Tamale Pie

I have been wanting to try this Tamale Pie recipe by Rachael Ray for a while, but just could not get excited about some of the ingredients. So, I took some of her ideas and created my own version. It was delicious! A bit spicy, so if you want to tone down the heat, you could eliminate the jalapeno or put less chili powder in. I personally love spicy, so this was just right for me and my cute hubby.Tamale Pie

adapted from Rachael Ray by me:)

2 lbs ground turkey

1 jalapeno, seeds and ribs removed, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

salt and pepper

1 tbsp cumin

1 tbsp coriander

1 tbsp chipotle chili powder

1 cup chicken stock

2 tbsp vinegar

2 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 cups tomato sauce

1 1/2 cups corn meal

1 cup flour

1 3/4 cup milk

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp baking powder

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Sour cream

Preheat oven to 400*.

In a large, oven proof skillet, brown meat. Add jalapeno, bell pepper, onion, garlic, salt and pepper, cumin, coriander, and chili powder. Cook, stirring often until peppers are soft, about 8 minutes.

Deglaze pan with chicken stock.

In a bowl, combine vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato sauce. Pour over meat mixture and simmer to combine flavors and mixture has thickened up a bit.

In another bowl, combine corn meal, flour, milk, honey, baking powder, salt and 1 cup cheese. Mix until combined. Drop cornbread mixture by large spoonfuls over meat, spreading it out as much as you can to even it out. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake at 400* for about 30 minutes. Serve with sour cream.

Moroccan Chili

A few years ago, we lived in St. George for a couple of months. I loved it there and would go back in a heartbeat. It wasn't a great time for our family, but I had a lot of self discovery while we lived there, so for me it was a very positive experience. It is also the only place we have ever had cable. I discovered and quickly became addicted to the Food Network. This was the first "difficult recipe" I ever tried and from this I learned that I can cook anything! Honestly...it isn't difficult at all. This is one of our very favorites! My husband got home from work last night and knew what I was making just from the smell. It is so fragrant and so flavorful!

Moroccan Chili

adapted from rachael ray

2 lbs ground turkey

salt and pepper

2 tbsp chili powder

1/2 tbsp cumin

1 tbsp coriander

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp paprika

1 bay leaf

1 large onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 lemon

2 tbsp worcestershire sauce

1 (140z) can tomato sauce

2 tbsp butter

1 1/2 cups chicken stock

handful golden raisins

handful dried apricots, chopped

1 1/2 cups couscous

handful fresh parsley, chopped

handful fresh mint, chopped

Heat skillet and add meat and brown. Season with salt and pepper, chili powder, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and paprika. Add bay leaf, onion, pepper and garlic to pan. Cook until onions are soft, about 8 minutes. Add lemon zest, juice, worcestershire sauce and tomato sauce. Stir and reduce heat to simmer.

Bring butter, stock, apricots and raisins to boil. Add couscous; stir, then turn off heat and cover with lid. Let stand 5 minutes. Add herbs and toss with fork.

Pile chili in bowls and top with couscous.

Serves 4

Lasagna Burgers

All I need to say about this recipe is....YUMMY!!! If you love lasagna, you will love this burger. You get the flavors of lasagna without feeling like you are eating pasta on a burger. Pair this up with some homemade fries and you have a new favorite meal!

Lasagna Burgers

adapted from Rachael Ray

1 lbs ground turkey

salt and pepper

2 tbsp olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 (14.5 oz) can Italian crushed tomatoes

1 tbsp dried basil

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp flour

1 cup milk

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup ricotta cheese

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

4 hamburger buns

In a large bowl, season the meat with salt and pepper. Form into 4 patties, thinner in the middle for more even cooking. Drizzle with olive oil. In a saucepan, heat 2 tbsp oil over med heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes; add the garlic and cook 2 minutes more, then stir in the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Lower the heat and simmer 5 minutes; stir in the basil.

In a large skillet, heat a drizzle of oil over med-high heat. Add patties and cook, turning once, about 7-8 minutes.
While patties are cooking, in a small saucepan, melt the butter over med heat. Whisk in the flour for 1 minute, then whisk in the milk. Season with salt and pepper and the nutmeg, then cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the ricotta and the parmesan.

Spoon some of the red sauce on the bottom bun, then top with the patties. Dollop the cheese sauce on the patties and set roll tops in place.

Serves 4

Burger Heaven!

My pictures turned out blurry, but don't let that stop you from making these burgers!! They are amazingly good!! I told my husband we were going to start having them once a week. I still have some apples leftover from our apple harvest in early October, so I used what we had for the burgers. I think you could use whatever apple you want to and the burger will still be super delicious. You really HAVE to try these!

Apple-Cheddar Turkey Burger

adapted from Rachael Ray

2 lbs ground turkey

4 scallions, finely chopped

1/3 cup flat leaf parsley

1 Tbsp grill seasoning

1 tsp poultry seasoning

2 Tbsp Olive oil

2 apples (granny smith or anything a bit tart), sliced

Extra sharp cheddar cheese

1/4 cup whole cranberry sauce

2 Tbsp Dijon mustard

8 English muffins, split and toasted

lettuce

In a bowl, combine the turkey, scallions, parsley, grill seasoning and poultry seasoning. Form into 8 patties, pressing your thumb into the center of each to prevent it from bulging. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add patties and cook for about 6 minutes on each side. (You will probably only be able to cook 4 at a time.) Place patties on a plate and top with apple slice and a slice or two of cheese. Tent the plate with foil and repeat with other patties.

In a small bowl, mix together the cranberry sauce and mustard; slather on toasted muffin tops.
Pile lettuce leaves on each muffin bottom, top with patties and set muffin tops in place.

Serves 4-8

Taco Casserole

I have been finding amazing recipes on food blogs the last week and here is one that looked fast and easy-I am usually not all about fast and easy, but with summertime being so busy, that is what is working for us! I got this one off of a blog I am enjoying tasteandtell.

Taco Casserole

16 oz bottle taco sauce

12 oz can buttermilk biscuits

4-6 oz shredded cheddar cheese

4-6 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

1 can sliced olives

1 lb ground beef (I use ground turkey)

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped

1/4 cup green bell pepper, chopped

8 oz mushrooms, sliced

Preheat oven to 400*. Lightly grease 9x13 baking dish. Spread taco sauce evenly over bottom of pan. Separate dough into 10 biscuits. Cut each biscuits into 4 pieces. Place pieces in sauce and toss to coat. Sprinkle biscuits with half of cheeses and olives. Bake 15-18 minutes.

In a large skillet, combine meat, peppers, mushrooms and spices. Cook until cooked through. Sprinkle meat mixture over biscuits. Top with remaining cheese. Bake an additional 5-7 minutes or until cheese melts.