cook pasta to al dente. Drain and rinse with cool water. Move to large bowl.
2. Brown ground turkey and season liberally with the chicken seasoning. Mix in with pasta.
3. Melt butter in skillet and add garlic. Saute mushrooms and onions in butter and garlic. Add zucchini and spinach until zucchini is cooked. Mix in with pasta and turkey.
4. Put mixture in your pan. Sprinkle liberally with Parmesan cheese.
5. Cover with seasoned tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce.
6. Cook until heated through.

I didn't note quantities for the ingredients because I made a huge batch (an 8x8 and a 13x9) for a potluck.

Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables

Adapted from Giada De Laurentiis (“Everyday Italian,” Food Network)
Makes one 9x13 pan

* 2 red peppers, cored and cut into 1-inch wide strips
* 2 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1-inch cubes
* 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced large
* 1 onion, peeled and sliced into 1-inch strips
* 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
* 2T extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 teaspoon salt, divided
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
* 2 tablespoons dried Italian herb mix or herbs de Provence
* 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
* 1/2 pound penne pasta
* 3 cups really good marinara sauce
* 1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
* 1 cup grated mozzarella
* grated Parmesan

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

2. On a baking sheet, toss the peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, and onions with olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and dried herbs. Roast until tender, about 15 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for about 6 minutes. Drain.

4. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl. Add the roasted vegetables, marinara sauce, peas, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix, until all the pasta is coated with the sauce and the ingredients are combined.

4. Pour the pasta into a greased 9 by 13-inch pan. Top with the cheeses. After the pasta has been in the oven for 10 minutes, turn the temperature down to 375 degrees F. Bake until top is golden and cheese melts, about 25 minutes.

Pad Thai

Courtesy of The New York Times.
Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

• 4 ounces fettuccine-width rice stick noodles
• 1/4 cup peanut oil
• 2 to 4 tablespoons tamarind paste
• 1/4 cup fish sauce (nam pla)
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
• 1/4 cup chopped scallions
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 eggs
• 1 small head Napa cabbage, shredded (about 4 cups)
• 1 cup mung bean sprouts
• 1/2 pound peeled shrimp, pressed tofu or a combination
• 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 limes, quartered.

1. Put noodles in a large bowl and add boiling water to cover. Let sit until noodles are just tender; check every 5 minutes or so to make sure they do not get too soft. Drain, drizzle with one tablespoon peanut oil to keep from sticking and set aside. Meanwhile, put tamarind paste, fish sauce, honey and vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and bring just to a simmer. Stir in red pepper flakes and set aside.
2. Put remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; when oil shimmers, add scallions and garlic and cook for about a minute. Add eggs to pan; once they begin to set, scramble them until just done. Add cabbage and bean sprouts and continue to cook until cabbage begins to wilt, then add shrimp or tofu (or both).
3. When shrimp begin to turn pink and tofu begins to brown, add drained noodles to pan along with sauce. Toss everything together to coat with tamarind sauce and combine well. When noodles are warmed through, serve, sprinkling each dish with peanuts and garnishing with cilantro and lime wedges.

Chicken Korma

We really like Chicken Korma and Tikka Masala, and ever since having it from the restaurant down the street, I've wanted to try making it at home. Armed with some extra time and new spices I got in my Christmas stocking, I decided to have a go using some recipes I found online.

The below is a combination of the following two recipes.
- Main Recipe followed is from AllRecipes
- It was slightly adjusted with information found from McCormick's

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup cashew halves
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled (or 1/4 teaspoon garlic paste)
  
• 1 (1/2 inch) piece fresh ginger root, peeled and chopped (or 1/8 teaspoon ginger paste)
  
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 bay leaves, crumbled (or 4 whole and pulled out after)
  
• 1 stick of cinnamon (broken into two pieces)
  
• 1 large onion, minced
• 1 teaspoon garam masala    
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 tablespoon McCormick® Gourmet Collection Curry Powder
• OR...
  
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - diced
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream (or lowfat coconut milk)
  
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch, mixed with equal parts water

Directions

1. Place cashews in a small bowl, and pour the boiling water over nuts. Set aside for 15 to 20 minutes. Place garlic and ginger in food processor and blend until smooth; set aside.
2. Heat oil in wok over medium heat. Cook the bay leaves and cinnamon stick in hot oil for 30 seconds. Stir in onion, and cook until soft, about 3 to 5 minutes. Mix in garlic/ginger paste, and season with garam masala, turmeric, and McCormick Curry Powder (cumin, coriander, chili powder). Stir in chicken, and cook for about 5 minutes. Pour in tomato sauce and chicken broth. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Meanwhile, place the cashews, along with the water in which they were soaked, and the cream and yogurt into food processor. Process until smooth.
4. Stir the cashew mixture into the chicken and onions. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the cornstarch mixture, and continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes.

