Almond Biscotti

Almond Biscotti

3-3/4 cups unsifted flour
2-1/2 cups almonds
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2-1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs, plus 2 egg yolks - reserve whites for glaze
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. almond extract
1/4 cup butter

Mix dry ingredients, set aside.

Blend sugar, eggs, egg yolks, butter, vanilla and almond extracts until smooth. Add dry ingredients and mix until a sticky dough forms (one that sticks to itself) .

Shape into flattened loaves on a lightly oiled or parchment-covered baking sheet. Mix a few drops of cold water with egg whites for a glaze.

Bake 25-40 minutes (until light golden brown and firm, but still tender; center should spring back when touched) Cool loaves completely (2-4 hours). Slice loaves into 3/4" slices and lay on baking sheets. Bake at 350°F for 1-15 minutes, or until lightly golden and quite dry, but not brown. Cool on a rack.

Joy didn't say, but we're tempted to dip the ends in melted chocolate (I have some really good stuff in the stash, you see....)
(11/29/01)

Denise L's Spicy Herb Roasted Nuts

Denise's Spicy Herb Roasted Nuts
Makes: 5 cups
Prep and cook time: About 50 minutes

For Holiday gifts, I usually make a triple or quadruple batch of savory spiced nuts. I got the inspiration for my recipe from Sunset Magazine. They had a recipe in their 1997 issue for a thanksgiving feast.

Notes: In lieu of fresh herbs, use dried ones (1/2 tsp of each). Or use 3 tbsp Herbs de Provence. (I like this a lot.)

1-1/2 cups almonds
1-1/2 cups walnut halves
1 cup hazelnuts
1 cup pecan halves
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 tbsp Tamari
1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne
1/4 tsp black pepper
1-1/2 tsp chopped fresh oregano leaves
1-1/2 tsp chopped fresh sage leaves
1-1/2 tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
1-1/2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1-1/2 tsp chopped fresh savory leaves
1-1/2 tsp chopped fresh marjoram leaves
3 tbsp olive oil
About 1 tsp sea salt

  1. Mix almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, maple syrup, tamari, cayenne, black pepper,oregano, sage, thyme, rosemary, savory, marjoram, and oil in a 10- by 15-inch rimmed pan. Sprinkle nuts with 1 teaspoon salt.
  2. Bake in a 300°F oven, stirring occasionally, until all liquid evaporates and nuts are golden under the skin (break open to test), about 45 minutes.
  3. Let cool. Taste and add more salt if desired.

I modified the recipe using a slightly different herb combination, upped the cayenne, and added a few other ingredients. I sell this stuff to a few catering friends for heir events. You can use whatever nuts that you like and are affordable. The only thing I do not like in this mix are peanuts. They do not go well with the glaze. This stuff freezes well, and ships well too. It is best eaten within a month of making them. Lovely as an appetizer with champagne, or chopped and added to a salad.

Denise L.
(11/29/01)

Michelle's Almond Roca Candy

Michelle's Almond Roca Candy

2 cups sugar
1 pound butter (don't use cheap butter)
1 large Hershey bar (Hershey's is BEST)
8 oz. unsalted whole almonds *
8 oz. unsalted sliced almonds *

3-4 lecithin capsules (vitamin section of store)
butter-flavored Pam cooking spray

9" x 13" glass pan OR disposable foil pan
candy thermometer

* You can use a disposable foil pan, but you will need to increase your chocolate and nut amounts to about double. I use the cookie sheet size and make the candy thinner so it is easier to break apart.

Grate candy bar and chop almonds powder fine. Use a food processor if you have one. Mix together.

Spray 9" x 13" pan with Pam and spread 1/2 of the chocolate and nuts evenly in pan.

In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar and butter over medium heat. A candy thermometer is a must! Constantly stir in the middle of the mixture not touching the bottom or sides of the pan. When the temperature reaches EXACTLY 280°, add the liquid from the lecithin capsules. Have the capsules pre-squeezed and ready in a spoon. (I use a garlic press with 4 capsules and just squirt it into the pan).

Cook until the temperature reaches EXACTLY 300°. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of sliced almonds.

Immediately pour mixture over the chocolate and nuts. Spread evenly. Top with another layer of chocolate and nuts.

Let sit overnight. Then turn out and break into candy sized pieces. (You can also powder up some more almonds and dust the candy again for a thicker coat of nuts).

The leftover pan scrapings can be reused in the next batch, (you may need to add more powdered almonds depending on how wet it is), or save it for ice cream toppings!

Store in a Tupperware bowl or zip bags.

My Personal Helpful Tips:
NEVER try to double up the recipe. I have made this recipe for over 10 years now for my friends and family. My list has grown to over 60 people and I have tried doubling the recipe twice and each time it flopped! I even thought I could get away with not using the thermometer by eyeballing.... and well... it flopped again. So just use the darn thermometer! LOL! Every once in a while, a batch will flop for some unknown reason. Hubbies LOVE when that happens! LOL! Because I make SO much of this, I usually grate up all my chocolate and nuts together in a big bowl and scoop out enough to cover the bottom of the pan and top layer etc., but you can't double the batch.... er... well.... I CAN'T!

My LAST hint... try it with WHITE chocolate. WOW! Hubby was begging me for years to try it and last year I finally did. It was TERRIFIC! But you have to add more grated nuts because white chocolate is wetter.

This recipe is NOT hard. I am NOT a chef... just ask my sister about my baseball cookies! LOL!

(Debbi says: Yep. She can't bake cakes either.)

Good luck and ENJOY!
Michelle 
(Debbi's sister)
(11/29/01)

Joan's Leftover Mashed Potato Soup

Joan's Leftover Mashed Potato Soup

Couple of weeks ago I way overestimated the mashed potatoes - so I made the most delicious soup out of them.

Sauteed a bunch of leeks, shallots and garlic (onions and garlic would work fine, or just onions) in butter, sprinkled them with a little flour, added plenty of pepper, stirred in the mashed potatoes and enough milk to the right consistency, then added some grated cheese at the end.

Very satisfying, and the best potato soup I ever had.

Joan
(11/25/01)

Carolyn's Latkes

Carolyn's Latkes

Here is my recipe. I am only Jewish by osmosis, but I make great latkes.

3 lbs potatoes --russets, peeled
1 large onion, peeled and grated
2 eggs beaten
1/4 cup matzoh meal
salt and pepper to taste
oil for frying (I like a mixture of olive and canola)

Scrub potatoes, then grate using a metal grater. Put grated potatoes and onion into colander, over a large bowl. Let sit a few minutes then squeeze, squeeze, squeeze all of the moisture out of them. Wait a few minutes more, then repeat the squeezing process. Add eggs, matzoh meal, and salt and pepper. Let sit for a few more minutes.

In a large heavy skillet, pour in 1/4 inch oil. Get oil very hot (about 350°), and using a long serving spoon, drop latkes batter into the skillet. Flatten each with a spatula. Don't worry if latkes are not perfect. Reduce heat to medium, cook until golden brown on one side. Do not mess with them too much when they are frying or they will fall apart. Flip, and then cook for a few more minutes until golden. Serve with applesauce.

Carolyn
(11/25/01)

Potato Cheese Soup (a turkey leftovers idea)

Potato Cheese Soup (a turkey leftovers idea)

Make potato cheese soup. The mashed potatoes are made... let's pretend there's 3 pounds of 'em. Make up a qt of chicken broth and add to the potatoes.

Sinces we're wingin' it here, saute one onion and 1 garlic clove and toss into the potato pot.. heat it all up slowly. Meanwhile, while this is heating up, grate up 1-2 pounds of cheddar cheese, or some cheese you may have hiding in the refrigerator. Add this, let it melt and there is your soup. If you don't have cheese you have simply potato soup.

This is vunnnnnnnnnnnnnnderfulllllllllllllllllllllllll.....

The Princess
(11/25/01)

George Lang's Potato Bread with Caraway Seeds

George Lang's Potato Bread with Caraway Seeds
from Beard on Bread as modified by me.

1 cup mashed potatoes (I love Yukon Gold's in this bread, but any kind will do)
1 tbsp instant yeast (bread machine yeast)
2-1/2 cups warm water (preferably the water you cooked the potatoes in and/or whey works nicely)
8 cups flour (I use 1 cup whole wheat, 3 cup all purpose and 4 cup bread flour)
2 tbsp salt
1/2 to 1 tbsp caraway seeds (the more the better, I think)
cornmeal
butter

Stir together the water, 1 cup flour, potatoes and yeast in a big bowl. Add the salt and caraway seeds and 2 more cups flour, stir well. Add remainder of flour. Turn out onto floured board and knead well, till firm and elastic (about 12-15 minutes). Shape into a ball, put in oiled bowl, cover and let sit to rise until doubled (1-2 hours).

