June 5, 2022

Recipe: 20 Minute Acini de Pepe with Broccoli & Shrimp

Ingredients

1 lb Acini de Pepe pasta

2 tbsp olive oil

½ red onion, finely chopped

3 cloves of fresh garlic, minced

¼ cup dry white wine

1 lb frozen, cooked shrimp (26/30) no tails

2 broccoli crowns, florets cut into small pieces

salt

hot pepper flakes

serve with parmesan cheese

Directions

Cook Acini de Pepe to package directions. Drain and set aside, reserving 1 cup of cooking liquid.

While the pasta is cooking, add the olive oil to a large skillet and sauté the onions a few minutes over medium heat until soft and fragrant. Add the garlic, cook another minute.

Add the wine, stir, then the broccoli. Cook a few minutes until the broccoli turns bright green, add a splash or two of pasta cooking liquid to speed things up. Add the shrimp, stir all the ingredients together. Season to taste with salt and pepper flakes. Cook for a few minutes until shrimp is hot.

Add the cooked Acini de Pepe to the skillet and toss with the shrimp mixture. Cook until everything is hot. Serve with parmesan cheese.

~ Marla Meridith

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July 24, 2020

Recipe: Southwest Chicken & Rice Bowls

Ingredients

2 cups long grain brown rice, cooked to package directions

4 tbsp olive oil, divided

3 medium chicken breasts cut into 1-2 inch pieces

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp sweet paprika

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp salt

½ tsp ground black pepper

1 tsp ground chipotle pepper (more if you love extra spicy)

juice from 1/2 lime

½ red bell pepper diced

½ yellow bell pepper diced

½ red onion, diced

1 cup canned or frozen corn, drained

1 can (15 ounce) black beans, drained and rinsed

½ cup sliced black olives

¼ cup freshly chopped cilantro

Optional Toppings

chopped fresh cilantro

crumbled queso fresco

pico de gallo

fresh lime wedges

sour cream

Directions

Cook the rice to package directions.

Heat 2 tbsp of the olive oil in a 12 inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken breast, seasonings and lime juice. Cook 3-4 minutes each side until cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and transfer to a plate. DO NOT rinse the skillet.

Add the remainder of the olive oil to the skillet (2 tbsp) and saute the onions for 3 minutes. Add the bell peppers and saute another 4 minutes. Add the corn, black beans and olives. Cook another 3 minutes until hot. Mix in 1/4 cup chopped cilantro. Add the chicken back into the pan and cook 2 minutes.

Plate the rice into bowls. Top with the chicken mixture. Top with any additional toppings you desire. Serve immediately.

~ Marla Meridith

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June 6, 2020

Recipe: Vegetarian Enchiladas

Ingredients

2 cups homemade enchilada sauce

2 tbsp olive oil

1 cup chopped red onion

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 crown of broccoli, chopped into small pieces

1 yellow or orange bell pepper, chopped into small pieces

½ tsp smoked paprika

1 lime, juiced

5 cups baby spinach

1 (15 ounce) can black or pinto beans, drained and rinsed

2 cups mexican blend shredded cheese, divided into 1/2 and 1 1/2

½ tsp salt

freshly ground black pepper

8″ whole wheat tortillas

freshly chopped cilantro for garnish

Directions

Make the enchilada sauce.

Preheat the oven to 400˚ Fahrenheit with the rack in the middle. Spray a 9X13″ casserole dish with olive oil.

In a 12 inch skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once it’s hot add the chopped onion. Cook until fragrant about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, salt and pepper. Cook 2 minutes. Add the broccoli, cook 5 minutes or until the broccoli is bright green. Mix in the bell pepper, smoked paprika and lime juice. Mix in the baby spinach, allow it to wilt about 2 minutes. Mix in beans. Cook another 2 minutes. Mix in 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese.

Assemble the enchiladas. Pour 1/4 cup enchilada sauce into the casserole dish and spread it around. Top each tortilla with some of the veggie mixture. Lay it down the center of the tortilla and roll the sides up over it. Place each stuffed tortilla with the seam side down into the casserole dish until you have used up all the veggies. You will end up with 8 or 9 enchiladas.

Top with the remainder of the enchilada sauce. Pour the sauce down the middle of the enchiladas keeping the edges bare. Top with the remainder of the cheese. Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with freshly chopped cilantro and serve immediately.

~ Marla Meridith

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June 3, 2020

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

1 tbsp Southwest seasoning

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

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May 7, 2020

Recipe: Shrimp Scampi with Linguine

Ingredients

1 lb linguine, cooked to package directions

1 lb large shrimp, cleaned, peeled (leaving tails) and slightly butterflied

1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

3 tbsp chopped fresh Italian parsley

½ cup dry white wine

¼ fl oz olive oil

2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 pinch red pepper (or more to taste)

a few pinches salt and pepper

3 tbsp unsalted , divided

Directions

Clean and peel the shrimp. Make the marinade. Combine the onion, garlic, olive oil, wine, lemon juice, parsley and seasonings in a large bowl. Place the shrimp in the bowl and marinate for 20-30 minutes.

While the shrimp is marinating. Cook pasta to package directions. Toss with olive oil.

Preheat the flat top grill or skillet on medium high. Melt 1 tbsp of the butter on the grill then place the shrimp and marinade on top. Cook for 2 minutes then flip the shrimp and cook for another minute or until cooked through. Toss with the rest of the butter.

Serve on top of the linguine. Top with more parsley.

~ Marla Meridith

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April 3, 2020

One-Pot Creamy Broccoli Pasta

Ingredients

12 oz spaghetti or linguinie

½ cup chopped red onion

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

2 cups bite sized pieces broccoli florets

2 cups vegetable broth

1 ¼ cups whole milk

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Kosher salt to taste

ground black pepper to taste

Toppings

chopped fresh Italian parsley

sliced green onion

Directions

Heat the oil over medium heat in a 12 inch cast iron cast iron skillet.

Sauté the onion for 5 minutes, until soft and fragrant. Add the garlic. Cook 2 minutes. Mix in the lemon juice.

Add the broth, milk and broccoli. Bring to a boil. Add the pasta making sure it’s all submerged in the cooking liquid.

Cover the skillet and simmer the pasta for 8 minutes. Remove the lid, stir and continue to cook 8-10 minutes or until the pasta is done to your liking. Mix in the cheddar cheese in the last two minutes of cooking. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Top with parsley and green onion. Serve immediately.

~ Marla Meridith

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April 1, 2020

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

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February 3, 2020

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

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February 3, 2020

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

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January 30, 2020

One-Pot American Beef Goulash

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

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November 10, 2019

Sheet Pan Red Miso Glazed Chicken with Mushrooms

Ingredients

Directions

~ Marla Meridith

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November 10, 2019

Recipe: Broccoli Pesto Pasta