Beer-Glazed Beans

I have been eating beans wrong for years.  I have been using them as a side, to get some extra protein, and cut out the bad carbs.  NO!  I found this recipe the other day, and thought they sounded good.  Wrong, they were delicious!  I cooked some kielbasa in beer as the meat in my dish, and it ended up taking a second seat to the beans!
*Disclaimer, this dish is supposed to be made with black beans, which I think are probably the best choice, however, I only had kidney beans, so that's what I used.

Beer-Glazed Beans

Beer-Glazed Beans

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. onion flakes
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup beer (I used Labatt's)
2 cans beans (black were suggested, but I used kidney)
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. honey
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Preparation:
Place a skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the garlic, cook for about one minute.
Add the remaining ingredients, along with the salt and pepper.
Bring to a slow boil and cook until liquid is slightly reduced, about 15 minutes.
Enjoy!

Recipe Adapted from How To Cook Everything by: Mark Bittman

Green Chicken Chili

So, I just started my job this week, which means I won't get paid until next week, which means I was looking for a meal that I could make with only the ingredients I already had on hand.  This one fit the bill!  (It actually called for some things I didn't have, but I got creative.)  My only complaint was that there were so few leftovers!

Green Chicken Chili

Green Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

2 chicken quarters, skin removed

2 cans (15.5 oz) cannellini beans, drained

1 can (15.5 oz) whole kernel corn, drained

1 jar salsa verde

1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chiles

2 garlic cloves, diced

2 tsp. chopped onion

1 1/2 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. salt

Preparation:

Put chicken in bottom of crock pot.  Add beans and corn. 

Mix salsa, chiles, garlic, onion, cumin, and salt in a medium bowl.  Pour over top. 

Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours.  Remove chicken and shred, discarding any bones.  

Return meat to crock pot.  Stir. 

Top with sour cream, fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, avocado

Enjoy! 

Recipe Adapted from The Woman's Day Everyday Cookbook

Ham and Pepper Casserole

Tonight's dinner was supposed to be a Denver omelette.  However, when I opened up the egg carton, there were only three eggs!  The ham was already out of the freezer, and I had already bought a green pepper for the omelette.  Hence, this casserole was born!

Ham and Pepper Casserole

Look at that ooze!

Update: Matt ate half the pan!

Ham and Pepper Casserole

Ingredients:
3 cups cooked ham, cubed (I used ham steaks, but feel free to use leftovers!)
1 green pepper, cubed
1 8 ounce package cream cheese
1 cup milk
6 ounces egg noodles
1 Tbsp. chopped onion
1/2 Tbsp. garlic powder
1/2 Tbsp. parsley
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup french fried onions

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350.
Prepare egg noodles according to package directions.  Drain.
Melt down cream cheese and milk in a saucepan over medium heat.  Whisk until smooth.
Combine all ingredients  except for cheddar cheese and french fried onions in a greased casserole dish.
Mix well.
Top with cheddar cheese and french fried onions.
Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until top is bubbling.
Let set for 5 minutes.
Enjoy!

Onion Pizza

Cooking for my sister, Alyssa isn't always easy.  You would think I would be safe with pizza... nope!  She only likes either cheese or onion pizza, while I would prefer onions along with some sausage and peppers.  Oh well, onion pizza it is!
I was just going to make pizza and that was going to be dinner, however I decided last minute I really wanted wings!  Our normal pizza place wasn't open because of labor day weekend, so we were really scrambling!  Finally, we found a place that was open and that delivered and was cheap!  Hooray!

Onion Pizza

Onion Pizza*

Ingredients:

For the dough:
3/4 cup lukewarm water
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 packet yeast

Toppings:

1/2 cup marinara sauce
1 cup fresh mozzarella, or whatever cheese you would like
Garlic Powder, to taste
1 onion, diced
Whatever other ingredients you like on your pizza!

Preparation: 

For the dough:
Add water and vegetable oil to bread machine.
Top with flour, sugar, and salt.
Tap the sides of the bread pan to evenly spread the dry ingredients.
Make a small well in the center of the pan.  Put yeast in well.
Program bread machine to dough.
Hang out for an hour and a half.
Once dough is finished, flour countertop and hands.  Remove dough from bread machine and knead for about one minute.  Let rise for fifteen minutes.
Roll out dough to fit onto pizza stone or whatever pan you will be using.  Rest for 25 minutes.

