Cilantro Lime Chicken

1.5 pounds chicken (about 3 breasts)
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 bag frozen corn
1-2 cups cilantro, chopped
juice from 2 limes
1/2 red onion (approximately 1 cup)
1 tsp. cumin
salt and pepper to taste (can be added later)

Toss in slow cooker, cook on low for about 4-6 hours (will cook longer if chicken is frozen).  Serve as tacos or over tortilla chips topped with sour cream and cheese.

Multigrain Bread

from The Cook's Illustrated Cookbook

The original recipe makes 2 9-inch loaves. I have three loaf pans, so I 1½ the recipe. Those amounts are included between slashes.

1¼ cup (6¼ ounces) / 9.5 ounces / seven-grain hot cereal mix

2½ cups / 3¾ cups / boiling water

3 cups (15 ounces) / 22.5 ounces / all-purpose flour (not bread flour)

1½ cups (8¼ ounces) / 12.5 ounces / whole wheat flour

¼ cup / 3 ounces /honey

4 tablespoons / 6 tablespoons / unsalted butter, melted and cooled*

2½ teaspoons / 3¾ teaspoons / instant or rapid-rise yeast (active-dry yeast has worked just fine for me)

1 tablespoon / 1½ tablespoons / salt

Optional (I omit): ¾ cup unsalted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds

Optional (I omit): ½ cup (1½ ounces) old-fashioned rolled oats or quick oats

*If you’re using salted butter, just decrease the additional salt by just a bit.

Place cereal mix in bowl of stand mixer fitted with dough hook and pour boiling water over it; let stand, stirring occasionally, until mixture cools to 100 degrees and resembles thick porridge, about 1 hour.  Whisk flours together in separate bowl.

Once grain mixture has cooled, add honey, butter, and yeast and mix on low speed until combined. Add flour mixture,  ½ cup at a time, and knead until cohesive mass starts to form (note: I don't need all of the flour. I suspect it's the high altitude. Go by look and feel and stop adding flour if you need to!) 1½-2 minutes; cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let dough rest for 20 minutes. Add salt and knead on medium-low speed until dough clears sides of bowl, 3-4 minutes. (If it does not clear sides, add 2-3 tablespoons additional all-purpose flour and knead until it does. Don’t add more, unless the dough is still really sticky and you didn't use all your flour already.) Continue to knead dough for 5 more minutes. Add seeds (if using) and knead for another 15 seconds. Transfer dough to lightly floured counter and knead by hand until seeds are dispersed evenly and dough forms smooth, round ball. Place dough in large, lightly greased bowl; cover tightly with plastic and let rise at room temperature until nearly doubled in size, 45-60 minutes.

Grease two /or three / 9×5 inch loaf pans. Transfer dough to lightly floured counter and divide in half / or thirds. Press 1 piece of dough into 9×6 inch rectangle, with short side facing you. Roll dough toward you into firm cylinder, keeping roll taut by tucking it under itself as you go. Turn loaf seam side up and pinch it closed. Repeat with second piece of dough. Spray loaves lightly with water or vegetable oil spray. Roll each loaf in oats to coat evenly and place seam side down in prepared pans, pressing gently into corners. Cover loaves loosely with greased plastic and let rise at room temperature until nearly doubled in size 30-40 minutes. Dough should barely spring back when poked with knuckle.

When rising bread nears the top of the pan, adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Bake until loaves register 200 degrees on a quick-read thermometer, 35-40 minutes. Transfer pans to wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Remove loaves from pans, return to rack, and let cool to room temperature, about 2 hours, before slicing and serving, or storing.

Storage: Bread can be wrapped in double layer of plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days. Wrapped with additional layer of foil, bread can be frozen for up to a month.

Funeral Potatoes

There are plenty of great recipes out there for "cheesy potatoes." This is the one I asked sisters to make for funerals when I served as the Compassionate Service Leader.

1 small-medium onion, diced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 Tbsp. butter
1 28-oz. bag shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
2 c. sour cream
1 10-oz. can cream of chicken (or cream of mushroom) soup
2 1/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350.  In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.  Add the onion and garlic and saute until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant.  Remove from heat.  Add the thawed hash browns, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, chee se, salt, and pepper and combine well.  Add additional salt and pepper if necessary.

