FRIED DILL PICKLE COINS

This is a favorite from a 2014 Taste of Home magazine my mother-in-law gave me before she died.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 eggs
1 cup milk
3 cups thin dill pickle slices, drained
Oil for deep-fat frying
Ranch salad dressing, optional

In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, salt, and pepper.

In another bowl, beat eggs and milk.

Blot pickle slices dry with paper towels to remove moisture. Coat pickles with flour mixture; dip in the egg mixture, and coat again with flour mixture.

In an electric skillet or deep-fryer, heat oil to 375 degrees. Fry pickles, about 10 at a time, for 3 minutes or until golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Serve warm with ranch dressing, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings

File photo of this recipe.

MINTY MANGO SALSA

This is a very quick fix recipe but it is best when refrigerated at least 8 hours for the flavors to blend.

1 large ripe mango, peeled and diced
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
1 can (4-oz) chopped green chilies
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 tbsp lime juice
2 tsp minced fresh mint
1/4 tsp ground ginger
Tortilla chips for serving

Combine the first 7 ingredients in a bowl; cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours.

Serve with tortilla chips.

 This recipe and photo are from a 2014 TOH. 

BROILED HALIBUT KABOBS

 

1 1/4 lbs halibut fillets

1 medium green bell pepper, cute into 1-inch pieces
1 medium onion, cut into 1-inch wedges
1 can (20-ounces) pineapple chunks, drained
8 to 10 cherry tomatoes
1 tsp grated orange peel
1/4 tsp salt

Cut fish into 1-inch pieces. Alternately thread fish, bell pepper, onion, pineapple, and tomatoes onto metal or soaked wooden skewers. Place on a greased broiler pan.

BARBECUE SAUCE:
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 tbsp orange juice
2 to 3 green onions, chopped fine
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp grated orange peel
1/4 tsp salt

In a small bowl, whisk the ingredients until blended. Spoon some sauce over the kabobs.

Broil 5 to 6-inches from the heat for 5 to 7 minutes. Turn; broil 5 to 7 minutes longer or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Basting occasionally during cooking with the sauce.

Yield: 4 servings

This recipe and photo are from a 20-year-old Taste of Home magazine.

ORE-IDA STUFFED ZUCCHINI

6 zucchini
3 cups ORE-IDA Diced Hash Brown Potatoes or ORE-IDA Country Style Hash Brown Potatoes
2 tbsp oil
1 lb lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 jar (24-oz) low-sugar pasta sauce, divided
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 pkg (8-oz) KRAFT Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese, divided
1/2 cup hot water 

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Cut zucchini lengthwise in half; scoop out and discard centers, leaving 1/4-inch-thick shells.
• Cook potatoes in hot oil in large skillet on medium heat 12 to 15 min., stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, brown meat in separate large skillet. Add onions, peppers and garlic; cook 3 min. Drain; stir in potatoes, 1/2 cup pasta sauce, seasoning and 1-1/2 cups cheese.
• Mix hot water and remaining pasta sauce; divide evenly onto bottoms of 2 (13x9-inch) baking dishes. Spoon about 1/2 cup meat mixture into each zucchini shell. Place stuffed zucchini in baking dishes; cover with foil. Bake 30 min.
• Remove foil, sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 10 min. or until zucchini is tender.
  
  
  
  This photo and the basics of this recipe is from KRAFT. That is why specific brands are mentioned. When using a company's recipe, I try to use their brands.

THREE CHEESE BAKED ZITI

15-oz pkg part-skim ricotta cheese

2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
16-oz pkg ziti pasta, cooked according to pkg directions; drained
28-oz jar pasta sauce (I prefer chunky garden-style)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees while you cook the ziti.

In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, eggs, and Parmesan cheese; set aside. 

In another bowl, combine the pasta and the pasta sauce. Mix until the mixture is well blended. In a 9 x 13-inch baking dish that has been sprayed with a nonstick cooking spray, spoon in half the pasta mixture. Evenly top with the cheese mixture then the remaining pasta. Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese. Bake for 30 minutes or until heated through.

