Ham & Cheese Lasagna

Source: https://www.thekitchenismyplayground.com/2013/04/ham-cheese-lasagna.html

Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 75 min

Ingredients:
• 9 to 12 lasagna noodles
• 1/2 c. chopped onion
• 2 T. butter
• 3 T. all-purpose flour
• 2 c. milk
• 1 c. cottage cheese
• 2 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
• 2 c. finely chopped fully cooked ham
• 1 (8 oz.) package fresh mushrooms {or substitute 8 oz. canned mushrooms}
• 1 T. dried parsley

Instructions: 

1. Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions; drain and set aside.
2. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add chopped onion and mushrooms (if using raw); cook until tender, about 4 to 5 minutes.
3. Blend in flour until onions are well coated. Add milk all at once; cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and just beginning to bubble, about 5 to 7 minutes.
4. Add cottage cheese and 1 cup of the shredded Monterey Jack cheese; stir until melted. Stir in the ham, mushrooms (if using canned), and parsley. Remove from heat.
5. In a 9x13" baking dish coated with non-stick cooking spray, arrange three lasagna noodles and top with 1/3 of the ham mixture. Repeat to create two more layers of noodles and sauce. Sprinkle the remaining cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese on top.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove lasagna from the oven and let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

***I covered it with foil, even though it didn't say to, and the noodles came out a little tough. So try it without the foil next time!

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole (with Biscuits)

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole (with Biscuits)

3 tablespoons butter
1 cup chopped onions
1 tablespoon minced garlic
4 cups shredded chicken
2-3 cups shredded cheese
1 bag frozen peas and carrots (10–12 oz)
1– 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup chicken stock (Optional)
1 tube of flaky biscuits
1 tablespoon butter, melted

 
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a large skillet melt the room-temperature butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and minced garlic, cooking them until the onions become translucent and fragrant.
3. Add in the mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes until they release moisture and become tender.
4. In a large bowl, add frozen vegetables, shredded chicken, cheese, heavy cream, and mushroom mix. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir everything together until they are well combined. Add more heavy cream or chicken stock if you prefer a saucier casserole.
5. Transfer the creamy filling to a 9X13-inch casserole dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
6. Lightly flatten the biscuits. Place the biscuits in a single layer over the filling and brush butter over them.
7. Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes until the biscuits turn golden brown. Then cover with aluminum foil and cook for 10 more minutes.

Vegetarian Peppers and Rice Casserole

Note to self: This tastes good! (I realized that for some reason, looking at pictures of or even smelling rice and tomatoes/tomato sauce together turns my stomach, but this really does taste good--and it smells great once it's cooked!)

source: https://herrecipebox.com/vegetarian-stuffed-pepper-casserole-recipe/

Ingredients
For the Casserole Base:
Bell Peppers: 2 large, multi-colored , cored and chopped into 1-inch pieces
Olive Oil: 2 tablespoons, extra virgin
Yellow Onion: 1 large, chopped
Garlic: 4 cloves, minced
Long-Grain White Rice: 1 cup, uncooked
Black Beans: 1 (15-ounce) can, rinsed and drained (I used pinto because I was out of black)
Diced Tomatoes: 1 (15-ounce) can, undrained
Tomato Sauce: 1 (8-ounce) can
Vegetable Broth: 1 ½ cups, low-sodium (I used beef broth and water, because I had beef broth to use up)
Chili Powder: 1 tablespoon
Cumin: 2 teaspoons, ground
Smoked Paprika: 1 teaspoon
Dried Oregano: 1 teaspoon
Salt: 1 teaspoon, or to taste
Black Pepper: ½ teaspoon, freshly ground

For the Cheesy Topping:
Shredded Cheese: 2 cups, a blend of Monterey Jack and sharp cheddar works well

For Garnish (Optional):
Fresh Cilantro: ¼ cup, chopped
Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt

For serving:
Avocado: Sliced or diced

Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish or a large, deep cast-iron skillet with olive oil or cooking spray.

 
2. In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped yellow onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes, until it becomes soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to let it burn. Add the chopped bell peppers to the skillet. Continue to cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want the peppers to soften slightly but still retain a bit of their crispness, as they will continue to cook in the oven.

 
3. To the skillet with the peppers and onions, add the uncooked rice, rinsed black beans, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together for about one minute. This step is crucial as it “toasts” the rice and spices, waking up their flavors and allowing them to coat every ingredient evenly.

 
4. Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and vegetable broth. Stir thoroughly to combine, ensuring the rice is fully submerged in the liquid. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

 
5. Once the mixture is simmering, carefully transfer the entire contents of the skillet into your prepared 9×13 inch baking dish. If you used a large, oven-safe skillet (like a cast-iron skillet), you can skip this step and bake it directly in the same pan. Spread the mixture into an even layer.

 
6. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. This traps the steam, which is essential for cooking the rice properly. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. At this point, the rice should be tender and should have absorbed most of the liquid.

 
7. Carefully remove the foil from the baking dish. Sprinkle the 2 cups of shredded cheese evenly over the top of the casserole. (I actually mixed some in, to get the cheese all through the casserole, not just on top.) Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted, bubbly, and just beginning to turn golden brown on the edges.

 
8. Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest on a cooling rack for at least 10 minutes. This is a critical step! It allows the casserole to set, making it easier to serve and allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully. After resting, garnish generously with fresh cilantro and serve hot with your favorite toppings.

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

Source: https://www.shugarysweets.com/wprm_print/copycat-panera-broccoli-cheese-soup-recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

¼ cup unsalted butter
½ cup diced onions yellow or white
1 cup shredded carrots 
2 1/2-3 cups broccoli florets chopped small
1 ½ cups chicken broth
1 cup milk *
1 cup heavy whipping cream*
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions
In a large pot over medium high heat, melt butter. Add in onions, carrots and broccoli. Cook to soften about 5 minutes (may be more or less depending on the size vegetables you cut).
Slowly add in broth, milk, and cream.
Sprinkle with flour and add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.
Continue stirring and heating over medium heat until thickened. This will take about 10-15 minutes.
Once thick, add cheese and stir until melted and smooth.
Serve soup and enjoy!

*I just used 2 cups of  1% milk, and it was still good.