Recipes

I love to cook. I just wish someone would go to the grocery store for me! Seriously—I share recipes on this page from my personal collection but absolutely love for others to post or share recipes with me so I can share with the Aha! Connection.

Meal Types Key Ingredients

chicken | shrimp

Tomatillo Chicken Tacos

Source:  I still have my newspaper clipping cut out from years ago.   Most likely from the AJC.   I can’t believe I’ve never shared this recipe before.  It is one of my family’s faves…particularly my husband.  Whenever I find fresh good looking tomatillos I buy them and make this!

Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces (5-6 medium) tomatillos, husked and rinsed (see note)
  • 2 fresh Serrano chiles, or to taste, stemmed
  • 1.5 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 medium white onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons roughly chopped cilantro
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt, depending on saltiness of broth
  • 2 cups firmly packed Swiss chard or spinach (all pieces should be about 1/2 inch wide and 2 inches long)
  • 1 1/3 cups coarsely shredded cooked chicken
  • 12 warm tortillas (plus a few extra, in case some break)
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup crumbled Mexican quest fresco

Preparation:

  • Roast tomatillos and chiles on baking sheet 4 inches below a very hot broiler until blackened and soft on one side, 5 to 6 minutes, then turn over and roast on other side 3 to 4 minutes.  
Read More »

Zucchini Noodle Summer Salad

Submitted by Peggy Smith for The Aha! Connection

I started “spiralizing” zucchini last summer when I was trying to eat healthier at my kids baseball and softball games (no more concessions!) …. I have this small handheld spiralizer but I have to guess there are much better options as this one is fine but fairly small. … Read More »

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Submitted by Peggy Smith for The Aha! Connection

This is a regular in my family dinner rotation.  It’s super easy, cooks all day and can be used on its own with some sides, in a taco or my personal favorite on a hamburger bun with coleslaw on top.  I’ve been making it so long that I don’t measure anything and I have no idea where I first found this recipe! … Read More »

Creamy Shrimp and Celery Salad

Ingredients
  • ▢ 16 ounces large cooked peeled and deveined shrimp
  • ▢ 2 medium cucumbers, peeled and sliced
  • ▢ 1 large celery stalk, sliced thin
  • ▢ 1/4 cup low fat sour cream, regular for Keto
  • ▢ 2 tbsp lite mayonnaise, regular for Keto
  • ▢ 2 tbsp lime juice
  • ▢ 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
  • ▢ salt to taste
  • ▢ chopped dill, optional for garnish
Instructions
  • In a medium bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, Old Bay and salt.
Read More »

Four Bean Salad

Submitted by Peggy Smith for The Aha! Connection

My grandfather used to make a variation of this recipe and I loved it so I’ve continued to make it but it’s definitely been changed over time with the addition of the edamame and dill. 

Ingredients

1 can white beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 can chickpeas, drained
1 package frozen shelled edamame, thawed
1 cup chopped scallions (green onion works great too)
1 stalk chopped celery (I often omit this but if you like celery keep it in)
2 cloves crushed garlic
1 tsp.… Read More »

The Ultimate Creamy Potato Soup

Recipe Courtesy of Sugar Spun Run

My AHA edits are below in italics ~Audra

Ingredients

▢ 6 strips (uncooked) bacon cut into small pieces

▢ 3 Tablespoons butter unsalted or salted will work

▢ 1 medium yellow onion chopped (about 1.5 cup/200g)

▢ 3 large garlic cloves minced

▢ ⅓ cup all-purpose flour (42g). (I used Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour)

▢ 2 ½ lbs gold potatoes peeled and diced into pieces no larger than 1” (I used three large russet/baking potatoes)

▢ 4 cups chicken broth (945ml)

▢ 2 cups milk (475ml)

▢ ⅔ cup heavy cream (155ml)

▢ 1 ½ teaspoon* salt

▢ 1 teaspoon ground pepper

▢ ¼ – ½ teaspoon ancho chili powder**

▢ ⅔ cup sour cream (160g) (I used a full cup in the recipe but didn’t add any for toppings.)Read More »

Cabbage Soup

Submitted by Gail Gordon for The Aha! Connection

This recipe is addicting and everyone who has made it once has made it again and again.. easy and hearty!
2T canola oil
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
2 cups chopped yellow onion
 1 1/4 cups chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
3 T brown sugar
1T paprika
1tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 -15 oz can tomato sauce
4 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup white or brown rice
6oz can of tomato paste to thicken..… Read More »

Pasta e fagioli with pancetta

Submitted by Clara Tolusso for The Aha! Connection

I love this recipe!  I puree the Canellini beans and then put them into the soup to create a thicker consistency. Also, if you can not find Ditalini pasta, you can use the small elbow macaroni pasta. Do not skip the Pancetta because that is the star of the show!   https://www.cookingwithnonna.com/italian-cuisine/pasta-e-fagioli-with-pancetta.htmlRead More »

Creamy Crockpot White Chicken Chili

Note from Audra:   I made this for dinner while college boy was home for winter break.  We stored the leftovers in three bowls with lids and each grabbed a bowl for lunch the next day and it was GONE.   It was delicious.   And…it just happened to be gluten free.

Original Recipe fromThe Chunky Chef Can be found here.… Read More »

Breakfast Casserole

Shared with Audra by Christine Taylor

Ingredients
  • 1 lb hot sausage. 
  • 3 cups Rice Crispie cereal. 
  • 1 small onion chopped. 
  • 3/4 cup cooked minute white rice. 
  • 1 10oz pkg of shredded sharp cheddar cheese. 
  • 5 eggs lightly beaten. 
  • 1 can of cream of mushroom soup. 
  • 1/4 cup skim milk. 
Directions 1) Brown & crumble sausage. Add onion & brown also.… Read More »

John Wayne Casserole

Submitted by Audra H. Anders, stolen from her BFF, Becky J. Brown

  • 1 2.25 oz can diced green chiles
  • 1 lb of grated Monterrey Jack Cheese
  • 1 lb of grated cheddar cheese
  • 4 egg whites
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 8 oz. can of evaporated milk
  • 1 Tablespoon of GF flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon of pepper
  • 2 medium tomatoes, sliced

Combine diced green chiles with cheeses. … Read More »

Aztec Salad

Submitted by Audra H. Anders stolen from her BFF Becky J. Brown!

  • 12 oz white shoepeg whole kernel corn
  • 1 cup drained and rinsed kidney beans
  • 1/2 cup chopped white or yellow onion
  • 1/3 cup chopped green pepper
  • small jar pimiento
  • 1/4-1/2 cup of GF catalina dressing

Mix together, chill, serve.… Read More »

Fajita Marinade

Submitted by Audra H. Anders stolen from her BFF Becky J. Brown!

  • 1/2 cup oil
  • 1 can GF beef bouillion soup
  • 1/4 cup GF Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup GF soy sauce

Marinade for chicken or beef… Read More »

Banana Pudding

This banana pudding recipe is party size, so cut it in half if you are feeding less than a small army of people. Plan to let the pudding sit in the refrigerator between 3 hours to overnight for optimal flavor. 

2 packages of 5 oz Jello Instant Pudding, Vanilla
2 2/3 cups of Whole Milk
2 (14oz) cans of Sweetened Condensed Milk
4 cups of Heavy Cream
2 tablespoons vanilla extract or paste
1 large box of Nilla wafers
8 bananas, sliced into coins
3 teaspoons of granulated sugar

Start by combing the milk, pudding mix, and sweetened condensed milk and stir until incorporated with no lumps.… Read More »

Cumin Lamb Skewers

I took some friends to Northern China Eatery in Doraville last week. We filled up on pork fennel dumplings, shumai, and these tender lamb skewers. Xinjiang Lamb Skewers are popular Chinese street food and are my second favorite way to eat lamb. This recipe makes super tender and flavorful meat. These skewers are cooked on small charcoal grills that cook at very high heat.… Read More »