Slow-Cooker Enchilada Casserole

November 15, 2011

I’m always intrigued by the stacked tortilla recipes that I see, but I often wonder how difficult they are to serve. This recipe from the July 2011 issue of All You (original here) is different from others that I’ve seen because the tortillas are toasted before going in the crockpot. I can’t wait to give it a try.

Ingredients

  • 9 6-inch corn tortillas
  • 1 15-oz. can can or jar enchilada sauce
  • 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups frozen corn
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar

Directions

  1. Place an oven rack about 5 inches from broiler and preheat broiler to high.
  2. Toast tortillas under broiler, turning once, until lightly spotted, 2 to 3 minutes total. Set aside.
  3. Reserve 2 Tbsp. enchilada sauce.
  4. Combine beans and remaining sauce in a bowl.
  5. Mist slow-cooker insert with cooking spray.
  6. Place 3 tortillas in bottom, breaking one into pieces if necessary to cover bottom.
  7. Spread half of bean mixture over tortillas.
  8. Sprinkle with 1 cup corn and 1/2 cup cheese.
  9. Repeat with 3 more tortillas, remaining bean mixture, remaining corn and 1 cup cheese.
  10. Top with 3 remaining tortillas, reserved sauce and remaining 1 cup cheese.
  11. Cover and cook on low until cheese has melted and is beginning to crisp on edges, 2 to 3 hours.

Variations

  • I’m not sure the vegetarian meal would pass the Board of Inquiry at this house, so I will probably add some canned chicken or browned ground beef with the beans and sauce mixture.
  • I suspect that a Mexican blend of cheese would be a nice substitute for the Cheddar.

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Stir-Fry Your Way

November 14, 2011

So many of the stir fry recipes that I see tell you to use a bottle of “stir fry sauce.” Where’s the technique in that? So I was pleased when I found this recipe from the April 2011 issue of All You (original here), that includes a sauce you make yourself. The recipe was developed by dietician Heidi McIndoo.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 4 cups of your favorite vegetables (broccoli cut into bite-size pieces, shredded carrots, thinly sliced red bell peppers, chopped onion or thin green beans)
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 8-oz. can pineapple chunks, canned in juice, drained, optional
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 2 Tbsp. cold water
  • 2 cups cooked brown rice or whole-grain noodles

Directions

  1. Preheat a wok or large skillet on low.
  2. In a bowl, combine chicken broth, vinegar, soy sauce and brown sugar.
  3. Turn heat up to high.
  4. Pour in 1 Tbsp. canola oil and, once hot, add half of chicken and sauté until cooked through, about 5 minutes.
  5. Remove to a plate.
  6. Repeat with 1/2 Tbsp. oil and remaining chicken.
  7. Add vegetables and 1 1/2 Tbsp. oil to wok; sauté until tender, about 3 minutes.
  8. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute.
  9. Return chicken to wok; add pineapple, if desired.
  10. Pour in chicken broth mixture and stir well.
  11. Add cornstarch and stir until sauce thickens and becomes shiny.
  12. Serve over brown rice or whole-grain noodles. (Obviously white rice will also work.)

Filed under Chinese, Main Dish Tagged with , , , ,

Ramen Beef Pie

November 13, 2011

I found this recipe in a Seattle newspaper article that was exploring recipes that used every college student’s favorite cheap food, ramen noodles. The article explains, “Now that work is over, you can finally go home and enjoy a nice, giant helping of ramen beef pie. It’s like Shepard’s Pie or Pâté Chinois, a dish they serve in Canada, only ramen style.” I’m not convinced it could ever beat a Shepard’s Pie, but I may try it out with a little variation. Some details were missing in the original, so I’ve made correction in my version below.

