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Jumbo Stuffed Shells

Jumbo Stuffed Shells

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Yield: 14

Billy Parisi

Video

These amazing stuffed shells recipe is baked in a classic tomato and white sauce with delicious meat and ricotta cheese filling. Prep Time 1 hour, Cook Time: 90 min.

My first batch made at least 40. I froze half on a sheet tray and then they will go in a freezer bag.

  • 12oz box of jumbo shells
  • 2TBS olive oil
  • 1peeled small diced yellow onion
  • 2finely minced cloves of garlic
  • 8oz loose Italian sausage
  • 8oz ground beef 85/15
  • 5oz baby spinach, roughly chopped
  • 2TBS chopped fresh basil
  • 1lb fresh mozzarella, diced small (1/4-inch)
  • 16oz whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1½cups grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1large egg
  • 24-32oz tomato sauce
  • 1batch béchamel sauce, about 1 qt (see below)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Make the béchamel sauce (below).

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Boil the shells until al dente in a large pot of boiling salted water, which takes about 8-9 minutes while gently stirring. Remove the shells from the water, chill in an ice bath and then spread out on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper and set to the side.

Add the olive oil to a large rondeau pot over medium heat and cook the onions until lightly browned, which takes about 10 minutes. Next add in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Add in the Italian sausage and ground beef and cook until lightly browned and cooked through. Make sure to cut it down into small pieces.

Mix in the baby spinach just until wilted and then transfer the mixture to a large plate and slightly spread everything out and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

Once cool transfer to a large bowl along with the basil, ½ the amount of small, diced mozzarella, ricotta, 1 cup of Parmesan cheese, large egg, and salt and pepper, and mix until completely combined.

Using a small spoon or a piping bag stuffed with the meat and cheese filling, stuff each shell until they are completely full. I was able to get 28 stuffed shells.

Evenly pour the tomato sauce into the bottom of a 13×9 casserole dish until it is coated.

Next, randomly pour ¾ of the béchamel sauce on top of the tomato sauce. See Video.

Line up as many stuffed shells as possible over the sauces. You may need to cook some in a separate dish if they all do not fit.

Sprinkle on remaining small, diced mozzarella and ½ cup of grated Parmesan all over the top and bake at 425° for 25-30 minutes or until browned on top.

Garnish with optional chopped parsley or basil.

Make-ahead: This recipe is meant to be eaten as soon as it’s done cooking. You can however keep it warm covered in the oven at 200°F for up to 30 minutes before cooking. In addition, if you want to prepare everything, you can assemble everything if it’s cold and chilled and then refrigerate covered 1 day before baking and serving. Add 10 minutes to your baking time since everything will be cold going into the oven.

How to store: Cover and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This will freeze covered for up to 3 months. You can freeze in the sauces or separate.

How to reheat: Add the number of stuffed shells with sauce to a saucepan and cover with foil and heat at 350°F in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until hot.

It is ok to have leftover shell pasta as some of them will tear in the cooking and cooling process. Feel free to discard or keep the leftovers after stuffing.

I had 8 shells that did not fit into the casserole dish, so I baked them in a small separate dish.

Béchamel Sauce

Yield: 1 batch
Billy Parisi

Learn how to make a classic béchamel sauce that is incredibly simple to prepare and excellent for sauces and pasta dishes. 25 minutes.

  • 1quart of whole milk
  • 2ounces unsalted butter or 4 TBS
  • 2ounces all-purpose flour or 6 TBS
  • ¼onion peeled but left intact
  • 1bay leaf
  • 1clove
  • pinch of ground nutmeg
  • salt and ground white pepper to taste

Add the milk to a medium-size saucepot over low heat until it scalds, see note.

Make a roux from the butter and flour and stir it in to the warm milk until it is completely mixed in and smooth and bring just to a boil to thicken and then turn the heat back down to low.

Next, make a 1” slit into the top of the onion and push the bay leaf into the slice and press the clove into the onion as well and then place the entire thing right into the bechamel sauce and cook for 15 minutes to infuse the flavor.

Add in the nutmeg, salt, and pepper and mix in with a spoon.

Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer like a chinois or through some cheesecloth in a regular strainer. The sauce should be silky smooth.

Chef notes:

Make ahead: You can make this sauce up to 2 days ahead of time.

How to store: Keep it covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Do not freeze the sauce as it will break when thawing it.

How to reheat: Simply place your desired amount into a small sauce pan and whisk over low heat until thick.