OPTIONAL...
Sprinkle with 1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds (finely chopped)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

Serve over Basmati rice with a side of Naan.

Shakshuka

We use to have a really good recipe we got from The Hummus Place, but we seemed to have misplaced it, and they no longer have the recipe posted on their site. This looked like a promising alternative recipe to try/use as a base.

From: Recipe Zaar 

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, roughly chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon jalapeno, minced and seeded (or more to taste)
• 2 red peppers or green peppers, roughly chopped
• 8 fresh plum tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 2 (28 ounce) cans Italian plum tomatoes, strained (peeled)
• 1/2 teaspoon hot paprika or cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, more to taste
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 cup canned tomato juice
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 4 large eggs
• za'atar spice mix, for serving
• 4 pita breads, warmed

 Directions

1. Place large saute pan over medium heat, add and heat oil. Add onion and saute until lightly browned.
2. Add garlic, jalapeno and bell peppers, and saute 2 minutes more.
3. Add fresh and canned tomatoes, reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Add hot and sweet paprika, turmeric, salt, pepper and sugar. Stir for 1 minute.
5. Add tomato juice and vegetable broth and bring to a full boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until mixture is very thick and has little liquid left, about 1 hour; stir occasionally to make sure vegetables do not stick to bottom of pan, and add more tomato juice or vegetable broth as needed. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
6. Gently crack eggs into pan, taking care not to break yolks. Simmer until whites solidify but yolks remain runny, about 8 minutes, or as per personal preference (I would put this under the broiler for a couple more minutes because I hate undercooked eggs).
7. Ladle equal portions of vegetables and eggs into 4 serving bowls. Sprinkle with zaatar to taste, and serve with warm pita bread.

Hamburger Patties

Ingredients
* 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
* 1/2 onion, finely chopped
* 1/2 cup shredded Colby or Monterey Jack cheese
* 1 teaspoon soy sauce
* 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
* 1 egg
* 1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 1 tablespoon garlic powder
* 1 teaspoon dried parsley
* 1 teaspoon dried basil
* 1 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1/2 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
* salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat a grill for high heat.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, onion, cheese, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, egg, onion soup mix, garlic, garlic powder, parsley, basil, oregano, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Form into 4 patties.

Mom's Meatloaf

Courtesy of Mom
2 lbs Ground Turkey
1 lbs Sausage
1 pack French Onion Soup Mix
1/2 C Dried Onion
1/4 C Pepper
2 C Carrots
1 pack Spinach
1.5 C oats
2 Eggs

Grilled Black Bean and Rice-stuffed Peppers

From Betty Crocker

• 15 oz black beans, drained, rinsed
• 3/4 C cooked rice
• 1/4 C green onions, sliced (4 medium)
• 1/4 C chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 T lime juice
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 large bell peppers
• 1 plum (Roma) tomato, diced
  

1. Cut the stem out of each pepper, creating a whole big enough to stuff the pepper through. Remove the seeds and inner cartilage. That's right, cartilage.
2. Completely immerse the peppers in boiling water for about three minutes. In a green or red pepper, the color will become brighter. Set aside.
3. Mix beans, rice, onions, cilantro, lime juice, garlic and salt.
4. Stuff mixture into peppers. I like to pack it in so each pepper is really full.
5. Place peppers upright in a baking dish. Cook for 1 hour at 350 degrees. They're done when a fork goes easily into the pepper.
6. Sprinkle with chopped tomatos, and add cheese and additional cilantro, if wanted.

Lime Garlic Chicken

From Betty Crocker

Prep Time: 10 min

Total Time: 10 hours 10 min

Makes: 6 servings

1 package (1 pound 4 ounces) bone-in skinless chicken thighs
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (2 limes)
1 1/2 cups Progresso® chicken broth (from 32-ounce carton)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Chopped fresh parsley, if desired

1. Place chicken in 3- to 4-quart slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients except rice and parsley.
2. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 8 to 10 hours. During last 15 minutes of cooking, stir in rice.
3. Remove chicken from cooker. Place cooked rice on each serving plate. Top with chicken. Spoon any remaining juices over chicken. Garnish with parsley.