Runs for Cookies Recipes: dinner

Showing posts with label dinner. Show all posts

January 21, 2017

Ground Turkey and Cabbage with Spicy Peanut Sauce

This recipe has been migrated to my everyday blog, Runs for Cookies. Here is a direct link to the recipe: Ground Turkey and Cabbage with Spicy Peanut Sauce.

I've been kind of obsessed with bagged coleslaw mix lately (it's just shredded cabbage and carrots). It started when I tried making "Egg roll in a bowl". That turned out really good, but had way too much soy sauce, so it was very salty; but, I liked the texture, and cabbage is my favorite vegetable. So, I started playing with it and adding it to other things as well. Surprisingly, my whole family loves it, too!

Yesterday, I made the filling for P.F. Chang's lettuce wraps and then instead of eating it in lettuce wraps, I added a whole bag of the coleslaw mix and we ate it out of bowls. Everyone kept exclaiming how good it was, even my kids!

June 3, 2016

Ham & Swiss Bubble Up Casserole

I've been kind of obsessed with the "bubble up" casserole variations that are floating around food blogs. Basically, the only constant ingredient is biscuit dough--all the other ingredients are varied to make all sorts of different casseroles. Anyway, I had a bag of shredded swiss cheese in my fridge that I needed to use up before it went bad, and so I decided to make my own variation of a bubble up casserole... Ham & Swiss! It turned out to be absolutely delicious (probably my favorite bubble up I've made so far).

Ham & Swiss Bubble Up Casserole

2 small (8 oz) cans of buttermilk biscuits (the kind that are 3 biscuits per serving)
8 oz. diced ham
4 Tbsp. butter
4 Tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
2 cups milk (I used whole fat milk)
6 oz. shredded swiss cheese
2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese

Cut each biscuit in half, and then in half again (so you get four pieces from each biscuit) and put them in a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Toss the ham into the dish as well. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and add the butter. When the butter is melted, add the flour and stir until smooth. Add the Italian seasoning, and very gradually stir in the milk. Stir constantly while you add the milk, so that it stays smooth and you keep the roux from being clumpy. Once all the milk has been added, heat until it just comes to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the cheeses. Stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.

Pour the cheese sauce into the casserole dish, and stir to combine the biscuits, ham, and cheese sauce. (It will look like there is way too much sauce, but the biscuits will "bubble up" while baking.) Bake uncovered for about 20-30 minutes (take it out when the biscuits just start to brown on the edges of the dish).

Serves 6. Nutrition info is using whole milk and full fat cheese.

November 21, 2015

Spicy Peanut Noodle Bowls

When I went to Portland last March, Thomas took me to a place that served these amazing noodle bowls. I don't remember any specifics of them (I was way too excited to be in Portland that I don't even remember much! haha) except that they were spicy and had a creamy peanut sauce. I liked the texture of the pasta, too, because it was very al dente. Anyway, I have been thinking of them ever since! I perused Pinterest trying to find a recipe that sounded like it may be similar. I found this one, and then modified a few things to my liking. It was DELICIOUS! Sweet, sour, creamy, crunchy... I will be making this often. I wish the serving size was bigger, but then again, I could eat a pound of pasta all by my lonesome ;)

Spicy Peanut Noodle Bowls

8 oz. dry brown rice spaghetti (I used this instead of wheat pasta because the firmer texture is perfect)
2 Tbsp. canola oil
3/4 tsp. sesame oil
2-1/2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. rice vinegar
1/2 to 1 tsp. of sriracha (I used about 3/4 of a teaspoon)
2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter (I love Smucker's Natural Creamy)
1 Tbsp. honey
1 clove garlic, minced
2 green onions, sliced very thin
dash (about 1/8 tsp) red pepper flakes
1 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1/4 of a green pepper, sliced very thin
6 baby carrots (or 1/2 medium carrot), julienned
1/4 cup peanuts, roughly chopped

Cook the brown rice pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, combine oils, soy sauce, vinegar, sriracha, peanut butter, honey, garlic, green onions, red pepper flakes, and sesame seeds in a bowl, and stir until uniform. When the pasta is done cooking, drain it and return it to the pot. Add the sauce, green peppers, carrots, and peanuts, and stir to combine. Portion into four bowls (a scant cup each).

