Sweet Potato Pecan Casserole

3 C mashed Sweet Potatoes
1/3 C Milk
1/2 C Margarine
1 C White Sugar
2 Eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp Vanilla

Topping:
1 C Light Brown Sugar
1/2 C All-Purpose Flour
1/3 C Margarine, melted
1 C Pecans, chopped

Beat first six ingredients. Pour into buttered casserole. Mix topping ingredients with fork. Sprinkle on top of casserole. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole

5 medium sized Sweet Potatoes, baked and peeled
1/4 C Margarine
1/3 C Brown Sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
Miniature Marshmallows

Beat all ingredients except marshmallows with electric mixer. Spoon into lightly greased 1.5 qt. casserole. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with marshmallows and bake about 5 minutes or until marshmallows are lightly browned.

Mexican Black Beans and Rice

2 tsp Olive Oil
1 C Onion, chopped
1/2 C Pepper (red/yellow/orange/green), chopped
4 C cooked Long Grain Rice
15 oz can Black Beans, rinsed and drained
3/4 C Tomato, chopped
1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
1/4 tsp Ground Red Pepper
1/8 tsp Coriander

Heat olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add onion and pepper. Sauté 3 minutes. Add beans and chopped tomato. Sauté 3 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Add spices and rice. Stir. Serve immediately or can be made head and reheated in the microwave. 

Yield: 8 - 1/2 C servings

Recipe from: Jennifer Adams

Tortilla Soup

1 - 14 1/2 oz cans Chicken Broth 
1 large Onion, chipped
2 - 14 1/2 oz cans Stewed Tomatoes
1 can Ro-Tel
1 - 16 oz jar Salsa
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 tsp Chili Powder
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1/2 C Cilantro
4 C Chicken or Turkey, cooked and chopped

Cook all ingredients together. Top each serving with shredded Monterey Jack cheese and tortilla chips.

Mediterranean Bean Salad

 Dressing:

     1/3 C Olive Oil

     Juice from 1 large lemon (approx. 3 tbsp)

     3 tbsp red wine vinegar

     2 tsp Dijon mustard

     2 cloves garlic, minced

     1/2 tsp Oregano

     1/2 tsp sea salt (or more to taste)

     Black pepper to taste

Salad:

     1-19 oz. can cannellini (white kidney) beans, drained and rinsed

     1-19 oz. can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

     1-15 oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

     Half an English cucumber, quartered and sliced

     1 pint Cherry Tomatoes, sliced

     1 bell pepper, diced (any color per preference)

     1/2 C kalamata olives, sliced

     1/2 C chopped fresh parsley

     1/2 C red onion, finely diced

     2 tbsp fresh basil, roughly chopped

     3/4 C crumbled Feta Cheese

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing.

2. In a large bowl, gently mix together the beans, cucumber, tomato, bell pepper, olives, parsley, red onion, and basil.

3. Pour the dressing onto the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated. Fold in the crumbled feta. For best flavor, cover and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator and eat within 4 days.

Lebanese Rice with Vermicelli

Water
2 C long grain rice
1 C broken vermicelli or angel hair pasta
2.5 tbsp olive oil
salt
1/2 C toasted pine nuts, optional

Rinse the rice well (a few times), place in a medium bowl, and cover with water. Soak for 15-20 minutes. Drain well.

Heat the olive oil in medium cooking pot on medium-high. Add the broken pasta and stir continuously to toast it evenly to a nice golden brown (do not burn). 

Add the rice and continue to stir until the rice is coated with oil. Season with salt.

Add 3.5 C water and bring to a boil. When the water is down to the level of the rice, reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook for 15-20 minutes on low. Once fully cooked, turn the heat off and leave the rice undisturbed in pot for another 10-15 minutes. 

Uncover and fluff with a fork. Transfer to serving platter and optionally top with toasted pine nuts. 

Recipe from www.themediterraneandish.com. #themediterraneandish

Goes great with Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Kebabs

Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Kabobs

2 tsp Spanish paprika
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground green cardamom
salt and pepper
2 lbs boneless chicken breasts cut into large cubes
1 yellow onion sliced
1/2 C extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp minced garlic
6 tbsp lemon or lime juice
2 bell peppers (your choice of color) cut into 1.5" pieces
1 red onion cut into 1.5" pieces

In a small bowl, combine paprika, thyme, nutmeg, cardamom, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Generously coat the chicken with the spices.

Place the chicken cubes in a deep dish with the sliced onions and add the minced garlic and juice. Add a generous drizzle of the olive oil. Toss the chicken to make sure it's well coated, cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours (or marinate 30 minutes at room temperature).

Prepare kebobs by threading chicken, peppers, and onion onto skewers. Grill kebobs, turning occasionally, for 10-12 minutes or until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Serve kabobs with warm pita, tahini sauce, and Lebanese rice with vermicelli. 

Recipe from www.themediterraneandish.com #themediterraneandish!