All-American Meatloaf

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I think meatloaf gets a bad rap. Of course the name doesn't help its image for sure... anything labeled simply "meat" grosses me out and then you add loaf to it and there is no wonder why people curl their nose up at it! But I'm here to proudly announce that I enjoy meatloaf. I always loved my momma's meatloaf growing up - it was true comfort food. To this day, meatloaf *has* to have mashed potatoes alongside it since that was how she served it.

This meatloaf recipe comes from the March Cooking Light magazine; they actually did an entire section of meatloaf recipes and I hope to try a few more. This one, however, looked especially delicious to me so it was first on the list.

This recipe is a fairly traditional one but the twist (at least from the versions I've made/had) is the addition of cheese cubes and buttermilk. The cheese melts into pockets of ooey goodness. I also loved the flavor twist that the buttermilk lended. It was flavorful, easy to throw together, and a big hit. Leftovers didn't last long in this house!

Note: I didn't use a loaf pan but instead formed it into a similar size and put it on a baking sheet. I like the crispy edges (esp with the gooey cheese) that a baking sheet can give.

All-American Meatloaf
1 1/2 ounces French bread, torn into pieces *I used panko

1/2 cup ketchup, divided

1 cup coarsely chopped onion (I left out)

5 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, divided

1/4 cup nonfat buttermilk

1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic (about 3 cloves)

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 pound ground sirloin

Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°.

Place bread in a food processor; pulse 10 times or until coarse crumbs measure 1 cup. Arrange breadcrumbs in an even layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 6 minutes or until lightly toasted; cool. (I used panko to save a step)

Combine toasted breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup ketchup, onion, 3 tablespoons parsley, and remaining ingredients except cooking spray in a bowl; gently mix until just combined.

Transfer the mixture to a 9 x 5–inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray; do not pack. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Brush top of loaf with remaining 1/4 cup ketchup. Bake an additional 25 minutes or until thermometer registers 160°. Let stand for 10 minutes, and cut into 6 slices. Sprinkle with remaining parsley.

Chicken Tamale Pie

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I'll be honest; I wasn't sure I'd like this dish. You see, it calls for more canned foods than I typically use in a week's time... and I admit to being a bit of a snob when it comes to things from the canned food aisle. But, a blog I love featured it and said it was delish so I had to give it a shot. Plus, Jason is a fan of 1) food in a can and 2) anything mexican.

She was right - it's delicious!

I tweaked the original recipe a bit since it seemed super spicy as written with an entire can of chopped green chiles and it ended up perfect for our tastes. If you have kids eating it, I'd choose a mild enchilada sauce, eliminate the red pepper, and cut back on the chiles. I also missed the message that I needed cooked, shredded chicken so instead I diced chicken breasts and browned them on the stovetop with the taco seasoning while the cornbread baked. It ended up making the pie a bit chunkier but delicious nonetheless.

This is easy, inexpensive, and a crowd pleaser. Even if you're a canned food snob like myself I hope you give it a shot!

Chicken Tamale Pie

1/3 cup milk

1/4 cup egg substitute or two lightly beaten large eggs

1 1/2 tablespoon taco seasoning, divided - make your own in 1 minute!

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (optional)

1 (14 3/4 ounce) can cream-style corn

1 (8.5 ounce) box corn muffin mix (such as Jiffy)

1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained (I used half)

1 (10 ounce) can red enchilada sauce

2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast

3/4 cup shredded cheese (I used cheddar - a Mexican blend would be great)

Cilantro for topping

Preheat oven to 400°.

Combine the first 7 ingredients (milk through green chiles), using just 1/2 tablespoon of the taco seasoning, in a large bowl, stirring just until moist. Pour mixture into a round pie plate coated with cooking spray.

Bake at 400° for 15 minutes. While corn is baking, toss the chicken in the remaining 1 tablespoon taco seasoning. When corn is done – it will be just barely set and golden brown – pierce entire surface liberally with a fork. Pour enchilada sauce over top. Top with chicken; sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until cheese melts. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes. Cut into 8 pieces; top each serving with cilantro.

Source: Pinch of Yum

Ropa Vieja {Crockpot}

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I've always wanted to visit Cuba. Mostly because I'm not allowed to go... but also because it's not as Americanized as many other countries and I'd love to visit a place like that. Wthout going halfway around the world. While I hope the travel restrictions change during my lifetime, or I figure out some way to get myself there, I'll start now by just enjoying Cuban cuisine. Like this dish.

This traditionally Cuban dish is incredibly delicious, easy to make, and versatile! I happily ate mine over rice (I'm a total rice junkie.) but Jason went straight for the fresh made tortillas to make soft tacos (and there may just been quite a bit of cheese sprinkled over top of his...). It's similar to a traditional brisket but with a different flavor profile.

We both loved it and it made a TON that was easily to use over the next few days in a variety of ways. The crockpot makes it a super simple meal that you can pull together after walking in the door after a long day.

Ropa Vieja
2 lb beef brisket, top sirloin, or other roast
1 sweet vidalia onion, diced small
1 small can (3 ounce) pimentos morrones, fire roasted peeled pimentos diced
20 small pitted pimento stuffed green olives drained of the brine
8 clove fresh garlic smashed or put through a garlic press
1/4 c diced fresh curly parsley, try not to add the stems
2 bay leaves
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
2 Tbsp apple vinegar
3 ounces tomato paste
1 small packet sazon goya seasoning with culantro and achiote
3 sprig(s) fresh cilantro diced
1/4 c tomato ketchup
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
1/2 c – 1 c beef brisket broth (reserved after slow cooking)
1 lime, sliced for serving

Add all ingredients to a slow cooker and cook on low for 10 hours.

Remove cooked meat from slow cooker and shred. Strain pimentos and olives from beef broth and mix back in with shredded meat. Moisten shredded meat with reserved cooking liquid to desired consistency, if needed.

Source: Branny Boils Over

Fried Tuna Po Boy

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I grew up eating tuna salad sandwiches and still love making one occasionally. These fried tuna balls were so intriguing I just had to give them a shot. I've always loved a tuna melt so why not? You make a very basic tuna salad, roll it into balls and bread in panko/bread crumbs, and deep fry for just a few minutes. The result is a ridiculously addicting crunchy exterior and a warm, creamy, tasty inside.

Psst - this is also a 30 minutes or less meal. Score!

Fried Tuna Po Boy - makes 2 sandwiches

2 cans tuna, drained

2 green onions, sliced

1 egg

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon dijon mustard

1 teaspoon creole seasoning

Oil for frying

1 cup bread crumbs or panko

Baguette, hoagie, or other roll, sliced in half 

Lettuce

Remoulade sauce (see recipe below)

Mix the tuna, green onions, egg, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and cajun seasoning along with enough bread crumbs that the mixture holds together well.

Heat 1/2 inch on oil in a saucepan over medium heat.

Form the mixture into 1 1/2 inch balls and roll them in the bread crumbs to coat.

Fry the tuna balls in oil until golden brown on all sides and set aside on paper towels to drain.

Assemble sandwich and enjoy.

Remoulade Sauce

1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon creole mustard
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon horseradish
1 small clove garlic
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon capers
1 green onion (chopped)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
hot sauce to taste

Blend everything in a food processor until smooth.

Source: Closet Cooking

Skillet BBQ Chicken Pasta

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You know how people often say 'it's a one pot meal' but they don't account for the pasta... or rice... or some other element that you have to make in order for it to be a complete meal?

This isn't one of them. Literally, one pot = one pot. Even the pasta!

Since we handwash all our pots/pans, one pot is a big plus in our house.

We like big flavor (esp Jason) so I tasted and added BBQ sauce and sour cream until the flavor was our preference. So, be sure and have more on hand and do a taste test near the end.

This is a great, family friendly weeknight meal. Definitely a keeper!

Skillet BBQ Chicken Pasta
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks
1 onion, diced
3 cups water
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 ounces penne pasta
1 cup barbecue sauce
1/3 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

In a large 12-inch nonstick skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. When hot, add the chicken and onions and saute, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken and onions to a plate and set aside.

In the same skillet, add the water, chicken broth, penne and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, until the liquid is almost absorbed, the pasta is tender and the mixture is thick and syrupy. *Note: I ended up with tons of extra liquid even with the pasta cooked so I removed the excess and set it aside in case it needed thinned out later.

Stir in the barbecue sauce and sour cream. Once mixed, add in the reserved chicken, onions and shredded cheese. Stir to combine and cook until everything is heated through.

Taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed. Garnish with green onions and more shredded cheese.

Source: A Taste of Home Cooking

Mushroom Crusted Turkey Burgers

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A few years ago, I made mushroom crusted filets that were divine... so when I saw a twist on that, in a burger form, I knew I had to give it a shot. These were delicious! The mushroom gives an earthiness to the burger and, I think, holds in the moisture better. Though I may just be making that part up, I do know that these turkey burgers were not dry at all - which is often the case when you swap beef for turkey.

I'm sure you could grill these (they hold together fairly well) but since it was raining, I reached for my handy dandy cast iron skillet to get a great sear on it. Either way you cook it, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy and delicious these turned out.

PSA: Don't attempt to grind your dried mushrooms in your mini chopper like I did. It nearly killed my machine. Go for the food processor and save yourself the headache (though a coffee bean grinder might work!)

