Meatless Meals Archives

Category: Meatless Meals

06
Sep
2021

Smoked Macaroni And Cheese

categories: Meatless Meals, Side Dishes, Traeger Grill Recipes

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Smoked Macaroni And Cheese is a tasty side OR main dish, cooked on a Traeger or smoker grill. The cheese sauce is easily made from scratch!

Do you enjoy homemade macaroni and cheese? It is a favorite “comfort food” of ours. Most of the time we make an EASY version on the stove top in our kitchen (recipe here on my blog). However, we also enjoy it when we use our smoker grill to make it, which imparts a unique smoky taste we really like. I came up with this recipe to in order to use our Traeger to make this handy dandy, beloved pasta dish.

That is the recipe I am sharing here today. We tend to make this as a side dish when we are smoking meat low and slow on our Traeger grill. This smoked macaroni and cheese is smoked at a low temperature, and tastes wonderful once done. The cheese sauce and the pasta are pre-cooked inside, then combined to put on the smoker grill. Topped with sharp cheddar and bread crumbs, this is one delicious side dish OR main dish! You can make it ahead, and then smoke it when ready, which is definitely convenient. Here’s how to make it:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Prepare The Cheese Sauce

TIP: While making the cheese sauce, cook the macaroni pasta in another saucepan, but cook it for 2 MINUTES LESS than the package instructions say. This will give you time to cook and drain the macaroni before adding the hot, completed cheese sauce.

To make the cheese sauce, melt butter in a medium saucepan on medium-low heat. Gradually whisk in the all purpose flour and dry mustard powder, being sure to whisk constantly. Cook for approx. 2 minutes, whisking constantly, to ensure the butter does not brown. Slowly whisk in the milk, and continue to mix until the sauce is slightly thickened and smooth.

Stir the Velveeta cheese OR American cheese chunks into the hot sauce in the saucepan. Stir until the cheese has melted. If you feel the sauce is too thick once done, simply add a small amount of milk to thin it out just a little bit.

TIP#1: I’ve also made this sauce using 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup of sharp cheddar. That will also make a nice, creamy sauce. TIP #2: If you are a real cheese lover, you can substitute a full pound of Velveeta or American cheese in the sauce (instead of the 12 ounces called for in the recipe). It is delicious, too!

Preparing The Macaroni And Cheese For The Smoker Grill

When the macaroni has finished cooking, drain the water, but do not rinse the noodles. Place the hot noodles in a large mixing bowl. Pour the hot cheese sauce over the top, then stir well to fully combine the ingredients.

Take a quick taste, and add salt and pepper to suit your personal taste, if desired. Spray the baking pan with non-stick cooking spray (or coat with melted butter), then add the macaroni and cheese. Spread it out evenly in the pan.

Evenly sprinkle the surface with grated cheddar cheese. Next sprinkle with the bread crumbs, followed by a few sprinkles of paprika. Now your smoked macaroni and cheese is ready for the smoker grill.

Time For The Smoker Grill

Preheat your smoker grill to 225°F, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once at temperature, place the smoked macaroni and cheese pan onto the grate, leaving the pan uncovered. Close the lid of the smoker. Smoke the macaroni and cheese (pan uncovered) for 20 minutes.

After the first 20 minutes, cover the pan securely with aluminum foil, and continue cooking for another 25-30 minutes (we usually do 30), or until heated through and the cheese on top is melted.

Ready To EAT Some Smoked Macaroni And Cheese!

Now it’s time to enjoy your smoked macaroni and cheese! Serve this dish hot, grab a fork, and dig in. It has a subtle smoky taste (which we love) and tastes wonderful! This dish will yield approximately 8 small servings (can be served as a side OR a main dish. I hope you enjoy it!

Thank you for stopping by today. I truly hope you will come back again for more family-friendly recipes you can make for those you love. Have a great day, friends.

Looking for More Traeger Or Smoker Grill Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a variety of recipes utilizing a smoker grill for you to enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so. If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1^st and 15^th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

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Smoked Macaroni and Cheese

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

50 mins

Total Time

1 hr 5 mins

Smoked Macaroni And Cheese is a tasty side OR main dish, cooked on a Traeger or smoker grill. The cheese sauce is easily made from scratch!

Category: Main Dish, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: smoked macaroni and cheese

Servings: 8

Calories Per Serving: 516 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

For Pasta:

2½ quarts water =10 cups water
1 pound elbow macaroni

For Cheese Sauce:

4 Tablespoons butter
¼ cup all purpose flour
½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
1 cup milk + more to thin sauce, if desired
12 ounces American cheese (or Velveeta) , cut into small chunks
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
¼ cup dried bread crumbs
¼ teaspoon paprika

Melted butter or cooking spray to grease the baking dish (bottom and sides)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cook Pasta- Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add macaroni. Cook macaroni for 2 MINUTES LESS than the package instructions say. If you cook the pasta while making the cheese sauce in a separate pan, it will save you time.
Make Cheese Sauce- Melt butter in a medium saucepan on medium-low heat. Gradually whisk in all purpose flour and mustard powder, being sure to whisk constantly. Cook 2 minutes, whisking constantly, to ensure butter does not brown. Slowly whisk in milk; continue to whisk until sauce is smooth and has thickened slightly. Stir Velveeta OR American cheese chunks into sauce. Stir until cheese has melted. If sauce is too thick once done, simply add a small amount of milk to thin it out a bit.
When macaroni has finished cooking, drain off water, but do not rinse noodles. Place drained macaroni in a large bowl. Pour cheese sauce over the top, then stir well to fully combine ingredients. Taste, then season with salt/pepper to suit your taste. Spray baking pan with non-stick cooking spray (or coat with melted butter), then add the macaroni and cheese, spreading evenly in pan. Sprinkle top with grated cheddar, then bread crumbs, followed by a few sprinkles of paprika.
Preheat smoker grill to 225°F, according to manufacturer's instructions. Once at temperature, place macaroni and cheese pan onto the grate, LEAVING PAN UNCOVERED. Close the smoker lid. Cook for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, cover the pan securely with aluminum foil. Continue cooking another 25-30 minutes, or until heated through and cheese on top is melted. Remove from grill; serve hot.

Recipe Notes

TIP#1: You can make sauce using 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup of sharp cheddar.

TIP #2: If you're a cheese lover, you can add a full pound of cheese to the sauce (instead of the 12 ounces called for in recipe).

Nutrition Facts

Smoked Macaroni and Cheese

Amount Per Serving (1 (1/8 of total))

Calories 516 Calories from Fat 225

% Daily Value*

Fat 25g38%

Saturated Fat 15g94%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 7g

Cholesterol 74mg25%

Sodium 890mg39%

Potassium 255mg7%

Carbohydrates 51g17%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 21g42%

Vitamin A 807IU16%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 604mg60%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!

09
Jul
2021

Easy Tomato Basil Pasta

categories: Italian, Main Dishes, Meatless Meals

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Easy tomato basil pasta is yummy, and is a CINCH to make! Marinate fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic & spices, then add to cooked pasta, to serve!

As I write this blog post, we are in the middle of a record-shattering heat wave here in our part of Oregon. Temps yesterday were 113°F., and they are “expected to hit 115° F today. Even though we have air conditioning (most in the Portland metro do not), we are trying our best not to use the oven, or even cook a lot of hot food. That’s where this recipe comes in handy! I am making this again tonight for my husband, and my sister-in-law (who is staying with us and our air conditioning during this heat wave, to stay cool).

