Sometimes when I just make a meal "off the top of my head", it comes out the best. Monday was my birthday. I had taken out boneless pork ribs for dinner but my husband decided to take us out to dinner. We don't go out too much anymore, so that was a big treat. The meal was great!
I put the pork ribs in the refrigerator for last night. It was cold last night, so instead of pork ribs, I cubed them up for a stew.
Here's what I did:
Cut up about 1.5 lbs of pork into cubes and saute in a little oil
Add 1 chopped onion, 2 ribs of chopped celery, 2 chopped carrots (I did not have carrots but if I did, I would have added them) and 3 cloves of minced garlic.
Saute for a few minutes.
Add a splash of wine (1 cup), water and a few bay leaves
Cover and simmer for a few hours.
About 30 minutes before it is done, add 1 cup of cubed butternut squash (I used some frozen leftovers) and 3 medium cubed potatoes.
Simmer until the potatoes are tender.
I also served this with some dumplings that took about 20 minutes to cook in the stew. I just use the dumpling recipe from the Betty Crocker Cookbook.
This was delicious! It tastes even better for leftovers the next day for lunch. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Easy Skillet Meal
One of my favorite things for dinner is to just open up the freezer and pantry and see what happens. Last night I took out some boneless chicken thighs to defrost. I had no idea what I would make with them but I figured I could make something my family would enjoy.
At 3:45 pm, I realized that my daughter had to leave at 4:30 to work with some friends on a project. I wanted to make sure we had dinner before she headed out the door. This is a little earlier than we normally eat but it was Saturday, so we did not have to keep to any schedule.
Here's what I came up with:
1 lb boneless chicken (I used boneless chicken thighs)
1 can of diced tomatoes with juice (14.5 ounce or more)
1 onion, diced
1 cup or more green beans (I used frozen)
3 minced garlic cloves
splash of olive oil
1/2 cup wine (I used white because that's what I had)
1 packet of Goya Sazon (I use the one with Annatto)
fresh ground pepper
2 cups cooked rice (white or brown whichever you have)
Dice chicken and saute with onions and olive oil until no longer pink. Add minced garlic, Goya packet and can of tomatoes with juice. Bring to a simmer and then add wine, green beans and ground pepper to taste. Simmer and serve over rice.
My husband and I loved it! My picky eaters thought it was OK. I did not have it over rice, I ate mine like a soup. Simply delicious! It only took me about 20 minutes, start to finish. I hope you enjoy it!
At 3:45 pm, I realized that my daughter had to leave at 4:30 to work with some friends on a project. I wanted to make sure we had dinner before she headed out the door. This is a little earlier than we normally eat but it was Saturday, so we did not have to keep to any schedule.
Here's what I came up with:
1 lb boneless chicken (I used boneless chicken thighs)
1 can of diced tomatoes with juice (14.5 ounce or more)
1 onion, diced
1 cup or more green beans (I used frozen)
3 minced garlic cloves
splash of olive oil
1/2 cup wine (I used white because that's what I had)
1 packet of Goya Sazon (I use the one with Annatto)
fresh ground pepper
2 cups cooked rice (white or brown whichever you have)
Dice chicken and saute with onions and olive oil until no longer pink. Add minced garlic, Goya packet and can of tomatoes with juice. Bring to a simmer and then add wine, green beans and ground pepper to taste. Simmer and serve over rice.
My husband and I loved it! My picky eaters thought it was OK. I did not have it over rice, I ate mine like a soup. Simply delicious! It only took me about 20 minutes, start to finish. I hope you enjoy it!
Monday, November 23, 2009
After Thanksgiving Casserole
Every November, my cooking class at the Council on Aging centers around what to do with leftover turkey. Last year I made turkey paninis with cranberry mayo and caramelized onions. They loved it! This year, the group wanted a casserole made with all the makings from Thanksgiving dinner.
I decided to put a layered casserole together and it was a big hit! Here is the recipe.
After Thanksgiving Casserole
Stuffing
Green Beans (or any leftover vegetables)
Sliced turkey
Gravy
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
The size of the baking dish will depend upon how many leftovers you have. Layer stuffing on the bottom of the baker. Top with any leftover vegetables. I used green beans. Top the vegetables with sliced turkey. If you would prefer, dice the turkey for easier handling. Add the gravy. Mix some Cheddar cheese with the mashed potatoes. Spread potato/cheese mixture on top of casserole. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and bake in a 400 degree over until cheese is bubbly.
I think this could be frozen and served at a later date. The guests at the class loved this recipe. I hope you enjoy it too!
I decided to put a layered casserole together and it was a big hit! Here is the recipe.
After Thanksgiving Casserole
Stuffing
Green Beans (or any leftover vegetables)
Sliced turkey
Gravy
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
The size of the baking dish will depend upon how many leftovers you have. Layer stuffing on the bottom of the baker. Top with any leftover vegetables. I used green beans. Top the vegetables with sliced turkey. If you would prefer, dice the turkey for easier handling. Add the gravy. Mix some Cheddar cheese with the mashed potatoes. Spread potato/cheese mixture on top of casserole. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and bake in a 400 degree over until cheese is bubbly.
I think this could be frozen and served at a later date. The guests at the class loved this recipe. I hope you enjoy it too!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Pasta with Little Necks
Each year we purchase a shellfish license from our town hall. It costs us $25 each year and pays for itself over and over again. Just going out once for a basket of clams or little necks (quahogs) will more than pay for the license.
We had a small basket of little necks last week. When I am fortunate enough to have the clams, I usually do one of three things with them: clam boil, chowder or pasta.
With this batch, I made chowder and a pasta dish.
The pasta is a quick, simple dish with really no recipe. This is how I made it:
Boil spaghetti to al dente and drain.
Meanwhile, saute one onion in olive oil. Once soft, add one can of dice tomatoes and about 4 cloves of garlic, crushed or minced; pepper and salt. Add a splash (or more) of wine. Simmer and add the little neck clams. Cover and cook until the clams open. Serve over the pasta for a fabulous meal.
I put about 18 little necks in the sauce. You can adjust this for your tastes or the amount you have.
I love this meal because it is quick and delicious. Enjoy!
We had a small basket of little necks last week. When I am fortunate enough to have the clams, I usually do one of three things with them: clam boil, chowder or pasta.
With this batch, I made chowder and a pasta dish.
The pasta is a quick, simple dish with really no recipe. This is how I made it:
Boil spaghetti to al dente and drain.
Meanwhile, saute one onion in olive oil. Once soft, add one can of dice tomatoes and about 4 cloves of garlic, crushed or minced; pepper and salt. Add a splash (or more) of wine. Simmer and add the little neck clams. Cover and cook until the clams open. Serve over the pasta for a fabulous meal.
I put about 18 little necks in the sauce. You can adjust this for your tastes or the amount you have.
I love this meal because it is quick and delicious. Enjoy!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Baking Snacks for Your Family
My food bill is about $60-$70 per week for my family of 4. One of the reasons is, I bake all our snacks. I don't like the preservatives and additives manufacturers put in our food. By baking our own snacks, I can customize them with no additives and I can add whole wheat flour, flax seed, oat flour and other items which would cost a lot in the "healthy" section of the supermarket. Unhealthy snack foods are really cheap. You can get a bag of bargain cookies for about $1.00 at the Dollar Tree. But if you want whole wheat anything, you may be paying a lot more.
Last night, my daughter and I decided to make oatmeal cookie squares. I like to make the squares, because they do not take as much labor as cookies. It took us a total of 5 minutes of hands-on time...the time in which a commercial was on during our favorite Sunday night show. Here is the recipe:
Oatmeal Cookie Squares
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 1/2 cups oatmeal (I have used quick or old fashion with great results)
1 cup whole wheat flour (if you want some flax meal, I have substituted about 1/4 cup of flax meal for the same amount of whole wheat flour)
Mix the all ingredients except oatmeal and flour. Add flour and oatmeal. Put into an 8 x 8 inch pan and bake at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.
I hope you enjoy this!
Last night, my daughter and I decided to make oatmeal cookie squares. I like to make the squares, because they do not take as much labor as cookies. It took us a total of 5 minutes of hands-on time...the time in which a commercial was on during our favorite Sunday night show. Here is the recipe:
Oatmeal Cookie Squares
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 1/2 cups oatmeal (I have used quick or old fashion with great results)
1 cup whole wheat flour (if you want some flax meal, I have substituted about 1/4 cup of flax meal for the same amount of whole wheat flour)
Mix the all ingredients except oatmeal and flour. Add flour and oatmeal. Put into an 8 x 8 inch pan and bake at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.
I hope you enjoy this!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Linguica Sauce
My family and I love pasta! I make pasta at least once each week. It's fairly fast and economical. My husband and daughter like meat sauce but I don't cook or eat beef..maybe I will write about that sometime. I usually make my sauce with either turkey meatballs or linguica sauce. My husband says my turkey meatballs are not meatballs, even though he loves them. Sometime I will post my recipe for the turkey meatballs. But today I am posting my recipe for linguica sauce. I love linguica in tomato sauce. The flavor and spices really infuse the sauce and make it taste so great. So here it is:
1 can tomato puree (if you like diced tomatoes or whole tomatoes you can use them)
1 small chopped onion
1/2 lb ground linguica (if you buy bulk linguica just grind in food processor or food chopper)
1/4 cup - 1/2 cup wine
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced or pressed with garlic press
1-2 tbs Italian seasoning (or just sweet basil)
salt and pepper to taste
Saute the onion in a little olive oil until soft. Add the garlic and linguica and cook for about 1 minute. Add the tomato puree, wine, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Stir and simmer. The longer this cooks, the better but you can just cook this quick while the water for the pasta boils.
This is also a great sauce for your lasagna. Instead of putting beef or Italian sausage in the lasagna, you can put linguica for a great flavor. Enjoy!
1 can tomato puree (if you like diced tomatoes or whole tomatoes you can use them)
1 small chopped onion
1/2 lb ground linguica (if you buy bulk linguica just grind in food processor or food chopper)
1/4 cup - 1/2 cup wine
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced or pressed with garlic press
1-2 tbs Italian seasoning (or just sweet basil)
salt and pepper to taste
Saute the onion in a little olive oil until soft. Add the garlic and linguica and cook for about 1 minute. Add the tomato puree, wine, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Stir and simmer. The longer this cooks, the better but you can just cook this quick while the water for the pasta boils.
This is also a great sauce for your lasagna. Instead of putting beef or Italian sausage in the lasagna, you can put linguica for a great flavor. Enjoy!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Sometimes You Lose!
I decided to stretch some meat last night and make a stir fry. I had four, thin pork cutlets. I sliced them into thin strips and stir fried them in a little oil. I added onions, garlic, and broccoli to the mix. I had a bottle of Thai Peanut Sauce which I added to the pan. The last addition was some cooked spaghetti. I figured this would be a Chinese type noodle dish. The Thai sauce added a nice kick to the dish. I liked the meal a lot...my family did not. My daughter said it was OK. My other daughter did not even try it and my husband opted for no Thai sauce in his. He is not a peanut butter lover and thought it may contain too much peanut butter flavor.
Not a big hit in my house...even though I liked it! I even had it for leftovers. My lesson here is to try new meals. Just take some ingredients and throw them together to make dinner. Or try a new recipe. Sometimes you have a winner...sometimes you have a loser. You will never know unless you try! The worse that will happen is you all eat cereal for supper.
Not a big hit in my house...even though I liked it! I even had it for leftovers. My lesson here is to try new meals. Just take some ingredients and throw them together to make dinner. Or try a new recipe. Sometimes you have a winner...sometimes you have a loser. You will never know unless you try! The worse that will happen is you all eat cereal for supper.
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