EGGPLANT - GROUND TURKEY AND KALE CASSEROLE BAKE

It's cold tonight and I was craving something comforting and warm. I've eaten so much pumpkin/butternut squash/sweet potato soup, that my skin is going to turn orange! So, I thought I would make up something warm and comforting that wasn't soup. I ate lots of eggplant when I was growing up. My mom would make eggplant patties out of it and they were delicious. So, I'm a fan of the strange purple plant...

I was in the mood for an italian seasoned casserole. I put this together using things I had in my pantry and fridge. (except for the eggplant which I bought over the weekend, not knowing what I was going to do with it)

CRANBERRY ORANGE AND KALE QUINOA SALAD

During our holiday meals, we usually try to have one light and refreshing dish. Either a fruit salad or cold bean salad and this year, it was a cranberry and orange quinoa salad!!

I did some traditional dishes, so my family wouldn't disown me, but I also like to add some out of the box/gourmet-ish dishes too, that nobody has ever tried. This was one of the non-traditional add-ons this year.

My family is new to Quinoa and it was well received. This recipe makes quite a bit and we had lots for people to take home for leftovers.

It's a lovely, fresh salad, that is slightly tart, but slightly sweet at the same time. I modified the recipe a little from the original Family Spice recipe by adding a little more fruit and honey. I also added a little extra mint. This is a great recipe that you can change to fit your family tastes. I hope you like it, our family did.

CANDIED SWEET POTATOES WITH PECANS

Sweet and saucy made-from-scratch sweet potatoes with a pecan crumble and marshmallow topping. What could be better than that!!

I make a basic whipped sweet potato back every single year and I have done so since my daughter was little, she's almost 20 now. As a rule, I try to avoid things in cans these days and wanted to change this up a bit. I may have to make the others too this year, just in case, but I think she is going to love these, I know I do!  and yes, I realize these have marshmallows. Baby steps people, baby steps. My daughter can only handle so much change at one time!! :-)

SPICY BLACK EYED PEAS WITH SMOKED SAUSAGE

This is by far the tastiest batch of black eyed peas I've ever had. This dish is perfect for New Years' or anytime.  You can make it spicier by adding an addition 1/2 tsp of Cayenne or a Jalapeno. These flavors blend well together and even my picky son loves these! I hope you enjoy them too. They are easy to make and a crowd pleaser!

CHEESY CHICKEN SPAGHETTI BAKE

I was in the mood to make something warm and hearty for my family since it's so cold outside, so tonight we are having chicken spaghetti! I have an 8 year old that eats about 5 things and this had been added to the list making it 6! It's super yummy and easy to make. The recipe calls for items that are already diced or cooked, so you can do this in advance, even the day before to save time.

CHICKEN AND LIME TORTILLA SOUP

I LOVE soup! I'm so happy it's fall and it's soup season. I came across this recipe a while ago when a friend pinned it and I knew it was one of the first things I would make when fall arrived. Well, I shouldn't have waited! I think you can make this ANY time, it's that good. I love beans, so I added black beans at the end to the portions that I would be eating because my husband despises beans. They were yummy! 

I hope you like this as much as I did!

HOMESTYLE MEATLOAF

 I love a good meatloaf! This is not your simple 5 ingredient meatloaf, but most of these ingredients you should have in your pantry. It's a few more steps, but well worth it! I love serving this with a cheesy polenta or mashed potatoes and asparagus or broccoli. A great homestyle recipe that your family will love! 

CHICKEN FRIED RICE

I've been making this for nearly 20 years. My whole family and I love fried rice, it's one of the first boxes of take-out to be emptied out when we order chinese food. This is a simple straight-forward recipe and it turns out great every time! You can change the protein to beef, pork or lamb and keep the rest the same. It's a staple for any chinese food night in!