I found this recipe (source unknown) many years ago in an old recipe box I’ve had for over 30 years. Not sure where I got the original recipe, but it’s a KEEPER! I’ve made it a few times way back when, but decided recently to make it again, photograph it, and post the recipe on the ol’ blog! Now you can enjoy it, too!

It is totally simple meatless main dish, and light enough (yet filling) to enjoy on a hot OR cold day!. If you can boil spaghetti noodles, you can make this delicious pasta dish! I’ve now made this pasta twice in the past two weeks, and it is yummy! Here’s how to make easy tomato basil pasta.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How To Make Easy Tomato Basil Pasta

In a medium sized bowl, combine chopped fresh tomatoes, thinly sliced fresh basil, minced garlic, and salt and pepper. Give them a good stir to fully combine ingredients together, and then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit on the counter for one hour (or more, if you have the time). Do NOT refrigerate the tomato mixture, and give it a stir a couple of times during the “marinating”.

After the tomato basil mixture has marinated for an hour, you will notice that the tomatoes have released some of their juice. That is perfect, and just what you want them to do. Set the tomato mixture aside while you cook the pasta.

Cook The Pasta

Cook the spaghetti (or angel hair pasta) in boiling, lightly salted water according to the package instructions until done. Immediately pour the hot pasta into a colander to drain off water, BUT DO NOT RINSE! You want the pasta HOT.

As soon as the water is drained, pour the hot pasta noodles back into the cooking pan. Immediately add the room temperature tomato/basil/garlic mixture. YES, you add it (uncooked) to the hot pasta. Toss the pasta and tomato basil mixture (including all the accumulated juice) until fully combined.

Garnish, Then Serve Easy Tomato Basil Pasta

While it is still hot, portion out the easy tomato basil pasta into serving bowls or onto plates. Grate fresh Parmesan cheese on top of the pasta, and garnish with a couple fresh basil leaves, if desired. Serve immediately!

We love this simple pasta dish, and it truly tastes wonderful! I hope you have the opportunity to try this recipe, and trust you will enjoy it as much as we do. If you like meatless pasta, be sure to check out my recipe for Garlic Penne Pasta and Veggies! Thanks for stopping by, and I trust you will come back again soon! Take care, and may God bless you throughout this day.

Looking For More PASTA Recipes?

You can find ALL of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have lots of yummy pasta recipes I think you’ll enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Original recipe source: unknown

0 from 0 votes

Easy Tomato Basil Pasta

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

RESTING TIME (inactive prep)

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 15 mins

Easy tomato basil pasta is yummy, & a CINCH to make! Marinate fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic & spices, then add to cooked pasta, to serve!

Category: Main Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: easy tomato basil pasta

Servings: 4

Calories Per Serving: 249 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

2 cups diced, fresh tomatoes , approx. 2 large tomatoes
2 teaspoons fresh basil , thinly sliced or chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic
½ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
8 ounces spaghetti or angel hair pasta
4 Tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese , for garnish
8 leaves fresh basil , for garnish

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a medium bowl, combine chopped tomatoes, chopped or thinly sliced basil, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Stir to fully combine ingredients. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit on the counter for one hour (or more). Do NOT refrigerate tomato mixture; give it a stir a couple times during the "marinating". After mixture has marinated for an hour, you will notice the tomatoes have released some juice. That what you want them to do. Set the tomato mixture aside while you cook the pasta.
Cook spaghetti (or angel hair pasta) in boiling, lightly salted water according to package instructions until done. Immediately pour hot pasta into a colander to drain off water, BUT DO NOT RINSE! You want the pasta HOT.
As soon as water has drained off, pour hot pasta back into cooking pan. Immediately add room temperature tomato mixture. YES, add it (uncooked) to the hot pasta. Toss the pasta and tomato basil mixture (including accumulated juice) until fully combined.
While still hot, portion pasta into serving bowls or onto plates. Grate fresh Parmesan cheese on top, and garnish with a couple fresh basil leaves, if desired. Serve immediately!

Nutrition Facts

Easy Tomato Basil Pasta

Amount Per Serving (1 (1/4 of total))

Calories 249 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 4mg1%

Sodium 375mg16%

Potassium 323mg9%

Carbohydrates 46g15%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 10g20%

Vitamin A 720IU14%

Vitamin C 11mg13%

Calcium 82mg8%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!

26
Mar
2021

Lemon Pasta And Peas

categories: Italian, Main Dishes, Meatless Meals

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Lemon Pasta and Peas is an easy, delicious, meatless dish. Pasta and peas, with lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and Parmesan will be a big hit!

I received two new cookbooks from my family this past Christmas to add to my cookbook collection. Both cookbooks were written by the same couple (Steve and Kathy Doocy), and had been on top of the best seller list at one time or another. It was fun to read the stories behind the foods and mark some of the recipes I wanted to try.

This recipe for lemon pasta and peas is the first one I tried from “The Happy In A Hurry Cook Book”. The Doocy’s originally got the recipe from their friend Madeleine (it’s her “go to” pasta dish). It is a simple, meatless dish, can be made quickly (under 20 minutes), and has wonderful flavor. We enjoyed it with a slice of rotisserie chicken on the side (my hubby wanted some protein).

Once the pasta is almost fully cooked, you add frozen peas to the pasta water in the pan (which quickly cooks them!). The remaining ingredients (the flavor factor) are then added to the cooked, drained pasta and peas. That’s it… see how EASY this meal is to make?! Here’s how to make this simple dish:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe At The Bottom Of The Page

Cook The Pasta And Peas

The first thing you need to do is bring a large pan of salted water to a boil. Once the water has come to a boil, add the pasta to the pan, and cook. TIP: You will need to cook the pasta for 1 minute less than the pkg. directions tell you for al dente.

Add the frozen peas (yes, still FROZEN) to the pan of boiling pasta. Let them cook for 2 more minutes right in there with the pasta. NOTE: The recipe calls for using one (12 oz.) bag of frozen peas. If you would prefer LESS peas in this dish, simply add HALF the bag.

Remove one cup of the hot pasta water, and set it aside for later. Pour the pasta and peas into a strainer or colander, and drain the remaining water from the pan, but do not rinse. Return the hot drained pasta and peas to the pan, and immediately begin seasoning the dish (off of the heat).

Seasoning The Lemon Pasta And Peas For Serving

While the drained pasta is still hot, add olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and minced garlic, tossing to coat the pasta and peas well. Once combined, add the grated Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, and give it another good toss to combine.

Now you will add a little bit of the reserved hot starchy pasta water. Give the pasta good stir as you add the water. This will help the pasta to not be dry, and help to melt the Parmesan cheese. You won’t need to use all of the pasta water… just use enough to coat the pasta to your liking, ok?

Time To Enjoy Lemon Pasta And Peas

Now the lemon pasta and peas are ready to serve (while they’re still hot). If you find that the pasta has cooled down too much, simply reheat it quickly in the microwave. Serve immediately, and enjoy this easy, delicious pasta dish!

Don’t Want It To Be Meatless?

If you want to add protein to the dish, add a slice or two of rotisserie chicken on the side. You could also add cooked, cubed chicken or pork into the pasta as well. Whatever makes you happy! My hubby asked for some protein with his, so I added a slice of rotisserie chicken breast on the side.

