I've got another fab one-pot meal to share! Not to mention hot and cheesy. This is a perfect match for the dreary, cabin-fever-crazed days we have been having here in Chicago.
The first time I made lasagna soup my kids asked for seconds. And hold the phone.....even asked for leftovers the next day! This is unheard of, folks.
While this meal is easy, be sure to factor in some simmering time. 30 minutes is good, but more is great. I also subbed in cottage cheese for the ricotta called for in my inspiration recipe. Just my personal preference, but the two would be interchangeable here.
You might notice my picture above sports no tomato chunks. To avoid forcing diced tomatoes on my diced-tomato-hating 7 year old, I put the entire 28 oz. can though the blender before adding to the pot. I pick my battles. Either way will be delicious, so I encourage you to consider your own tomato eating preferences. Enjoy!
~Erin
Lasagna Soup
Author: Erin (adapted from Closet Cooking)
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
1 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 lb. Italian sausage, casings removed
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp, red pepper flakes
4 cups chicken broth (32 oz. carton)
1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 T. tomato paste
1 tsp. oregano
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
8 oz. bow tie pasta
4 ounces cottage cheese
1/2 c. parmesan, grated
2 c. mozzarella, shredded
1 tsp. dried basil
Instructions
Brown sausage in a pan over medium-high heat with olive oil. When no longer pink, remove from pan, and reserving fat in the pan.
Add onion to pan and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute.
Add sausage, chicken broth, diced (or blended) tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and pepper to pan. Simmer for 30 minutes.
Add pasta to pan and cook until al-dente, about 7-8 minutes. Remove from heat.
In a separate bowl, combine cottage cheese, parmesan, mozzarella, and dried basil.
I know that quite some time ago I promised to make a copycat version of California Pizza Kitchen's Salted Caramel Pudding and I have FINALLY done it! Better late than never I guess!
This is a lighter, less fat pudding that does not use any heavy cream or eggs. I always hesitate to use the word "lighter" because I feel like people immediately think that it's better for you. I guess it depends on your school of thought. I, personally, prefer full fat versions of foods -- and I'm not saying that because I prefer the way they taste per se. I consider them to be "healthier" (generally speaking) than their non- or low-fat counterparts that usually replace the missing fat with more sugar or artificial flavoring.
Now all that being said, there is still whole milk in this and since the pudding literally only uses 6 natural ingredients, i don't feel that this is a "bad" version. :) It definitely is not a super thick, rich pudding (unless you overcook it that is -- see below), but the homemade caramel adds so much flavor that you won't even care.
When following this recipe, I would suggest trying to stay within the time frames I give...my first attempt at making it I ended up with pudding that was more the consistency of flan...or even jello...it was pretty unappetizing. The second time around, I went more with the times suggested and not so much the way the recipe said it should look and ended up with much better results.
And who knows, maybe I'll try a more true pudding recipe next and give you that option too. ;)
~Leah
Salted Caramel Pudding
Recipe Type: Dessert
Author: Leah (adapted from chow.com and Smitten Kitchen)
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 8
Ingredients
Crust
30 chocolate cookie wafers, such as Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers
4 Tbsp unsalted butter (1/2 stick), melted and cooled
Pudding
4 cups whole milk)
6 Tbsp cornstarch
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
coarse sea salt
whipped cream (homemade or store bought)
8, 1/2 pint mason jars (preferably wide mouth) or ramekin or any other oven safe, small dessert bowls.
Instructions
For the crust, heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle.
Place cookies in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment and process until the pieces are about the size of peas. Stop the motor, add the melted butter, and continue to process until the crumbs are fine, about the size of coarsely ground coffee (you should have about 1 1/2 cups). Alternatively, place the cookies in a resealable plastic bag, press out the air, and seal. Using a rolling pin, smash into fine crumbs until uniform. Transfer to a medium bowl, add melted butter, and mix until evenly combined.
Fill each 1/2 pint mason jar with 3 Tbsp of crumbs, pressing down lightly. Place mason jars on a cookie sheet (lining it with a silpat if you have one helps them not slide around) and bake for 5 min. Remove and let cool.
