Mel s Diner Chili with Cornbread Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker Chili Lime Panko Tilapia, Parmesan Fettuccine, Green Beans 15 Minute Meal BLT Pizza, Quick Coleslaw 15 Minute Meal Smoked Sausage with Garden Vegetables Sheet Pan Dinner, Brown Rice Chicken Cacciatore over Spaghetti Squash, Roasted Broccoli Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker Creamy Jalapeno Chicken Tacos, Black Beans, Chips and Salsa Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker Toffee Brownies PRODUCE Onion 1 +1 +1 +1 Garlic clove 1 +3 {Green Beans 1 lb.} Green onions ½ cup sliced Tomatoes 2 +2 Shredded lettuce 2 cups {Slaw mix 1 bag} Zucchini 2 Yellow squash 2 Green pepper 1 Red pepper 1 +1 Spaghetti squash 1-2 large {Broccoli - 2-3 bunches} CANNED/DRY Tomato paste 6 oz. cans 2 +1 Kidney beans 1 can Chili seasoning mix, low sodium 2 packs Fire roasted tomatoes 1 can {Cornmeal 1 ½ cups} {Flour ¾ cup} Panko crumbs ½ cup {Fettuccine 1 lb.} Whole grain pizza crusts 2 Ranch dressing 1 cup {Mayonnaise ½ cup} {Sugar ¼ cup} {Brown Rice 2-3 cups} Crushed tomatoes 28 oz. can Red wine ½ cup Chicken broth 1 can PC Diced jalapenos 1 can {Black beans 1 can} {Tortilla Chips 1 bag} {Salsa 1 jar} Instant chocolate pudding mix 1 box Chocolate cake mix 1 box Heath toffee bits or desired candy/chips 1 ½ cups DAIRY {Egg 1} {Milk about 1 cup} +1 ¾ cups Shredded cheddar cheese ½ cup {Butter 3-4 Tbsp.} {Parmesan, grated or shredded 1-2 cups} Mozzarella cheese 4 cups Cream cheese 8 oz. MEAT Ground Beef 2 lbs. Tilapia fillets 6-8 Bacon ¾ lb. Smoked sausage 2 packages Chicken breasts 2 lbs. Chicken tenders 2 lbs. BREAD Tortillas ITEMS TO HAVE IN PANTRY/FRIDGE Baking powder Favorite seasoning blend {Red wine vinegar} Rosemary Garlic powder Oregano Basil Bay leaves Chili powder Cumin Salt Pepper Olive Oil FROZEN Corn 2 cups
Mel s Diner Chili Time: 15 Minutes Hands On Slow Cooker: 5-6 Hours Cook Time Pressure Cooker: 20 Minutes Cook Time 2 lbs. ground beef 1 onion, chopped 2 cans tomato paste (6 oz. cans) 6 tomato paste cans of water 1 clove garlic, minced 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained 2 packs low-sodium chili seasoning mix 1 can Fire Roasted tomatoes, undrained salt and pepper to taste Slow Cooker Version: Brown the beef, onion and garlic. Drain and rinse under hot water. Add all the other ingredients. Place ingredients in the crockpot and cook on low for 5 or 6 hours. Pressure Cooker Version: Hit the sauté button and brown the beef, onion and garlic. Drain as much grease as possible. Add all other ingredients and stir to combine. Set the cook time for 20 minutes. Do a quick pressure release. Cornbread 1½ cups cornmeal ¾ cup unbleached all-purpose flour heaping Tbs. baking powder ½ tsp salt 1 egg enough milk to make a batter (about 1 cup) Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Put the skillet in the oven to heat (mine is 10¼ inches). Stir together the dry ingredients. Add the egg and milk and stir till well blended. Pull the hot skillet from the oven and add oil or spray with cooking spray. Pour in the batter and bake for 15-20 minutes. Serving Suggestion: Cornbread
Chili Lime Panko Tilapia Total Time: 15 Minutes ½ cup Shredded Cheddar ½ cup Panko crumbs 1 tsp Favorite seasoning blend (Chili lime, lemon pepper, etc.) Tilapia, 6-8 fillets Mix cheddar, panko, and seasoning. Then coat the tilapia in the crust. Then bake 425 for 10-15 minutes. Parmesan Fettuccine 1 lb. Fettuccini 3-4 Tbs. butter, sliced into pats 1-2 cups Parmesan, grated or shredded Fresh ground black pepper, to taste Boil the fettuccini according to the package directions. Drain and add the butter, Parmesan and pepper. Serving Suggestion: Green Beans
BLT Pizza Time: 15 Minutes 2 Whole grain pizza crusts 4 cups of Mozzarella Cheese ¾ lb. Bacon, crumbled ½ cup of sliced green onions 2 tomatoes chopped 2 cups of shredded lettuce 1 cup of ranch Preheat the oven to 375. Lay the pizza crust out on a pan. Cover with the cheese, bacon, and green onions. Bake for 5-7 minutes until all toppings are melted and lightly browned. Mix the tomato, lettuce, and ranch together in a bowl. Serve the pizza with the lettuce mixture on top of it. Quick Coleslaw 1 bag of slaw mix ½ cup mayonnaise ¼ cup sugar 1 Tbs. red wine vinegar salt & pepper Put the slaw mix in a big bowl. Mix the other ingredients together and pour over the slaw, tossing to mix. Serving Suggestion: Quick Coleslaw
Smoked Sausage with Garden Vegetables Sheet Pan Dinner Time: 15 Minutes Hands On, 20 Minutes Cook Time 2 pkgs. smoked sausage coin sliced 2 zucchini, coin sliced 2 yellow squash, coin sliced 2 tomatoes, sliced 1 onion, sliced Olive oil Rosemary Garlic powder Brush one large or two small rimmed baking sheets with olive oil. Toss smoked sausage, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, and onion with a drizzle of olive oil. Season with garlic and rosemary and spread evenly over pan(s). Place in a 400-degree oven for 20 minutes until meat is cooked through. Serving Suggestion: Brown Rice
Chicken Cacciatore over Spaghetti Squash Time: 5 Minutes Hands On Slow Cooker: 5-8 Hours Cook Time Pressure Cooker: 12 Minutes Cook Time 2 lbs. chicken breasts 1 onion, sliced 1 green pepper, sliced 1 red pepper, sliced 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes 6 oz. tomato paste ½ cup red wine, optional 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tsp. oregano ¾ tsp. basil 1-2 bay leaves Salt and pepper to taste 1-2 large spaghetti squash Olive oil, drizzle Slow Cooker Version: Place chicken in bottom of slow cooker. Add onions and peppers on top of chicken. Stir together remaining ingredients, except the spaghetti squash. Pour sauce over chicken and peppers. Cook on low 7-8 hours or high for 5-6 hours. Serve over cooked spaghetti squash. To cook spaghetti squash, cut the squash in half and scoop out seeds. Rub with oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Place face down on a lined baking sheet and bake for an hour at 350 degrees or cook in a slow cooker on low for 4-6 hours. Let cool enough to handle and then shred the flesh with a fork. Pressure Cooker Version: Place chicken, peppers and onions in the pressure cooker pot. Combine remaining ingredients, except spaghetti squash, and pour over chicken. Set cook time for 12 minutes. Do a quick pressure release
Roasted Broccoli 2-3 bunches fresh broccoli, cut into florets Olive oil Kosher salt Black pepper This is more method than recipe. Use the amounts you need for your family. Toss the broccoli with a drizzle of olive oil. You want it to be lightly coated with oil. It doesn t take very much oil. Sprinkle with seasonings and toss again. Place on a rimmed cookie sheet and put it in the oven at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes. Serving Suggestion: Roasted Broccoli
Creamy Jalapeno Chicken Tacos Time: 10 Minutes Hands On Slow Cooker: 5-8 Hours Cook Time Pressure Cooker: 20 Minutes Cook Time 2 lbs. chicken tenders 1 can chicken broth - PC only 1 red bell pepper, diced 1 onion, diced 2 cups frozen corn 1 tsp. chili powder 1 Tbs. cumin 1 can diced jalapeno peppers 8 oz. cream cheese Tortillas Slow Cooker Version: Place all ingredients (except cream cheese and tortillas) into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 5-6 hours. Stir, breaking up the chicken with the spoon. Spoon cream cheese into the slow cooker. Cover for a few minutes, allowing it to melt. Remove lid and stir cream cheese into chicken. Serve in tortillas. Pressure Cooker Version: Place chicken, 1 can of chicken broth, bell pepper, onion, corn, chili powder, and cumin to the pressure cooker pot. Set cook time for 15 minutes. Do a quick pressure release. Carefully drain most of the liquid. Add cream cheese and hit the saute button. Cook, stirring frequently, until the cream cheese is melted. Turn off and serve in tortillas. Serving Suggestion: Black Beans, Chips and Salsa
Toffee Brownies Yield: 10-12 Brownies Time: 5 Minutes Hands On, 25-30 Minutes Cook Time 1¾ cups milk 1 box of instant chocolate pudding mix (4 serving size) 1 box of chocolate cake mix 1½ cups Heath Toffee Bits or desired candy/chips Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine milk and pudding mix. Whisk together until pudding begins to thicken. Add dry cake mix. Stir until combined. Spread batter into prepared baking dish. Top with toffee bits. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Cut into squares and serve.