Punch down and knead again. Shape into large round loaf. Butter a 12" cast iron skillet and sprinkle with cornmeal. Allow to rise again for 30 minutes. Cut a large X in the top and bake in a 400° F oven for 60 minutes.

This recipe can be cut in half well (which makes it fit into a bread machine) but use a 7" skillet instead. I still like the full recipe better.

Elizabeth/zinlizzie
(11/25/01)

Baked Red Pepper and Sweet Potato Soup

Baked Red Pepper and Sweet Potato Soup

1lb sweet potatoes
2 large red bell peppers
2 red onions

Peel sweet potatoes, (and onions!) and chop all three veggies into medium-ish chunks. Put on a baking sheet. Drizzle a little olive oil over them and stir around until coated. Salt and pepper. Bake in a moderate oven until very tender. Whiz very thoroughly in blender with some veg. stock. Add more stock until you get the consistency you want. Season with paprika to taste. To finish, you can add some creamed coconut, which you stir in well, or a swirl of cream.

Carol
(11/25/01)

Viki's Rapid Brownies

Viki's Rapid Brownies

3/4 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Blend (these brownies come together quickly by hand).

1/2 cup boiling water
Add, stir until it thickens.

1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups sugar
Add, stir until smooth.

2 eggs
Add, stir until smooth.

1-1/3 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt (I like a bit more)
Add, stir together quickly.

One 9" x 13" or two - 8" square pans, greased (Pam).
Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or 30 minutes.

A soft, tender brownie that keeps well.  It looks like a lot of work, but each step is very quick.  My daughter loves watching the phase changes that occur through this recipe.  It's fun to add dry sugar and have the brownies suddenly become wet.

posted by Sylvia, who can eat a half recipe a day...
(11/25/01)

Potato Pancakes

Potato Pancakes

1 cup mashed potatoes
1/2 cup flour
1 tbsp baking soda
1 egg
milk
pinch of salt unless the potatoes were already salted

Stir the potatoes, flour and baking soda together. Add the egg, slightly beaten.

Add milk until it's pancake batter consistency (dunno how much, I just go by eye).

Cook your pancakes, dab with butter or sour cream. Eat.

When I use purple potatoes (which I will have this year) the egg turns the batter green. Still tastes good ;-)

Elizabeth/zinlizzie
(11/25/01)

Three-ingredient Chocolate Torte

Three-ingredient Chocolate Torte

Since I don't do dishes, I guess I'd better offer up something else before I get kicked out. How about my handy-dandy three-ingredient recipe for chocolate torte (a weight watcher's nightmare, too!):

7 eggs
9 oz butter
1 (18 oz) package semi-sweet chocolate chips

Melt the chocolate and butter together in a double boiler.

Meanwhile, beat those eggs to about three times their volume. Fold the fluffy eggs into the chocolate mixture and pour the batter into a greased and floured springform pan.

Place the pan in a water-bath in the oven and bake at 425°F for 5 minutes, then put a piece of foil over the top of the pan and bake another 10 minutes. Voila.

*Especially* voila with whipped cream and fresh fruit.
Even more voila if you soak the fruit in brandy or something equally nice first.

Nicole
(11/24/01)

Cherry Dump Cake

 Cherry Dump Cake

This is a really easy recipe that has come back to me in a round-about way. I haven't thought of it for years. It's so easy and only 4 items.

  1. Dump 2 cans cherry pie filling into a 9" x 13" greased pan.
  2. On top of that, sprinkle a white cake mix - straight from the box.
  3. Melt 1 cube of margarine and drizzle over that.
  4. Sprinkle top with oatmeal.
  5. Bake at 350° F for about 30 minutes.

It's like a cherry crisp! You can also use apple with a spice cake mix. That is really delicious!

LaVonne
(11/22/01)

Carolyn's Bread (Bread Machine) Recipe

Carolyn's Bread (Bread Machine) Recipe 
with Joan's Variation

I made a really nice bread yesterday. I used the French bread setting.

1-1/2 tsp yeast
1-1/4 cups water
3 cups bread flour
3/4 cups rye flour
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp salt

Very crusty and made great toast the next day.

You might need more yeast, for higher altitude. I usually don't need more than 1-1/2 tsp. It is just under a 2 lb loaf. I find the 2 lb loaves rise a wee bit too high in the machine.

Rye flour added to a bread inhibits staleness (just read this).

Carolyn
(11/22/01)


I popped Carolyn's bread into bread machine this morning, and added:

2-1/2 tsp yeast*
2 tbsp gluten flour
1 more tbsp water

*This amount is changed to reflect the very low altitude from Carolyn's recipe. Joan is at the altitude of 2600 feet. 1000' and above should use the higher amount, or experiment.

Joan in WA State
(11/22/01)

Killer Thriller Cranberry Relish

Killer Thriller Cranberry Relish

I've combined the best of all recipes and here's what I came up with: (BTW I got the pear chutney recipe too late to add pears. This could easily be done. I also used what I love, so you could adjust as you wish. That's why there are NO RAISINS in this recipe! )

2 small bags cranberries, cleaned and sorted.

Put in a large kettle with water to cover the berries.

To this add:
3 heaping tbsp orange juice concentrate
2 cups brown sugar
1 orange, sliced and diced. Peel and all.
1 grapefruit, just the flesh
3 med cinnamon stix
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
pinch of cloves

Cook on low until berries pop and sauce begins to thicken. Remove from heat and add 1 green apple ( with skin ). Stir and put the lid back on to cool. ( I didn't want mushy apples ).

Refrigerate after cooled.

Now Here's the Best Part
While it's cooling, put 3 tbsp butter in a cast iron skillet. Add 1-1/2 cups chopped pecans. Then add 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tsp grated fresh ginger. Keep stirring until mixture browns nicely and roasts the pecans. Put on foil to cool.

Break into pieces if needed. Put in a ziplock and HIDE until just before serving the relish. Mix in just prior to serving.

This makes quite a bit, so I've placed some in jars for friends!

LaVonne
(11/20/01)

Beans

Beans

Not an English Bean recipe but here's a good one

  • 1 nice pottery bean pot
  • enough small white beans (we usually use a pound or more)
  • light or medium ale to cover plus more for cooking perhaps one bottle of stout
  • 1-2 chopped onions
  • some ketchup
  • some worchestershire sauce
  • some brown sugar
  • some garlic

(adjust amounts to your tastes, when in doubt err on the side of less).

Sort beans removing any stones or bad ones.

Put all ingredients in pot.

Cook until done adding more beer as needed during cooking in oven at about 250°F-300°F or so.

Key point: Never use water only beer. If you like ham add it towards the end or it become hard and inedible

Makes a very dark almost black strong flavored baked bean that is wonderful. If you use stout for the entire cooking time they are almost too strong to eat. Lighter beers work for the early parts of the cooking with a small amount of stronger beer near the end.

Oogie McGuire
(11/20/01)

Cranberry Sauce by Oogie

Mine is simple:

1 large bag cranberries
about a cup of sugar or so, very variable, we often don't use any if you like a tart sauce
1 small box orange jello
1 small can mandarin orange segments.

Rinse cranberries and put in sauce pot with enough water to cover. Add the sugar and bring to a slow boil. When nearly all the berries pop, stir in the jello until the gelatin dissolves.

Remove from heat, stir in mandarin orange segments and put in a nice mold. Chill until done (I like to do it overnight of I can) and carefully unmold just before serving.

My cranberry mold is a copper and tin with lots of patterns in it. I dip the mold in hot water just before unmolding it.

Oogie
(11/19/01)

Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish Recipe

Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish Recipe
from the NPR page.

2 cups raw cranberries
1 small onion
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 tbsp horseradish

Grind together the cranberries and onion, add the remaining ingredients and mix. Put in a plastic container and freeze.

On Thanksgiving morning, move the mixture to the refrigerator to thaw.
Makes 1-1/2 pints.

You can also hear it or read more about it at this link:
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2001/nov/cranberry/011116.stamberg.relish.html

Bev
(11/19/01)

Cranberries, Ginger and Pear Chutney

Cranberries, Ginger and Pear Chutney

This recipe appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal yesterday. It's from Sanford D'Amato, who owns a couple of restaurants there and is a James Beard Award winner. It sounds great.


