Jamie’s Recipes

The holidays tend to be a time overflowing with traditions. May that be a specific meal or dessert your family serves or a specific place your family always gathers. For my husband’s family homemade noodles with chicken over boiled potatoes on Christmas Eve at his mom and dad’s is a tradition we all look forward to. My mother-in-law makes the most delicious homemade noodles with chicken. While sitting at the table on Christmas Eve, I realized I had never attempted this dish before. After my husband made a comment about how it was too bad that we only eat this meal once a year, I knew I had to try to make it at home.

The temperature here in Omaha has been several degrees below zero for what seems like the past month, with last week finally giving us a must needed reprieve with temperatures near the freezing mark. With all this cold weather I figured no time like the present to try to make this dish. After shoveling snow (and giving myself a fat lip with the shovel handle) I knew that homemade noodles with chicken would be the perfect meal to warm me up.

I am warning you that this isn’t an impulse dish. After the noodles are rolled and cut, they need to dry for two hours, so plan accordingly. I have made homemade egg noodles in the past, using my Great Grandma Dorothy’s recipe. When making the noodles this time I had forgot all about her recipe and used one from an old cookbook (which I will post about later since after googling it I learned it is worth more than the $4 I paid for it at the antique store).

My mother-in-law makes her homemade noodles with chicken using chicken broth to add moisture. I used boneless/skinless chicken breasts, which I thought were slightly dry. I thought the noodles and chicken needed something a little more substantial than broth to bring it together; so I mixed up a little chicken gravy and added it to the dish. It brought it together nicely. This dish was very warm and comforting on cold Nebraska night.

HOMEMADE NOODLES WITH CHICKEN
noodle recipe from Mary Margaret McBride’s Encyclopedia of Cooking

2 c sifted enriched flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
2 or 3 teaspoons cold water (I had to add a little more water)

Sift flour with salt into mixing bowl or onto a board (I mixed it together on my counter top). Make a “well” in the center.

Drop in eggs and combine with a fork, adding spoonfuls of water as necessary to form a ball of dough that is compact but not hard.

Knead dough until as smooth and elastic as possible, about 5 minutes.

Roll out on a lightly floured board (I just floured my counter top). Use the rolling pin from the outer edges toward the center, turning the board as necessary for easier rolling.

When the dough is rolled evenly thin, let stand 20 minutes in order to dry so that it will not stick together when rolled up.

Roll up lightly and use a very sharp knife to slice 1/8 inch thick, or 1/4 inch thick for broader noodles.

Toss the noddles lightly to separate them and spread on lightly floured surface. Let dry thoroughly at room temperature, about 2 hours, then store in covered jars. (I used  my noodles immediately)

TO COOK THE NOODLES:
Drop by handfuls into boiling soup or boiling, salted water (I used chicken stock) for 10 minutes. Strain, reserving 2 c chicken stock.

FOR THE CHICKEN:
I used three boneless/skinless chicken breasts which I poached* for about 10 minutes. Using two forks I shredded the chicken.

* Put chicken into pot, add enough water to cover chicken. Bring chicken up to boil. Once boiling put lid on pot, take off heat. Let sit 7-10 minutes before removing the chicken.

FOR THE GRAVY:
2 T butter
2 T flour
2 c chicken stock

Melt butter in pan over medium-high heat. Stir in flour and cook for a couple minutes. Slowly whisk in the chicken stock. Simmer until gravy thickens.

Combine shredded chicken and noodles. Pour a little gravy over and toss to combine. You want just enough gravy to coat the noodles and chicken.  Serve as is or with boiled potatoes. (I used boiled purple potatoes) Season with salt & pepper.

We have now been in our house for one month. How quickly that month has gone too. Most of our boxes have been unpacked, we still have a few that have a mish-mash of things in them, nevertheless we are feeling quite settled. There are still things that I want to do to make this place feel like my own. Every room needs to be painted, the basement needs carpet (to cover the asbestos tiles), and we decorations to hang on the walls. I know this will all happen over time, unless we win the lottery then I am going to go shopping immediately (I can dream, right?). I love this house and am really excited to see it transform into ours over the next year.

One thing that I love about this house is that it is double the space of our previous apartment. Which means we actually have space to entertain, and I love entertaining. A couple weeks ago we had our first of hopefully many cocktail parties. Alex mixed up drinks popular in the 1960s and I made a bunch (too many) appetizers for our guests to enjoy.

