Recipe: Chicken Fajita Casserole

This simple casserole makes a great potluck recipe. It's got plenty of summer veggies in it - feel free to make your own salsa if you have a ton of tomatoes right now! It's easy and delicious, and will be a hit at your next pot luck.

Chicken Fajita Casserole
(Makes 8-10 potluck servings.)

Ingredients:

2 tsp cooking oil
1 medium size onion, cut into thin strips
1 green bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry (or 12 oz fresh spinach, washed, dried, and chopped)
1 lb cooked chicken, shredded
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 cups good prepared salsa
4 small (6 inch size) corn tortillas, torn into 1 inch pieces
4 oz shredded Monterrey Jack cheese

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees; coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
• Pour oil into large skillet over medium-high heat, then add onion and bell pepper, and cook just until crisp/tender, then stir in the spinach and cook until hot; remove mixture from skillet to a bowl  with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add the chicken, garlic, and chili powder to the hot skillet and stir, cooking, just until the chicken is heated through and the garlic is fragrant.
• Spread 1/2 CUP of the salsa evenly into the baking dish.
• Begin the layers:
  Half the torn tortilla pieces
  Half the chicken mixture
  Half the veggie mixture
  Half the remaining salsa
  Half the cheese
• Repeat the layers EXCEPT do not add the remaining cheese
• Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• Uncover, sprinkle with remaining cheese, then continue baking UNCOVERED for 5 to 7 minutes or just until the cheese is melted.
• Remove and let stand for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe: Ugli Rosemary Lamb Chops

Mmmm...lamb is such a great meat to serve with citrus! The fresh tartness of the ugli fruit helps cut the richness of the meat. This simple one-pot recipe has only a few ingredients, so it's a snap to prepare and enjoy.

Ugli Rosemary Lamb Chop Bake
(Serves 4.)

Ingredients:

4 medium-sized lamb chops
1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1 Ugli fruit, half segmented, half squeezed
2 1/2 cups beef stock
8 rosemary sprigs
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter or oil a 9 x 13 inch shallow baking pan.
• Heat a heavy skillet until sizzles, then put chops in, searing on both sides until a golden brown crust forms; take off heat and set aside.
• Evenly sprinkle rice in the baking dish.  Lay the chops over the rice.
• Lay the segments of Ugli fruit over the chops, mix the squeezed Ugli fruit juice with the beef stock in a glass bowl, then pour over the rice in the baking dish.
• Place two sprigs of rosemary on top of each chop.
• Add salt and pepper to taste, then tightly seal the baking dish with foil.
• Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes or until the rice is tender and the lamb is cooked through. 
• Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes.
• Remove the rosemary sprigs and discard. Serve hot with a green salad or steamed vegetables.

Quinoa Puts A Nutritional Twist On Your Favorite Comfort Foods

Comfort foods are like a warm blanket fresh out of the dryer. They are hot and hearty and often remind you of your childhood. With the ability to transport you back through the years, comfort foods are the perfect way to relax and unwind.  But are they the perfect way to eat healthy?  Maybe not always.

A great way to pack in the nutrition is to incorporate quinoa into your old classics.  Quinoa will not only add nutrition, but also new flavors and textures. (Click here for a previous post on the nutritional benefits of quinoa.) Let's look at three of the most common comfort foods and how you can add quinoa to them to get a new take on some tried and true recipes.

Macaroni and Cheese

Baked macaroni and cheese. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a classic go-to comfort food, especially for hungry youngsters. They eat it up and hold their plates out for seconds (and even thirds.) But handing your kids piles of white-flour noodles and packaged cheese is probably not what you want when it comes to nutrition.  Even if you boost the nutrition with whole wheat and natural cheeses, you could do better, right? The texture of gold quinoa is perfect to hide in a batch of macaroni and cheese.  The cheese sticks to and covers up the quinoa, engulfing the tiny protein-packed seeds in a mass of melted, stringy cheesy goodness.  Younger kids may not even notice the difference!

If you bake your mac and cheese, remember to under-cook your quinoa just slightly, like you would your noodles. This helps to keep them from over cooking when you put them in the oven for thirty minutes or so. When you take your first bite, you will be amazed at the levels of crunchy texture and nutty taste that quinoa adds to your mac and cheese recipe.  Add a topping of buttery bread crumbs or toasted almond meal mixed with cooked red quinoa for even more crunch, and even more ways to hide healthy protein in this popular comfort food.

Classic Casseroles

We know you have a few favorite casseroles that you turn to over and over again. Casseroles such as the popular Green Bean Casserole, Chicken And Rice, Chicken Divan, or Scalloped Ham And Potatoes.  These are perfect dishes to add a bit of nutritious quinoa.

Since casseroles, by definition, are thick and blended, casseroles are the perfect place to add quinoa to help bind everything together. The reason quinoa works so well with casseroles is because of the slight double duty that it does.  When you take a casserole out of the oven, the first pieces to get eaten are generally the corner pieces where the crunchy crispy edges are found. By adding quinoa, you get the crunchy all throughout the casserole instead of just at the edges.

This also works for pot pies, which are pretty much casseroles, just think smaller.  Imagine taking a bite and having a crispy texture and nutty flavor at the same time.  Pot pies are the perfect place to try out a bit of quinoa and discover its unique and surprising qualities.

Meatloaf (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Meatloaf

Meatloaf is a combination of protein and binders. I'm not sure what you remember about meatloaf when you were a kid, but they didn't always have much taste, other than the ketchup that was spread on top of it. By adding quinoa, not only do you bring in some flavor other than meat, but you are guaranteed to help bind your meatloaf together – so no more crumbly meatloaf.

For many gluten-free folks, making meat loaf is the perfect solution, but ONLY if you find a substitute for flour, crackers, and bread crumbs.  Throwing in a handful of quinoa is the perfect solution.  Quinoa offers binding qualities along with the added nutrition that make this food “additive” incredible.  Imagine if you could take a simple frugal family dinner and turn it into a nutrition powerhouse?  That's exactly what you're doing by adding quinoa!

Comfort foods are a great way to give your family nutrition and a hearty stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal. By adding quinoa to your comfort foods, not only do you build your taste profile, but you get to add a huge nutritional boost and a delightfully different texture to your favorite foods. Next time you decide to take a trip back to your childhood and enjoy those warm, fuzzy comfort foods, throw in some quinoa and give your nutrition a kick!

3 Fast & Delicious Pasta Dishes With 5 Ingredients Or Less

When you think of pasta do you think of meat sauce bubbling away on the stove top all day? That's how my Italian grandfather made it; I remember visiting when I was a kid - you'd walk in the front door and the whole house would be filled with the mouthwatering scent of his family recipe for Sicilian spaghetti sauce....

I'd love to make it that way every time I make spaghetti, but sometimes we just don't have all day to simmer a sauce. The question is, can you create a tasty pasta dish without spending all day in the kitchen?

Luckily, the answer is: Yes!  Making a good pasta dish does not have to be difficult.  The wonderful thing about pasta is that you can use very few ingredients and make a ton of different dishes that the whole family will enjoy - and it doesn't have to take you all day.  Here are a few quick, delicious pasta dishes to try.

1. Pasta Bake

Baked rotini with tomato sauce, grated cheese (Parmesan and Romano), and dried parsley. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a super simple pasta dish that can be created in thirty minutes or less. "Pasta Bake" is a generic term I'm using here for any type of pasta, meat, sauce and cheese combination made exceptionally gooey and delicious by placing it in the oven to bake rather than cooking it all in a pot. The idea is that once you have your pasta cooked, pick a sauce, some cheese, maybe some veggies, and rather than just stir it all together, turn it out into a casserole dish and bake it.  Baking it just makes the dish look more appealing and taste better.  Let's just say it's more like dinner and less like something thrown together on a hotplate in a college dorm room. :-)

How easy is this dish? Just put any pasta you cook, ziti, rigatoni, spaghetti or whatever, in a buttered or oiled casserole dish, then add whatever sauce ingredients you have on hand. Grab some tomato sauce and even a little tomato juice and mix it in, along with some dried oregano. Stir in that last bit of muenster cheese and add a little yellow mustard for tangy goodness. Maybe a spoonful of sour cream, too. See what kind of sausage links you have left from breakfast. Top with shredded mozzarella or Parmesan. Experimenting with different ingredients is key, but what takes this dish from being just a mixed-up bunch of noodles to a delicious pasta dinner is that you baked it. Pulling a casserole out of the oven is so much nicer than just scooping noodles out of a pot.

2. Tortellini Soup

Most people don't automatically think of soup when thinking about how to make a simple dinner using pasta as the key ingredient.  But, tortellini soup is definitely one meal to keep in mind.  This soup is filling and light at the same time. Tortellini soup consists of chicken cut into chunks, chicken broth, a couple of carrots cut into rounds, either Swiss chard or kale depending on your taste for greens, and a package of tortellini.

Bring the broth and carrots to a rolling boil and let them cook for about seven minutes, just until the carrots are softened. Then add the chicken and simmer for just a minute, since it's already cooked.  Cut your greens up into small strips and add to the soup, then add in the tortellini and cook following directions on the package of tortellini. This is such a simple soup, but it tastes amazing, and is actually rather elegant. You can omit the chicken if you want and choose a meat stuffed tortellini. You could also choose cheese-stuffed tortellini and add a handful of diced tomatoes or some tomato juice to the broth. No matter what you add to this soup, it's never going to take very long to make, so you can have a delicious pasta dinner on the table in no time.

Tagliatelle carbonara with basil (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3. Pasta Carbonara

For a meal with only five ingredients, pasta carbonara is one of the most delicious dishes you will make.  And, the best part is you probably have all of the ingredients in your fridge and pantry right now. You will need a box of spaghetti, about six strips of bacon, diced and fried crisp, four egg yolks, a cup of Parmesan cheese, and some frozen peas. Add some chopped parsley or basil on top and you have a pretty pasta dish that tastes better than many you will find in a restaurant.

