Stove-Top Mac & Cheese

Alright friends, I know it’s been a while and there has been a lot going on, but I’ve got to share this amazing mac and cheese recipe I made this past weekend for Friendsgiving 2013.

Now, I must start with two points:

1.  I don’t like homemade mac and cheese.  I can’t get the consistency right.  So I just don’t make it.
2. This was a special request from my favorite Shaw.  Otherwise, see point 1.

So, now that’s all out there, I have to admit – this recipe was to die for.  To.  Die.  For.  Yes, I used whole fat milk and whole fat cheese and yes, it was totally worth it.  This recipe is cheesy and gooey and does not solidify and become granular as so many of the other mac and cheese recipes I’ve tried does.

I doubled the original recipe (my version is below with a full pound of pasta) which I totally recommend.  We had 18 people around our Friendsgiving table and this was by far the first thing to go – even before coveted Green Bean Casserole or “Carrot Stuff”.

I made this ahead of time and kept it warm in a slow cooker before our meal and had to add some additional milk to keep it moist and creamy – next year I would do this just before dinner to avoid any chance of drying out and to keep that amazing creaminess this offered.

So when you’re in the mood for some serious (and I mean serious!) cheesy comfort food, try this.  You won’t be sorry.

Stove-Top Mac & Cheese

 

Stove-Top Mac & Cheese

What You Need:

• 1 box (1 lb) elbow macaroni
• 1 stick butter
• 4 eggs
• 12 ounces evaporated milk
• 1teaspoon hot sauce
• 3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
• 2 8-oz blocks sharp yellow cheddar, grated using a box grater
• 1 8-oz block mild yellow cheddar, grated using a box grater

How You Do It:

1. In a large pot, cook the pasta until desired doneness. Drain and return to pot and melt in the butter. Toss to coat.
2. While the pasta cooks, whisk together the eggs, milk, hot sauce, salt & pepper to taste, and mustard. Stir into the drained pasta and mix to combine.
3. Add the cheeses and stir to incorporate and melt
4. Continue to stir over low heat until creamy.

Stove-Top Mac & Cheese recipe adapted from the amazing Alton Brown via FoodNetwork.com.  

White Chicken Chili with Aged Cheddar

Ever go out for dinner and love something so much you search the interweb for hours upon days upon months for the recipe but come up empty-handed?  Well, that’s what I've been doing since April with the hubs and I went back to the Frozen Tundra (aka Wisconsin) to visit my parents for Passover. 

The night before the seder we always go out for dinner because the table is already set for the 30+ people my mother hosts, and this past year we went to a local place – Fratellos.  And what do they serve?  A little bit of everything, but a lot of something: the best White Chicken Chili I've ever eaten. 

Once we got home, back in April, I've been scrubbing every search engine possible to find the secret recipe, but to no avail.  I did, however, come across this gem, which is not the same but pretty close.

The color is there, the texture is there, and the flavor, just about there.  The milk, beans, and cheddar give it the creamy and thickness, and the little cumin really makes the flavor pop. 

I will not give up looking for the original recipe, for now, this will have to do.

White Chicken Chili with Aged Cheddar

 

White Chicken Chili with Aged Cheddar

What You Need:

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped
• 1 fresh jalapeno, minced
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 can (15 oz) cream-style corn
• 2 cans (4 oz each) diced mild green chiles
• 2 c whole milk (I used unsweetened almond milk to cut the fat)
• 1 can (15 oz) navy beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 c shredded cooked chicken
• Salt and pepper
• 1 1/2 c white aged cheddar cheese, shredded 

How You Do It:

1. Add oil to large pot and sauté onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno until soft, about 5 minutes.
2. Add cumin, corn, green chiles, milk, and beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
3. Stir in chicken and season with salt (not much, if any, the cheese has enough) and pepper.
4. Stir in cheese until blended.

White Chicken Chili with Aged Cheddar recipe adapted from Food Network.

PB&J Meatballs

PB&J Meatballs?  One wouldn't normally think to combine these flavors - in fact, when my neighbor found this recipe in one of my cooking magazines on the coffee table, he too wasn't sold.  But I was intrigued.  Reminds me of that classic episode of Friends when Rachel makes the trifle and mistakenly combines two recipes: one for a dessert trifle, one for a Brittish meat version.

Joey:  I mean, what's not to like? Custard, good. Jam, good. Meat, good! 

So what's not to like? Peanut butter, good. Jelly, good. Meatballs, good!

The sauce comes out sticky and sweet, with a hint of teriyaki, peanut butter, and even the grape jelly.  I used chunky peanut butter because it's what we keep in the house and a low-sugar grape jelly to control some of the sweetness.  I also didn't have any regular teriyaki sauce in the house (I know, right?!), but I did have some island teriyaki, so I used that. 

Now, I know you're still not sold - who would actually try something like this?  Well, I would - and I'm not sorry.  

PB&J Meatballs

PB&J Meatballs

What You Need:

• 1/2 c grape jelly 
• 1/3 c teriyaki sauce
• 1/3 c peanut butter
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1/4 tsp sriracha
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1 package frozen turkey meatballs

How You Do It:

1. Combine all ingredients expect meatballs in a large skillet; whisk over medium-high heat until silky smooth.
2. Add meatballs (frozen); heat until bubbly, stirring frequently.
3. Simmer uncovered 15-20 minutes until meatballs are heated through.

PB&J Meatballs recipe adapted from a Target ad in one of my many food magazines.

Honey Dijon Salmon with Green Beans

I’m always looking for different ways to cook fish.  We are big fish fans and I’m always afraid we’ll get bored with the same preparations over and over.  So when I saw this in a pile of recipes I had pulled from old magazines, I thought I’d give it a try. 

Now here’s a salmon recipe with an added bonus – leftover honey Dijon vinaigrette to use with salad or veggies later in the week!  A quick whisk of oil, mustard, honey, and vinegar makes a good amount of dressing and for this salmon you only use a couple tablespoons. 

