Hobo Casserole

Hobo Casserole
1 lb lean ground beef
1 small onion
2 medium potatoes, sliced
4 slices American cheese
1 (10 3/4 ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup
1/8 cup milk
1 1/2 cups French-fried onions
salt and pepper, to taste
Preheat oven to 350°F.  Pat ground beef into 8x8 pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  If using, slice onion on top of beef.  Slice potatoes onto onion layer, salt and pepper.  Layer with cheese slices.  Mix soup and milk together and spread over cheese.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 1-1 1/5 or until potatoes are tender.  Remove foil and top with french fried onions and brown for about 5 minutes.

Southwestern Chicken Barley Chili

Southwestern Chicken Barley Chili
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (16-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup medium barley (not quick cooking)
4 cups water
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
dash cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)
2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds), cut into bite-size pieces
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels
Garnishes: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions, tortilla chips
In a large pot (about 6-quarts), combine the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, barley, water, chili powder, cumin, dried oregano and cayenne (if using). Stir well. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat and add the chicken. Stir to combine. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer the chili for 40 minutes, until the barley is tender and chewy and the chicken is no longer pink. Stir occasionally, while it simmers to prevent sticking and to make sure it stays at a steady simmer. After 40 minutes, add the beans and corn. Stir to combine and simmer for five more minutes. Serve the chili with optional garnishes, if desired.  The chili will thicken considerably upon cooling. Add chicken broth or water as needed to achieve a desirable consistency (especially if reheating the leftovers).

Cheesy Zucchini Rice

Cheesy Zucchini Rice
1 cup long-grain white rice
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 medium or 2 small zucchini, grated on a box grater or with a food processor (no need to peel beforehand)
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
1-2 tablespoons milk, if needed
In a medium saucepan, combine the rice and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and let the rice simmer for 15-20 minutes until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.  Remove the rice from the heat and stir in the grated zucchini, cheese, and garlic powder. Add salt and pepper to taste (don't skip this step - I needed at least 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt to boost the flavor). Add a tablespoon or so of milk to adjust the texture if needed. Serve warm.

Creamy Tuscan Pasta Sauce

Creamy Tuscan Pasta Sauce
4 tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed through a garlic press
1/2 tablespoon dried basil
8 ounces cream cheese, softened and cut into 8 pieces
8-ounce jar sun-dried tomatoes, rinsed, drained and chopped
2 cups milk
6 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt, more to taste, if needed
Diced fresh tomatoes, fresh basil for topping (optional)
In a medium pot or skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly, taking care not to let the garlic burn. Stir in the dried basil. Add the cream cheese, stirring with a whisk until the mixture is smooth. It will look curdled at first, but with constant whisking for 2-3 minutes, it should come together to form a smooth, creamy paste. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes.  Over medium heat, add the milk gradually, about 1/4 cup at a time, whisking quickly and constantly until each addition is incorporated fully into the sauce. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, pepper and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the cheese is melted and the sauce is the desired consistency, 5-10 minutes. Serve over hot, cooked noodles.

Italian Roasted Cauliflower

Italian Roasted Cauliflower
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1-1/2 inch pieces
1 red onion, sliced
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Combine the cauliflower, bell pepper, onion, dill, balsamic vinegar, white wine vinegar, and olive oil in a large resalable bag; shake bag to evenly coat. Allow to marinate in refrigerator 1 to 2 hours, turning bag occasionally.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
Open the bag and season with salt and pepper; reseal the bag and shake again to coat. Pour into a 9x13 glass baking dish.
Bake in the preheated oven until tender, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally

Easy Risotto

Easy Risotto
2 tablespoons butter
2/3 cup sliced green onion
1 1/3 cups uncooked long-grain rice
4 cups water
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook green onions in butter briefly, then add the rice. Cook and stir for a few minutes to toast rice. Stir in water, and season with chicken bouillon and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.  Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan cheese.

Barley Mushroom Risotto

Barley Mushroom Risotto
5 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon butter
1 onion, chopped
1 cup pearl barley
3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound mushrooms, sliced
2 garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Bring chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and saute for 5 minutes. Add the barley, thyme, bay leaf and 2 cups of the hot broth. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat to low, and simmer until most of the broth is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Pour in remaining broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring and allowing it to become absorbed before adding more. This process takes about 50 minutes.  Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet. Saute mushrooms in the hot oil until tender. Add garlic, and cook for about 3 more minutes. Stir in the barley mixture and parsley. Remove bay leaf, and serve.

