Recipe: Lemon Coconut Ricotta Pancakes

Recipe: Lemon Coconut Ricotta Pancakes

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose unbleached flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
½ cup sweetened shredded coconut
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 ½ tsp baking soda
¾ tsp baking powder
¾ tsp salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 ½ cups whole milk
1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp lemon zest
unsalted butter for skillet or griddle
Serve with
pure maple syrup
whipped cream
fresh berries

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, coconut, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

In another bowl, whisk the eggs. Mix in the milk, ricotta cheese and vanilla extract.

Add the wet ingredients into the dry ones and mix quickly to combine. Mix in the lemon juice and zest. Do not over mix the batter.

Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Melt some butter in the skillet. Using a measuring cup, pour 1/3 cup portions of batter onto the pan. Cook for about 3 minutes until the tops are bubbling and the edges start to turn golden brown. Gently flip the pancakes and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Add more butter to the skillet as needed. Repeat with all of the batter. Serve warm with maple syrup, whipped cream and berries.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Southwest Shrimp and Chorizo Pasta

Recipe: Southwest Shrimp and Chorizo Pasta

Ingredients

1 lb cleaned and deveined shrimp, 45 count
8 oz linguini
8 oz ground chorizo sausage
2 tbsp unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups 1/2 each yellow, red & orange bell peppers, diced
olive oil
chopped chives

Directions

Cook pasta to package directions. Rinse & toss with olive oil.

Cook chorizo in a large saucepan until cooked through, chop it up with a spatula. Remove Chorizo from pan.
Leave chorizo oil in pan, melt butter. Add peppers & garlic, Saute over medium high heat until softened, slightly browned & fragrant about 5 minutes.

Toss shrimp with southwest seasoning. Add shrimp to pan. Cook another 5 minutes. Add chorizo & stir. Add pasta into pan. Toss well & serve hot. Top with chives.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Fresh Raspberry Margaritas

Recipe: Fresh Raspberry Margaritas

Ingredients

¼ cup fresh raspberries
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
4 fl oz (1/2 cup) reposado or añejo tequila
1 ½ fl oz (3 tbsp) simple syrup (or add to taste)
ice
coarse or Kosher salt for rimming the glass
Simple Syrup
½ cup granulated white or light brown sugar
½ cup water

Directions

Make the simple syrup. Bring the water and sugar to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes making sure all the sugar has melted. Set aside to cool.

Using a wedge of lime, rub the rim of rocks or margarita glasses with the lime. Dip the edge of the glass into the salt. Fill 1/2 way with ice.

Muddle the raspberries with the lime juice in a cocktail shaker.

Add the tequila and simple syrup. Fill with ice. Shake until well combined. Strain into the prepared glasses. Garnish with lime wedges and more fresh raspberries.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Quick & Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs

Recipe: Quick & Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs

Ingredients

1 lb spaghetti or any pasta
1 lb ground beef
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp Kosher salt
2 tsp dried basil
24 fl oz (1 jar) canned tomato sauce
grated or shaved parmesan cheese for topping

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Line a baking tray with tin foil.

Place the ground beef in a large bowl.
Season with the garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper salt and basil. With clean hands combine well.

Roll into 1 inch meatballs. Place the meatballs onto the lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.

While the meatballs are baking, cook the pasta to package directions.
Drain the pasta when it’s done cooking.

Heat the sauce in a skillet. Season to taste with the garlic powder, onion powder etc. if you want it to have more profound flavors.

Top the cooked pasta with the sauce, meatballs and some Parmesan cheese.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Rustic Roasted Beet & Sweet Potato Salad

Recipe: Rustic Roasted Beet & Sweet Potato Salad

Ingredients

1 bunch beets
2 sweet potatoes
2 tbsp canola or grapeseed oil
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp garlic salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 avocado
6 cups baby spinach leaves
Toppings
Maple Citrus Roasted Pecanshttps://marlameridith.com/recipe/maple-citrus-roasted-pecans/
Salad Dressings: Try one of these!

Directions

Pre heat the oven to 375 degrees F with the racks in the middle. Prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper or oven proof silicone liner.

Slice the beets and sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch thick sticks. Place on the baking sheet in a single layer.

Drizzle with the oil and maple syrup. Using clean hands, toss with the cinnamon, garlic salt and pepper.

Bake for about 40-45 minutes until slightly browned, caramelized and very tender.

Plate spinach leaves with roasted beets and sweet potatoes. Top with avocado and maple pecans. Serve with lemon juice and olive oil or my Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette or Lemon Honey Salad Dressing.

~ Marla Meridith

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: Pumpkin Dutch Baby with Caramelized Apples

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Sheet Pan Red Miso Glazed Chicken with Mushrooms

Looking for that perfect one-pan dish? Try this delicious Sheet Pan Red Miso Glazed Chicken with Mushrooms recipe. Minimal fuss and clean-up required!

Ingredients

1/2 cup unseasoned rice wine vinegar
5 tbsp red miso paste
2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce (use tamari for gluten free)
1 tbsp finely grated ginger
2 1/2 tsp light brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
3 pounds bone in chicken thighs and drumsticks, trimmed and pat dry
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
8 ounces Shitake mushrooms, sliced
1 bunch scallions, cut to 1 inch length

Directions

Pre heat the oven to 450˚ F with the rack in the middle.

Line a baking sheet with tin foil.

Make a few slits on the top of the chicken, slicing though the skin to the bone.

In a large bowl whisk together the rice wine vinegar, miso, soy sauce, ginger, sugar and pepper.

Place the chicken into the sauce mixture and rub to coat on all sides, being sure to get the sauce into the slits.

Place the chicken skin side up on the baking sheet. with the sauce.

In the empty (do not rinse) bowl add the mushrooms and the whites of the scallions. Toss to coat with sauce residue.

Add this mixture to the sheet pan, scattering around the chicken.

Roast until the chicken and mushrooms are browned and the internal temperature of the thickest parts of the thighs and drumsticks reads 175˚F ~ about 30-40 minutes.

With tongs, transfer the chicken to a serving plate and sauce with the mushroom mixture and the pan drippings.

Top with the green parts of the scallions.

Serve with rice, conscous, quinoa or pasta.

~ Marla Meridith

Recipe: Melted Candy Corn Skillet Brownie

Ingredients

Directions

~ 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