When making this simple dish, it is important to have the egg yolks and Parmesan mixture ready before the pasta is done cooking. The heat from the pasta, after you drain it, is what cooks the egg yolks.  Just whisk together your egg yolks and Parmesan cheese in a big bowl. Then dump in your drained pasta and stir.  Add the peas and the bacon, and that's it. You have a pasta dish that is ready to serve in practically no time at all, and one that tastes as good as it looks.

A great pasta meal is only five ingredients away... or less.  All it takes to create simple pasta dishes is a bit of creativity and the willingness to experiment. Dig around in your kitchen right now and I'll bet you find the inspiration you need to throw together a fabulous pasta dinner with very little fuss at all.

And for more great recipes that are super simple and use just a few fresh ingredients for an amazingly delicious meal, be sure to pick up a copy of our FREE Recipe Book: Cooking with 3 Ingredients or Less!

Low-Carb Recipe: Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu

You may be excited to learn that some of your favorite fancy meals - such as chicken cordon bleu - are actually low-carb. This tasty and easy recipe lets you splurge on a delicious gourmet meal at home, without cheating on your diet! Serve alongside a simple spinach salad, lightly dressed with balsamic vinaigrette.

Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu
(4 Servings.)

Ingredients:

4 thin chicken cutlets
4 thin ham slices
4 oz Bleu cheese
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and oil a shallow baking dish.
• Lay chicken cutlets out on work surface, lay one piece of ham on each cutlet, then place even amounts of the Bleu cheese on top of each slice of ham.
• Roll the cutlets up and secure with a toothpick.
• In a shallow bowl, whisk together the olive oil and egg.
• In a shallow bowl, put the Parmesan cheese.
• Take each cutlet roll and first dip in egg mixture, then roll in Parmesan cheese and place in prepared baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 35 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.  (Cooking time will depend on how thin the cutlets are.)
• Remove and allow to cool slightly at room temperature before serving.

Holiday Leftovers Recipe: Simple Seconds Turkey Stuffing Casserole

This is a great way to use up just about everything you  have left over from Thanksgiving dinner! Repurpose the leftover turkey, stuffing, gravy, and some cranberry sauce, and save that green bean casserole for Friday's recipe, and you'll finally be done with leftovers (at least for this year). Plus it's super simple and easy!

Simple Seconds Turkey Stuffing Casserole
(Serves 4-6.)

Ingredients:

4 cups leftover stuffing
2 cups leftover turkey, diced or shredded
2 cups leftover turkey gravy
1/3 cup leftover cranberry sauce

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter or oil a large casserole dish.
• Put half the stuffing in the baking dish and pat gently to cover the bottom of the dish evenly. 
• Add half the turkey, arranging evenly, then half of the gravy. 
• Repeat the layers, then evenly distribute the cranberry sauce over the top of the casserole.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Recipe: Amish Breakfast Casserole

I'm not exactly sure if this is really an Amish recipe or not, but it does contain simple, hearty ingredients which make a great breakfast on a cool fall morning. Be sure for the healthiest breakfast to use all-natural sausage, and eggs sourced from chickens raised on pasture, which contain the most healthy fats and proteins.

Amish Breakfast Casserole  

Ingredients:

1 onion, chopped
1 package sausage
4 cups hash brown potatoes
6 fresh eggs
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1 1/4 cups Swiss cheese
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese

Directions:

• Over medium-high heat in a large skillet, cook the onion and sausage until browned. Drain the grease and set aside.

• In a medium mixing bowl, add the remaining ingredients and stir until thoroughly combined. Add the sausage and onion mixture.

• Place all this into a 9x13 inch baking dish.

• Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until bubbly. Before serving, let stand for 10 minutes.

Recipe: Egg Cheddar Sourdough Breakfast Casserole

This tasty breakfast combines the nutritional punch of eggs with tomatoes, onions, and cheese for a delicious, filling meal that covers all the food groups! Since most of it is made ahead of time, it doesn't take too long to prepare in the morning. This one also makes a great "breakfast for dinner" option if you prepare the ingredients earlier in the day.

Nestled Egg Cheddar Sourdough Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1 pound sourdough bread, cubed
4 tablespoons melted butter
12 ounces bacon
1 large onion, sliced
28 ounces diced tomatoes, drained 
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese 
4 green onions, chopped
1 3/4 cups chicken stock
Salt
6 free-range pastured poultry eggs

Directions:

• While preheating oven to 350 degrees, in a large mixing bowl toss the sourdough bread and butter. Spread the sourdough evenly on a large baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until bread is golden brown.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until crisp. Once the bacon is cooked, transfer it to a paper towel lined plate. Save 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease, pouring out the rest. 
• Add the onion to the skillet and cook until caramelized (approximately 10 minutes). 
• Now add the tomato and cook until all the liquid has evaporated (approximately 5 minutes).  
• In a large mixing bowl, pour the onion mixture and add the bread, bacon, green onion, stock and cheese. Stir together until well mixed and season to taste with salt. 
• Spread this mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish and cover with tin foil, and refrigerate overnight. 
• To bake:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Keep the tin foil on the baking dish and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes. 
• Now, remove from oven and make 6 indentations in the bread. Once the indentations have been made, crack 1 egg into each indentation. Once all 6 eggs have been added to the indentations, bake for another 15 minutes or until egg whites are set.