I hope you enjoy this recipe for lemon pasta and peas. Any leftovers will keep for several days in the refrigerator, stored in an airtight container, and can be reheated easily in a microwave. Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you will come back soon!

Looking For More PASTA Recipes?

You can find all of my blog recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have quite a few delicious pasta recipes, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Original recipe source: “The Happy In A Hurry Cook Book”, by Steve and Kathy Doocy, page 163, published by William Morrow, 2020

0 from 0 votes

Lemon Pasta and Peas

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

20 mins

Lemon Pasta and Peas is an easy, delicious, meatless dish. Pasta and peas, with lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and Parmesan will be a big hit!

Category: Dinner, Pasta

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: lemon pasta and peas

Servings: 6

Calories Per Serving: 449 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

1 pound spaghetti pasta
12 ounces frozen sweet green peas
½ cup fresh lemon juice approx. 2-3 lemons
3 Tablespoons olive oil
2 large garlic cloves minced
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese or Pecorino Romano
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Bring a large pan of salted water to a boil on medium-high heat. Once water boils, add pasta and cook. Note: cook pasta for 1 minute less than pkg. directions tell you for al dente. Add frozen peas (yes, still FROZEN) and let them cook 2 minutes, in with the pasta.
Remove 1 cup of hot pasta water; set aside. Pour pasta/peas into a strainer; drain remaining water from pan. Do not rinse pasta. Return hot drained pasta/peas to pan (off the heat).
Add olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and minced garlic to pasta, tossing or stirring to coat. Now add Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and toss to combine. pour in a little bit of reserved hot pasta water; stir, then add more as needed, to melt cheese and help pasta to not be dry. You won't need to use all of the pasta water.
Serve immediately while hot, and enjoy this easy, delicious pasta dish!

Nutrition Facts

Lemon Pasta and Peas

Amount Per Serving (1 (1/6 of total))

Calories 449 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 11mg4%

Sodium 393mg17%

Potassium 350mg10%

Carbohydrates 67g22%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 18g36%

Vitamin A 544IU11%

Vitamin C 31mg38%

Calcium 173mg17%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!

18
Mar
2021

Navy Bean Soup

categories: Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Soups

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Navy Bean Soup is delicious and filling! Slowly cooked dried navy beans, carrots, garlic, celery, onion, broth & spices create a robust soup.

Do you enjoy soup? We really do, especially in the cold of winter when a big bowl of piping hot soup takes the chill off the day! Today I want to share with you a recipe that I originally found in an old Italian cookbook of mine (from Williams-Sonoma). It is really tasty, warming, and filling.

The recipe uses dried navy beans, so the only “downside” (if there is one), is that it will take some time to soak and cook the beans until they have slightly softened. Typically I soak the beans early in the day, then add them to the soup later and then let the soup cook low and slow to infuse the beans with flavor, and to soften them perfectly! It’s inactive prep time, so you do other things while they soak!

So… as long as you plan ahead a little bit, you will have no problems making this absolutely DELICIOUS navy bean soup. Yes… it will take a bit of your time on your part, but it is worth it! Don’t forget, a lot of the time involved is inactive time (soaking, cooking, etc.) Let me show you how to make navy bean soup:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Prepare The Navy Beans

Bags of navy beans can be found in most grocery stores, and are a very economical main ingredient for the soup. Because this recipe calls for dried navy beans, that means you’ll need to plan ahead to soak them (which helps soften them). I usually do this step early in the day, so the beans have several hours to soak.

To do this, first rinse the navy beans in a strainer. Once rinsed, place the beans in a large bowl and completely cover with water. Let them soak for at least 3 hours, and then drain.

Ready To Cook the Navy Bean Soup

Okay… the beans have soaked. Now it’s time to start making the soup. Place olive oil into a large soup pot, and let it get warm (on medium heat). Add chopped celery, carrots and onion to the pot, and cook for about 8-10 minutes (stirring occasionally) until the veggies have softened.

Once the veggie have softened, add minced garlic and minced fresh rosemary to the pot, and stir to combine. Cook this mixture for a couple minutes, stirring often so the garlic doesn’t burn.

Add the chicken stock (or vegetable stock) and the drained, softened navy beans to the pot. Stir to combine, and then bring it to a boil on MEDIUM heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to LOW, and let the navy bean soup simmer for about 1½ hours, uncovered. You will know it is done when the beans are soft to the bite, and the liquid has reduced in quantity. Let the soup cool for 5 minutes.

Thickening The Navy Bean Soup

Now you’re ready for the last step… thickening the navy bean soup for eating! It’s EASY. Remove about 1/3 of the bean mixture and place it in a blender (or food processor). Process the bean/soup mixture until it becomes a puree, smooth in texture.

Return the pureed bean mix to the soup pot, and stir well, to fully incorporate the puree into the soup. This will really help thicken the soup! Gently reheat the soup until it’s hot enough to serve. Season the navy bean soup with salt and black pepper, to suit your personal taste.

Garnish, Serve, and Enjoy!

Once you have the soup seasoned to your liking, it is time to serve/ Ladle the navy bean soup into individual serving bowls. Garnish each portion with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese. Serve piping hot, and enjoy this thick, creamy and delicious soup!

I really hope you have a chance to make and enjoy eating this soup. We sure enjoy it, and trust you will, too! Thank you for stopping by, and sincerely hope you will come back soon. Have a GREAT day!

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

You can find all of my soup recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have lots of delicious soup recipes, including:

Grandma’s Southern-Style Chicken n’ Dumplings (my #1 pinned recipe)
Albondigas Soup
Southwestern Chicken Soup
Fully Loaded Potato Soup

Interested In More Recipes?

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Original recipe source: The cookbook “Williams-Sonoma Italian Favorites”, page 22, published in 2004 by Oxmoor House and Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

0 from 0 votes

Navy Bean Soup

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

1 hr 30 mins

Inactive (Bean Soaking Time)

3 hrs

Total Time

4 hrs 40 mins

Navy Bean Soup is delicious and filling! Slowly cooked dried navy beans, carrots, garlic, celery, onion, broth & spices create a robust soup.

Category: Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: navy bean soup

Servings: 6

Calories Per Serving: 332 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

1½ cups small navy beans (dried)
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion , finely chopped
1 large carrot , peeled/finely chopped
1 stalk celery , finely chopped
2 cloves garlic , minced
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary , minced
7 cups low-sodium chicken broth , or vegetable broth
salt & pepper, to taste

To Garnish:

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tablespoon Italian flat leaf parsley , chopped

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Rinse beans in a strainer. Once rinsed, place beans in large bowl; cover completely with water. Let beans soak at least 3 hours; drain.
Once beans have soaked at least 3 hours: Place olive oil into a large soup pot; heat oil until warm on medium heat. Add celery, carrots and onion; cook 8-10 minutes (stirring occasionally) until veggies have softened. Add garlic and rosemary; stir to combine. Cook 2 minutes, stirring often, so garlic doesn't burn.
Add chicken stock (or vegetable stock or water) and the drained beans. Stir to combine, and bring to a boil on MEDIUM heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to LOW; simmer soup gently for 1½ hours, uncovered. It is done when beans are soft to the bite., and liquid has reduced. Let cool for 5 minutes.
Remove about 1/3 of the bean mixture; place in a blender (or food processor). Process bean/soup mixture until it becomes a smooth puree. Return puree to soup; stir well, to mix puree into soup. Gently reheat soup until hot. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Ladle hot soup into serving bowls. Garnish each portion with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese. Serve, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

NOTE: If you do not have access to chicken or vegetable broth, you can substitute 7 cups water. However... the flavor will be much better using the broth.

Nutrition Facts

Navy Bean Soup

Amount Per Serving (1 (1/6 of total))

Calories 332 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 7mg2%

Sodium 227mg10%

Potassium 950mg27%

Carbohydrates 39g13%

Fiber 13g54%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 21g42%

Vitamin A 2108IU42%

Vitamin C 3mg4%

Calcium 193mg19%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!

22
Jan
2021

Pasta in Wine and Garlic Sauce

categories: Italian, Main Dishes, Meatless Meals

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Make delicious pasta in wine and garlic sauce in under 15 minutes! SIMPLE to make, then garnish with Parmesan cheese for a tasty main dish!

Do you enjoy pasta dishes? We sure do… especially my husband! Today I want to share a super simple, but “oh so tasty” recipe for Pasta in Wine and Garlic Sauce. It is sooo good, and I’m confident you’re gonna enjoy it as much as we do.

I love this recipe, because while fresh (or dried) pasta is cooking, you whip up a flavorful, EASY sauce to coat the pasta with as soon as it is finished. We try to have a meatless meal about once a week, and this one is pretty amazing! The sauce truly only takes a couple minutes to make while the pasta cooks, so the recipe definitely is “LOW MAINTENANCE!”

That’s why this is such a great recipe. This pasta (and sauce) tastes wonderful, and is the perfect solution when you don’t have much time, motivation or energy to make dinner. We’ve all been there, right? You can even add cooked shrimp or chicken to this pasta if you need some added protein! Trust me, you really can’t hurt this dish!

Do I Have To Use Fettucine Noodles For This Recipe?

No. You do NOT have to use fettucine pasta. Use whatever type of pasta you have, fresh or dried. For these photos I used homemade fresh fettucine, but the recipe works perfectly with any type of fresh or dried pasta. I recently used a Christmas gift card to purchase pasta rolling attachments for my stand mixer, so I made some fettucine pasta to try the attachments out to “show off” this simple pasta in wine and garlic sauce recipe. Here’s how easy it is to make this dish:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Prepare The Pasta

Cook the pasta you will be using (dried or fresh) in boiling, heavily salted water, according to package directions. Continue until the pasta is cooked al dente. Please remember that fresh pasta takes less time to cook than dried pasta. You can make the sauce quickly while the pasta is cooking.

Make The Wine And Garlic Sauce While Pasta Cooks

Using a large saucepan or skillet, heat olive oil on medium heat. To the oil, add minced garlic, and red pepper flakes, and stir to combine. Cook this mixture for one minute, stirring often so the garlic doesn’t burn.

Add butter (cut into chunks), white wine, salt and black pepper. *NOTE: Use any type of dry white wine you want, including chardonnay, pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, etc.

Stir well as the butter melts, to combine the ingredients. Cook the sauce for two minutes on medium heat, and then remove the pan from the heat. BOOM! It’s DONE!

Time To Serve The Pasta In Wine And Garlic Sauce

As soon as the pasta is done, drain off the water, and then pour the hot pasta back into the saucepan or skillet. Immediately pour the wine and garlic sauce over the hot pasta, and toss really well, to coat the noodles with the sauce.

The pasta will not be “swimming” in the sauce- just make sure it’s all coated, so mix it well. Place the pasta in wine and garlic sauce into (or onto) serving bowls (or plates). Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley to garnish. If desired, you can also sprinkle on a few more red pepper flakes (if you want more “heat”), but that is optional!

Because the pasta is not “doused” in sauce, it will tend to cool fairly quickly, so serve it immediately. TIP: Once pasta has been garnished with Parmesan and parsley, I like to put each portion into the microwave for 20-30 seconds to make sure it is served HOT!

I sure hope you enjoy this delicious pasta dish. We really do, and my husband loves to request this for dinner. What more could you want in a simple, meatless recipe? Full of flavor, filling, and easy to make in a flash… it’s a keeper!

Looking For More PASTA Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have quite a few pasta recipes you’ll enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Original recipe source: julieblanner.com/white-wine-sauce/

0 from 0 votes

Pasta in Wine and Garlic Sauce

Prep Time

3 mins

Cook Time

4 mins

Total Time

7 mins

Make delicious pasta in wine and garlic sauce in under 15 minutes! SIMPLE to make, then garnish with Parmesan cheese for a tasty main dish!

Category: Main Course, Meatless Entree

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: pasta in wine and garlic sauce

Servings: 6

Calories Per Serving: 488 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

For Sauce:

¼ cup olive oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic (fresh or jarred)
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
5 Tablespoons butter (salted or unsalted)
½ cup dry white wine (chardonnay/pinot grigio/sauvignon blanc)
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

For Pasta:

1 pound pasta (fresh or dried, any type) See NOTE below.
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cook pasta (dried or fresh) in boiling, heavily salted water according to package directions. Continue until pasta is cooked al dente.

Make Sauce While Pasta Cooks:

Heat olive oil on medium in a large saucepan or skillet. Add garlic and red pepper flakes to the oil; stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute, stirring often so garlic doesn't burn. Add butter (cut in chunks), white wine, salt and black pepper. Stir as butter melts, to combine ingredients. Cook for 2 minutes on medium heat, then remove pan from heat.

To Serve:

When pasta is done, drain off water; pour pasta back into saucepan/skillet. Immediately pour sauce over hot pasta; toss well to coat pasta with sauce. Portion pasta into (or onto) serving bowls (or plates). Sprinkle with Parmesan and parsley. You can also sprinkle with a few red pepper flakes (if you want more "heat"), but that's optional! Serve hot, and enjoy. *Store any leftover pasta in a sealed container for up to 5-7 days. Reheat in microwave.

Recipe Notes

NOTE: Fresh pasta cooks the quickest, and is reflected in the cooking time. Dried pasta (any type may be used) will take longer to cook to al dente firmness, but is perfectly okay to use!

Nutrition Facts

Pasta in Wine and Garlic Sauce

Amount Per Serving (1 (1/6th of total))

Calories 488 Calories from Fat 189

% Daily Value*

Fat 21g32%

Saturated Fat 8g50%

Cholesterol 30mg10%

Sodium 566mg25%

Potassium 210mg6%

Carbohydrates 58g19%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 12g24%

Vitamin A 600IU12%

Vitamin C 4mg5%

Calcium 89mg9%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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23
Nov
2020

Creamy Avgolemono Soup

categories: Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Soups

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Creamy Avgolemono Soup is a classic Greek dish (with rice) that is delicious, rich and lemony, and very easy to make in under 30 minutes.

For many years I have read about, looked at recipes, and wondered about Avgolemono soup. It sounded quite unusual. I was tempted many times to give it a try, but never did, until last month. Whoa! I LOVED this soup! Who knew that a lemon-flavored creamy rice soup could taste so incredibly GOOD?

