Easy Family Meals

Cooking at Home? Try a new Recipe

I am so excited about what is in store for 2010! I’m creating new and delicious budget, kid-friendly recipes for moms to try, so no there’s no more searching the web for hours or buying new cookbooks on meals solutions for their family.

Today there’s a good chance you’ll find more and more moms cooking more often at home for their families. You may also find yourself preparing the same old meals day after day.

It’s time for change! Try some new recipes and get cooking again!

Selecting new recipes can be fun. Consider giving yourself the chance to try one new recipe a week. The best time to try a new recipe is on the weekend, after the weekday rush subsides. So you may be asking, “Where do I find great new recipes that are quick and easy?” Well, it’s not about finding the perfect recipe, or creating the perfect meal, but about having fun trying something new, and continually expanding your culinary horizons.

Great recipes truly are everywhere you look. For example, have you asked your friends lately about their favorite recipes? Consider recipes that use an ingredient that is new to you or even one that usually doesn’t make it into your shopping cart. One new ingredient can be the pick-me-up that your meal times are looking for! I am constantly on the look out for different recipes to incorporate into my meal planning. You don’t have to do it all at once. Introduce little ideas or ingredients slowly until you are satisfied with your results. A recipe is always a work in progress.

Remember, practice makes perfect! This is true even in the kitchen. So, practice, practice, practice, and enjoy every meal you make! I hope I have inspired you to get into the kitchen and try a new dish!

Check out my website for new featured recipes. Here’s a recipe that is a twist to your regular tacos, it’s filled with fresh veggies and topped with a tangy dressing.

Zesty Taco Salad

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup Taco seasoning
• 1 medium size head lettuce, shredded
• 1 15 ounce can dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 15 ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 medium size green bell pepper, chopped
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 10 ounce container of sweet grape tomatoes
• 2 cups shredded blend of mild Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 bag of Doritos Nacho Cheese Chips (or regular tortilla chips)
• 1 16-24 ounce bottle of Catalina dressing
• 1 avocado
• Sour Cream

Directions:

In a large skillet, brown ground beef, drain excess fat, return to pan. Add water and taco seasoning. Reduce heat to simmer until water is completely absorbed.

 In a large bowl, add the shredded lettuce, kidney beans and garbonzo beans.

Add green onion, bell pepper and grape tomatoes.

Add shredded cheese and ground beef mixture. Top with chips crumbled lightly.

Add dressing and toss until all ingredients are coated evenly with dressing. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and avocado.

Note: A great addition to this salad would be broccoli (which I omitted this time) and fresh corn.

There are several ways to create a quick and tasty homemade meal for your family in minutes. Keep visiting often…..Noel’s Kitchen Tips has a lot to choose from!

Quick Family Meal Ideas

Usually with Turkey leftovers, I make soup, chili, crepes, enchiladas, and sandwiches. This time I wanted to make a more kid-friendly, quick meal for a busy weeknight. I chose two vegetables my kids enjoy and a pasta noodle. I chose Bow Tie because it’s a fun looking noodle.  I like to use the Wacky Mac noodles too but I wanted one that would match the size of the dish I was making. It’s a great dish and your older kids can whip this up in no time.

Creamy Turkey and Broccoli

Ingredients:

12 ounces Bow Tie pasta

3 Tablespoons olive oil

1 pound, turkey, cut into strips

3 cups broccoli florets

2 red bell peppers, cut into thin strips

1 cup turkey broth

1 container (5.2 to 6.5 ounces) garlic and herb soft spreadable cheese

Parmesan cheese

Fresh cracked pepper

Directions:

Cook and drain the pasta according to package instructions. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat.

Add turkey meat. Cook and stir 3-5 minutes or until turkey is heated through.

Remove turkey and add broccoli, red peppers and turkey broth.

(I love the two of these vegetables together. They are so vibrant in color.)  Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 5-7 minutes or until broccoli is tender.

Return turkey to skilley and cook 1 minute longer. Remove from heat. Add cheese then pasta, combinely gently until cheese is melted and smooth.

Spoon into serving dish or bowl and top with Parmesan cheese and freshly cracked pepper.

This meal can be made in 25 minutes and perfect for a busy mom on weeknights. Leftovers can be used for lunch the next day served cold on a bed of lettuce, add tomato and avacado. Enjoy!