One of the appetizers I made was Swedish Meatballs. These particular kind of meatballs are typically served in a creamy brown sauce. You could eat Swedish meatballs as a main course served with mashed potatoes, but they make the perfect appetizer served on a toothpick.

SWEDISH MEATBALLS
from Alton Brown, Good Eats with my own method
2 slices fresh white bread
1/4 cup milk
3 tablespoons clarified butter, divided
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
A pinch plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 pound ground chuck (I used 1 pound)
3/4 pound ground pork (I used 1 pound)
2 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups beef broth
1/4 cup heavy cream

My method: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Alton’s method (which I followed here): Tear the bread into pieces and place in a small mixing bowl along with the milk. Set aside.

In a 12-inch straight sided saute pan over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and sweat until the onions are soft. Remove from the heat and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the bread and milk mixture, ground chuck, pork, egg yolks, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, black pepper, allspice, nutmeg, and onions. Beat on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes.

My method: Scoop up about 2T of the meat mixture. Roll into a ball (should be about the size of a ping-pong ball). Place the meatballs into a 9×13 baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes, turn meatballs, bake another 10 minutes. In order to make the gravy I added some of the drippings from the baking dish into my preheated (medium heat) cast iron skillet. I followed the rest of Alton’s directions for making the gravy.

Alton’s method: Using a scale, weigh meatballs into 1-ounce portions and place on a sheet pan. Using your hands, shape the meatballs into rounds.

Heat the remaining butter in the saute pan over medium-low heat, or in an electric skillet set to 250 degrees F. Add the meatballs and saute until golden brown on all sides, about 7 to 10 minutes.

Remove the meatballs to an ovenproof dish using a slotted spoon and place in the warmed oven.

Once all of the meatballs are cooked, decrease the heat to low and add the flour to the pan or skillet. Whisk until lightly browned, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add the beef stock and whisk until sauce begins to thicken. Add the cream and continue to cook until the gravy reaches the desired consistency. Remove the meatballs from the oven, cover with the gravy and serve.

Enjoy as a tasty dinner with mashed potatoes or rice, or as a fun appetizer!

Have you ever tasted something for the first time and thought “oh my gosh this is AMAZING!” then crave it the next week? This was me when I first tried this recipe. I actually made it three times in three weeks that is how good I thought it was.

I feel sorry for the eggplant. It either is said to taste like dirt, or it is breaded and fried and served with a red sauce. I don’t think eggplant tastes like dirt –however I will say that it does have an earthy flavor to it, and to be honest I have never had eggplant parmigiana. Maybe I should use the cute little eggplant sitting on my counter and try eggplant parmigiana a for the first time. When I bought my first eggplant I wanted to use it in a way that wasn’t breaded and fried. Shaheen from The Purple Foodie came to the rescue. She had just posted a recipe for stuffed eggplant, after reading the recipe I knew that I had to try it. I have recommended this recipe to several people. Please try it just once, it will change your opinion of eggplant.

STUFFED EGGPLANT
from The Purple Foodie

1 lg eggplant
2 T olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
½ tsp ground coriander
salt & pepper
½ tsp ground cumin
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes (drain the juice)
1 bay leaf
1 c ricotta
1/3 c finely grated Parmesan
1 T fresh cilantro
2 sausages or 2 slices ham, finely diced, or omit this if you’re vegetarian (I have left the meat out every time)
1 egg, beaten
Extra fresh cilantro, chopped (for sprinkling)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut eggplant in half, placing in baking dish with cut side up. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt & pepper. Bake for 20-30 minutes. You want the eggplant to be tender (so you can scoop it out). Lower oven to 375 degrees F. Leave eggplant skins in baking dish. They will be filled later.

Scoop out the tender eggplant and mash with a fork. Set aside. In a skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add coriander, cumin, and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes -stirring often. Don’t let the garlic burn. Add tomato, bay leaf, and extra salt & pepper if desired. Cook for another 3-4 minutes stirring often. Add the eggplant flesh and cook for 7 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Remove from stove.

Stir in the cheeses, cilantro, and meat. Once the mixture had cooled slightly stir in the beaten egg. Divide mixture in half, filling each eggplant, drizzle stuffed eggplants with a little olive oil. Place baking dish in 375 degree F oven, and bake for 35 minutes. During last 10 minutes of baking sprinkle on additional Parmesan.  ENJOY!