Note: Serve with garlic bread and a salad for a complete meal.

file photo

MANDARIN WALDORF SALAD

 

2 cups chopped apples

1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 can (8-oz) mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup diced celery
1 tbsp honey
mayonnaise to moisten

Combine the apples, marshmallows, oranges, celery, honey, and enough mayonnaise to moisten. Toss lightly. Serve on a bed of lettuce.

 

Not a brand recommendation, for reference only.

TATER TOT CASSEROLE

This recipe goes together quickly but bakes 50 minutes. This is my version of a Paula Deen post that she credits to someone else (see end of post).

1 pound ground beef
1 10 ounce can cream of mushroom soup
1 10 ounce can of peas
1 32 ounce bag of tater tots
2 cups of cheddar cheese
1 white onion
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder

Preheat your oven to 350° F.

Cook your ground beef in a large saucepan on medium heat for 6 minutes.

Add onion to beef. Cook for 6 more minutes or until the beef has browned and is cooked all the way through.

Drain beef/onion mixture in a colander.

Spread browned beef and onions in the bottom of a casserole dish (About 10” x 16”).

Pour liquid off peas and then spread them evenly on top of the beef.

In a separate bowl, stir together the cream of mushroom soup and garlic powder.

Pour soup mixture evenly on top of the peas and beef in your casserole dish.

Sprinkle cheddar cheese across the top of the casserole so that it forms an even layer on top of your ingredients.

Add tater tots on top of the layer of cheese. Make sure you arrange them evenly, covering the entire casserole.

Place dish in the oven and bake for 50 minutes, or until the tater tots begin to turn golden brown.

Recipe adapted from Cook Like Dad

file photo

BACON CHEESEBURGER BALLS

 

1 large egg

1 packet dry onion soup mix
1 lb lean ground beef
2 tbsp white whole-wheat flour
2 tbsp milk
1 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
4 strips bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

Combine the egg and soup mix in a mixing bowl. Crumble the beef into the mixture and mix well. Divide the meat mixture into 36 portions and set aside

In another bowl, combine the flour and milk until smooth; add the cheese and bacon, mixing well. Shape the cheese mixture into 36 balls.

Shape one of the beef portions around each cheese ball.

Coating:
2 large eggs
1 cup crushed saltine crackers

5 -6 tbsp canola oil for frying

Beat the 2 eggs in a small bowl.

Place cracker crumbs into another bowl.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil.

Dip meatballs into the egg bowl then roll in the cracker crumbs. Place in skillet and cook 10-12 minutes or until meat is no longer pink and the coating is golden brown.

Yield: 3 dozen

This is a file photo.

CHICKEN AND SPINACH ENCHILADAS

2 cups salsa, your choice

2 cans (10-oz each) enchilada sauce 

3/4 cup low-fat cream cheese (This is approximately 6-oz)

1 pkg (10-oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

2 cups chopped cooked chicken

8 (8") flour tortillas

1 pkg (8-oz) shredded Mexican Blend cheese

Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Coat a 13" X 9" dish or pan with cooking spray.

Place 1/2 cup of the salsa and the enchilada sauce in a medium bowl; stir mixture to combine.

Place cream cheese in a microwave-safe medium bowl and heat in microwave 1 minute or until very soft. Add the spinach, chicken and remaining 1 1/2 cup salsa to the bowl. Stir mixture to combine well.

Fill each tortilla shell with approximately 1/3 cup of the chicken mixture; roll up. Place in the prepared baking dish or pan, seam side down. Pour the enchilada sauce mixture evenly over the enchiladas and top with the cheese. Baked 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Yield: 4 servings, 2 enchiladas each

INSIDE-OUT CHICKEN POT PIE

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup milk

2 cups shredded chicken (a rotisserie chicken works great)

1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn)

Dash of salt

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400-degrees.

Carefully unfold puff pastry onto a lightly floured work surface. Cut pastry into 4 squares. Place squares on an ungreased baking sheet. Pierce center of each square several times with a fork. Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown.

While pastry bakes, place soup and milk in a large bowl and stir to combine. Transfer to a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken, vegetables, and seasonings. Cook, stirring to break up chicken pieces and get mixed well. Cook until hot, 5 to 10 minutes.

To serve, place pastry squares on plates, one per plate. Top pastry with the hot chicken mixture.

Yield: 4 servings

recipe and photo -Woman's World 2012