Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

I wish I could take credit for this recipe, but I found this one online. However it tasted so good I had to share it. Do not let the pumpkin scare you away, you only use half a can which gives you a small hint of pumpkin in the taste but nothing overwhelming.

Ingredients:

              2 cups dried elbow macaroni

              2 tbs butter 

              2 tbs flour

              1/2 tsp salt 

              1/2 tsp ground black pepper

              1 cup 1/2 & 1/2

              1 cup shredded mozzarella

              1/2 can pumpkin

              1/2 tsp ground sage

              1/2 cup soft bread crumbs

              2 tbs parmasen cheese

              1 tbs olive oil
              1 tsp salt

Boil pan of water

Add pasta and cook 8-10 minutes or until done

Drain and return pasta back to pot

Mix together in sauce pan

              2 tbs butter 

              2 tbs flour

              1/2 tsp salt 

              1/2 tsp ground black pepper

              1 cup 1/2 & 1/2

Cook until slightly thickened and bubbly

Add to pan and stir 

              1 cup shredded mozzarella queso

              1/2 can pumpkin

              1/2 tsp ground sage

Add cheese sauce to pasta and mix together

Transfer pasta into un-greased 8x8 pan

Combine in small bowl

              1/2 cup soft bread crumbs

              2 tbs parmasen cheese

              1 tbs olive oil
              1 tsp salt

Sprinkle mixture over pasta

Bake 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly and top is golden

picture from theculinarycouple.com

Lasagna Roll Ups

Everyone loves lasagna, but sometimes making a full pan is time consuming. This alternative gives you the same great taste, but in individual portion sized pieces. Why fill a whole pan when you can make what you know you will eat. Or serve them as an appetizer or a side dish.

Ingredients:

             Lasagna noodles

             1 tbs egg

             1/3 cup ricotta cheese

             1/4 cup shredded mozzarella

             1 tbs parmesan cheese

             1 tbs sweet and spicy mustard
             1 tbs pesto
             1 chicken breast chopped
             1/4 tsp montreal pepper seasoning
             1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
             1 chopped carrot

             1 cup tomato sauce

             1/3 cup water

             2-3 pieces red pepper flakes

             1/4 tsp basil

             1/2 tsp garlic

             3 tbs tomato sauce

Boil a pan of water

Add lasagna noodles and cool for 10 minutes

Drain and rinse noodles 

Beat 1 egg until foamy 

Mix in a bowl

             1 tbs egg

             1/3 cup ricotta cheese

             1/4 cup shredded mozzarella

             1 tbs parmesan cheese

Place in saute pan 

             1 tbs sweet and spicy mustard
             1 tbs pesto
             1 chicken breast chopped
             1/4 tsp montreal pepper seasoning
             1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
             1 chopped carrot

             1 cup tomato sauce

             1/3 cup water

             2-3 pieces red pepper flakes

             1/4 tsp basil

             1/2 tsp garlic

Spread 3 tbs tomato sauce on bottom of 8x8 pan

Lay noodles down and spread the cheese mixture evenly across tops staying away from edges

Roll up noodles loosely 

Place noodle spiral side down in pan, use toothpick if needed to make sure not to unroll

Drizzle tops with sauce from saute pan 

Sprinkle cheese on top if any leftover from filling

Bake 425 for 15-20 minutes

picture from homeiswheretheholmansare.blogspot.com

Japanese Gyoza

Great as a snack or an appetizer, these gyoza's are small but delicious. They have a heavy Japanese flavor profile making your taste buds thank you as you eat them.

Ingredients:
              Wonton Wrappers
              1/4 lb ground hamburger
              1 sausage minced
              1 tsp onion minced
              1/2 tsp soy sauce
              1/8 tsp ground pepper
              5-6 red pepper flakes
              1/2 tsp minced garlic
              1 water chestnut minced
              3 cups water
              1 chicken or vegetable bullion cube
              1 scallion julienne

Mix together in large bowl

              1/4 lb ground hamburger
              1 sausage minced
              1 tsp onion minced
              1/2 tsp soy sauce
              1/8 tsp ground pepper
              5-6 red pepper flakes
              1/2 tsp minced garlic
              1 water chestnut minced

Lay out wonton wrappers

Spoon meat filling evenly into center of wrappers

Brush edges of wrappers with water and fold to seal

Fold into triangle shape, then once more into another triangle and pinch edges closed

Bring to boil in sauce pan

              3 cups water
              1 chicken or vegetable bullion cube
              1 scallion julienne

Place all wontons in broth and cover

Immediately turn to simmer and cook for 8 minutes

Serve broth and wontons and enjoy

picture from hungryhoss.com

Over the Boarder Pasta

This sauce for the pasta brings in the essence of Mexican cooking with the different ingredients incorporated. They all compliment each other once tasted and make you want to go back for seconds.