Spread the mixture into a 9×13″ dish and bake for 50-60 minutes or until the casserole is hot in the center and the cheese is bubbly throughout.  Serve as a main dish with a salad and fruit or alongside roasted ham, turkey, chicken, or beef.  Makes 6-8 main dish or 10-12 side dish servings.

Scot's Macaroni & Cheese

12 ounces elbow mac (about 3 cups)

4 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons flour

3 cups milk (or equivalent from powdered milk/water)

1 egg, slightly beaten

salt

pepper

8 ounces Velveeta, cut into smaller cubes

4-8 ounces sharp cheddar

Preheat oven to 375°. In a large pot of boiling water, cook macaroni with oil and salt until al dente. Drain.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add flour. Whisk together and cook for about 1 minute. Add milk and egg. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Stir in Velveeta cheese and half the cheddar; cook on low heat until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth.

Add cooked macaroni to sauce. Stir over low heat for 1 minutes. Taste and add pepper and extra salt, if necessary. Pour mixture into a large greased 9x13-inch pan. Top with remaining cheddar and cover with foil. Bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until cheese on top is melted and macaroni is bubbly throughout.

Cool slightly and serve.

Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole

4-5 flour tortillas, torn
8 ounces sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 (4-ounce) can green chiles
2 cups (approx) shredded chicken, or a (10-ounce) can of chunk chicken
Shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients except cheese in a bowl. Spray an 8x8 glass pan. Spread mixture evenly in pan. Bake, covered, for about 25 minutes. Uncover, top with shredded cheese, and bake for another 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Poppy Seed Chicken

8 chicken breasts
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cups sour cream
3 cups Pepperidge Farm Dressing (Not "Cubed," the bread chunks are too big.)
2-3 tablespoons poppy seeds
2 sticks butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350. Cut chicken into bite-sized chunks. Brown in a hot skillet. Spread across the bottom of a 9x13 casserole, or 2 8x8s.

Mix soup and sour cream; pour over top of chicken.

Mix together dressing, poppy seeds, and melted butter. Spread over top of soup.

Bake 30 minutes until bubbly throughout.

Tomato Soup

from Gypsy Café in Westwood, Los Angeles

1 tablespoon oil or butter
1 red onion, chopped
1 large baking (russet) potato, baked and peeled
4 cups tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups half-n-half
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon chicken soup base or bouillon
1/2 cup hot water
dash of dried oregano

Heat oil or butter in skillet over medium heat.  Add onion and saute until tender, about 5 minutes.  Place onion and potato in a food processor and puree until smooth.  Combine tomato sauce with baking soda in a stockpot or large saucepan, and add half-n-half.  Bring to a boil and simmer 10 to 15 minutes.  Add potato-onion mixture to tomato sauce and cook, stirring occasionally, until thick and smooth.  Add cheese.  Mix chicken base with water and stir into soup; simmer over low heat for 5-10 minutes.  Add dash of oregano before serving.  Approximately 150 calories per cup (using butter and regular half-n-half).

Tuscan Tomato Soup

recipe from Chef's Table restaurant in Orem, UT

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 small-medium onions, small dice
5 cups diced & seeded tomatoes (or 3 14.5-oz. cans diced tomatoes, slightly drained)
2 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup basil pesto
Salt & pepper to taste

Heat oil in a medium large soup pot. Add onions and cook over moderately low heat until completely transluscent. Add tomatoes and warm to a simmer. Add chicken stock and bring to simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes to allow for interchange of flavors.

Add whipping cream and pesto. Blend to desired consistency in food processor or blender, or with immersion blender. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

Serve with warm bread or grilled cheese sandwiches.

*Becca's notes: I use cans of fire-roasted tomatoes (Hunt's brand) when I make this soup. I like the depth of flavor they add, plus the little bits of black roasted tomatoes make the soup look more interesting.

*I’ve made this with homemade pesto, and also with a store-bought version from Sam’s Club. I’ve had good luck freezing pesto, so if I buy Sam’s 22-oz. jar I freeze the extra in 1 cup amounts for this soup and in ice cube trays for pasta sauce.