Creamy avgolemono soup is a classic Greek beloved soup, one of their signature dishes, to be sure. “Avgolemono” comes from the Greek language. “AVGO” means egg, and “LEMONO” means lemon. This light and creamy simple soup only uses a few ingredients, is EASY to make, and tastes wonderfully bright and fresh! I hope you will give it a try… it will surprise you, most likely. Here’s how to make it:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How To Make Creamy Avgolemono Soup

Heat six cups of chicken broth in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring it to a boil, and then pour in a half cup of uncooked long grain rice. Stir well, to combine.

Cook the broth and rice, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes on medium-high heat, until the rice becomes tender. Stir the rice occasionally while it is cooking, to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Temper The Egg Mixture Before Adding To Hot Soup

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk four egg yolks lightly, and then add fresh lemon juice and finely grated lemon zest, whisking to combine. Now it’s time to “temper” the egg mixture. This is a VERY important step!

*Tempering the eggs means slowly adding in hot broth VERY SLOWLY. This raises the temperature of the eggs, so that when they’re added to very hot soup, they won’t become “scrambled eggs”. Here’s how to temper the egg mixture:

Slowly drizzle 1 cup of the hot broth into the egg mixture, whisking constantly as you add it. Continue whisking until all the cup of broth has been added. Turn the heat down to medium-low under the broth in the pan , and then slowly add the warmed egg mixture back into the hot broth in the pot, whisking as you add it.

Finish Cooking The Soup

Let the soup continue to cook on medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring often. DO NOT LET THE SOUP COME TO A BOIL! The creamy avgolemono soup will thicken up a little bit as it continues to cook. Once it has fully heated through (about 3-4 minutes), remove the pan from the heat. Season lightly (to suit your taste) with salt and pepper.

Ready For A Bowl Of Creamy Avgolemono Soup!

Once heated through, the creamy avgolemono soup is ready to eat! Ladle the hot soup into serving bowls, and garnish each serving with chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (and strips of lemon peel, if desired).

The parsley and lemon peel add a “pop” of color, and another layer of flavor, but are not absolutely essential if you don’t have them handy! The soup is thick and creamy, bursting with lemon flavor, and the rice is very tender (and filling). We enjoy this soup with crusty slices of garlic bread on the side. YUM!

I truly hope you will give this creamy avgolemono soup a try- it’s quite delicious! The leftovers were microwaved for lunch the next day, and were wonderful, as well! Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you will come back soon. Take care.

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have lots of soup recipes you’ll enjoy, including:

Mom’s Old-Fashioned Chili
Grandma’s Southern-Style Chicken n’ Dumplings (my #1 pinned recipe)
Chicken Noodle Soup
Garden Vegetable Chowder

Interested In More Recipes?

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Original recipe source: The cookbook: “Williams-Sonoma Soup Of The Day”, by Kate McMillan, published by Weldon Owen, Inc. 2011, page 15

5 from 3 votes

Creamy Avgolemono Soup

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

25 mins

Creamy Avgolemono Soup is a classic Greek dish (with rice) that is delicious, rich and lemony, and very easy to make in under 30 minutes.

Category: Dinner, Soup

Cuisine: Greek

Keyword: creamy avgolemono soup

Servings: 4

Calories Per Serving: 200 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
½ cup long grain white rice , uncooked
4 large egg yolks , slightly beaten
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest (finely grated lemon peel)
salt/pepper, to taste
2 Tablespoons fresh parsley (flat leaf) , chopped for garnish

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Heat broth in large saucepan on medium-high heat. Bring to a boil; add uncooked rice. Cook uncovered, 15-20 minutes on medium-high heat, until rice is tender. .Stir occasionally while it cooks, to prevent rice from sticking to bottom of pan.
In a medium bowl, whisk egg yolks lightly. Add lemon juice and zest, whisking to combine. "Temper" the egg mixture. *Tempering eggs means slowly adding in hot broth VERY SLOWLY. This raises the temperature of the eggs, so that when added to hot soup, they won't scramble. Here's how: Measure out, then slowly drizzle 1 cup of the hot broth into the egg mixture, whisking constantly as you add it. Continue whisking until the entire cup of broth is added.
Turn the heat down to medium-low under the broth in pan; slowly add the warmed egg mixture back into the broth in pan, constantly whisking as you add it back in. Let the soup continue cooking on medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring often. DO NOT LET THE SOUP COME TO A BOIL! Soup will thicken up a bit as it cooks. Once hot (3-4 minutes), remove pan from the heat.
Season lightly (to suit your taste) with salt and pepper. Ladle hot soup into bowls, and garnish each serving with chopped parsley (and strips of lemon peel, if desired). Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Creamy Avgolemono Soup

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 200 Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Fat 7g11%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 184mg61%

Sodium 117mg5%

Potassium 376mg11%

Carbohydrates 25g8%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 12g24%

Vitamin A 414IU8%

Vitamin C 9mg11%

Calcium 45mg5%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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02
Oct
2020

Black Beans And Rice

categories: Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Mexican / Southwestern

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Black Beans and Rice is a scrumptious, budget-friendly, meatless meal for the family! A lot of flavor, fiber, and protein in this easy dish!

If you’re looking for a “meatless Monday” kind of meal, may I suggest this easy recipe for black beans and rice? Not only is it meatless, it is fairly inexpensive to prepare, and tastes fantastic! My husband and I recently began setting aside at least one night a week for meatless meals. We are true meat-eaters, but find it to be a wonderful break for us. I originally found this recipe while searching for meatless meals online. I only “tweaked” the original recipe I used very slightly.

This recipe features black beans, brown rice, veggies and spices, which are great options in any tasty meal. Black beans are a wonderful source of protein and have lots of fiber, which helps add to a feeling of fulness. Brown rice also has more fiber, antioxidants, vitamins & minerals than white rice, so it will also help “fill you up”. That’s a win-win, in my book. Here’s how to make black beans and rice:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page.

Prepare The Spice Mixture

Before beginning to cook this simple dish, I start by getting the spices together, so they’ll be ready to dump into the skillet later! The spices used add wonderful flavor (and is not too spicy) to the black beans and rice.

The spices you will need for this dish are dried parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper. Measure them into a small bowl, and give them a stir, to combine. Set the spice mixture aside until later.

A Note About Cooking The Brown Rice

You will need to cook the brown rice in broth (vegetable OR chicken). Brown rice tends to take a bit longer to cook than white rice, so plan a bit ahead on this one, ok? I try to get the rice almost fully cooked before preparing the rest of the dish. You can make it ahead to save time, and then fluff it with a fork before adding it to this dish, if that’s more convenient.

Cook the rice according to the package instructions, but substitute vegetable or chicken broth for the water needed. The broth adds another layer of flavor. It is not absolutely essential to do this, but I highly recommend it! Once the rice is fully cooked, and the liquid has been absorbed, remove it from the heat source, fluff it with a fork, and set aside.

Preparing The Black Beans And Rice

Now it’s time to put this meal together. Heat olive oil on medium heat in a large skillet until very hot. Add chopped green peppers and yellow onion to the hot oil. Sauté the veggies for 4-5 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking or burning.

Once done, add drained black beans, minced garlic, diced fresh tomatoes, and the spice mixture to the skillet. Stir well, to fully combine all the spices with the ingredients. I was happy to be able to use a jar of my homemade canned black beans in this meal (YAY).

Add one more cup of vegetable or chicken broth to the skillet. Cook the mixture, uncovered, on medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring often. This just adds in another layer of flavor. When finished cooking, the liquid should be reduced/absorbed.

