Pizza Pasta

This is an easy and quick dish that the kids are sure to love.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces rotini pasta

• 1 pound lean ground beef

• 1 small onion, diced

• 1 (28 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce

• 4 ounces sliced pepperoni sausage

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

• Step 2

  Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

• Step 3

  In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, cook beef with onion until beef is brown. Drain. Combine beef mixture with spaghetti sauce, pepperoni and cooked pasta and pour into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with mozzarella.

• Step 4

  Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, until cheese is melted and golden.

Smothered Chicken with Spinach, Potatoes, and Mushrooms

If you are looking for a creamy, cheesy, flavorful recipe - this is it! Comfort food is always welcomed in every home. I think most of you will love this dish!

Ingredients

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon garlic powder

• 1 tablespoon onion powder

• 1 tablespoon paprika

• 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning

• salt and ground black pepper to taste

• 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into thick strips

• 1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed

• 6 small red potatoes, quartered

• 1 tablespoon butter, or more as needed

• 1 (8 ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms

• 3 green onions, diced

• 3 cloves garlic, diced

• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup

• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

• ½ cup sherry wine

• 1 (8 ounce) package fresh spinach

• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese

• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Oil a baking dish.

• Step 2

  Combine flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, poultry seasoning, salt, and black pepper in a large resealable plastic bag. Add chicken and toss to coat well. Shake off excess breading.

• Step 3

  Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken on both sides, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Cook and stir potatoes in the same skillet until almost tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to the baking dish.

• Step 4

  Add butter to the same skillet over medium-high heat. Saute mushrooms for 2 minutes. Add green onions and garlic and saute until garlic is browned, about 3 minutes. Add soup, broth, and sherry. Bring to a boil and cook until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Add spinach and cook until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes.

• Step 5

  Pour sauce over chicken and potatoes in the baking dish. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Cover dish with aluminum foil.

• Step 6

  Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes more.

Aloo Gobi Masala (Cauliflower and Potato Curry)

This traditional Indian cauliflower and potato curry recipe uses a modern twist to speed up preparation time, making it a great choice for busy week days.

Ingredients

• 1 head cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets

• 3 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds

• 2 tomatoes, diced

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon curry powder

Directions

• Step 1

  Place the cauliflower in a large, microwave-safe dish; cook in microwave on High for 3 minutes. Transfer the cauliflower to a bowl and set aside. Put the potatoes in the dish and cook in the microwave on High for 4 minutes. Pour into the bowl with the cauliflower.

• Step 2

  Heat the olive oil and cumin seeds in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the cumin swells and turns golden brown; stir the onions into the oil and cook about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook and stir another 3 minutes. Fold the cauliflower and potatoes into the mixture. Season with the curry powder and salt. Continue cooking until completely hot, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve hot.

Wine-Braised Beef Brisket

This is yummy the day you make it, but is even more delicious the next day.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

• 1 (3 pound) beef brisket

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 red onion, sliced

• 1 (14.5 ounce) can beef broth

• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce

• ½ cup red wine

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

• Step 2

  Mix thyme, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl and rub the mixture over both sides of brisket.

• Step 3

  Heat olive oil in a roasting pan over medium-high heat; place brisket in the hot oil and brown on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove brisket from pan and set aside.

• Step 4

  Place red onion slices into the hot roasting pan and cook and stir until onion is slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in beef broth, tomato sauce, and wine.

• Step 5

  Place the brisket back into the roasting pan and cover pan with foil.

• Step 6

  Roast the brisket in the preheated oven for 1 hour; remove foil and baste brisket with pan juices. Place foil back over roasting pan and roast brisket until very tender and pan sauce has thickened, 1 1/2 to 2 more hours.

Greek Chicken Skewers

Greek-inspired chicken skewers with lots of flavor! Marinade is also wonderful on grilled vegetables.

Ingredient Checklist

• ¼ cup lemon juice

• ¼ cup wok oil

• ⅛ cup red wine vinegar

• 1 tablespoon onion flakes

• 1 tablespoon minced garlic

• 1 lemon, zested

• 1 teaspoon Greek seasoning

• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

• ½ teaspoon dried thyme

• 3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, or as needed, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 8 bamboo skewers, or as needed, soaked in water for 30 minutes

Directions

• Step 1

  Whisk lemon juice, oil, vinegar, onion flakes, garlic, lemon zest, Greek seasoning, poultry seasoning, oregano, pepper, and thyme together in a bowl and pour into a resealable plastic bag.

• Step 2

  Add chicken, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

• Step 3

  Preheat the oven to 350 F.

• Step 4

  Remove chicken from the marinade and shake off excess; thread onto skewers. Discard the remaining marinade. Place the skewers on a baking sheet.

• Step 5

  Roast in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Cook's Note:

The skewers can also be cooked on the grill. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Cook skewers on the preheated grill, turning occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads at least 165 F.

Fried Tilapia with Oyster Mushrooms

Tilapia fillets are pan fried and served with a simple yet delicious cream sauce with oyster mushrooms. One of my go-to recipes during the week cause it is ready in less than 30 minutes.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 3 cups fresh oyster mushrooms, stemmed and sliced

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

• 4 (8 ounce) fillets tilapia

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions

• Step 1

  Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat and cook mushroom until browned, about 5 minutes. Add cream, salt, and pepper and simmer until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.

• Step 2

  Cut tilapia into large pieces and season with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour.

• Step 3

  Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook tilapia until cooked through and browned, about 3 minutes on each side. Arrange on a plate and cover with mushroom-cream sauce.