Enchilada Orzo Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 (14.5oz) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 (10oz) can enchilada sauce
• 1 (4.5oz) can chopped green chiles, drained
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1/2 water, or more, as needed
• 1 cup corn kernels
• 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
• 16oz uncooked orzo pasta

Preparations:

1. Place diced tomatoes, enchilada sauce, green chiles, vegetable broth, water, corn and black beans into a slow cooker. Season with salt and pepper. Stir until well combined. Top with cream cheese.
2. Cover and cook on high heat for 1-2 hours.
3. Uncover and stir until cream cheese is well combined. Stir in orzo. Cover and cook on high heat for an additional 15-30 minutes. Add more water as needed until the desired consistency is reached.
4. Serve immediately.

Slow Cooker Corn on the Cob

Ingredients:

• 6 ears of corn
• Butter
• Salt
• Pepper

Preparations:

1. Lay an ear of corn on a piece of foil. Butter the corn, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and wrap the corn up in the foil.
2. Lay corn in layers in the slow cooker.
3. Cook on High for 2 hours or Low for 4 hours.

Southwestern Pasta

Ingredients:

• 13.5 oz. of rotini (or any pasta you like)
• 2 cups frozen corn kernels
• 1 medium green bell pepper cut into thin strips
• 1/2 medium red onion, sliced
• 1 15 oz. can Rotel canned tomatoes and chilies (or just diced tomatoes) 
• 1/4 cup taco seasoning (roughly one standard packet)
• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 Tbsp lime juice
• 1/4 cup shredded cheese, plus more for topping (Optional)

Preparations:

1. Add all but the last three ingredients (beans, lime, and cheese) to a large pot. Stir, cover, and bring to a rolling boil.
3. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. There should still be some liquid in the bottom of the pot when the pasta is cooked.
4. Remove from heat. Stir in the black beans, lime juice, and cheese. Let it rest for 5 minutes to warm the beans, melt the cheese, and absorb the excess liquid.

Chili Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 1/2 Tbsp ground red pepper or cayenne
• 1/2 Tbsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 15 oz can diced tomatoes
• 2 8 oz cans tomato sauce
• 15 oz can black beans
• 15 oz can pinto beans
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups uncooked macaroni noodles
• 1.5 cups shredded cheese

Preparations:

1. Saute the onion and garlic with olive oil in the bottom of a large soup pot over medium heat for 5-8 minutes, or until the onions are soft and transparent.
2. Add the flour and peppers to the onions and garlic. Continue to stir for about two minutes, or just until the flour and chili powder begin to coat the bottom of the pot.
3. Drain and rinse the beans. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, all the beans, corn, and vegetable broth to the pot. Stir to combine and to dissolve any flour and chili powder off the bottom of the pot. Turn up the heat to medium high.
4. Add the uncooked macaroni noodles and stir to combine. Place a lid on the pot and let the pot come up to a boil. Stir every other minute or so to loosen the noodles from the bottom of the pot as it heats up.
5. When the pot reaches a boil, turn the heat down so it continues to gently simmer. Let the pot gently simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and the liquid is thick and saucy.
6. Once the pasta is tender, add the shredded cheddar and stir it in until melted.

Slow Cooker Potato Corn Chowder

Ingredients:

• 24 oz red potato, diced
• 16 oz frozen corn, or 2 ears fresh
• 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 6 cups vegetable stock
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 Tbsp milk

Preparations:

1. Place potatoes and corn into a slow cooker. Stir in flour and gently toss to combine. 
2. Stir in chicken stock, thyme, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours.
4. Once fully cooked, stir in butter and heavy cream.

Creamy Corn and Tomato Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 lb shell pastas
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 cups corn (if using frozen corn, cover in boiling water and drain when thawed)
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 oz cream cheese
• salt and pepper, to taste
• cilantro, for garnish

Preparations:

1. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside. Return pan to stove.
2. Heat olive oil in the pan over medium heat.
3. Add sweet corn and cherry tomatoes to pan and sauté until corn is cooked through, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and saute for another 2 minutes.
4. Add cream cheese to pan and stir until cream cheese is melted, about 2 minutes.
5. Return pasta to pan and toss to coat with sauce.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Serve immediately and top with cilantro for garnish

Corn Jalapeno Fritters

Ingredients:

• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup Parmesan
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more
• 4 cups corn kernels
• 2 green onions, roughly chopped
• 1 large jalapeño, roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil 
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• Pepper

Preparations:

1. Pulse eggs in food processor to briefly beat them. Add flour, Parmesan, and salt in a food processor to combine. Add corn, green onions, and jalapeño; pulse until well combined but so that you can still see bits of jalapeno and green onion.
2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, cook heaping tablespoonfuls of batter until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. As batches proceed, it may take longer per side as the fritters reduce the temperature of the oil.
3. Transfer fritters to a rack or paper towels. Sprinkle with lime juice and pepper.