For the pudding, in a small bowl, whisk 1/2 cup of the milk with the cornstarch, vanilla and salt until smooth. Set aside. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar with 6 tablespoons of water and bring to a boil. Cook over med high heat, undisturbed, until a deep amber caramel forms, about 8-10 minutes. Be patient but watch the stove like a hawk as caramel changes color quickly, and can (and will) burn within seconds. Remove from the heat. Very gradually whisk in the remaining 3 1/2 cups of milk. As you begin whisking it in, the caramel will get darker and will seize up and turn into caramel clumps...don't fear, just keep going! :)
Return the pot to the stove and whisk over med-high heat until the caramel has dissolved again. Once again, watch this closely as the milk can foam up quickly as it comes to a simmer. Simmer over medium heat until the mixture thickens slightly about 10 minutes. (this is where I screwed up my first time around...I didn't notice the significant thickening or darkening that the recipe I was following called for and I ended up WAAY overcooking it--once you get to that simmer, just go with the 10 minutes. I would say in total from getting it back on the heat, to the next step should be around 15 minutes tops.)
Restir the cornstarch mixture and gradually whisk it into the caramel/milk. Cook again over medium heat, stirring, until the pudding thickens, about one minute. Don't worry if it still seems a little on the thin side, it will thicken up a bit more in the fridge. You may strain the pudding in a fine strainer set over a large measuring cup or bowl if you wish (I did), but the original recipe says that you can skip this and nothing terrible will happen. Scrape the pudding into the eight vessels you have chosen with the crust already in the bottom and refrigerate until chilled and set, about 2 hours.
When ready to serve, top pudding with a pinch of coarse sea salt (less is more here people!) and whipped cream.
Also, if you do not like pudding skin (blech), press a piece of plastic wrap onto the surface of each pudding dish as it chills.
Notes
A few notes on supplies: 1. If you're going to purchase mason jars because of this recipe, I would recommend getting the wide mouth 1/2 pint jars (ours pictured are NOT wide mouth). They would make it a little bit easier to get your spoon all the way down to the crust from the first bite. 2. If you have a flat whisk, use it for this recipe! It will be great at getting at that hardened caramel in the corners of your pan when you're stirring it trying to get it to re-melt. And 3. I have not tried (yet) to make this in a larger pan instead of individual cups, but I'm sure it would work fine. You could even purchase a prepared chocolate cookie crust (found in the baking aisle). If you're going to stick with the homemade crust, adjust the baking time to about 7-10 minutes and I would try a 9x9 pan or something along there. Just bear in mind though that this is a pretty soft-set pudding so if you do prepare it in a pie pan or a square dish, it's not going to "cut" out like a cream pie...it will be a gloppy, mess, but cover it with some whipped cream and no one will be any the wiser! ;)
So the Super Bowl is this weekend, and we don't really have any big plans this year. I've found that as I get older I like two things less and less- fish and football. Not sure why on the fish. I attribute the football to my lifetime love of the Chicago Bears. Why in the world I have to like teams that constantly lose is beyond me. I think maybe I'm just tired of watching my favorite team lose so I've developed an aversion to the entire sport. Whatever the reason, I'm not really into football this year. I will however, make an effort to watch the Super Bowl. Mostly for the fun appetizers that I get to make and the commercials. This recipe will ABSOLUTELY be on the menu. It can best be described as "cheesy warm deliciousness!!"
You bake this dip inside the loaf of bread. Such a great idea! The first time I tried it, it became one of my favorite all time dip recipes. It really is that good. If you haven't yet finalized your Super Bowl menu, add this one to the list. Its a crowd pleaser.
~Wendy
Cheesy Bread Dip
Recipe Type: Appetizer Dip
Author: Wendy
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 15
Ingredients
8 oz sour cream
8 oz cream cheese
16 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
4 oz chopped green chiles
1 c. chopped ham
1/2 lb. chopped bacon
1 round or oblong bread loaf, hollowed out
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix first six ingredients together, put into the hollowed bread loaf.
Comfort food season is in full swing in our house. As I type I'm waiting to hear whether school will be canceled AGAIN tomorrow due to extreme cold. At this rate I'm afraid we will be in school till 4th of July. I'm also afraid this forced "vacation" is going to leave us all a little off our rockers. My 2 year old has not been outside in weeks except for regular treks across the Target parking lot. God bless Target and it's infinite supply of distractions from the polar vortex.
