With school starting back next week, I know everyone is trying to get back in the swing of things. I thought I’d share some quick and delicious recipes. As you know, I love being able to prepare in advance and either put a casserole in the oven or have it ready to put on the grill.
Bill and I love cooking on the grill and serving sliced, homegrown tomatoes and homegrown cucumbers with a steak or piece of chicken. I also love to use the crockpot. The house stays cool, and you have a delicious supper too.
I added one of my favorite cold desserts to this column, Sunrise Cherry Pie. It’s cool and refreshing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Meatloaf burgers
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup onion, diced (about 1/2 a small onion)
1 egg
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine all of the meatloaf ingredients and mix together by hand. Shape into 4-5 individual patties. Cook in an oiled cast iron skillet until browned on both sides and cooked through. Serve with tomatoes, lettuce, and onions.
Zucchini Lasagna
5 medium zucchini (2 lb.)
Olive oil cooking spray
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb. 85 percent lean ground beef
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 (15oz) container whole milk ricotta cheese, room temperature
2 large eggs
1/2 cup (packed, 1 oz.) chopped fresh basil
1 1/3 cup no sugar added marinara sauce
8oz part skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice the zucchini lengthwise, into 1/4-inch-thick strips, getting 6 slices out of each zucchini. Spray the zucchini slices with olive oil cooking spray and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder. Grill the slices, in batches, 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden and firm — not browned and crisp. Spread on clean kitchen towels to soak up more moisture.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat, about 3 minutes. Add the meat, the minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up the meat, until meat is browned, 5-7 minutes. Drain into a colander, then mix in a bowl with 1 cup marinara sauce.
In another bowl, with a fork, mix together the ricotta, eggs, basil, and the remaining salt and pepper.
Assemble the lasagna: Spread 1/3 cup of the marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9-by-13 baking dish; Top the marinara sauce with a layer of zucchini, then 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, 1/3 of the meat mixture, and 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese; Repeat, arranging the zucchini slices in the opposite direction: zucchini, 1/3 ricotta, 1/3 meat mixture, 1/3 mozzarella; Repeat one last time, adding one extra layer of zucchini: zucchini, ricotta, meat mixture, more zucchini, and mozzarella.
Bake, uncovered, until the cheese is golden, about 30 minutes. You can finish by broiling for 2 minutes on high to brown the cheese, if you wish.
15-minute Beef Stroganoff
2 lbs. ground beef
2/3 cup water
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
2 tbsp flour
noodles or rice
Brown meat. Add water and soups. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat. Blend sour cream and flour and add to the meat. Cook and stir until thick. Heat through but do not boil. Serve over rice or noodles. This is delicious with English peas.
Cheeseburger sandwiches
1 1/2 pounds leans ground beef
1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper
8 ounces Velveeta Light
2 tablespoons skim milk
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
1 small onion, chopped (1/4 cup)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
12 sandwich buns, wheat
Instructions:
Cook beef and garlic pepper in 12-inch skillet over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain.
Spray 3 to 4 quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Mix beef and remaining ingredients except buns in cooker.
Cover and cook on low heat setting 6 to 7 hours. To serve, fill buns with beef mixture.
Sunrise Cherry Pie
8.25oz can crushed pineapple
8oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 graham cracker pie crust
Drain pineapple well, reserving 2 Tbs, syrup. Combine softened cream cheese, vanilla and reserved syrup, mixing until well blended. Stir in 1/4 cup pineapple and 1/2 cup pie filling. Gradually add sugar to cream, beating until soft peaks form. Fold into cream cheese mixture. For into crust. Top with remaining pineapple around the outside edge of top and remaining cherry pie filling in center of top. Chill until firm.
