by Ben Graven —


Bacon-wrapped green beans


You will need:

Fresh, rinsed green beans

1 package of hickory smoked bacon

I can of water chestnuts

Brown sugar

Olive Oil

Salt/pepper

Toothpicks

Cook/prep time:

less than 30 minutes

Serves: six

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drizzle olive oil on the surface of a baking sheet. Cut bacon in half. Wrap two cut strips of bacon around six green beans and two chestnuts, so they are bundled together by the bacon. Stick a toothpick through the center to keep bundles together. Place bundles on pan. Sprinkle brown sugar, salt and pepper on top to taste. Bake the bundles for 18-20 minutes. Bacon should be browned and crispy, and beans should look soft and crinkled.


Autumn pasta salad


You will need:

A box of rotini noodles

1 red onion

2 tomatoes

1bell pepper

Salt/pepper/garlic powder

Italian dressing

Sugar

Paprika

Parmesan cheese

1/2 pound of turkey or ham diced

Cook/prep time: 25 minutes

Serves: 10+ people

Chop vegetables, meat, and cheese finely. All ingredients should be equally sized. Boil the noodles for about five to seven minutes, or until al dente. Drain noodles and place them in a mixing bowl. Add vegetables first, then meat, then cheese. Omit meat for a vegetarian option. Stir well. Then, add all spices to taste (roughly one tsp. each). Add half a bottle of Italian dressing to the mixture. Stir everything together. Cover in plastic  wrap and  chill for 15-20 minutes.

Screen Shot 2014-11-23 at 1.56.48 PM


Honey apple chicken


You will need:

1 jar of mild salsa

3 tsp. honey

1 cup wild rice

1 can black beans

1/2 onion diced

2 chicken breasts

Shredded mozzarella cheese

1 tsp garlic powder

Salt/pepper

Fresh cilantro

1 Granny Smith apple

Cook/prep time: 30 minutes

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Boil wild rice until soft. Cook black beans in a pot with the diced onions, salt, pepper and garlic. Next, grill chicken breast until dark grill marks appear on each side. Salt to taste. Place rice first on plate, then beans, then chicken. Apply a generous layer of the salsa and diced apples  atop the chicken breasts. Chop cilantro finely and sprinkle over the dish along with the mozzarella cheese. Place the plate in the oven for 5 minutes, allowing cheese to melt.

Screen Shot 2014-11-23 at 1.56.36 PM