Cheesy Chicken & Rice

This is another recipe I came across on Pinterest. It was called "slow cooker" recipe, but considering you have to cook the rice on the stove, I don't really consider it a slower cooker meal. Regardless, it was REALLY good--and my kids loved it, too!

Cheesy Chicken & Rice

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
8 oz. box of yellow rice mix (I used Goya brand)
1 can of yellow corn
4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

Cook the chicken breasts however you'd like (I put them in the crock pot with the cream of chicken soup, and let them cook on high for three hours). Cook the rice mix according to package directions. Shred the chicken when it's done cooking, and then combine the cooked rice mix, chicken, cream of chicken soup, corn, and cheese. Makes 6 servings (approximately 1 cup each).

May 4, 2013

Red Pepper & Feta Pasta

I love the combination of roasted red peppers and feta cheese. I had a couple of jars of red peppers in my pantry, and some feta in my fridge, so I turned them into a simple, yummy sauce for pasta. Jerry and I both loved this dish! The red pepper flakes make it a little spicy, and it goes really well with the sweet roasted peppers. This is written for two main dish servings, but you could easily double it.

Red Pepper & Feta Pasta

6 oz. dry pasta
2 tsp. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped fine
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 (12 oz) jar of roasted red peppers
1/4 cup fat-free half & half
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 oz. fat free feta cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, heat oil in a small pot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic, and cook until softened, a few minutes. Drain the roasted pepper and add them to the pot, along with the half and half. Use an immersion blender to puree (or put everything in a food processor or blender, puree, and then put back in the pot). Add salt and pepper to taste, and the crushed red pepper flakes. Let the pepper mixture simmer for a minute, and then stir in the feta cheese and cooked pasta, and toss to coat. Makes 2 servings (approximately 1-1/4 cups per serving, depending on the shape of pasta used).

November 23, 2012

Chicken 'n' Noodles

I was really in the mood for some creamy comfort food, and since I already had cooked and shredded chicken in the fridge, I just threw this meal together last-minute. Jerry and I both loved it! If the chicken is already cooked, the whole meal comes together very quickly.

I'm sorry, but this recipe has been migrated to my everyday blog, Runs for Cookies. This link is a direct link to that recipe. Thanks! --Katie

November 19, 2012

Crock Pot Italian Chicken Penne

This creamy comfort food pasta dish is perfect for a cold day!

I'm sorry, but this recipe has been migrated to my everyday blog, Runs for Cookies. This is a direct link to the recipe. Thanks for stopping by! --Katie

September 16, 2011

Indian Lentil Soup

Dede, a reader of Runs for Cookies, e-mailed this recipe to me when she learned I like lentils. She said she got it from the newspaper years ago and made a couple of changes. And then, because I can never leave a recipe alone, I made a change or two myself. ;) I've been eating it every day for lunch, because it is delicious! Here is the recipe, with my changes:

Indian Lentil Soup

1 onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup of red lentils
4 cups of broth (I used chicken broth)
1 (15 oz) can of crushed tomatoes
1 medium potato (about 6 oz), peeled and diced
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
1/2 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. turmeric
dash (1/8 tsp) of cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste

Heat a soup pot over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Cook the onion for a few minutes, and then add the garlic and cook for a minute. Add the broth, lentils, tomatoes, and spices, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially-cover it with a lid, and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the carrots and potato, and simmer, covered, until veggies are just tender, about 20 minutes. Makes 4 servings, about 1-2/3 cups each.

August 19, 2011

Gobby's Noodle Cream Cheese Casserole

Gobby is an affectionate name given to my maternal grandmother, who passed away in 1999. After she died, my aunt made a cookbook out of Gobby's recipes and passed the books out to the women in the family. I love the book--some of the recipes are more modern, and some are very old. This recipe is my favorite! The cream cheese and sour cream mixed together is a great combo.

I'm sorry, this recipe has migrated over to my regular blog, Runs for Cookies. Here is a link for the recipe page.

Chick Pea Curry

This is a recipe I found on Sparkpeople. I only made a couple of changes to it. The original recipe can be found on Sparkpeople here.

