8 Cooking Projects to Tackle Over the Long Weekend

Hunker down at home with these cozy dishes.

Food Network Kitchen’s Enchilada Lasagna Roll-Ups, as seen on Food Network.

FNK_EnchiladaLasagnaRollUps_H

Food Network Kitchen’s Enchilada Lasagna Roll-Ups, as seen on Food Network.

Photo by: Renee Comet

Renee Comet

If you’re lucky enough to have President’s Day off this year, you’re probably already ironing out the details of your long weekend plans. We here at the Food Network suggest a staycation — with winter weather in full swing, why go outside if you don’t have to? Instead, hunker down at home and have some fun in the kitchen crafting a number of soul-warming cooking projects. From savory poke cakes to cheesy casseroles, here are the recipes we can’t wait to tackle over the long weekend.

Enchilada Lasagna Roll-Ups (pictured above)

Who said you have to choose between lasagna and enchiladas? Get the best of both comfort foods and whip up a batch of these enchilada lasagna roll-ups. Tender, easy-to-roll lasagna noodles replace the traditional flour tortillas, and we love anything smothered in enchilada sauce.

Classic 100 Chicken Soup

Classic 100 Chicken Soup

Photo by: Caitlin Ochs

Caitlin Ochs

Nothing beats the winter weather quite like a cozy bowl of chicken noodle soup. To make this five-star recipe, we recommend using chicken leg quarters rather than a whole chicken. Not only will you save time by avoiding breaking down an entire chicken, but the dark meat also adds extra flavor and depth. Pro tip: make meal prep a breeze by doubling this recipe and portioning the leftovers into containers for lunch or dinner next week.

FNK LUMBERJACK BREAKFAST CASSEROLE Food Network Kitchen Food Network Waffles, Red Potatoes, Red Bell Pepper, Scallions, Cheddar, Garlic, Whole Milk, Eggs, Sausage Links

FNK LUMBERJACK BREAKFAST CASSEROLE Food Network Kitchen Food Network Waffles, Red Potatoes, Red Bell Pepper, Scallions, Cheddar, Garlic, Whole Milk, Eggs, Sausage Links

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

The three-day weekend calls for an epic brunch, and this loaded breakfast casserole packs all your favorite breakfast foods into one glorious bite. Thinly sliced red potatoes with red peppers make up the base of the dish, with shredded cheddar cheese, breakfast sausage, cooked toaster waffles and eggs stacked on top. If you’re looking to spice things up a bit, Food Network Kitchen suggests swapping the shredded cheddar for pepper jack.

Two slices of Banana Bread, one of which contains spread butter, on a small blue plate with white edging

Two slices of Banana Bread, one of which contains spread butter, on a small blue plate with white edging

Got one or two overripe bananas on hand? Put ’em to good use and bake a drool-worthy loaf of banana bread. This easy pick is top-rated for a reason — the bread is spiced with ground cinnamon and comes out soft and moist every time.

Shrimp Scampi Spaghetti Squash Bowls

Shrimp Scampi Spaghetti Squash Bowls

Photo by: Teri Lyn Fisher

Teri Lyn Fisher

Take advantage of winter squash while you still can! You won’t believe the flavor this hybrid spaghetti squash and shrimp scampi recipe brings. After roasting the squash and scraping out the insides, add the “noodles” back into the hollowed-out boats along with buttery, lemon garlic shrimp and a heaping helping of Parmesan cheese.

Is there anything worse than spending hours making deep-dish pizza only to bite into a soggy crust? Luckily, Food Network Kitchen has a few tricks to make things a little easier. Using a cast-iron skillet can help the crust remain nice and crisp, but the real key is the order in which you layer the toppings. After spreading the dough in the skillet, add sausage, mozzarella, marinara sauce and Parmesan in that order. Crust us!

BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER MAC AND CHEESE,

BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER MAC AND CHEESE,

Photo by: Matt Armendariz

Matt Armendariz

Take a few hours this weekend to experiment with your go-to macaroni and cheese recipe. We’re particularly fond of this meatless buffalo version that swaps chicken for cauliflower. This mouth-watering dish combines elbow macaroni with hot sauce-doused cauliflower and boasts a crunchy golden topping made from panko, blue cheese and parsley.

Food Network Kitchen’s Cornbread Chile Poke Bake.

Food Network Kitchen’s Cornbread Chile Poke Bake.

Photo by: Matt Armendariz

Matt Armendariz

Warm up with this savory take on a poke cake. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes into a pan of cornbread, then spoon spicy chili on top of the cornbread, making sure to press the chili down into the holes. Top with cheese, sour cream and jalapenos for an indulgent dish sure to fill your belly (and clear out your sinuses!).

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