*I think it would be really good to subsitute the diced tomatoes for a can of Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies)

Here in Omaha the weather has started to cool down. Last night the temperature actually fell into the 30 degree range –that is cold for September. Once thing that is great about fall is the rich comforting foods that I tend to crave.

My parents planted buttercup squash in their garden this year, and they brought me a couple when they came to help move us. I wanted to use this squash in a way that was different from roasting it with butter and brown sugar. Although it is delicious that way, I felt the squash deserved something a little more savory.

Sometime I read a recipe somewhere using roasted pumpkin and turning into a creamy sauce to serve over pasta. Unfortunately I don’t recall where I read that but it stuck with me. I thought it was an interesting way to use pumpkin that wasn’t a pie, cheesecake, bars, or bread (all of which I love). Last night when I was looking at that squash and wondering how to use it for dinner I recalled the pumpkin pasta. I figured there is no harm in turning one squash into a sauce to serve with pasta. If it totally sucked I would throw out the sauce and just dump a jar of Prego on top of my pasta. Since my husband was still at work while I was cooking he would never have to know. Well, lucky for me the sauce turned out to be delicious. The girls actually asked for a second helping and thoroughly enjoyed the leftovers today for lunch. YAY! This is a real fall winner dinner.

CREAMY BUTTERCUP SQUASH PASTA
1 buttercup squash
EVOO
salt & pepper
2 T butter
2 c half & half (I used fat free)
1/2 tsp dried sage
scant 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 c water
1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese

your favorite pasta cooked to al dente

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut squash in half, scooping out and disguarding seeds, cut each half in half. Drizzle EVOO over squash pieces and sprinkle with salt & pepper. Place flesh side down on jelly roll pan and roast for 40-50 minutes. When you start to smell it, check on it. The squash should be very tender. The squash skin should peel right off. Mash squash flesh and stir in water (don’t add it all) you want it to be wet but not soupy.

Over medium heat melt butter in a large skillet. Add half & half and squash puree. Stir until combined. Stir in sage and cinnamon. Heat until simmering, stirring frequently. Sprinkle in Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine. If sauce still seems thick stir in additional water or chicken stock.

Toss sauce with pasta and ENJOY!

*If you are going to reheat pasta in the microwave add a little water to it so the sauce becomes creamy again

WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE COOKING UP:
Recipe Girl has a delicious sounding Butternut Squash Risotto with Rosemary & Blue Cheese
The Noshery cooked up a tasty looking Roasted Butternut Squash, Pear and Onions with Blue Cheese

I received sugar snap peas from Brian and Kelly of Black Sheep Farms. They wanted me to develop some recipes using these sweet delicious green peas. These peas are so wonderful raw, I could (and did) pop them in my mouth just like potato chips. When I would open the refrigerator door to find something for dinner or to get a glass of milk for one of my children, I would see those peas sitting so nicely in their bowl, and I would pop them in my mouth –just one or two at a time. After all, I still wanted to use them in a recipe. As a parent you are modeling behavior for your children so I caught my little girls popping entire pea pods into their mouths and enjoying the sweet green crunch. Needless to say this “snacking” dwindled down my supply of peas, after all was said and done I was left with about 20 or so pods.

Mom and Dad sent me home with a few zucchini fresh from the garden the last time I visited. I chopped them up to add to my scrambled eggs, along with some sauteed onions. I thought the sugar snap peas would be a nice addition, and boy was I right. After quickly gobbling up my veggie scrambled eggs, I wished I had more peas so I could enjoy this dish again the next day for breakfast. I love summer time and all the fresh fruits and vegetables we get to enjoy here in the Midwest.

SUGAR SNAP PEA, ZUCCHINI, AND ONION SCRAMBLE
Serves 2
20 or so Sugar snap pea pods, shelled
1 small -medium zucchini, chopped into half moons
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 T Olive Oil
3 eggs, beaten with a splash of water
salt & pepper to taste
cheese, optional

Heat skillet over medium-medium high heat. Add oil, onion, and zucchini. Cook until zucchini and onion soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in peas, cook for 1-2 minutes. Pour egg mixture over the cooked vegetables. Stir to scramble. Cook until eggs are soft. ENJOY!

On Monday I picked up a box of produce from Black Sheep Farms. My summer “job” is to turn their tasty produce into a tasty dinner. It has been fun to look at food from a different angle; I want to provide recipes that will use the food in a way you may not have thought about before.  This week my focus will be on how to use: baby chioggia beets (with greens intact), sugar snap peas, broccoli, Thai basil, garlic scapes, and mulberries. The baby chiogga beets and greens, Thai basil, and garlic scapes are all new to me so I have my work cut out this week.

