Tex-Mex Meat Loaf topped with Salsa
Photo and recipe by Carolyn Davidson Hicks
Ingredients:
1 1/ 2 lb extra-lean minced or finely ground beef
1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies, “Rotel” drained
2 eggs
1 small green bell pepper minced
1 small sweet onion minced
1/ 4 cup Progresso Garlic herb seasoned bread crumbs
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
Salsa
Directions:
1. Combine beef, tomatoes and chilies, and the remaining ingredients, except salsa, in a large bowl. Take care to mix the ingredients well. Place this mixture on a 9×5-inch loaf and put it in an 11×7-inch glass. Bake at 375ºF for an hour. You can also grill this meat loaf by placing it on parchment paper, then on a drip rack over a tray to catch the drippings. This really ads to the flavor. I like to shape mine like a loaf of bread and grill it!
2. Remove from oven and drain out any liquid before slicing the meat loaf. (unless you grill it, see above)
Serve with salsa as a topping or place on meatloaf the last 15 minutes of cooking time for a better flavor.
Photo and recipe by Carolyn Davidson Hicks
Chili Tamale Pie
Serves 8
1 cup Masa Meal (follow directions on package)
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese (1/4 for Masa Meal mixture, 1/4 as a topper before baking)
2 tbs unsalted butter
1 tsp Sea Salt
1 lb. ground chuck
1 1/2 cup minced onion
3 tbs chili powder
4 cups red kidney beans or red beans
14.5 oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup tomato sauce
Mix Masa, add 1/4 cup cheddar stir and sit aside. Brown hamburger meat and add all ingredients. Let simmer for about 25 minutes. In a buttered baking dish place filling in first, then top with Masa mixture. Cover dish and bake about 15 ti 20 minutes or until Masa is done at about 350 degrees.
Easy Coconut Shrimp
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 3/4 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 pound raw large shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails attached
- vegetable oil or coconut oil1
Directions:
- Start with 3 medium bowls. Combine flour, salt, and pepper in one. Beat the eggs in the second bowl. Combine Panko and coconut in the third bowl.
- Dip the shrimp into the flour, then the eggs, and then dredge the shrimp into the coconut mixing, pressing gently to adhere. You want a lot of coconut on each shrimp. Set the coated shrimp aside on a plate as you coat the remaining shrimp.
- Add enough oil to cover the bottom of a large skillet on medium heat. Fry the coconut shrimp in batches – do not crowd them in the pan. I fried about 6-7 at a time. Flip after 2 minutes and fry the other side for 2 minutes or until golden brown. I like mine a little darker, so I fried each side for about 3 minutes.
- Place the finished coconut shrimp on a plate lined with a paper towel as you fry the rest. Serve with your favorite sweet chili sauce or an orange chili sauce (which is 1 part Thai sweet chili sauce to 2 parts orange marmalade). I’ve tried this dipping sauce and it’s very tasty as well.
- Sprinkle with a little chopped cilantro (optional) and serve. Leftover coconut shrimp keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Make ahead tip: Fried coconut shrimp freezes well, up to 2 months. Reheat for 10 minutes in a 350F oven– or until thawed and warm.
You can find the original recipe just Click Here
Mac n Cheese Primavera
Photo and Recipe by Carolyn Davidson Hicks
1 cup elbow macaroni (when cooked, feeds 2 two 4)
1/2 cup of 1/4 in cubed Velveeta Cheese pieces
1/4 cup of 3 Mexican Cheese Blend
1/4 cup of milk
1/4 stick of butter
Salt and white pepper
1 pinch of pepper flakes (optional)
1 cup of finely chopped vegetables (3 or 4 broccoli florets finely chopped, 1 red and 1 yellow sweet pepper, 1/4 sweet onion) Saute them in Olive oil until tender.
Once you cook the macaroni, drain and put back in the pot, add the milk and turn the heat down to low. Add the vegetables and cheese and stir until all the cheese melts!
Seafood Cioppino Stew with Flat Bread
Photo and recipe by Carolyn Davidson Hicks
Ingredients
1 lb bag of seafood mix (muscles, calamari, octopus, clams, crab and shrimp.)
14.5 oz can of Diced Tomatoes
1/4 cup of Tomato Sauce
2 cups of chopped red and green bell peppers
2 chopped stalk of celery
1 minced clove of garlic (Use as much or as less as you prefer!)
1/4 cup of chopped cilantro and basil
2 cups vegetable or seafood stock (can substitute with water and 1 tablespoon of Clam Base, Lobster Base or Vegetable cooking Base) The onions will give a lot of water to your stew so be careful on the amount of stock or it becomes more like a soup rather than a stew!
Directions
Bring stock to a low simmer and add all chopped vegetables, diced tomatoes, sauce, garlic, salt, pepper, herbs and allow to cook until almost tender, add calamari and octopus and cook for until almost tender, then add the rest of the seafood last, cook only about 5 minutes on low heat!
Serve with Flat Bread.
We used Pillsbury Pizza Dough! Spray pan, preheat oven to 325. Flatten out dough and cut in to oblong shaped bread and place in pan. Spray down with butter and sprinkle with Parmesan and bake until golden brown! Very tasty!
Sauteed Swiss Chard with Bacon and Garlic Butter
Photo and recipe by Carolyn Davidson Hicks
Ingredients
Olive oil, for pan
1 cup bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice
2 tablespoons of garlic and chives butter
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 bunch Swiss chard, stems removed and cut into 1/2-inch lengths, leaves cut into 1 inch lengths
1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock
Kosher salt
Directions
Coat a large saute pan lightly with olive oil and add the diced bacon and crushed red pepper. Bring the pan to medium-high heat. Once the bacon becomes brown and crispy, add the Swiss chard stems and the stock and cook until the stock has reduced by half and add the Swiss chard leaves and green onions, saute until they are wilted. Season with salt.