Recipe: Pantry-Only Tex Mex Mac ‘n Cheese

Recipe: Pantry-Only Tex Mex Mac ‘n Cheese

Ingredients

10 oz macaroni, rotini or fusilli
salt for pasta water
16.25 can whole kernel corn
11 can Ro*tel (diced tomato & chili)
3.25 can sliced black olives
1 lb Velveeta cheese block
1 tbsp chili powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp ground black pepper
¼ tsp smoked spanish paprika
¼ tsp ground red pepper
minced dried onion for topping

Directions

Cook the pasta to package directions.
Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water.
Drain pasta.

Open the canned ingredients and drain.

Chop the Velveeta into 1 inch pieces.

Heat a 12 inch cast iron skillet over medium high heat.
Add the canned ingredients. Heat for about 5 minutes.

Mix in all the dried seasonings excluding the dried minced onion.

Mix in the reserved cooking water.
Mix in the Velveeta until the sauce is creamy.

Mix in the cooked pasta.
Top with the dried minced onion and serve immediately.

~ Marla Meridith

Chili Cheese Oven Fries

Chili Cheese Oven Fries

Ingredients

Oven French Fries
1 ½ lbs Russet potatoes
¼ cup canola or vegetable oil
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
Chili
1 lb ground beef
1 tbsp tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion diced
1 green bell pepper finely chopped
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
½ tsp coriander
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 cup crushed tomatoes
½ cup water
Toppings
1 tomato seeded and diced
Shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese
green onions chopped
sour cream
Anything else you may want such as sliced Jalapeno, salsa, pico de gallo, avocado, guacamole, olives, lettuce, etc.

Directions

Oven Fries

Clean and pat dry the potatoes. Do not remove the skin.

Slice into desired thickness.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F with the rack on the lower level.

In a large bowl toss the potatoes with the oil, salt and pepper and any other toppings you like.

Place on the baking sheet in a single layer.

Bake for 25-35 minutes tossing the fries in the middle of baking time.

Chili

While the fries are baking prepare the chili. Cook the meat in a 12 inch cast iron skillet until browned, breaking up the meat up as it cooks. Remove the meat from the skillet with a slotted spoon. Discard oil.

Heat olive oil over medium heat in a the same skillet, no need to wash it. Saute the onion for 5-6 minutes until softened and fragrant.

Add the bell pepper and cook a few more minutes.

Add the rest of the ingredients, bring to a boil and then to a simmer for 20 minutes or until chili thickens.

Plate the fries in a bake safe casserole dish or single serving dishes. Top with chili and handfuls of cheese. Bake for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted. Serve hot with various toppings.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Skillet Salmon with Bacon and Lentils

This gluten-free, healthy Skillet Salmon with Bacon & Lentils is protein packed and completely delicious! Perfect for family dinners and for entertaining guests.

4-5 servings

–for the lentils
4 slices thick cut bacon, chopped small + extra for garnish
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, diced
2 carrots, peeled & chopped small
2 celery stalks, chopped small
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
3 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 cup French green lentils
1/4 cup Sherry vinegar
splash of dry Marsala wine
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
season to taste with salt and pepper
–for the salmon
4-5 (4 ounce) boneless salmon filets, skin on
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp unsalted butter
chopped parsley and crispy bacon for garnish

Add the bacon to the a 12 inch cast iron skillet and cook over medium heat until the fat renders about 7 minutes and bacon is lightly browned. Add the olive oil, onion, carrots and celery. Cook about 5 minutes until the vegetables soften. Add the garlic, rosemary, broth and lentils. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Stir in the vinegar, wine, mustard salt and pepper. Cook for 25-30 minutes until the lentils are tender, stirring occasionally. Add more broth if needed to soften the lentils, season to taste with salt and pepper.
Ten minutes before the lentils are done cooking. Cook the salmon.
Pre-heat a 10 inch cast iron with the butter and oil over medium high heat. Season the filets with some salt and pepper. Cook skin side down for minutes then flip and cook just a few minutes more until the salmon is done to your liking.
Once the lentils have soaked up all of the cooking liquid, place the salmon on the top and serve immediately.
Garnish with crispy bacon and fresh parsley.

~ Marla Meridith

One-Pot American Beef Goulash

One-Pot American Beef Goulash: An easy and delicious pasta recipe for the entire family!

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef
2 large yellow onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
3 cups water
one (29 ounce) can) tomato sauce
one (28-ounce) can small diced tomatoes
splash of dry red wine
1/4 cup half and half
3 bay leaves
3 tbs soy sauce
1 tsp Kosher salt
2 tbs chopped fresh parsley, plus extra for serving
2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
—serve with
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a Dutch oven, saute the ground beef over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Break up the meat while sauteeing. Spoon off any grease.

Add the onions and garlic to the pot and saute until they are tender and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add 3 cups water, along with the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, red wine, half and half, bay leaves, soy sauce, salt and parsley. Stir well.

Place a lid on the pot and allow this mixture to cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Add the elbow macaroni, stir well, return the lid to the pot, simmer for about 30 minutes.

Turn off the heat, remove the bay leaves, and allow the mixture to sit about 30 minutes longer before serving.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Chickpea Stuffed Acorn Squash

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

One-Pot American Beef Goulash

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Chickpea Stuffed Acorn Squash

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Skillet Salmon with Bacon and Lentils

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: One-Pot Filipino Chicken Adobo

This healthy One-Pot Filipino Chicken Adobo recipe, is perfect for busy weeknight meals. Your entire family will love it and the best part is it’s quick to clean up too!

Ingredients

1 head garlic
4 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs
4 drumsticks
1 tbsp vegetable or canola oil
3/4 cup distilled white vinegar
3/4 cup soy sauce (not low sodium)
1 cup water
1 tbsp light or dark brown sugar
5 dried bay leaves
freshly ground black pepper to taste
salt to taste
1 (1lb) bag white rice
garnish with
chopped green onions
freshly chopped cilantro

Directions

Cut entire head of garlic in half through the center “equator” , it’s OK if some bulbs detach. You don’t need those.

Heat the oil in a large Dutch Oven over medium heat. Place the 8 chicken pieces in the pan with the skin side down. Cook for 5 minutes until golden brown, then flip with tongs and cook the other side for about 5 minutes until golden brown. Transfer the chicken to a clean plate.

Add the vinegar, soy sauce, water, sugar, bay leaves and garlic too the pot. Bring to a simmer then turn down to low, stir so the sugar dissolves. Season with pepper.

Return the chicken to the pot skin side up. Cover and cook the chicken carefully and gently. Adjust the heat to maintain barely a simmer. Turning pieces once during cooking time. The dish is done cooking when the chicken is very tender and pulling away from bone. It should not be falling apart. Cook for 35–40 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

While the chicken is cooking, cook the rice to package directions.

Serve the chicken over the rice and tip with chopped green onion and chopped cilantro. Spoon any extra sauce over the chicken and rice.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Greek Salad with Salmon and Creamy Feta Dressing

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Lightened Up Chicken Korma

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Buttery Lemon Garlic Cauliflower Rice

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith