Noodle Kugel

  • 16 ounces (400 gm) broad egg noodles
  • 4 Tbsp. (50 gm) butter, melted
  • 1 pound (500 gm) cottage cheese
  • 1 pound (500 gm) sour cream or Israeli white cheese
  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cup crushed cornflakes
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4-1/2 cup sugar

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, mix the noodles with the melted butter, cheeses, eggs, sugar and vanilla.
  2. Pour into a greased 9×13 inch pan.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix the cornflakes, cinnamon and sugar. Sprinkle the cornflake mixture on top of
    the noodle mixture.
  4. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is brown.

Thanksgiving Sage Stuffing

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

  • 1 (about 18-ounce) loaf rustic bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 12 cups) or you can make a mix of pumpernickel, rye, and wheat which is yummy
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 3 large yellow onions (about 1 pound total), diced
  • 5 large stalks celery, diced
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh sage leaves
  • Leaves from 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 3 cups low-sodium turkey, chicken, or vegetable broth
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Dry the bread. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 225°F. Spread the bread cubes on a large, rimmed baking sheet in an even layer. Bake until quite crisp, stirring every 30 minutes, about 90 minutes total. After removing the bread from the oven, turn up the oven temperature to 375°F.
  2. Cook, the onion, celery, and garlic until tender. Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, about 10 minutes.
  3. Add the herbs. Stir in the sage and thyme and cook for 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat.
  4. Mix the toasted bread cubes with the onion mixture. Transfer the toasted bread to a large bowl. Add the onion mixture and fold to combine.
  5. Whisk the eggs and broth, and mix in. Place the broth, eggs, and salt in a medium bowl, season with a generous amount of pepper, and whisk to combine. Pour over the bread mixture and stir until evenly combined.
  6. Put into a baking dish and top with more butter. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch or 3-quart baking dish. Transfer the bread mixture into the baking dish and spread into an even layer. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over the top.
  7. Cover and bake. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake until the top is golden-brown, about 15 minutes more.
  8. Rest before serving. Let the dressing cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes

Make ahead: The dressing can be completely assembled and refrigerated overnight or up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 375°F. Bake covered for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 15 more minutes or until top is lightly browned. If you are baking the dressing directly from the refrigerator, expect to add 10 extra minutes baking time. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 1 month.

Pasta-Bean Soup with Fresh Herbs

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon margarine or butter
  • 2 14%-ounce cans vegetable, chicken, or beef broth
  • 4 cup small pasta shells
  • 1 16-ounce can tomatoes, cut up
  • 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 cup snipped fresh basil
  • 1 tablespoon snipped fresh thyme
  • Fresh basil sprigs (optional)

Directions

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven cook the mushrooms, onion, and garlic in hot margarine or butter till tender but not brown. Add vegetable, chicken, or beef broth. Bring to a boil. Stir in the pasta. Return to a boil. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes or till pasta is al dente (tender bur still firm). Stir in undrained tomatoes and garbanzo beans. Heat through.

Just before serving, stir in fresh basil and thyme. To serve, ladle soup into individual bowls. If desired, garnish with fresh basil.

Makes 4 servings.

Four Bean Enchiladas

Ingredients

  • 16 6-inch corn tortillas
  • 1 15-ounce can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 15-ounce can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 15-ounce can navy or great northern beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 11-ounce can condensed cheddar cheese or nacho cheese soup, or 10 ounces of cheddar cheese
  • 1 10-ounce can enchilada sauce
  • 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
  • 14 cups shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese (6 ounces)
  • Sliced pitted ripe olives (optional)
  • Chopped green pepper (optional)

Directions

Stack tortillas and wrap tightly in foil. Bake in a 350° oven for 10 minutes or till warm.

For filling, combine beans and cheese soup. Spoon about 1/4 cup filling onto one end of each tortilla. Starting at the end with the filling, roll up each tortilla. Arrange tortillas, seam side down, in 8 individual dishes or two 2-quart rectangular baking dishes.

In a bowl stir together the enchilada sauce and tomato sauce: pour over tortillas. Cover with foil. Bake in a 350° oven for 20 minutes. For individual dishes or 30 minutes for baking dishes or till heated through. Remove foil; sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, about 5 minutes more or till cheese melts. If desired, sprinkle with olives and green pepper.

Makes 8 servings.

Spinach and Rice Caserole

Ingredients

  • 1 small onion, chopped (4 cup)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 1 14-ounce can peeled Italian-style tomatoes, cut up
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano or basil,crushed
  • 8 ounces tofu, drained
  • 2 cups cooked brown rice
  • 1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
  • A cup shredded Swiss cheese (2 ounces)
  • A teaspoon salt
  • A teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seed, toasted

Directions

In a large saucepan cook the onion and garlic in hot oil till onion is tender but not brown. Add undrained tomatoes and oregano or basil. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 3 minutes. Meanwhile, place tofu in a food processor bowl or blender container. Cover and process or blend till smooth. Add to tomato mixture. Stir in cooked rice, spinach, half of the Swiss cheese, salt, and pepper.
Grease 4 individual casseroles or one 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Spoon mixture into casseroles.

Bake, uncovered, in a 350° oven for 30 to 40 minutes or till heated through. Sprinkle with remaining
cheese and sesame seed.

Makes 4 servings.

Mexican Casserole and Sliced Avocados

You can use either boneless chicken breasts, beans, or other meat substitute for the protein

Ingredients

  • Additional protein: choose from one of the following
    • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • Equivalent mass of cooked chick peas or vegetarian meat substitute
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 4 green onions
  • 1/2 cup cream cheese
  • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 4 4-ounce can diced green chilies
  • 4 corn tortillas
  • 1 15-ounce can black beans – rinsed and drained
  • 2 ripe avocados – sliced

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
  2. If using chicken cook it in a pan until it is mostly cooked
  3. If using vegetarian substitute cook in pan until lightly browned
  4. Add salsa and cream cheese and heat through until cream cheese is melted
  5. Add black beans and green chilies and heat through
  6. In a large casserole dish, layer ingredients as follows: Com tortillas, chicken mixture, sour cream, green onions & cheese
  7. Bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly
  8. Serve with a side of avocado slices

Dumplings

A simple recipe for classic dumplings that can be added to any stew or soup that you would like.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions

  1. Sift flour
  2. Mix together dry ingredients
  3. Mix milk and oil into dry ingredients just enough for them to be combined. Over mixing will make the dumplings dense and tough
  4. Drop tablespoons worth of dough into simmering soup or stew and cook covered for about 10 or 15 minutes

Crock Pot Black Bean Soup

Prep: 20 minutes; Cook: 2 hours; Total: 2 hours 20 minutes; 8 Servings

Ingredients

  • 3 15oz. cans black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 4 oz. can green chilis
  • 1 cup chunky salsa
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 1/2 medium white onion, finely minced
  • 3 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons cumin
  • 1.5 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  1. Place everything in a slow cooker, mix well, and cover.
  2. Cook on high for 2 hours, stirring halfway through.
  3. Uncover the slow cooker and mix well.
  4. Then, remove 3 cups of the black bean soup and place it into a high speed blender. Blend until the soup is completely smooth.
  5. Pour the black bean puree back into the slow cooker and mix well. There should be some back bean chunks left in the soup.
  6. Top with roasted or sauteed vegetables and enjoy!

Thai Curry Tofu

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 (12 ounce) package extra-firm tofu, drained and cubed
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned salt, or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (10 ounce) can coconut milk
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

  1. See the following for instructions on how to cook the tofu.
  2. Melt butter or margarine in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic; cook and stir until tender. Stir in coconut milk, curry powder, salt, pepper and cilantro. Return the tofu to the skillet. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.