Cooking Method: Sautéing

Mexican Black Beans

These flavor-packed Mexican Black Beans got rave reviews from my family. Since I didn't have time to soak dried beans overnight, I used canned beans, which worked perfectly. I used a jalapeño pepper, if you want it spicier use a serrano. Serrano peppers are generally smaller and skinnier than jalapeños. Despite their small size, they can be up to 10 times hotter than a jalapeño, so beware.

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  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 35 mins
  • Yields: 4 - 6 Servings

Chicken & Asparagus Skillet Pasta with Pesto

Chicken & Asparagus Skillet Pasta with Pesto is a delicious and easy weeknight meal that combines the savory flavors of chicken and asparagus with the bright, herbaceous notes of pesto. There are also sun-dried tomatoes, which add a burst of concentrated flavor. What I like about this recipe is that you throw the asparagus and sun-dried tomatoes in with the pasta for the last 3 minutes of cooking. You can eat this dish hot or cold.

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  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Yields: 4 - 6 Servings

Spaghetti with Prosciutto, Parmesan and Peas

My husband Eric and I have been making Spaghetti Carbonara for years. It's what we have when the is 'nothing to eat'! I saw this recipe for Spaghetti with Prosciutto, Parmesan and Peas from Milk Street Magazine and knew we had to make it. It supposedly was the signature pasta of Pope Pius XII. It's quite different from our go-to standard Carbonara recipe. I have to say, it's delicious, though more subtle than the saltier bacon-infused version. I think the late Queen Elizabeth would have liked it, due to the fact that garlic isn't even mentioned.

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  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Yields: 4 - 6 Servings

Gnocchi with Sauerkraut and Ham

I made this Gnocchi with Sauerkraut and Ham while staying with my mom. She loves sauerkraut, so I concocted this combination of gnocchi and ham and she loved it. You can boil, sauté or, air-fry the gnocchi. I choose to air-fry mine. Either way, it's a very simple and delicious dish.

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  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 25 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings

Ricotta Spinach Lemon Spaghetti

This Ricotta Spinach Lemon Spaghetti is light and flavorful. The creamy ricotta cheese, the bright tang of lemon, and the freshness of spinach, with spaghetti, can be thrown together in about 15 minutes.

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  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 10 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings

Chile Rellenos Soup

Chile Rellenos Soup is a creamy and cheesy soup inspired by the classic Mexican Chile Rellenos. Roasted poblano peppers, cheese, and chicken capture the flavors of the traditional dish in an easier-to-make format. To make it easier, I used rotisserie chicken and topped with with crushed tortilla chips. It's really delicious.

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  • Prep: 25 mins
  • Cook: 25 mins
  • Yields: 6 Servings

Wild Rice & Chicken Casserole

I used to make this Wild Rice & Chicken Casserole when we were first married for dinner parties.  It was "cheap and cheerful" as we would say.  It features cooked chicken, wild rice (personally, I prefer to use a wild rice blend when making this dish, which does make it cheaper!), mushrooms, pimentos, and a creamy sauce. It's then topped with slivered almonds and baked in the oven until bubbly and golden brown on top.

 

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  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 40 mins
  • Yields: 8 Servings

Parmesan Mushroom Casserole

This Parmesan Mushroom Casserole is absolutely delicious and the best thing is that it can be made ahead and finished off in the oven. The sliced mushrooms are bathed in a creamy sauce, topped with a crispy parmesan breadcrumb mixture. It's a vegetarian side dish that goes well with many main courses. All I can say is YUM, so good!

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Tomato Soup

This Tomato Soup is really delicious and so simple to make. The surprise ingredient is Acini di Pepe Pasta, which is a tiny, round pasta that translates to "seeds of pepper" in Italian, though they are much smaller than actual peppercorns. They are classified as pastina, or "little pasta," and are often used in broth-based soups like Italian Wedding Soup.

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  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 30 mins
  • Yields: 6 Servings

Chinese Lemon Chicken

Chinese Lemon Chicken is coated in a sweet, savory, and tangy lemon sauce. It's a delicious and refreshing and a nice alternative to the usual sweet and sour chicken. Making Chinese food at home allows you to control the ingredients and adjust the flavors to your taste. It's generally healthier and more economical than takeout.

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  • Prep: 20 mins
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Yields: 4 Servings