8 oz. brown sugar (about 1-1/2 cups firmly packed)
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 oz. fresh ginger, peeled and julienned
pinch of salt
1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste
4 pears, peeled, cored and diced small
12 oz. cranberries

Bring sugar, vinegar, ginger, salt and cayenne to a boil in a saute pan. Don't use uncoated aluminum, copper or cast iron. Add pears and cover. Cook until crisp tender, about 9 minutes. Strain, reserving liquid.

Place liquid back in pan and add cranberries. Cook until they begin to pop, about 2 minutes. Strain cranberries, reserving liquid.

Return liquid to the pan and reduce to a glaze. Add cranberries and pears and stir to coat. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate. May be made up to 3 days in advance.

Re: ginger. Does anybody know how to make pickled ginger? So far, it's the best thing about sushi I've had. I love it.

Maryanne in SE WI
(11/19/01)

Cranberry Marmalade

Cranberry Marmalade

1 grapefruit
1 orange
2-1/2 cups water
3 cups cranberries
5 cups sugar

Cut up and thinly slice grapefruit and orange. Place in pan with water and simmer 20 minutes.

Increase heat to medium and add cranberries and sugar; cook until thick (about 30 minutes).

I think I used to do the jelly test (drop solidifying off the end of the spoon or something?) but I don't remember. This stuff is really good - tastes kind of like English Seville orange marmalade.

Joan
(11/19/01)

(Editor's note: Though it does not state this is a canning recipe, it is listed here because one can if they wish. It is also listed in "Sauces".)

Gail's NY-Style Cheesecake

Gail's NY-Style Cheesecake

Crust:
1-3/4 cups mashed graham crackers
1/4 cup chopped nuts (I like hazelnuts)
1/2 cup melted butter

Mix and press into pan.

The Cheesecake is like this:
3 eggs well beaten
2 (8 oz.) cream cheeses
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups sour cream

Mix everything but the sour cream together beat well, slowly fold in the sour cream (alright beat it in like hell), pour into crust and bake at 375°F for 35 minutes. It might feel loose when you take it out of the oven, but it will firm up when you chill it.

gail who is making fudge, Swedish torte, pumpkin pie, and German apple cake who need turkey
(11/19/01)

Pomegranate Sorbet

Pomegranate Sorbet

8 pomegranates
2/3 cup sugar

Place pomegranate kernels in a saucepan and add water to barely cover. Simmer covered about 30 minutes. Sieve, pressing on kernels with the back of a wooden spoon to extract as much pulp as possible while leaving the seed behind. Add sugar and simmer uncovered until sugar is dissolved.

Pour into a plastic freezer container with a tightly-fitting lid and freeze til firm. Let soften slightly until sorbet may be broken apart. Pulse in food processor to break up chunks and improve texture. The mixture should still be frozen to a slush consistency.

Re-pack into container, return to freezer, and rest at least 8 hours.

You may have to process this in batches. You could also use an ice cream freezer, but I've never tried that since I don't have one.

Note: I think this would make a wonderful palate cleanser course if the amount of sugar were decreased by maybe half.

Ann
(11/19/01)

Turkey - Southwest Style

Turkey - Southwest Style

If I could 'weigh in' on Turkeys (pun intended), we've got a terrific recipe that we've been using for a bunch of years that spins that bird in a whole new direction - if you like southwestern flavors.

Take 1 or 2 fresh jalapeno peppers, slice longways into slivers.

Grab a vegetable peeler (the long thin kind), and use it to poke deep holes in the meat of the bird - all over (a big knitting needle would substitute). Poke a jalapeno sliver into each hole. The fresh pepper is rigid enough even as slivers to (usually) not break as you stick it in the hole. I usually put nearly a dozen slivers in each side of the breast, another half dozen on each side across the thighs and legs, and don't bother with the wings since they usually get pretty crispy as we cook the bird on the grill.

Stuff the bird with fresh tamales (unwrapped from the husks, and sliced into pieces). A dozen tamales will probably be more than plenty. Secure all of the cavities.

Before it goes on the grill/in oven, mix about a tablespoon or so of some mild chili powder with about 1/3 cup olive oil and rub it all over the bird. Be careful with this, it gets as slippery as a wet baby!

Cook until done. The bird has a lovely red-brown color because of the chili. Make gravy from the drippings (the chili flavor usually comes through nicely if the drippings aren't too burnt. The fresh jalapenos tend to lose their heat during cooking, but the pepper flavors sink into the meat.

This has been our bird preparation of choice for a bunch of years. And tamale stuffing with chili gravy is almost the best part of all!

The original recipe came out of a Chicago newspaper.
Enjoy!

Deb
paca_mama
(11/18/01)

Cranberry Chutney (from Shoshana)

Cranberry Chutney (from Shoshana)

Similar recipe to Katie's. This one is from a cousin. She didn't give an attribution, so no idea where she got it.

1 (12 oz.) bag cranberries, picked over
2 tsp ground cloves
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 cup vinegar (apple cider if you have it)
2 tsp cinnamon
1 chopped onion
2 tsp ground ginger or 1 tbsp fresh or crystallized ginger
1 cup chopped dates or raisins

optional:
1 can whole cranberry sauce
red pepper flakes, chopped nuts, chopped garlic
1/2 tsp salt

Put all ingredients in large pot, bring to boil, cover and reduce to simmer. Cook slowly for about 2 hours, stirring often. Store in refrigerator.

Note: This is one of those casual recipes you can change to suit your taste and ingredients. I've seen variations which call for canned fruit cocktail, peaches or mangoes.

This is what I'll be making this week. We tasted it at her house last year and it was wonderful!

Shoshana
(11/18/01)

Apple-Cranberry Chutney

Apple-Cranberry Chutney
Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Episode #: CL9762

I made a really yummy cranberry/apple chutney the other day, a recipe that came from Food TV. Recipe courtesy Elizabeth Ryan

1-3/4 lbs. tart apples, chopped
2-1/4 lbs. cranberries
2 cups light brown sugar
1-1/4 cups cider vinegar
1/2 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 tbsp salt
1/2 tbsp ground ginger
3/4 tsp ground cloves
3/4 tsp pepper flakes
1/2 lb. dark raisins

Place all ingredients in saucepan and cook 25 to 30 minutes.

I decided to put it in jars and can them in a boiling water bath, but the show said it keeps for 3 weeks in the refrigerator. We used some of it last night on BBQ beef tri-tip and it was wonderful!

Katie in Eureka
(11/18/01)

Imitation Canned Cranberry Sauce

Imitation Canned Cranberry Sauce

1 bag cranberries
1 cup water
1 cup sugar

Boil together gently for about 10 or 15 minutes (all the cranberries should pop). Put through Foley food mill. put in plastic container and chill until jelled, then unmold and slice.

This looks like the canned stuff (though a little opaque), making it acceptable to my kidlings, but tastes much better.

I personally prefer it not strained, with pecans and orange peel stirred in.

Joan
(11/18/01)

Cranberry Sauce by Susan

Homemade cranberry sauce........mmmmmmmmmmmmm!

My recipe:

Cranberry Sauce by Susan

bag of cranberries
water to cover
sugar to taste

Wash and sort cranberries, cover with water and cook until tender. Add sugar to taste (1/2 cup or so).

One of my all time favorites for Thanksgiving dinner dessert is cranberry pie. (grin)

Sue
(11/17/01)

Comment

This one's the closest to mine, but I don't run it through anything. I just use one bag of cranberries, cover with water, cook until they pop, then add one apple, cut up, and one orange, cut up, cook for a long time (how's that for helpful?), sugar to taste, and I add some cornstarch for thickening (about as much as I think it needs :)

Heather

Cranberry Sauce by Elizabeth

Mine is pretty simple:

Cranberry Sauce by Elizabeth
Clean the fresh cranberries, removing all soft, injured or otherwise icky looking ones. Just barely cover with water in a sauce pan. Simmer until the berries burst and sauce is thickening, stirring occasionally to keep from scorching.

Add sugar to taste, starting with about half a cup and working your way up to preferred sweetness.

Let cool a bit, serve.

Elizabeth/zinlizzie
(11/17/01)

Cajun Sausage Pecan Dressing

Cajun Sausage Pecan Dressing

1 cup chopped Celery
3/4 - 1 cup chopped Onion
1/2 cup chopped Bell Pepper
1 stick butter
8 cups cornbread crumbled
5 cups toasted white bread or 3 cups bread crumbs
5 cups chicken broth heated
1 pound ground hot sausage (or mild if you prefer)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp (more or less to taste) Tony Cachere's or other Cajun spice blend
4 eggs slightly beaten
1 cup chopped pecans

In heavy skillet cook celery, onion, and bell pepper in butter until tender.

Place cornbread and cubes or crumbs in a large bowl. Add broth and vegetables, mixing well. Cook sausage until browned. Add to bread mixture, along with seasonings, eggs, and chopped pecans. Toss lightly to mix.

Bake uncovered at 325°F for 45 minutes. Or may be used to stuff an 18-20 pound turkey.

J. Jurado
(11/16/01)

Baked Salmon Croquettes

Baked Salmon Croquettes

I made up a recipe for salmon croquettes tonight that we thought were pretty good. Thought I'd share. These are *not* gourmet things but are quick and easy.

2 (7.5 oz each) cans Salmon (I used Kroger Alaskan pink), broken up with fork or 1 (14.75 oz) can
1 (4 oz) can whole green chilies, chopped medium
1 long pkg saltine crackers crushed to smithereens
1 onion, chopped fine
1 cup shredded mozzarella
3 eggs
splash buttermilk (or milk)

In a mixing bowl, dump the salmon and take out the skin and spine bones. Break up with a fork. Add chopped green chilies and onion, crushed crackers and mozzarella. Beat eggs and add a small splash of buttermilk. Pour eggs over stuff in the bowl and mix well.

Line a baking pan with aluminum foil and spray well with PAM or brush with oil (a lot cuz mine stuck - but the pan was clean!). Using the mixing spoon, make croquettes and don't worry about the shape.

Bake in 350°F oven for 45 minutes or until brown.
Makes about 8 big ones.

My Mom used to make normal ones, and I loved them. I won't ever make them because she always cooked them in 1/4" at least of oil, and I try to avoid that due to the fat and my laziness. Of course, I suppose I defeated the fat-avoidance purpose with the cheese and eggs, oops.
Tonight I wanted them but decided to see how they'd do baked. Did quite well :-) I didn't have the normal ingredients (green pepper and celery) that she used to use so got inventive. We're pretty glad I did.

Jola Gayle
Lady of Forgets (who won't forget how to do this because now it's written down)
(11/16/01)

Scotch Oats in the Slow Cooker

Scotch Oats in the Slow Cooker
(Notes and comments after the recipe.)

Got up this morning to this, which was delicious. Makes being unable to sleep at 3:30 almost worthwhile.

(An addendum -- be sure to liberally butter the inside of your slow cooker before putting this stuff in. Don't ask me how I know this. Carolyn, letting the crock soak until Kingdom Come)

2 cups steel cut oats
4 cups water
1/2 cup milk or cream
3 tbsp butter
2 apples peeled and grated
1 tsp cinnamon
generous glug of maple syrup, the real kind
pinch of salt

Put in slow cooker on Low overnight.

Just consulted Marion Cunningham, and she advises 2-1/2 cups water to 1 cup of oats overnight in a crockpot or in a well covered dish in the oven at 225°F. She also suggests not stirring it when its done, or it will lose its creamy texture. I don't know if I agree with that, but I generally find her recipes useful.

Carolyn
(11/14/01)

Notes and Comments:

Basically, if you are doing the steel cut oatmeal in the slow cooker, butter the inside of the crock first (otherwise it will stick something awful). How much water to add is really a matter of taste. I have one son who likes his oatmeal gruel-like, and another who prefers it more risotto like in texture.

There will be no evaporation in the crockpot, so don't put too much. Generally, I think about 1-1/2 to 2 cups water to one cup oats is probably adequate, though I haven't made this in a while. Add a pinch of salt. Put it on low all night long. In the am, if there is excess liquid on top, you can stir it in or skim it off. Add cream, butter, and real VT maple syrup. I am also partial to plain whole milk yogurt (the kind with the yogurt cream on top) in place of the cream/butter, along with the maple syrup.

Carolyn



I'll probably use the higher amount of water. I prefer my oatmeal a little on the thin side. And since I'll certainly end up taking some home as leftovers, it will thicken with storage. Besides, at this altitude, most things need a little more water and a little more time to cook.

Katherine also posted a recipe that includes dried fruit. I think this may be the application I need for some of the 6 pints of blueberries that found their way into the food dehydrator last summer.

Judith

Butternut Risotto with Sage and Parmesan

Butternut Risotto with Sage and Parmesan

(this makes lots, you can halve it if necessary, or just enjoy leftovers)

1 butternut squash -- medium sized, peeled, seeded and cut into large chunks
1 carton chicken stock (or 1 qt homemade)
1 cup white wine, if you have it, otherwise use more water.
3 cups water
2 onions, diced, or use a mixture of onions and shallots
about 10 fresh sage leaves, chopped
1/2 stick butter
several cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups Arborio rice
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan or romano cheese.
     Do not even think about using the stuff in the green can.

Combine chicken stock, water, and wine in large pot. Salt to taste. (The amount of liquid is not exact, better to have more than less, it doesn't really matter, as you will see). Cook squash in water until very tender. (Note I do this recipe in the pressure cooker, bring to high pressure for one minute, then quick release). In a conventional pot this will take about 10 -15 minutes.

While the squash is cooking, saute onion, garlic and sage leaves in butter in a large saute pan. When squash is done, remove from pot, SAVING THE BROTH in which it has cooked. Transfer to saute pan holding the onions, and mash into a coarse puree. Salt and pepper to taste.

Add additional water/stock if it looks too low, bring back up to a boil, add rice, and cook (if using pressure cooker, return to high pressure for 4 minutes, no more, no less, then quick release).

Conventional pot will take 20 minutes on medium heat. You needn't do the constant stirring, but watch it carefully toward the end that it doesn't start sticking to the bottom of the pot. When rice is al dente (not mushy, but not too firm, either), drain off most, but not all of the broth. Add squash/onion mixture and stir in cheese. Should be a soupy consistency. Serve immediately, passing additional cheese on the side.

Carolyn
(11/12/01)

Turkey Stuffing Loaf and Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Turkey Stuffing Loaf and Homemade Cranberry Sauce

I know what you're thinking -- this sounds like some weird Betty Crocker meal. But it is really, really good. Great to have when it isn't really near Thanksgiving, but you need a little boost. Or, as I've done tonight, make it as a Thanksgiving dress rehearsal.

2-1/2 lbs ground turkey (use the 7% lean stuff)
one onion, finely minced or grated
1 egg
1 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup parsley, fresh and minced
salt (about 1 tsp) and pepper
1/2 cup half and half or milk
1-1/2 tsp Bell's seasoning (poultry seasoning)

Stuffing
1/2 bag of stuffing -- whatever brand you usually use (or use your own bread cubes, toasted, just add some additional Bell's seasoning to it to flavor and some more salt)
1/2 stick of butter
another onion, diced
about 1/2 cup chopped celery
boiling water to moisten the bread cubes
salt/pepper to taste.

Mix meatloaf ingredients in a large bowl. Sauté onion and celery in butter for about 5 minutes. Add stuffing cubes, stir for a minute. Add boiling water to moisten, don't make it too soggy, but not too dry either. Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper.

In a large loaf pan (I actually use a 2.5 liter oblong casserole dish for this) which has been oiled with olive oil, put 1/2 the meatloaf. Put stuffing on top, in an even layer. Top with the remaining meatloaf (its a little tricky to get it into one flat layer, but you'll manage). Brush with olive oil, and scatter some slivered garlic on top.

Bake at 375° F for one hour.

Serve with homemade cranberry sauce:
a bag of cranberries
a cup of sugar
a cup of OJ
a tsp or two of grated fresh ginger
zest of an orange
1/2 cup pecans

Cook cranberries, ginger and zest in sugar and OJ until cranberries have popped. Add pecans after the stuff cools.

Carolyn
(11/12/01)

Congo Chews (Congo Bars)

Congo Chews (Congo Bars)

Here's the recipe I have for what we used to call Congo Chews.

2/3 cups oil
1 lb. box light brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs
2-1/4 cups flour
2-1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chocolate chips

  1. Mix in order given
  2. Grease a 11" x 15" pan and pour in batter
  3. Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes
  4. Cool and cut into bars

I haven't made them in years, but they were really good. Hope this is what you were looking for.