Mushroom Crusted Turkey Burgers
1 oz dried mushrooms
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1 1/4 lbs ground turkey
1 scallion, minced
2 Tbs minced fresh parsley
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbs oil
4 slices Havarti cheese
4 burger buns, split
arugula, for serving (we used spinach instead)

In the bowl of a food processor, grind the dried mushrooms until they are a coarse powder. Reserve 2 teaspoons of the powder, and transfer the rest to a shallow bowl or pie plate and mix in the salt and pepper.

In a large bowl, combine the turkey, reserved mushroom powder, scallion, parsley, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Form into 4 equal-sized patties.

Preheat a large skillet over medium heat, and add the oil.

Working one burger at a time, coat the outside with the mushroom powder, pressing lightly to adhere.

Cook the burgers 4-5 minutes per side, or until the meat is cooked through. Add the cheese for the last minute or two, and continue cooking until it has melted.

Toast the buns and serve the burgers topped with arugula.

Source: Pink Parsley

Crispy Oven Fried Fish

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(this pic is pre-new camera. obviously.)

Crispy fish without the mess and calories of frying! The key is this great batter and baking it on a rack. We both found this recipe very flavorful, crispy, and delicious.

If you make your breadcrumbs the night before, you could easily whip this together after a day at the office and have dinner on the table in no time. I can't imagine how anyone would turn their nose up to this great dish.

*My fish was thinner so I just watched it carefully to avoid overcooking

Crispy Oven Fried Fish
4 slices whole-wheat sandwich bread, torn into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon canola oil
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 small shallot, minced
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons light mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 (6-ounce) firm white fish fillets (like cod or haddock) 1-1 1/2 inches thick
lemon wedges, for serving

Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Pulse the bread in a food processor until coarse crumbs form (about 10 pulses). Transfer the crumbs to a baking sheet and stir in the oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt & pepper, each. Spread the crumbs over the baking sheet and bake, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and dry (about 10-12 minutes)

Remove the crumbs from the oven and set aside to cool for about 15 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees and spray a wire rack with vegetable oil spray well. Place the rack over a baking sheet.

Transfer the cooled crumbs into a shallow bowl and mix in the parsley and shallot. Spread 3 tablespoons of flour into another shallow dish. In a third shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, mayonnaise, paprika, cayenne and 1/4 teaspoon pepper together. Then whisk in the remaining flour until a smooth, thick batter is formed.

Pat each piece of fish completely dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper. Working on one fish at a time, dredge into the flour, then dip it into egg batter and finally coat it with the bread crumbs, pressing on each piece to adhere. Lay the breaded fish on the prepared wire rack.

Bake the fish until the coating is golden and the fish flakes easily when gently poked with a fork, about 18-25 minutes. Keep an eye on it if it's thinner.

Gently transfer the fish to individuals plates and serve with lemon wedges.

Source: Gourmet: Day to Day

Italian Fries {oven baked}

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Aimee got a new camera.

I've wanted a DSLR for years so when a great deal came along, Jason urged me to 'just buy it'

(I think he has grown tired of hearing me rant about taking food pics with a basic p&s)

These are my first attempts at taking food pics using the new camera and while I know I have a lot to learn, I'm already so darn proud of how they look. Especially in comparison to my usual pics!

But enough about my camera. Let's talk about these fries! An Italian twist on the French fry, these babies are easy, versatile, and TASTY! We had a hard time restraining ourselves to not eat the entire baking sheet. They are very flavorful and the cheese forms a salty crust on top. Um, yum!

(psst - these also warm up in the microwave well, which is unusual for fries!)

You could swap out the Italian flavorings for something else - maybe cilantro, cumin, monterey jack for a Tex Mex inspired fry? Possibilities are endless!

*I used 2 large Russets, didn't bother peeling, and it made just one large baking sheet worth. I may have sliced mine thinner - as I love shoestring potatoes - so I just kept an eye on them to avoid burning

Italian Fries
6 or 7 Idaho potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/3-inch-thick French fry-style strips, soaked in cold water (to avoid browning)

4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs or some combo of dried oregano, thyme, marjoram, and basil

2 cups freshly grated Romano cheese

1/4 cup parsley leaves, finely chopped

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) salted butter, cut into 6 cubes

Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Drain the potatoes and pat dry with paper towels. Spread 1 tablespoon of the olive oil on each of 2 rimmed baking sheets and spread out the potatoes. Overlapping is fine.

Sprinkle the dried herbs evenly over the potatoes. Liberally spread the cheese and parsley on top. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the cheese. Scatter the cubed butter around the pans.

Bake until the potatoes are golden brown, rotating the pans after 30 minutes, for 45 to 50 minutes total. Use a spatula to lift off the potatoes with all the crusty cheese adhered to them. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

Source: Martha Stewart

Roasted Acorn Squash with Ricotta & Honey

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This is divine. For reals. The flavor combination is darn near perfect and a sinfully delicious way to enjoy one of my favorite winter squashes. It's so simple it's ridiculous.