Recipe: Pumpkin French Toast Breakfast Casserole

Who doesn't love French toast? Give this tasty breakfast casserole an extra healthy punch - and a lovely color - with pumpkin and spices, and the kids will be all over it! Assemble the night before, and pop in the oven before the kids get up, and you will have a nutritious hot breakfast all ready in a jiffy.

Pumpkin French Toast Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

6 slices French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
6 slices Pumpernickel bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 cup pecans
4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 cup pumpkin puree
3 cups half-and-half
8 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
Maple syrup for serving

Directions:

• In a 3 quart glass baking dish, add the French and Pumpernickel bread, bacon and pecans.
• Mix together the pumpkin puree, half-and-half, eggs, vanilla, brown sugar, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt. 
• Pour the egg mixture over the bread and make sure the bread is coated as evenly as possible. Using a spatula press the bread down to help absorb the egg. Cover with tin foil and refrigerate overnight. 
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
• When oven is preheated, bake (covered) for 40 minutes, remove from oven, uncover, return to oven and bake an additional 20 minutes. 
• Drizzle maple syrup on top and serve immediately.

Recipe: Sausage & Apple Breakfast Casserole

Feed your kids' sweet tooth with a healthy breakfast option with this delicious, sweet and savory casserole. Plenty of protein, together with apples, cinnamon, and whole-grain bread make this a breakfast that will stick to your ribs, and keep your kids alert and energized until lunchtime.

Sausage and Granny Smith Apple Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

(Photo credit: stevendepolo)

1 package natural pork sausage roll
6 cups whole grain bread, cubed
3 cups whole milk
10 eggs (free range/organic if possible)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped 
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar
2 cups cheddar cheese, divided 

Directions:

1. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish while preheating oven to 325 degrees.
2. In a large skillet, brown the sausage and drain. Set aside. 
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla and salt. 
4. In another large mixing bowl, mix together the apples, cinnamon and sugar. Make sure the apples are well coated. 
5. In the prepared baking pan, layer half the bread crumbs on the bottom and then half the sausage, half the apples and then 1 cup of cheese. Continue to repeat layers until ingredients are gone. 
6. Take the egg mixture and pour evenly over the layers. 
7. Bake for 1 hour or until hot and bubbly.

Wake Your Brain Up With Breakfast

We have all heard the phrase, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”  There are many reasons why it's important to start the morning with a proper breakfast.  Simply stated:  Breakfast gives your body and brain the fuel they need to function.

It is especially important for children to eat a nourishing breakfast in the morning.  Young, growing brains need lots of energy to help focus and keep learning.  A child who skips breakfast is going to feel tired, restless, and irritable, possibly for the entire day.  Studies have proven time and time again that children who do not eat a healthy breakfast in the morning suffer both academically and socially.  They also suffer physically, often with obesity being the result.

You know how you, as an adult, feel if you skip breakfast.  Now just imagine if your brain was developing and growing at the rate of a child.  That empty tummy you experience if you skip breakfast is nothing compared to what a child will feel.

French Toast Souffle' Casserole (Photo credit: Bunches and Bits {Karina})

With that said, we know that eating a healthy breakfast every morning is important, especially for a child.  An easy way to ensure your child gets a healthy, well-rounded meal in the morning is with breakfast casseroles. 

I can hear you saying right now; “But I can't make a breakfast casserole in the morning!”  You don't have to.  Avoid a lot of preparation in the morning by planning ahead and you won't skip a beat during the morning rush.  Design a few breakfast casserole recipes to suit your family member's tastes and make several smaller casseroles on the weekend and put them in the refrigerator.  Now, before you wake your children up for school, pop their casseroles in the oven.  Before they walk out of the door, they'll have a delightfully delicious and nutritious breakfast to wake them (and their brains!) up. 

There is so much you can add to a casserole to meet everyone's nutritional needs.  To wake up your brain you want to eat foods that are high in protein, good carbs, fiber, calcium, iron, other minerals, and lots of vitamins. 

Make a breakfast casserole that contains whole-wheat or multi-grain bread, eggs, milk, maybe some cheese, meat, poultry or seafood, and vegetables, too, for a savory nutrition-packed dish.  If your child prefers a sweet breakfast, make a breakfast casserole that contains the same hearty bread, eggs, and milk, then add fruit and even nuts to the mix. You still get the protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, but this time in a sweeter version.

With a nutritious breakfast, you can boost body and brain function, helping your child feel better and think better so he or she can perform better in school and throughout the day.  All of this in one simple to make breakfast casserole!

There are many great ways to get the nutrition needed in the morning, but breakfast casseroles are definitely a great option.  They are versatile, easy to mix up and serve, and ready when you are.  How will you start your day out tomorrow?  Give your brain, and your child's brain, a chance to wake up with a hearty and healthy breakfast casserole.