You’ll know it’s scalded if you tilt the pan back to yourself and see bubbles clinging to the bottom of the pan but not sticking to it.

If the sauce gets too thick when making it or reheating it, simply add a ¼ cup of hot milk at a time until it is to a thinner consistency.

You must wait for the sauce to boil after mixing in the roux for it to thicken, other wide it will remain on the thinner side.

Beef Flautas

Beef Flautas

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with Pico de Gallo & Lime Crema
Yield: 2 Servings

Surprisingly, Jed likes these. Simple to make and very tasty. Gayle says these need a vegetable or salad.

  • 1yellow onion
  • 3TBS Tex-Mex paste, (recipe follows)
  • 1Roma tomato
  • 1jalapeno pepper (to taste)
  • 10oz ground beef

For southwest spice blend:

  • 2tsp garlic powder
  • ¾tsp cumin
  • ¾tsp chili powder

For assembly & serve:

  • 6flour tortillas, 6-inch
  • ½cup Mexican cheese blend
  • 1lime
  • 4TBS sour cream
  • salt
  • 2tsp cooking oil
  • 1TBS olive oil


Prep:

Adjust rack to middle position and preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and brush with oil (or coat with nonstick spray).

Wash and dry produce.

Halve, peel, and thinly slice onion, mince a few slices until you have 1 TBS. Jalapeno pepper, minced.

Make spice blend:

Mix garlic powder, cumin and chili powder in a small dish.

Make filling:

Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add sliced onion, cook for 3 minutes. Add beef and spice blend, cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until beef is browned, and onion is softened, 4-6 minutes. Stir in Tex-Mex paste and 1⁄3 cup water. Simmer until mixture has thickened and beef is cooked through, 2-4 minutes more. Turn off heat.

Assemble & bake:

Meanwhile, drizzle tortillas with 1 TBS olive oil, brush or rub to coat on both sides. Place tortillas on a clean work surface. Once beef filling is done, add a heaping ¼ cup filling to one side of each tortilla, then sprinkle each with 1 TBS Mexican cheese blend. Roll up tortillas, starting with filled sides, to create flautas. Place, seam sides down, on prepared sheet.

Make sure the flautas are snug on the sheet—this will prevent them from unrolling. Bake on middle rack until golden-brown and crispy, 8-12 minutes.

Make Pico de Gallo:

While flautas bake, finely dice tomato. Zest and quarter lime. In a small bowl, combine tomato, minced onion, jalapeno pepper (to taste), half the lime zest, and a squeeze of lime juice. Season with salt.

Finish & serve:

In a separate small bowl, combine sour cream, remaining lime zest, and a squeeze of lime juice. Add water 1 tsp at a time until mixture reaches a drizzling consistency. Season with salt.

Divide flautas between plates.

Top with Pico de Gallo and lime crema. Serve.

Tex-Mex Paste

3 TBS

2          TBS tomato paste,
2          TBS water,
2          tsp vinegar,
1          TBS dried onion flakes,
1/2        tsp salt (or salt substitute),
1          tsp cornstarch,
pinch      cayenne pepper,
¼          tsp sugar,
¼         tsp onion powder,
pinch      garlic powder

Gayle’s Meat Loaf

Gayle’s Meat Loaf

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Yield: 4

I’ve made a lot of meatloaf, and honestly, I screw it up more often than I succeed. Gayle has been making this recipe for over 40 years and it’s still great. It has seen some changes over the years, and this is the latest version. Can’t beat it.

  • 1lb ground beef
  • ½lb ground pork
  • ⅓cup dry bread crumbs
  • 1tsp salt
  • ¼tsp pepper
  • 5tsp onion flakes (or small onion, chopped)
  • 1½tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2eggs
  • French fried onions (optional topping)

Heat oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl combine all ingredients except meat and topping.

Add meat and mix well with a masher or your hands.

Press into greased 8 x 4-inch loaf pan. Top with topping.

Bake for 1 hour.

Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Tex-Mex Beef & Black Bean Rice Bowls

Tex-Mex Beef & Black Bean Rice Bowls

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with Lettuce, Tomato & Scallion Crema

Yield: 2

Hello Fresh

Sautéed ground beef with aromatic scallions, garlic, and cumin, served over fluffy rice and hearty black beans topped with a salad of crisp lettuce, juicy tomato, and a dollop of scallion crema for cooling creamy contrast.
Prep: 5 Cook: 20

Note: Tasty, but needs more seasoning. Cumin, salt and pepper aren’t enough.

  • ½cup jasmine rice
  • 1clove garlic
  • 10oz ground beef
  • 8oz black beans
  • 2scallions
  • 1baby lettuce
  • 1Roma tomato
  • 1tsp cumin
  • 1½sour cream
  • salt & pepper
  • 1tsp cooking oil

Cook rice & beans:

In a small pot, combine ½ cup rice, ¾ cup water, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook for 10 minutes.

Drain beans.

Once rice has cooked 10 minutes, stir in drained beans, cover and cook until rice is tender, 5- to 8-minutes more.

Prep:

While rice and beans cook, wash and dry produce.

Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens. Peel and mince or grate garlic. Trim and discard root end from lettuce, thinly slice half the lettuce crosswise into ribbons. Dice tomato into ¼-inch pieces, season with salt and pepper.

Cook beef:

Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add beef, scallion whites, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper.

Cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until cooked through, 4- to 6-minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.

Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.

Make crema:

In a small bowl, combine sour cream and scallion greens. Add water 1 tsp at a time until mixture reaches a drizzling consistency. Season with salt and pepper.

Finish rice & beans:

Fluff rice and beans with a fork, taste and season with salt and pepper.

Serve:

Divide rice and beans and beef mixture between shallow bowls in separate sections. Top everything with sliced lettuce, tomato, and scallion crema. Serve.

Smothered & Stuffed Meatloaves

Smothered & Stuffed Meatloaves

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with Potato Wedges

Yield: 2

Adapted from: EveryPlate.com

Meatloaves, personal-sized treasures bursting with melty pepper jack (no cheese on Gayle’s) and adorned with caramelized peppers and onions.

Notes: Since Gayle didn’t want cheese, I put a whole egg in the top of hers. Cooked for the whole time, she said the egg was overdone, but loved the dish. I didn’t like the glaze on top of the meatloaves. I don’t care for tomato glaze on meatloaf.
Prep: 10 Cook: 35

  • 12oz potatoes
  • 1green bell pepper
  • 1onion
  • 1TBS fry seasoning
  • 1slice white bread
  • 8oz ground beef
  • 8oz shredded pepper jack
  • 1TBS Dijon mustard
  • salt & pepper
  • 3TBS ketchup
  • 2tsp brown sugar
  • 2tsp cooking oil
  • 1TBS butter

Prep:

Adjust racks to top and middle positions and preheat oven to 425°F. Wash and dry produce.

Cut potatoes into ½-inch-thick wedges.

Halve, core, and thinly slice bell pepper into strips.

Halve, peel, and thinly slice the onion.

In a small bowl, combine 1 TBS mustard, 3 TBS ketchup, and 2 tsp brown sugar. (If you don’t have brown sugar, swap in 1 tsp white sugar.)

Roast potatoes:

Toss potatoes on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil, 1 tsp Fry Seasoning, (you’ll use the rest in the next step), salt, and pepper. Roast on top rack until browned and tender, 20-25 minutes.

Form meatloaves:

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, soak bread with 2 TBS water, break up with your hands until pasty. Add beef, remaining Fry Seasoning, and a pinch of salt and pepper, mix to combine. Flatten meatloaf mixture into two ½-inch-thick rounds. Reserve half the cheese for topping, divide remaining cheese between centers of each round.

Note: No cheese on Gayle’s meatloaf. I cracked a fresh egg into the hole that was filled with cheese on mine.

Fold edges of meat around cheese, shaping and sealing to create 1-inch-tall loaves. Place on a second baking sheet, brush tops with ketchup glaze. Bake on middle rack for 15 minutes. Note: I think the meatloaf and the egg were done at this point. I went for another 5 minutes since the egg was wobbly.

Cook veggies:

While meatloaves bake, heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper and onion, cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and tender, 7- to 8-minutes.

Add 2 TBS water, cook, stirring, until water has evaporated, and veggies are tender. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in 1 TBS butter until melted. Turn off heat, cover to keep warm.

Top meatloaves:

Once meatloaves have baked 15 minutes, remove sheet from oven. Carefully sprinkle tops with reserved cheese. Return sheet to middle rack until meatloaves are cooked through (160°F) and cheese melts, 3- to 5-minutes more. (probably not necessary).

Serve:

Divide meatloaves and potatoes between plates. Top meatloaves with veggies.