I had never thought of baking the salmon right on top of onions before, but it really worked well.  The onions came out so tender and sweet and gave the salmon an extra hint of flavor.  Mixed with some steamed green beans and a little drizzle of the vinaigrette and this dish packs a sweet and subtle flavor not to be missed. 

Quick, easy, and light, this salmon recipe is a good base to try lots of different flavors.  And best of all – when all was said and done – my recipe looked just like the one in the magazine photo, so I was pretty damn excited!

Honey Dijon Salmon with Green Beans

 

Honey Dijon Salmon with Green Beans

What You Need:

• 2 tsp honey
• 4 tsp Dijon mustard
• 3 tbsp white-wine vinegar
• 1/2 c olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 4 tbsp panko breadcrumbs
• 2 6-oz pieces salmon
• 1 pound green beans, trimmed

How You Do It:

1. Whisk together honey, mustard, vinegar, and oil; season with salt and pepper.
2. In a deep baking dish, toss onion with 2 tablespoons vinaigrette and bake at 425* for 5 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, stir 1 tablespoon vinaigrette into panko. Coat fish with 1 tablespoon vinaigrette and season with salt and pepper; top with breadcrumb mixture and add to baking dish. Bake until fish is cooked to your liking, about 12-15 minutes.
4. While the salmon cooks, steam green beans to desired tenderness.
5. Remove salmon from baking dish and set aside. Drain green beans and toss with onion and 1 tablespoon vinaigrette. 

Honey Dijon Salmon with Green Beans recipe adapted from Martha Stewart Everyday Food.

Lemon Garlic Chicken

Over the weekend I made what is probably one of the best chicken recipes in my arsenal: Lemon Garlic Chicken.  I can’t really do this recipe justice without you actually trying it.  The chicken in tender, the garlic and lemon flavor is through the roof, and the house smells amazing for hours after.

Trust me on this one – don’t wait.

Lemon Garlic Chicken

 

Lemon Garlic Chicken

What You Need:

• 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
• ½ c seasoned breadcrumbs
• 5 tbsp butter
• 4 garlic cloves, pressed
• 6 tbsp lemon juice

How You Do It:

1. While the oven preheats to 350°, melt the butter in the bottom of a deep baking dish.
2. Once the butter melts, and garlic and stir. 
3. Toss chicken chunks in breadcrumbs, place in baking dish with garlic butter.  Toss to coat. 
4. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes, tossing occasionally. 
5. Add lemon juice and bake an additional 15 minutes.

Lemon Garlic Chicken recipe from my mom.

Chicken with Balsamic Onions over Sautéed Spinach and Mushrooms

This week my husband has been on a no-carbs, no dairy kick.  And you know what, he’s done a really great job of it.  It has, however, been a bit of a cooking challenge at night, as I like to have rice or a little cheese or some sort of carb (in moderation, of course) with dinner.  And while I've managed to pull off a week of no-carb, no-dairy dinners, last night’s was noteworthy. 

Added bonus – I found another opportunity to use the Herbs de Provence I snagged on our honeymoon last summer! 

Anyway – the chicken was so tender, and took only a few minutes to cook on the stove-top, thanks to slicing the breasts in half.  The onions on top – yum!  While I don’t love a super strong balsamic flavor (even on salad), they offered just enough flavor to give the chicken just the right kick.  I served this over some sautéed fresh spinach and mushrooms for more vegetables and a good balance.

Super easy, super quick – this is a no-carb, no-dairy keeper!

Chicken with Balsamic Onions over Sautéed Spinach and Mushrooms

Chicken with Balsamic Onions over
Sauteed Spinach and Mushrooms

What You Need:

• 1/4 c flour
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced in half to make 2 thin cutlets each
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 c water
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/3 tsp Herbs de Provence*
• 1 package sliced mushrooms
• 2 bags fresh baby spinach

How You Do It – Chicken with Balsamic Onions:

1. In a large Ziploc bag, combine flour and pepper. Add chicken, one piece at a time, and shake to coat.
2. In a large skillet, cook chicken in oil over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until juices run clear. Remove and keep warm.
3. In the same pan, cook onion until tender.
4. Add water, stirring to loosen browned bits.
5. Add balsamic and Herbs de Provence; cook and stir for 3 to 4 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened. Serve over chicken.

How You Do It – Sautéed Spinach and Mushrooms

1. While the chicken and onions cook, in a separate large skillet, cook mushrooms until soft.
2. Slowly fold in spinach by the handful, until wilted.

* If you don’t have Herbs de Provence or cannot find them in the store, the original recipe calls for 1/2 tsp dried thyme and 1/8 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary.

Chicken with Balsamic Onions recipe adapted from HeritageSchoolhouse.

Beer-Braised Chicken Tacos

I probably have mentioned before I have a love for Mexican food.  We don’t have it often, but every once and a while I can't resist.  So, here’s a quick and easy taco recipe a bit different from chopped meat with a packet of seasoning. 

Other than the hard shells and enchilada sauce, I had everything for this recipe on hand.  I always keep shredded/diced cooked chicken in the freezer in 2-cup packages, usually leftover from making chicken soup, but could easily be pulled from a store-bought rotisserie chicken.  The seasonings are staples in my cabinet and I almost always have an onion or two in the pantry.  And with all the beer left from my birthday bash a couple weeks ago, there was no shortage there.

One pot does the trick for this one and really you need only about 20 minutes from start to finish – a quick and easy Mexican fix.  While there is a little beer in the recipe, didn't taste it much at all and the chili powder (which next time I would reduce) and enchilada sauce gave this a nice heat.

And – I cannot close out without a shout out to the hard shells.  We don’t normally go the hard taco route, but I saw an ad for these “fiesta flats” and had to see for myself.  Let me tell you – they are genius!  You can fill them and set them without tipping.  And while I still stand by the soft shell and feel hard shells get stale while they sit on the table (and most often than not, are stale when you take them out of the package) these were a rare treat.

