Dinner

Rachael says, “I love mashed potatoes because they taste great and because they are so much fun to smash up! In this recipe, you can smash away because we’re making Shepherd’s Pie, which is ground meat mixed up with veggies and topped with smashed potatoes. The potatoes are like a crust, so they call it a pie even though it’s not. If you’re not taller than the stove, itself, let a Grown-up Helper (GH) handle the stovetop work – make sure you’re in there for the smashing though; that’s the key to the whole thing! Yum-o!”

This recipe is “wise” because it uses whole wheat pasta – which is high in protein and fiber compared to semolina pasta and has a tasty, nutty flavor – plus it’s "penny-wise" (Get it? “Penne” sounds like penny!), as it is both inexpensive to make and absolutely delicious!

This menu is based on the back-in-the-day idea of a good, square meal: meat, vegetable and starch. The flavors have all gotten an update, though!

Thanksgiving for four, for any day of the year! At Yum-o!, we believe in all things in moderation. Special treats like the Cran-applesauce Sundaes included in this recipe are to be eaten once in a while and only after you’ve been a good eater the rest of the time. That’s why it’s called a treat!

Thinner than a stew, but thicker than a soup…it’s a stoup! Braised sausages in a thick pepper and onion soup with cubed sundried tomato and basil garlic bread on top make for a delish dish! Serve with a tossed green salad dressed with oil and vinegar.

Penne is called “penne” because it looks like a pen point for fancy fountain pens. Penne is an Italian word that sounds the same as the English word for the same thing – cool! Did you know you knew Italian? You do now! Enjoy these “pens” with peas and cheese!

Rachael says, "Shrimp and pasta seashells? This one is as cute as it is tasty and simple. Peas and bacon or pancetta have been a favorite of mine since I was little. Adding protein and pasta turns an old, favorite side dish into a main course."

Rachael says, "Stoup is a made-up term that I use for a recipe that is thicker than soup and thinner than stew in its consistency. Slow-cooked Cacciatore Stoup, originally a hunter’s stew of rabbit and wild mushrooms, then a spicy on-the-bone chicken dish with vegetable and tomato sauce in mainstream restaurants, today gets a fast, fun update with this winning recipe that the whole family will love! Plus, it’s easy cleanup for whomever gets stuck with the dishes!"

Rachael says, "One sunny afternoon at the Central Park Zoo, I went head-to-head with a zoologist in a polar bear cook off. The bears loved my meal and I won the throw down! If the polar bears like it, I bet the kids will, too! I did modify it a bit. Their fish was whole – head and all. Otherwise, the ingredients are pretty much the same: watermelon, peppers, cereal and fish. Sounds weird, but it’s YUM-O!" This recipe is featured in the 40th Anniversary edition of Sesame Street’s C is for Cooking cookbook!

This pork stew comes out equally tasty made with boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Its savory-sweetness will appeal to everyone at the table.

Rachael says, "In this recipe, all the flavors of sweet Italian sausage – fennel, garlic and cheese – get combined with sweet smothered onions and are piled on top of lean pork loin chops. My mom’s simple roasted peppers seemed the right side for this meal. If you like sausage, pepper and onion subs at the ballpark or at street fairs, this meal is for you!"

Rachael says, “I made this when Wayne Brady came by the show. He was so funny I could not speak! I do not think one person heard the recipe, so here it is, written down. He loved the Joes. Maybe we should call ‘em Sloppy Waynes. Nah. He dresses too spiffy for that name to stick!”

Rachael says, "Soba are buckwheat noodles used in Japanese cooking. Not every grocery store has them on the shelves, so I use whole wheat spaghetti for this easy Japanese inspired noodle-veggie-shrimp stir fry."

This menu is based on the back-in-the-day idea of a good, square meal: meat, vegetable and starch. The flavors have all gotten an update, though!

This is a topper for chicken that you can make with ingredients you have on hand in less than five minutes. Serve up your veggies of choice and some couscous (a five minute super-side dish!) and you have a jazzy new twist on the same ol’ supper! This recipe will top four chicken breasts. Slice breasts on an angle and fan out on plates before topping. Be sure to try out Rachael’s other two skillet sauces, Apple Cider Gravy and Orange-Maple Reduction.