Ingredients

  • 2 pkg ramen noodles
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 can sweet corn, drained
  • 1/2 c onion, chopped
  • vegetable oil

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. Cook the ramen noodles, according to the package directions.
  3. In a separate skillet, saute the onions with vegetable oil until golden brown.
  4. Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up and cooking until fully browned.
  5. Spray a casserole with nonstick spray.
  6. Layer the ground beef and onion in the bottom of the casserole dish.
  7. Spread sweet corn in a layer on top of ground beef mixture.
  8. Top with ramen noodles, spreading evenly to cover entire casserole.
  9. Bake in 350° oven for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown and heated through.

Variations

  • Instead of corn alone, add any vegetables you like. Precook before adding them in a layer. I would probably use mixed vegetables or at least corn, peas, and carrots. Even the picture on the Seattle news website looked like it included peas.
  • I might try mixing a can of Cream of Mushroom or Beefy Mushroom soup into the ramen before topping the casserole.

Filed under Casseroles, Main Dish Tagged with , ,

Banana Boats

November 12, 2011

I don’t really need a recipe for Banana Boats. I’ve been making them at camp since I was a Junior Girl Scout. This recipe from the April 2011 issue of All You (original here), however, includes instructions for cooking the treat in the oven. An option for Banana Boats that doesn’t require me to build a fire? Yes please!

Ingredients

  • 4 small bananas
  • 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 300ºF.
  2. Slit each banana lengthwise through 1 side of peel, taking care to avoid cutting all the way through banana.
  3. Stuff each slit with chocolate chips and marshmallows.
  4. Wrap each banana in aluminum foil, place upright on a baking sheet.
  5. Bake until chocolate and marshmallows have melted, 10 to 15 minutes.
  6. Unwrap and serve immediately.

Variations

  • For a bit of crunch, add chopped salted peanuts to the chocolate chips and marshmallows.
  • Or, add drizzled caramel so it resembles the popular British dessert Banoffee Pie.
  • You can use milk chocolate for a sweeter taste, or bittersweet for a stronger flavor.
  • Instead of buying chips, you can chop up a 4-oz candy bar.

Filed under Desserts Tagged with , , , ,

Caesar Pasta Salad

November 11, 2011

Mom likes to add cheese tortellini to Caesar salad. Here’s an interesting alternative with a home-made Caesar dressing. From the July 2011 issue of All You (original online), the description explains that “This salad is hearty on its own, but it is even more so when topped with grilled chicken or shrimp. Alternatively, toss in some kidney beans or chickpeas.”

Ingredients

  • Salt
  • 12 ounces curly pasta, such as fusilli
  • 1 1/2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 9 flat anchovies, chopped
  • 1/4 cup plus
  • 1/2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • 10 cup chopped green leaf lettuce
  • Chopped fresh basil, optional

Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Cook pasta until just tender, about 10 minutes, or as package label directs.
  3. While pasta is cooking, combine garlic, anchovies, lemon juice, mayonnaise, olive oil and 3/4 tsp. salt in a blender and blend until smooth.
  4. Drain pasta.
  5. Toss pasta with half of dressing and tomatoes. Let stand for 10 minutes.
  6. Toss with Parmesan.
  7. Toss lettuce with remaining dressing and divide among 4 shallow bowls.
  8. Spoon pasta salad over lettuce, sprinkle with basil, if desired, and serve.

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Tuna in the Straw Casserole

November 10, 2011

From the Taste of Home website (original online), this casserole is quite similar to a recipe that mom has been making as long as I can remember. I’m always a little ashamed to admit how much I love its comfort-food goodness when one of the main ingredients is potato sticks. This variation from Taste of Home adds vegetables. Maybe I won’t have to be quite so ashamed of this version.

Ingredients

  • 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
  • 1 can (5 ounces) evaporated milk
  • 1 can (5 ounces) albacore white tuna in water
  • 1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
  • 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
  • 2 cups potato sticks, divided

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°.
  2. In a large bowl, combine soup and milk until blended.
  3. Stir in the tuna, mushrooms, vegetables and 1-1/2 cups potato sticks.
  4. Transfer to a greased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish.
  5. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 20 minutes.
  6. Sprinkle with the remaining potatoes.
  7. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly and potatoes are crisp.