Chick Pea Curry
1 can chick peas, drained and rinsed
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. cumin
5 cloves of garlic, minced
5 tsp. of curry powder
1 can of diced tomatoes
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. oregano
salt & pepper to taste
2/3 cup of water

In a pan sprayed with cooking spray, cook onion until soft. Add garlic, ginger, and curry powder, and stir for a minute. Add water, tomatoes, chick peas, cumin, cinnamon, oregano, salt and pepper. Cover pan and simmer 5-10 minutes. If you want it thicker, then remove the lid while simmering. Serve over rice or quinoa.

August 18, 2011

Chili Dog Pizza

Holy smokes, was this ever good! I don't know why I never thought to do this sooner.

Chili Dog Pizza

1 pizza crust (homemade, store bought, pre-cooked, whatever!)
1 can hot dog chili (found with the canned chili, it's usually in a smaller can--14 oz?)
4-6 hot dogs (I used 8 skinny fat free dogs, but it seemed like a little too much, so I'd go with 5 maybe)
cheddar cheese
onions, chopped fine
mustard

I'm not being specific with the amounts of everything used, or the nutrition content (because it completely depends on the products you use). Just pre-bake your crust a little, top with the chili sauce, cheese, and hot dogs. Bake until the cheese is melted and dogs are starting to brown. Then top with raw onions and mustard. Beware--it's very messy! ;)

Kielbasa & Corn Hash

I found this unusual recipe on allrecipes.com and gave it a try. It's fantastic!! This is a great way to use up veggies.

Kielbasa & Corn Hash

20 oz. potatoes, peeled and diced
14 oz. package smoked turkey sausage (about 90 calories/serving)
1 cup of pepper and onion stir-fry blend (frozen)
1 can corn, drained
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
salt & pepper, to taste
4 eggs, cooked over-easy, to top the hash with

In a large skillet sprayed with cooking spray, cook potatoes and kielbasa until potatoes are nearly tender, about 10 minutes (add a little water if they start to stick). Add the frozen pepper mix and corn. Season with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is hot and potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes more. Portion out hash and top with an egg.

Chili

This is an ordinary, plain ol', simple chili recipe. Sometimes you just need to go back to the basics, right? I always use ground turkey, because my family likes it better than beef, but you could use either one.

Chili

2 tsp. olive oil
1 lb. lean ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce (or just use more crushed or diced tomatoes)
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1 can red beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (or more, depending on how spicy you like it)

In a medium pot, heat oil and brown ground turkey with onions and garlic. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, and cumin. Simmer for about 1 hour, adding beans after 30 minutes.

Meatball Stroganoff

This is super fast and easy to make if you use frozen meatballs. I like to buy the Aldi Fit & Active turkey meatballs.

4 servings of Fit & Active turkey meatballs (24 meatballs total)
1 onion, chopped
1 can mushrooms, drained
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 cup fat-free sour cream
4 servings (8 oz.) Smart Taste pasta (egg noodles)

Cook pasta according to package directions. Put the meatballs in the microwave for a couple of minutes to thaw. Spray a large skillet with cooking spray, and cook the onion until soft. Add the garlic, mushrooms, and broth and bring to a boil. Add the meatballs, and simmer for a few minutes. Combine the cornstarch with a splash of cold water, and add it to the pot. Bring just to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Add the sour cream and warm through. Serve over pasta. Makes 4 servings.

Chicken Stew

I like this when I'm looking for some comfort food. It's hot and creamy and filling.

Chicken Stew

2 tsp. olive oil
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 medium carrots, chopped or sliced
16 oz. potatoes, peeled and diced
1 onion, chopped
1 cup frozen green peas
1 1/2 cups frozen green beans
1 cup frozen corn
2 cups chicken broth
1 Tbsp. cornstarch

Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté the onion and carrots. Add the chicken and cook until chicken is browned. Add the potatoes and broth, and simmer until the potatoes are soft (I cover the pan for this part). Add the peas, corn, and green beans, and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Combine the cornstarch with a couple of tablespoons of water, and add it to the pot. Stir until thickened.

