Chili Deviled Eggs

6 hard-boiled eggs, halved

2 Tbsp salsa

1 Tbsp mayonnaise

1 tsp onion, minced

1 tsp cilantro, finely chopped

1/8 tsp pepper

Remove yolks from eggs, reserving whites.

Mash yolks in small bowl.  Stir in remaining ingredients.

Fill whites with yolk mixture.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.  Serve chilled.

Zucchini with Corn and Cilantro

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 3 1/2 cups cubed zucchini (about 1 pound)
• 1 cup frozen whole-kernel corn
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 
  

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add zucchini and corn; cook, stirring occasionally, 7 to 8 minutes or until zucchini is crisp-tender.

Remove from heat, and stir in cilantro and remaining ingredients.

This recipe can be found here

Weber Marinated Chicken

½ cup soy sauce

¼ cup vegetable oil

¼ cup red wine vinegar

1 tsp oregano

½ tsp basil

½ tsp garlic salt

¼ tsp pepper

Combine ingredients and pour over chicken pieces.  Refrigerate overnight; turn occasionally.

Use marinade to baste chicken while cooking.

Skillet Orzo with Tuna

2 Tbsps. extra-virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic, thinly sliced

4 green onions, thinly sliced

1 14 -ounce can diced tomatoes

¼ tsp. dried oregano

1½ cups orzo

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1 (14 –ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 small bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 (5-ounce) can solid white tuna packed in water, drained

Juice of 1 lemon

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and half of the scallions and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and oregano and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Stir in 2½ cups water, the orzo, ½ tsp. salt, and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and stir in the beans. Cover and simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed and the orzo is tender, about 10 minutes.

Add the bell pepper and continue cooking, covered, until tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tuna and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Top with the remaining scallions.

Lemon Soda Bundt Cake

2½ cups sugar

5 large eggs, room temperature

½ cup lemon-lime soda (like 7-Up, Sprite, or Sierra Mist)

2 Tbsps. grated lemon zest

4 Tbsps. fresh lemon juice

2½ sticks salted butter

3¼ cups (13 ounces) cake flour

GLAZE (CAN BE DOUBLED):

1 cup (4 ounces) powdered sugar

2 Tbsps. fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Position the oven rack in the lower-middle position. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease and flour a 12-cup tube or Bundt pan.

Melt the butter and set aside to cool slightly.

Add the sugar, eggs, lemon-lime soda, lemon zest, and lemon juice to the jar of your blender. Run on lowest speed until combined. With the blender running, slowly add the butter in a steady stream and mix until fully incorporated. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add 1/3 of the flour and whisk until combined. Repeat twice until all the flour has been used.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 1¼-1½ hours or until a pick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean (be sure not to over-bake it—it will take on an eggy flavor.)  

Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes, then turn the cake out onto a wire rack to cool completely (about 2 hours.)

To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Place the cake, craggy side up, on a serving plate and drizzle with glaze. Let the glaze set for at least 10 minutes before serving. Makes 12 servings.

Lemon Shortbread Cookies

1 cup butter

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup sugar

1 cup powdered sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 ¾oz. box instant lemon pudding

4 cups flour

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 °

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, oil and sugars.  Beat in eggs, vanilla and pudding mix.  Combine remaining ingredients, and gradually add into wet mixture.

Drop by Tbsps. 2” apart on ungreased baking sheet.  Flatten with glass dipped in sugar.

Bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

recipe from a friend.

Brussels Sprouts with Pecans and Cranberries

1 lb. fresh Brussels sprouts, rinsed and trimmed
3 oz. coarsely chopped pecans
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
¼ tsp. kosher salt
¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper
4 oz. coarsely chopped dried cranberries

Slice the Brussels sprouts using the thinnest slicing disc of a food processor.

Set a 10-inch sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the pecans. Cook, stirring continually, until the pecans darken in color and begin to give off a toasted aroma, approximately 2 minutes.

Add the butter to the pan and stir to combine. Once the butter has melted, add the Brussels sprouts, salt and pepper and cook, stirring continually, until the color brightens and the sprouts are just tender, approximately 6 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat, add the cranberries, toss and serve.

This recipe can be found here.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 recipe Taco Chicken

1 large onion, chopped

6 cloves garlic, minced or pressed

4 cans chicken broth

1 15-oz. can chopped or diced tomatoes

2 jalapeno peppers

1/4 c. fresh lime juice (3-4 limes)

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

TOPPINGS:

Store-bought tortilla chips

Sliced avocado or guacamole

Grated or crumbled cotija cheese

1/4 c. cilantro

Early in the day, begin marinating the chicken. Right before you start preparing the soup, start grilling it.

In a large stockpot, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté 3-4 minutes.

Add garlic and minced jalapeno and cook a few minutes more until pepper is softened and garlic is fragrant.

Add chicken broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow it to simmer 20 minutes.

While soup is simmering, juice the limes and set aside.

Start preparing the toppings: grate the cheese, chop the cilantro, cut up the avocado or prepare the guacamole.

Right before serving, add lime juice and chicken to the soup. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle soup into the bowls and add desired toppings.

This recipe can be found here.

Louisiana-Style Red Beans and Rice

Ingredients:

1 lb. dry red kidney beans, rinsed and sorted

6 c. water

5 regular bouillon cubes or 1 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. chicken base

1/4 lb. Andouille sausage, quartered and cut into thin slices.

1 onion, chopped

4-5 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 tsp. cumin

3/4 tsp. coriander

3/4 tsp. oregano

1/8-1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a crock pot and cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low all day. Or you can start on high until it starts to simmer and then switch it to low.

When beans are tender, mash about 85-90% of them against the side of the crock pot. Give them a taste and add any extra seasonings if you need to, particularly salt and pepper. Replace lid and set heat to “low.”

In a medium saucepan, bring 4 c. water, 1 Tbsp. white vinegar, and 2 c. of white rice to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and steam for 20 minutes.

recipe can be found here

Pesto

3/4 cups Fresh Basil Leaves

1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

3 Tablespoons Pine Nuts

2 cloves Garlic, Peeled

 Salt And Pepper, to taste

1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Add basil leaves, 1/2 cup Parmesan, pine nuts, and salt and pepper to a food processor or blender. Turn machine on, then drizzle in olive oil while it mixes. Continue blending until combined, adding additional olive oil if needed.