DRUNKEN CHICKEN BURRICHILADA

What's a drunken Burrichilada? It's a sauced up burrito/enchilada! I couldn't think of a better way to describe it so I made up a name. My husband says, this is the best thing I've ever made, so that might give you an idea of how good this is. I made the enchilada sauce and spanish rice that I've posted separately, but I'm sure you could use other versions. I hope you enjoy this yummy dish!

SPANISH RICE

Spanish rice is a favorite Mexican treat in our house. We serve it as a side dish or put it in a burrito. It's pretty versatile when you think about it. If you have some leftover white rice, I'm including the super fast version that uses already cooked rice an is ready in less than 10 minutes. If you don't have cooked rice, the other version is there too and it only takes about 30 minutes. Either way, it's worth the time. YUM! I made this rice to go inside my Burrichilada. Recipe to follow in another post, you don't want to miss that one.

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

I love Indian seasonings. They are sweet, yet spicy and taste oh so yummy. When my husband told me today that he's put on a few pounds since I started this blog and cooking like crazy, I thought I could make a lowfat dish for dinner. Here's my lowfat take on Chicken Tikka Masala.

MACARONI AND CHEESE

Fall is here and it brings cooler temperatures. It also brings the craving for more comfort food! I have probably the pickiest child ever when it comes to food so I decided I'd make something even he would enjoy. I wanted him to be involved, so he picked out the cheese (sharp cheddar) as well as the type of pasta (Mezze Penne). One thing this kid will eat is cheese! He wants it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. So here we go with a cheesy, delicious Macaroni and Cheese that even the adults will love! BTW, he loved it and ate all of his dinner! Enjoy!!

PULLED PORK SANDWICHES

My husband loves pulled pork sandwiches. I like just about anything that resembles barbecue, so this is a perfect match! I love the spicy and sweet balance this has. It does take an entire day to make, but it's a throw it in the pot and forget about it kind of thing. That's the stuff I love! There are many variations to try. I just used what I had on hand. The jalapeno jelly could be raspberry or grape and the pineapple balsamic is a little rare, so regular balsamic is fine too. Here's my take on pulled pork sandwiches.

TURKEY BURGERS

I saw this on the Oprah show a few years ago and just had to learn how to make them. I've adapted the recipe to be more tailored toward a typical package of turkey meat, which is about 1.25 pounds, the original recipe was for 4 pounds which made a huge amount of burgers. I've also tweaked the ingredients to add a little more flavor as well as adding Worcestershire and additional pepper. We serve these as the main protein without a bun or cheese, but you can certainly add it to make it heartier.  They are very moist and yummy. I hope you like them.

CREAMY PESTO CHICKEN PASTA

I've been trying to recreate a pasta dish that my daughter used to have at an Italian Restaurant where we used to live. She loves it and anytime we go back to visit, she has to get some! I've come very, very close. Now to share this delicious recipe so you can have some too! I try to plan ahead on this one and make the pesto the day before and start marinating the chicken the day before also.

HONEY BRAISED SHORT RIBS

I had no idea what a short rib even was until just a few years ago. Since I learned about this delicious protein, I've been experimenting with all sorts of recipes. I've simplified it and put my family through taste tests. This one makes the grade hands down. It's the easiest of them all and tastes yummy every time! You can use an iron pot, crock pot or pressure cooker depending on how much time you have. The pressure cooker is definitely the fastest way, cooking in about 2 hours, but there is something about slow cooking that I really like.

CHEESE RISOTTO WITH CHICKEN APPLE SAUSAGE

I am a lover of pasta and rice and especially love Risotto. I always order it in any restaurant as I never thought I could make it taste as good at home. Well, after years of making and tweaking a basic risotto recipe, this is what I make and it ALWAYS tastes incredible! Most of it is pretty simple, but reserve some time to babysit the risotto when it's time to start adding the stock, it takes some time, but well worth it. This is a family and friend favorite for sure! You could add shrimp, sausage, scallops or just about any type of protein that would pair well with white wine. I've imagined making this with beef and using a Cabernet, but have yet to get that far. Maybe one day...