Tex-Mex Meatballs

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb. ground beef
2 c. shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
1/2 c. panko bread crumbs
2 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley, plus more for garnish
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeño, finely chopped
1 large egg
1 tsp. ground cumin
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 (15-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp. chopped chipotle chiles in adobo sauce

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, combine ground beef, 1 cup of cheese, bread crumbs, parsley, garlic, jalapeño, egg, and cumin and season with salt and pepper. Mix until combined, then form into meatballs.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add meatballs in a single layer and sear 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add onion to skillet and cook, stirring, until soft, 5 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes and chipotle in adobo and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and return meatballs to skillet. Cover and simmer until meatballs are cooked through, about 10 minutes.
4. Top with remaining 1 cup cheese, then cover with lid to let melt, about 2 minutes.
5. Garnish with parsley before serving.

Notes: I'm not sure I should admit this, but after over 40 years of life I think this may have been the first time I ever tried to make meatballs. I struggled a little getting them to stay together and keep their round shape as I browned them. I enjoyed the flavor of the meatballs. The kids were less enthusiastic but did eat them.

Source: Delish

One Pot Southwestern Alfredo Pasta

Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 red pepper diced
3.4 oz can of diced green chiles
2 cups dry penne
1 cup frozen corn or the corn from two ears
2 cups cooked chicken
1 cup black beans rinsed and drained
14 oz jar alfredo
2 Tbsp taco seasoning

Optional toppings: sour cream, diced tomatoes, jalapeños 

Instructions

1. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp of olive oil, and then the diced red pepper and green chiles. Cook until the red peppers are soft, remove from pan and set aside.
2. Add 4 cups of water to the saucepan, bring to a boil, and add the penne. One minute before you need to remove the pasta (according to package directions), add the frozen corn. Drain the cooked pasta and warmed corn and return to the pan.
3. Stir in the cooked pepper and chiles, chicken, and black beans. Then stir in the alfredo sauce and taco seasoning.
4. Serve, topping with sour cream, diced tomatoes, and jalapeños if you like!

Notes: I love southwestern flavors so this was a winner for me. Not at all difficult to make, either.

Source: Simple Joy

Pizza Meatloaf Cups

Ingredients

1 egg, beaten
1⁄2 cup pizza sauce
1⁄4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1⁄2 teaspoon italian seasoning
1 1⁄2 lbs ground beef
1 1⁄2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

other optional mix-ins: onions, peppers, pepperoni
additional pizza sauce (optional)

Directions

1. In a bowl, combine the egg, pizza sauce, bread crumbs and Italian seasoning.
2. Fold beef into mixture and mix well.
3. Divide meat mixture into 12 greased muffin cups.
4. Press mixture into bottom and up the sides.
5. Fill center with cheese.
6. Bake at 375°F for 15-18 minutes or until meat is no longer pink.
7. Serve immediately with additional pizza sauce and cheese if desired.
8. Or cool, place in freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months.

To use frozen pizza cups:

1. Thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
2. Heat in microwave on high for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.
3. Top with additional pizza sauce and cheese if desired.

Notes: There were several concerns about this recipe noted in the comments at the source link:

1. The cups come out really greasy. I found this to be true, but was able to take the meatloaves out of the reusable muffin cups and leave the excess grease in the cup. Someone suggested browning the meat beforehand to drain off some of the grease, but I'm not sure how you do that and get it to stay together like meatloaf should.
2. The meatloaves fall apart when taking them out of the cups. This was not a problem for me at all, but I used silicon muffin cups. Not sure how well paper would have worked out. The downside was having to wash all the muffin cups afterwards.
3. The hamburger base is a bit bland. I added dehydrated onions and cut-up pieces of pepperoni and thought it was fine. My kids liked it.

Source: Food.com

Navajo Tacos

Ingredients
Indian Fry Bread

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water
3 cups oil for frying

Navajo Tacos 

(Note: we used a different taco recipe than the one at the source link.)

1 small yellow onion, diced

1 lb. ground beef

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

Taco seasoning to taste

Toppings

Sour cream
Shredded cheese
Diced tomatoes
Shredded lettuce
Sliced black olives
Slice avocado
Pico de gallo
Cilantro

Instructions
Indian Fry Bread

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the warm water and mix using a fork until a dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, then transfer to a clean bowl and cover tightly in plastic wrap. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.
2. Divide the dough into 8 equal sections by pinching off golf-ball sized balls of dough, then pat and roll out the dough balls into roughly 6-inch discs on a lightly floured surface. Keep them covered with plastic wrap while you prepare to fry them.
3. Heat 3 cups of oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes until the oil temperature reaches between 350 and 360 degrees F. Working in batches, fry each disc in the hot oil until the dough is golden brown on one side, then carefully flip with tongs and fry on the other side. Set on a paper towel to drain oil and stick in a warm oven to stay hot while the other fry bread is cooked.

Navajo Tacos

1. In a large skillet, combine the onions and meat cooking until meat is no longer pink.
2. Rinse and drain black beans and add to skillet.
3. Add taco seasoning to taste.
4. Place fry bread on serving dish and top with meat mixture.
5. Place any toppings you like on the base of fry bread and taco mixture, piling it high.