Beer-Braised Chicken Tacos

Beer-Braised Chicken Tacos

What You Need:

• 2 c diced cooked chicken
• ½ large onion, diced
• 1 can enchilada sauce
• ¾ c beer
• 1 tbsp chili powder (I might try ½ tbsp next time)
• ½ tsp cumin
• Shells and toppings as desired (We topped ours with sour cream and a little shredded cheese)

How You Do It:

1. Sauté chicken and onion in rimmed skillet until onion starts to soften, about 2-3 minutes. 
2. Add seasonings, beer, and enchilada sauce.  Stir to combine and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to an almost-simmer, and cook an additional 15 minutes uncovered, until the sauce reduces to desired consistency.  (Note:  I added a little slurry to thicken at the end).

Beer-Braised Chicken Tacos recipe adapted from Betty Crocker.

Ramen Vegetable Lo Mein

Sometimes the best cure for a rough day is dinner with friends.  So when I got a text from a girlfriend that she was going to be around tonight and wanted a hug, I offered to ease up the rest of the of the night with dinner at our place. 

Knowing I had to make a meat-free meal (she’s a Chopra, look it up!), I stopped at the store on my way home to pick up some vegetables to make a stir-fry and remembered yet another pin for a recipe using Ramen noodles. 

I couldn't believe how quickly the HUGE bowl of stir-fried vegetables and noodles cleared.  While I thought the meal was just mediocre, apparently I was in the minority.  I thought the sauce I used was a little sweet and could have used a hit of red pepper flakes, my dinner “guests” said not to tweak a thing. 

So, here’s the recipe, without tweaking a thing.

Ramen Vegetable Lo Mein

 

Ramen Vegetable Lo Mein

What You Need:

• 4 packages Ramen noodles
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 1 package shredded carrots
• 1 package broccoli florets
• 3 large cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 c chicken broth
• ½ c teriyaki sauce (I used this)

How You Do It:

1. Boil noodles according to package, discarding seasoning packet.  Drain and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, heat sesame oil in large skillet.  Add onion and sauté until slighted softened.  Add broccoli and carrots and continue to sauté until tender.
3. Add garlic and sauce, stirring to combine and soften garlic.
4. Add noodles and chicken brother, toss to combine and heat through.

Cheesy Turkey and Bow-Ties

Last night we were supposed to toss something on the grill for dinner.  It has been a pretty hectic week and I wasn't really interested in putzing around in the kitchen.  Alas, something on the grill!  However, yesterday morning I got a text from the hubs asking if I had a backup plan: it was pretty gross outside - rain, fog, a real mess.  I knew there wasn't much in our refrigerator (read: a pretty hectic week) and that I really didn't want to go out or even order in, but I did have a package of ground turkey in the freezer.  The hubs took it out to defrost.

That brings us to last night's dinner - this pretty much tex-mex-ish mac and cheese.  The sauce takes a little help from the grocery g-ds, canned soup and prepared salsa, but sometimes you just need a little help - nothing wrong there!  Combined with a little corn hitting on my midwestern roots, ground turkey instead of beef to hit the somewhat-health factor, and some veggie pasta, I had dinner on the table in under 30 minutes.  Take that, Mother Nature!

The slight salsa flavor paired with the cheese soup really made a nice combination of mac and cheese meets chips and salsa.  For something quick and easy to hit the table on a night when you don't really feel like cooking, give this a try!

Cheesy Turkey and Bow-Ties

Cheesy Turkey and Bow-Ties

What You Need:

• 2 1/2 c uncooked bow-tie pasta
• 1 lb lean ground turkey
• 1/2 chopped onion
• 1 can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
• 1 c salsa
• 1 c frozen corn (do not defrost)
• 1 1/2 c shredded cheese

How You Do It:

1. Boil pasta according to package directions, or done to your liking.
2. While pasta cooks, in a large skillet, brown turkey.
3. Add onion and saute until slightly softened.
4. Add soup, salsa, and corn, stir to combine, and let simmer while pasta finishes cooking.
5. Drain pasta and add to meat mixture.  Sprinkle on cheese and let melt.

Cheesy Turkey and Bow-Ties recipe adapted from Pillsbury.com.

Parmesan Dijon Mahi-Mahi

Our first batch of family house guests have left and we’re gearing up for the second round next week, but I found a little time to hop in the kitchen and whip up a quick and super-flavorful mahi-mahi recipe last night.

Super quick, super easy, and super flavorful, this mahi-mahi dish literally took 2 minutes to prepare and 15 in the oven.  Last weekend during my standing pre-synagogue Target run, I found the perfect lunch box salad container.  And inside, a free sample of French’s new Dijon mustard with Chardonnay. 

Wasting no time, I found a quick mustard sauce for fish and got to it.  Mustard (and the exact amount needed for two pieces of fish!), white wine vinegar, black pepper, and a little parmesan whisked together into a thick paste I covered the fish with and into the oven it went.  15 minutes later, a perfectly flaky piece of mustard-paste laden fish.  The hubs thought the mustard was a little overpowering, but I thought it was perfect – strange, as I don’t love mustard as much.  Nonetheless, a quick and easy fish recipe for the books.

Parmesan Dijon Mahi-Mahi

 

Parmesan Dijon Mahi-Mahi

What You Need:

• 2 mahi-mahi filets
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard with Chardonnay
• 2 tsp white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp freshly ground pepper
• 1 tbsp grated parmesan

How You Do It:

1. Combine Dijon, vinegar, pepper, and cheese in small bowl.
2. Brush on top of fish.
3. Bake 400* 15 minutes.

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Wraps

School is over here in Jersey which means the hubs is on summer vacation.  Read: I'm home and bored and need entertaining.  Enter: old roommate looking to burn vacation days with a suggestion to head to Atlantic City.  My husband can't resist.  So off they went.

Since I had no idea what time they would be back and I had a beating session with the trainer at the gym, last night I popped some ingredients into the slow cooker and set it this morning to be ready when I got home from the gym.

This shredded chicken makes the best wraps ever.  Especially with my favorite lettuce alternative:  broccoli slaw.  The sweet and saltiness of the chicken mixed with the crunch of the slaw and a little hoisin (or as I call it, poison), these wraps are a mess to eat, but well worth the sticky fingers.

