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Dec 19th Weekly Menu 12/16/11

Hi and welcome!  

This weeks menu consists of two vegetarian meals, Black and White Bean Chili and Cauliflower Casserole. You can always add chicken or beef to the chili, but the flavor is so good that it really doesn’t need it. As far as the Cauliflower Cassarole, this is a great opportunity to get your kids to eat a vegetable that is often snubbed. It’s delicious. I hope you’ll enjoy this weeks selection of recipes. Happy holidays!

Black and White Bean Chili
Sides: Cornbread

1 tsp olive oil, light
1/2 lg onion, finely chopped
1/2 lg red sweet pepper, diced
1/2 lg green bell pepper, diced
2 lg jalapeno peppers, finely chopped
2 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) cannellini beans (white kidney beans), drained and rinsed
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 c water
1-1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
TOPPERS
sun-dried tomato & basil feta cheese
sliced scallions, chopped cilantro, sour cream

Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add peppers, onion garlic, and jalapenos. Cook 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

Add chili powder, cumin and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 1 minute. Add tomatoes, beans and water. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, covered for 20 minutes. In a cup, mix cornstarch with a little water to make a paste. Remove cover and add to chili, stirring to thicken. Serve chili topped with feta cheese, scallions, cilantro and sour cream.

Stuffed Pepper Soup

1 lb ground beef
1 md bell pepper, chopped
1 c finely diced onion
1 can(s) 29 oz diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can(s) 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 can(s) 14 oz chicken broth
1/4 tsp thyme, dried
1/4 tsp dried sage
2 c cooked rice
1 c cheddar cheese, grated

In large pot brown ground beef, drain off fat and add onions and peppers, cook until the onions are translucent.

Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, thyme and sage stir.

Cover and let simmer for 30-40 minutes until peppers are tender. Add two cups cooked. Serve.

Top off bowls with cheddar cheese.

Easy Stuffed Pork Chops

4 lg pork chops 1 3/4 inch thick
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 c herb seasoned dressing mix
2 Tbsp butter
1/4 c each diced celery and onion
1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
1 c chicken broth

Make dressing to package directions using the butter, celery, onion and chicken broth, toss together.

Slit each chop on the rounded side, cut through almost to bone to make a nice deep pocket for the dressing.

Fill each chop with 1/4 of the dressing, secure with 2 or 3 toothpicks, you will take these out later.

Put oil in fry pan on med high and brown chops on both sides.

Place on a foil lined pan (no cleanup) and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or chops register 140 degrees in the center.

You could also put these in your slow cooker and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours as well.

Cauliflower Casserole

1 head of cauliflower
1 can(s) cream of mushroom soup
1 1/2 c melted Velveeta cheese
1 can(s) french fried onions

Cook cauliflower until tender. Drain. Break into smaller pieces.

In a large casserole dish add cauliflower, mushroom soup and melted Velveeta cheese. Top with french fried onions.

Bake at 300F for 30-35 minutes.

Apricot and Ginger Chicken
Sides: Hot white rice and mixed vegetables

4 to 6 boneless chicken breasts, skinned and each breast cut into 3 pieces
1 bottle of russian dressing (8 ounce size)
1 cup apricot preserves
1 1/2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
3 teaspoons corn starch
1 package dry onion soup mix

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 3 quart casserole dish.

Skin the chicken. Remove any bones or fat. Cut each breast into 3 chunks, slicing across the breast. Try to cut the chicken so all the pieces are the same size. Place the chicken pieces in the casserole dish, plump side up.

Combine the Russian dressing, apricot preserves, ginger, cornstarch, and onion soup mix. Stir well. Pour over the chicken. The sauce should cover the chicken.

Bake in the preheated oven for one hour or more until tender.