For the pizza:
Preheat oven to 425.
After rolling out the dough, and waiting for the dough to rise again, saute onions over medium heat until slightly translucent.
Once dough is ready, transfer to pizza stone or pan.
Spread marinara sauce over dough.
Top with cheese and onions.
Sprinkle garlic powder over crust.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Let rest 5 minutes before cutting.
Enjoy!


*This recipe is intended to be made in a bread machine.  Of course you can always buy pre-made dough instead of making it from scratch.

Salisbury Steak

Have you ever eaten salisbury steak not out of a box or in a school cafeteria?  Me either.  Well, until today.  I found this recipe in my trusty Comfort Food cookbook and didn't know what to make of it.  After reading the ingredients, it sounded tasty and pretty easy!
I did have to fix the recipe a bit though, there was no binding ingredient in the meat, so I added one which should work much better!  Also, as a disclaimer, this doesn't have the thick sauce that normal salisbury steak has... though it is delicious!

Salisbury Steak

Salisbury Steak

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 pound ground beef
1 egg
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 egg
1/2 cup seasoned Italian breadcrumbs
Salt and Pepper, to taste
1/2 cup red wine

Preparation: 
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Cook onions until soft, remove from skillet.
Mix meat, egg, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
Roll to form patties.  (The recipe suggests to make three 1/2 pound patties, however I made 6 smaller ones.)
Place in skillet.  Cook 5 minutes on one side.  Flip.  Cook an additional 3 minutes.
Remove from skillet.
Place onions back in skillet.  Add red wine.  Bring to a boil.  Cook one minute, or until slightly thick.
To eat, spoon sauce and onions over steak.
Enjoy!
(I served this with a side of stuffing and caprese salad!)

Recipe Adapted from Comfort Food

Crockpot Enchiladas

Today my friend Siobhan came over for dinner, so we had to tweak the menu to go vegetarian.  Easy!  I found this recipe for vegetarian crockpot enchiladas, and they were a hit!  (Matt and Alyssa both had seconds!)  I like this recipe also because you can easily substitute the soy crumbles for ground beef if you want meat!

Crockpot Enchiladas

So this picture, is terrible, but mostly because I ate my first one so fast I forgot to take a picture and they were a little tougher to get out of the bottom of the pot!

Crockpot Enchiladas

Ingredients:
1 pound soy crumbles (I used Morning Star) or ground beef
1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes with mild green chiles, drained
1 14 oz. can sweet corn, drained
1 large white onion, diced
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. Adobo seasoning
1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. taco seasoning
1 28 oz. can enchilada sauce (I used red, but only because I couldn't find green)
2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
8 10'' tortillas
Tomatoes, diced, optional
Sour Cream, optional

Preparation: 
In a large skillet, brown crumbles, corn, 1/2 the diced onion, tomatoes, and all of the seasonings.
Spray Pam in crockpot.
Pour 1 cup enchilada sauce in the bottom of the crockpot.
Scoop 3 Tbsp. of mixture in tortilla, top with 1 Tbsp. of cheese.  Roll up and place in bottom of crockpot.  Repeat until you have one layer.  (I fit 4 in the bottom of mine.)
Pour one cup of enchilada sauce and one cup of cheese over first layer.
Repeat filling tortillas.
Repeat layer of enchilada sauce and cheese.
Top with remaining onions.
Cook for 2-4 hours on high.
Top with fresh tomatoes and sour cream, if desired.
Enjoy!

Recipe Adapted from Miss Foodie Fash

Summertime Macaroni and Cheese

What says summer more than hotdogs?  I really was in the mood the some hotdogs today, but macaroni and cheese was already on the menu.  So, why not both?  I didn't see a reason why not!
Also, it's been really hot here in Philly, so this is for stovetop, but if it's cooler where you are, feel free to throw it in the oven!

