Manisha Cooks

Beef and Rice Casserole

Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked rice
1 lb ground lean beef
1 medium sized chopped onion
1 green bell pepper chopped
1 clove garlic chopped
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
2 cups water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp olive oil

Directions:

Sauté onions, bell pepper, and garlic for 5-7 minutes until soft. Add ground beef and cook completely. Add in can of tomatoes (juice and all) and the uncooked rice. Stir well. Add 2 cups water. Bring to a boil then cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 25-30 minutes until rice is completely cooked. Serves 4-6.

Stuffed Squash

Ingredients:
2-3 fresh yellow squash
1 lb ground Italian sausage
1 bunch green onions
3 cloves minced garlic
1 8 oz. container of mushrooms
1 8 oz. block of softened cream cheese
Panko breadcrumbs
Parmesan Cheese

Directions:
1. Cut squash in half, drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper. Bake in the oven at 400° for 20 minutes. This step is crucial for the squash being tender and not hard!
2. Chop mushrooms into small pieces and chop green onions (both the green and white parts). Set aside.
3. In a skillet on medium heat start browning your sausage (do not drain)!
4. Add in your chopped mushrooms, green onions and 2 minced cloves of garlic.
5. Cook until sausage is cooked through and veggies are soft. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Add in cream cheese and melt mixing it throughly with the sausage mixture.
7. Scoop out the insides of each squash and discard forming a "boat" to stuff.
8. Fill each squash "boat" with the filling.
9. Sprinkle the tops of the squash with panko and Parmesan cheese.
10. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes.
11. Serve!

Kung pao chicken for dinner!

Grandma's Green Beans

Ingredients:
2 lbs fresh green beans with ends snipped off
1 potato cut into medium chunks
1 onion diced
3-4 slices of bacon sliced in medium sized pieces
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Directions:
Add everything to a soup pot and add enough water to cover beans. Bring to a boil then reduce to medium/low heat. Cook for 1.5-2 hours.

Shortcut Tamale Casserole

1 pkg precooked tamales
1 can red enchilada sauce
2 cups Colby jack cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°. Remove tamales from husks and place in a baking dish. Pour enchilada sauce over the tamales and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes until cheese is brown and bubbly!

Chinese BBQ Pork

Ingredients:
4-5 lbs pork ribs
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup hoisin sauce
2 tablespoon Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
1 tablespoon water
2.5 tablespoon honey
3 cloves garlic grated
1 inch ginger grated
1 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder

Instructions:
1. Place the pork on a cookie sheet with a rack.
2. Bake uncovered at 350° for 30 minutes.
3. Flip pork, baste with any remaining marinade and bake for 30 more minutes raising the temp to 400°.
4. At this point the pork should be fully cooked but make sure it registers 145° if you are questioning the doneness.
5. Finally remove pork and turn oven off.
6. Baste the pork with some hoisin sauce on both sides and return to oven to sit until everything else is ready (approx. 15-20 minutes at most!)

*if you use boneless pork it might cook faster so watch it!

Took it easy for dinner tonight! Ricky's dinner

Asian Cucumber Salad

Ingredients:
2-3 seedless cucumbers, sliced
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1-2 tbsp sugar
2 cloves of garlic, minced
Optional: 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Stir well. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours up to overnight.