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Wraps

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Wraps

What You Need:

• 3 lbs boneless, skinless, chicken thighs
• 1/2 c teriyaki sauce (I used this)
• 1 tbps freshly grated ginger
• 4 large cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds
• tortillas
• broccoli slaw
• hoisin sauce

How You Do It:

1. Spray basin of slow cooker with cooking spray.  Add chicken.
2. In a small bowl, combine sauce, ginger, and garlic.  Pour over chicken and toss to coat.
3. Cook on low, 7-8 hours.
4. Shred using tongs, add sesame seeds, and toss to combine with remaining sauce from cooking.

How You Eat It:

• I spread a little hoisin in the middle of a tortilla, top with slaw, and chicken.  Wrap!

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Wraps recipe adapted from Betty Crocker.

Baked Chicken Panzanella

Have you ever had a panzanella salad?  You know, the Italian bread salad with tons of fresh bread and tomatoes tossed with leafy lettuce?  Well, this quick and easy casserole is a warm spin on said salad. 

The combination of flavors is subtle and amazing - diced chicken with seasoned diced tomatoes, seasoned croutons, and Italian dressing.  Nothing more than that.  Layered and baked, then topped with shredded parmesan, though I bet this would be just as good with an Italian blend or even shredded mozzarella (mom!).  Top it off with some fresh basil and you're good to go.

The croutons might be throwing you off a little, but the combination of some crunchy, some a little soggy really makes for an interesting twist.  I know, just give it a try!

Baked Chicken Panzanella

Baked Chicken Panzanella

What You Need:

• 2 c chopped cooked chicken
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with garlic, onion and oregano, drained
• 1 package (5 oz) Italian-seasoned croutons
• 1/4 c Italian dressing
• 3/4 c shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 c sliced fresh basil leaves

How You Do It:

1. In a square baking dish, layer chicken, tomatoes,  and croutons. Drizzle with Italian dressing. 
2. Cover and bake 350* 20 minutes.
3. Sprinkle with cheese and bake uncovered additional 10 minutes or until cheese melts.
4. Sprinkle with basil

Baked Chicken Panzanella recipe adapted from Betty Crocker.

Orange-Basil Chicken

Meet my basil plant:

Basil!

While it might not look like more than a basil plant to you, you must understand - I cannot keep plants alive.  My mother-in-law buys me a fresh basil plant every year and I almost always kill it off.  The first year she pitied me when I killed off the first one and came later in the season with a second, I then killed as well.   Last year, while we were away cruising the Mediterranean on our honeymoon, my basil plant stayed with my MiL, which was a treat, as when we got back, it had doubled, yes doubled, in size!  She really knows how to keep 'em healthy! 

So this year when she came over for our Memorial Day BBQ, she brought me my plant - and lo and behold, it's growing like crazy!  So with all this basil, I started on my search for basil-infused recipes that didn't include red sauce - something non-Italian.

Insert tonight's dinner - while the basil wasn't at the forefront (and honestly, I could have used more), this was a great balance of orange, soy, ginger, and basil.  The fresh broccoli added a nice crunch and the rice soaked up the sweet, yet salty sauce.

A good use for basil - but yes, stay tuned, we'll get my favorite bolognese and pesto recipes eventually.  Until then, say a prayer (if you believe in that sort of thing) for the well-being of my basil plant!

Orange-Basil Chicken

Orange-Basil Chicken

What You Need:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• 3 tbsp cornstarch, divided
• 2 small broccoli crowns, cut into pieces
• 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
• 3/4 c orange juice
• 5 tbsp soy sauce
• 1/4 c honey
• 3 tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 1/4 c chopped fresh basil
• 1 tsp grated orange rind

How You Do It:

1. Toss chicken with 2 tbsp cornstarch, and set aside.
2. Sauté broccoli in 1 tbsp hot oil in a large skillet, stirring occasionally until crisp-tender, remove from skillet and set aside.
3. Sauté chicken pieces in remaining 1 tbsp hot oil, stirring occasionally, 8 minutes or until done. Reduce heat to medium.
4. Whisk together orange juice, soy sauce, honey, ginger, and remaining 1tbsp  cornstarch. Add orange juice mixture and broccoli to chicken, and cook, stirring occasionally until sauce is thickened. 
5. Stir in basil and orange rind.

Orange-Basil Chicken recipe adapted from MyRecipes.com.

Mexican Layered Tortilla Bake

"I don't like this," he said as he put his fork down after the first bite.  At first, I thought maybe it was his stomach not agreeing with the Mexican.  Then, "I like refried beans, but that's all I can taste."  Ah hah.  Too much bean flavor.  I probably should have known better,  but I suppose I was just hoping for a better outcome.  That, sadly, was not the case.  So go-to pantry staple - pasta - went on the stovetop, for him. 

I, on the other hand, really love this recipe.  And frankly, what's not to love:  cheese, good! tortillas, good! ground meat (I used turkey), good!  salsa, good!  refried beans, good!  That's it - that's all you need.  5 minutes at the stovetop, 3 minutes to layer in the pan, and another 15 to marry it all together, and you're good to go.  Well, at least I was.

You win some, you lose some.

Mexican Layered Tortilla Bake

Mexican Layered Tortilla Bake

What You Need:

• 1 lb ground meat (I used turkey)
• 1 can refried beans (I used fat-free)
• 1/4 c salsa
• 2 c shredded Mexican blend cheese
• 4 tortillas (I used whole grain)

How You Do It:

1. Brown mean until no longer pink.  Stir in refried beans and salsa until combined.
2. Place one tortilla in the bottom of a deep pie pan.  Top with 1/4 meat mixture and 1/4 cheese.
3. Repeat layers ending with cheese.
4. Bake 350* 15 minutes.

Mexican Layered Tortilla Bake recipe adapted from my mom.

Seared Salmon with Tzatziki

If tonight's recipe could be described in one word, I would choose: refreshing.