Fry Seasoning

1 TBS

  • 1½tsp garlic powder
  • 1½tsp onion powder
  • 1½tsp paprika
Sesame Soy Beef Bowls

Sesame Soy Beef Bowls

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with Shredded Carrots, Buttery Rice & Sriracha Mayo

Yield: 2

Adapted from: Hello Fresh

Buttery rice is topped with sweet and savory, sesame-soy sauce-glazed beef, plus sautéed carrots and a drizzle of creamy, spicy Sriracha mayo.
Prep: 5 Cook: 20

  • 2scallions
  • 1TBS sesame oil
  • 4TBS sweet soy glaze
  • 2TBS mayonnaise
  • 1tsp sriracha
  • 4oz shredded carrots
  • 10oz ground beef
  • 5tsp white wine vinegar
  • ¾cup jasmine (or brown) rice
  • salt & pepper
  • ¾tsp sugar
  • 1tsp cooking oil
  • 1TBS butter

Cook, prep & mix:

Wash and dry produce.

In a small pot, combine rice, 1¼ cup water, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until rice is tender, 15-18 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.

Meanwhile, trim, and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens.

In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise with Sriracha to taste. Stir in water 1 tsp at a time until mixture reaches a drizzling consistency. Season with salt and pepper.

Cook veggies:

Heat half the sesame oil (you’ll use the rest in the next step) in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add carrots and scallion whites, cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, 1- to 2-minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar.

Transfer to a second small bowl and cover to keep warm.

Cook beef:

Heat a drizzle of oil in pan used for veggies over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until browned, 3- to 5-minutes.

Tip: If there’s excess grease in your pan, carefully pour it out.

Stir in half the vinegar, remaining sesame oil, 2½ TBS sweet soy glaze, and ½ tsp sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook until sauce has thickened and beef is cooked through, 2- to 3-minutes.

Remove from heat. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.

Finish & serve:

Fluff rice with a fork and stir in 1 TBS butter, season with salt and pepper.

Divide rice between bowls, top with carrot mixture and sesame soy beef. Drizzle with Sriracha mayo and sprinkle with scallion greens. Serve.

Meatball Soup

Meatball Soup

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with Potatoes, Onions & Peas

Yield: 4 Servings

Adapted from: Bon Appétit

This meatball soup recipe packs beef stew like cozy flavors into a weeknight dinner that takes just one hour to make. Sautéing the beef meatballs until they’re browned all over helps develop the fond on the bottom of the pot, which is key to building flavor. Meanwhile, giving the panko breadcrumbs a quick soak once combined with the other meatball ingredients helps them retain moisture, ensuring juicy meatballs every time—even if you choose to use ground turkey or pork instead.

  • 1large egg
  • 4garlic cloves, finely grated
  • 1cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 4TBS extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1TBS thyme leaves
  • 3tsp Diamond Crystal or 1¾ tsp Morton kosher salt, divided (recipe assumes Morton)
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1lb ground beef
  • 1(packed) cup frozen, thawed pearl onions
  • 10oz mushrooms (any kind), torn into bite-size pieces
  • 2TBS double-concentrated tomato paste
  • 1TBS AP flour
  • ⅔cup dry red wine
  • 1lb Yukon Gold potatoes (about 4 medium), peeled, cut into 1″ pieces
  • 4cups low-sodium beef broth
  • ½cup frozen peas
  • Country-style bread (for serving; optional)


Marinate:

Combine egg, 4 garlic cloves, 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, 2 TBS olive oil, 1 TBS thyme leaves, 1 tsp kosher salt, and ¼ cup water in a medium bowl, season with freshly ground pepper and mix well. Let sit 5 minutes to hydrate.

Add 1lb ground beef to bowl and gently mix until combined.

Meatballs:

Divide and roll meat mixture into ping-pong-size balls (you should have about 20 total).

Heat remaining 2 TBS olive oil over medium-high in a Dutch oven or other large, heavy pot. Cook meatballs, shaking pot to turn meatballs every few minutes, until browned all over, 6–8 minutes. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer meatballs to a plate.

Soup:

Cook 1 cup (packed) frozen, thawed pearl onions and ¼ tsp kosher salt in same pot, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add 10 oz mushrooms (any kind), torn into bite-size pieces, and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add 2 TBS tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until mushrooms are coated, and tomato paste is slightly darkened in color, about 1 minute. Evenly sprinkle 1 TBS AP flour over and cook, stirring constantly, until mushrooms are coated, about 1 minute.