I wanted to use more than one of the ingredients together in a recipe. That way when you pick up your CSA box or you find them laying together at your favorite farmers market booth, you could use them up on a single recipe. My first recipe for the week I decided to use the baby chioggia beet greens and the garlic scapes together.

Baby chioggia beets are an Italian heirloom variety of beet. When sliced you can see the beautiful alternating red and white rings, because of this chioggia beets are also known as Candy Stripe beet or Bull’s Eye beet. When storing the beets I read it is best to separate the greens from the beet –the greens will draw out moisture causing the beet to shrivel. Cut the green off about 1-2 inches above the beet. You will want to use the greens up right away, as they won’t keep as long as the beets.

Garlic scape is a relativity new vegetable/herb to me. The first time I heard about it was last year when my friend Jessie put garlic scapes on her pizza. Garlic scapes are the stem and flower part of the garlic. When the scape is removed the garlic bulb can focus the energy on growing and maturing a bigger bulb.

The scape reminds me of a curly green onion that is solid like asaparagus. These are delicious! I wish you could find garlic scapes all year round.

When I hear the words “greens” and “garlic” the first thing that I think of is pesto. It is a terrible obsession of mine. I LOVE pesto. I made pesto with the last supply of produce from Black Sheep Farms, so I really didn’t want to toss the beet greens and garlic scapes into the food processor for another pesto recipe. Instead I decided to do a deconstructed pesto –all the elements of pesto but the ingredients remain separate and intact. Is that cheating?

The deconstructed pesto received three out of four stars from our family. My husband thought it tasted a little fishy –I think that was because I was out of olive oil and used canola oil instead. My little girls (ages 3 and 20 months) really like the dish, so that makes it an automatic winner for me. I served this pasta with my Parmesan chicken bites, I think that sauteed sea scallops would go wonderfully with it as well –that is if meat is your thing.

BEET GREENS & GARLIC SCAPE DECONSTRUCTED PESTO
2 c beet greens, chopped into 2 inch pieces
3 or 4 garlic scapes, chopped
1 T EVOO
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 c chopped toasted walnuts
your favorite pasta (I used angel hair)
1-15 oz can diced tomatoes (once tomatoes are in season I would use chopped Romas)
Parmesan cheese, shredded

Cook pasta according to package directions. Heat skillet over medium low heat.

Add oil, greens, garlic scapes, salt & pepper. Stir everything around. Cover for 3-5 minutes until everything is wilted. Add in chopped walnuts. Drain pasta. Toss tomatoes and greens with the pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese when ready to serve. ENJOY!

Other Recipes using Black Sheep Farms produce:
Tom Thumb lettuce salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette
Two recipes with Baby Bok Choy

It was a beautiful sunshiney day on Saturday. We loaded up the girls and set out to visit the farmers market. We stopped by the booth of Brian and Kelly of Black Sheep Farms, where we received Tom Thumb lettuce, some baby bok choy, and beautiful heirloom radishes. My goal is to turn their produce into wonderful tasting dishes. Does Black Sheep Farms sound familiar? They are a local CSA here in Omaha, you can read my post here.

This weekend I prepared the baby bok choy two different ways –keeping it raw in a pesto, and softening it by grilling it. Which one do you think was successful? I saw the people over at Burp! Where Food Happens tossed baby bok choy and radishes with a little oil, and grilled it for a warm spring salad. They said the baby bok choy “grew suspiciously tender (and fabulously sweet).” I was intrigued and needed to try it immediately. While the baby bok choy was grilling, I also tossed a few of the heirloom radishes on the grill. I’ve never heard of grilled radishes before, in fact I think the only way I have ever eaten radishes is raw –with plenty of salt.

As I pulled my produce off the grill, I was growing more and more excited to try my grilled spring salad. Once inside I splashed a little Balsamic Vinaigrette over the veggies, sat down with my fork and knife in hand ready to enjoy my first grilled salad.

Half of the baby bok choy was used in my grilled salad, the other half I wanted to use in a different way. Stir-frying it was out of the question, only because that seems to be a typical way bok choy is used, I was looking for an “outside of the box” way to use this veggie. As I was cleaning the baby bok choy for the grilled salad a few leaves feel off and I tried them raw. They were very green tasting and not bitter like I was expecting them to be. The first thing I thought was PESTO! If you do not know this already, I love pesto –and actually I have been known to eat basil pesto with a spoon. After a quick survey of my cupboards I noticed I had some cashews, and thought an Italy meets Asia pesto would make a great experiment. A while back I had made a meatloaf with an Asian twist, instead of meatloaf I formed them into burgers to grill and serve with my baby bok choy pesto.