There really isn't much to the recipe itself - the salmon was simply seasoned with pepper and a tiny pinch of salt, and seared on the the stovetop.  The main flavor of the dish comes from the homemade tzatziki - a cucumber-meets-herbs-meets-Greek-yogurt sauce.

That's all folks.  That's the dish.  But something about the refreshing cucumber paired with the fresh herbs and the creamy yogurt really makes a simple but oh-so-flavorful topping.  I served this with some whole wheat pitas, but a salad dressed with a lemon vinaigrette would have been the perfect touch.

Seared Salmon with Tzatziki

Seared Salmon with Tzatziki

What You Need for the Tzatziki:

• 1 6-oz container plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/3 diced seedless (English) cucumber
• 1 clove garlic, pressed
• 2 tbsp fresh dill, minced
• 1 tsp fresh mint, minced
• salt & pepper, to taste  

What You Need for the Salmon:

• 2 6-oz salmon filets
• Salt and pepper, to taste

How You Do It:

Seared Salmon with Tzatziki recipe adapted from An Edible Mosaic.

Skillet Chicken & Noodles

Do you ever have one of those nights when comfort food sounds like the only thing that will hit the spot but when you think about how many times you'll have to hit the gym to work if off,  you change your mind?

Well this skillet version of chicken pot pie actually isn't so bad.  Combining veggies with chicken, noodles instead of crust, and a low-fat sauce, you've got that comforting chicken pot pie sans pie.  And - it's all done on the stove-top in one pan.  Perfect for a weeknight comfort.

Skillet Chicken & Noodles

Skillet Chicken & Noodles

What You Need:

• 1 lb chicken breasts, sliced thin
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 c chicken broth
• 1 can condensed cream of celery soup (I used this)
• 1 package frozen vegetables
• 2 cups uncooked spiral pasta
• 1/2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning

How You Do It:

1. Cook chicken and onion in a large skillet with a cover until chicken is browned and onion is tender.
2. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and cook 15 minutes until noodles are tender and chicken is fully cooked.

Skillet Chicken & Noodles recipe adapted from Pillsbury.com.

Tex-Mex Turkey Tenderloin

Talk about an easy meal!  Two ingredients for the turkey, some rice, and condiments of your choice, you really can't beat this.  This is one of those recipes you could make over and over again, each time with a different end result. 

Start with a turkey tenderloin - my package came with three smaller ones, about one pound total.  Then, add some refrigerated salsa - preferably the fresh, chunky kind - to the heat and flavor of your liking.  I used a sweet onion variety.  A touch of water and you're good to go.  That's it.  It's that easy.

Served over rice and topped with your favorites - in our house it was cheese, avocado, and sour cream - you have a quick and easy - and healthy - meal!

Tex-Mex Turkey Tenderloin

Tex-Mex Turkey Tenderloin

What You Need:

• 1 lb turkey tenderloin, cut into 3/4" chunks
• 1 1/2 c fresh refrigerated salsa
• 1/4 c water
• rice and condiments of choice

How You Do It:

1. In a large skillet, cook turkey until lightly browned.
2. Add salsa and water, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and let cook about 5 minutes until sauce thickens and turkey is fully cooked.

Tex-Mex Turkey Tenderloin recipe adapted from Cooking Light Magazine.

Orange Teriyaki Beef and Noodles

I rarely serve dinner in a bowl.  The hubs doesn't so much love when I do and sometimes it makes dinner feel less like dinner.  I know, strange.  Anyway, tonight's dinner - perfect for a bowl. 

I also rarely make a recipe that calls for beef strips.  My husband and I prefer our beefed cooked to different doneness and it's hard to get it rare enough for him and acceptable enough for me at the same time without the grill.  Tonight's dinner - beef strips.

And finally, I rarely make a dinner with a known ingredient not favorable to one of us.  Case in point: snow peas.  Tonight's dinner - snow peas.  (Thankfully, the hubs will kindly push them aside and offer them up once done.)

All that aside, this dish was really good!  A little sweet from the orange marmalade, a little salty from the teriyaki and broth, and a little saucy for, well, a saucy dish!   You could probably do this with chicken and any veggies you prefer - if I make it again, I will use broccoli (to please the husband) and mushrooms (also to please the husband).  Needless to say, a quick and easy midweek meal.

Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles

Orange Teriyaki Beef and Noodles

What You Need:

• 1 lb beef sirloin strips
• 1 3/4 c beef broth
• 1/4 c teriyaki sauce (I used Mr Yoshida's Classic)
• 2 tbsp orange marmalade
• pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 c snow peas
• 3 oz uncooked egg noodles (I used these)

How You Do It:

1. In a large skillet with a lid, cook beef until brown, 2-4 minutes.  Set aside and cover to keep warm.
2. Add broth, teriyaki, orange marmalade, and red pepper flakes to skillet.  Bring to a boil.  Add snow peas and noodles, cover and cook over medium heat 5 minutes.
3. Add back in beef and stir to combine.  If necessary, add a roux to thicken.

Orange Teriyaki Beef and Noodles recipe adapted from Betty Crocker.

Almond-Chive Salmon

Tonight, I want to start with a shout-out to my dinner girls back in Minneapolis. 

You see, Katy, Emily, and I would get together about once a month and make dinner.  Whoever was hosting would pick the theme (I love theme dinners!) and make the entree and the other two of us would bring a side dish and a dessert, respectively.  We would eat, drink, and chat until the wee hours of the evening - no significant others invited - expect for Sushi Rolling Night, which was an experience and a half.

As for tonight's dinner, this was the entree at either Katy's or Emily's one night and it became one of my favorite salmon recipes yet.  A simple topping made with simple flavors that shine through and complement the salmon in an elegant way. 

I've made this a couple times since that evening and every time it takes me back to the nights we spent together - one of the things I miss most about having moved away.

So tonight, I tip my chef's hat to Katy and Emily and our little but oh-so-special dinner group.