Gluten-Free Recipe: Rice & Bean Chili Pie

This wholesome recipe is packed full of healthy fiber and great flavor! Who says cooking gluten-free has to be boring?  This one combines heart-healthy kidney beans with brown rice, cheese, and lots of spices for a new take on chili - and pie! :-)

Rice & Bean Chili Pie - Gluten Free

Ingredients:

1/2 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained
1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3/4 cup milk
2 beaten eggs

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a 10 inch pie pan.
• Put the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. When hot, add the onion and stir, cooking until soft, then add the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt, stirring and cooking for 1 minute, just until fragrant.
• Add the beans and rice to the pot, stirring to combine well, then stir in the cheese, milk, and eggs, mixing well.
• Turn the mixture out into the prepared pie pan.
• Bake (uncovered) in preheated oven for 25 minutes, until the edges are slightly brown and the center has set up (not runny).
• Remove from oven and allow to rest for 15 minutes before slicing to serve.

Recipe: Bayou Country Chicken Pot Pie

Down-home cooking is the way to go if you're looking for comfort food! This recipe brings the flavors of the South to you wherever you may be cooking today, with classics like bell peppers, sausage, chicken, and tomatoes all baked under a dumpling-like crust (make your own crust from scratch for a more authentic flavor).

Bayou Country Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
8 oz chicken thigh meat, chopped
1 (14 oz size) can stewed tomatoes
8 oz cooked smoked sausage, diced
dash or two of hot pepper sauce
2 1/4 cups buttermilk baking mix
3/4 tsp dried thyme
1/8 tsp black pepper
2/3 cup milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Heat oil in 10 inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
3. When hot, add the onion and bell pepper and cook for 2 or 3 minutes or until veggies soften.
4. Add the garlic, stir, then add chicken meat and cook, stirring until chicken is no longer pink, about 1 or 2 minutes.
5. Pour in the tomatoes, add the sausage and hot pepper sauce, stir, reduce heat to low and cook for 5 minutes.
6. While that cooks, get out a bowl and mix together the buttermilk baking mix, the dried thyme, black pepper, and the milk, stirring until just combined - don't over mix.
7. Drop this buttermilk batter by big tablespoons in piles over the chicken mixture in the skillet.
8. Bake in preheated oven (in the skillet) until biscuit top is golden brown and the chicken mixture is bubbling hot, about 15 to 18 minutes.
9. Remove and let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes before cutting to serve.

Easy Christmas Cooking Through Planning Ahead

Christmas is a hectic time of year. Many families find that they barely have time to breathe much less cook dishes to bring for this or that function. For this reason there are a number of tasty "cheat" dishes that can be  prepared for these occasions and very few people will be the wiser. Though Christmas may be about being with friends and family, it is not about broadcasting a possible lack of talent in the kitchen, time on hand, or a shortage of attention span that is required in order to prepare a stellar dish for your Christmas needs.

Macaroni casserole (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Of course, you could begin preparing and freezing large casserole favorites as early as August for the Christmas season. In this instance you could freeze all your family favorites and have great dishes not only for family functions that require a pitch-in dish, but also for those nights when you are far too busy to be bothered with something as demanding on your limited attention span as actually preparing a home cooked meal. If you prepare casseroles and similar dishes that work well with a holiday theme throughout the year be sure to double your efforts next time and freeze half for busier months such as November and December.

But if you didn't think to do that this year, not to worry! Foods that you cook this week and freeze for next week will be fresh and ready to pop in the oven come Christmas day. Pies and casserole-type dishes work best for this, but even some soups and appetizers can be made ahead and frozen. If you're making a Christmas ham, these are usually pre-cooked, so you just need to heat them in the oven for a bit, and then you're ready to eat. If you do this right, when you get to the big day, you may only need to make the salad and mashed potatoes!

Christmas dinner. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Besides cooking some items ahead, you can also help prepare for your Christmas meal by making a list and shopping early. Not only will you avoid the crowd of last-minute shoppers, but with a list of everything you need, you can keep from making those impulse purchases that sometimes happen if you make multiple shopping trips or are just shopping willy-nilly. Sit down ahead of time and plan out your menu, gather the recipes you plan to use. This will make it easy to assess what you already have on hand, and then make a list of everything else you will need to purchase for the meal. Make this a day or two ahead of your shopping trip, so you can add on any items that pop into your head that you may have forgotten on the first pass. Then go buy everything in advance and start your preparations. That way when the guests start to arrive, you can enjoy their company rather than having to make a last-minute trip to the store for something you forgot!

You do not have to have super powers or even a great deal of cooking talent in order to make a Christmas dinner that is delicious and easy to make when time is short. Careful planning well ahead of time is often the key to a successful Christmas season. Most of us begin our shopping early, and there is no harm in also beginning our cooking and meal planning a little early too.

Gluten-Free Recipe: Sweet Spiced Apple Lentil Casserole

This hearty gluten-free recipe is like curry in a casserole - flavored with apples, coconut, and spices, it brings an oriental twist to regular old lentils. It makes a great stick-to-your-ribs meal for a cold winter night!

