• Charred Corn Salad

    Adapted from Caroline Chambers.

    Salad Ingredients:

    • 4 ears of corn, charred and chopped off cob (or 12 oz. frozen fire roasted corn prepared according to package)
    • Tajin, to taste
    • 1 – 2 red bell peppers, charred and chopped
    • Romaine lettuce
    • 1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
    • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
    • Cooked chicken, sliced, optional
    • Pepitas, to taste
    • 1/2 c. cotija cheese, crumbled

    Verde Dressing Ingredients:

    • 1/2 c. mayonnaise
    • 1/4 c. Red Clay verde hot sauce or verda salsa of choice, more or less to taste

    Directions:

    1. Corn: Char corn and chop off cob or prepare frozen fire roasted corn according to package. While still hot, sprinkle with Tajin, to taste. Set aside to cool.
    2. Red Pepper: Char, seed and chop. Set aside to cool.
    3. Verde Dressing: Combine mayonnaise and hot sauce, taste and adjust seasoning.
    4. Salad: In a large salad serving bowl, fill bowl with lettuce; add the cilantro, beans, cooled corn, cooled red pepper, chicken (if using), pepitas, and cotija. Toss salad and then add the dressing and toss to combine.

    Charred Corn Salad:

  • Amazing Green Rice and Creamy Corn

    Recipes adapted from Pinch of Yum

    Rice Ingredients:

    • 1 1/2 c. long-grain white rice
    • 1 bunch cilantro (about 1 c. packed)
    • 3–4 c. fresh spinach
    • 1 shallot (or small onion), peeled and roughly chopped
    • 1 jalapeno pepper, roughly chopped 
    • 1–2 garlic cloves
    • 2 TBSP olive oil
    • 1/2 tsp. salt (1 tsp. salt if using water)
    • 2 c. chicken or vegetable broth, or water (up to 2 1/2 cups for stickier rice)

    Creamy Corn Ingredients:

    • 1/4 c. mayo
    • 2 TBSP cream cheese
    • 1 garlic clove, grated
    • 1/2 tsp. salt
    • 1 tsp. cumin
    • 1 tsp. chili powder
    • Lime juice, to taste
    • 2 c. frozen or fresh sweet corn (2 -10 oz. bags frozen sweet corn), cooked

    Directions:

    1. Rice Prep: Thoroughly rinse the rise in a mesh colander. Shake it a few times to remove excess water and set aside. (This prevents it from splattering in the oil when you add it to the pan in Step 3.)
    2. Make Green Herb Mixture: Pulse the cilantro, spinach, shallot, jalapeno, and garlic in a food processor until very finely chopped.
    3. Saute the Rice: Add olive oil to a skillet over medium high heat. Add rice and sauté for 3-5 minutes until lightly toasted. Add the herb mixture and salt; sauté for another 3-5 minutes until nice and fragrant. 
    4. Cook the Rice: Add the broth or water, bring to a simmer. Cover and keep over low heat for 15-ish minutes. Check the rice by fluffing with a fork; add more water / cook longer if necessary. When the rice is done to your liking, remove from heat and fluff with a fork to distribute the greens.
    5. Creamy Corn: Mix mayo through lime juice in a bowl. Cook corn and add hot corn to the bowl with sauce. Toss to combine, taste and adjust seasoning as desired.

    Amazing Green Rice and Creamy Corn:

  • Street Corn Salad

    Recipe adapted from Bad Batch Baking.

    Ingredients:

    • 2 TBSP olive oil
    • 5-6 ears of corn husked and removed from the cob (about 3-4 cups)
    • 1/3 c. mayo
    • 1 lime, zested and juiced
    • 1 garlic clove, minced
    • 1/2-1 tsp. Tajin
    • 1/2-1 tsp. chili powder
    • 1/4 tsp. salt
    • Pepper, to taste
    • 1/4 c. cilantro, minced
    • 1/3 c. green onions, sliced
    • 1 jalapeno, diced
    • 1/3 c. grated cotija cheese

    Directions:

    1. Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the corn and allow it to cook stirring frequently until it starts to char and get some color, about 5-7 minutes. Allow to cool.
    2. In a large bowl, add in the mayonnaise, lime zest, lime juice, garlic, Tajin, chili powder, and salt and pepper. Mix together to make a sauce then add in the corn, cilantro, green onions, jalapeno, and cotija cheese. Mix well until it’s all combined and top with a sprinkling of additional cotija cheese, Tajin and chili powder.