Traditional Family Favorite Dishes

Gnocchi was one of my favorite traditional family meals growing up and an amazing dish that I remember fondly as a child. It is a very simple dish to make with practice. Gnocchi are potato dumplings that are cooked like pasta.  Gnocchi should be very light and delicate. If they are heavy, you’ve used too much flour. In this recipe, you’ll want to slowly add the flour a little at a time. This recipe calls for three simple ingredients: potato, egg and flour. It’s a very budget-friendly meal to make for your family. Serve it with your favorite sauce. Today, I made a Roasted Pepper and Spinach Sauce. This is the first time I created this sauce and it came out rich and creamy.

Gnocchi with Roasted Pepper and Spinach Sauce

Gnocchi Ingredients:

8 Russett potatoes, peeled and quartered

1 egg

1 cup flour

Directions:

Fill a large pot with cold water. Season with 1 teaspoon salt. Add potatoes.

 Bring the water to a boil and cook the potatoes until tender throughout, approximately 45 minutes or easily pierced with a fork. Remove potatoes with a slotted spoon. Do not get rid of the water, you will use it later when cooking the Gnocchi. Let potatoes cool.

 Once cooled, spoon the potatoes into a potato press. I happen to have a great potato press kitchen tool that not only lets me press potatoes, it also is a cookie press. Very easy to use.  (You can visit my link to the Kitchen Store on my homepage for this perfect kitchen tool.)  Press potatoes into a large mixing bowl. Using a spatula or simply your fingers, press the potatoes lightly together.

Whisk the egg and add to potatoes. Add flour a little at a time. Using a spatula, incorporate the ingredients together making sure you scrap the bottom and sides of bowl have flour thouroughly incorporated and a light dough consistency. The dough should be moist, but not sticky.

Taking a little at a time, roll out into a log shape. Cut with a serated knife at an angle.

 Place on a cookie sheet. You can shape the Gnocchi with a fork, your thumb or simply leave them as they are. Cover with plastic wrap if you are not using right away.

Reheat the water from boiling the potatoes and bring to a boil. Drop Gnocchi in boiling water in batches.

I usually cook 20 at a time. They are done when they float to the top.

 I usually give them one quick light stir and remove them with a slotted spoon onto a serving dish or bowl, making sure all the water is drained off. Soggy Gnocchi doesn’t taste very good. Continue to cook the Gnocchi until all are cooked. 

Add  your favorite sauce or I chose a new creation; Roasted Pepper and Spinach sauce (see recipe below)  to individual dishes or bowls of Gnocchi. It should be a light dressing of sauce, you want to be able to taste the Gnocchi and not just the sauce. Grate some fresh Parmesan cheese over the top and serve.

Roasted Pepper and Spinach Sauce

I found this great jar of Zergut Peppertizer, Roasted pepper appetizer sauce I really had no use for other than serving over cream cheese. It can be used as an appetizer dip or side dish. It’s made primarily with peppers, eggplant, onion, and hot peppers.

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon butter

1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1 cup Zercut Peppertizer sauce

1 cup tomato sauce

1 cup chopped frozen spinach, drained

1 garlic clove, pressed

1 1/2 cups half n half (I improvised as I ran out of heavy cream)

1 cup milk

Pinch of parsley

Pinch of Oregano

Salt and pepper

Directions:

In a large pot add butter and olive oil.

Add onion. Saute 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce and Zercut Peppertizer sauce. Mix together until incorporated. Simmer on Low-Medium heat so your sauce is not popping out everywhere.

 Add spinach and garlic. Give it a quick stir and cook for 15-20 minutes. Add half n half or heavy cream and milk. Stir in spices. Taste before you add the salt and pepper and adjust measurement to your tasting.

It’s always a good idea to taste as you go. Cook for another 10 minutes or until sauce thickens. Spoon over Gnocchi.

I’ve made gnocchi many times and I love the different variations. Some make with Ricotta cheese and Parmesan with a lighter tomato sauce or even  a pesto sauce or a brown butter sauce are fabulous. Enjoy your traditional family favorites.

Eating Out Is Expensive…Eating With Family Is Priceless…

Quick and Easy Budget Friendly Appetizers

Something that always eases our minds when entertaining is simple, affordable appetizers and dishes that save us money and time.  One of the favorites that I teach people to make is an Artichoke Dip made in a bread bowl. How simple is that? It’s baked and served in the bread bowl with a rich, creamy and flavorful taste in every bite. Your guests will truly enjoy this appetizer at your next party.

Artichoke Dip

Ingredients:

2 (16 ounce)sourdough bread rounds, divided (about 6-in. diameter)

vegetable oil

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup milk

1 (14 ounce) can water-packed artichoke hearts, drained

1 (1 1/2 ounce) envelope Knorr’s vegetable soup mix

1 garlic clove, pressed

1 lemon

1 (8 ounce) container sour cream

parmesan cheese, Grated fresh (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450°F. Using a serated Bread Knife, slice off top of one bread round to create a lid; set lid aside. Carefully remove center of bread round to form a 4½-inch-wide and 2-inch-deep well for dip.

