Tuna Noodle Casserole

Baked golden Tuna Noodle Casserole in a yellow serving dish on a wooden trivet.
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Print Recipe
    Servings Prep Time
    6-8 people 30-35 minutes
    Cook Time
    35-40 minutes
    Servings Prep Time
    6-8 people 30-35 minutes
    Cook Time
    35-40 minutes
    Baked golden Tuna Noodle Casserole in a yellow serving dish on a wooden trivet.
    Tuna Noodle Casserole
    Print Recipe
      Servings Prep Time
      6-8 people 30-35 minutes
      Cook Time
      35-40 minutes
      Servings Prep Time
      6-8 people 30-35 minutes
      Cook Time
      35-40 minutes
      Ingredients
      Servings: people
      Instructions
      1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
      2. Cook noodles for slightly less time than package instructions so they are al dente (firm to the bite). Drain well.
      3. While noodles are cooking, melt the 1/4 cup of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour until combined. Slowly add a cup of hot milk whisking constantly until the mixture is smooth and starts to bubble. Continue adding hot milk and whisking until all the milk has been added and the mixture is smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, whisking often.
      4. Remove sauce from heat and whisk in mushroom soup, 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Stir in half of the cheddar cheese, tuna, and peas until combined. Add drained noodles and stir to evenly coat.
      5. Spray a 9"x13" casserole dish with non-stick spray and pour casserole into the dish, spreading out evenly. Top with remaining cheddar cheese.
      6. Stir together breadcrumbs, melted butter, parsley and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Spread evenly over casserole and bake on the centre rack for 35-40 minutes until bubbly and the top is golden. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

      Pecan Crusted Chicken Cutlets

      Pecan Crusted Chicken Cutlets served in a shallow bowl on top of rice with Cherry Salsa and green onions.
      Pecan Crusted Chicken Cutlets
      Print Recipe
        Servings Prep Time
        3-4 people 25-30 minutes
        Cook Time
        12-18 minutes
        Servings Prep Time
        3-4 people 25-30 minutes
        Cook Time
        12-18 minutes
        Pecan Crusted Chicken Cutlets served in a shallow bowl on top of rice with Cherry Salsa and green onions.
        Pecan Crusted Chicken Cutlets
        Print Recipe
          Servings Prep Time
          3-4 people 25-30 minutes
          Cook Time
          12-18 minutes
          Servings Prep Time
          3-4 people 25-30 minutes
          Cook Time
          12-18 minutes
          Ingredients
          Servings: people
          Instructions
          1. Cut chicken breasts in half and then cut each half horizontally, giving you 8 pieces. Place each piece between two sheets of parchment or plastic wrap and pound to an approximate 1/4" thickness with the flat side of a meat mallet or rolling pin. Season both sides of each cutlet with salt and pepper.
          2. Using a food processor, grind pecans until fine. Add breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and pulse several times to combine. Pour crumbs into a shallow bowl.
          3. In a separate shallow bowl whisk together eggs, sour cream and milk.
          4. Add 1/3 cup flour to a separate shallow bowl and season with salt and pepper. Arrange bowls for breading starting with the flour, then the egg wash and pecan crumbs last.
          5. Heat one tablespoon of oil and one tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Toss 3-4 cutlets into the flour and turn to coat, shaking off the excess flour. Place one cutlet at a time into the egg wash and coat completely. Lay cutlet into pecan crumbs and turn to coat, pressing lightly to adhere the crumbs. Place 3-4 breaded cutlets into the hot pan (don't overcrowd the pan) and cook 3 minutes per side, adjusting your heat if needed. Nuts burn easily, so medium-low heat is recommended.
          6. Remove cooked cutlets to a plate and keep warm in a low oven while cooking remaining cutlets. Wipe out the loose crumbs from the pan with a paper towel after each batch.
          7. Serve cutlets immediately with Cherry Salsa, red pepper jelly or apple fig spread.

          Stroganoff Meatballs

          Stroganoff Meatballs
          Print Recipe
          Servings Prep Time
          6 people 55-60 minutes
          Cook Time
          35 minutes
          Servings Prep Time
          6 people 55-60 minutes
          Cook Time
          35 minutes
          Stroganoff Meatballs
          Print Recipe
          Servings Prep Time
          6 people 55-60 minutes
          Cook Time
          35 minutes
          Servings Prep Time
          6 people 55-60 minutes
          Cook Time
          35 minutes
          Ingredients
          Beef Meatballs
          Stroganoff Sauce
          Servings: people
          Instructions
          Beef Meatballs
          1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
          2. In a large bowl combine all ingredients and mix until incorporated. Roll into 1-ounce meatballs (about 2 tbsp each) and arrange on a large baking tray lined with parchment. Will yield about 38 meatballs.
          3. Bake for 15 minutes and remove from oven. Reduce heat to 350°F.
          Stroganoff Sauce
          1. While meatballs are cooking, heat oil in a large dutch oven. Add sliced mushrooms and sauté until most of the liquid has evaporated and starting to brown.
          2. Add 2 cups water and OXO soup base and heat to a simmer, stirring to dissolve. Whisk together the cornstarch and 1/4 cup cold water. Add to pot, whisking constantly until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat and whisk in mushroom soup until smoothed out. Stir in sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, paprika and pepper.
          3. Add meatballs to the sauce and stir gently to coat with sauce. Cover and bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven and serve immediately over noodles, rice or potatoes.
          Recipe Notes