Sweet Spiced Apple Lentil Casserole - Gluten Free
(Serves 4-6.)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups lentils, rinsed and drained
2 1/2 cups water
2 Tbsp cooking oil
3 cloves garlic, grated
1 stalk celery, diced
1 large onion, diced
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup shredded coconut, unsweetened
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp powdered ginger
1/2 tsp turmeric
2 large green apples, cored/diced

Directions:

1. Put lentils in a large pot with water, cover and simmer gently for 30 to 40 minutes or until tender.
2. Meanwhile, put oil in a heavy skillet, add all the remaining ingredients (except apples) and cook over low heat, stirring often, until vegetables are tender; about 15 minutes. Add the apples to the skillet, stir, and cook for 10 minutes more or until apples are softened slightly; remove skillet from heat.
3. When lentils are cooked and tender, add the lentils to the mixture, stir, then turn out into a large casserole dish.
4. Bake (uncovered) in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until mixture is bubbling hot.
5. Serve immediately. 

Leftovers Recipe: Cranberry Apple Sweet Potato Crisp

The sweet potato casserole is often a favorite, so you may not always have many leftovers, but if you do, it sometimes seems lacking on subsequent days. Here is a creative and interesting way to dress up that leftover casserole, and make it shine anew. The tartness of the apples and cranberries provide a perfect foil to the sweet creaminess of the leftover casserole, and the addition of a crunchy topping provides textural interest as well as tantalizing your taste buds!

Cranberry Apple Sweet Potato Crisp

Ingredients:

4 cups leftover sweet potato casserole
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 cup chopped tart apples
2 cups leftover cranberry orange relish
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp brown sugar
3 cups oat or corn flake cereal

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a shallow casserole dish.
2. Put the leftover sweet potatoes in a bowl with the cream cheese and mix with an electric mixer until smooth.  Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and mix again until smooth. Note: If your sweet potato casserole is very sweet, you can omit the added brown sugar and cinnamon.  If your sweet potatoes are unsweetened, then be sure to add these ingredients. 
3. Layer the sweet potato mixture into the casserole dish, distributing evenly.
4. Sprinkle the apple pieces evenly over the top.
5. Spoon the cranberry orange relish evenly on the top.
6. Sprinkle the walnuts over the top.
7. Put the butter, flour, and brown sugar in a bowl and cut with pastry cutter or with forks until mixture is crumbly. Add the cereal flakes and toss until combined.
8. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the casserole.
9. Bake, uncovered, in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the crunchy topping is lightly browned.

Discover Sweet & Savory Surprises with Unusual Pumpkin Recipes

If there was ever a vegetable that evokes the feeling of Autumn, it's the pumpkin. They are everywhere the minute summer starts to fade and fall approaches. No matter where you turn, there is a pumpkin with a candle inside of it, fields of pumpkins to be chosen, piles of pumpkins, people dressed as pumpkins, and even trash bags for your leaves that mimic pumpkins. But of all the pumpkin-related things out there during the fall, my favorite pumpkin is the one on the dinner table.

Unfortunately, when pumpkin is delivered to the table in the same way over and over again, it can result in what I like to call 'pumpkin burnout.'  Just like with any food fatigue or burnout, it isn't the fault of the food, but the way the food is delivered.  When was the last time your pumpkin pie brought exclamations of delight to the family dinner table?  Have your pumpkin muffins and pumpkin bread been met with a less than enthusiastic welcome?

It's time to get creative and avoid 'pumpkin burnout' this fall.  Let's switch things up a bit and create some sweet and savory surprises with this healthy super food.

Dessert

Pumpkin Marble Cheesecake (Photo credit: texascooking)

A plate of pumpkin cookies is a surprising sweet treat after dinner.  Just looking at them, your guests may not be able to tell what exactly is on the plate.  But, they will soon find out when they bite into this scrumptious flavor favorite.  Pumpkin pie won't even be missed when you serve up a variety of desserts like pumpkin dip with ginger cookies, pumpkin mousse, pumpkin torte, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin cheesecake, or even a pumpkin souffle.

You can make pumpkin chips by roasting thin pieces of a sugar pumpkin, sprinkle them with cinnamon, and serve with a cream cheese dip flavored with nutmeg and allspice and other pumpkin pie flavors.  And don't forget pumpkin fudge.  With all these surprising options to pumpkin pie, you can't possibly suffer from pumpkin burnout!

Casseroles

When you think about serving pumpkin in something other than a dessert, a casserole comes to mind almost immediately.  And when you're thinking about casseroles, you should think about Kürbisauflauf. Yes, I know it is a mouth full, but this German pumpkin casserole is something that will definitely not contribute to any kind of pumpkin burnout.  This casserole is made with potatoes, apples, breadcrumbs, and pumpkin as the main ingredients and usually served with fruit compote.

Even though this is a sweetened casserole, it is not overly sweet. You add sugar if you want, but much of the sweetness comes naturally from the apples and raisins, if added.  Also, you are using pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, so the spices are not there.  Pumpkin does not taste like pumpkin pie until you add the spices.  In this German casserole favorite, you'll be tasting more of the apple and enjoying the moistness of the pumpkin.