Soooo, it's clearly meatloaf weather. Turkey meatloaf that is. I have a love/hate relationship with ground turkey. I love to use it because it's a little better for you than ground beef or pork. On the other hand, it just doesn't taste as good! I ran across a recipe for a meatloaf of the turkey variety in a healthy cookbook from America's Test Kitchen. If anyone can figure out how to make turkey taste good, it would be these people.
This recipe turned out so good I had to remind my husband to leave me some of the leftovers. And I don't often eat too many leftovers except for pizza.
Though the key to making this a success is NOT baking it in a regular loaf pan. I used my 2 part meatloaf pan (similar to this) that has an insert with holes in the bottom for fat to drain from. The Test Kitchen describes a method of a folded piece of aluminum foil (to about triple thickness and approximately 6"x10") set on a wire cooling rack, poked with lots of holes by a skewer, and the whole thing set on a rimmed baking sheet. Then the meat mixture gets mounded onto the foil and shaped into a loaf about 2" thick. Either way works but the fat needs somewhere to go!
Perhaps my favorite part of this recipe is what ATK refers to as brown sugar-ketchup glaze. I have renamed it "fancy ketchup" and will continue to make it for all kinds of meat related endeavors. The original recipe calls for the glaze to be brushed on the meatloaf top before going into the oven and then again, half-way through baking. I skipped the half-way application and served the remaining ketchup along side the finished meatloaf with mashed potatoes. Heaven!
Stay warm....and sane!
~Erin
Turkey Meatloaf with Fancy Ketchup
Author: Erin (adapted from America's Test Kitchen)
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1 small onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 slices of whole wheat sandwich bread, crusts removed and torn into small pieces
1/2 c. whole milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. hot sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 lbs. ground turkey (NOT extra lean or 99% fat free)
1/2 c. ketchup
2 T. light brown sugar
4 tsp. cider vinegar
Instructions
If you don't have a meatloaf pan, fold some aluminum foil to triple thickness and about 6"x10" in shape. Place foil on a wire cooling rack and poke lots of holes in the foil every 1" or so. Put rack on a rimmed baking sheet and spray with non-stick cooking spray. If you do have a meatloaf pan, also spray.
In a skillet over medium-high heat, lightly brown onions. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Transfer to another bowl to cool.
In a large bowl, mash together milk and bread to form a smooth paste. Add onion mixture, eggs, Dijon, Worcestershire, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir just to combine.
Add turkey to bowl and use your hands to mix until incorporated. Try not to over mix.
Either add meat mixture to meatloaf pan or to aluminum foil. If using foil, pat into a loaf shape approximately 2" thick.
Mix together ketchup, brown sugar, and cider vinegar. Divide "fancy" ketchup in half, spreading one part on top of meat and reserving the rest for serving.
Bake at 350 for 60-70 minutes, or until a thermometer reads 160 degrees.
I LOVE THESE!!! Love, love, love them! I found this recipe on Pinterest one day when I was looking for heavy appetizers or "finger foods" for a party I was having. They come from a website called Plain Chicken. I'm not sure why I haven't thought of this before. Put ham and shredded cheese inside biscuit dough- before you bake it!! I'm trying to use as many exclamation points and italics and bold fonts as possible to help convey how excited I am about these little biscuit sandwiches. They would be perfect for a party, a baby shower or even the Superbowl. These reheat very well if you put them back in the oven for 3-5 minutes.
A few tips. Definitely take the time to shred the swiss cheese, it just tastes better. I made my own honey mustard but you can use store bought of course. You absolutely HAVE TO drizzle the honey on top at the end. It may sound weird but it was so good! Print this recipe out and put it aside for Superbowl Sunday. Everyone will love it!
~Wendy
Ham and Cheese Biscuits
Author: Plain Chicken
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 10
Ingredients
1 can Grands Jr Butter Tasting Biscuits (10 count)
1/2 lb deli ham, shaved
1 c. shredded swiss cheese
1/4 c. honey mustard dressing
1 Tbsp butter, melted
2 Tbsp honey
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400.
Lightly spray a 9-inch pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
Separate each biscuits into two layers. Spread each layer with honey mustard and top with swiss cheese.
Place half of the biscuits, cheese side up, in the bottom of prepared pan. Top with ham. Top ham with remaining biscuits, cheese side down.
Brush biscuit tops with melted butter.
Bake 12-15 minutes, until golden brown.
Heat honey in microwave for 20 seconds. Brush biscuit tops with warm honey. Serve immediately.