Pour ²⁄₃ cup dry red wine into pot and cook, scraping up browned bits stuck to bottom of pot, until almost completely evaporated, 1–2 minutes. Stir in 1 lb Yukon Gold potatoes (about 4 medium), peeled, cut into 1″ pieces, then add meatballs, 4 cups beef broth, and remaining ½ tsp kosher salt, season with pepper. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover pot, and simmer soup, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are fork-tender, 15–20 minutes.

Remove lid and stir in ½ cup frozen peas, continue to simmer until liquid is reduced just slightly, about 5 minutes.

Ladle soup into bowls and serve with country-style bread if desired.

American Chop Suey

American Chop Suey

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with Green Salad
Yield: 2

Adapted from: Home Chef

This classic American comfort food is all grown up. Ground beef turned into a creamy, cheesy tomato sauce mixed with tender elbow macaroni. Shredded cheese melts onto the piping-hot pasta while a crisp green side salad with radishes accompanies.

Update: The American Chop Suey is real good, but the Dijon dressing on the salad is terrible. It clashes with the pasta sauce. Update shows a simple Italian dressing, but you can substitute any dressing you prefer.
Time: 30 minutes

  • 4oz elbow macaroni
  • 10oz ground beef
  • 2radishes
  • 1romaine heart
  • 1TBS Dijon mustard
  • 8oz tomato sauce
  • 1tsp BTB beef (or beef stock concentrate)
  • ¼oz steak spice blend (see below)
  • ¼tsp sugar
  • 2TBS cream cheese
  • 2oz shredded cheddar-jack blend
  • salt & pepper
  • 3TBS olive oil
  • 1TBS red wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
  • 1tsp Italian Seasoning (Update)


Cook pasta:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until al dente, 8–10 minutes. Reserve ¾ cup cooking water and drain pasta. Return pasta to pot and cover to keep warm.


Cook beef:

Heat 1 TBS oil in a medium skillet over medium-high. Add beef and season with a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook until well browned, 5–7 minutes.


Prep salad:

Meanwhile, thinly slice radishes. Cut romaine into 1-inch pieces.

In a large bowl, whisk to combine Dijon mustard, 3 TBS oil, and 1 TBS vinegar.

Update: In a large bowl whisk 3 TBS oil, 1 TBS vinegar, 1 tsp Italian Seasoning. Season to taste with salt and pepper.


Make sauce:

To skillet, add tomato sauce, BTB (or broth concentrate), steak spice, ½ cup reserved pasta water, and ¼ tsp sugar. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to medium-low. Add cream cheese and half of the shredded cheese, stir until melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in pasta and thin out sauce with reserved pasta water, 1 TBS at a time, as needed.

Finish and Serve:

Add lettuce and radishes to bowl with dressing and toss to combine. Spoon pasta into bowls and top with remaining cheese. Serve alongside salad.

Steak Spice Blend

Makes 2 1/4 tsp

1/8          tsp red chili flakes
1/8          tsp crushed coriander seed
1/4          tsp crushed dill seed
3/8          tsp crushed mustard seed
1/2          tsp dried minced garlic
1/2          tsp crushed black pepper
3/8          tsp kosher salt

Sun-Dried Tomato Meatloaves

Sun-Dried Tomato Meatloaves

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with Onion Couscous & Roasted Carrot-Zucchini Jumble

Yield: 2

Baked on a sheet pan, with craggy edges for crisping and browning. Filled with chewy bits of sun-dried tomato that burst with tangy, savory flavor. Then smothered in a creamy onion sauce. The meatloaves are accompanied by roasted carrots and zucchini, plus buttery couscous.
Prep: 10 Cook: 35

  • 6oz carrots
  • 1onion
  • 1tbs Italian seasoning
  • 2tbs cream cheese
  • 1zucchini
  • 1½oz sun-dried tomatoes
  • ¼cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 10oz ground beef
  • 2½oz Israeli couscous
  • 2oz chicken stock concentrates
  • salt & pepper
  • ¼tsp sugar
  • 2tsp olive oil
  • 2tsp cooking oil
  • 2TBS butter

Prep:

Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 425°F. Wash and dry produce.

Trim, peel, and cut carrots on a diagonal into ½-inch-thick pieces. Trim and halve zucchini lengthwise, cut crosswise into ½-inch-thick half-moons. Finely chop sun-dried tomatoes. Halve, peel, and finely dice onion.