          -It is a must to use beef soup base (preferably Knorr OXO Beef in a Mug)  I have tried to use regular beef bouillon cubes and powder, however, they do not have the same level of beef flavour and are not recommended for this recipe.

          -Meatballs can be made and cooked up to a day ahead.  Keep covered and chilled until ready to use.  Cook casserole for 40-45 minutes if using cold meatballs.

           

          Dukkah Crusted Pork Cutlets

          Dukkah Crusted Pork Cutlets
          Print Recipe
          Tender pork with a crunchy exterior and loads of flavour.
            Servings
            4-5 people
            Servings
            4-5 people
            Dukkah Crusted Pork Cutlets
            Print Recipe
            Tender pork with a crunchy exterior and loads of flavour.
              Servings
              4-5 people
              Servings
              4-5 people
              Ingredients
              Dukkah Crusted Pork Cutlets
              Yogurt Mint Sauce
              Servings: people
              Instructions
              Yogurt Mint Sauce
              1. In a small bowl whisk together all ingredients and allow to rest in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to blend flavours.
              Dukkah Crusted Pork Cutlets
              1. Preheat oven to 350℉. Roast pine nuts and cashews in a single layer on a baking sheet for 10-12 minutes, turning half way through. Allow to cool completely before proceeding.
              2. Once nuts are cool pulse in a food processor until broken down to small bits. Be careful not to over process or nuts will turn to a paste. Add sesame seeds, panko and remaining spices. Pulse 2-3 times to combine. Set aside.
              3. Cut pork tenderloin into 1/2" thick slices. Using a meat mallet, pound each slice between pieces of plastic wrap into a cutlet no more than 1/4" thick. Season both sides of cutlets with salt and pepper.
              4. Whisk eggs together in a shallow bowl and place dukkah in a separate shallow bowl. Dunk one cutlet into egg bath and then into dukkah mixture, pressing slightly to coat both sides. Arrange pre coated cutlets on a parchment lined baking sheet. When all cutlets are coated, heat 1 tbsp canola oil in a large skillet over medium low heat. Add 4-5 cutlets to the pan cooking approximately 4 minutes per side, adjusting heat lower if necessary as the nuts burn easily. Remove cooked cutlets from pan and wipe out any stray bits with a paper towel. Repeat with more oil and cutlets. Keep cooked cutlets warm in a low oven. Serve immediately with Yogurt Mint Sauce.
              Recipe Notes

              Resist the urge to turn up the heat when cooking the cutlets.  The nuts will burn very easily!  A low-medium temperature is best even though the cutlets will not sizzle when you put them in the pan.  After a few minutes the nuts will turn golden and they are ready to flip.

              Zesty White Bean and Meatball Soup

              Zesty White Bean and Meatball Soup
              Print Recipe
              A hearty and healthy soup loaded with cabbage, beans and zesty meatballs.
                Servings
                6 people
                Servings
                6 people
                Zesty White Bean and Meatball Soup
                Print Recipe
                A hearty and healthy soup loaded with cabbage, beans and zesty meatballs.
                  Servings
                  6 people
                  Servings
                  6 people
                  Ingredients
                  Meatballs
                  Soup
                  Servings: people
                  Instructions
                  Meatballs
                  1. In a food processor bowl combine chorizo and garlic, process until chorizo is broken down into tiny chunks. Set aside. In a large bowl whisk together egg, onion, oregano, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Stir in ground turkey, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs and chorizo garlic mixture until just combined.
                  2. Form into meatballs using approximately 1 tbsp of mixture per meatball. Once all the meatballs have been formed, heat oil in a large non stick skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs in a single layer and pan fry until golden on all sides, about 12 minutes. Scoop out meatballs onto a paper towel lined plate, reserving fat from skillet.
                  Soup
                  1. In a large pot or dutch oven use 1 tbsp of fat from the meatballs and sauté onions and celery over medium heat until starting to soften, about 3-4 minutes. Add meatballs, cabbage, diced tomatoes, broth, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a simmer and allow to cook for 20 minutes. Add cannellini beans and continue to cook for 5 minutes. Adjust seasoning and serve immediately with crusty bread.
                  Recipe Notes

                  Makes approximately 10 cups of soup.