As I mentioned in my “Organizing My Pinterest Recipes” post, I like to print out recipes I use regularly so I can first of all, locate them; but secondly, so I can personalize the recipes for our health choices.
One of my favorite way to cook are using recipes that I can make using primarily with one large dish and combines many of our food groups together. Plus they are usually large quantities so there are frequently leftovers – great for sharing, lunches or a night off from fixing dinner! Growing up in the Midwest, I still have an affinity for casserole or comfort-type dishes. Many of these take me to my happy place, especially when I can make them a bit healthier than you would normally expect.
So following are some of my favorites along with my adaptations and suggestions. I will include the original recipe link as well in case you may prefer it the way it was created.
One Pot Mexican Skillet Pasta
Original Recipe: https://damndelicious.net/2013/09/22/one-pot-mexican-skillet-pasta/
This is a family favorite! Who doesn’t love Mexican!! I make very few changes to this – only switching to a gluten free pasta and letting family add their own cheese, if they so wish. I recently acquired a Tower Garden (shown here) and am so enjoying fresh cilantro from my garden. Oh, and I do make my own salsa (recipe below).
Stovetop Sloppy Joes
Original Recipe: https://therealfoodrds.com/stovetop-sloppy-joes/
I used to love Manwich’s! Do you remember those, or maybe they are still around? These taste the most like a Manwich of any recipe I’ve tried. The original recipe uses sweet potatoes instead of buns. Since I’m probably the only one who would enjoy that, I do stick with a good quality toasted bun. Here is my adaptation from the original.
1 ½ lbs. lean ground turkey
1 t. ghee (may use butter if no dairy sensitivities)
¾ c. diced sweet onion
¾ c. diced red or yellow pepper (green pepper works too—just not our favorite)
3 minced garlic cloves
1 6-oz. can organic tomato paste
¾ c. water
2 T. yellow mustard
1 T. white wine or apple cider vinegar
½ t. smoked paprika
1 ½ t. Himalayan pink salt
¼ t. black pepper
Using a large skillet, melt the ghee or butter in the skillet and add the onions and peppers to saute. Once softened, add the ground turkey and garlic. Once the meat is cooked through, add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Allow to heat through and serve on toasted buns or sweet potato buns as in the original recipe. We like to top with additional mustard and dill pickle slices. Serve alongside your favorite salad. Yum! Enjoy!
Hawaiian Fried Rice
Original Recipe: https://therecipecritic.com/hawaiian-fried-rice/
This is another where I made very few adaptations – only switching out a few ingredients. This is perfect for after Easter and Christmas or other holidays when you are looking for creative ways to use leftovers. I use avocado oil instead of the vegetable oil, brown rice, and coconut aminos in place of the soy sauce. And using a fresh pineapple adds sooo much to the flavor vs. canned pineapple. 😊
Harvest Chicken Hash
Original Recipe: https://grazedandenthused.com/harvest-chicken-hash/
Oh my! This delicious dish could be served for brunch or dinner. It is such a surprising mix of flavors—I can’t recommend this enough! I follow this recipe to the T with the exception of using pre-cooked chicken rather than cooking it within the dish. I almost always have cooked and shredded chicken breast in my refrigerator for convenience for quick meals.
Keto Tex Mex Hamburger Casserole
Original Recipe: https://hip2keto.com/recipes/keto-tex-mex-hamburger-casserole-easy-dinner-idea/
While I don’t follow a keto lifestyle, I do enjoy this recipe. Only adaptations I make is using lean ground turkey instead of the ground beef and using my own salsa. Again, great served with a salad.
Brenda’s Salsa Recipe
I’ve never measured ingredients for my salsa recipe but will do my best here for your sake. I love this recipe as it is quick, convenient and tastes “made from scratch” – which it mostly is. Feel free to adjust to your family’s taste!
2 cans diced tomatoes with jalapenos (I have only found these at the Kroger family stores – if you cannot locate you can use just cans of petite diced tomatoes and a can of diced jalapenos or cut and remove the seeds from 2-3 jalapenos—you can leave the seeds if you like the extra spice!)
3 stalks green onion
1 handful fresh cilantro (I’m trying to be specific!! 😊 )
1 T. lemon or lime juice
3 cloves minced garlic
1 t. coconut sugar
Salt & pepper to taste
Add 1 ½ cans to a food processor, leaving the rest as chunks. Add your green onion (including the stalk), cilantro, and garlic and pulse for a few seconds until onion and cilantro are in small pieces. Add to your remaining chunk tomatoes and mix in remaining ingredients and enjoy!