Variations

  • The name of this version of the casserole makes me wonder if a similar dish could be made with chunked turkey. Turkey in the Straw, anyone?

Time Required: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Filed under Casseroles, Main Dish Tagged with , ,

Creamy Mustard Sauce

November 9, 2011

Just found this recipe in a text file as I was cleaning up my hard drive. No idea where it came from or why I saved it, but it does sound like it would be a nice sauce for chicken or ham. Probably wouldn’t be bad lightly spread on a sandwich either. The recipe makes 1½ cups.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Ranch Style Dressing
  • 1 tbsp whole grain mustard
  • 2 tbsp green onion, chopped
  • pinch of cracked black pepper

Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir well.
  2. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Filed under Sauces & Marinades Tagged with ,

Maple-Glazed Snack Mix

November 8, 2011

From the Taste of Home website (original online), this sweet snack mix is a nice alternative to the more traditional (and savory) Chex party mix we usually have around the holidays. The recipe makes 7½ cups.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Corn Chex
  • 2 cups Rice Chex
  • 2 cups Honey-Nut Cheerios
  • 1 cup miniature pretzels
  • 1/2 cup pecan halves, coarsely chopped
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, combine the cereals, pretzels and pecans.
  2. In a small microwave-safe dish, combine maple syrup and butter.
  3. Cover and microwave on high for 45 seconds or until butter is melted.
  4. Stir in vanilla.
  5. Pour over cereal mixture and toss to coat.
  6. Transfer to a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray.
  7. Bake at 250° for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
  8. Cool on a wire rack.
  9. Store in an airtight container.

Variations

  • Vary the ingredients to your taste, using different cereals or nuts. Apple Cinnamon Cheerios might make a nice substitute, for instance, and peanuts or walnuts could easily stand in for the pecans.

Filed under Snack Tagged with ,

Pumpkin Spiced Latte

November 7, 2011

From the SparkPeople website (original online), this converted recipe transforms a decadent coffee treat into an 98-calorie drink. I have some instant mix for pumpkin coffee, but the calorie savings may convince me to give this recipe a try!

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp canned pumpkin
  • 1 tsp pumpkin all spice
  • 1 cup of non-fat milk
  • ½ cup strongly brewed coffee
  • 4 tsp Splenda (or to taste)

Directions

  1. In a medium sauce pan, mix the pumpkin and the milk.
  2. Heat until steaming, mixing constantly.
  3. In a blender combine pumpkin mix, coffee, about 1/2 pumpkin all spice. Blend on high in whip mode.
  4. Put Splenda in a cup and poor mixture on top of it.
  5. Dust the top with the rest of pumpkin all spice.

Filed under Drink Tagged with ,

Pumpkin Mousse

November 6, 2011

From the Atkins website (original online), this low-carb dessert looks decadent but has only 5 carbs. Changing the heavy cream to a lighter, low-fat version would help keep the fat a bit lower—though as is, the recipe only has 17 grams of fat. Looks like a wonderful addition to the autumn recipes!

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin (1 packet)
  • ¼ cup cold water
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice blend
  • 15 ounces pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie mix)
  • 1½ cup heavy cream
  • 12 packets granular sugar substitute (sucralose)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

  1. In small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over water, let sit 5 minutes until gelatin softens.
  2. Meanwhile, in a small skillet over medium heat, toast pumpkin pie spice 1–2 minutes until fragrant, stirring frequently.
  3. Reduce heat to low, stir in gelatin mixture and cook 1-2 minutes more until gelatin melts.
  4. Remove from heat; cool to room temperature.
  5. Place pumpkin purée in a large bowl, mash well with a fork.
  6. In large bowl, with an electric mixer on high, beat cream, sugar substitute and vanilla until soft peaks form.
  7. With a rubber spatula, slowly fold in cooled gelatin mixture.
  8. In three additions, gently fold whipped cream mixture into pumpkin purée.
  9. Divide mousse into 8 dessert glasses. Chill 2 hours.

Filed under Desserts Tagged with , ,

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