Entrees

This is a famous chili that probably should not even be called a chili. It was invented by two brothers who emigrated from Europe in the 1920’s. Of course, they lived in Cincinnati. When finished this will look sort of like chili but it’s served on spaghetti. There are no beans and it’s not spicy. It’s flavorful for sure, but not “hot.” Don’t let the list of ingredients throw you off.

This dish comes together in a flash. If you are doing beef enchiladas, I recommend red sauce. If you are doing chicken, I recommend you go wild and use a green sauce.

This version of our enchilada offerings does include a tortilla. It’s not a large one and we over-stuff it so we keep the carbs down. It should fill you up. If you do a few taco chips and salsa and guacamole, one enchilada should be enough for your meal.

Flank steak needs to marinate to give it full flavor and to make it tender. It just needs a little attention to make it shine. I cooked this in my air fryer but if you don’t have one you can just toss it on the grill and follow the same basic instructions.

This beef stroganoff can be eaten out of a bowl like a thick soup or stew. Or you can serve it with a side of veggies. Or if you're feeling really indulgent, add some egg noodles!

I thought – what better time to have a spicy chili than when I am in lockdown, practicing social distancing.

I’m Irish, so beef stew was a staple in our family. Trouble is there are so many carbs in most beef stew recipes. So with this recipe I have adjusted it to keep the carbs lower and introduce some other veggies that are lower carb to the mix.

There's no need to order out! This tastes better than any take out I’ve had!

This can really be made with just about any veggies you have in the fridge. Other ideas include bell peppers, onions, broccoli and more.

This is a simple chili. It’s a takeoff from an old Betty Crocker recipe. Can’t get much simpler than that!

This is semi-spicy. If you want less heat, just back off on the pepper flakes.

The dish is QUICK. EASY. Brunch for dinner maybe? Or this can be a fun breakfast or lunch, too.

When I was a kid my father traveled a lot. When he was gone, sometimes my mom would let us just fry up some hamburger meat and add a can of Campbell’s baked beans. We called it bean hash. I loved it.

You can have your stroganoff and eat it too! Most stroganoff recipes are served over rice or a big pile of noodles. You don’t have to do that. You have other choices.

I was shocked. I have made this casserole so many times in so many variations -- I had no idea I had never typed it up to share with all of you! I am going to give you one version here but I’ll also editorialize a bit and give you other options to experiment. This recipe is so easy it comes together in under 15 minutes and then you just bake to heat it. A novice can handle this one for sure…and a busy parent can get a kid-friendly recipe on the table fast.

A burger with a little zip to it.

What a great alternative to a hamburger! Big Yum!

This is one of the simplest recipes you can make. I almost hesitate to offer it because it is so simple.

Pasta doesn’t have to be banned from ZLife. You just need to limit it and monitor how you use it. If you keep in mind that a FULL portion is a half cup cooked you’re on the right track. And just eat it on a special occasion.

Our Plan Z “cafeteria” smelled just like Grandma’s house today. This beef over noodles recipe is a hit. Serve this when you have family around at holidays or other times when there’s a crowd.