Almond-Chive Salmon

Almond-Chive Salmon

What You Need:

• 1 oz sliced almonds
• 1 tbsp snipped chives
• 1/2 tsp grated lemon rind
• 1 slice bread, torn (I used 1/2 a leftover hamburger bun from our Memorial Day BBQs)
• salt & pepper, to taste
• 2 6-oz salmon fillets

How You Do It:

1. In a food processor (I used this awesome manual food processor from Pampered Chef), combine almonds, chives, lemon rind, torn bread, and salt & pepper.  Process until finely chopped.
2. Top fillets evenly with mixture and press to adhere.
3. Bake at 400* for 15 minutes until salmon flakes easily or cooked to desired doneness. 

Almond-Chive Salmon adapted from the best dinner group ever... and AllRecipes.com.

Chicken Fajita Pizza

Every once and a while you need a taste of home.  So over the weekend I emailed my mom to ask her if she could send some of my favorite recipes from when I was a kid.  This one is just that.  I used to ask her to make this when I was home from college for a long weekend or break.  It’s nothing really special, but to me, it really was – probably because it married two of my favorite things: Mexican food and pizza.

Saute up some chicken, an onion, and bell pepper – spread it atop partially-baked crust – add some salsa and cheese – golden brown – YUM.

There’s not much more I can tell you about this one other than it was just as good as I remembered it and exactly what I was hoping for.

Chicken Fajita Pizza

 

Chicken Fajita Pizza

What You Need:

• 1 10oz can refrigerated pizza crust
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in thin strips
• 1 ½ tsp. chili powder
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 c salsa
• 2 c shredded mozzarella cheese

How You Do It:

1. Preheat oven to 425°.  Spread out dough on large rimmed baking tray (I used my favorite fromPampered Chef).  Bake for 7-9 minutes or until very light golden brown.
2. While the crust pre-bakes, mix chicken and chili powder and cook in rimmed skillet 3-5 minutes, or until lightly browned.  Add onions and peppers; cook an additional 2-3 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and veggies are crisp-tender.
3. Remove crust from oven and spoon chicken mixture evenly over partially baked crust. 
4. Spoon salsa over chicken; sprinkle with cheese. 
5. Bake an additional 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Chicken Fajita Pizza recipe adapted from my mom.

Not-So-Bourbon Bourbon Chicken

I must preface this by stating there is no bourbon in this recipe, but to many your probable dismay.  Sorry.  I must also say, I can't say as if I know what actual bourbon chicken tastes like, but this was pretty darn good.  I suppose I would just call it "some sort of Asian-style chicken", as it had those flavors, none of which were actual bourbon. 

With a combination of ingredients you are bound to have on hand already, this is a quick fix for take-out, where yet again, you control the sodium and the ingredients in general.  While the original recipe called for chicken thighs, I chose chicken breasts since they are a bit better for us.  I also used Splenda instead of actual sugar.  The sauce was very flavorful and the sauteed onions and garlic really make this dish.  Serve this up with some steamed broccoli and rice and you've got what you would normally get when the delivery shows up!

Oh, and mom?  No need to double the sauce - there was plenty!

Not-So-Bourbon Bourbon Chicken

Not-So-Bourbon Bourbon Chicken

What You Need:

• 3 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 large garlic cloved, minced
• 6 packets Splenda (or 1/4 c sugar)
• 1/4 c soy sauce
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp vinegar (I used white wine vinegar because it's what was in my pantry)

How You Do It:

1. Saute onions in oil until golden. 
2. Add chicken and garlic, and cook until chicken is no longer pink.
3. In a small bowl, combine sugar, soy sauce, ketchup, and vinegar.  Once chicken is fully cooked, add sauce to pan, toss chicken to coat, and let simmer until the sauce naturally thickens.

Not-So-Bourbon Bourbon Chicken recipe adapted from KeyIngredient.com.

Taco Burgers

I don’t know about you, but Cinco de Mayo to me means Mexican food and margaritas!  And that’s exactly what took over our back porch last night.

First let’s start with the margaritas.  While I would love to share with you, my trusty readers, the recipe for the margaritas we had last night, I shall keep that in my pocket, as one of my best girlfriends back in Minneapolis shared her family recipe with me, and well, I keep family recipes close at heart.  I will say just two things:  1) these things are deadly; and 2) if you find yourself in a situation where Abi offers to make you a margarita, take her up on the offer!

Now for our fiesta – since the weather was so beautiful this weekend – and I have lobster skin to show for that – we put a backyard BBQ twist on Cinco de Mayo this year with some taco burgers. 

Remember the other day when I made baked tacos?  It included making my own taco seasoning, which I duplicated for these burgers.  So easy, so delicious.  Try it.  Anyway – I whipped together the seasoning, dumped it in some chopped meat with a handful of oatmeal (my mom’s trick) to keep the meat moist, and the hubs took to the grill (not without having to make a quick trip to refill our gas tank!). 

Topped off with salsa and guac, these burgers were exactly what I was hoping for as our BBQ take on Cinco de Mayo!

Taco Burgers

 

Taco Burgers

What You Need:

• 1 lb chopped meat (I used ground turkey)
• 2 tsp dried minced onion
• 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1 handful oats

How You Do It:

1. Combine all ingredients and mix to combine.
2. Form into patties.
3. Grill.
4. Top with your favorite taco toppings, sip a margarita, and enjoy!

Baked Tacos

Tonight's recipe is one of those that very well could have used a huge cheat from the pantry: a taco seasoning packet.  However, I highly suggest trying the recipe below, which includes making your own taco seasoning.  Not only do you probably have all the ingredients already in your spice rack, but you can control the amount of salt going in (and in this case, none!).  And... I would dare to say you would never know by the taste that you made your own seasoning.

Now - on to the tacos themselves.  A little ground meat, add in some tomato sauce, refried beans, and that taco seasoning, and you have your filling.  Then - the trick: baking the tacos, stuffed and cheesed.  They were great!  The filling was warm, the cheese, melted - all that was left was to top them off with your condiments of choice. 

