Uncle Bob's Salsa

My dad use to make this super addictive salsa. It's not too spicy so it's really easy to eat half a bag of chips with it. His chili kili tastes the best with this salsa recipe.

• 2 cans peeled tomatoes put in food processor or use crushed tomatoes


• 4-5 chopped garlic cloves


• 2 chopped onions


• 3-4 yellow wax chilies chopped


• olive oil


• garlic salt, chopped parsley and cilantro, lemon zest

1. sauté chopped garlic, onion and chillies

2. add about 1-3/4 cans of crushed tomatoes

3. add spices to liking

-tip- the lemon zest is mostly used so that the salsa will not turn brown

4. simmer for about an hour

 

Pesto Pasta

My kids love Uncle Ken's family recipe for pesto pasta. It is really quite simple. Of course that's exactly what most kids prefer. Simple Food. I have several Basil plants in my yard which I am regularly snipping away at.

What you need:

• Fresh basil


• Fresh parm cheese


• Pine nuts (optional)


• Olive oil


• Salt

Blend all of the above to taste using plenty of EVOO

My kids like the "round and round" rotelli rainbow pasta but stir the pesto sauce into any cooked pasta you like, finally of course top with fresh ("sprinkles") Parmesean cheese

-Tip- Pesto pasta is a little plain for me so for the adults, I add fresh tomatoes, olives, or marinated artichokes and chicken

-Tip- this pesto sauce freezes well.

-BONUS TIPS-I marinate chicken in it then bake OR for a delicious marinera with lots of flavor, I pour the pesto into a can of boiling hot crushed tomatoes.

roasted broccoli and cauliflower with lemon zest

My mom made this and I will never eat boring steamed broccoli again. I added cauliflower to my mom's recipe because these two veggies make a perfect match

• broccoli
• cauliflower
• garlic
• lemon
• basil
• parmesan cheese
• roasted pine nuts

in sheet pan roast broccoli, garlic, and cauliflower at 425 sprinkled with olive oil, salt, pepper

when roasted stir in bowl lemon juice, a little olive oil, fresh grated parm cheese, roasted pine nuts, lemon zest, and fresh basil

Rachael Ray's Penne Italian Shepherd's Pie

This is such a yummy way to get your veggies and protein in. I love Rachael Ray! Her recipes are so easy, delicious and written so much more precisely than mine! My mom makes a fantastic shepherd's pie with sweet potato which I will share on another day but for now,  this is what's for dinner tonight at the Grahams:

Cheesy Penne Italian Shepherd's Pie

Serves 4

Submitted by

Rachael Ray

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 pound mini penne (or any mini short-cut pasta) $0.74


• Salt


• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) ($0.40)


• 1 pound ground turkey ($3.15)


• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped ($0.12)


• 1 medium onion, diced ($0.69)


• 3 medium carrots, diced ($0.51)


• 1 medium zucchini, diced ($0.72)


• 11/2 tablespoons tomato paste ($0.09)


• 1 cup chicken stock, divided ($0.72)


• 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning ($0.16)


• 3 tablespoons butter ($0.33)


• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour ($0.12)


• 1 cup milk --(eyeball it) ($0.26)


• 1 cup shredded provolone ($2.00)

PREPARATION

Pre-heat oven to 400°F.

Place a large pot filled with water over high heat and bring to a boil to cook the pasta. Once boiling, add some salt and the pasta, and cook until al dente, according to package directions. Heads up -- reserve a mug of starchy water before draining the cooked pasta. Drain well and transfer pasta back to the cooking pot.

While the water is coming up to a boil for the pasta, place a large skillet over high heat and with 3 turns of the pan, add EVOO, about 3 tablespoons. Once the oil starts to ripple, add the ground turkey and break it up into small pieces as it cooks, using the back of a wooden spoon or a potato masher. Cook until the turkey is nice and brown, about 8-10 minutes.

Add the veggies and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste, ½ cup chicken stock, half of the reserved starchy water, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper. Continue to cook for 10 more minutes, stirring every now and then.

While the veggies and turkey are cooking, place a medium-size saucepot over medium heat with the butter. Once the butter melts, add the flour and cook 1 minute, whisking constantly so the flour doesn't burn. Whisk in the milk and the rest of the starchy pasta water and chicken stock, bring to a simmer and cook until thickened. Once thick, turn off the heat, add the cheese to the pot and stir until completely melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cover the bottom of a large, oven-safe baking dish with the turkey and veggie mixture. Meanwhile, add the cheese sauce to the reserved pasta in the pasta pot. Stir to coat, then transfer the cheesy pasta to the baking dish. Spread it out to cover the turkey mixture evenly. Place in the oven and bake until the top is golden brown, about 10 minutes.

super quick homemade dinner for the busy family

This is a nice meal for the really busy family. We got home late from school and after school activities, kids are starving, need to eat, do homework and get ready for bed so I made this super quick meal. It's healthy and home made and the kids love it.

• ham steak heated in pan


• sweet potatoes steamed topped with butter and a little brown sugar


• romaine, croutons, and good dressing makes a great caesar salad


• green beans steamed topped with a little parmesan cheese, garlic salt and butter served over spaghetti noodles tossed in olive oil, a little butter, parmesan cheese, and garlic salt

-Tip- I like to add a little butter, just a touch, along with olive oil for flavor

family style whole roasted chicken

A Graham family favorite because it doesn't take much effort and tastes great. We love to roast chicken and vegetables. The whole house smells delicious and we can help the kids with home work and do anything we need to do while the food cooks itself.

Roasted Whole Chicken with vegetables

Olive oil all over chicken

salt pepper

oregano, garlic/onion powder, marjoram

stuff with fresh herbs from garden (thyme, green onions, rosemary, lavender)

cover with foil and place in oven at 375

After about 30 minutes take foil off so chicken will be golden on top

Roasting Vegetables in the same pan or another pan

zucchini, sweet potato, fingerling potato, onion, celery, carrots, brussel sprouts are all great. Just use what ever you have.

olive oil, salt, pepper

I always put a butternut squash in too. My kids love it! I just cut it in half, scoop out seeds, olive oil, and place in pan skin side up. that's it!

In about 45 minutes to an hour when chicken is golden, veggies are roasted and butternut squash is soft enough to get a fork through it you have a really nice home cooked meal.

-TIP- if butternut squash is too hard to cut just put it whole in the oven then cut it in half when it is done cooking