Notes: As noted above, we used a different recipe for the taco meat, so mostly I'm recording this for the fry bread recipe. Our taco recipe is simple and our kids like it. (We like it, too.) This probably would have been easy for Brittany, but I don't have a lot of experience making breads of any kind, and though my mom used made these occasionally this was my first time ever trying to make fry bread. I struggled a bit with the dough. It was quite sticky (solved by adding more flour) and I was only able to get 2 of my 8 discs to the recommended 6-inch size. The rest were smaller. Turns out they tasted really good, though, and the kids enjoyed the meal. Looking forward to having these again.

Source: House of Nash Eats

Blackberry Peach Cobbler Scones

Ingredients

Scones
2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1⁄3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
6 ounces blackberries, halved lengthwise
1 peach, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1⁄2 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons coarse white sugar or 2 tablespoons demerara sugar

Glaze
3 ounces blackberries
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
3-4 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1⁄2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. For the scones: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon. Using a pastry cutter or a fork, cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. Fold in the blackberries and peaches. In a measuring cup, whisk together 1/2 cup of the buttermilk and the eggs and add to the flour mixture, stirring gently to combine.
3. Turn the dough out onto a work surface dusted with flour and press into a 9-by-6-inch rectangle. Use a bench scraper or knife to make the sides even, then cut the dough into 6 equal pieces (3-inch squares). Cut each square on the diagonal into triangles and transfer the scones to the prepared baking sheet.
4. In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon with the coarse sugar. Brush the top of each scone with the remaining 2 tablespoons buttermilk and sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place the baking sheet with the scones in the freezer for 20 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
6. For the glaze: Meanwhile, put the blackberries, granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until blackberries are softened and the sugar is dissolved, 5 to 8 minutes, mashing as needed to break up the berries.
7. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium bowl, pressing with a rubber spatula to release all the juice. Let cool slightly, then whisk in the confectioners' sugar and 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice until smooth. If necessary, add extra lemon juice a teaspoon at a time to adjust the consistency of the glaze.
8. Bake the chilled scones until golden, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool slightly on the baking sheet, then drizzle with the glaze.

Notes: It is unfortunate that the blackberry glaze looks a bit like ketchup, because it really is quite delicious. I really enjoyed these scones.

Source: Food.com

Meaty Mexican Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

2 Tbsp vegetable or olive oil

1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef

1 pound ground pork sausage

1 large onion, chopped

2 tsp salt

1 Tbsp chili powder

1 can (10 oz.) Ro-Tel tomatoes, mild (or to taste)

1/2 cup salsa, mild (or to taste)

1 can (4 oz.) diced green chiles, mild (or to taste)

1 pound uncooked macaroni pasta

1 pound Queso Blanco Velveeta

10 oz. queso fresco, crumbled

1 cup Mexican crema or heavy cream

Pepper jack cheese, shredded

Directions

1. In a large pot with a lid over medium-high heat, heat oil, then add meats and onion. Cover and cook until meat is browned, stirring occasionally. Add salt, chili powder, tomatoes, salsa and chiles. Stir well and cook 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Meanwhile, cook past to al dente according to package directions. Drain and return to original cooking pot; set aside.
3. In a microwave-safe bowl, add Velveeta, queso fresco and cream and microwave 3 minutes. Stir well and continue to cook in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring after each time, until melted and smooth. (Or combine ingredients in a saucepan and melt over medium heat.)
4. Stir cheese sauce into macaroni to coat, then pour pasta into the meat mixture. Heat on low 5 minutes or until heated through, stirring to blend well. Serve with pepper jack cheese on top.

Notes: This was a big hit with the kids, despite having more of a kick than they usually like. I enjoyed it quite a bit as well. Velveeta Salsa Mac is similar and simpler to make, but I liked the different cheeses and the sausage in this one and would choose this over Velveeta Salsa Mac.

Source: Texas Co-op Power magazine, February 2022

Italian Beef Sandwiches

Ingredients

1 jar (11-1/2 ounces) pepperoncinis

1 boneless beef chuck roast (3-1/2 to 4 pounds)

1/4 cup water

1-3/4 tsp dried basil

1-1/2 tsp garlic powder

1-1/2 tsp dried oregano

1-1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 large onion, sliced and quartered

10 to 12 hard rolls, split

Directions

1. Drain pepperoncinis, reserving liquid. Remove and discard stems of peppers; set peppers aside. Cut roast into large chunks; place a third of the meat in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Add water.
2. In a small bowl, combine the basil, garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper; sprinkle half over beef. Layer with half of the remaining meat, then onion, reserved peppers and liquid. Top with remaining meat and herb mixture.
3. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until meat is tender. Shred beef with two forks. Using a slotted spoon, serve beef and peppers on rolls. 
4. Yied: 10-12 servings.

Notes: Honestly didn't enjoy this on sandwiches as much as I wanted to. (For that I prefer the flavors of the Mississippi Roast recipe we've already got on here.) Having said that, there were plenty of leftovers and I decided to use the meat to make some quesadillas. The addition of the crunchy tortilla and some mozzarella cheese made this much more of a hit for me. My kids all liked it, too, so this ended up being a successful recipe for us.

Source: The Best of Country Cooking (2003) cook book

Southwestern Chicken Barley Soup

Ingredients

6 cups water

1/2 cup quick barley

2 Tbsp dried onion

2 tsp chicken bouillon

1   15 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained

1   15 oz. can tomato sauce

1   15 oz. can corn, drained

2-3 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1   10 oz. can chicken

Directions

1. Bring first four ingredients to boil, then simmer, covered, until barley is tender, about 10 minutes.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients, except chicken, and simmer 10 minutes to blend flavors.
3. Break up chicken with fork and add to soup. Heat through. Serves 6-8.

Notes: I found out Brittany needed me to make dinner last minute and found this while thumbing through our binder of recipes. It was easy to make and turned out well. We didn't have quick barley, and I ended up simmering the pearl barley I used for close to an hour to get it tender.

Source: printed on a piece of paper Brittany got at a Relief Society activity a long time ago.

Skillet Gnocchi with Asparagus and Fried Eggs

Ingredients

1 pkg. (16 oz.) gnocchi1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
3 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided

1 tsp chopped, fresh thyme leaves
1/4 tsp finely grated lemon zest
1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese, divided
Salt and black pepper
4 eggs

Directions

1. Place gnocchi in 12-inch nonstick skillet; add water to just barely cover. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute. Add asparagus; boil 1 minute more. Ladle 1/4 cup cooking water into small bowl; set aside. Drain gnocchi and asparagus.
2. Wipe skillet dry; return to heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter. When melted, add gnocchi and asparagus; cook until slightly browned on several sides, about 5 minutes. Add thyme, zest, reserved cooking water and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover; keep warm.
3. Heat medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Add eggs, cover and cook until whites are set but yolks are runny, 4-6 minutes (safe internal temp. 160°F). Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Divide gnocchi between plates. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup parmesan. Top each portion with egg and serve, refrigerating any leftovers.

Notes: I made this in February 2021 and am just now getting around to posting. We like this recipe and have enjoyed it at least a couple of times. I think I struggled with getting the gnocchi to brown when I made it this time. Seems like it was sticky and falling apart. Still tasty! We'll have it again (maybe I'll remember to get a better photo).

Source: Kroger MyMagazine mailer

Beef Birria

 

Ingredients

3 (8 ounce) short ribs

1 (2 1/2 pound) beef chick

4 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

2 tsp. dried Mexican oregano

1 tsp. ground cumin

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

7 dried guajillo chilies

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 large onion, roughly chopped

6 cloves garlic, peeled

1 (1 inch) piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced

3 large tomatoes, cored and chopped

2 cups water

3 bay leaves

1 Tbsp. honey

1/4 C. white vinegar

4 C. chicken broth

2 Tbsp. finely diced white onion (for garnish)

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro (for garnish)

1 medium lime, sliced (for garnish)

 

Directions

1. Cut each short rib through the middle, all the way down to the bone. Cut beef chuck in half; cut each half into 3- to 4-inch pieces.

2. Place beef chuck and short ribs into a soup pot and season with salt, black pepper, oregano, cumin, cinnamon, and cloves. Toss very thoroughly until the meat is evenly coated with the spices, 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Cover and transfer into the refrigerator for at least 6 hours, or overnight.

4. Prep guajillo chilies by snipping stems with scissors; slice open and scrape or shake out the seeds onto a plate to discard.

5. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add dried guajillo chilies and toss in the hot oil, about 30 seconds. Add the 1 chopped onion, garlic, and ginger; toss to combine. Add tomatoes and water, raise heat to high, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for 30 minutes.

6. Turn off heat and use an immersion blender to blend the mixture as smooth as possible, or transfer to a regular blender, working in batches as needed.

7. Remove the soup pot with meat from the refrigerator. Strain the reserved chili mixture into the pot using a large mesh strainer. Add bay leaves, honey, vinegar, and chicken broth.

8. Bring to boil over high heat, and then lower to medium-low. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the meat is falling-apart tender, 3-4 hours. Skim fat off of the top and reserve for future birria queso tacos.

9. Place some chunks of beef into a soup bowl and ladle some of the cooking liquid over top. Top with white onion and chopped cilantro and squeeze lime juice over top.

Notes: Another tasty recipe that John made. Plan for a lot of time to make this recipe. It seems that ours turned out much less liquidy than the source photos seems to show, but I don't remember feeling like it needed to have more liquid. The source has a note that water or broth can be added as needed to Keep the stew brothy as it simmers, but that it can also be allowed to reduce and thicken as it cooks. We shredded our meat. We also reserved the fat and made delicious tacos the next day by placing meat and cheese in a corn tortilla, folding it in half and frying it in the reserved fat. It was delicious!

Source: AllRecipes.

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

 

 

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. uncooked rice

3 c. chicken broth

14-16 oz. smoked sausage, sliced

1/2 lb. chicken breast, diced

1-2 Tbsp. oil

1 small onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 green bell pepper, diced

1/2 red bell pepper, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

1 tsp. dried thyme

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. creole seasoning

14 oz. can diced tomatoes (undrained)

 

Directions

1.Bring 3 cups chicken broth to boil in a medium sauce pan. Add rice. Reduce heat to low, place lid on pan, and gently simmer for about 20 minutes, until rice is done. Remove from heat and allow to sit for 5 minutes before removing lid and fluffing rice with a fork.

2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil. Add sausage and chicken and cook until sausage is browned and chicken is no longer pink. Remove from skillet and set aside.

3. If needed, add more oil to the skillet. Put onion, garlic, red and green bell peppers, celery, and seasonings. Saute until vegetables are tender. Stir in tomatoes and their liquid. Simmer for a couple minutes to heat through.

4. Once rice is finished cooking, add to skillet and stir until mixed in thoroughly with chicken, sausage, and vegetables. Ready to serve!

Notes: I was in the mood to try some jambalaya, so I went on the hunt for a good-looking recipe. We are not huge shrimp fans, so I opted for a combination of chicken and sausage. When looking for a recipe that called for both, what I found seemed a bit plain. So, I gathered ideas from several other recipes and made this up on the spot. It turned out really tasty! You could certainly make this with the traditional shrimp if you want. As I am posting this 5 months later, I think it's time to make it again.

Lemon Chicken Tenders

Ingredients

½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
½ cup sugar (see notes below - I used less)
½ cup lemon juice
1 ½ teaspoons curry powder

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. In a bowl, stir together paprika, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle seasoning over chicken pieces. Dip pieces in egg, then dredge in bread crumbs. Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer in an aluminum foil-lined 15x10-inch jelly roll pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, turning once.
4. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stir together sugar, lemon juice, and curry powder, stirring until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes.
5. Drizzle lemon sauce over chicken, return to oven, and bake 5 minutes more.

Notes: I had a 4-year old assisting me with this recipe and so mistakes were made. Also 1/2 cup of sugar seemed excessive, so I tried 2 tablespoons. With the smaller amount it wasn't too sweet, but I also didn't get the consistency of a glaze. So I was mostly "drizzling" a mix of lemon juice and curry powder and overdid it a bit: the tenders turned out very lemony. Still edible, but not something I'd want again without modifications. I'd maybe use slightly more sugar to get a glaze or just use less of the lower sugar mixture. Or maybe use something like honey instead of sugar?

Source: All Recipes

Xavier Soup

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups flour
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup butter

½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

½ teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

A grating of fresh nutmeg

2 eggs plus 2 egg yolks

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

10 cups chicken stock (I did 8 cups)

Additional chopped parsley for garnishing

Directions:

1. Line a large baking sheet with well-buttered parchment paper. Fit a sturdy piping bag with a large round tip.
2. In a medium saucepan, over low heat, work the flour, cream, butter, and cheese into a soft dough.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and beat in the salt, pepper, nutmeg, eggs, yolks, and tablespoon of chopped parsley.
4. Spoon the dough into the piping bag and squeeze out 1-inch lengths onto the prepared pan. Use a butter knife to separate the dough from the tip once you’ve piped out shapes of the proper length.
5. Let stand for 30 minutes.
6. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In another, smaller saucepan, warm up the chicken stock.
7. Drop one third of the dumplings into the boiling water, and boil until they are tender and cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon and transfer them to the heated chicken stock.
8. Repeat process with the remaining dumplings.
9. Once all the dumpling are cooked and in the chicken stock, ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with additional chopped parsley. Serve immediately. Yield: 8 servings

Notes: A few thoughts here. First, I only made this recipe because I wanted to make a recipe that started with the letter X, and this one seemed relatively easy. Second, it admittedly doesn't look all that appetizing. Aesthetically this soup is bland. Third: My oldest struggled with the texture of the dumplings. Fourth: I discovered (midway through cooking the dumplings) that after the dough sat for 30 minutes, it had set enough that it could be shaped by hand. Fifth: I loved this soup. The buttery, cheesy dumplings were delicious! This soup exceeded my expectations and after having it this first time it is right up there as one of my favorites.

Source: The Lass in the Apron

Mujadara

Ingredients

4 Tbsps olive oil

2 large onions, thinly sliced

Salt, to taste

4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp ground allspice

Pinch ground cayenne pepper

Large pinch dried thyme, oregano, and/or rosemary

5 cups vegetable broth

1 cup green, brown, or red lentils

3/4 cup rice

1-2 Tbsp lemon juice

Pepper, to taste

Pinch red pepper flakes, for garnish

Chopped fresh herbs, for garnish

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat, then add onions. Add a pinch of salt and sauté until the onions turn golden brown, 15-45 minutes, stirring often so they don't burn. Transfer half of the onions to a plate, leaving remaining half in the skillet.
2. Add garlic to skillet and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute, then add cumin, allspice, and cayenne and sauté a few seconds to toast the spices. Stir in herbs and broth, bring to a simmer, and add salt to taste.
3. Add in lentils, cover and simmer with lid cracked until lentils are almost done (25-30 minutes for green and brown lentils, 15-20 minutes for red). Stir rice into the pot and continue to cook until everything is tender, 15-20 minutes. Close lid completely if it looks too thick while cooking.
4. Add lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Top with reserved onions and garnishes.

Notes: I've been interested in finding some good lentils recipes to add to the rotation, and this one was a keeper. My kids even liked it (except for the 6-year-old).

Source: clipped from Texas Co-op Power Magazine, January 2021 issue

Breakfast Burrito Fried Rice

Ingredients

8 oz. ground chorizo

2 eggs, beaten

1 medium onion, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 tsp. cumin

1 cup frozen corn kernels

3 cups cooked rice

1 cup salsa

Salt

Grated cheddar cheese

Shredded lettuce

Directions

1. Brown chorizo in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon. Drain all but 1 tablespoon grease.
2. Add eggs to hot grease in skillet and push around with wooden spoon until barely set. Remove from pan; set aside.
3. Return chorizo to skillet. Add onion and bell pepper; cook until onion is translucent, 5 minutes. Add cumin and corn; cook 1 minute. Add rice and salsa; cook, stirring constantly, until rice breaks up and is heated through, and chorizo reaches a safe internal temperature of 160°F. Stir in reserved scrambled eggs. Season to taste with salt. Top with cheese and lettuce. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Notes: I knew I would enjoy this recipe based on the ingredients. It was also a hit with the rest of the family. We will be having this one again.

Source: clipped from a Kroger magazine we received in the mail. 

Irish Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 onion, diced
2 pounds lean ground lamb (we used ground beef)
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon paprika
⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ketchup
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 ½ cups water, or as needed
1 (12 ounce) package frozen peas and carrots, thawed
2 ½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and halved
1 tablespoon butter
1 pinch ground cayenne pepper
¼ cup cream cheese
¼ pound Irish cheese (such as Dubliner), shredded
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons milk

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Place olive oil and butter in Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in onion and ground lamb; brown the meat, breaking it up into small crumbles as it cooks, about 10 minutes.
3. Stir in flour until incorporated, then mix in salt, black pepper, rosemary, paprika, cinnamon, ketchup, and garlic; cook and stir until garlic is fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Stir in water and scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the Dutch oven. Reduce heat to medium-low and bring mixture to a simmer; cook and stir until thick, about 5-6 minutes.
5. Remove lamb mixture from heat and stir in peas and carrots until combined.
6. Spread lamb mixture into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
7. Place potatoes into a large pan of salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well and return potatoes to pan.
8. Mash butter, cayenne pepper, cream cheese, and Irish cheese into the potatoes. Mash until combined and potatoes are smooth. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
9. Whisk together egg yolk and milk in a small bowl; stir into the mashed potato mixture.
10. Top the lamb mixture in the baking dish with the mashed potatoes and spread evenly to cover.
11. Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown and sauce is bubbling up around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes.

Notes: Ground lamb is a bit fancy for us so we went with ground beef. Apparently that makes this recipe a Cottage Pie rather than a Shepherd's Pie. But I am posting the recipe as I found it. Maybe some day we'll be willing to pay the extra $ to see if ground lamb is worth it. We also couldn't find a frozen peas and carrots mix, so we used the mixed veggies we had that also included corn and beans. This was a tasty meal (my son loved it) but I didn't put in enough salt in step 3 so it smelled better than it tasted. A little bit of added salt helped but first impression was that it was lacking.

Source: allrecipes

Leche Asada (Baked Milk Custard)

Ingredients
6 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups milk
Garnish with ground cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Crack 6 eggs into a large mixing bowl.
3. Add sugar and milk and whisk to combine.
4. Pour through strainer (to remove larger egg residues) into individual ramekins or one 1 1/2 quart ramekin. 
5. Bake for 30-40 minutes in the small ramekins or for 1 hour in the large. (Setting them in a water bath will make them creamier).
6. Chill for about an hour.
7. Sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon (if desired) and serve.

Notes: This is a simple but tasty dessert. Brittany has done water baths for custards before but I had never actually made a custard before, so I learned something new making this. (This is how I did it: set ramekin into larger baking dish. Bring some water to a boil and pour into larger baking dish until it is approximately level with the custard in the ramekin.)

Source: Global Table Adventure

Sopa de Mani (Bolivian Peanut Soup)

Ingredients

Sopa de Mani:

olive oil (or peanut oil)
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin
1 lb beef, cubed
1 quart beef stock 
4 medium potatoes (cut as big or as small as you like)
1/2 cup unsalted peanuts (slightly ground up or as small as you like - smaller will result in more peanut flavor)
1/4 cup white rice
1/2 cup frozen peas
1 cup milk
parsley, to taste
salt
pepper

Llajua (Bolivian Hot Sauce):

3 ripe tomatoes 
1 red locotos chili pepper (we used a jalapeño)
2 garlic cloves
3 basil leaves
2 Tsp cilantro
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp olive oil

Instructions

Sopa de Mani:

1. Add oil to a large pot and heat over medium. Cook onion and garlic with oregano and cumin.
2. When onions are softened, add beef, stock, potato, and peanuts. Simmer gently until potatoes are just tender. I cooked this soup on super low for about 1 1/2 hours.
3. Add rice, milk and peas and serve after about 20 minutes.
4. Serve with Llajua.

Llajua:

1. Quarter the Chili pepper & the garlic.
2. Take out the seeds and stuff from the tomato. Tomato guts are too wet and acidic for this recipe. Remove seeds from chili pepper if you want to make it more mild.
3. Grab some cilantro and basil.
4. Put everything in a blender along with the olive oil and salt.
5. Puree and pour into little serving dishes.

Notes: I was too lazy to try to capture good photos of this recipe, and didn't get any of it after I added the hot sauce. I cubed my potatoes. I think if I make this again I either quarter the potatoes as the source did or I don't cook them quite as long. I enjoyed the tenderness of the beef but I think the potatoes were overdone. Also, my hot sauce didn't have much kick to it so next time I would go for a hotter pepper or leave the seeds in. Still, I like this better than the Argentine beef stew I tried from the Global Table Adventure blog. We've made several recipes from this blog, but this was the first time we also tried the recommended dessert: Leche Asada (Baked Milk Custard). 

Source: 

Sopa de Mani: Global Table Adventure

Llajua: Global Table Adventure

Tater Tot Taco Casserole

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (1 ounce) packet taco seasoning mix
1 (16 ounce) bag frozen Mexican-style corn
1 (12 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (12 ounce) bag shredded Mexican cheese blend
1 (16 ounce) package frozen tater tots
1 (12 fluid ounce) can enchilada sauce

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until completely browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the onion, garlic, taco seasoning mix, frozen Mexican-style corn, and black beans to the ground beef; cook and stir another 10 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
3. Combine the ground beef mixture in a large bowl with about 3/4 of the Mexican cheese blend and the tater tots; stir to combine.
4. Pour about 1/3 of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Add the tater tot mixture to the baking dish; lightly pat the mixture down into a solid, even layer. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the tater tot layer.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining Mexican cheese over the casserole and return to oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 5 minutes more.

Notes: I really enjoyed this casserole and ate up nearly all the leftovers by myself over the next few days without complaint. A definite upgrade over our regular Tater Tot Casserole recipe in my opinion - though my kids probably like that one more. We couldn't find Mexican-style corn so just used plain frozen corn.

Source: allrecipes

Raspberry Swirl Buttermilk Pancakes

Ingredients
Raspberry Sauce:
1 to 1 1/2 cups of raspberries
1/2 to 3/4 sugar

Buttermilk Pancakes:
1 cup flour 
2 tbsp sugar
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
1 cup of buttermilk
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp melted butter

Instructions

1. Combine the berries and the sugar in a medium sized saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, stirring often and simmer until thick (about 5 minutes).
2. Whisk together the dry ingredients. In another bowl whisk together the milk, egg, vanilla, and butter. Pour the liquid mixture over the dry ingredients. Lightly whisk until everything just combines (it will be a bit lumpy).
3. If needed lightly oil/butter your griddle. Heat to 350°F. 
4. Put the raspberry sauce into a pastry bag with a tip (or use a Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off).
5. Spoon batter onto the heated griddle. Pipe a swirl of raspberry into the middle of each pancake.
6. When the edges begin to cook and the top is bubbled flip and cook the other side until golden brown.
7. Serve with extra sauce, powdered sugar, or maple syrup.

Notes: The buttermilk pancake recipe we typically follow is found here. This is a fun variation, though really it tasted like a regular buttermilk pancake with raspberry sauce on top. The swirls are for presentation and variety I suppose.

Source: Well Floured

Blueberry Muffin Tops

Ingredients

2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup oil
1 egg
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Optional: 1 tsp grated lemon or orange peel

Directions

1. Sift together dry ingredients, including blueberries. If using frozen berries, do not thaw beforehand.
2. In another bowl, mix milk, oil, and egg. Add to dry ingredients and mix just until moistened.
3. Spoon onto baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes.

Notes: This is just a simple variation on these Blueberry Muffins. Really any blueberry muffin recipe could be used instead.

Sheepherder's Breakfast

Ingredients

3/4 pound bacon strips, finely chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 package (30 ounces) frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
8 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

1. In a large skillet, cook bacon and onion over medium heat until bacon is crisp. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup drippings in pan.
2. Stir in hash browns. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat until bottom is golden brown, about 10 minutes. Turn potatoes. With the back of a spoon, make 8 evenly spaced wells in potato mixture. Break 1 egg into each well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Cook, covered, on low until eggs are set and potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese; let stand until cheese is melted.

Notes: I thought this was a very tasty breakfast. And it is easy and fairly quick to make.

Source: Taste of Home

Strawberry Cream Cheese French Toast Bake

Ingredients

1 16-ounce loaf of French bread or sourdough bread cut into 1-inch cubes with the ends discarded. 
1/2 cup cream cheese softened (optional - leave out if preferred)
1/3 cup maple syrup or honey divided 
1 1/2 to 2 cups sliced strawberries divided
6 large eggs
1 1/4 cups milk or almond milk
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar (optional - add if you like your French toast sweet)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Streusel Topping:
1/3 cup all-purpose flour can substitute with gluten free 1-1 flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar or coconut sugar 
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 tablespoons unsalted butter cold and cubed

Optional Toppings:
maple syrup
more fresh berries
whipped cream
powdered sugar

Instructions
Make the Streusel Topping:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon together. Cut in the cubed butter with a pastry blender or two forks. Set aside in the fridge.

Make the Casserole:

1. Lightly grease a 9x9-inch square baking dish or 2.5-quart casserole dish.
2. In a medium bowl, mix the softened cream cheese with 1 tablespoon of the maple syrup. Arrange half of the bread cubes in the bottom of the baking dish. Drop spoonfuls of the softened cream cheese over the bread and top with half of the berries.
3. Layer with remaining bread cubes on top.
4. In a large bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the eggs, milk, cinnamon, maple syrup (add brown sugar here if using) and vanilla.
5. Pour evenly over bread cubes. Press the bread cubes slightly down to absorb the milk/egg mixture.
6. Top evenly with remaining berries. Sprinkle the streusel topping over the berries. Cover pan with foil. Allow to chill in the refrigerator for an hour or overnight.
7. When ready to bake, remove French toast from the fridge. Preheat oven to 350° F. Bake covered with foil for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 23-26 minutes or until fluffy and golden.
8. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Serve warm with syrup and additional toppings if desired.

Notes: Another tasty French toast casserole. I believe this is at least the 7th such recipe we've got on the blog, and we've tried a few that never got posted. I would put this somewhere in the middle of the bunch for how much I liked it.

Source: Life Made Sweeter

Kaiserschmarrn

Ingredients

1 Tbsp butter

3 eggs

2 Tbsp sugar

1 pinch sugar

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup milk

1 Tbsp raisins

1 pinch salt

1 pkg vanilla sugar (substitute vanilla flavoring + regular sugar)

powdered sugar

Directions

1. Rinse off raisins in hot water and let them dry. Split the eggs into whites and yolks. Mix together milk, flour, 1 pinch salt and vanilla sugar. Mix in egg yolks. Turn on stove to 350°F.
2. Beat egg whites with sugar until stiff. Stir one third of the egg whites int othe batter and fold the egg whites and the raisins into the batter.
3. Heat up 1 Tbsp butter in a coated pan. Pour in the batter and cook it at medium temperature until the underside is golden brown. Turn the Schmarrn over and cook it for about 5 minutes.
4. Take the pan off the burner and tear the Schmarrn into pieces and push them to the edge. Put 1 Tbsp butter on the free place on the pan and sprinkle on 1 Tbsp sugar and let it caramelize. Mix the Schmarrn with the caramel.
5. Tip: If possible the Schmarrn should stay together when turning over. Professionals can do it with a natural hand movement in that they scoop the Schmarrn like a thin pancake and flip it. You can half the Schmarrn or quarter it and turn it over with the help of a spatula and a fork.
6. Serve with powdered sugar on top.

Notes: Brittany's younger brother, Brian, served as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany and brought this recipe back with him. He'd made it for us a few times before we got the recipe and made it ourselves. It is a sweet and tasty breakfast.

Source: Brian Stimpson

Blueberry Buttermilk Pancake Casserole

Ingredients
Crumb topping:
1/2 cup flour
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Casserole:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup milk, I used skim milk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
finely grated zest of 1 small lemon
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 2/3 cups blueberries
maple syrup, for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Thoroughly grease a 9x13 baking dish and set aside.
2. Prepare crumb topping: In a medium bowl combine flour, sugars, cinnamon, and salt. Add melted butter and stir until fully incorporated. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare the batter.
3. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
4. In a separate bowl, combine eggs, buttermilk, milk, melted butter, lemon zest, and vanilla extract (the butter might clump from the chill of the cold ingredients- that's ok). Whisk wet ingredients until well combined. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and use a rubber spatula to stir until combined. The batter will be lumpy; do not over mix.
5. Pour the batter into the greased baking dish. Sprinkle the blueberries over the top. Remove the crumb topping from the fridge and crumble over the top of the blueberries and batter. Bake for about 35-45 minutes, until puffed and light golden brown. Serve warm with maple syrup.

Notes: It has been a couple of months since we had this so the memories aren't sharp, but we remember liking it. I believe it reminded me somewhat of the Fruit Coffee Cake we made in the past.

Source: Celebrating Sweets

Argentine Beef Stew in a Pumpkin

Ingredients
1 large pumpkin (10 to 12-inch diameter)
1.5 lbs stew beef , cubed (chuck works well)
1 large onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 roma tomatoes, chopped
2 ears corn on the cob, cut into 6-8 round segments
1/2 cup dried apricots, diced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 bay leaves
8 cups beef broth
vegetable oil

salt

pepper

Instructions

Prepare the pumpkin:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Meanwhile, cut the top off the pumpkin. If you are able to get a large one, you can cut it about 1/3 of the way down so that it is wide but shallow. Remove the strings and seeds. If desired use a paring knife to cut smooth the top four inches of the inner edge for presentation. Brush the cut edges with vegetable oil. Roast in the oven for about 45 minutes.

For the soup:

1. Add about 2 tablespoons vegetable oil to a large pot over high heat. Add the beef, stirring a couple of times to ensure even browning. If there is excess liquid, it will need to boil off before the meat begins browning.
2. Reduce the heat, then add the onions and garlic. Once translucent, add the peppers and continue cooking for about five minutes. Add on the potatoes, tomatoes, corn, apricot, oregano, and bay leaves. Cover with 8 cups of broth.
3. Simmer gently until the vegetables are just tender - about 30 minutes. Season to taste. 
4. Ladle into the pumpkin in the oven and bake 30 more minutes to finish cooking . 
5. Serve hot, on a chilly day. Spoon with some of the pumpkin flesh into each bowl.

Notes: It is best to bake the pumpkin directly on whatever you will be serving it on as once it has been baked and softened it will be difficult to move to a different dish. This was interesting to make, but a bit sweeter than my family likes for a beef stew. I missed the step to "season to taste" when I made it, so I've added salt and pepper to the ingredient list (not listed at the source) as I did feel it was missing something. If we make it again we will likely skip baking it in the pumpkin.

Source: Global Table Adventure

Onion Scones

Ingredients
1 yellow onion (chopped)
1/3 cup green onion (chopped)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1/3 cup butter
2 cups flour
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup light cream
1 egg (beaten)
butter

Directions

1. Gather the ingredients together.
2. Preheat the oven to 400° F.
3. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the yellow onion, green onions, garlic, and butter. Microwave on high for 2 minutes, then stir this mixture.
4. Microwave for another 1 to 2 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Remove the bowl from the microwave and let the vegetables cool for 10 minutes.
5. Combine the flour, cheese, sugar, baking powder, pepper, and salt in a large bowl and stir to mix.
6. Add the sautéed onion mixture to the flour mixture along with all of the melted butter, light cream, and egg. Stir just until combined with a spoon.
7. Gently press the dough together with your hands to form a ball.
8. On an ungreased cookie sheet, press the dough into an 8-inch circle. Cut the circle into 8 wedges, like you were cutting a pie. Separate the wedges slightly.
9. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the scones are lightly browned.
10. Brush with more melted butter and serve immediately. 

Notes: It is nice to have a few savory options when making scones. I really enjoyed these but the kids weren't super big fans.

Source: The Spruce Eats

Butterscotch Pecan Scones

Ingredients
2/3 cup pecans
1/2 cup heavy cream, plus more if necessary
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups cake flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off (substitute: 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour and 1/4 cup cornstarch)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2/3 cup butterscotch chips, best quality such as Guittard
Demerara sugar (also called raw sugar or turbinado), for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Arrange the pecans in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until lightly toasted and fragrant, about 4 minutes. Slide the parchment off of the hot baking sheet and let the pecans cool on the countertop. When the pecans are cool enough to handle, coarsely chop them and set aside. Place the parchment back on the baking sheet.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, egg and vanilla. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking powder and brown sugar (use your fingers to rub the brown sugar into the mixture until no lumps remain). Add the pieces of butter. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized clumps of butter within. Stir in the butterscotch chips and pecans. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, then add the cream mixture. Use a rubber spatula to mix until the dough comes together. It should be a bit sticky, almost like chocolate chip cookie dough. If it seems dry, add more cream little by little (no more than 2 tablespoons should be necessary).
5. Dust a clean, dry work surface with flour. Place the sticky dough on top and dust the top of the dough with a little flour as well. Knead gently a few times until the dough comes together into a ball. (Sprinkle lightly with more flour as needed so that the dough doesn't stick.)
6. Press the dough into a circle about 1-inch high, then cut into 8 wedges. Arrange the wedges on the prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly apart, and then sprinkle each one with about 1/2 teaspoon of Demerara sugar. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, until lightly golden and firm to the touch. Let the scones cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. The scones are best enjoyed fresh on the day they are made but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.

Notes: Another tasty scone recipe. As with most other scone recipes, the dough can be frozen before baking. (We often makes our scones the night before and freeze overnight before baking in the morning.) Put the dough wedges on a baking sheet, let set in the freezer, then place in a sealable freezer bag and press out as much air as possible. Bake as needed directly from the freezer, allowing 1 to 2 minutes longer in the oven. 

Source: Once Upon a Chef

Breakfast Empanada

Ingredients

1/2 recipe empanada dough (dough recipe from source available here)
2 tablespoons butter
8 eggs
1/4 cup milk
8 pieces of bacon
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
8 ounces cream cheese
3 scallions (finely chopped)
Salt and pepper (to taste)
1 egg (for egg wash)

Directions

1. Prepare the empanada dough and let the dough rest in the refrigerator for at least one hour (overnight is best).
2. Cook the bacon until crispy and drain on paper towels. Crumble the bacon roughly.
3. Whisk the eggs with the milk and season with salt and pepper.
4. Melt the butter over medium heat in a nonstick skillet. Add the chopped scallions and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until soft.
5. Pour in the eggs and cook, stirring, until well scrambled and just cooked. Stir in the cream cheese just before removing eggs from heat. The cheese does not have to be mixed in well.
6. Preheat oven to 375° F.
7. Roll out the empanada dough and cut into 8 6-inch circles of dough. Let circles rest for 5 minutes.
8. Place spoonfuls of the egg mixture in the middle of each dough circle, dividing the mixture evenly between the empanadas. Sprinkle some crumbled bacon and grated pepper jack cheese on top of the egg mixture, dividing the cheese and bacon evenly between the 8 empanadas.
9. Fold and seal the empanadas (step-by-step instructions on shaping empanadas from source available here).
10. Place empanadas on a baking sheet. Whisk an egg with a tablespoon of water, and brush empanadas carefully with the egg wash.
11. Bake empanadas for 25 to 30 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
12. Remove from oven and let cool. Empanadas can be wrapped well and frozen. Thaw empanadas and reheat in the oven or microwave.

Notes: We used store-bought empanada shells. I wouldn't mind trying the empanada dough recipe from the Spruce Eats, though, as in my opinion the store-bought shells weren't quite what I was looking for in an empanada (nothing comes close to what I experienced during the 2 years I lived in Paraguay). Regardless, the filling was delicious and I really enjoyed this empanadas.

Source: The Spruce Eats

Blackberry Biscuit Bread

Ingredients

1 cup of seedless blackberry jam 
8 oz. of cream cheese
2 container of Pillsbury buttermilk biscuits
4 eggs
2 cups of half & half
2 teaspoons of cinnamon sugar
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1/2 cup of packed brown sugar

Directions

1. Put 1 cup of seedless blackberry jam in a pot and melt it on low (stirring occasionally).
2. Spray baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Take 1 container of biscuits and cut each biscuit into 4 pieces (quarters).
4. Place the biscuit pieces on the bottom of the baking dish.
5. Using your hands, separate the cream cheese into pieces and scatter it around with the biscuit quarters.
6. Slowly pour the melted blackberry jam over the biscuit pieces and cream cheese.
7. In the mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, half and half, cinnamon sugar, and vanilla.
8. Pour that mixture over the blackberry jam in the baking dish.
9. Take your second container of Pillsbury biscuits and cut those biscuits into quarters as well.
10. Scatter those biscuit pieces over the egg mixture.
11. Finally, top it all off by dusting everything with the brown sugar.
12. Bake covered at 350° for 30 minutes.
13. Uncover and bake at 350° for another 30 minutes.
14. Serve warm. Makes about 8 servings.

Notes: This was another delicious (and sweet) breakfast. We enjoyed the blackberry and cream cheese flavors, but given the choice we'd probably go with regular bread or French bread over Pillsbury biscuits when it comes to these types of breakfast casseroles.

Source: Smart School House