The only bit in question with these tacos was the shells themselves.  We don't usually go hard-shell, but this is the best to use.  Upon our first bites, both the hubs and I thought maybe the pre-packaged shelled might have been stale - or - when you bake the shells they get a little chewy/stale.  Have yet to make a final verdict on the shells themselves, but a good taco recipe nonetheless. 

If you make these, report back on the shells, if you would be so kind!

Baked Tacos

Baked Tacos

What You Need:

• 1 lb ground meat (I used ground turkey)
• 2 tsp dried minced onion
• 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 4 oz (1/2 can) tomato sauce
• 8 oz (1/2 can) refried beans
• Shredded cheese (I used this)
• 10 hard taco shells (I used these)

How You Do It:

1. In a small bowl, combine minced onion, chili powder, cornstarch, cumin, and oregano. 
2. In large skillet, brown meat until no longer pink.  Add seasoning mix, tomato sauce, and refried beans.  Mix to combine.
3. Divide mix into 10 taco shells and place in baking dish.
4. Top with cheese.
5. Bake 400* 5-8 minutes or until cheese has melted.

Baked Tacos recipe adapted from BlogChef.

Skillet Chicken Manicotti

Usually manicotti recipes usually call for some ricotta,  but the hubs is anti-ricotta and interestingly enough, this recipe didn't call for any.  A win for him, for sure.  And usually you have to boil the pasta, combine all the filling, stuff the shells, and bake.

Tonight's dinner, however, is another one of those simple meals made in one skillet.  Granted, you need two small bowls do some mixing and get your hands pretty messy, this is as easy as mix-stuff-boil.

Taking some help from store-bought sauce and dressing, combined with cooked chicken and a couple pantry staples and you have a simple meal in 30 minutes... again.

Top it with a little cheese and away you go!

Skillet Chicken Manicotti

Skillet Chicken Manicotti

What You Need:

• 1 1/2 c spaghetti sauce
• 1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1/2 c water
• 2 c diced cooked chicken
• 1/4 c Italian dressing (I used this)
• 1/4 tsp dried basil leaves
• 1 c shredded Italian blend cheese (I used this)
• 8 manicotti shells, uncooked

How You Do It:

1. Combine sauce, tomatoes, and water.
2. In separate bowl, combine 3/4 c sauce mixture, chicken, basil, dressing, and 1/2 c cheese.  Stuff into manicotti shells and place in rimmed skillet.
3. Top with remaining sauce and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer 8 minutes.
4. Turn, recover, and simmer an additional 8 minutes.
   Top with remaining cheese and let stand until melted.

Skillet Chicken Manicotti recipe adapted from Kraft.

Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs

Tonight brings you installment #2 of meatballs for the week.  And, the hubs and I deemed tonight's better than Tuesday's.  And the best part is, they were so easy, it's not even funny. 

Enter: slow cooker!

I literally dumped the meatballs into the slow cooker, topped them with two cans of soup, and set them on their merry little meatball way. 

That's it folks. 

Now, if you like your sauce a little thicker as I do, 30 minutes before you want to eat, crank the slow cooker up to high and whisk in a little corn starch.  Cover and while you boil some noodles to soak up the sauce, the slow cooker, once again, does the work.

Meatball Night #2: Success.

Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs

Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs

What You Need:

• 1 28-oz package frozen meatballs (I used these)
• 2 cans french onion soup (I used this)
• 1 tbsp corn starch

How You Do It:

1. Dump frozen meatballs into slow cooker.
   Top with soup (do not add water).
2. Set slow cooker to low for 4 hours (or high for 2 hours).
3. To thicken the sauce, whisk in corn starch 30 minutes before serving, set the slow cooker to high, and cover.

Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs recipe adapted from Six Sisters' Stuff.

Turkey Meatballs in Spicy Tomato Basil Sauce with Fresh Mozzarella

I have come to really love meatballs.  And this week, I will try not one, but two new meatball recipes.  Tonight's recipe I found just a few days ago on Pinterest and it went right into rotation.  I had to try it - maybe because the photos on the blog where it was originally posted showed the melted cheese or maybe the red sauce or maybe, just maybe, the combination of all three.  Either way, I took to it tonight.

Let me start with the meatballs themselves.  I almost always use ground turkey when making my own meatballs.  Just healthier.  The uniqueness of these turkey meatballs comes in the seasonings - there is a distinct cumin flavor that really shines, and surprisingly makes the dish.  Don't skip the cumin.

Then there's the sauce.  Simple, five-ingredient sauce:  garlic (of course), red pepper flakes, a touch of oil, tomato sauce, and a little sugar to cut the acid.  Top it off with fresh mozzarella and fresh basil, and you've got yourself an awesome meatball dish, super easy to make in under 30 minutes, to satisfy your Italian/meatball fix.

Turkey Meatballs in Spicy Tomato Basil Sauce with Fresh Mozzarella

Turkey Meatballs in Spicy Tomato
Basil Sauce with Fresh Mozzarella

What You Need for the Meatballs:

• 1 package ground turkey
• 2 eggs (I used the equivalent of two egg whites)
• 1/4 c seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tbsp fresh basil, minced
• 1 tsp cumin (the secret ingredient!)
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

What You Need for the Sauce:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 8-oz cans tomato sauce (I used no-salt added)
• 1 healthy pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp sugar (I used one packet of Splenda)
• Salt, to taste
• 6 oz fresh Bocconcini
• 2 tbsp fresh basil, chiffonade

How You Do It:

1. Combine all ingredients for meatballs.  Using a 1-inch scooper, form meatballs and place on rimmed baking tray.  Bake 15 minutes at 400*.
2. While the meatballs are baking, add oil to a large saute pan.  Saute garlic and red pepper flakes until fragrant, but without browning the garlic.  Add tomato sauce, sugar, and salt.  Turn heat to medium-low and simmer until meatballs are cooked.
3. Once meatballs are fully-cooked, add to sauce pan and turn to coat.  Scatter bocconcini throughout and cover until cheese is slightly melted.
4. Top with fresh basil.