    Street Corn Salad:

  • Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup

    Recipe adapted from Damn Delicious.

    Ingredients:

    • 1/2 medium sweet onion, diced
    • 3 garlic cloves, minced
    • 4 sage leaves, minced
    • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
    • 2 1/2 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
    • 3 large carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
    • 1 celery stalk, but into 1 inch pieces
    • 1 Granny smith apple, cored and chopped
    • 4 c. chicken stock
    • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
    • 1/3 c. heavy cream
    • 2 TBSP chopped fresh chives

    Directions:

    1. Set Instant Pot to the saute setting. Add onion, and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in garlic, sage and thyme until fragrant, about 1 minute.
    2. Stir in butternut squash, carrots, celery, apple, chicken stock, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Select manual setting; adjust pressure to high, and set time for 12 minutes. When finished cooking, quick-release pressure according to manufacturer’s directions; remove and discard thyme sprigs.
    3. Stir in heavy cream. Puree with an immersion blender until desired consistency is reached; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
    4. Serve immediately, sprinkled with chives and a little extra cream.

    Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup:

  • Risotto Alla Vodka

    Recipe adapted from Caro Chambers.

    Ingredients:

    • 1/4 c. olive oil
    • 4 shallots, thinly sliced
    • 4 garlic cloves, minced
    • 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
    • 6 oz. tomato paste
    • 1/3 c. vodka
    • 2 c. half and half (can use fat free)
    • 5 c. chicken or vegetable broth
    • 2 c. Arborio rice
    • Salt, to taste
    • 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
    • 1/3 c. basil, chiffonade

    Directions:

    1. Preheat oven to 350F.
    2. In a Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over low to medium heat and then add the shallots and pinch of salt; cook until shallots are soft and lightly golden brown, about 7 minutes. Then add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 more minute. If the pan gets too dry, add a splash of oil.
    3. Add the tomato paste and stir it in until it starts to stick to the Dutch oven, about 1 to 2 minutes; then deglaze the Dutch oven with the vodka and scrape up all of the stuck bits from the bottom of the Dutch oven. When the vodka has evaporated after 1 minute, stir in the half and half, 3 c. of the broth, and the rice.
    4. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then cover and transfer to the oven and bake for 40 minutes.
    5. After 40 minutes, remove Dutch oven from the oven, stir in 1 c. of remaining broth along with the Parmesan cheese, and stir to combine. Add more broth until you reach your perfect risotto consistency.
    6. Serve topped with basil.

    Risotto Alla Vodka:

  • Instant Pot Mexican Rice

    Recipe adapted from Tastes Better from Scratch.

    Ingredients:

    • 1 1/2 c. long grain white rice, rinsed
    • 1/4 c. vegetable oil
    • 1 tsp. garlic, minced
    • 1 onion, finely diced
    • 1/4 c. tomato sauce
    • 2 tsp. granulated tomato bouillon
    • 1/4 tsp. salt
    • 1 carrot, diced
    • 1 1/2 c. water
    • 1/3 c. frozen peas, optional
    • Juice of 1 lime

    Directions:

    1. Rinse the rice until the water runs clear. Drain well.
    2. Turn Instant Pot to saute. Once hot, add oil to the bottom of the pot.
    3. Add rice and saute, stirring often, until lightly golden, about 5 minutes.
    4. Add garlic, onion, tomato sauce, salt, tomato bullion and carrots and stir to combine.
    5. Add water and stir well, making sure the bullion is dissolved.
    6. Turn Instant Pot off. Secure lid and turn valve to sealed position.
    7. Turn on to Manual or High Pressure, and cook for 4 minutes.
    8. When timer beeps, allow pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes.
    9. Remove lid and add peas, if using, and lime juice. Gently fluff the rice with a fork (don’t stir it).
    10. Place IP lid over the bowl and allow rice to rest for a few more minutes before serving.

    Instant Pot Mexican Rice:

  • Burrata Pesto Salad

    Recipe from Little Ms Magnolia. Serve as an appetizer or side salad.