Farmgirl's Lower-Fat Pesto

1/2 cup (about 2.25 oz.) raw or roasted almonds or cashews
3-6 large garlic cloves, peeled
4 ounces (about 4 cups packed) fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup pecorino romano cheese, finely grated
10 ounces (about 3 small) fresh tomatoes, any kind, quartered
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, or more if desired

If using raw nuts, spread them on a baking sheet or piece of aluminum foil and place in a 350 degree oven (or toaster oven) for 8 to 10 minutes.

Process the nuts and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Add the basil, pecorino romano, tomatoes and salt and process until thoroughly combined and the consistency you like.

With the food processor running, drizzle in the olive oil through the chute. Add more salt to taste if necessary and more olive oil if desired.

This pesto will keep several days in the fridge, or you can freeze it. Cover the top with a thin layer of olive oil to keep it from discoloring, or pour into an ice cube tray to freeze, then transfer pesto cubes to a heavy-duty freezer bag.

Makes approximately 1 1/2 cups.

Christmas Lasagna

10 no-boil lasagna noodles (or half of a 1 pound box)
1 pound mild Italian sausage
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
2½ cups (about 28-ounce can) diced tomatoes, drained slightly
¼ teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon basil
½ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon parsley

Set noodles aside. Brown and drain sausage. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer uncovered (I use a splatter guard) for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

½ pound mozzarella, sliced or shredded
½ cup grated Parmesan
½ pound shredded mild cheddar

Combine and set aside for cheese layer.

2 eggs
1 pint cottage cheese
2 tablespoons parsley

Beat eggs. Stir in cottage cheese and parsley.

Layer noodles, cottage cheese mixture, meat sauce, cheese in greased 9x13-inch pan or two square pans. Repeat twice for a total of three layers.

Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

Can be frozen. Allow at least 24 hours to thaw in fridge, then bake.

Cinnabon Rolls in the Breadmaker

Dough (2 lbs)
1 cup whole milk (or substitute powdered milk and extra water)
1/2 tablespoons salt
1 beaten egg
4 tablespoons melted butter
4 tablespoons water
1 small box (3.4 ounce) instant vanilla pudding
4 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2½ tablespoons yeast

Filling
½ cup softened butter (or margarine)
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Icing
8 ounces (2 sticks) butter or margarine
8 ounces (1 package) cream cheese
16 ounces powdered sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

First, take the butter and cream cheese you will use for the Icing out of the fridge and set it aside so it can soften.
For the dough -
Toss all the ingredients into your bread machine and set it to its 'dough' setting. You do not want it to cook, just mix and rise. This takes about 1½ hours so while this is going you can get your filling and icing mixed together.
Filling -
Mix all ingredients very well. Make sure you don't have too many brown sugar lumps. Set aside.
Icing -
Mix butter and cream cheese in mixer until thoroughly combined. Add your powdered sugar and mix for another 12 minutes. Yes, that's right. 12 minutes. I don't know why this is important but the reviews I read on this particular icing said it was necessary and my icing turned out perfect so there ya go. When 12 minutes are almost up add your lemon juice and vanilla extract.

When your dough is ready dump it out on a floured counter. Punch it down and kneed it for a few seconds. With a rolling pin and make an 18 inch by 12 inch rectangle. Spread your filling all over it going to the very edge. Then, roll up your pastry tightly. Slice with thread into ½- to 1-inch rolls. Repeat this step over and over again, putting each cinnamon roll into a greased dish with sides. You can squish them beside each other but don't over-stuff. We had to use a round cake pan and a large rectangular pan (11x15?). These dimensions will make about 15 good-sized rolls, or make the dough longer and narrower (10x24) for more medium-sized rolls.

Set your oven to 'warm' and put your roll filled dishes inside. When the oven is warmed turn it off and let your rolls sit for 30 minutes to rise. After 30 minutes remove them, preheat your oven to 350 and cook your cinnamon rolls for 15 minutes. Pay close attention. When they are a golden brown take them out. Cool for a few minutes and ice.

If freezing, freeze the rolls before they are iced. I put some icing into three Ziploc baggies. When we're ready to pull some cinnamon rolls out of the freezer I will also take out a baggie. When rolls and icing are thawed, cut a corner off the baggie and squeeze it onto the rolls.