Turkey Meatballs in Spicy Tomato Basil Sauce with Fresh Mozzarella recipe adapted from Alaska from Scratch.

Southwest Tortilla Bake

"Don't mind that this looks like mush," I said as we sat down to the table for dinner tonight.  Yep, tonight's meal didn't make the best of presentation, and frankly, I should have snapped a photo before I cut into this puppy, but alas, I did the best I could.

Ok, I digress.  Yes, tonight's dinner looks like a mess on the plate, but the flavor was awesome.  I love Mexican food, as I believe I have mentioned previously.  And while I don't make it all that often, when I do, I do.  This recipe was so easy to make - really, it only has six ingredients, most of which you can purchase from the store and use as-is.  Food Network's Sandra Lee has coined this a "semi-homemade" dish.  And you know what, they are good and sometimes better than making something 100% from scratch.

This one is ooey and gooey and cheesey and delicious.  A deep pie pan is totally recommended - I used my not-so-new-but-first-time-being-used Pampered Chef deep dish pie pan I got for my - gulp - wedding shower.  It was perfect.  And don't be alarmed about how full the pin pan is - mine was to the rim and didn't make a mess of the oven.

My only suggestion - which I will do on the next go-around of this recipe - is to really let this sit for a solid 5-7 minutes before you attempt to cut and serve.  I think this would have helped it stay togheter and not look like mush on the plate.

Yet again, another Mexican fiesta on a plate!

Southwest Tortilla Bake

Southwest Tortilla Bake

What You Need:

• 1 can Progresso Recipe Starters Creamy Roasted Garlic with Chicken Stock cooking sauce
• 1/2 c salsa
• 2 c cooked and shredded chicken
• 1 can Mexicorn, drained
• 3-4 tortillas
• 2 c shredded taco cheese

How You Do It:

1. Combine cooking sauce and salsa in bowl.
2. Combine corn and chicken in separate bowl.
3. Spread 1 cup sauce on bottom of pie pan.  Top with 1 tortilla, 1 cup sauce, 1/3 chicken mixture, and 1/3 cheese.  
4. Repeat tortilla-sauce-chicken-cheese layers until the pie pan is full, ending with cheese.
5. Bake 350* for 30 minutes until the center is warm and the cheese is lightly browned.
6. Let sit for 5-7 minutes to set before serving.

Southwest Tortilla Bake recipe adapted from Pillsbury.com.

Creamy Chicken Ramen with Spinach and Mushrooms

Tonight's dinner brought me back to the days of Freshman Year in Territorial Hall when the best - and only - heat source for cooking in your room was the microwave sitting atop your mini-fridge.  And there really were only a couple things one would make, or frankly could afford:  Easy Mac and Ramen Noodles.   So when I saw this recipe for a different take on Ramen noodles, I was totally interested.  I mean really - when is the last time you had Ramen noodles?

But this was more than just your freshman-dorm-room ramen.  This is what I'll call "adult ramen" - loaded with veggies and chicken, combined in a creamy sauce.  The flavors are far more than the salty packet of seasoning packaged with the noodles.  It's creamy and light and really complements the veggies and noodles well.

While it's been quite some time since the days of dorm-room-ramen and the "Adventures of Liz and Molly" (who would have thought a two-story Target would have a cart escalator?!), this ramen dish was a nice remake of a college staple.

Creamy Chicken Ramen with Spinach and Mushrooms

Creamy Chicken Ramen
with Spinach and Mushrooms

What You Need:

• 3/4 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, sliced thin
• 1 package sliced mushrooms
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1 c water
• 4 oz light cream cheese (1/2 package)
• 1 3-oz package chicken-flavored Ramen noodles
• 2 handfuls fresh spinach
• 1/4 bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 5 grinds fresh black pepper

How You Do It:

1. In a large skillet, cook chicken until lightly browned and cooked through.  Remove from pan and set aside.
2. Add mushrooms, onion, and bell pepper and cook until onions are translucent.
3. Add water, seasoning packet, and cream cheese.  Bring to a boil, stirring until the cheese has melted and the texture is smooth.
4. While the sauce cooks, boil water, break noodles in half, and cook until done.  Drain.
5. Add cooked noodles, chicken, and spinach to sauce.  Add pepper and stir to combine.

Creamy Chicken Ramen with Spinach and Mushrooms recipe adapted from Costco Connection.

Corey's Honey Garlic Meatballs

Well, it's been a while friends!  After a quick jaunt to Florida for a business conference (including soaking up the sun and hanging in the pool with my childhood BFF and her parents) and a week-long vacation back to Wisconsin to visit my family for Passover and a couple days away with the hubs in Baltimore, we're back at home, which means I'm back in the kitchen!

Not only are we back, but top on the cooking docket is my husband's favorite meal:  Honey Garlic Meatballs.  I'm not sure if it's the honey or the garlic or the meatball he likes best... but he sure does love these.  It's one of the few meals I make every-so-often. 

The sauce is sweet and tangy, combining garlic, honey, ketchup, and soy sauce.  Combine that with a basic meatball recipe (I suppose you could use store-bought, but to me, that's just cheating), and you have the perfect combo. 

Trust the hubs... they might become your favorite too!

Corey's Honey Garlic Meatballs

Corey's Honey Garlic Meatballs

What You Need:

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1/2 c seasoned breadcrumbs
• 6 tbps milk
• 1 1/2 tbsp minced dried onion
• 1 egg (I used egg whites)
• 1 tbsp butter
• 3 cloves garlic, pressed
• 3/4 c ketchup
• 1/2 c honey
• 1/4 c soy sauce

How You Do It:

1. Combine turkey, breadcrumbs, milk, onion, and egg.  Shape into 1-inch meatballs.  Place in a single layer on a jelly roll pan and bake  at 425* for 12-15 minutes.
2. While the meatballs cook, melt butter in a deep pan.  Add minced garlic and saute until tender.
3. Add ketchup, honey, and soy sauce.  Bring to a boil, then simmer until meatballs are cooked through.
4. Add meatballs to sauce and gently stir to combine.

Recipe adapted from my mom.