Quick weeknight pasta recipes

Made these two recipes recently, both of which were fast and well-liked by the majority of the family. Keepers!

Shrimp Lemon Pepper Linguine

Baked Ravioli

50 states pie project

This collection of recipes from Taste of Home sounded like a fun opportunity to bake around the country. 

It's the 50 Pies for 50 States collection. I somewhat expected to see 40 variations on cherry pie alongside a handful of oddities, but when I scanned the recipes, I was impressed! I thought they did a great job of picking each state's "pie personality"—there are a lot of types of pie out there when you move past the basics.

So, next time I want to make something sweet, I think I'll start by making a pie from a state we've recently visited. I'll follow up on this post if I find any that are particularly good (or bad).

Roland's First Communion Menu

I'm assembling a variety of finger-foods for our son's 1st Communion menu. They look festive on the table, let people have a wide range of tastes and textures, and are an easy way for everyone to find something they like. And maybe a lot of work, so I need to choose wisely...

Here's my list in progress:
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/tomato-cheddar-tarts
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cheesy-crustless-mini-quiches

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/red-pepper-hummus-cucumber-cups
http://www.allyou.com/food/celebrations/easy-finger-foods/goat-cheese-stuffed-dates_2

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/blue-cheese-puffs
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/mushroom-goat-cheese-bruschetta

--
no-recipe-required: 
tomato+mozza+basil+oil skewers
whole grain tortilla chips and salsa; salt & pepper chips
sweet potato fries and horseradish mayonnaise dip
fruit skewers

--
dessert:
sheet cake (store-bought for simplicity!)

Pumpkin Pie from scratch

By popular demand in my house, we are going to try this:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/13711/homemade-fresh-pumpkin-pie/

I have my doubts as to the tastiness of this (compared with the canned stuff), based on what I grew up hearing about from-scratch pumpkin pie. Time to find out for sure!

Late August Menu Plan

Korean Beef Bowl
Rigatoni Isabella
Grilled Chicken and Mango Chutney
Pasta Puttanesca
Tacos
Pizza (Mark B. crust)

Leftover ham recipe collection

Ham Frittatas 
Ham and Cheese Ziti
Ham Fettuccini Bake
Ham and Cheese Pie 

Butternut squash soup from Vom Fass

This recipe has existed on a post-it flag in my kitchen for at least a year. I don't know how it has survived, but it's earned the staying power of a "keeper" recipe.

2lb butternut squash, cut into 1-in cubes and cooked until tender in large soup pot

Add 1 chopped onion, 2T olive oil, and 6c chicken broth. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Drizzle with pumpkin seed oil if you have it, and a dollop of sour cream if desired.

Egg Roll in a Bowl and others for late March

This recipe looks promising based on good reviews and ease of assembly. On the list for this week!

Egg Roll Noodle Bowl recipe from Taste of Home
Shepherd's Pie
One-Pot Spaghetti (I've made this forever. So easy and good!)

Julie Kendrick's Soup Swap Tomato Soup

The classic soup made by my friend Julie Kendrick at her bi-annual soup swap. She serves it on a bed of rice. Heaven.

 

Vegan Winter Tomato Soup

Julie Kendrick (what I served at swap)

 

2 T olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 28-oz. cans whole tomatoes

1 T brown sugar

3 slices soft whole wheat sandwich bread, torn in pieces

1 T brandy (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Heat oil in soup pot, add onion and garlic and simmer about five minutes. Add tomatoes (with juice) and mash with back of spoon. Stir in brown sugar and pieces of bread. Bring to boil, reduce to medium heat and simmer until bread begins to break up, about five minutes. Use immersion blender or transfer to blender to puree. Stir in brandy (if using) and salt and pepper to taste.

Turkey Focaccia Club Sandwich Recipe

Here it is. THE sandwich recipe I look for like a crazy person at least once a year. Now, published here for my reading pleasure. I like it because of the unique mix of flavors (cranberry pecan dressing! bacon!) and that you can make it in advance, so it's handy for get-togethers. It holds up well.

Taste of Home Turkey Focaccia Club Sandwich

Phew. I feel like I've just saved myself hours in future recipe-searching. Rejoice!

Mexican Chicken Soup

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/mexican-chicken-soup

Great recipe that everyone enjoyed in our house. I substituted chick peas for black beans based on what I had on hand. I think it was visually more kid-friendly with chick peas too. Delish. I made 1.5x recipe size so we would have leftovers. Keeper!

• 1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• 2 teaspoons canola oil
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 envelope reduced-sodium taco seasoning (make your own up -- better!)
• 1 can (32 ounces) V8 juice
• 1 jar (16 ounces) salsa
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans (I used garbanzos), rinsed and drained
• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn, thawed
•  
• Optional toppings: 
• 6 tablespoons reduced-fat cheddar cheese (definitely!)
• 6 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro (yum)

1. In a large nonstick skillet, saute chicken in oil until no longer pink. Add water and taco seasoning; simmer, uncovered, until chicken is well coated.
2. Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker (I cooked at low temp on stovetop). Stir in the V8 juice, salsa, beans and corn. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until heated through. Serve with cheese, sour cream and cilantro. Yield: 6 servings. 