Summertime Macaroni and Cheese

Summertime Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients
1 pound hotdogs, sliced
1 onion, diced
2 Tbsp. butter
8 ounces shell macaroni
2 cups milk (I used skim)
3 Tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 Tbsp. ground mustard
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup canned french fried onions, optional
1/2 cup fresh tomatoes, diced, optional

Preparation
If you plan to use the french fried onions, preheat broiler, if it's too hot, that's fine too.
In a large pot, cook pasta according to directions.  Drain.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute butter and onions over medium heat.  After about one minute, add in hotdogs. Cook until onions are translucent.  Set aside.
Using the same skillet, combine milk, flour, pepper, and mustard, whisking constantly.  Cook for about four minutes, or until thick.  Remove from heat and whisk in cheese.
Combine cheese mixture, pasta, and hotdog mixture in large pot.  Mix well.
*If putting macaroni and cheese in the oven, transfer to casserole dish and top with french fried onions. Broil 3-4 minutes.
Top with fresh tomatoes if using.
Enjoy!

Recipe Adapted from Cooking Light

Chicken Salad

The other day I made Crockpot Cheesy Chicken and Rice and the original recipe called for four chicken breasts, however only three fit in the bottom of my crockpot and then I had the issue of an unthawed chicken breast in my fridge.  Hence, chicken salad!  I really wanted to make a healthy alternative to the normally mayonnaise-heavy dish so I subbed in Greek yogurt and fat-free mayonnaise.
I also wanted to add in grapes and apples, but I was cooking for my sister, meaning nope!  I just threw them into my salad instead!

Chicken Salad

Chicken Salad 

Ingredients:
1 chicken breast, cooked and cubed (or 1 cup rotisserie chicken)
1/4 cup fat free plain greek yogurt
1 1/2 Tbsp. fat-free mayonnaise (you can add more if you like, I like mine on the drier side)
1 tsp. onion flakes
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/4 cup red seedless grapes, halved
1/4 cup granny smith apple, julienned

Preparation:
Mix all ingredients together.
Serve on either a nice roll or over some lettuce for a yummy salad.
Enjoy!

Recipe Adapted from Familyfeatures.com

Taco Skillet Casserole

Don't let the name fool you, this is basically nachos for dinner.  I found this recipe in an old Culinary Arts Institute and have made it easier and a little healthier.  (But not too healthy... I just said this is nachos for dinner right?)
My favorite part of this dish is that you can basically add whatever you want AND it uses up all those chip crumbs in the bottom of the bag.  Yay!

Taco Skillet Casserole

Taco Skillet Casserole

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef*
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. chili powder
2 cups enchilada sauce (I used red)
1 1/2 cups tortilla chips, crumbled (or the crumbs from the bottom of the bag)
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 tomato, chopped
Shredded Lettuce
Sour Cream or Plain Greek Yogurt

Preparation
In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat.  Drain except for 1 tsp. oil.
Add garlic, onion, and pepper.
Cook for 5 minutes, or until pepper is slightly soft.
Add pepper, salt, chili powder, and enchilada sauce.
Cook for 10 minutes.
Add tomato, tortilla chips, and cheese.
Cook for another 5 minutes, or until everything is coated.
Spoon mixture on plate and top with lettuce and sour cream.
Enjoy!

*This recipe can easily be made vegetarian by using soy crumbles instead of ground beef

Recipe Adapted from The Culinary Arts Institute Cookbook

Crockpot Cheesy Chicken and Rice

I needed a Crockpot meal for today because Alyssa, Matt, and I wandered around the city today and also because it's too hot to turn on the oven!  I wanted a chicken dish and also needed something that I didn't have to buy any ingredients for, this fit the bill!  My only complaint was that it was quite rich, so for summertime dining, I would add some chicken stock to make the sauce less rich and add some additional veggies... green beans would be great!

Crockpot Cheesy Chicken and Rice

The picture kind of makes it look like a big pile of mush, but it was super yummy!

Crockpot Cheesy Chicken and Rice

Ingredients:
3 chicken breasts
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup (you can use cream of whatever you want)
2 medium white onions, chopped
1 can sweet corn, drained
1 box yellow rice, prepared as per directions on box
1 cup colby jack cheese, shredded
1 box frozen green beans, optional

Preparation:
Place the chicken in the bottom of the crockpot.
Place onions on top.
Top with cream soup.
Cook on low 7-8 hours or on high 3-4 hours
When ready for dinner, add corn, rice, and cheese. (Also, can add green beans at this point, make sure they're cooked according to the package directions)
Stir together, shredding the chicken as you stir. (Best done with a BBQ fork.)
Enjoy!

Recipe Adapted from Southernplate.com