Breakfast

You are probably familiar with pumpkin muffins. But we're going to skip the familiar and go with something you may not have tried yet.  Pumpkin is a wonderful ingredient to add to pancakes or waffles. Pumpkin offers moisture as well as lots of fiber for a nutritious and delicious breakfast.  You may want to add pumpkin to your favorite yogurt and granola parfait for breakfast.

If doughnuts are your favorite breakfast treat, why not add pumpkin?  It is a simple matter of combining your doughnut ingredients with pumpkin pie filling and cooking them up as you normally would. That plate of doughnuts all of a sudden is very seasonal and festive.  Is a hot bowl of oatmeal your go-to breakfast?  Why not perk it up with some cooked diced pumpkin!  Add your favorite spices, some raisins, and you have a hot breakfast that kicks the nutrition level up a notch or two.

Pumpkin Burger (Photo credit: The Facey Family)

Savory

If sweet isn't your thing, you may want to turn your sights on savory flavors.  Remember, pumpkin puree has very little flavor of its own.  For that reason, pumpkin is the perfect vehicle for other flavors.  And, because pumpkin is packed with nutritional fiber, vitamins and antioxidants, it's a great choice for healthy diets, as well.  Pumpkin puree, either homemade or canned, can be mixed with other pureed root crops like rutabaga, turnips, carrots, potatoes, or parsnips, to make hearty soups.  For the savory twist, fry up smokey bacon with onion, leeks, garlic, and herbs like rosemary, thyme, and marjoram.

Roast diced pumpkin with other fall vegetables, season with cumin, cayenne pepper, and other savory seasonings to create a side dish suitable for beef, pork, or chicken.  Layer sliced pumpkin, onions, potatoes, eggplant, and tomatoes with spicy Italian sausage to make a baked dish that's sure to please your hungry family, and without a bit of pumpkin burnout.  Once you get beyond thinking of pumpkin as only a sweet dessert, you will easily move your pumpkin from the sweet side of the pantry to the savory side.

Drinks

Pumpkin Munchikhan Cocktail (Photo credit: waferboard)

Pumpkin drinks are an instantaneous hit anywhere they are served. Some pumpkin beverages are simply pumpkin desserts cleverly disguised as a drink.  Pumpkin pie smoothies and pumpkin cheesecake shakes are two that come to mind.  Whipping up these drinks is as simple as getting out your blender and making your favorite dessert with a little added milk or ice cream.  Of course, pumpkin pie hot chocolate is another favorite.

You can even go the adult beverage route with many recipes that combine pumpkin puree or pumpkin liqueurs.  Some drinks simply play on the flavors we associate with pumpkin pie; the spices, that is.  But others do actually call for combining pumpkin pie filling with ingredients like Kaluha or rum, and whipping it all up into a frothy drink topped with whipped cream.  This would be a sort of dessert drink with a pumpkin twist.  Certainly, these drinks won't lead to pumpkin burnout!

Whether you're looking for new recipes to serve pumpkin in sweet ways, or you're trying to steer your pumpkin away from sweet and into savory, all it takes is a bit of creativity.  Experiment with a variety of flavors, both savory and sweet, to bring out the very best of everything pumpkin has to offer.  Remember, pumpkin does not taste like pumpkin pie on its own.  That means, you can start fresh!  Surprise your family and your guests with something new this fall – serve dishes that will show a new side of pumpkin.

Recipe: Autumn Squash Baked Chicken And Rice

This tasty fall casserole uses yummy fresh fall veggies from the farmer's market or your garden to add a healthy twist to a standard chicken and rice dish. It's a simple dish with mild flavors, so feel free to add some red pepper or a fresh Anaheim if you want to spice it up a little. Otherwise, it's a tasty fall dish for the kids or those who don't like a lot of spice to their food.

Autumn Squash Baked Chicken And Rice
(Serves 4-6)

Ingredients:

 (Photo credit: Darice)

8 free-range chicken drumsticks or thighs (1 1/4 lb), skin removed
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 package (6 oz) long-grain and wild rice mix
1 small butternut squash, peeled and cut in 1 inch cubes
1 medium zucchini, cut in half lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1 inch slices
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 cups water
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees and grease a 9x13 baking pan.
2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat; when hot add chicken, cook about 3 minutes, turn and cook 3 more minutes, or until chicken is browned slightly. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. Put rice, contents of seasoning packet, squash, zucchini and bell pepper in baking pan.
4. Turn heat on under skillet, add water and bring to boiling, then pour the hot water over rice and veggies in baking pan and stir to mix.
5. Add the cheese and stir, then arrange the chicken on top of the rice mixture. 
6. Cover pan with foil and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until rice absorbs the liquid and is tender and chicken is no longer pink at all.
7. Remove and let sit for 3 minutes, then take off foil and serve hot.

Mix It Up with Creative Casseroles From The Farmers Market

When you think of comfort food, you think warm, filling, and satisfying, right?  You may even go back in time and remember a less hectic time when a casserole on the table seemed to mean no cares in the world. Casseroles are a great way to combine fresh flavors in a hot bubbly dish and serve it up home-style to your family and guests.  Let's take a look at a few casserole ideas to get you thinking before you head out to the farmers market for your weekly local shopping trip.