Slice center of first and entire second bread round into 1-in. cubes. Place bread bowl on center of Large Baking Dish. Arrange bread cubes around bowl; spray with vegetable oil using a Kitchen Spritzer.

In mixing bowl, whisk cream cheese until smooth using Stainless Whisk. Add milk to cream cheese; whisk until smooth.

Chop artichokes. Add artichokes, soup mix and garlic pressed to mixing bowl; mix well, scraping the sides of bowl.

Microwave on HIGH 5-7 minutes or until hot (do not boil). Juice lemon using Juicer to measure 2 tbsp juice. Stir juice and sour cream into hot artichoke mixture; pour into bread bowl.

If desired, grate Parmesan cheese over bread bowl and bread cubes using Rotary Grater. Lean lid against bread bowl. Bake 13-15 minutes or until bread cubes and top of dip are golden brown. Remove from oven; serve immediately.

*This would also make a lovely Spinach Dip, just substtute the artichokes with spinach and add water chesnuts. Or try something new, add the spinach and leave the artichokes in. Want to kick it up a bit? Add some chopped jalapeno peppers.

Are you looking for a fresh new recipe to take to the many holiday functions you have scheduled? 

For a couple of years now, at this time of year, I’ve been offering an Entertaining Ideas Kitchen Show. These shows have always been very popular and have been a great way for me to ‘beef up’ my fall calendar. At all my shows from August on, I say, “How many of you entertain over the holidays? (Almost everyone raises their hand.) Now how many of you entertain the same people year after year? If you’re ready for some fresh, quick and easy entertaining ideas, let’s do an Entertaining Ideas Kitchen Show!”

One of the Christmas gifts I received this year from the kids was a Tartine cookbook. This is a lovely neighborhood bakery and cafe located in San Francisco, California. This cookbook provides recipes for irresitable croissants, which remind me of working for Cafe De Croissants in my early days in the food industry. The aromas of fresh made croissants and specialty coffee was a pleasurable experience for me starting my career in the food industry. The cookbook also includes fruit tarts, and tender cakes all with easy-to-follow recipes anyone can bake in their own kitchen.

The authors are right about the hardest part of the cookbook on deciding which recipe to try first. They all look amazing. After browsing through the cookbook a few times, I decided on trying the Lemon Bars On Brown Butter Shortbread.  They taste delicious and just melt in your mouth.

I have very few pastry cookbooks and I’m glad to add this one to my library.  This is a very simple and quick recipe to entertain your guests in the fall and winter. Enjoy!

Lemon Bars On Brown Butter Shortbread

Ingredients:

Crust:

1/2 cup Confectioners’ Sugar

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup Pine nuts (optional)

Filling:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2/14 cups sugar

1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Lemon zest, grated from 1 small lemon

6 Large whole eggs

1 Large egg yolk

Pinch of salt

Confectioners’ sugar for topping (optional)

Kitchen Notes: Whisking eggs with salt helps denature (relax) the protein in the eggs and breaks them up more quickly and thouroughly. You can also do this for egg wash, adding a small pinch of salt for each egg you use.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter a 9×13 inch baking pan or I simply used baking spray. To make the crust, sift the confectioners’ sugar into a mixing bowl. Add flour and stir to mix. Add the butter and pine nuts and beaty on low speed until a smooth dough forms.

Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and press evenly into the bottom using the flat bottom of any type of cup or glass. Bake the crust until it colors evenly to a deep golden brown, approximately 25-35 minutes. You can rotate the pan 180 degrees if the crust appears to be baking unevenly.

As the crust is baking, prepare the filling. Sift flour into a mixing bowl. Add the sugar and whisk until blended. Add the lemon juice and zest and stir to dissolve the sugar. In a separate mixing bowl, whish the eggs and egg yolk with the salt. Add the eggs to the lemon mixture and whisk until well mixed.

When the crust is ready, pull out the oven rack holding the crust and pour the filling directly into the hot pan. (It is easiest to pour the custard into the pan if the pan is in the oven.) Reduce the temperature to 300 degrees and bake until the center of the custard is no longer wobbly, 30 to 40 minutes.

Let cool completely on wire rack, then cover and chill well before cutting. Using a sharp knife or mini-serving spatula, cut into squares. Dust with cofectioners’ sugar. They will keep in an airtight container or well covered in the baking dish in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.