Pork Chops & Rice

Ever since Jerry and I started dating in 1999, this has been his favorite meal. I make it a little different than his mom makes it, but it's still his favorite. I actually have a funny story to go along with this recipe: One time, we were going to eat dinner at my mom's house, and I told him I was going to make Pork Chops & Rice over there, which he was excited about. He was at work, and my mom volunteered to make the dinner instead. We agreed to let Jerry think that I made it. When Jerry tasted it, it said, "Wow, this is really good--even better than when you usually make it!!" My mom and I laughed and told him that it was actually her that made it. Now, I always joke with Jerry, "Are you sure you don't want my MOM to cook this for you?" ;)

Pork Chops & Rice

12 oz. raw boneless pork chops, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup rice (I've used white and brown--white cooks much faster, but either will do)
2 cups water
1 can 98% fat free cream of celery soup
1 can 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup
1 envelope onion soup mix

Combine all ingredients in a baking dish and cover. Bake at 350 degrees until the rice is done, stirring about every 30 minutes to check. When I use white rice, it takes about 1 hour. Brown rice takes about 1 hr and 20 minutes.

Noah's Spaghetti Pie

I call this Noah's Spaghetti Pie because when my eldest son, Noah, started kindergarten, we let him choose what to have for dinner on his first day of school--and he chose Spaghetti Pie. Now, whenever I make this, I think of him!

Noah's Spaghetti Pie

6 oz. Smart Taste pasta
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. fennel
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 cup mozzarella
8 oz. lean ground turkey (or ground beef)
1 cup part-skim ricotta
15 oz. can of tomato sauce
1 onion, chopped

Cook the spaghetti according to package directions (I like to break it in half first). Combine the egg and parmesan in a small bowl and stir well. Add the egg mixture to the cooked spaghetti and stir well to coat the pasta. Spray a pie plate with cooking spray, and form a "pie crust" with the spaghetti mixture. Cook the ground turkey, onion, garlic, and green pepper until the turkey is browned. Add the tomato sauce, oregano, and fennel. Spread the ricotta on spaghetti "crust", and top with the meat sauce. Top the whole thing with mozzarella. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Italian Sausage & Tortellini Soup

My aunt gave me this recipe, and it called for Italian sausage. I made it more figure friendly by making my own Italian sausage with lean ground turkey. Now, you can find the turkey Italian sausage at the grocery store and use it instead, but I like to make my own.

For the SAUSAGE:
1 lb. lean ground turkey
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 Tbsp. fennel seed, ground
3/4 Tbsp. sweet paprika
2 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

For the SOUP:
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can white beans
1 can tomatoes
4 cups beef broth
1 tsp. dried basil
2 cups tortellini
parmesan cheese (optional, for topping)

Combine all ingredients for Italian sausage. Brown sausage with onion and garlic in a soup pot. Add the tomatoes, broth, and basil and bring to a boil. Add the beans and tortellini, and cook until tortellini is cooked through.

August 17, 2011

Split Pea Soup

Despite how gross it looks, I LOVE split pea soup. My husband does too, and this recipe is our favorite.

Split Pea & Ham Soup

1 (1 lb) bag of dried split peas
1/2 cup pearl barley
3 carrots, chopped
1 onion, chopped
10 oz. of potatoes, peeled and diced
1 (8 oz) package of diced ham
8 cups chicken broth
1 bay leaf

Place all ingredients in the slow cooker, cover, and cook on high for about 4 hours (or low for 6-8 hours) until thick. Makes 8 servings, approximately 1-1/2 cups each.

Pasta e Fagioli

This soup is amazing! It takes on the flavor of the smoked sausage, and it's very hearty. My husband is crazy for this soup.

Pasta e Fagioli

1 onion, finely chopped
2 carrots, finely chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 package Healthy Ones smoked sausage, chopped into small pieces (there are a lot of smoked turkey sausages available now, so any brand will do--the package will have roughly 90 calories per serving, 7 servings per package).
4 cups beef broth
1 can crushed tomatoes
4 oz. uncooked pasta (ditalini is our favorite)
1 can red beans, drained and rinsed

In a soup pot over medium-high heat, cook onion, carrots, and garlic with cooking spray until vegetables are soft. Add the sausage and cook until it starts to get a little golden brown crust. Add the broth and tomatoes, and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and beans, and simmer until the pasta is tender, about 12-15 minutes. Serve with grated parmesan cheese. Makes 4 (generous) servings.

If you rinse the beans well, the sodium won't be as high as it shows.