Hamburger Helper Alfredo

Ingredients

3 cups (24 oz) marinara sauce (storebought or homemade)
1 batch easy alfredo sauce (recipe below)
1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, with juices
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 lbs ground beef (I used extra lean)
1 1/2 lbs penne noodles (I used whole wheat)
pinch of salt and pepper

Easy Alfredo Sauce:
4 tbsp unsalted butter
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
pinch of nutmeg
Black pepper and salt to taste
Instructions

To make the alfredo:
Melt the butter in a large sauté pan set over low heat. Add the cream to the butter as it melts. Stir occasionally (keeping the heat on low). Let it simmer for about 15 minutes. When it’s reduced slightly, add the parmesan cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper and stir. Set aside while you make the rest of the sauce. Stir the alfredo occasionally. Note: if the alfredo is WAY too thick for your liking, add some extra milk or cream (1 tbsp at a time) after it’s simmered and reduced.

To make the hamburger helper:
Brown the ground beef in a large skillet then drain the fat.
Add the garlic to the drained beef and cook for about 30 seconds. Then add the marinara and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil. As soon as it starts to boil, turn down the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the alfredo sauce a few minutes before you add the noodles.

While the sauce is cooking, boil the pasta noodles.
Using a slotted spoon (or pasta scoop) spoon the noodles into the sauce pan.
On a low heat, mix the noddles and sauce for about 3 minutes. Note: if you sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water, 1/4 cup at a time.

Green Goddess Grilled Cheese

Ingredients

2 slices bread
2-3 tablespoons Green Goddess Herb Pesto
2 slices mild white melty cheese like mozzarella
handful fresh baby spinach
¼ avocado, sliced
2 tablespoons goat cheese, crumbled
olive oil or butter

Directions
Spread about 1 tablespoon of Green Goddess Herb Pesto onto each slice of bread

On one slice of bread, add 1 slice of cheese, sliced avocado, crumbled goat cheese, spinach, second slice of cheese, then top it with second slice of bread. Press together gently.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter in a frying pan over medium low heat. Add the sandwich to the oil and cook until bread is golden brown. Press down on the sandwich lightly, then flip the sandwich over and cook until second side is golden brown.

Green Goddess Herb Pesto
Ingredients

1 clove garlic
1 anchovy fillet in oil
½ small shallot, chopped (about 1 tablespoon)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
handful chopped fresh Italian parsley
handful chopped kale
2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
1 tablespoon chopped chives
¼ cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Pulse garlic, anchovy, and shallot in food processor until chopped. With the food processor running, add lemon juice, parsley, kale, tarragon and chives. 

Very slowly drizzle in olive oil until kale and herbs get sufficiently chopped and everything is the consistency of a pesto. You may need more or less of the olive oil depending on how big a “handful” of herbs is to you. You can also turn off the food processor and push herbs down the side of the bowl with a spatula every once in a while.

Jack's Old South Competition Vinegar Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 cups cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 1 to 2 teaspoons cayenne
• 1 to 2 teaspoons ground black pepper

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a nonreactive mixing bowl, mixing until the sugar and salt dissolve. Taste for seasoning, adding pepper as needed. Transfer to a clean, sterile jar and refrigerate. Will keep for several months.

Greek Lemon Rice Pilaf

2 tbsps margarine (butter)
12 cup onion (chopped)
1 cup long grain rice
2 tbsps orzo pasta
2 cups chicken broth
14 cup lemon juice
2 tbsps chopped parsley

1 In a heavy saucepan, saute onion in butter until tender.
2 Add rice and orzo and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
3 Add chicken broth and lemon juice and bring to a boil.
4 Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed.
5 Fluff pilaf up with fork and stir in chopped parsley.

Penne with Roasted Asparagus and Balsamic Butter

INGREDIENTS

1 pound asparagus
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1 pound penne
1/4 pound butter, cut into pieces
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

Heat the oven to 400°. Snap the tough ends off the asparagus and discard them. Cut the spears into 1-inch pieces. Put the asparagus on a baking sheet and toss with the oil and 1/4 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper. Roast until tender, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, put the vinegar in a small saucepan. Simmer until 3 tablespoons remain. Stir in the brown sugar and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove from the heat.

Cook the penne in a large pot of boiling, salted water until just done, about 13 minutes. Drain the pasta and toss with the butter, vinegar, asparagus, Parmesan, and the remaining 1 3/4 teaspoons salt. Serve with additional Parmesan.

Broccoli-Spinach Soup with Avocado Toasts

• 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 1 leek, white and pale green parts thinly sliced
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock or water
• 1 bunch broccoli, chopped (6 cups)
• 6 ounces baby spinach (6 cups)
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 slices rustic bread, toasted
• 2 avocados, sliced
• 1/4 cup radish sprouts
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Directions

1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add leek and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Add stock; bring to a boil. Add broccoli and cook, covered, until bright green and tender, about 2 minutes.
2. Remove from heat. Stir in spinach, Parmesan, and tahini. Let cool slightly. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Working in batches, puree soup in a blender until smooth.
4. Top bread with avocado and radish sprouts. Season with salt and pepper, squeeze with lemon, and drizzle with oil.

Rick Bayless Pork Tinga

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
1 pound lean, boneless pork shoulder, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
4 ounces chorizo sausage, removed from its casing
4 to 5 medium (about 3/4 pound total) red-skinned potatoes, quartered
1 large white onion, sliced 1/4–inch thick
1 garlic clove, minced
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, in juice (preferably fire-roasted)
2 to 3 canned chipotle chiles, en adobo, finely chopped
4 teaspoons chipotle canning sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican
Salt
About 1/2 cup crumbled Mexican queso fresco or other fresh cheese like salted pressed farmers cheese
1 ripe avocado, pitted, flesh scooped from the skin and diced
Warm corn tortillas

DIRECTIONS

Heat the oil in a stovetop-rated slow cooker liner over medium-high heat. (If your slow cooker liner isn’t made from a material that can be used on a stovetop, use a very large (12-inch) non-stick skillet.) Once the oil is very hot, add the pork and chorizo in an single layer and cook, stirring until the meat has browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. 

Turn off the heat and if you’re using a skillet, transfer the meat and its juices into the slow cooker. Add the potatoes.

In a large bowl, combine the onions, garlic, tomatoes, chipotles, adobo sauce, Worcestershire, oregano and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Pour mixture into the slow cooker and stir to mix thoroughly. Cook for 6 hours at the highest temperature.

After six hours, gently stir the tinga. If the sauce seems too thick, stir in a little water. Taste, and season with salt if you think the dish needs it. Scoop into a large bowl, sprinkle with the fresh cheese and diced avocado, and serve with warm tortillas.