Dinner Bell! - Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy Caviar
from the kitchen of Cathy Cordero

INGREDIENTS:
1 (11oz) can white shoepeg corn, drained & rinsed
1 (15oz) can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 (10 oz) can Rotel tomatoes, with juice
2 ripe avocados, diced
1/4 c. red onion, chopped
1/4 c. green onion, sliced
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cumin
2/3 c. cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 lime


Combine all ingredients, adding avocados last, and toss gently. Serve with chips.
*If you don't like black beans (blasphemy!) you can use black eyed peas.

*Can always substitute fresh chopped tomatoes for the Rotel too.

Dinner Bell! - Not Your Mama's Baked Potato

Found this idea on Pinterest and boy am I glad I gave it a try! Delicious! 

And the kids kept saying it tasted like yummy french fries.:)




~Method Preheat the oven to 220˚C (425˚F). 

~Put the potato on a chopping board, flat side down. Start from one end 

of the potato, cut almost all the way through, at about 3 to 4 mm 

intervals.

~Arrange the potatoes in a baking tray and insert the garlic in between 

the slits. 

~Scatter some butter on top of each potato. 

~Bake the potatoes for about 40 minutes or until the potatoes turn crispy 

and the flesh is soft.

Dinner Bell! - Mac & Cheesy Goodness

Mac & Cheese
from the kitchen of Cathy Cordero

Ingredients:
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (this will be more than an 8oz box)
4 Tbsp butter, cut into pieces
3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can condensed cheddar cheese soup
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup whole milk
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp black pepper
Panko breadcrumbs

~Boil macaroni in plenty of water about 7 min (you still want it be slightly firm). Drain.

~In lg saucepan heat butter, cheese and milk until cheese melts.

~Add sour cream, soup, salt, pepper and dry mustard stirring on low heat until hot.

~Mix with cooked pasta and pour into a buttered baking dish. (I used a 9x13)

~Sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs to taste.

~Bake at 4oo until bubbly and brown.

**I'm going to experiment with different cheese next time! Can you say "chipotle cheddar"?! Or I might add bacon and garlic...the possibilities are endless!

Dinner Bell! - best broccoli of your life

I had so many requests for this recipe after I posted on Facebook that my husband raved about it and asked for it every night that I decided it should be our next Dinner Bell post...even if it is a side dish.:)

*I did not use the pine nuts or fresh basil and it was still amazing!!

Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli

from the kitchen of Food Network's Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients

• 4 to 5 pounds broccoli
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
• Good olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons julienned fresh basil leaves (about 12 leaves)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Cut the broccoli florets from the thick stalks, leaving an inch or two of stalk attached to the florets, discarding the rest of the stalks. Cut the larger pieces through the base of the head with a small knife, pulling the florets apart. You should have about 8 cups of florets. Place the broccoli florets on a sheet panlarge enough to hold them in a single layer. Toss the garlic on the broccoli and drizzle with 5 tablespoonsolive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until crisp-tender and the tips of some of the florets are browned.

Remove the broccoli from the oven and immediately toss with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon zest, lemon juice, pine nuts, Parmesan, and basil. Serve hot.