Christmas recipe links

The best sweet potatoes. Mmmmm.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Brown-Sugar-Glazed-Sweet-Potatoes-with-Marshmallows-813

Ham
Sweet potatoes
Cornbread
Corn/Broccoli
Cherry pie

Menu Plan, week of 12/14/14

Baby #4's arrival is imminent. In the meantime, we appear to continue to need to eat. Darn. Helps to have a plan, especially one from one blog site—in this case, damndelicious.net. Here goes! 

http://damndelicious.net/2014/01/07/baked-ravioli/
http://damndelicious.net/2014/01/22/easy-lemon-chicken/
http://damndelicious.net/2013/07/07/korean-beef-bowl/

1-pot spaghetti (Better Homes)
tacos

…and for tonight: http://damndelicious.net/2014/09/06/spinach-tomato-tortellini-soup/

Thanksgiving recipes (under construction!)

THE BIRD
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/good-eats-roast-turkey-recipe.html
Because 4,905 5-star reviews can't be all wrong

**timing
- thaw 2-3 days before
- brine overnight (Wednesday)
- cook time: 3-4 hours

THE STUFFING
http://www.number-2-pencil.com/2013/11/04/slow-cooker-stuffing/
Because I like the idea of putting a slow-cooker to use in this way, leaving other cooking surfaces available. Just sounds tasty too!

**timing
- guessing with all the chopping and sausage frying that it will take about an hour of prep
- cooks 4 hours on low in crock pot

GRAVY
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/best-gravy-ever-recipe.html

SIDES
- Classic mashed
- Chard salad (MarStewLiv)
- cranberries http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alexandra-guarnaschelli/cranberry-sauce-recipe.html
- mini-corn breads (optional)
- Steve/Sus: green bean casserole

APPETIZERS
veggies & cheese (mom: fruit)

Muhammara (via Aimee McKoy -- pita chip/hummus thing)
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Muhammara-350402

OTHERS ARE BRINGING…
- fruit
- rolls
- a dessert
- a side

(10 PEOPLE, 5 of whom are kids)

Recipes for w/o 11/17/14

Recipe parking lot for the week! This blog has always been handy for that...

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/cheesy-gnocchi-casserole-with-ham-and-peas-recipe.html

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/chicken-tamale-pie-recipe.html

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/bacon-and-broccoli-rice-bowl-recipe.html

Thurs: Fish Tacos or fish/sweet potatoes/greens

Fri: spaghetti dinner at Nativity

http://www.cherylstyle.com/simple-food-recipes/slow-cooker-chicken-and-dumplings-recipe/

An Apple Snow White Would Fall For

Lovely apple I enjoyed as a meal en route back from LA this fall. That's my hand in the picture, which gives you a sense for how massive this thing was. Utterly delicious too.

Birthday weekend, 2013

I love the different themes the kids pick for their birthdays, and that they aren't the least swayed by what the other has chosen. Always guarantees a very different experience, even if we celebrate 2 days in a row!

Edible Rocks

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds (24 ounces) finely chopped white chocolate (or chips) or white confectionery coating
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
a pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
1/2-2/3 cup Oreo Cookie crumbs (5-8 cookies)

Blend together on very low heat, stirring constantly, adding Oreos at end. Allow to cool to point that you can form them into "rocks."Will harden at room temperature.

Alternately, make a large flat square and press a design/hand/message into it. Break apart to eat.

Makes A LOT. Could easily cut the recipe in half.

Survival Skills

I just hosted a dinner that was gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and peanut-free that got EATEN. I am thrilled. And to think--I only had to do it once.

Menu:
-steak
-grilled beets, carrots, [potatoes] w/sea salt and canola oil
-cornbread--could not find flax eggs, so these were gluten-free, but had egg :(
-fruit kabob bar w/optional readi whip (dairy) and sprinkles
-"Lucy's Sugar cookies" -- store bought, met the criteria. Quite good.
-lemonade

If you want your kid to try beets but they are reluctant, show them a "magic trick." Pop a beet into your mouth, chew chew chew (building a sense of mystery), then stick out your tongue. Gorgeous color! Some kids will consider the taste-risk worth the red tongue.

Crockpot Beef Brisket

Matt treated us to this recipe tonight. We only had a little over 1lb of brisket, and really missed the extra left-overs! We messed up and added the beer right away (over-eager I guess). And didn't use the suggested garnish. Excellent with a bit of horseradish. Yum.

 

I didn't want to lose this recipe, so am posting it here. Originally from food.com

 

---

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 6 hrs crock pot time

 

2 1/2 lbs beef brisket
1/2 cup onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 (12 ounce) jar chili sauce (I use Heinz)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 (12 ounce) can beer (or substitute for 1 cup water or canned beef broth)

For garnish

2 tomatoes, sliced
6 fresh cilantro stems, chopped

Directions:

1
Spray crockpot with cooking oil. Place beef brisket fat side down in crockpot and add onion slices, minced garlic, paprika and salt and pepper on top.
2
Pour chili sauce and Worcestershire sauce over brisket and cook on low setting for 6 hours.
3
Then, pour beer over brisket and increase temperature to high and continue cooking for 30 more minutes.
4
When well cook and tender, slice brisket against the grain and place slices on large serving platter.
5
Serve with hot cooking liquid sauce and garnish with sliced tomatoes and cilantro or parsley, if you like.

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/crockpot-beef-brisket-416949?oc=linkback