Thursday, September 16, 2010

Fettuccine Alfredo

Recipe: Fettuccine Alfredo

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound Fettuccine Noodles
  • 1 stick Butter
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese

Preparation Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions.

In a saucepan or skillet, warm butter and cream. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Grate Parmesan cheese and place half of it into a large serving bowl. Pour warm butter/cream mixture over the top.

Drain pasta and immediately pour it into the bowl.

Toss a couple of times, then sprinkle in the other half of the Parmesan.

Toss to combine, thinning with pasta water if necessary.

Serve immediately as a main course or accompaniment to meat or salad.

Delicious!

Perfect Potatoes au Gratin

Recipe: Perfect Potatoes au Gratin

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Ingredients

  • 4 whole Russet Potatoes, Scrubbed Clean
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter, Softened
  • 1-½ cup Heavy Cream
  • ½ cups Whole Milk
  • 2 Tablespoons Flour
  • 4 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • Freshly Ground Pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Freshly Grated

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.


Smear softened butter all over the bottom of a baking dish.
Slice potatoes, then cut slices into fourths.

In a separate bowl, whisk together cream, milk, flour, minced garlic, salt, and plenty of freshly ground black pepper.

Place 1/3 of the potatoes in the bottom of the baking dish. Pour 1/3 of the cream mixture over the potatoes.

Repeat this two more times, ending with the cream mixture. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are golden brown and really bubbling. Add grated cheese to the top of the potatoes and bake for 3 to 5 more minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Allow to stand for a few minutes before serving by the spoonful. Delicious!

Italian Meatball Soup

Recipe: Italian Meatball Soup

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Ingredients

  • Meatballs:
  • ¾ pounds Ground Beef
  • ½ cups Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 3 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley, Minced
  • 1 whole Egg
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • ½ teaspoons Salt
  • ½ teaspoons Black Pepper
  • ¼ teaspoons Ground Oregano
  • 2 teaspoons Lemon Juice

  • SOUP
  • 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 7 cups Low Sodium Beef Stock
  • 2 cups Water
  • ½ teaspoons Salt
  • 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
  • ¾ cups Onion, Chopped
  • ¾ cups Carrots, Chopped
  • ¾ cups Celery, Chopped
  • 1 cup Russet Potato, Chopped (do Not Peel)
  • ½ pounds Cabbage Chopped
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese To Serve

  • TIED IN A CHEESECLOTH BUNDLE
  • 4 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley, Minced
  • 2 whole Bay Leaves
  • 1 teaspoon Peppercorns

Preparation Instructions

To make meatballs, combine all meatball ingredients and mix well. Shape into small balls and chill for 30 minutes.

Gather 4 tablespoons parsley, bay leaves, and peppercorns in a cheesecloth bundle. Tie to secure.

After chilling, heat olive oil over medium-low heat in a heavy pot. Briefly brown meatballs, then remove to a plate. To pot, add beef stock, water, salt, tomato paste, and herb bag. Bring to a boil, then simmer 30 minutes.

Add onion, carrots, celery, and potatoes. Simmer 15 more minutes. Remove herb bag.

Add cabbage and meatballs. Bring to a boil, then simmer 8 to 10 minutes.

Serve with plenty of freshly grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled over the top.

Recipe: Chicken with Tomatoes and Garlic

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 Source: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/04/chicken-with-tomatoes-and-garlic/

 

Ingredients

  • 8 pieces Chicken Legs Or Thighs
  • Salt And Pepper, to taste
  • 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1 Tablespoon Butter
  • 1 can (28 Ounce) Diced Tomatoes
  • 1 can (14 Ounces) Whole Tomatoes
  • 2 Tablespoons (Heaping) Tomato Paste
  • Fresh Herbs: Basil, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary
  • 8 cloves Garlic
  • 16 ounces, weight Pasta (I Used Cavitappi)
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese, For Serving
  • ½ cups White Wine (or Red Wine)

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Salt and pepper chicken legs.
Heat ovenproof skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and butter. When oil/butter is hot, add chicken legs to the pan. Using tongs, brown on all sides, about 2 minutes. Remove chicken from pan.
Pour in wine, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any bits. Cook for 1 minute. Pour in tomatoes with their juice and add tomato paste. Add salt and pepper to taste, stirring to combine. Bring sauce to a boil, then turn off heat. Add plenty of fresh herbs, 8 cloves of peeled (but whole) garlic, and the chicken legs. Put lid on pot and cook in the oven for 1 hour.
Remove pot from oven and allow it to sit on the counter with the lid on while you boil the pasta.
Cook the pasta to al dente, Drain and add to a large serving bowl.
Remove lid and check sauce. If it’s overly thin, remove the chicken from the pot and boil the sauce on the stovetop for 5 to 10 minutes. Check seasonings and adjust as needed.
To serve, pour sauce over cooked pasta, then arrange chicken pieces over the top. Sprinkle generously with fresh Parmesan and serve with crusty French bread.
Yum!
(Dish may be served with rice or mashed potatoes, instead!)

Recipe: Baked French Toast

Recipe: Baked French Toast

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Ingredients

  • FRENCH TOAST
  • 1 loaf Crusty Sourdough Or French Bread
  • 8 whole Eggs
  • 2 cups Whole Milk
  • ½ cups Whipping (heavy) Cream
  • ¾ cups Sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract
  • Topping
  • ½ cups All-purpose Flour
  • ½ cups Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoons Salt
  • 1 stick Cold Butter, Cut Into Pieces
  • Fresh Fruit (optional)

Preparation Instructions

Grease 9 x 13-inch baking pan with butter. Tear bread into chunks (or cut into cubes) and evenly distribute in the pan.
Mix together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla. Pour evenly over bread. Cover tightly and store in the fridge several hours or overnight.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add nutmeg if desired. Add butter pieces and but into the dry mixture until mixture resembles fine pebbles. Store in a Ziploc in the fridge.
When you’re ready to bake the casserole, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove casserole from oven and sprinkle crumb mixture over the top. (If you’re using fruit, sprinkle on before the crumb mixture.) Bake for 45 minutes for a softer, more bread pudding texture. Bake 1 hour or more for a firmer, less liquid texture.
Scoop out individual portions. Top with butter and drizzle with maple syrup.

Recipe: Simple, Perfect Enchiladas!


Prep Time: 1 Hour30 Minutes | Cook Time: 20 Minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Servings: 6


Ingredients

* FOR THE SAUCE:
* 1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
* 1 Tablespoon All-purpose Flour
* 1 can (28 Ounce) Enchilada Or Red Sauce
* 2 cups Chicken Broth
* ½ teaspoons Salt
* ½ teaspoons Ground Black Pepper

* FOR THE MEAT:
* 1-½ pound Ground Beef
* 1 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
* 2 cans (4 Ounce) Diced Green Chilies
* ½ teaspoons Salt
* _____


* FOR THE TORTILLAS:
* 10 whole (to 14) Corn Tortillas
* ½ cups Canola Oil
* _____


* TO ASSEMBLE:
* 3 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
* ½ cups Chopped Black Olives
* 1 cup Chopped Green Onions
* ½ cups Chopped Cilantro



Preparation Instructions

Step #1 – The Sauce
In a large saucepan over medium heat, add oil and flour and whisk together to make a paste, cooking for one minute. Pour in the red sauce, chicken broth, cilantro, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30-45 minutes.

Step #2 – The Meat
Brown the meat with onions in a skillet. Drain off fat. Stir in 2 cans diced green chilies and seasoned salt. Set aside.

Step #3 – Tortillas
Heat canola oil in a small skillet over medium heat. One by one, using tongs, fry tortillas in oil until soft, not crisp – about 30 seconds per side. Remove to a paper—towel lined plate. Repeat until all tortillas have been fried.

Step #4 – Assembly
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour ½ cup red sauce in bottom of baking pan. Spread to even out. Dip each tortilla into red sauce, then remove to work surface. Spoon meat, a little grated cheese, a little black olives, and green onions in the center of tortilla. Roll up and place, seam down, in baking pan. Repeat until pan is filled. Pour extra red sauce over enchiladas. Top with remaining cheddar cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle cilantro over enchiladas before serving.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Taco Casserole

Taco Casserole

* 1/4 C Margarine
* 1 pkg taco seasoning
* 1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained
* 15 ounce can refried beans
* 1/4 Cup water
* 1/2 Cup BBQ Sauce
* 1/2 Cup Milk
* 2 Cups instant mashed potato flakes

Melt margarine in saucepan. Add milk and 2 Tablespoons taco seasoning mix. Remove from heat and stir in potato flakes. Press mixture into bottom and slightly up the sides of an 8×8 inch baking dish. In skillet, place ground beef, re-fried beans, bbq sauce, water, and remaining taco mix. Cook and stir until bubbly. Turn into prepared crust. Bake uncovered at 350 for thirty to thirty five minutes.

Serve with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sour cream – whatever cranks yer tractor.