Author Archives: Julia Ann

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole

 

Netta Belle’s Choice for a budget meal.

Macaroni, chicken and cheese casserole

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole, the ultimate comfort food.

Have you ever had a week longer than your food in the house or the money in your wallet and pay day isn’t here yet?  I thought I was through with those times forever.  However!  I am now retired.  The pay isn’t as good as it was when I worked 40+ hrs a week for someone else.

Well, this has been the dilemma in our house of two this week.  It is amazing what new things can be cooked up with the same foods.  I use leftovers and create new dishes which means I usually end up with more leftovers.  You may not relate, but I am sure many of your parents or grandparents can relate to using everything you have before getting new.  Well, food does not really fall in that category – just left overs.

I like to cook up several boneless, skinless chicken breasts with seasoned low-fat chicken broth or water in the slow cooker.  They can be bagged in freezer bags and pulled out only what is needed for a meal for two.  Of course, I save the broth for soups in glass cans stored in the refrigerator.

This time I had some ricotta cheese, some Colby Jack cheese and a green bell pepper. Oh yes, the cornbread from the day before. Luck would have it, I did not have an onion, hey, that is why the onion powder is on the shelf.

Talk about need for comfort food!   Well, here comes the macaroni, chicken and cheese.  It was tasty, filling with a gelatin fruit salad and green beans and budget casserole.  Not feeling too deprived, we had chocolate chip cookies and sherbet.

For those budget strapped beginners in the world, couples, families,  the retiree or just tightening the budget belt out of need, look at your leftovers and get creative.  Here is one of my solutions.

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole

Julia Ann
An easy on your pocketbook comfort dish for the family. It is one of those recipes, having leftovers is a good dilemma.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup whole wheat elbow macaroni uncooked
  • 1 teaspoon Netta Belle's Choice Sea Salt
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 cups low-fat milk
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup chicken breast cooked and diced in 1/2 inch pieces.
  • 1/2 cup green bell peppers diced in 1/2 inch pieces.
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese or your choice
  • 1/2 cup crumbed cornbread
  • 1/4 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
  • Dill weed to sprinkle on top
  • Paprika to sprinkle on top

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven 350 F.
  • Grease a 9 x 9 casserole dish.
  • Cook the macaroni in the water according to package directions.
  • Drain the macaroni, do not rinse. Set aside.
  • Warm the milk in microwave for 2 minutes, let set until ready to use.
  • Use a large sauce pan to melt the butter to bubbling.
  • Sprinkle in flour; use a whisk to blend the roux (thickening paste.)
  • Cook over low heat.
  • Add seasonings, chicken breast and green pepper.
  • Stir with a wooden spoon to blend together.
  • Remove from heat, stir in the ricotta cheese and shredded Colby Jack cheese.
  • Stir until the cheese has melted and sauce blended.
  • Pour the cooked and drained macaroni into the cheese sauce, stir gently.
  • Pour into greased casserole dish.
  • Spread the crumbled cornbread evenly over the top.
  • Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the cornbread.
  • Sprinkle the dill week and paprika to your taste on top.
  • Bake 30-35 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and cheese is melted.
  • Let set about 5 minutes before serving

Notes

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.
©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole – a budget comfort food dish.

Related Recipes:

This was inspired by a recipe from Food.com Recipe #454932.

Netta Belle's Choice Sea Salt Purified, Granular White Crystalline Pacific Ocean Salt and Pure Granulated Black Pepper

Netta Belle’s Choice Sea Salt Purified, Granular White Crystalline Pacific Ocean Salt and Pure Granulated Black Pepper

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you for your cooking experience.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.  All rights reserved.

How-To: Roasting Red Bell Peppers

Red Bell Pepper

Red Bell Pepper or Capsicum annuum

Ah, the stately red bell pepper!  8 years ago I discovered the art of roasting red bell peppers. Now they can usually be found in my freezer ready for use.  While they make a good side dish, baked and seasoned with  garlic, onion, oregano, balsamic vinegar and olive oil, roasted red bell peppers are good additions to many dishes along with garlic, onion, carrot and celery.  Since it has been roasted, it can be added to soups, salads, meat entrees, casseroles and vegetables later in cooking.  Oh yes, don’t forget putting it on pizzas.

Roasted Red Bell Peppers

Roasted Red Bell Peppers as a side dish

Sweet Bell Pepper History

These are not to be confused with chili peppers.  The sweet bell peppers come in multiple colors from green, red, yellow, orange, purple, brown and black.  The green and purple bell peppers are slightly bitter, None of the bell peppers are hot due to smaller amounts of capsaicin in them. All can be used to stuff and bake.  When cut in half or cutting the tops off, they do make great little cups to stuff.

South and Central Americas were first known to have cultivated the bell peppers about 9000 years ago.  Now they are raised throughout the world and used in many cuisines. In 2007, China was the largest producer commercially of the bell pepper.  Florida and California are the largest commercial producing states in the U.S.  New Mexico is the leader in the U.S. of commercially producing chili peppers.

Selection and Storage

Whether you buy your peppers in the grocery, open-air market or farmer’s market, select peppers which are firm, with green stems and heavy.  Choose those free of  blemishes, soft spots or dark areas.  Not all green bell peppers turn red and some peppers never start out green.  Just be sure the colors are deep and vivid and heavy for their size.

Storage of bell peppers will keep 7-10 days in the refrigerator’s vegetable compartment.  It is best not to cut the stem off prior to storage, although sometimes they are sold without the longer stem. To prevent moisture loss in the refrigerator storage, it is best to put a damp towel or towelling in the vegetable compartment to keep their moisture.  Bell peppers can be frozen without blanching, whole for stuffing or in pieces for adding to foods.

Healthy Benefits of  Sweet Bell Peppers

Sweet bell peppers are an excellent source of nutrients rich in an antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties necessary to reduce the risk of chronic health disorders such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.  The vivid bright colors of red, orange and yellow are carotenoids which are the precursor to vitamin A. Remember being told to eat your carrots to help your eyes, yes vitamin A.  Sweet bell peppers are excellent sources of  vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin B 6.  They are also very good source of fiber, vitamin E, K B 2, B 3 and potassium; they are low in fat.

Try roasting your sweet bell peppers, red, orange, yellow or even purple.  They do add color to foods.  Doing so is worth the time and effort and are not packed in oil.  Besides that you get your vitamin A.  Enjoy!

See my recipes:    Red Bell Peppers Stuffed with Beans and Rice and                                           Summer Time Coleslaw.

Informational Resource:  The World’s Healthiest Foods, www.whfoods.org.

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® outstanding herbs and spices for your cooking experience.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.  All rights reserved.

 

Raw Ginger Root

Raw Ginger Root

I use raw ginger root in many of my food preparations.  Not until someone asked how to use it, did I realize not everyone is familiar with the ginger root rhizome.  The tan dried root is in the produce area of the grocery, however not refrigerated.  Usually is has large knobby extensions  from the root.  I break off about the size of root as seen above. The Zingibehr officinale, better known as ginger root is a perennial plant from southeastern Asia. It will grow 3-4 feet high.  In humid moist climates plants are used in yard planting for the white and pink flowers as well as the foliage.¹

Benefits of Ginger Root

Ginger is an herbal remedy that settles the stomach, intestinal gas, nausea, motion sickness and morning sickness. There are many therapeutic properties in ginger give anti-inflammatory effects. Ginerols are the substances which provide relief to those with pain of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Do not use the dried root or powder if you have gallstones.¹

Uses of Ginger Root

When buying fresh ginger root, be sure the root is firm, smooth and free of mold.  Older roots will need to be peeled, easily done with paring knife or vegetable peeler.  If left unpeeled, a fresh ginger root will last 3 weeks in the refrigerator and 6 weeks in the freezer.

Ginger Root

Preparing fresh Ginger Root for cooking.

When using fresh ginger root I do not cut off any more than I will use.  Depending on the food I am cooking, it may be diced to minced, julienned or even grated. Adding the ginger at  the beginning of cooking will give a milder flavor while adding it later will have a more zesty to spicy flavor.

Ginger root can be grated and put in an ice cube tray with water or in a plastic bag to freeze. When ginger root is needed, just break off what you need.  Candied ginger is available in the grocery or candy stores.  It is also easily made at home and gives you  the ginger syrup.

Ginger Tea

Add 3-4 slices in a cup of boiling water. Or add the slices to a cup of oolong tea or lemon tea.

Ginger Tea

Cup of Ginger Tea

 Candied or Crystallized Ginger

I had frozen the ginger root before starting this recipe.  I would have preferred to have made this soon after buying the root.  I sliced in 1/4-1/8 crosswise slices, which yielded about 1/2 cup from my pieces.  I put them in a heavy saucepan and covered with plenty of water to bring to a boil.  I reduced the heat, letting the ginger root simmer about 30 minutes until tender.

After the boiling and simmering, I drained the water off.  I put 1 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water in heavy saucepan to dissolve the sugar over low heat.  The sugar which collects on the side of the pan can be wash down with a pastry brush dipped in warm water. Bring the sugar to a boil, add the ginger, reduce the heat to simmer and cook until the sugar syrup has almost boiled away.  I did not cover the saucepan and stirred occasionally.  The ginger and sugar foamed up while cooking but subsides when heat is turned off.  Remove the ginger root pieces and lay out on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper to dry.  It make take overnight to dry completely before storing in air tight container.

The sugar water made a nice flavorful ginger syrup.  This can be stored in an air tight container and refrigerated and used to sweeten lemonade, teas or poured over ice cream.  I want to put some in cookies or in an apple pie. I read it is good with some alcoholic drinks. Lots of possibilities. Parboiling the ginger root first does take out some of the heat of the ginger to a milder taste.²

Ginger Pieces Drying

Drying Ginger Pieces

Crystallized Ginger Root

Dish of Candied Ginger Root

¹ The World’s Healthiest Foods “Ginger”. www.whfoods.org., June 16-22-2014. ² Adapted from Joy of Cooking.1975. p.881.   Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® , bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.

©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved. View Post

Simply Salads by cookbookinabox

cookbookinabox trip to the Farmer's Market

cookbookinabox trip to the Farmer’s Market

Simply Salads of fresh vegetables and fruit combined can be the center of lunch or part of an elaborate dinner.  Fresh vegetables and fruit can show up in the whole meal or menu.  Check out the menu below.

A trip to the local farmer’s market makes a bountiful supply of fresh vegetables and fruit for gourmet and ordinary cooking.  Road side stands, city markets, farmer’s markets, co-operative groceries and big name grocery stores are teeming with produce. Check out your community to find the foods for healthy eating.

Which recipe would you like to make?  Look for the heading “Recent Recipes” in the right column for these dishes listed below. Or use the category search.

       Select a recipe from each of the following list of foods to plan a menu for dinner.

Appetizer:  Celery and carrot sticks, pineapple chunks and strawberries

    Bread:  Sweet Potato & Cranberry Nut Bread or Sweet Wheat Bread

       Soup:  Summer Vegetable Soup or Corn and Mushroom Chowder

           Salad:  Cabbage Apple Slaw  or Vegetable Fusilli Salad

               Entree:  Asparagus Tart or Collard Greens, Corn and Tortilla Strata

                   Vegetable:  Braised Carrots & Fennel,   Savory Baked Corn

                        Dessert:  Chocolate Cake or Apple Cobbler

                            Snack:  Molasses Cookies or Grand Canyon Hermit Cookies

How about quick and easy salads?

                                 Simply Salads by cookbookinabox®

Tomato avacado simple salad_0953Tomato, avocado and large pitted black olives are sprinkled with lime juice. To add more color serve it on a bed of romaine lettuce or spinach.  Need more veggies, try chopping scallions on top. Serve with your favorite salad dressing. Asparagus Tart and this simple salad would make a good luncheon or brunch meal.

Pear orange simple salad _3797Red Bartlett pear and a naval orange are diced with chopped red onion, feta cheese and chopped walnuts on top.  Anjou or Bosc pears, pecans or even add dried cranberries or cherries for another quick simple salad.  Use a sweet vinaigrette dressing. The Microwaved Steamed Salmon with Bok Choy is an easy entree to serve with Simply Salads by cookbookinabox.

Orange almond simple salad_3727Salad or dessert, a little of each,  a layered fruit salad of green grapes halves, pineapple chunks, diced navel oranges and sprinkling of toast almonds and coconut flakes on top.  The juice provide its own dressing.  This simple salad would be a sweet ending to the Corn and Mushroom Chowder.

As cooks, we sometimes get so caught up trying to give the best tasting gourmet dinner and an stunning  eye-appealing  presentation we get overwhelmed and frazzled.  Try some of the suggested Simply Salads by cookbookinabox® with any of the Recent Recipes listed on the side.

Recipes are free online.  You may reach it by www.cookbookinabox.com/blog or cookbookinabox.com.  Also follow us and Like us on Facebook.   Give us a a like on G+.

You can subscribe to receive new recipe posts as they are published, remove Juliaann @cookbookinabox.com and insert your e-mail address in the box on the right.  E-mails are not used by any other blogger and are for receiving these recipe notices only.

                                                              

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off. Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.  “Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.

 

Cabbage Apple Slaw Netta Belle’s Choice

 

One of the advantages of social media food communities, it gets me out of my box.  I look at all the food pictures and the recipes which give me ideas.  Some I don’t adventure into as they are beautiful, but  I am not ready to attempt.  Those are usually beautiful to look upon are desserts and too fattening, but would be oooh so good. Hurrah for the chefs and creators!

Cabbage Apple Slaw

I saute shredded cabbage and apples with caraway seed. Why not try apple salad ingredients with shredded cabbage.  I like to use Gala apples or Golden Delicious apples, use the apple of your choice. Cabbage Apple Slaw is a salad give many benefits to health.

Health Benefits

*Cabbage is high in beta-carotene, vitamin C, antioxidants for protection against disease.
Apples provide fiber to maintain digestive health.
Walnuts are high in vitamin E, copper and magnesium are heart-healthy nutrients.
Celery is recommended to lower cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.
Sunflower seeds contain plant sterols which can lower LDL cholesterol.
Raisins provide potassium, fiber and iron, also to promote better heart health.
Ginger aids in digestion, relieve motion sickness, and arthritis relief.

Cabbage Apple Slaw

Cabbage Apple Slaw-Netta Belle’s Choice

Cabbage Apple Slaw Netta Belle's Choice

Julia Ann
A heart-healthy crispy salad of cabbage, apples, celery and walnuts. A salad for all seasons.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Salads
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups shredded white cabbage

Instructions
 

  • Put the shredded cabbage in a large bowl.
  • Dice the apples, stir in the lemon juice to prevent browning of the apples.
  • Add apples to the bowl of cabbage.
  • Add the celery, walnuts, sunflower seeds, raisins and ginger.
  • DRESSING
  • Heat the honey 10 seconds in microwave to liquefy honey to enhance blending.
  • Stir in the lemon juice, mayonnaise and celery seed.
  • Blend ingredients to smooth sauce,
  • Pour over the cabbage apple slaw and stir to mix.
  • Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Notes

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring
you great recipes for your cooking experience.
©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved..
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

*Yeager, Selene and the Editors of Prevention, The Doctors Book® of Food Remedies. 2007.

 

 

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice®bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.  All rights reserved.