Favorite New Recipe

We made some yummy stuff last week while my parents were here - and of course, for Jamie's Open House and Special Dinner.  One of our new favorites (unanimously approved!) is Greek Burgers.  

Can't wait to make them again!

1 pkg hamburger buns

1 - 2 pounds ground turkey

For each pound of ground turkey add:

1/2 c mayo

2 ts curry powder

2 oz crumbled feta

1/4 ts salt

Toppings:

1 - 1 1/2 cups spinach leaves

small red onion, sliced thin

remaining feta cheese crumbles

Heat broiler.  Stir together mayo and curry; set aside.

Combine turkey, 2 T mayo/curry mixture, feta cheese and salt.  Shape into 1/2 inch thick patties (4 per pound).  Broil 4 inches from broiler, 11 - 13 minutes total; turning once.  

Spread remaining mayo/curry mixture on buns, layer patties, onion, spinach and feta to serve!

Jeff's Skillet Lasagna

Ok so this one-skillet meal is actually over 30 years old. In the fall of 1979, I was a freshman in college and I went to a bookstore in a mall in Irvine, California that was close to the university where I was attending and I came across this little paperback cookbook that was called something like "The Campus Survival Cookbook" and it had all these really simple, easy recipes that a beginning cook could do with minimal prep. I found this one that I REALLY liked called, "Miracle Skillet Lasagna" that I have toyed with and modified over the years to become:

Jeff's Skillet Lasagna

1 lb Ground Beef

8 - 16 ounces of Low fat Small Curd Cottage Cheese

1 Package of Wide Egg Noodles or Dumpling Egg Noodles

1 Large can of Spaghetti Sauce

8 oz shredded Mozzarella cheese

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Garlic Powder or Garlic Salt

Pepper

Oregano

Parsley Flakes

Basil flakes

1 Large Skillet

In the large skillet brown the ground beef and then drain. Spoon a layer of cottage cheese over the meat and then sprinkle Parmesan cheese, parsley flakes, some oregano, basil, pepper, and garlic powder over the cottage cheese.

Then spread noodles evenly over the cottage cheese layer and pour about half to two-thirds of the spaghetti sauce over the noodles along with about a cup of water. Make sure the sauce/ liquid mixture covers the noodles. Season the sauce with more oregano, basil, garlic powder or garlic salt, and pepper and put skillet back on burner and bring sauce to a boil. When sauce mixture is bubbling nicely, gently stir the lasagna mixture and turn down heat to simmer.

Let lasagna simmer for about 30 to 35 minutes, gently stirring mixture occasionally, and letting the lasagna cook down and thicken. When cooked, turn off burner and sprinkle the grated Mozzarella cheese over the skillet lasagna and let melt.

Can put entire skillet on a hot pad on the dinner table and serve from it. Add some garlic bread or toast and a tossed salad and viola! Quick Italian Skillet Lasagna.

Cook's Note: I don't have exact measurements for some of the ingredients because over the years I have changed and modified it and I go mainly by look and taste. Substitutions are definitely allowed so use Ricotta cheese instead of Cottage cheese and you can make your own tomato sauce instead of canned. This is a VERY adaptable dish so have fun with it.

menu monday update

Our first week working the menu planning plan from E-Mealz has been pretty darn successful!  I love looking at the plan to see what's for supper tonight or tomorrow and knowing it's all (or most of it!) is in the frig or freezer and ready to go!  I already knew that part would be lovely.  I was just a little concerned about having so many new recipes all at once - and the percentage of which we would like.


Yay!  They've been good.  While we find we can live without Chicken Divan again (kids and curry, not so much) we LOVED the Chinese Chicken Salad:


1 rotisserie chicken, deboned, shredded
1 bag slaw
4 green onions, chopped
2 oz bag slivered almonds, toasted
2 bag ramen noodles, noodles only
Asian salad dressing (All Seasons Asian Sesame salad dressing)


Mix shredded cabbage, green onion, chicken and almonds.  Right before serving, pour dressing over all and sprinkle with noodles.  Serve immediately.


Serving suggestion:  serve with fresh bakery bread, (make it garlic or not as you like)  Jamie wanted fortune cookies too which we bought but forgot to serve!


It was quick and yummy and a nice twist on that ramen noodle salad you've maybe already had or made.  The rotisserie chicken makes this one nice for summer time not-cooking in the kitchen season.  If your family won't eat that whole bag of slaw, cut this recipe in half because it doesn't really keep after the dressing is on, though Jeff insisted it was "just fine" two days later.


We had "Ben's Tostadas" tonight and are ready to make "Sweet 'n Sour Pork Roast with Jasmine Rice and Sauteed Asparagus" for tomorrow night, which should be a good choice for another rainy day.  I'm looking forward to trying "Pepperoni Loaf" with the kids Saturday.  "London Broil with Company Potatoes and Peas" for Sunday.  Doesn't that sound yummy?


I picked up next week's menu plan on the website today - we'll work on our modifications this weekend and go again.   I think E-Mealz will be a good menu planning solution for our family right now.  yay!  a win!