Charleen
(11/11/01)

Congo Bars

Congo Bars

These are the congo bars my mother makes, mostly without the nuts. They are pretty good. Hopefully, all is right as her handwriting can be hard to read.

2-3/4 cups flour
2-1/2 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tbsp Salt
2/3 cup shortening
2-1/4 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
1 cup nuts
1 package chocolate bits

Blend shortening, add sugar and eggs, beat well, add dry ingredients. Add nuts and chocolate chips. Put in a greased pan, bake for 25 - 30 minutes at 350°F.

Suzanne
(11/11/01)

Popcorn Balls

Popcorn Balls

I haven't made this one in a long time, but it's pretty easy. You can use any flavor jello you want for flavor and/or color.

3 cups mini marshmallows
1/2 cup margarine
2 - 3 tbsp jello

Melt above ingredients and pour over 2 - 3 quarts popped corn.

Wrap in plastic wrap to stay fresh.

LaVonne
(11/11/01)

Tequila and Lime Chicken

Tequila and Lime Chicken
Makes 6 servings

All these chicken recipes reminded me of something that has been sitting on my hard drive for about four years. No idea where it came from or who, but here it is:

2 tsp finely shredded lime peel
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup tequila
1 tbsp cooking oil
1 tbsp orange liqueur, or, 1 tsp finely shredded orange peel
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
6 medium skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1-1/4 lbs total)
1 cup hot chunky salsa
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 green onions, finely chopped
1 tbsp snipped cilantro
2 tbsp honey

In a shallow non-metallic dish combine the first 8 ingredients listed above. Rinse chicken; pat dry with paper towels. Add chicken to marinade, turning to coat. Cover and chill about 1 hour.

Meanwhile, for tomato salsa, in a small bowl combine chunky salsa, chopped tomato, green onions and snipped cilantro; set aside.

Drain chicken, reserving marinade. Stir honey into marinade. Grill chicken on an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 5 minutes. Turn chicken and brush with marinade; grill for 7 to 10 minutes more or until chicken is tender and no longer pink. (Or, place chicken on the unheated rack of a broiler pan.

Broil 5" to 6" from the heat for 10 to 12 minutes, turning and brushing with marinade once). Serve with tomato salsa.

Anna
(11/10/01)

Asian Meatloaf

Asian Meatloaf

In typical fashion, I don't have the original recipe, just sketchy notes in my file, so it does not include baking times or other such handy information.

1 tbsp vegetable oil
3/4 cup chopped scallions
1 tsp finely chopped garlic
1/2 cup chopped water chestnuts
3/4 lb ground beef
3/4 lb ground turkey
1 tsp grated ginger (fresh)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 cup fine bread crumbs
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 beaten egg
1/4 cup dry sherry (not cooking sherry)
ground pepper

Preheat oven to 425° F. Heat oil in nonstick skillet - add scallions, garlic and chestnuts, cook briefly until wilted. Place beef and turkey in mixing bowl. Add scallion mixture, ginger, cilantro, soy sauce, egg, sherry and pepper to taste. Blend well with hands - do not over mix. Form loaf, cover top with sauce (below) and bake til done.

Sauce
3 tbsp olive oil
1 cup barbecue sauce (I think the recipe actually called for ketchup, but I always used barbecue sauce - maybe teriyaki flavor might be nice)
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp garlic chopped
2 tbsp honey
2 tsp grated ginger
2 tsp soy sauce
3 thin lemon slices
1 tbsp Dijon mustard

Combine in sauce pan, blend well, bring to boil remove from heat.

Succubus
(11/10/01)

Chile Lime Cider Chicken

Chile Lime Cider Chicken

Ok, here's the recipe. It was good!

1 cup lime juice (key lime)
3/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup apple cider
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp minced dried onion
4 cloves minced garlic
1 tbsp dried red pepper flakes
2 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
1 tsp pepper
4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced lengthwise to be about 1" x 1/2" (each breast cut into 4 or 5 semi-equal pieces)

Mix up marinade, let sit for at least an hour. Grill.

Elizabeth Osborn
This was based on the Sunset books Fajita Chicken Skewers out of _Kebabs on the Grill_, but only very loosely.

(11/9/01)

Apple Cider Oatmeal Bread

Apple Cider Oatmeal Bread
(changes, notes and variations at the end)

I've been working on a recipe for bread with fresh apple cider that you have let sit and get fermented. This is based on the Guinness Oatmeal Bread from Lora Brody's Bread Machine Baking book. Yum!

1 cup apple cider (as above)
1/4 cup water
3 tbsp maple syrup or molasses (both are good, just slightly different end flavors)
1 egg
2 cups unbleached white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat (I used white the first time, red the second time, both are good)
1 cup oats
1/2 cup cornmeal
1-1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp powdered buttermilk
1 tbsp yeast

I do this in the bread machine on Dough, and then let it do the second rise in the pan, slashing the top. Bake in the oven at 350° F for 40-45 minutes. Butter the top when it comes out before it cools. It has a fine tight crumb.

Really good with a sharp cheddar cheese, or toasted with melted Fontina on it.

Well, since I substituted it into (and then made a few mods) a recipe based on beer, I'm sure it would work. I think that the only difference would be that the hard cider has had the fermentive action halted whereas in the do-it-yourself kind it is augmenting the yeast just a bit. Today's batch rose quite a bit more, and more quickly, than last weeks batch, and the cider has been sitting fermenting during the week ;-)

I also tried the cider as a substitute for beer in a chile-lime marinade for chicken. If that turns out well, I'll post the recipe too.

Elizabeth/zinlizzie
(11/9/01)


Well, I just made Elizabeth's bread, with some modifications (due to necessity, I am home without a car right now). I used Guinness instead of fermented cider (didn't have any on hand, and I drank the hard cider last night, and DH had half a pint of Guiness left over); I used nonfat dry milk instead of buttermilk powder (the latter would have been preferable, but I didn't have any); substituted 1/2 cup rye flour for the cornmeal (I am not terribly partial to cornmeal in bread, plus I thought the rye would bring out the beery flavor; opted for the maple syrup instead of molasses Made it completely in the bread machine. It was delicious! I am going to have to make another loaf, because Julia and I have been hacking away at it. I can't wait to try it with cider. Thanks Elizabeth, Carolyn, who cant ever follow a recipe.

Carolyn
(11/10/01)

Double-Decker Chocolate Tapioca and Rich Chocolate Cream Rich-as-Heck Pie

Double-Decker Chocolate Tapioca and Rich Chocolate Cream Rich-as-Heck Pie

Please note this makes two pies. You can make only the Rich Chocolate Cream Filling and make one killer chocolate cream pie without the tapioca layer, you know, for those who detest tapioca.

Please note: I offer options throughout the recipe. I tend to change desserts to my mood.

Two baked 9" Pie Crusts, cooled (if you make your own pie crusts like I do, try adding a 1/2 cup of ground nuts like walnuts, pecans or almonds to the dough. Yummy and adds a new flavor to the pie.)

Chocolate Tapioca Filling*
(basic recipe, good alone)

1/3 cup Sugar
3 tbsp. Minute Tapioca
2-3/4 cups Milk (at least 2%-fat, but whole milk is superior)
1 Egg, well beaten (or 1/4 cup egg substitute)
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 squares (2 oz) Unsweetened Chocolate (or 6 tbsp. Cocoa + 2 tbsp. Butter)

Mix sugar, tapioca, milk, egg in saucepan; let stand 5 minutes. Add chocolate squares. Stirring constantly, cook on medium heat until mixture comes to a *full* boil. (pudding thickens as it cools). Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Cool 20 minutes; stir.

(*You can leave out the chocolate and make regular tapioca and use this for the top layer. A good contrast of tastes.)

Make Rich Chocolate Cream Filling next, while the tapioca cools.

Rich Chocolate Cream Filling
(can be used alone as filling for one pie)

1 package (6 serving size) Vanilla Cook and Serve Pudding and Pie Mix (*NOT** instant!!!)*
3 cups whole Milk (*not* non-fat or 1%)
2 cups (12 oz. pkg.) Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

In medium saucepan, combine pudding and pie filling mix and milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a full boil.

*(or make your favorite homemade vanilla pudding, you need about 3 cups of pudding)

Remove from heat; immediately add chocolate chips to hot mixture, stirring until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Divide evenly between the two pie crusts. (Or pour into one pie crust if only making a plain chocolate cream pie.)

