Mexican Lasagna, or, Tortilla Pie

Submitted by Brad Waller
Serves 8

Ingredients

15 oz. corn (1 can) 15 oz. tomatoes (1 can)
16 oz. fat free refried beans (1 can) 15 oz. black beans (1 can)
15 oz. black olives (1 can) 6 flour tortillas
8 oz. salsa 1 lb. jalapeno jack cheese

Directions

  1. Slice the olives using an egg/mushroom slicer.
  2. Divide the diced tomatoes in half.
  3. Save ½ the can of tomatoes & combine the rest of the cans in a large bowl.  Add the salsa & cheese (grated). 
  4. Grease (or spray with Pam) a large round casserole dish approximately the diameter of the tortillas & lay down the first tortilla.  Spoon a layer of mix & repeat the layering until you are out of mix.  Add the last tortilla & the reserved tomatoes & some more cheese, if you like.
  5. Cook for 45 minutes at 350°F.  Slice into 8 pieces & serve.

Chef’s Note: Ounce measurements are estimated.  Basically just use one can of each of the ingredients. Calories are higher than I thought for this, as the olives add minimal volume & lots of calories from fat.  Call it 375 calories if divided in 8, 500 if by 6. Use whole wheat tortillas, skip the olives, & use low fat cheese & this might be healthy.

Brad’s Bachelor Chicken and Rice

Submitted by Brad Waller
Serves Approximately 4

Ingredients

1 lb. chicken breasts 1 pkg. Chicken Rice-a-Roni
1 tbsp butter 2½ c. water
6 oz. broccoli (1 pkg)

Directions

  1. Dice breasts & prepare to brown in a large skillet.
  2. As you get started, add butter as specified on rice box & prepare as if there was no chicken.
  3. Chop & add broccoli before the boil off step for the rice & cover as per directions on the box.

Brad’s Simple Spaghetti

Submitted by Brad Waller
Serves 4-6

Ingredients

6 oz. tomato paste (1 small can) 12 oz. tomato sauce (1 medium can)
15 oz. stewed or stewed & diced tomatoes (1 large can) 1 pkg spaghetti noodles
salt Italian Seasoning
garlic

Carnivore Option

1 lb. ground meat of choice

Vegetarian Option

1 pkg frozen spinach 1 pkg firm tofu

Directions

  1. Empty all cans to a medium saucepan on medium heat. Season to taste. Experiment, add you own ideas.
  2. For the carnivorous option, brown the meat & add to the sauce.
  3. For the vegetarian option, drain the spinach & stir into sauce. Squeeze the tofu to drain & crumble into the sauce.
  4. Taste & adjust spices as tofu will dilute flavors a bit.
  5. Boil noodles to desired finish & serve with sauce.

Chicken & Vegetables Over Pasta

Submitted by M. Bernadette Fawver
Serves 4

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts, cubed 1 c. sliced mushrooms
2 tbsp butter 14-16 oz. cubed tomatoes (1 can)
2 tbsp olive oil 2/3 c. dry white wine
1 large onion, finely chopped 4-6 tbsp heavy cream
2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tsp Italian seasoning
2 bell peppers (red, yellow, or green) cut into 1½” cubes salt & pepper
pasta to serve

Directions

  1. Season the chicken with salt & pepper to taste.  Heat oil and butter in a skillet; fry the chicken until browned all over.  
  2. Remove the chicken from the skillet.  Add the onion & garlic to the skillet & cook gently until just beginning to soften.  
  3. Add the bell peppers to the skillet with the mushrooms & continue to cook for a few minutes longer, stirring occasionally.  Add the Italian seasoning.  
  4. Add the tomatoes & plenty of seasoning to the skillet & then transfer the vegetable mixture to an oven safe casserole.
  5. Place the chicken on the bed of vegetables.  Add the wine to the skillet & bring to a boil.  Pour the wine over the chicken & cover the casserole.  
  6. Cook in a preheated oven at 350°F. for 50 minutes.  When ready to serve, add cream & serve over pasta.

Broccoli Casserole

Awhile back, the church my husband’s family attends in Oregon put together a recipe book as a fundraiser for the church.  It is a professionally printed and bound book, Generations of Cherished Recipes from St. Thomas Becket Parishioners.  My mother-in-law gave me a copy for Christmas because the family submitted heavily, so it was her way of passing on a lot of their family recipes to me.  So I’m going to periodically publish some of the recipes bestowed upon me and spread the love!

Submitted by Marilyn Braunger (my grandmother-in-law!)
Serves 4

Ingredients

10 oz. frozen broccoli (1 pkg) 1 pint cottage cheese
1 egg, beaten 1 pkg saltine crackers
1 cube butter or margarine 1 pkg Lipton Onion Soup mix

Directions

  1. Broccoli by sk8geek on FlickrMelt butter.  Mash crackers.  Mix together.  
  2. Cook broccoli as directed on package.  Do not drain the broccoli.  
  3. Mix everything together and bake at 350°F for about 45 minutes until brown on top.