Two different recipes using baby bok choy as the main ingredient. One recipe I loved, and the other one I think I screwed up on. For me the baby bok choy pesto was the WINNER. The grilled spring salad wasn’t a complete failure.

I learned that I really liked the warm tenderness of the grilled radishes, and hope that you try them that way. The first bite of the grilled baby bok choy was incredibly bitter. The baby bok choy isn’t entirely to blame, I think a lot of the bitterness came from the prepackaged Balsamic Vinaigrette I used. I should have tried the grilled bok choy BEFORE I doused it in the vinaigrette, I would also make my own vinaigrette instead of relying on a premade mixture purchased at Target. Lesson learned. Please don’t let my mistake stop you from trying this salad. Head over to Burp! Where Food Happens to get the recipe and read about how they call this salad “heavenly”.

BABY BOK CHOY PESTO
serve with Asian pork burgers

2 c Baby bok choy, cleaned and chopped
1/2 c raw cashews
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 inch piece of ginger, minced
1/4 c Parmesan cheese, grated
1/3 c Olive Oil
small splash of Toasted Sesame Oil
pinch of salt & pepper

Add all ingredients through Parmesan cheese into blender or food processor. Pulse a few times to chop and combine ingredients. Slowly drizzle in olive oil until everything becomes one. Scrap down sides of container as needed. Add salt & pepper, and small splash of toasted sesame oil (this has a very strong flavor, so only a little is needed) and pulse until combined. Transfer to a serving dish, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for the flavors to combine. ENJOY!

ASIAN PORK BURGERS
serves 4
1 lb ground pork
1 8 oz can water chestnuts, minced
6 baby carrots, chopped
1/2 c bread crumbs
1 inch piece fresh ginger, minced
2 T soy sauce
1 egg beaten
small splash of toasted sesame oil

In a large bowl combine all ingredients and mix together, being careful not to over mix (you don’t want your meat to get tough). Form into four patties. Grill over medium-high heat, for about 5 minutes each side. You want an internal temp of 180 degrees. Place on bun and top with Bok Choy Pesto. ENJOY!!

If I have said it once I have said it at least a hundred times, I LOVE MEXICAN FOOD (including Southwestern and Tex-Mex cuisines). Chicken chimichangas are something I have enjoyed at my favorite restaurants, for some reason it never crossed my mind to make these at home. Recently an old friend from college who is from Jordan (as in the country) asked me for a recipe. I knew I had to make these deep-fried gems. Thank you for asking for a recipe, I don’t think I would have ever thought to make these at home.

Have you ever had a chimichanga before? These deep-fried burritos are pronounced CHIMI (rhymes with Jimmy) CHAN (rhymes with JOHN) GA (GAH). Please remember this pronunciation if you ever order one at a restaurant. My husband and I were eating at a restaurant in Columbia, MO when a lady across from us ordered a chimichanga, she managed to pronounced it completely wrong several times during her ordering process, while enunciating every syllable (she said CHIMI-CHANG (rhyming with Jane)-GA). I am sure her Hispanic waiter thought she was some dumb gringa. It made me laugh, and it is something I always think of when I see it on the menu.

At restaurants you can find chimichangas filled with shredded chicken, shredded or ground beef, shredded pork, or beans. At home you can fill them with any kind of meat, beans or rice that you are craving. I filled mine with shredded chicken when I made them for dinner, however, the next day I stuffed my tortilla with leftover chicken, black beans and yellow rice –it was better than the original. This recipe is just a guideline, let your creativity inspire you. Check back for my dessert chimichanga.

CHICKEN CHIMICHANGA
serves 6
2 tsp Olive Oil
1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into large chunks
1/2 large onion, chopped
3 Roma tomatoes, diced (or 1/2 c canned diced tomatoes)
2 T green chilies, diced (I found these canned)
1 T cumin
salt & pepper to taste
6 large flour tortillas
Peanut Oil or Vegetable Oil for frying

Heat enameled Dutch oven over medium heat. Add all ingredients. Give them a quick stir to combine and cover for 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Remove from heat, and transfer meat mixture to bowl until mixture has cooled. Shred chicken with two forks.