Dividing the amount evenly, spoon the chocolate tapioca pudding over the chocolate cream pie filling in the two pie crusts. Place plastic wrap directly onto surface; refrigerate several hours or overnight.

You can garnish with whipped cream, if desired. Each pie serves about 8 people. Or one Thriller.

PotWench - Debbi
(11/8/01)

Savory Bread Pudding

Savory Bread Pudding

It's kinda like a crustless quiche, but it's more like strata, which is somewhat of a forgotten dish. I don't have a recipe with amounts, but here's how I make it:

Saute some garlic and onions slowly til the onions begin to get brown and mellow. Set aside to cool.

Take thick slices of firm white bread, like Italian, good french, or peasant bread. Saute them in a little butter til golden, and put them in a greased baking dish large enough to hold them in one layer. Mix whole milk and beaten eggs together, 1 egg per 3/4 cup milk is the ratio I use. Add the onions and garlic to this, along with some grated cheese. Add herbs, salt and pepper, etc. Pour the custard mixture over the bread. There should be enough to cover the bread. Set aside for a bit to let the bread absorb some of the custard. Dust with a little paprika. Bake in a preheated 350º F oven til golden, puffy, and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Alternately, you can cut the bread into cubes and omit the sauteing. I think the other way gives a much better flavor though.

This is to die for when made with rosemary bread and good Swiss cheese.

Ann in TX
(11/8/01)

Creamed Onions

Creamed Onions

2 lbs little onions, peeled
3 tbsp melted butter
1 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp sherry
1 egg beaten
salt and pepper
dash of nutmeg

Boil onions about 10 minutes.

Put in a buttered baking dish with cream, sherry, and beaten egg, well mixed. Top with salt and pepper, shake of nutmeg.

Bake at 350°F for about 45 minutes until golden on top.

Carolyn
(11/7/01)

Katherine's Meatloaf

Katherine's Meatloaf

My meatloaf won't satisfy everyone, but if you prefer a loaf that's not cooked in a loaf pan, mine is pretty good--it's my mother's recipe.

Amounts are all very approximate--feel free to tinker with it or vary the ingredients.
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2-3 slices stale bread made into breadcrumbs
  • 1 onion
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp catsup
  • whatever herbs you like (I vary it according to how I feel, but oregano, basil, marjoram, etc. are all good)
  • pepper
  • salt
  • garlic (lots of it)

I use a blender or food processor and first make the breadcrumbs, then put the ground beef and breadcrumbs on my baking pan and mix them lightly.

Then chop the onion, egg, catsup and herbs and garlic together in the food processor (my mother did this because we picked out the pieces of onion and this made it seem as if there was no onion in it) and pour over the meat/breadcrumb mixture and mix together. I use my hands and I don't think anything else works as well.

Pat into a mound and bake at 375° F for about an hour. Mom always put quartered potato around it and roasted them with the meatloaf. Turn the potato half way through so they get crusty on all sides. The meatloaf is done when the potatoes are done.

You can add all kinds of things. Peppers are good, some grated cheese is good. Some bacon strips over the top are good, spread a little catsup over the top if you like, you can substitute tomato paste or tomato sauce for the catsup, add a little wine to the mixture.

This can be stretched if you're poor or have extra people and not enough meat by adding more breadcrumbs (but not too much more) or you can add some TVP to stretch it also.

Katherine C.
(11/7/01)

jp's Creamed Onions

jp's Creamed Onions

My basic but quite decent recipe is:

Boil some small boiler onions (peeled but whole) or pearl onions until mostly cooked. Make a white sauce (bechamel). Put the cooked onions in the white sauce and heat gently. Season with salt and pepper. It's simple and plain, but well-appreciated at the elaborate holiday meals. One can easily come up with interesting variations, but sometimes you need a simple dish to complement a fancier menu.

I can give you more exact times and quantities if desired.

Ideas for variations -- add garlic (everything is better with garlic, right? roasted garlic puree might be quite yummy). Make the sauce with white wine instead of or in addition to milk. Top the dish with toasted/seasoned bread crumbs. Add various herbs or spices. Dye the white sauce some unnatural color, like blue (well, maybe not).

jp, forbidden to dye foods unnatural colors when company is expected
(11/6/01)

Chocolate Tapioca

Chocolate Tapioca

1/3 cup Sugar + 1/4 cup Sugar *see note
3 tbsp Minute Tapioca
2-3/4 cups Whole Milk
1 Egg, well beaten (or 1/4 cup egg substitute)
1 tsp Vanilla
2 squares (2 oz) Semi-sweet Chocolate **see another note

*Note: for dark chocolate flavor pudding, omit additional sugar

**Another Note: I prefer using unsweetened chocolate or using 6 tbsp. Cocoa + 2 tbsp. Butter and omitting the extra 1/4 cup sugar. Yum!

Mix sugar, tapioca, milk, egg in saucepan; let stand 5 minutes. Add chocolate squares. Stirring constantly, cook on medium heat until mixture comes to a *full* boil. (pudding thickens as it cools). Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.

Cool 20 minutes; stir. Spoon into dishes. Serve warm or chilled. Store leftover pudding in fridge. Makes 6 servings.

For creamier pudding, place plastic wrap on surface of pudding while cooling; stir.

Microwave directions:
Prepare as above in large nuke-able bowl. Nuke on high 10 to 12 minutes until mixture comes to a full boil, stirring every 2 minutes. Cooking time is approximate.

Debbi
(11/6/01)

Italian Meat Loaf

Italian Meat Loaf

My gf's mother use to make this for us, loved it. It is a little heavy about an hour later!

2 lbs. chopped meat, beef, veal, pork what ever
1 small onion, chopped
1 slice of bread, moisten and broken up (water or wine)
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 egg beaten
1/4 cup chopped parsley
crumbled basil 1 tsp.
salt and pepper

Mix together and flatten out on plastic or wax paper, about 1/2" thick.

1/2 lb chopped mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated romano or parmesan cheese
1 egg

Mix cheeses and egg and dump into middle of meat, fold up meat around the cheeses and pinch together (sort of a stuffed meatloaf) pour a little tomato sauce on the top and bake at 350° F for an hour or until brown slice and enjoy

Gail
(11/6/01)

Meat Loaf with Veggies

Meat Loaf with Veggies

4 cups shredded Cabbage
1/2 cup chopped Onion
1-1/2 tbsp. Oil
1 cup shredded Carrot
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1 large chopped Green Pepper
1/2 lb. Ground Beef
1 Egg
1 Egg White
1/3 cup Bread Crumbs
1 tsp. Basil
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Pepper
1/4 tsp. Oregano
1/4 cup Water
2 Tbsp. Vinegar
1 cup shredded Potato

Sauté cabbage and onion in oil in a large skillet until cabbage begins to turn golden, about 10 minutes. Stir in carrot, bell pepper and garlic, sauté 5 minutes more. Cool to room temp.

Combine beef, egg, egg white, bread crumbs, seasonings, water and vinegar in a large bowl. Mix in cooked veggies and potatoes. Shape into a loaf and put into a loaf pan.

Bake at 350° F with a foil cover; remove foil and drain; then continue baking without foil for 30 minutes more. Let stand 15 minutes.

Debbi
(11/5/01)

Ann's Meat Loaf

Ann's Meat Loaf

This is my grandmother's meatloaf recipe. It's the only one I ever use. I've given the "amounts" just as she wrote them.
a good handful of oats, or 2 slices of stale bread
milk
2 lbs. ground meat - beef and some pork
a small can of tomato sauce
1 egg
1 small onion
1/2 green bell pepper
Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper



Pour milk to cover the oats in a bowl and let sit. Mix all together. Pat into a loaf pan. Bake in a medium oven until done.


My notes:
If you use bread, tear it up before adding the milk.
Tomato sauce is an 8 oz. can.
The onion and pepper are chopped fine.
Seasonings are to taste.

Oven is preheated 350° F. My oven takes about an hour and 15 min, or an hour and a half to cook this.

I've added canned 'shrooms, shredded carrots, and grated cheese to this, and have substituted a can of mushroom soup for tomato sauce for a friend who's allergic to tomatoes.

This can be doubled easily, or even tripled. I've made a big meatloaf in a lasagna pan with this recipe.

I almost have to eat mashed potatoes and green beans with this. Those were the sides my grandmother always served.