Add the cooked brown rice to the skillet, and stir well, to incorporate it into the veggies. Cook on medium heat for a couple minutes, stirring often, until the black beans and rice are heated through. Remove the skillet from the heat source.

Time To Serve The Black Beans And Rice

Now the black beans and rice are ready to serve immediately, while hot. The recipe make 3 good sized servings, or 4 smaller servings, and can be easily doubled. When we enjoy this meal, we like to top each portion with a few fresh avocado slices, and a dollop of sour cream (optional). These toppings add color, extra flavor, creamy texture and taste to perfectly complete this yummy, filling meal!

We really love flavor-filled black beans and rice, and I hope you have the opportunity to try this meal soon! Pretty sure you won’t even miss the meat! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you will come back for a visit again soon.

Looking For More MEATLESS MEALS?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have a variety of meatless meals you might enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Original recipe source: Ginny, at https://veganinthefreezer.com/acadian-black-beans/

0 from 0 votes

Black Beans and Rice

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

35 mins

Black Beans and Rice is a scrumptious, budget-friendly, meatless meal for the family! A lot of flavor, fiber, and protein in this easy dish!

Category: Entree, Meatless Entree

Cuisine: American

Keyword: black beans and rice

Servings: 3

Calories Per Serving: 352 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

Spice Mix:

½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
⅛ teaspoon black pepper

For Remainder Of Dish:

1¾ cup vegetable or chicken broth , low sodium
¾ cup uncooked brown rice
½ Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
¼ medium yellow onion , peeled and chopped
½ medium green bell pepper , seeded and chopped
15 ounces canned black beans , rinsed and drained
¼ cup diced fresh tomatoes
1 large garlic clove , minced
1 cup vegetable or chicken broth (additional) , low sodium

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Measure spices into small bowl. Stir to combine/set aside.
Cook rice according to pkg. instructions, substituting 1¾ cups vegetable or chicken broth for water called for. Once done, and liquid has fully reduced, remove from heat; set aside.
Heat olive oil (medium heat) in a large skillet until hot. Add green peppers and onion. Sauté 4-5 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking/burning. When done, add black beans, minced garlic, diced tomatoes, and spice mixture to skillet. Stir well.
Add one add'l. cup of broth to skillet. Cook uncovered, on medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring often. When finished, liquid should be fully reduced/absorbed. Add brown rice. Stir well. Cook on medium heat 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until heated through.
Serve immediately, topping each portion with avocado slices/sour cream dollop, if desired, Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Black Beans and Rice

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 352 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 936mg41%

Potassium 641mg18%

Carbohydrates 66g22%

Fiber 13g54%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 14g28%

Vitamin A 246IU5%

Vitamin C 22mg27%

Calcium 71mg7%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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14
Aug
2020

Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

categories: Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Mexican / Southwestern

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Make a yummy batch of Easy Cheesy Enchiladas in a flash, with cheddar and jack cheese, canned enchilada sauce, onions, and corn tortillas.

One of my lifetime friends gave me her family’s “recipe” for making basic cheese enchiladas over 42 years ago. I have been making them, in one form or another ever since! The recipe (as shown in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page) is her recipe for basic cheese enchiladas, perfect for “Meatless Mondays” (or anytime, for that matter!).

My friend, Nadine, says lightly frying the corn tortillas in hot oil BEFORE filling them, is the secret to making them. Nadine says it’s because the slightly cooked tortillas won’t tear as easily as dry tortillas might when filling them.

I’ve always made our enchiladas this way, and now (42 years later), I’ve probably used this little basic recipe hundreds of times! You can even go WILD (ha ha) and add seasoned ground beef, chicken, turkey or shredded pork, if you want to add some “meat”.

We have enjoyed these little enchiladas so long now, I feel like they are part of our family! It really doesn’t take much effort to make a pan of eight enchiladas (and the recipe can be easily doubled). Here’s how to make them:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Preparing To Make Enchiladas

Preheat your oven to 350° Place the chopped onion, and grated jack and cheddar cheeses into individual bowls. NOTE: Set aside about 1/4 cup each of the two cheeses and save for later. You will need this cheese to sprinkle on top of the filled enchiladas before baking.

I like to set the bowls close together, right next to where I will be filling the enchiladas, so it is easy for me to grab the ingredients.

Quick Fry To Soften Tortillas

Heat the oil in a small skillet (large enough for the tortillas, though!). You only need a small amount of oil, (usually about 3 Tablespoons) to barely cover the bottom of the skillet. You amount may vary, based on the size skillet you are using.

Heat the oil on medium-high heat until it is very hot, but NOT smoking. Lay a tortilla in the hot oil, and let it cook for about 15 seconds, then flip it to the other side, using tongs.

Cook 15 more seconds, and then carefully (using tongs) lift the tortilla out of the hot oil, letting the excess oil drip back into skillet, and place tortilla on a paper towel.

Repeat process with all 8 tortillas. When done, carefully blot the tortillas with paper towels to soak up any extra oil. Stack the tortillas on top of each other. Now you’re ready to fill the tortillas, and they should be nice and pliable, so they don’t tear.

Filling And Rolling Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

Before filling the enchiladas, spoon just enough of the enchilada sauce in a 9×13 baking dish to cover the bottom. Then, as you fill each enchilada, place it directly on top of the enchilada sauce.

If you’re interested in making your own enchilada sauce (it’s a cinch!), check out my recipe for Easy Homemade Enchilada Sauce!

To fill the enchiladas, place a small handful of grated cheddar cheese right down the middle of the tortilla. Top with the grated jack cheese, and then sprinkle with chopped onion.

TIP: You will have to “guesstimate” on the amount of cheese used to fill each tortilla. Remember you need to divide the cheeses and onions evenly between 8 tortillas!

Once filled, roll the tortilla tightly up and over the filling. Place it in the prepared baking dish, with the seam side DOWN. Repeat this process for each enchilada. Your fingers can get a little messy, but who cares? It’s homemade enchiladas!

Finishing Enchiladas BEFORE Baking

Lay each remaining filled enchilada tightly next to the others. Pour or spoon the remaining enchilada sauce over the top of the enchiladas, until all are fully covered. Cover any exposed tortilla with the sauce (that will help them not dry out while baking).

Use all the sauce to cover those enchiladas! Once done, sprinkle the reserved cheddar and jack cheeses over the top of the enchiladas. If you want more, simply add as much as you wish. Sometimes I even add a bit more chopped onion or chopped black olives, too!

Time To Bake

Easy cheesy enchiladas should be baked in a preheated 350°F. oven. Bake them for approximately 20 minutes. When done, the sauce and cheese should be bubbly around the edges, the cheese on top will be melted, and enchiladas will be heated through.

Transfer the baking dish to a wire rack, and let the easy cheesy enchiladas cool for just a couple minutes. This lets the cheese slightly firm up, so they are easier to remove from the dish for serving.

Serving Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

Use a spatula to remove each enchilada from the pan, and transfer to individual serving plates. These enchiladas go really well with my crock pot refried beans or Spanish rice.

Some of our favorite ways to serve cheesy enchiladas include adding chopped cilantro the the top of each enchilada. It’s really your own personal taste that will determine how you top them (and totally optional to add any extra topping at all!).

You can also just go with a dollop of sour cream on each one, OR you can go wild, and add fresh guacamole AND sour cream. However you serve these enchiladas, I’m pretty sure you will enjoy them. We sure do!