You should make it before the squash season ends!

Roasted Acorn Squash with Ricotta and Honey
2 acorn squash
Olive Oil
Salt and fresh ground pepper
10 oz fresh ricotta
2-4 tablespoons honey
Ground nutmeg (fresh or dried)

Preheat oven to 400˚ F.

Cut squash in half, remove seeds, then cut each piece in ½ for a total of 8 wedges. Leave the skin on.

Place squash on roasting pan, baking sheet, or cast iron skillet and coat with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Roast in oven for 45-50 minutes until soft and toasty.

Let cool slightly, spoon on a dollop of ricotta or chunk of buratta, drizzle with honey and sprinkle on nutmeg. Serve immediately.

Source: Matt Bites

Easy Shredded Chicken & Homemade Chicken Broth

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It seems like I use a ton of chicken broth and it gets pricey really quickly. When I needed some shredded chicken for Chicken Marsala Casserole I opted to skip the pricier rotisserie chicken and opt for a whole chicken to cook myself.

Since I wasn't serving the chicken as a meal (but instead using the meat in a recipe) I knew I didn't want it overly seasoned. If you want to serve yours as a meal, feel free to season the heck out of it. Not only did I get a great amount of useable chicken, I also was able to use the leftover pieces to make chicken broth!

Easy Shredded Chicken
1 whole chicken, innards removed
Cooking spray
Seasonings, if desired

Spray the crockpot with cooking spray so it won't stick. Place the entire chicken in the crockpot, no additional liquid needed. Sprinkle on any seasonings you'd like (optional).

Cook it on low for 7 hours or so.

Remove the chicken and pull off all the useable meat (I use a fork). Don't pour out the liquid in the crockpot because if you want to make broth...


Homemade Chicken Broth
Bones, skin, etc of whole chicken
Five cups of water
Liquid already in the crockpot

Put the bones, skin, etc that you don't want from the chicken back in the crockpot and pour about 5 cups of water over top. Set it to low and get it cook all night/day long (I let it run about 10 hours).

Strain it and place the liquid in the fridge to cool completely. Scrape the layer of fat off the top and pour the remaining broth into smaller containers to freeze or refrigerate. I filled 5 pint sized jars and still had leftover! Some more adventurous than me would probably even find a use for the fat.



My $4 chicken provided enough meat for 3-4 meals plus tons of chicken broth. What a deal!

Bacon and Butternut Squash Pasta

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I apologize for the lack of posts - I went out of town last week to the lovely city of Norfolk, Virginia where I got to spend time with friends, attend a great conference, and eat lots of seafood! Now that I'm back in town, I have a backlog of posts that I'm excited to share with you this week!

This season, I have really latched onto butternut squash. It's by far one of my favorite winter vegetables and I can't seem to get enough of it! Costco, thankfully, sells two pound packages of already peeled and cubed butternut squash for just $3.99. Not only is it inexpensive, I don't have to risk cutting my fingers off when dicing my own!

This recipe, from Cooking Light, seems complicated and time consuming - and it is somewhat time consuming - but it's totally worth it. It's sweet, salty, creamy, and nutty all at once. Plus it makes a large quantity!

You can easily make it vegetarian by omitting the bacon and using vegetable broth. You could also use mustard greens or Swiss chard instead of the kale. I would not, however, recommend spinach as it's not as hearty.

*Money saving tip: stop by your deli for a thick piece of Gruyere to shred instead of investing in a large piece

Bacon and Butternut Squash Pasta
5 cups (1/2-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash (I used a full 2 pound package)

1 tablespoon olive oil

Cooking spray

12 ounces uncooked ziti or other short pasta

4 cups chopped kale

2 bacon slices (I used 4)

2 cups vertically sliced onion (I used chopped)

Salt and pepper

5 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 cup crème fraîche

1/3 cup (about 1 1/2 ounces) shredded Gruyère cheese

Preheat oven to 400°.

Arrange squash on baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Drizzle with the oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss gently to combine. Bake at 400° for 20-30 minutes or until squash is tender.

Cook pasta 7 minutes or until almost al dente, omitting salt and fat. Add kale to pan during last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain pasta mixture.

Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan; crumble. Add onion to drippings in pan; cook 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring occasionally.

Once the pasta is done and drained, use the same pot to bring 1 3/4 cups of broth to a boil. Combine remaining 1/4 cup broth and flour in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add flour mixture, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and red pepper to broth. Cook 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove from heat; stir in crème fraîche.

Combine squash, pasta mixture, bacon, onion mixture, and sauce in a large bowl; toss gently. Place pasta mixture in a 13 x 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with cheese. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes or until bubbly and slightly browned.