Ingredients:
             1 tbs olive oil
             1/4 onion julienned
             2 broccoli spears chopped
             3 carrots sliced into small circles
             1/2 tsp garlic pieces
             1/4 cup salsa
             1/2 cup chili without beans
             1/4 cup black beans
             3 tbs tomato sauce
             1 tsp green chilies
             1/4 tsp cumin
             less than 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
             3 tbs sour cream

Saute the following until carrots are tender

             1 tbs olive oil
             1/4 onion julienned
             2 broccoli spears chopped
             3 carrots sliced into small circles
             1/2 tsp garlic pieces

Add to saute pan

             1/4 cup salsa
             1/2 cup chili without beans
             1/4 cup black beans
             3 tbs tomato sauce
             1 tsp green chilies
             1/4 tsp cumin
             less than 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Heat until the mixture comes to a boil

Remove from heat and mix in 3 tbs sour cream

Set aside

Boil 3/4 pan of water

Add pasta and cook for desired time

Drain and divide pasta into bowls

Pour sauce mixture over pasta

Optional: sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese

Meat Pockets

Similar to a taco, these meat pockets incorporate many qualities of a taco. The only difference is the filling gets folded inward into a pocket so it is easier to consume but taste just as amazing.

Ingredients:
             11/2 cup flour
             1/2 tsp baking powder
             1/2 tsp salt
             3 tbs olive oil
             1/2 cup boiling water
             1/4 lb hamburg
             1 tbs olive oil
             1/2 tsp garlic pieces
             1 tsp dry minced onion
             1/4 colored pepper minced
             3-4 tbs tomato sauce, salsa, or Bar-B-Q sauce

In a large bowl mix together

             11/2 cup flour
             1/2 tsp baking powder
             1/2 tsp salt

Add to bowl and stir with a fork

             3 tbs olive oil
             1/2 cup boiling water

Continue to stir with a fork until dough is soft and pliable-do not knead

Divide dough into 3-4 equal parts

Roll each dough into circles on counter that has been lightly floured

Cut hamburg into medium pieces

Brown the meat in a saute pan with

             1 tbs olive oil
             1/2 tsp garlic pieces
             1 tsp dry minced onion
             1/4 colored pepper minced

Add 3-4 tbs tomato sauce, salsa, or Bar-B-Q sauce when meat is browned

Divide meat evenly into the center of each dough circle

Optional: shred cheese and sprinkle over meat

Fold dough in half pinching edges to ensure closure

Place on baking sheet that has been dusted with cornmeal

Bake 425 17-20 minutes or until golden brown

Mexican Soft Flour Shells and Filling

A simple yet delicious taco for all to enjoy. It is a pretty basic Mexican flavor profile, but you will not regret tasting it, for once you eat one you will want more.

Ingredients:
              1 1/2 cups flour
              1/2 tsp baking powder
              3 tbs olive oil
              1/3 cup + 2 tbs boiling water
              l lb hamburger
              3 tbs chopped onion
              1/2 tsp garlic
              1/4 tsp cumin
              2 tbs salsa

Mix together in a bowl

              1 1/2 cups flour
              1/2 tsp baking powder
              3 tbs olive oil

Tear off a piece of dough a little larger than a golf ball

Roll dough out into 6 inch circles

Heat up lightly greased frying pan with 1 tsp oil

Place dough circle onto pan and cook shell 10 seconds on each side or until golden brown

Remove and set aside

Add to frying pan and cook until brown

              l lb hamburger
              3 tbs chopped onion
              1/2 tsp garlic
              1/4 tsp cumin


Add salsa to hamburger only when hamburg is brown then continue to cook on low heat

Add meat to taco shell and top with favorite taco toppings

Mexican Pasta

This pasta dish incorporates many mexican ingredients, like salsa, chili, and diced chilies. When mixed together for the sauce, these flavors all compliment both the mexican flavor profile and your taste buds.

Ingredients:
              1 tbs olive oil
              1/4 pound lean hamburg
              2 tbs chopped onion
              1 slice green pepper, minced
              1/2 tsp garlic
              1 small carrot sliced very thin
              2 tsp green diced chilies
              1/2 cup chili
              1/4 cup thick salsa
              3 tbs water
              1/2 tsp chili powder
              2 tbs sour cream

Brown in a saute pan on medium heat

              1 tbs olive oil
              1/4 pound lean hamburg
              2 tbs chopped onion
              1 slice green pepper, minced
              1/2 tsp garlic
              1 small carrot sliced very thin
              2 tsp green diced chilies

Lower heat to simmer and stir in

              1/2 cup chili
              1/4 cup thick salsa
              3 tbs water
              1/2 tsp chili powder
              2 tbs sour cream

Cook just until heated through and remove from heat

Boil 2/3 pan of water

Add pasta to water and cook for 10-12 minutes

Drain pasta

Serve pasta and pour meat sauce over pasta