Zucchini Tortilla Casserole

Serves 12

4 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 2 1/2 C)
2 small zucchini, julienned
6 green onions, chopped
1 30 oz can black beans, or about 4 C, drained and rinsed
1 29 oz can enchilada sauce
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
2 C sour cream
1 C chicken broth or milk
12 6-inch corn tortillas, halved
4 C cheese, Jack, cheddar, Mexi-blend
1 T cilantro

Preheat oven to 375.

Grease one 9x13" and one 9x9" dish.

In medium bowl combine tomatoes, zucchini, onions, and beans.

Set aside 3/4 C enchilada sauce. With a wire whisk, beat remaining enchilada sauce, taco seasoning mix, chicken broth, and sour cream until smooth.

Spread a thin layer over the bottom of both baking dishes. Arrange half (8 in 9x13", 4 in 9x9") tortilla pieces over sauce, overlapping as necessary. Spoon half of vegi-bean mixture over tortilla pieces, followed by 1 1/3 C cheese, and half sauce mixture. Repeat layers, ending with reserved enchilada sauce, and cover baking dishes with foil.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until thoroughly heated. Uncover, and sprinkle with reserved cheese. Continue baking 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with cilantro.

Broccoli Cheese Tarts

Great appetizers!
Makes 18 tarts

18 wonton skins
1 T butter, melted
1 egg
1 t flour
3/4 C broccoli
1/4 pimento, drained
1 C shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 t onion powder
1/4 thyme
1/8 t pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brush one side of each wonton skin with butter. Carefully press wonton skins, buttered side up, into greased muffin cups.

In a medium bowl, beat together egg and flour. Mix in onion powder, thyme, and pepper. Stir in remaining ingredients. Spoon into wonton lined cups.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until filling is set and wonton skins are golden brown. Remove immediately from pans and serve warm.

Weeknight Rigatoni

Lately my weekdays have been busy, and if Abigail needs me to pay attention to her in the evenings, it's handy if dinner can be quick and easy. This was just that.

8-10 servings

16 oz box rigatoni pasta
4 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, shredded (1 C)
16 oz pkg sour cream
1 package dip mix
1 1/2 C cheddar cheese
1 1/2 jack cheese
1/2 C parmesan cheese
3/4 C milk
1 T basil
1/2 t black pepper
2 T butter
1/2 C Italian bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cook pasta until tender; drain.

Combine pasta and remaining ingredients except for butter and bread crumbs. Pour into one 9"x13" or two 8"x8" ungreased baking dishes.

Melt butter, and mix with bread crumbs. Sprinkle over pasta.

Bake for 25 to 30 or until hot and bubbly.

Apple Cheddar Bread

Makes about 4 mini loaves (2" x 4") or 1 large (5"x 9")

1/4 C butter
2/3 C sugar
2 eggs
1/4 C applesauce
2 apples, chopped
1/2 C grated cheddar cheese
1/2 C walnuts (optional)
2 C flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add applesauce and mix well. Gently stir in apples, cheese and walnuts. Combine remaining ingredients in a separate bowl. Slowly add dry ingredients to rest of batter and stir just until moistened.

Pour into greased loaf pans. If using smaller pans, I find it helpful to use a very large cookie scoop.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes our clean, 25 minutes or so for smaller loaves, and 50 minutes for a large loaf. Cool in pans 1 or 2 minutes before removing to cooling rack.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

A creamy, cheesy, filling soup for a winter day.

Serves 5 or 6

6 Tablespoons butter
1 medium onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half and half
3 cups chicken broth
1/2 pound fresh broccoli
2 cups carrots, julienned
salt and pepper to taste
8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese

Saute onion and garlic in butter until onion is tender. Stir in flour; a paste will form. Continue cooking and stirring over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Stirring constantly, slowly add half and half and then the chicken broth. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Add broccoli and carrots.
Timesaving tip: If you to not have a mandoline to julienne your carrots, you may be able to find "matchstick" carrots in your grocery store.

Cook over low heat until the veggies are tender and soup has thickened, 25 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally. When soup is thickened, add the cheese. Stir until well blended. Serve when cheese has melted.

If soup gets too thick, you can thin it with extra milk or chicken broth.

Pilaf Stuffed Acorn Squash

I've always enjoyed this recipe, and when I made it the other evening, Chris thought it was a perfect autumn dinner. It's quick and easy, not to mention economical, and of course, very tasty.

Serves 4

2 acorn squash
1 pkg Uncle Ben's wild rice & chicken rice mix
1 Tablespoon butter
2 1/3 cups water
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup slivered almonds
salt to taste
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

With sharpest knife, cut squash into somewhat even halves. Place cut side down on a jelly roll pan or 9" x 13" dish, and add about 1/2" water. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until tender. You may need to add a little more water while baking.

While squash are baking, prepare rice mix as directed on package, using 1 tablespoon butter and 2 1/3 cups water. When rice is done cooking, stir in cranberries, slivered almonds and 3/4 cup cheese.

When squash is done cooking, turn cut side up, and sprinkle with salt. After you make these a few times, you will have an idea how much is enough. You are not scooping out the soft squash, and it does need salt!

Spoon rice mixture into squash halves and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Bake for 3 to 5 minutes longer, or until the cheese is melted.

South of the Border Enchiladas

Lydia with really impressed with these!

Serves 8 - 10

1 can (28 0z) whole tomatoes, undrained
1 large onion or two medium onions, halved

2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 Tablespoons dried cilantro
2 teaspoons honey
1/8 teaspoons cayenne pepper
3 cups cooked pinto beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups ricotta cheese
1 large bell pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 pkg 8" flour tortillas
1 cup Mexican cheese blend, or half cheddar half Monterey Jack

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 9" by 13" baking dish.

Place tomatoes, onion and garlic in blender or food processor. Cover and blend until smooth. Pour into a 3 quart pot and add the honey, cayenne pepper, and 1 Tablespoon cilantro. Cook over medium heat 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. In baking dish, spread enough tomato sauce to cover the bottom.

Combine beans, ricotta cheese, bell pepper, cumin, remaining 1 Tablespoon cilantro and 1/2 cup cheese. Spoon about 1/3 cup down the center of a tortilla, and roll up, placing seam side down in baking dish. When tortillas are filled, pour remaining tomato sauce over them. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes or until tomato sauce is bubbly and cheese is thoroughly melted.