Ann in TX
(11/5/01)

Meat Loaf from J. Gayle

Meat Loaf from J. Gayle
Here's the recipe I grew up with my mom using:

2 lbs. Ground Beef
1 long package of saltine crackers crushed
1 medium or large Onion chopped
1 stalk celery chopped
1 green pepper chopped
a few good shakes of Worcestershire (about 1 Tbsp.?)
1 lg. Egg, slightly beaten
Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Put into a shallow baking pan or a meat loaf pan leaving at least the width of your fingers between loaf and side of pan. 15 minutes before done, top with tomato catsup.

I don't know exact cooking instructions. I suppose like Potty's, Bake at 350° F for 1 hour or until done. I crank the oven up usually to around 400° F and start looking at it after 45 minutes.

J. Gayle
(11/5/01)

Enchilada Casserole (crockpot)

Enchilada Casserole (crockpot)

Brown 1 pound of ground beef, put in crock pot.

Add the following:
  • 1 can tomato sauce ( small )
  • 1 can enchilada sauce
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 can chopped green chilies

Mix all together and add 1 package corn tortillas, torn in pieces. ( We like the corn mush this creates, so I add 1-1/2 pkgs. ) Mix well and cook on low all day. Before serving, top with cheese.

This goes well with a green salad and cottage cheese on the side!

LaVonne
(11/5/01)

German Rice Pudding

German Rice Pudding

Here's mine.  I love this stuff.  The recipe can be halved and it often takes longer than the recipe says to finish - go by texture not time. I got this recipe from a cousin in Chicago who makes it for everyone who is under the weather. She swears that sometimes people get sick just to encourage her to make it!

1 cup rice
2 cups boiling water
6 cups 1% low-fat milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Add rice to boiling water in large pot.  Bring to a boil again, reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until all the water is absorbed.

Stir in milk. Simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add sugar and salt; continue cook 20 more minutes or until mixture is creamy (likely to take up to 40 more minutes). Stir in vanilla.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Joy
In San Francisco
(11/5/01)

Crock Pot Meatloaf

You can make meatloaf in a crock pot too.

Crock Pot Meatloaf

Take lean hamburger, mix in a couple eggs, some bread crumbs or cracker crumbs, salt and pepper, onion.

Knead it all together really good and form into shape of crock pot, plop in crock pot, (if you have a rack, it would probably be good to use it, but I don't have one, so I don't), turn on low.

If you want it fast, turn it on high for a couple hours, or however well done you like your meatloaf.

If you have to go to work or something, just plop it in the crock pot and cook it until you get home. Since crock pots hold in the moisture, it doesn't get all dried out.

Amy
(11/05/01)

Chicken Thighs Teriyaki

Chicken Thighs Teriyaki

4 lbs bone-in thighs
2/3 cup teriyaki sauce
one or two onions
some garlic

Remove excess fat and all skin from thighs. Toss into slow cooker withchopped onions and teriyaki sauce, and garlic. Cook all day. Serve with brown rice, maybe some sauteed spinach or green beans.

If you have more time, make this Sauce:
2 tbsp each honey, hoisin, soy sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1tsp chili oil or red pepper/garlic sauce.

Carolyn
(11/4/01)

Oogie's Mutton Shank Stoup

Oogie's Mutton Shank Stoup

I don't have a crockpot but do lots of slow cooked things in the oven, here's one for mutton shanks, also works with lamb shanks, elk or venison shanks and one for a curry stew that works with just about any meat as well.

4-6 Mutton Shanks
1-2 Diced Onions
8-10 Peeled Garlic Cloves
8-10 Tomatoes peeled and stems cut off
1 to 1-1/2 cups Dried Garbanzo Beans
3-4 Bay Leaves
Oregano
Parsley

(spices below are approximates)
1/4 cup ground Cardamon
1 tsp ground Cayenne Pepper
1-3 tbsp ground Cumin
1-3 tbsp ground Paprika
1 tsp ground Allspice

In a cast iron dutch oven brown mutton shanks and diced onion in a small amount of oil. Once the onions are soft add the garlic cloves and brown lightly. Add the tomatoes, garbanzo beans and bay leaves with enough water or water and some beer to fill pot and fully cover everything. Bake covered in a 250°F-275°F oven for 4-6 hours (or more) until tender stirring occasionally. You may have to add additional water as it cooks.

1 Hour before serving add chopped Oregano, Parsley, fresh if you have it, and the ground spices. Amounts will vary according to amount of meat and your tastes. Go lightly on the Cayenne and Cumin until you are sure you like it. Serve with a hearty homemade bread for a stew/soup that can't be beat.

Oogie McGuire
(11/4/01)

Oogie's Curry Mutton Stew

Oogie's Curry Mutton Stew

Mutton Stew Meat
Whole Wheat Flour
1-2 Diced Onions
8-10 Peeled Garlic Cloves
1 to 1-1/2 cups Dried Garbanzo Beans
Curry Powder (recipe below)
Garam Masala

Mix a teaspoon or so of curry powder in with about a quarter cup of flour. Lightly coat all the stew meat with the flour spice mixture. In a cast iron dutch oven brown the mutton and diced onion in a small amount of oil. Once the onions are soft add the garlic cloves and brown lightly.

Add the garbanzo beans with enough water to fill pot and fully cover everything. Bake covered in a 250°F to 275°F oven for 4-6 hours (or more) until tender stirring occasionally. You may have to add additional water as it cooks.

1 Hour before serving add several more spoonfuls of curry powder and some garam masala.

Amounts will vary according to amount of meat and your tastes. Serve over basmati rice with a nice India Pale Ale for a hearty treat.

Curry Powder
I make my own curry powder. I find I like to vary the spice mixture often. If you find a particularly good curry that you like there is no reason not to continue to use it. Here's a typical recipe:

(all measurements are approximations)

1-3 tbsp ground Cumin
1-2 tbsp ground Coriander
2 tbsp ground Turmeric
1 tsp ground Cayenne Pepper
1 tbsp ground Paprika
1 tsp ground White Pepper
1 tsp whole Anise Seed
1 tsp ground Cinnamon
1 tsp ground Allspice

Mix all the spices and toast in a small dry skillet over a hot fire just until they start to turn brown and toast. Don't burn them so stir often. Store tightly covered and spoon out as needed.

Oogie McGuire
(11/4/01)

Lemon Chicken

Lemon Chicken

1 large roaster
3 lemons at least
some garlic, how much depends on you
salt and pepper
a sprinkling of oregano if you have some

Put chicken in the slowcooker, preferably on a rack, if your crock came with one. Cut each lemon in half. Squeeze juice over. Shove the lemon halves up into the chicken's cavity. Rub all over with garlic, salt and oregano.Cook all day on low.

Carolyn
(11/04/01)

Curry Powder

Curry Powder
I make my own curry powder. I find I like to vary the spice mixture often. If you find a particularly good curry that you like there is no reason not to continue to use it. Here's a typical recipe:

(all measurements are approximations)

1-3 tbsp ground Cumin
1-2 tbsp ground Coriander
2 tbsp ground Turmeric
1 tsp ground Cayenne Pepper
1 tbsp ground Paprika
1 tsp ground White Pepper
1 tsp whole Anise Seed
1 tsp ground Cinnamon
1 tsp ground Allspice

Mix all the spices and toast in a small dry skillet over a hot fire just until they start to turn brown and toast. Don't burn them so stir often. Store tightly covered and spoon out as needed.

Oogie McGuire
(11/4/01)

Meals, Leftovers, and Sandwich Ideas (longish)

Meals, Leftovers, and Sandwich Ideas (longish)
(11/4/01)

First meal: Pot roast. Plain beef, any cut of roast. Cooked slow and covered so that it falls apart. With or with out quartered potatoes, onions and halved carrots.

Eat hot, eat cold, plain, dressed, on sandwiches, with barbecue sauce, with horse radish.

Left overs rule.
Denise



On the second day, we have the leftover pot roast, (which we cook without added potatoes or carrots, but with onions), warmed up and served over couscous. maaaahvelous.

lea bob



Homemade Mac and cheese. Use sharp white cheddar. Make white sauce, add cheese dump in cooked noodles pour in baking dish, top with more cheese and bread crumbs. Bake til bubbly and brown on top.

Yum

Chicken stew. Stew chicken while you are taking it off the bones add rice, carrots, celery, onions, and garlic to the pot. Bring to a boil, then turn to low. When rice is cooked, add the chicken, and a can of cream of chicken soup. We put spike on top, a blend of many veg and spices.

Viki



My all time favorite plain food (by plain, I mean comfort), which I think I have posted here before:

Pasta with whole milk ricotta, butter and parmesan and lots of fresh ground black pepper. This is what my nonna made for me when I had a bad day. Of course, she, being rather eclectic and also having been raised in a Jewish neighborhood, as did I, always made it with Goodman's Egg Noodles. I still like it that way, although I can't find a good Jewish egg noodle up here anymore.

I didn't realize until much later that it is also known as Shepherd's pasta.

Carolyn



(Did anyone else eat white bread, butter and sugar as an afternoon snack when they were kids?)

*YES!!!* It had to be white bread, like Rainbow. Sometimes, cinnamon sugar. I haven't had a sammich like this since a kid. Cinnamon toast is another goodie.

Or white bread spread with butter, strawberry jam, peanut butter (almond butter for me know, allergic to PB) with Fritos corn chips smashed between the condiments and a large glass of Quik.

The meatloaf in the Campbell's cookbook. A fav still with mashed potatoes. This meatloaf is so good, no gravy or condiments are dumped on it.

Roast Beef Hash if any leftover beef roast (rare).

Creamed hamburger on mashed potatoes. Also love tator turds. Er, tots.

Debra



I don't know if this qualifies as 'plain' but it is simple. Got to this idea roundabout.

(BTW, anyone heard of the 'slow food' movement? http://www.slowfood.com Interesting idea.)

DH made some veggie and red bean soup tonight; and tossed in some sheep chorizo. Had some corn tortillas on the side.

Recently when I was schlepping lambs between where I live (north of Troy NY) and to near Monticello, I took the side road through Kingston, Stone Ridge, Ellenville. In Stone Ridge is this little attempting-to-be fancy grocery. Excellent cheese selection.

Poked around and found some manouri sheep cheese. Kind of like a sheep cream cheese, tho not as rich.

So the cheese was out and the tortillas were out. I just knew.....So I took the potato peeler and made some thin slices, put onto the tortilla, toasted in toaster oven. Rolled up like a jelly roll.

Really good flavor combo.

Mary P.



Or plain cream cheese on flour tortillas - no need to heat, just schmear, fold, and dip into your favorite taco sauce or salsa.

Leslie



How about peanut butter, mayonnaise, and lettuce. Yumyumyum. Haven't had one in a couple of decades, but they sure were good, and they sure freaked out the other kids at school.

M, ELoL, TSM



My main plain gotta have it on a regular basis food is rice, we routinely have a minimum of 4 types of rice available and we generally buy it in 25 or 50 pound bags. My staple rices are brown basmati, brown short grain, basmati and jasamine. If I am depressed or sad or not feeling well I cook plain rice, add soy sauce and grated sharp cheddar cheese on top.

Another great comfort food is homemade tamale's. I usually make turkey or chicken and beef ones but it's a multi day process and I haven't done it in a year or so. When I have them in the freezer I love to just hot one up in the microwave for breakfast, or lunch or dinner.

Oogie



Anyone else go for oatmeal with either dark brown sugar or maple syrup, milk, and butter? Fish chowder is another comfort dish for me as is rice pudding and blanc mange - don't have any of these very often anymore. Oh and cold baked beans and welsh rarebit or rabbit or whatever you call melted cheese sauce on white toast.

Catspaw eating enchiladas tonight



I love both of these, except maybe the 2nd without the lettuce. I'm slightly allergic to peanuts - no anaphylactic (sp?) shock, just bloating - but about twice a year I fall to craving PB&B or PB and Miracle Whip.

fav easy sammich: salami and grape or plum jelly>

J. Gayle



I love steel cut oatmeal, cooked overnight in the crockpot, with butter and maple syrup on top. And rice pudding, particularly the Indian kind with cardamom and other spices, is divine.

C



I used to eat peanut butter on whole grain bread with alfalfa sprouts. I called it a Hairy sandwich and people always looked at me like I was nuts for eating it.

I haven't had one of those since DD1 was about 1-1/2.

Viki



Oh yes, and boiled eggs with butter and toast, the way my daddy used to fix them when I was little and trying to get out of going to bed...

Lady Gwendolyn



I used to lightly toast egg and onion matzah and spread it thickly with butter... but only in my grandmother's house.

Debbie



LOL! I used to love taking hot white rice, adding a dab of butter, add a tablespoon or four of sugar and pouring milk over it all. My sister and I would fight over the last of the white rice for this "dessert" my Mom loved.

Can't eat it now, dammit. My husband calls tapioca, my fav, fish eggs like someone else said. But he will eat the above I mentioned. Which I will be sure to call maggots swimming in milk just as he just takes a bite.

Deb



Rice with butter and lemon or lime juice.

Pasta with butter and grated cheese.

Toast with peanut butter.

Pie crust.

Katherine



Leftover potroast (when you have it) is also good shredded, mixed with cooked black beans, and maybe some tomato, and put into burritos. Esp. if it is my chipotle pot roast.

Carolyn



Puddings of all kinds... Does anyone here like bread pudding? It's a staple around here on chilly nights and the next day for breakfast. We save stale bread, any kind of stale bread except rye, just for bread pudding. No particular recipe, just soak the bread in milk awhile, beat in eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, a few raisins or currants and bake until set.Wonderful with a dollop of whipped cream.

Joy in S.F.



I keep waiting for someone to mention pork with green chili, which is the ubiquitous one in this neck of the woods.  You can eat a bowl of it with a tortilla or two, but generally it's used to smother everything else: burritos, enchiladas, chile rellenos, whatever.  Pork, onions, heaps of green chiles, cumin, oregano, slow simmered till everything virtually melts. 

Debbie

Chicken Soup for the Weary Soul

Chicken Soup for the Weary Soul

Get a pkg of chicken thighs. These are pretty yucky fried, but in chicken soup, they're wonderful! Pull off as much skin as you can.

Throw in crock pot with about 4 small cans of chicken broth (or 1 big 'un), a bunch of onion (the "already chopped and frozen" works great, with no tears!), some celery seed, salt and pepper, and cook overnight. This will make your house smell like a giant fart, but the end result is worth it, trust me.

After cooking all night (or just several hours, it doesn't have to be overnight), fish out the leg bones. I like the thighs for this because there's only one bone in each one, and when you have all 4 (or however many thighs you had) out, you don't have to worry about any more bones. Break up the meat. It should just fall right apart with stirring.

Taste soup, see if it needs adjusting, then throw in some pasta stars (or whatever shape you like. Our Kroger has stars, and I always use them. It reminds me of being a kid). When stars are done, eat it. It should thicken a little with the addition of the pasta.

Amy
(11/4/01)

Turkey Breast, Onion, and Cranberry Gravy Crockpot Meal

This recipe first appeared as:

Turkey Breast with Cranberry Gravy

One Turkey breast, bone in
One package fresh cranberries
One or two onions, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup brown sugar
Salt and pepper

Fling turkey breast into slowcooker. Pour over cranberries, onions, sugar, and generously salt and pepper. Cook all day on low. The simplicity of this recipe belies the deliciousness of this dish.

Carolyn
(11/4/01) 

 This recipe also appeared later on:

Carolyn's Turkey, Cranberry and Onion Crockpot Meal

Get a turkey breast (pref. with bone on, it will hold together better -- size is unimportant, but it should fit in your crockpot, obviously).

1 pkg Knorr's onion soup mix and 1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce.

Fling the turkey into the crockpot, pour soup mix over and around, pour cranberry sauce around it. Put it on low, all day, at least 10 hours.

Do not add water, though you can cut up an onion if you like.

Carolyn
(11/14/02)

Chipotle Pot Roast

Chipotle Pot Roast

one large beef roast -- whatever is on sale, about 4-5 lbs, not too fatty
half a can of chipotles in adobo sauce, chop the chipotle peppers
onions (3 or so), coarsely chopped
garlic
salt
pepper
cumin (about a teaspoon)
oregano (about a teaspoon)
potatoes (one per person, plus a few for the pot)
about a half can of beef bouillon or a half a can of beer, or some wine

Put roast on rack-- you can sear it first, but if you are in a rush, it won't matter too much. Smear the roast with the chipotle and adobo, sprinkle salt (liberally, there is nothing worse than undersalted pot roast), pepper, oregano and cumin all over. Scatter onions and halved potatoes all around (quarter them if they are very large). Add liquid of choice. Cook all day.

When ready to eat, pour gravy into a large cup, drain off fat, and pour hot gravy over sliced meat (you can thicken with a little flour cooked in butter if you are fussy, or not, if you are really pressed for time).

Carolyn
(11/4/01)

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