I hope you enjoy these easy cheesy enchiladas. We sure do! It’s a perfectly delicious tasting “meatless meal”. Thank you for stopping by, and I sincerely hope you will stop by again. The printable recipe card is below.

Looking for for Mexican/Southwestern Main Dishes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have quite a few Mexican or Southwestern inspired recipes, including:

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Original recipe source: my friend Nadine Massey, over 42 years ago

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes

Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

35 mins

Make a yummy batch of Easy Cheesy Enchiladas in a flash, with cheddar and jack cheese, canned enchilada sauce, onions, and corn tortillas.

Category: Main Dish

Cuisine: Mexican, Southwest

Keyword: easy cheesy enchiladas

Servings: 8 enchiladas

Calories Per Serving: 305 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

8 medium corn tortillas
19 ounces red enchilada sauce (canned) , 1 lb. 3 ounce can
2 cups grated cheddar cheese , divided
2 cups grated jack cheese , divided
⅓ cup onion (yellow) , chopped
enough oil to cover bottom of small skillet (approx. 3 Tablespoons)

OPTIONAL GARNISH: sour cream, guacamole, chopped cilantro

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

PREP:

Preheat oven to 350° Place chopped onion, and grated jack and cheddar cheeses into individual bowls. NOTE: Set aside about 1/4 cup each of the two cheeses and save for later. You will need this cheese to sprinkle on top of the filled enchiladas before baking. Pour just enough of the enchilada sauce in a 9x13 baking dish to cover the bottom.

Making Enchiladas:

Heat oil in a small skillet (large enough for tortillas) on medium-high heat until very hot, but NOT smoking. Lay a tortilla in hot oil; let it cook for about 15 seconds, then flip it to other side, using tongs. Cook 15 seconds, and then carefully (using tongs) lift tortilla from oil, letting excess oil drip into skillet; place on a paper towel. Repeat process with all tortillas. Blot tortillas with paper towels to soak up oil.
Fill enchiladas: place a small handful of grated cheddar cheese down the middle of the tortilla. Top with grated jack cheese, and then sprinkle with chopped onion, dividing cheeses and onion evenly between 8 tortillas. Once filled, roll tortilla tightly up and over the filling. Place in prepared baking dish, seam side DOWN. Repeat process with each enchilada.
Pour or spoon remaining sauce over enchiladas, until fully covered. Once done, sprinkle reserved cheddar and jack cheeses over the top.
Baked at 350°F. for approx. 20 minutes. When done, sauce and cheese should be bubbly around the edges, cheese melted, and enchiladas heated through. Transfer dish to a wire rack; let cool for 2 minutes, before serving. OPTIONAL: Serve, topped with sour cream, cilantro, guacamole or other toppings of your choice. Enjoy.

Recipe Notes

Oil used to quickly "fry" tortillas not included in caloric calculation. Most oil remains unused (and amount to cover skillet bottom will vary per user).

Nutrition Facts

Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

Amount Per Serving (1 enchilada)

Calories 305 Calories from Fat 171

% Daily Value*

Fat 19g29%

Saturated Fat 11g69%

Cholesterol 55mg18%

Sodium 923mg40%

Potassium 109mg3%

Carbohydrates 18g6%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 17g34%

Vitamin A 949IU19%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 437mg44%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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10
Jul
2020

Black Bean Butternut Squash Chili

categories: Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Mexican / Southwestern, Soups

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Black Bean Butternut Squash Chili is a hearty meatless dish, with all the flavor of a traditional chili. It’s thick, delicious, and simple to prepare!

Do you enjoy chili? We sure do. Every couple of months I make my Mom’s old-fashioned chili, and it is my absolute favorite “go to” chili recipe. One of our sons and his girlfriend are vegetarians, and my sister-in-law is a vegan. When they come over for a chili dinner, I make my traditional chili recipe and simply leave the meat out. I am always on the “hunt” for vegetarian recipes I can fix for them.

However, sometimes ya just gotta try new recipes, and for me, the thrill of the hunt for a “new” recipe is exciting. I found this yummy, meatless chili recipe on the app called My Fitness Pal. It’s a fiber and protein-filled dish, and is another GREAT alternative for anyone looking for a meatless chili, with all the flavors you know and love.

It’s also low-calorie, easy to make, and I know my vegetarian and vegan family members will love it. I can’t wait for them to try it, too! Here’s how to make this yummy black bean butternut squash chili (a printable recipe card is at the bottom of this post):

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How To Prepare The Butternut Squash

The first thing you will need to do is prepare the butternut squash. I prefer to use fresh, but you can substitute frozen butternut squash, if necessary. Preparing the fresh squash is not difficult at all (but it will take 4-5 minutes). HINT: You won’t need to use the entire squash for your chili. Perhaps you would enjoy using the leftover squash to make Maple Cinnamon Butternut Squash for another meal’s side dish?

Use a vegetable peeler to remove the outer peel from the butternut squash. Once peeled, carefully slice off both ends of the squash. Slice the squash in half horizontally. Scoop out the seeds and “stringy pith” from the cavity of the squash, and discard.

Slice the squash into half-moon shaped rings (1″ thickness), and then cut the rings into bite-sized cubes of butternut squash. Try to keep them around 1″, because they will cook faster than large chunks.

Make The Black Bean Butternut Squash Chili

Now it’s time to get the black bean butternut squash chili ready to cook. No worries… it’s simple! Place all the ingredients into a large stock pot. Add the water and give the chili a good stir, to fully combine ingredients. See how easy that is? Now the chili is ready to cook!

Cook The Chili

Cook the black bean butternut squash chili on medium-low heat for 30-40 minutes. Cover the pot of chili for the first 15 minutes, then uncover the pot for the rest of the cooking time.

You will know it is done when the cubes of butternut squash become tender. Take a bite of the squash at the 30 minute mark, then continue cooking, if necessary until the squash is softened. The chili will thicken as the water reduces during the cooking time. Take a small sample bite, and add salt, if desired, to suit your taste.

Serve The Black Bean Butternut Squash Chili

Once your chili is done cooking, it is ready to serve! Ladle the black bean butternut squash chili into serving bowls, and if desired, garnish each bowl of chili with a dollop of sour cream and/or fresh cilantro, for a pop of color and added flavor.

Hope you enjoy a nice hot bowl of this delicious black bean butternut squash chili. The black beans and butternut squash provide a nice dose of fiber, which helps to fill the old tummy up! Plus, it really does taste wonderful, and I am confident you will really enjoy it.

Hope you have the opportunity to try this recipe for yummy, meatless chili. You might also enjoy my recipe for Tasty Turkey Chili. Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you will come by for a visit again. Take care, and have a great day!

Looking For More MEATLESS MEALS?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, which is located at the top of the page. I have several meatless meals you might enjoy, including:

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Recipe adapted from: https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/butternut-squash-black-bean-chili-recipe/

0 from 0 votes

Black Bean Butternut Squash Chili

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Total Time

50 mins

Black Bean Butternut Squash Chili is a hearty meatless dish, with all the flavor of a traditional chili. It's thick, delicious, and simple to prepare!