    Ingredients:

    • Baguette
    • Olive oil
    • Garlic salt
    • Salt and pepper
    • 10 oz. cherry/grape tomatoes, sliced in half
    • Arugula
    • Burrata
    • Fresh pesto
    • Coarse sea salt
    • Balsamic glaze

    Directions:

    1. Baguette slices/dippers: Preheat oven to 400F. Slice a baguette into thin pieces. Spray with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic salt. Bake for 10 minutes or until desired crispiness. Remove from oven and set aside.
    2. Roasted Tomatoes: In a bowl add halved tomatoes and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. On a baking sheet add the tomatoes and roast in the 400F oven for 20 minutes; then remove from the oven and let cool.
    3. Assembly: On a platter, lay out however much arugula you want. Gently pat the burrata dry, and then break open the burrata into pieces and place on top of the arugula. Then add the cooled roasted tomatoes on top of the burrata; then drizzle with fresh pesto; then drizzle with olive oil, fresh cracked pepper, coarse sea salt, and balsamic glaze.
    4. Serve: Burrata salad with the dippers.

    Burrata Pesto Salad:

  • Asparagus Lemon Basil Pasta Salad

    Recipe from Muchin with Maddie.

    Ingredients:

    Salad:

    • 8 oz. pasta cooked according to package
    • 2 ears of corn, kernels removed (about 1 c. corn)
    • 12 oz. asparagus, cut in 2 inch pieces
    • 8 oz. grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
    • Salt and pepper, to taste
    • 1/2 c. fresh basil, chiffonade

    Dressing:

    • 3 TBSP lemon juice
    • 3 TBSP olive oil
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 1/2 tsp. dijon mustard
    • 1 tsp. honey or maple syrup
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Directions:

    1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. On a baking sheet, add asparagus and drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper and then toss to coat. Roast for 12 – 15 minutes. Then set aside to cool.
    2. Meanwhile cook pasta according to package. Once done, drain and then set aside to cool.
    3. Add dressing ingredients to jar or bowl and shake or whisk until combined.
    4. Add pasta, corn, asparagus, and tomatoes to a large bowl and then add the dressing and toss to coat. Top with the basil.

    Asparagus Lemon Basil Pasta Salad:



  • Green Chile Rice

    Recipe from Rick Bayless.

    Ingredients:

    • 1 2/3 c. chicken broth
    • 2 fresh poblanos or Anaheim peppers, stems and seeds removed and roughly chopped
    • 12 sprigs of cilantro
    • 1 TBSP oil
    • 1 c. rice
    • 1 small onion, diced
    • 5 garlic gloves, minced
    • 1/2 tsp. salt

    Directions:

    1. Chiles: Combine the chicken broth and chopped chiles in a saucepan; bring to a boil and then partially cover with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes; then pour the hot chile mixture into a food processor, add the cilantro (stems included), and process until smooth puree.
    2. Rice: Wipe the saucepan clean, and add the oil and heat over medium heat. Add the rice and onion, and cook stirring regularly, until the rice is chalky and the onion is soft, about 5 minutes; then stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute longer; then add the chile puree and salt, stir once and scrape down an rice clinging to the side of the pan, cover and cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
    3. Uncover and check rice and should be nearly cooked through; if the rice is just about ready, turn off heat, re-cover and let stand for 5-10 minutes to complete cooking. If rice is far from done, continue cooking for 5 minutes (may need to add more water); then retest and fluff with fork when done.

    Green Chile Rice:

  • Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach and Rice)

    Recipe adapted from Bowl of Delicious.

    Ingredients:

    • 1/4 c. olive oil
    • 1 bunch green onions thinly sliced, 1/2 c. dark green tops reserved (about 8-10 green onions)
    • 8-10 oz. baby spinach 
    • 1 c. basmati rice (or other long grain white rice or parboiled rice)
    • 2 c. vegetable broth, water, or chicken broth
    • 1/2 tsp. salt plus more if needed
    • 1/4 c. fresh chopped dill (can also use mint, parsley, or a combination)
    • Juice and zest of 1 lemon (about 1 tsp. zest and 2 TBSP juice)
    • Crumbled feta cheese and chopped fresh herbs/green onions for serving

    Directions:

    1. In a large heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil. Add the sliced green onions (reserve 1/2 c. of the dark green tops) and sauté until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the baby spinach and sauté until wilted, about 2 minutes.
    2. Add the basmati rice and stir to coat. Pour in the vegetable broth and add the kosher salt. Bring to a boil, stir once, cover, and simmer on low for about 15 minutes (or until rice is cooked – you should see holes in the top, and if you tilt the pot you should no longer see any water pooling).
    3. Stir in the fresh chopped dill or other herbs, the lemon zest, and lemon juice, and the reserved sliced green onions (keep some out for garnish if you like).
    4. Season to taste with salt, and serve garnished with crumbled feta cheese and reserved green onions, if desired.

    Spanakorizo (Greek Spinach and Rice):