Roast veggies:

Toss carrots and zucchini on one side of a baking sheet with a large drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast on top rack for 5 minutes (you’ll add more to the sheet then).

Season & form meatloaves:

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine panko with 1 TBS water, mix with your hands until pasty. Add beef, Italian Seasoning, half the sun-dried tomatoes, 2 TBS onion, ½ tsp salt, and pepper, mix to combine.

Form beef mixture into two 1-inch-tall loaves.

Bake meatloaves:

Once veggies have roasted 5 minutes, remove sheet from oven. Add meatloaves to empty side of sheet.

Return to top rack, roast until veggies are browned and tender and meatloaves are cooked through, 15-18 minutes.

Cook couscous:

Meanwhile, heat a drizzle of oil in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add couscous and half the remaining onion, cook, stirring, until couscous is lightly toasted, and onion is softened, 4- to 6-minutes.

Stir in ¾ cup water, bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until couscous is tender, 6- to 8-minutes.

Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.

Make sauce:

While couscous cooks, heat a drizzle of oil in a small pan over medium-high heat. Add remaining onion and remaining sun-dried tomatoes, cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3- to 5-minutes. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Add half the stock concentrates, ½ cup water, and ¼ tsp sugar, cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 2- to 4-minutes.

Turn off heat. Stir in cream cheese until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Finish & serve:

To pot with couscous, stir in 1½ TBS butter and remaining stock concentrate. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Divide meatloaves, couscous, and roasted veggies between plates. Drizzle meatloaves with as much sauce as you like. Serve with any remaining sauce on the side.

Meatballs & Creamy Onion Gravy

Meatballs & Creamy Onion Gravy

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with Charred Peas & Mashed Potatoes

Yield: 2

Warmly spiced meatballs, draped in rich and creamy onion sauce! Fluffy, sour cream mashed potatoes and buttery, skillet charred peas,
Prep: 5 Cook: 35

  • 12oz potatoes
  • 10oz ground beef
  • 1tsp nutmeg
  • 2oz beef stock concentrates
  • 1onion
  • 3TBS sour cream
  • ¼cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1tsp garlic powder
  • 4oz peas
  • 1TBS flour
  • 2TBS cream cheese
  • salt & pepper
  • 2tsp cooking oil
  • 4TBS butter
  • potato masher
  • box grater

Prep & mash potatoes:

Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 450°F. Wash and dry produce.

Dice potatoes into ½-inch pieces. Halve and peel onion, grate one half on the largest holes of a box grater. Thinly slice the remaining onion.

Place potatoes in a medium pot with enough salted water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, 15-20 minutes. Reserve ½ cup potato cooking liquid, then drain.

Return potatoes to pot and mash with half the sour cream (you’ll use the rest later) and 2 TBS butter until smooth and creamy, adding splashes of reserved potato cooking liquid as needed. Season with salt and pepper.

Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.

Form & roast meatballs:

While potatoes cook, in a large bowl, combine beef, grated onion, panko, garlic powder, ¼ tsp nutmeg, ¾ tsp salt, and pepper. (You’ll use more nutmeg later.)

Form mixture into 10-12 1½-inch meatballs and place on a lightly oiled baking sheet.

Roast on top rack until browned and cooked through, 14-16 minutes.

Char peas:

Meanwhile, melt 1 TBS butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add peas and cook, undisturbed, until lightly browned, 2- to 3-minutes.

Stir peas. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly charred, 1- to 2-minutes more.

Turn off heat, transfer to a plate. Wipe out pan.

Start gravy:

Heat a drizzle of oil in the same pan over medium heat. Add sliced onion and a pinch of salt, cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is browned and softened, 3- to 6-minutes.

Add 1 TBS butter and cook, whisking, until butter melts.

Sprinkle flour over onion, cook, whisking constantly, until lightly browned, 1- to 2-minutes.

Finish gravy:

Slowly whisk 1 cup water into pan with onion. Add stock concentrates, cream cheese, and ¼ tsp nutmeg, whisk until cream cheese melts and gravy has thickened, 3- to 5-minutes.

Remove from heat and whisk in remaining sour cream. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Tip: If gravy seems too thick, stir in a few splashes of reserved potato cooking liquid.

Finish & serve:

Add meatballs to pan with gravy, toss to coat.

Divide mashed potatoes and meatballs and gravy between bowls. Top meatballs with peas and serve.