The Satisfying Squash

Squash, Pepper and Polenta Casserole (Photo credit: Rooey202)

Squash is a beautiful, and expected, sight in many farmers markets during the fall season. Why not take advantage of their abundance and create fantastic casseroles to comfort the body and soul. When you plan to make a squash casserole, there are a few things to remember. For more interest, be sure to pick out a variety of squash to incorporate so your casserole is not all one color or texture.  When you prepare the squash, no matter what variety you're using, be sure to drain or squeeze all the excess liquid out, otherwise you will have more of a squash mush.  If you are adding a crunchy topping, don't skimp. Buttery crushed crackers and buttered breadcrumbs were made for these squash dishes. Most squash has a delicate flavor, so be sure to add wonderful fresh herbs and plenty of seasonings and real butter.

The Plentiful Potato

A nice hearty casserole is always good for the soul.  But when you combine freshly harvested potatoes with herbed sausage and top it with crispy fried onions, you have a dish that no one can walk away from without feeling satisfied. Potatoes are one plentiful form of produce in the fall, so when you're talking about creating big, comfortable casseroles, you can't ignore the potato.  Now, don't let the word 'potato' make you think of 'boring'.  There are a lot of varieties of potatoes available at your farmers market with different colors, flavors, and textures.  Once you learn the varieties, you'll learn how to use them properly.  For a hearty casserole, like the one mentioned, you want a firm potato like Yukon Gold.  Mealy potatoes are fine for baking and soups, but you need to know what bakes, what roasts, and what you want in a casserole. Then mix and match this wonderful tuber and enjoy.

The Pleasing Pumpkin

You can take a simple pumpkin to a whole new level with the right recipe. This dish is in a world far removed from dessert or even the routine pumpkin casserole.  This is a dish where not only is the pumpkin featured as a flavor, but also as a decorative serving vehicle.  Start by taking a small pumpkin, about three pounds, scoop out the insides, add in all the ingredients you would choose to make a holiday stuffing, such as savory sausage, croutons, onions, celery, even nuts, and mix together with a few flavor favorites like creamy Gruyere cheese and crispy bacon, then add in some more fresh farmers market ingredients like herbs and dried cranberries.  Stir in fresh cream to make everything come together, then stuff the pumpkin and bake.  Serve these pretty pumpkins to your guests and enjoy the delightful ooohs and aaaahs coming from around your table.

Casserole of bacon and leeks in a tomato-garlic sauce (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ratatouille

With all of the fresh farmers market veggies, there is no way you can resist this mountain of reds, yellows, greens and purples. Made traditionally by tossing a variety of eggplant, green and red bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, and tomatoes in a large skillet, this hearty casserole is not only fun to make, but offers a dish rich in nutrition and tradition. Technically not a casserole until you throw it in a casserole dish, this farm inspired recipe calls for taking advantage of the harvest in any way possible.  This dish became a casserole when hungry folks decided they needed to build on the tradition and mixed in meats and beans to make it a full meal. They then thew it in the oven and, voila, a casserole was born.

Look around your farmers market and see what kind of casseroles you can create out of this incredible array of produce and other goodies.  Still stuck for ideas?  Ask the farmer selling their wares what they make with their harvest.  You might just be surprised with the ingenuity these stewards of the land come up with.

And of course, be sure to check back here later this week for some tasty farmer's market casserole recipe ideas!

Recipe: Leftover Ham And Cheese Stratta

Yum - this makes a great breakfast!  Or even lunch, for that matter.... This is a great way to use up some of that leftover ham from your Easter dinner. Breakfast favorites you probably already have on hand like milk, eggs, and bread are spiced up with green onions, mustard, and cayenne pepper, while bacon adds its signature smoky flavor to the mix. Use whatever cheese you like - from fancy to simple - it will be delicious either way!

Leftover Ham And Cheese Stratta(Serves 4-6)

Ingredients:

Preparing for strata. (Photo credit: digitalprimate)

2 cups milk (preferably whole, organic, and non-homogenized)
1 cup chopped green onions
4 eggs (free range)
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
10 cups bread, cut into cubes
1 cup diced ham
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Gruyere or any cheese you have
4 natural-cured bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

Directions:

1. Lightly spray or rub a baking dish with oil.
2. In a large bowl, combine milk, green onions, eggs, mustard, and pepper, and whisk until well blended.
3. Add bread cubes and ham to the bowl and stir to combine. 
4. Pour mixture into baking dish, then sprinkle cheese evenly over the top.
5. Cover and put in refrigerator overnight.
6. When ready to bake, remove dish from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature while you preheat oven to 350 degrees.
7. Uncover dish, and bake for 20 minutes.
8. Fry the bacon and sprinkle over the top of the dish, then put back in oven and continue baking for 15 minutes or until hot and eggs are set and cheese has started to brown. (Serves 4 to 6 and can easily be doubled.)