Category: Entree, Soup

Cuisine: Southwestern

Keyword: black bean butternut squash chili

Servings: 6

Calories Per Serving: 224 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

30 ounces canned black beans (2 cans) , rinsed and drained
2 cups butternut squash , peeled, cut into 1" cubes
15 ounces canned diced tomatoes , including juice
1 cup corn kernels , fresh or frozen
1 medium red onion , diced
2 Tablespoons chili powder
2 Tablespoons ground cumin
2 Tablespoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 cups water
salt, to taste
Sour cream, cilantro (OPTIONAL for garnish)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Remove peel from squash. Carefully slice off both ends; cut squash in half horizontally. Scoop out seeds and stringy pith; discard. Slice into half-moon shaped rings (1" thickness); cut rings into 1" bite-sized cubes, for a total of 2 cups. (you won't use the whole squash).
Place ingredients into a large stock pot; stir well. Cook on medium-low heat for 30-40 minutes. **Cover pot of chili for the first 15 minutes, then uncover for the rest of the cooking time**. Taste a bite of squash after 30 minutes. If soft and tender, chili is done. If not, continue cooking until tender. Chili will thicken as water reduces while cooking. Taste; season with salt, as desired.
Serve chili with a dollop of sour cream and fresh cilantro, if desired (optional, but good). Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

NOTE: I use fresh corn kernels (cut off one cob) and fresh butternut squash, but you can substitute frozen corn kernels or butternut squash, if necessary. If using frozen butternut squash, your cooking time may vary, as it might take less time to become tender.

Nutrition Facts

Black Bean Butternut Squash Chili

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 224 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 740mg32%

Potassium 1014mg29%

Carbohydrates 44g15%

Fiber 15g63%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 12g24%

Vitamin A 7091IU142%

Vitamin C 22mg27%

Calcium 133mg13%

Iron 6mg33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!

24
Jun
2020

Easy Tortellini Soup

categories: Main Dishes, Meatless Meals, Soups

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Yum

Enjoy a piping hot bowl of yummy, Italian-inspired, Easy Tortellini Soup, made in under 30 minutes with only a few key ingredients and spices.

Even though the weather has been heating up this week, I want to share this soup recipe with you, cause it’s YUMMY, no matter what time of year it is. This recipe for easy tortellini soup is just that… EASY! It also happens to be delicious (in case that matters, too – ha ha!).

If you enjoy Italian food, and the spices associated with it, you’re gonna enjoy this soup. It has a tomato-based broth, with Italian spices, fragrant garlic, cheese tortellini pasta, chopped spinach, and is topped with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese. Because it doesn’t require a long cooking time, you’ll be slurping up this delicious soup in NO TIME! Here’s how simple it is to make:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Prepare The Tortellini

Cook the fresh, frozen, or dry tortellini in salted water, according to the package directions. Once done cooking, drain the tortellini, and set aside. I like to cook the tortellini AND the spinach (see below) at the same time, to save time.

Prepare The Spinach

Cook the chopped spinach according to the package instructions. Once cooked, put the spinach into a strainer which is placed on top of a bowl. Press down with the back of a spoon to press out the spinach juice into the bowl below.

The juice will collect in the bowl sitting underneath the strainer. Keep pressing (a lot) to drain off as much of the juice as you can. Discard the juice once finished. Set the spinach aside. Now it’s SOUP time, and it will come together REALLY quickly!

How To Make Easy Tortellini Soup

Place the butter into the saucepan you will be using. Melt the butter on medium heat, and then add the minced garlic. Cook on medium heat for about a minute, stirring constantly, so the garlic doesn’t burn. Burnt garlic has a bitter taste, and you do NOT want that in your tortellini soup!

Now add the chicken broth to the pan, and heat it until it comes to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a low simmer, and then add the cooked, drained tortellini. Simmer for 5 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally.

Finish Making This Easy Tortellini Soup

Once the soup has simmered for 5 minutes, add the diced tomatoes (including juice), drained spinach, salt, and Italian seasoning. Stir well, to fully combine the ingredients. Continue to heat the tortellini soup on low heat for 5 more minutes, or until the soup is fully heated through.

Serving Easy Tortellini Soup

Once the soup is fully heated through, it is ready to be served and gobbled up! Ladle the soup into individual bowls, and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top. The Parmesan cheese garnish is optional, but trust me, it makes this Italian-inspired soup taste SO GOOD!

This wonderfully easy tortellini soup tastes great, especially if you serve it with a nice piece of crusty garlic bread on the side! Yum… I really hope you enjoy it. Store any leftover soup (covered) in your refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.

This truly is a simple soup to make, and it tastes wonderful. We were able to share some with one of our neighbors who lives alone, and he enjoyed it, too! I hope you have the opportunity to make it for those you love, and trust you will enjoy it, too! Thanks for stopping by, take care, and have a great day.

Looking For More TORTELLINI Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have several tortellini recipes, which include:

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

You can find all of my soup recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have quite a few delicious soup recipes I think you will enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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0 from 0 votes

Easy Tortellini Soup

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

25 mins

Enjoy a piping hot bowl of yummy, Italian-inspired, Easy Tortellini Soup, made in under 30 minutes with only a few key ingredients and spices.

Category: Entree, Soup

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: tortellini soup

Servings: 6

Calories Per Serving: 191 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

8 ounces fresh, frozen, or dried cheese tortellini
10 ounces frozen chopped spinach
1 Tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic , minced
28 ounces chicken broth
14.5 ounces diced tomatoes (canned) , undrained
1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for garnish)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cook fresh, frozen, or dry tortellini in salted water, according to pkg. directions. Once done, drain tortellini; set aside.
Cook spinach according to pkg. directions. When done, put spinach into a strainer placed on top of a bowl. Press down with the back of a spoon to press out juice into bowl below. Drain off as much juice as possible. Discard juice, and set spinach aside.
Melt butter on medium heat in large soup pan. Once melted, add minced garlic. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, so garlic doesn't burn. Add chicken broth to pan, and heat until it comes to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a low simmer. Add tortellini. Simmer for 5 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally. Add diced tomatoes (including juice), spinach, salt, and Italian seasoning. Stir well, to combine ingredients. Continue to heat soup for 5 more minutes, or until fully heated through.
Ladle hot soup into bowls, and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on each serving. Serve, and enjoy! Store any leftover soup (covered), in refrigerator, for up to 2-3 days.

Nutrition Facts

Easy Tortellini Soup

Amount Per Serving (1 (1/6 of total))

Calories 191 Calories from Fat 63

% Daily Value*

Fat 7g11%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 24mg8%

Sodium 1068mg46%

Potassium 415mg12%

Carbohydrates 23g8%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 11g22%

Vitamin A 5736IU115%

Vitamin C 19mg23%

Calcium 214mg21%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Preparing The Macaroni And Cheese For The Smoker Grill

Time For The Smoker Grill

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Thickening The Navy Bean Soup

Garnish, Serve, and Enjoy!

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↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

How To Prepare The Butternut Squash

Make The Black Bean Butternut Squash Chili

Cook The Chili

Serve The Black Bean Butternut Squash Chili

Looking For More MEATLESS MEALS?

Interested In More Recipes?

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media: Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks! Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks! Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Prepare The Tortellini

Prepare The Spinach

How To Make Easy Tortellini Soup

Finish Making This Easy Tortellini Soup

Serving Easy Tortellini Soup

Looking For More TORTELLINI Recipes?

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

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You Can Also Find Me On Social Media: Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks! Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks! Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks