lemony chicken meatball soup with spinach

 

Excellent!  Hall of Fame, in fact.  My family loved this soup.

lemony chicken meatball soup with spinach (my husband found the recipe)

1 pound ground chicken

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1 small red onion, 1/2 diced and 1/2 grated then squeezed with a paper towel

1/2 cup packed fresh dill leaves, finely chopped (I used 1 tablespoon freeze dried dill)

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon ground turmeric

kosher salt and black pepper

3 tablespoons olive oil (I used half)

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes plus more for serving

4 cups chicken broth

4 cups packed baby spinach (I'll double next time!)

2 lemons, 1 juiced and 1 cut into wedges for serving

In a medium bowl, add the chicken, feta, 1/4 cup oats, grated onion, most of the dill, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric and 1 teaspoon salt.  Gently combine without squeezing too hard or overworking the meat.  Shape the meat into small balls about 1 1/2 inches.  You might have approximately 25 balls.

Heat the oil in a pot over medium heat.  Add the diced onion, season with salt and cook until it begins to soften, about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the remaining 1 tablespoon turmeric and the red pepper flakes, and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Push the onions to the sides as best you can, then add the meatballs.  Cook until browned on two sides, 5-7 minutes.

Pour in the broth and remaining 1/2 cup oats, then gently tilt the pot to the right and left to distribute the oats and broth without disturbing the meatballs.  Bring to a gentle boil; then immediately reduce the heat to maintain an active simmer.  Season with salt.  Cook, gently stirring occasionally to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom, until the oats have softened and the meatballs are cooked through, about 4 minutes more.

Stir in the spinach and lemon juice until the spinach is wilted.  Adjust the seasoning to taste.  Spoon into bowls, top with pepper and the remaining dill.  Serve with lemon wedges.

thai inspired chicken meatballs

 

Hall of Fame!  These meatballs were delicious.  They were perfect, actually.

thai inspired chicken meatballs (St. George Lifestyle Magazine)

1 pound ground chicken

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 scallions, chopped (chopped red onion works well too)

4 tablespoons breadcrumbs

1 whole egg

2 tablespoons red curry paste

1-inch ginger grated

1 bag baby spinach

1 can coconut milk (I used light)

1/2 cup chicken stock

3 tablespoons parsley, minced (I didn't have so omitted)

juice of 1 lime

steamed rice for serving

Saute scallions, 2 teaspoons minced garlic and 2 teaspoons minced ginger in a saute pan until fragrant.  Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

In a large bowl combine chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, cilantro and onion-garlic mixture.  Mix gently and form into small meatballs.

Saute meatballs in skillet over medium heat until nicely browned.  Transfer to a plate, leaving drippings in the pan.  Add remaining garlic and ginger.  Saute until fragrant.  Add curry paste and stir to combine.  Add coconut milk and chicken stock and bring to a simmer.

Return meatballs to the broth and simmer until meatballs are cooked through.  Add lime juice, spinach and chopped parsley and heat through.  Add a little salt if necessary.  Serve over steamed rice.

roasted tomato tart with ricotta and pesto

 

This recipe was an instant Hall of Fame recipe and it opened by eyes to many ideas of how to utilize puff pastry.  I already have plans to serve this at my daughter's Galentine's party this weekend.

roasted tomato tart with ricotta and pesto (New York Times cooking calendar)

4 small, multicolored tomatoes sliced 1/4-inch thick (I used many more)

kosher salt and black pepper

1 sheet packaged puff pastry, thawed (about 7 ounces)

3 tablespoons creme fraiche or sour cream (I used 1/4 cup or more ricotta cheese)

1/4 small red onion, very thinly sliced

red pepper flakes

3/4 cup ricotta

store bought pesto for drizzling

extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

fresh basil leaves, for garnish

Line a large baking sheet with paper towels.  Set the sliced tomatoes on top in a single layer.  In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.  Use it to season the tomatoes evenly on both sides, cover with another paper towel and let sit, 15 minutes, allowing the salt to draw moisture out of the tomatoes.

As the tomatoes sit, heat the oven to 400 degrees and set a rack in the middle of the oven.  Working on a large sheet of parchment paper, roll out the puff pastry into a 9 by 11 inch rectangle, trimming any uneven edges.  Prick the inside with a fork every few inches, leaving a 1/2 inch border.  Using a pastry brush, coat the center of the puff with ricotta, leaving the border unbrushed.

Working within the border, layer the tomatoes and red onion on top of the tart, allowing them to overlap slightly.  Transfer to a sheet pan and bake, rotating halfway through, until puff pastry is browned and puffed, 30 to 35 minutes.

Sprinkle tomatoes with red pepper flakes.  Dollop with fresh ricotta.  Thin pesto with olive oil until it reaches the proper consistency for drizzling; drizzle on top of tart to taste.  Top with basil and serve warm or at room temperature.

ground turkey kebabs (or meatballs)

 

Hall of Fame!  I haven't declared a Hall of Fame in a while and this one deserves it.  The flavors are fantastic.  I didn't have the right skewers for kebabs so I formed mine into meatballs.  Get ready for some soft, uber-flavorful meatballs.

ground turkey kebabs (or meatballs) (Costco Connection Magazine, December 2022)

2 pounds ground turkey

1 cup fresh breadcrumbs

3/4 cup parsley, chopped

10 ounces frozen cut spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled (I couldn't believe I didn't have any on hand!)

1 egg, whisked

1 shallot, chopped (I used 2 green onions)

1 tablespoon dried oregano

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 tablespoon fresh dill weed, chopped

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

3 tablespoons olive oil

10 thick 8-inch wooden skewers, soaked in water for 20 minutes

Preheat oven to 425 degrees (unless you prefer to pan fry).

Combine all ingredients except olive oil in a large mixing bowl.  Mix until well combined.  With damp hands, mold meat firmly around skewer into a sausage shape, about 5 inches long and 2 inches wide.  You should have enough meat for about 10 skewers.

Brush kebabs with oil and bake on a foil lined baking sheet for 25-33 minutes or until meat registers an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Serve with tzatziki sauce and hummus.

carrot ginger dressing

My husband declared our Asian bowls Hall of Fame!  I am so glad I found this recipe for the carrot ginger dressing.  It's healthy and has a zing and flavor that is so unique.  I used leftover sauce from when my husband made Disneyland's bengal beef kabobs and I am certain that's why the chicken was so good.  Beautiful combination!

carrot ginger dressing (adapted from goodcheapeats.com)
makes 2 cups
8 ounces shredded carrots
1/2 cup coarsely chopped red onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon ginger paste or fresh minced ginger
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 cup vegetable oil (I used 2 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon sesame oil (I used 1 tablespoon)

Put all ingredients into a high powered blender and process until smooth.  Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving.  Keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

bengal barbecue spicy sauce
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon fresh crushed garlic
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or go easy)
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne (or go easy)
2/3 cup soy sauce
1 cup water
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Heat a teaspoon of oil gently in a saucepan.  Add 1 tablespoon of crushed garlic.  Saute lightly, do not burn.  Add soy sauce, water, lemon juice, brown sugar, black pepper, red pepper flakes and cayenne.  Bring to a slow boil over medium to low heat.  Reduce heat and simmer to reduce slightly.  Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1/4 cup water.  Mix well.  Add to simmering sauce.  Allow mixture to simmer slowly until the sauce thickens to a shiny but thick sauce.  Taste.  Adjust mixture according to taste.

puruvian beef kebabs

My husband declared this dish Hall of Fame!  The rest of us agreed.  We thought the kebabs were really good but the sauce took them over the top.  Who knew we'd like Peruvian food so much?  Now I've got to look up other dishes to try.

peruvian beef kebabs (Cooking Light's Global Kitchen Cookbook)
1 1/2 pounds boneless sirloin steak, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
4 teaspoons hot paprika, divided (I used smoked paprika)
1 3/4 teaspoons black pepper, divided
1 3/4 teaspoons salt, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin, divided
1 1/4 teaspoons ground turmeric, divided
1 large yellow bell pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

Combine steak, vinegar, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon turmeric in a large bowl; toss well.  Cover and chill 3 hours.
Preheat broiler.
Cut bell pepper in half lengthwise, discarding seeds and membranes.  Place pepper halves, skin sides up, on a foil-lined baking sheet; flatten with hand.  Broil 15 minutes or until blackened.  Place in a paper bag, and fold to close tightly.  Let stand 10 minutes.  Peel and coarsely chop.  Place bell pepper, green onions, white vinegar, 1 tablespoon water, olive oil, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt and garlic in a blender; process until smooth.  Set aside.
Combine rub: parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon turmeric.
Prepare grill to medium-high heat.
Remove beef from bowl; thread beef onto each of 6 skewers.  Press rub onto beef.  Place kebabs on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 6 minutes or until desired degree of doneness, turning once.  Serve with sauce.  Serves 6.

30 minute cajun salmon with salted lime butter

Sooo good.  My kids thought it was a little spicy but there's no way I'll tone it down.  We thought it was just right.
I lightened up the recipe a bit and it tastes so good we don't miss the extra oil and butter.

30 minute cajun salmon with salted lime butter (adapted from howsweeteats)
2 pound salmon filet
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

salted lime butter
combine the following:
1 tablespoon butter, melted
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/8 teaspoon salt

Preheat the broiler in your oven to high and set the oven rack about 6 inches below it.
Place the salmon on a baking pan that is lined with aluminum foil.
In a bowl combine the paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder and red pepper flakes.  Sprinkle evenly over the top of the salmon filet and  press gently to adhere.
Broil the salmon for 6-8 minutes or until just opaque and flakey with a fork.  Remove from the oven and cover with the lime butter.  Serve with rice and lime wedges for spritzing.

classic marinara sauce

I planned to teach a cooking camp the week my oldest left for college as a distraction.  It turned out to be a great distraction.  One of the recipes my little culinary queens made was this classic marinara sauce.  The next day they used it to make baked chicken parmesan, which was divine.
This sauce is so good I made it tonight and served it over tortellini.  I'm going to declare it Hall of Fame.

classic marinara sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, minced
3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
salt
freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, strongly recommended

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes until soft.  Add the garlic and cook for a minute.  Add the tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes (and fresh basil if using).  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Simmer for at least 10 minutes.

the most delicious white bread

This bread is sooo delicious.  I think it's the best homemade bread ever! My 11-year old wanted to learn how to make bread so we made these loaves as a trial so she can arrange to make the bread for the sacrament at church sometime soon.  It's so light and fluffy! Hall of Fame.

the most delicious white bread  (allrecipes.com)
4 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast (two packages)
3 tablespoons white sugar
2 1/2 cups warm water
3 tablespoons shortening, softened
1 tablespoon salt
6 1/2 cups bread flour (we used all-purpose flour)

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water.  Stir in shortening, salt and 2 cups of the flour.  Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring after each addition.  When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil.  Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.  Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into loaves.  Place the loaves into two lightly greased 9x5 inch loaf pans.  Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let rise until double in volume, about 40 minutes.
Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

arroz con pollo

Hall of Fame, declared my husband!  I have to say, it was sooooo good!  After I took the picture I doused it in hot sauce which made it all the better.  Everyone ate it right up.

arroz con pollo (slightly adapted from Skinnytaste One & Done)
5 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sazon seasoning (recipe below)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons olive oil
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped scallions
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup uncooked brown jasmine rice
3/4 cup frozen mixed peas and carrots
1/4 cup canned tomato sauce
1/4 cup green Spanish olives plus 1/2 tablespoon brine
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
cayenne pepper sauce, for serving

sazon seasoning:
makes 6 tablespoons
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon turmeric
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Season the chicken with the vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon of the sazon, the garlic powder and the salt.
Press the saute button on an electric pressure cooker.  When hot, add 2 teaspoons of the oil and cook the chicken until browned.  Transfer to a plate.
To the pressure cooker, add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil, the onion, bell pepper, scallions, cilantro and garlic and cook, stirring until softened, about 2 minutes.  Add the rice, 1 cup water, the frozen vegetables, tomato sauce, olives, olive brine, remaining 1/2 teaspoon sazon and the bouillon.  Stir well.  Return the chicken to the pot.
Seal and cook on high pressure for 27 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed and the chicken and rice are cooked.  Quick or natural release, then open when the pressure subsides.
To serve, place 1 cup rice on each plate, top with 1 chicken thigh, and garnish with the cilantro.  If you like spice, top wit the hot sauce.

sweet potato and black bean tacos

Hall of Fame!  Thank you, Erin, for sending this amazing recipe to me.  The entire family loved their tacos.  My husband commented on all the different interesting flavors.  This is a great recipe to satisfy the whole family which can be tricky with a non-meat eater. 
Note to self:  Had I known this recipe would've been such a success with my husband I'd have saved it for Father's Day.  I have no idea what to make.  Maybe this again! :)

sweet potato and black bean tacos (simply recipes) 
for the roasted sweet potatoes:
1 to 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 2 cups cubed)
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

for the beans:
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 medium onion, diced (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, stemmed, seeded and minced
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
apple cider vinegar or water, as needed

to serve:
10-12 corn tortillas (I used a corn/wheat blend)
1/2 cup salsa
1 ripe avocado, thinly sliced or guacamole
fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
lime wedges
1/4 cup crumbled cotija cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Roast the sweet potatoes:  In a medium-sized bowl, toss the sweet potatoes, oil, salt, cumin and chili powder.  Spread on a  baking sheet in an even layer.  Bake 15 minutes then use a spatula to flip and stir the sweet potatoes.  Roast another 15 minutes or until sweet potatoes have puffed up and have crisp, roasted edges.
Make the black beans:  While the sweet potatoes roast, heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add the onions and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and saute until soft and translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.  Add the garlic and jalapeno and saute 2 minutes more.  Fold in beans.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are soft and seasoned, about 10 to 15 minutes.  If beans seem dry or bottom of pan starts to sizzle, add a splash of apple cider vinegar or water as needed.  Taste and add salt as needed.
Warm the tortillas:  We "toasted" them on our gas stove.
Serve the tacos:  Fill tortillas with beans, sweet potatoes, salsa, avocado slices, cilantro and cotija cheese.  Delicious!!

grilled portobello mushroom burgers

Wow!  Hall of fame.  I never thought a mushroom burger could be so good.  But then again I'd never tried one before.  It was just about the best burger I've ever had.  Super gourmet and without the guilt.  Even better, my husband made dinner. :)

grilled portobello mushroom burgers (adapted from Skinnytaste)
2 portobello mushroom caps
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped rosemary
1 1/2 teaspoons steak seasoning
2 thick slices red onion
2 slices Provolone cheese
2 thin slices tomato
1/2 avocado, sliced thin
2 whole wheat buns

In a large bowl, whisk together vinegar, soy sauce, oil, rosemary and steak seasoning.
Peel off the tops of the Portobello mushrooms and scoop out the gills.
Place the mushroom caps in the bowl and toss with the sauce, using a spoon to evenly coat.  Let stand room temperature for 20-30 minutes, turning a few times.
Heat the grill or indoor grill pan over medium heat.  When hot, brush the grate with oil or lightly spray the grill pan.
Place the mushrooms on the grill, reserving marinade for basting.  Grill for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, or until tender, brushing with marinade frequently.
Top the mushrooms with cheese during the last minute of cooking.
While the mushrooms cook, grill the onions about 1 minute on each side and grill the buns until toasted.
To finish, place the spinach and grilled mushrooms on the buns and top with the grilled onions, sliced tomato and avocado.

grilled caprese chicken

Hall of Fame.  No question about it.  So simply yet so satisfying.  I think it was the fresh garden tomatoes and fresh basil.  And cheese.  Cheese makes everything wonderful.

grilled caprese chicken (slightly adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe)
4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/4-inch slices (I used shredded mozzarella)
4-6 small chicken breasts
4 medium tomatoes, cored and cut into 1/2-inch slices
for serving:  baguette

In a small bowl, combine the basil, vinegar, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.  Stir in the oil until it is thoroughly incorporated.  Transfer 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette to a bowl and toss in shredded mozzarella, coating the cheese.  Set aside.  Reserve the remaining vinaigrette for the cooked chicken.
Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel and season both sides with salt and pepper.  Grill the chicken and tomatoes until the chicken is browned and cooked through and the tomatoes are lightly charred.  Transfer the cooked chicken to a platter.  Top with the tomato slices and cheese.  Tent the chicken with foil.  Let the chicken reset for 10 minutes.
Serve with a baguette.  The leftover vinaigrette is great on top of the chicken or to dip the bread in.

blueberry chicken chopped salad

We picked some blueberries today and as we were paying for them I picked up some recipes.  This recipe looked great and I already had chicken cooking in the crock pot.  It was meant to be!  It was so good my husband rated it Hall of Fame.

blueberry chicken chopped salad (adapted from OregonBlueberry.com)
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and sliced (I used the crock pot)
2 heads romaine lettuce, finely chopped
2 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup roughly chopped toasted pecans
2/3 cup diced red onion
1/2 cup blue cheese
dijon vinaigrette, see below

dijon vinaigrette
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
pinch of salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss.  Serve immediately.

chipotle chicken recipe (copycat)

Hall of Fame.  This chicken is amazing.  We had "bowls" for dinner last night and the chicken got gobbled up so fast I couldn't believe my eyes.  I am glad I turned this copycat recipe into a larger batch than what I was seeing online because now I can marinate some more chicken and make it again tonight.

chipotle chicken recipe, copycat (adapted from Brown Eyed Baker)
1 (7 ounce) can chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
1 red onion, quartered
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons oil
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup water

In a high powered blender, puree all ingredients.
Use half of the marinade to marinade 2 pounds of chicken.  You can use thighs or chicken breasts.  I used chicken breasts.  Grill to perfection and chop up.
Add it to a bowl, salad, burrito- whatever you want!!

BONUS:  Here is my favorite blender salsa recipe-
1 big can whole tomatoes
1 jalapeno
1/2 white onion
1 handful cilantro
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cumin
Blend ingredients in a high powered blender (I use a Vita-Mix) until you end up with desired consistency.  I used to like mine smooth but now I prefer a little bit chunky.  It's delicious!

stuffed pork chops with butternut squash and figs

Hall of Fame.  Seriously!  It's been killing me that it's taken so long for me to post this after making it and enjoying it so much.  Posting delicious dishes sort of seals the deal for me; makes it official.  Will life slow down?  No.  It just speeds up and gets more complicated.  That's okay if you can slow down long enough to enjoy a dish like this.  Thanks, Erin, for the great recipe!

stuffed pork chops with butternut squash and figs (my friend Erin K found it at skinnytaste, slightly adapted)
3 thick boneless pork chops
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small white onion, chopped
1 1/4 cups diced butternut squash, 1/2-inch diced (I used 1/2 package from Trader Joe's)
5 black mission figs, chopped (I picked out 5 from bulk foods section)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup baby spinach
3 fresh sage leaves, chopped (next time I'll add a few more)
1/4 teaspoon crushed black pepper
cooking twine
cooking spray

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil.  Add onions and saute for 2 minutes.  Add squash and 2 tablespoons water and cover; cook on low for 10 minutes.  Remove lid and add figs, garlic, spinach, salt, sage and pepper and cook for another 3-4 minutes.  Set aside to cool.
Cut a pocket into the sides of the pork chops, careful not to cut all the way through at the ends.  Season the inside and outside of the pork with salt.
Stuff each with about 3/4 cup of squash mixture. Cut cooking twine long enough to tie each with twine.  Cut off extra twine.
Preheat oven to 375.  In the skillet over medium-high heat, carefully sear each pork chop on each side- 3 sides.  If your skillet is oven-safe, cover with foil and place in the center of the oven.  If not then transfer to baking dish and cover with foil.  Place skillet or baking dish directly into the oven and cook for 30-35 minutes.  Allow to sit 5 minutes before cutting off twine.  Enjoy!

coriander-crusted tilapia with brown rice and vegetables

Hall of Fame.  Again!  That's two in a row.  I felt so fancy after having made this dish.  It was soooooo good.

coriander-crusted tilapia with brown rice and vegetable (slightly adapted from Real Simple Magazine, March 2017)
6 tilapia loins (I buy them at Costco frozen then thaw them)
2 tablespoons ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt, divided
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 cup shredded carrots
3 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups whole grain jasmine rice, cooked and hot
3 cups loosely packed arugula and spinach

Pat tilapia dry with paper towels.  Combine coriander, pepper and 3/4 teaspoon of the salt in a small bowl.  Season tilapia all over with the mixture.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add tilapia and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 4 minutes.  Flip and cook until opaque, about 1 minute.  
Simultaneously, heat a smaller skillet with 1 tablespoon oil..  Add carrots and green onions and cook until almost tender.  Add broth and lemon juice and cooked rice.  Cook until hot.  Add greens and cook until wilted.  
Serve tilapia with brown rice and vegetables.
 

sheet pan chicken thighs with fennel and shallots

Absolutely delicious.  Hall of Fame meals are infrequent but my husband declared it Hall of Fame.  I agree. This is my new favorite way to eat fennel...and everything else in this salad!

sheet pan chicken thighs with fennel and shallots (Real Simple Magazine, April 2017)
1 large fennel bulb, sliced into 1-inch thick wedges
4 large shallots, quartered (I used 2 onions)
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch strips (I used red and orange)
2 lemons, halved crosswise
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided (I cut that in half)
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
8 (6 ounce) bone-in, skin on chicken thighs (I used boneless, skinless chicken thigh strips)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
3 cups loosely packed baby arugula (I used a combination of arugula and spinach)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees with racks in upper and lower thirds.  Toss together fennel, shallots, bell pepper, lemons, 2 tablespoons of the oil, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the black pepper on a rimmed baking sheet.  On a separate baking sheet, rub chicken thighs with remaining 2 tablespoons oil.  Season with thyme and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
Roast vegetable mixture on top rack and chicken on bottom rack until vegetables are tender and lightly charred, 35 to 40 minutes.  Remove vegetables from oven and transfer chicken to top rack.  Increase heat to broil and cook until chicken is cooked through and golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes more.
Add arugula to baking sheet with vegetables and toss until wilted.  Squeeze 1 roasted lemon half over vegetables; serve with chicken and remaining lemons.

citrus cream cheese pull apart rolls

HALL OF FAME!  I am re-posting these because they are so extremely fantastic.  We've been making them every 6 months for General Conference for a minimum of 5 years.  Today I used mini chocolate chips instead of cranberries and I think that will be a new tradition.  We love chocolate.  These are truly amazing.

citrus cream cheese pull apart rolls (Your Home Based Mom)
1 package frozen roll dough (25 ounces)
cooking spray
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries (I use chocolate chips today)
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
1 (8 ounce) block 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 large egg
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
1 cup powdered sugar
5 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Thaw roll dough at room temperature.
Cut rolls in half. Place 24 halves, cut sides down, in bottom of each of 2 (9-inch) round cake pans coated with cooking spray. Brush butter evenly over rolls. Cover; let rise in a warm place (85 degrees), free from drafts, 30 minutes. Sprinkle with dried cranberries. Combine 1/4 cup granulated sugar, cream cheese, orange juice and egg; beat at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended. Pour cream cheese mixture evenly over rolls. Combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar, and rinds. Sprinkle evenly over rolls. Cover and let rise 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Note:  Sometimes I stop here and refrigerate the rolls overnight to bake the next day.
Preheat oven to 35o degrees. Bake for 20 minutes. Cover with foil. Bake an additional 5 minutes or until rolls in center are done. Remove from oven; cool 15 minutes. Combine powdered sugar and lemon juice. Drizzle over rolls.

korean bulgogi

Dinner tonight is going to be GOOD!  I know this because I sampled this Korean bulgogi at my daughter's second grade international feast.  Right now it's marinating in the fridge.  I love when there's something great to look forward to at dinnertime.
After dinner update:  Hall of Fame!  Everyone loved it.

korean bulgogi (a boy from my daughter's 2nd grade class)
1 1/2 pounds beef sirloin , 1/8-1/4" thick
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons sugar or honey
1 tablespoon sesame seeds 
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 green onions, minced
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional

Combine all the ingredients except the beef in a large bowl.  Mix well.
Add the beef to the bowl.  Refrigerate for at least one hour.
Put the meat on a hot grill or in a broiler pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.  Cook until the meat is browned.
Bulgogi can be served with lettuce leaves and rice on the side so that diners can wrap the meat in the lettuce leaves with a bit of rice.  I'm serving mine with some steamed rice and kim chee.