Heat a couple inches of oil to 375 degrees F. While you are waiting for your oil to heat begin assembling your chimichangas.

Warm both sides of your tortillas on a griddle or for 15 seconds in the microwave. Place about 3/4 c of the mixture in the center of your tortilla.

Fold two sides in over mixture. Fold bottom up over the middle and roll it up.

Place in oil seam side down. (I held my chimichanga down with my spatula to ensure it would not unroll on me) Fry for a couple minutes each side until a beautiful golden brown color is achieved.

Remove from oil and place on paper towels to soak up any extra oil.

Serve with cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and pico de gallo. Like I said earlier these were delicious when I added some rice and beans to the chicken before frying. Be creative. ENJOY!

Here are some of my other Mexican recipes:
Tortas
Beer & Lime Chicken Fajitas
Delicious ground beef recipe for tacos
Idiot Margaritas

What others are cooking up that you might like:
Beef fajitas on the grill from Chaos in the Kitchen
Burrito Casserole from Something’s Burning…
Yum-Yum Taco Bake from Little Calorie

Primavera is the Italian and Spanish word for Spring. When I think of Spring I think of all things fresh and green. Here in the Midwest, Spring means we can pack up the hats, gloves, and scarves and pull out the flip-flops (then the next week pull out the hats, gloves, and scarves again). In a couple weeks the farmer’s markets will be in full force and full of delicious fruits and veggies –I can’t wait!

I found this recipe in my Parents magazine and knew I had to try it. The article was Dinner Detox, how to healthify your dinners in stages. This dish is considered (by them) to be a really healthy alternative to Mac ‘n’ Cheese. I skipped the “little better” recipe and went straight for the really healthy. My kids like veggies, and they love pasta, so I wasn’t worried that they wouldn’t like it. This is a fun recipe to personalize with your family’s favorite vegetables. I added roasted chicken to our dish to give it a little extra protein, but I think shrimp would be fabulous too.

PASTA PRIMAVERA
(from Parents May 2009 –with my choice of veggies)

1 1/2 c dry multigrain or whole-grain rotini (I used penne rigate)
1 T EVOO (Olive Oil)
1 bundle of asparagus, chopped into 2 inch pieces
1 chopped yellow pepper
1 c grape tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 c low-fat evaporated milk
1/2 c low-sodium chicken broth
2 T AP Flour
1/3 c finely shredded Parmesan cheese
salt & pepper

*I added 2 packages of Hormel’s Carved Chicken

Cook pasta according to package directions. Two minutes before your pasta is done, toss in asaragus. Drain pasta and return to pot. While pasta is cooking, sautee yellow pepper, garlic and tomatoes in the olive oil. Toss in chicken and heat through. Add veggie mix to pasta. Whisk milk, broth, and flour. Add to pasta, stirring until thick. Mix in cheese, add salt & pepper to taste. ENJOY!!

This is a great way to use up veggies in your crisper drawer. Some yummy selections might include broccoli, zucchini slices, fresh blanched green beans, sliced yellow squash, fresh basil, roasted cauliflower or Brussels sprouts. Be creative!

Falafel is a tasty, fried bean ball. I made mine with ground chickpeas (garbanzo beans), but they are also known to be made from ground fava beans or a combination of both. Falafel is a popular street food in the Middle East, and I believe it is the national dish of Israel. (Edit: Falafel actually originated in Egypt, and Israel likes to claim it as their national snack.) The great thing is chickpeas are high in fiber, and are a good source of iron and protein –much need nutrients in a meat-free diet. If you use canned chickpeas this meal comes together pretty fast, with down time during refrigeration. Traditionally falafel are served in a pita, with pickled vegetables or lettuce and tomato. I served mine on a piece of naan smeared in a homemade hummus, topped with shredded red cabbage, and tomato. It was truly delicious.

FALAFEL
1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed), reserve 1/4 c liquid
1/2 yellow onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T cumin
2 T flour
small handful of fresh parsley
salt & pepper
oil for frying

Place chickpeas in your food processor and pulse until it becomes grainy. Add rest of the ingredients, combine while slowly adding in reserved liquid until mixture is gritty and well combined. Place mixture in fridge for 30 minutes (it helps them hold together when frying). Preheat oil to 350 degrees F. Roll mixture into 6-8 balls. Fry in batches for a couple minutes until golden brown. These are delicious warm. ENJOY!