I recently discovered a recipe that checks quite a few boxes on my list.
1. Easy....we are talking one pot here. And the real "wonder" is the dumping of ALL ingredients into said pot at one time.
2. Quick....on the table in about 20 minutes. It's magic I tell you.
3. Healthy....it's meatless, and who can argue the benefits of spinach and tomatoes?
4. A relative crowd pleaser....this equates to ZERO tears shed and minimal moaning/groaning while dining with the 7 and under crowd.
5. And very possibly my most favorite....I can have all the ingredients on hand for when I need a meal that....well....checks all the above boxes.
This means that the "wonderpot" will be making regular (if not frequent) appearances in our meal rotation. This one is a life saver as it's a reasonably shelf stable dinner option. So when I just can't get to the store, I can reach into the freezer and pantry for a solution to that little problem called "feeding my family." Plus, it's not packed with preservatives and the other junk that so often accompanies a meal without any fresh ingredients. I was inspired by this recipe here, but made a couple of modifications. Like adding some different spices and my beloved kalamata olives. If you don't like them, just leave them out. I hope you'll like this as much as I do!
~Erin
Greek Wonderpot
Author: Erin (adapted from Budget Bytes)
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
4 c. vegetable broth
2 T. olive oil
12 oz. fettuccine
10 oz. pkg of frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes, undrained
4 oz. kalamata olives, roughly chopped
medium onion, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 ½ t. dried Greek seasoning
¼ t. red pepper flakes
pepper, to taste
feta cheese for sprinkling
Instructions
Combine all ingredients (except feta cheese) in a pot. Break fettuccini noodles in half so everything fits under the liquid.
Cover pot and bring to a boil over high heat. When contents are at a full boil, remove lid, reduce heat to medium, and stir briefly.
Continue boiling gently for 10-15 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Give it an occasional stir just to keep the noodles from sticking...not too much or it will get mushy.
Serve, with feta cheese on top.
Notes
This recipe leaves a lot of room for creativity in terms of ingredients. I look forward to trying it with some additional veggies or different spices. If you can't find Greek seasoning, just substitute 3/4 t. each of oregano and basil.
I'm definitely the baker in my family. I love to bake pies, cookies, coffee cakes, whatever... and I love to experiment with different recipes. This year when I was trying to come up with a pie to make for Thanksgiving my pregnant little sister pulled out a few pie recipes that had caught her eye. When she gave me this one, I'll admit I thought she was crazy. Maple Peanut Butter pie? For Thanksgiving? It didn't sound good to me...at all. But she is my little sister, and she is pregnant (with some crazy taste buds right now). So of course I made it. It made me feel better that the recipe had won 2nd place in a Taste of Home pie contest. How bad could it be?
When I started assembling the ingredients I started to change my mind. Peanut butter, cream cheese, whipped cream, maple flavoring, hot fudge....yum!! The pie is served cold and can be made in advance. I made mine the day before and froze it until the hour before it was served. It came out perfectly. Warning though- its very very rich!! So delicious! I meant to post this one before Christmas, as it would be a great dessert for any holiday party. I just ran out of time. It really doesn't matter though- if you love peanut butter, this is the pie for you, no matter the time of year. My little sister was very happy and my 5 year old declared this pie to be his favorite ever. :)
~Wendy
Maple Peanut Butter Pie
Recipe Type: Dessert
Author: Taste of Home
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 8
Ingredients
1-1/2 c. crushed cream-filled maple sandwich cookies (about 12 cookies)
1/4 c. chocolate-covered peanuts, coarsely chopped
Instructions
In a small bowl, mix crushed cookies and butter. Press onto bottom and up sides of an ungreased 9-in. pie plate. Freeze 5 minutes.
In a microwave, warm fudge topping 5-10 seconds or until spreadable; spread over bottom and up sides of crust.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, peanut butter and flavoring until blended. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar; fold in whipped topping.
Spoon into crust, spreading evenly. Refrigerate 4 hours or until set.
In a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add syrup; beat until stiff peaks form.
Serve with pie; top with peanuts.
Notes
I found the maple flavored cookies at Aldi. I used maple extract for the maple flavoring which is easy to find in any backing section with a decent selection of extracts. I chose not to add syrup to the whipped cream. I felt like that would be a little too much maple for me- however I leave that up to you!