Olive Salad

Olive Salad
1 (6 ounce) can black olives, drained
1 (5 ounce) jar pitted green olives, rinsed and drained
1 (6.5 ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, undrained
1 small red onion, chopped
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon dried minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
Place the black olives, green olives, artichoke hearts with their juice, and onion into a food processor. Pour in the vinegar and olive oil, and season with garlic, celery seed, oregano, basil and black pepper. Cover, and process until finely chopped. Use as a condiment on sandwiches, or a dip for crackers. Refrigerate leftovers.

Easy Hummus

Easy Hummus
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained, liquid reserved
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
In a blender or food processor combine garbanzo beans, garlic, cumin, salt and olive oil. Blend on low speed, gradually adding reserved bean liquid, until desired consistency is achieved.

6-Can Chicken Tortilla Soup

6-Can Chicken Tortilla Soup
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
1 (10 ounce) can chunk chicken
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, drained
Open the cans of corn, chicken broth, chunk chicken, black beans, and diced tomatoes with green chilies. Pour everything into a large saucepan or stock pot. Simmer over medium heat until chicken is heated through.

BACON SQUASH SAUTÉ

BACON SQUASH SAUTÉ
6 pieces bacon, chopped
1 3/4 pounds zucchini, cut on the bias, about 8 small
1 small onion, slivered, 2 1/2 ounces
Salt and pepper, to taste
In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crisp. Drain the fat, reserving 2 tablespoons. Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Sauté the zucchini and onion in the bacon drippings until tender. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the bacon to serve.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER
1 medium head cauliflower, about 2 pounds
2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Rinse the cauliflower and cut into serving-sized pieces. Place in a large zipper bag. In a small bowl, mix the oil, melted butter and seasonings; pour into the bag with the cauliflower. Seal the bag and gently toss to coat teh cauliflower with oil. Be careful that the bag doesn't come open. Spread the cauliflower in single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 400º about 25-30 minutes, turning the cauliflower every 10 minutes. Roast until it is browned on the edges and tender.

FAUX STUFFED BAKED POTATOES

FAUX STUFFED BAKED POTATOES 
16 ounce package frozen cauliflower
8 ounce cream cheese, softened
8 ounce cheddar cheese, shredded
4 green onions, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 pieces bacon, chopped and fried until crisp
Paprika, optional
Cook the cauliflower until soft, about 8-10 minutes; drain very well and break up the florets a bit with a spoon. It's also very good if you leave the cauliflower a little chunky. Put in a greased 8 x 8" baking pan or a 2-quart casserole. Mix in the cream cheese, cheddar, green onion, salt, pepper and bacon. Dust the top with paprika, if desired. Bake at 350º for 20-40 minutes, until browned and bubbly. Or, microwave, loosely covered, for about 40 minutes on 50% power, turning the dish after 20 minutes.

FAUX MASHED POTATOES

FAUX MASHED POTATOES
From fresh cauliflower:
1 small-medium fresh cauliflower, about 16 ounces
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon butter
1-2 tablespoons heavy cream
Salt and pepper, to taste
Chop the cauliflower into small pieces and place in a large covered casserole dish. Add 1 tablespoon water; cover and microwave on HIGH 5 minutes. Stir and cook another 5 minutes. Let stand covered 5 minutes; drain briefly. Place in a food processor along with the butter and heavy cream. Process until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the processor occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper and reheat in the microwave, if necessary.
From frozen cauliflower:
16 ounce bag frozen cauliflower
2 tablespoons water
1-2 tablespoons butter
Salt and pepper, to taste
Place frozen cauliflower in a casserole with a lid; add the water. Cover and microwave on HIGH about 8-10 minutes, until very tender, stirring occasionally. Drain well and put cauliflower in a food processor. Process until smooth and creamy. Remove to a serving bowl and season with salt and pepper and butter. Reheat in the microwave, if necessary.

JALAPEÑO CHICKEN

JALAPEÑO CHICKEN
3 boneless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon taco seasoning
7 ounce can whole pickled jalapeños (6 peppers)
3 one-ounce slices Monterey jack cheese
Season the chicken with the taco seasoning; grill or pan fry until done. Place the chicken on a baking sheet. Slit the jalapeños lengthwise and open flat. Scrape out the seeds and membranes. Arrange the peppers on top of the chicken. You'll need 2 per breast. Cover the jalapeños with a slice of cheese. Bake at 350º for about 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted.