Ingredients 8 strips bacon 2-3 tbsp butter 1 large yellow onion, diced 5 garlic cloves, minced 1/3 cup flour 2.5 lbs potatoes, diced 4 cups kitchen basics chicken broth 2 cups milk (can be cow or almond or whatever) 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 tsp salt or garlic salt 2 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp chili powder 1 tsp red pepper flakes 1/3 cup sour cream 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese On the side at the table (optional): ...
Ingredients 2 pounds ground beef, fatty is ok 2 large yellow onions diced 8 garlic cloves minced 4 cups beef broth (kitchen basics is best) 1 15-oz can tomato sauce spices 2 tbsp chili powder 1 tbsp worcester sauce 2 tsp salt or more to taste 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground cinnamon ? tsp all spice ? tsp cayenne 1 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/4 tsp cloves ...
Ingredients Meatballs: 1/2 lb ground chicken 1/2 lb Italian sausage (mild) 1/2 cup bread crumbs, Italian style works 2 large cloves garlic, minced 3 tbsp chopped cilantro, chopped small 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, the nice stuff NOT the powder 3 tbsp milk or so 1 large egg Salt and pepper to taste (tbsp of each to start is good) Soup: 2 tbsp good olive oil 1 yellow onion, minced 3 large carrots, chopped 1 cup chopped celery (or more doesn’t hurt) 10 cups good chicken stock (kitchen basics) 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 cup small, star pasta 1/4 cup minced, fresh dill 12 oz baby spinach, trimmed and lightly chopped Instructions Combine all meatball ingredients in mixing bowl with fork and hands if needed. Scoop into greased sheet pan and spread out ~40 meatballs over pan. Note: these are small meatballs and a tsp could be used to scoop. Bake for 35 minutes at 350°F Heat olive oil in large soup pot and saute carrots, onion, and celery until soft (6-8 min) Add chicken stock and wine. Bring to boil Add pasta and cook 6-8 minutes Add dill, meatballs, and spinach. Cook another minute Check for salt and pepper Serve and sprinkle parmesan over bowls
Ingredients 2 lb eggplant sliced 0.3" thickness (discard ends) Salt, 2-3 tbsp olive oil 1-2 tbsp Olive oil 1 yellow onion diced 4-5 garlic cloves minced 1.5 lb ground beef or lamb 1/2 cup red wine (or a few tbsp red wine vinegar) 1 14 oz can crushed tomatoes mildly drained 3 tbsp tomato paste 1 cup beef stock/broth Spices: 1 beef bouillon cube (or 1 tsp powder), 2 bay leaves, 2 tsp dried oregano, 1.5 tsp any sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp salt or more ...
Ingredients 2 lb spicy italian sausage 3 cups diced yellow onion 2.5 cups diced carrot 2 cups diced celery 6 cloves minced garlic 2, 32 oz chicken stock cartons 1, 15-oz can diced tomatoes drained 4 tsp basic sugar 3 tsp dried basil 3 tsp dried oregano 1.5 tsp dried thyme Salt and pepper to taste 2 cup dry ditalini pasta 1, 15-oz can red kidney beans drained and rinsed 1, 15-oz can great northern white beans drained and rinsed Optional 6 tbsp minced fresh parsley Parmesan to serve Instructions Brown meat in huge pot with a couple tbsp olive oil. When ~? cooked or so add all the veggies. Cook until tender or at least mostly there. Add everything through the salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and simmer 10 minutes. Add the pasta and simmer another 15 min. Add beans and parsley and simmer one more minute. Serve in bowls with parmesan to add to taste. Notes It is easy to vary the proportions. More pasta, less. More beans or less. More veggies is what I usually do.
Ingredients 2+ pounds chicken thighs bone in 1 large yellow onion diced 1 bell pepper diced 5 cloves garlic minced 8 oz sliced mushrooms 4-6 whole carrots Few tsp garlic salt Black pepper to taste 1-2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 can (28 oz can, the big one) of crushed tomatoes 2 tsp or more of italian seasonings Optional: add red pepper flakes to give more of a kick, also add some parmesan to it to cook. ...
Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp butter 1 yellow onion, minced or in food processor 3-4 cloves garlic, minced or in food processor 1 tsp salt or more to taste 1 tsp dill, if using fresh (don’t have to) throw in food processor with garlic and onion Lots of ground black pepper 1 lb, 12 oz can crushed, concentrated tomatoes 2 cups water 1 tbsp honey (optional) 1 tbsp mayonnaise or sour cream (for texture and appearance) 2 medium fresh tomatoes, diced small For optional toppings: yogurt, minced parsley, minced basil, minced scallions or chives Instructions Heat olive oil and butter in dutch oven or deep pan. Add onion, garlic, salt, dill, and black pepper. Cook until the onions are translucent. Note: It is best to throw the onion, garlic and dill (if fresh) in food processor to mince them even better prior to cooking Add canned, crushed tomatoes, water, and optional honey. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes over low heat About 5 minutes before serving, whisk in mayonnaise or sour cream, and stir in diced tomatoes Serve with option toppings, added by the eater Garlic Bread (10/10) Ingredients: fresh baguette or similar bread, sliced 1/2" i.e. thin ish, butter or country crock, garlic salt, and parmesan cheese (the flakes not the ground stuff) ...
Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil, divided 1 onion, diced well 1 lb ground beef 1 lb pork or sausage 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs 2 large egg yolks 1/4 tsp allspice 1/4 tsp nutmeg Salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup butter 1/3 cup flour 4 cups beef broth (kitchen basics preferred) 3/4 cup sour cream Salt and pepper to taste 2 tbsp chopped parsley Instructions Heat some oil in large, deep skillet over medium heat and saute onion until translucent (2-3 minutes) In large mixing bowl, combine meats, panko, egg, spices, AND cooked onion. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix well, make meatballs ~1.5" diameter meatballs and spread back on skillet with some more oil (should be ~24 of them) Saute meatballs until browned, 4-5 minutes. Transfer to paper towel lined plate In same skillet, melt butter and whisk in flour until slightly browned, about 1 minute. Whisk in beef broth and cook, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened, 1-2 minutes. Stir in sour cream and season with salt/pepper to taste Stir in meatballs and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated though and thickened, about 8-10 minutes Serve immediately Notes Leftovers go well mixed with beef stew Serve with something green by golly. Sauteed asparagus and a salad is nice
Ingredients 1 tbsp butter 3.5 cups finely diced onions (two onions) 2-3 large carrots, finely chopped 12 oz sliced mushrooms (1 package) 1 medium potato, finely diced 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1 cup low sodium vegetable broth 1 cup milk (can be almond or whatever) 1 cup frozen or canned baby green peas 1/4 cup chives (green part of green onions) 1/4 cup parsley 1 tbsp white vinegar 1 large egg yolk 7 oz store bought puff pastry or pie dough, defrosted Instructions Preheat oven to 400°F Melt butter in large sauce pan on medium and add onion, carrots, and potato. Cook until soft (a few minutes). Add mushrooms, salt and pepper. Cook 5 or so minutes until mushrooms are fully shrunk Sprinkle flour over veggies, stir to coat and cook until raw flavor is gone (1-2 minutes). Slowly add broth and milk stirring constantly until smooth. Bring to simmer and cook until slightly thickened Remove from heat and add peas, herbs, and vinegar. Stir to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Put into 8x8 deep baking dish Meanwhile whisk egg together with 2 tsp water and a pinch of salt until mixed Cut dough to fit on top of baking dish (it is OK to fold in edges on corners and sides if slightly oversized). Cut a couple slits. Then top with egg mixture Place baking dish on baking sheet (so spill over is caught) and bake for 30 minutes Let sit for at least 5 minutes before serving
Ingredients 2 tbsp vegetable oil 1 large onion, diced small 3 large carrots, diced small 1 tsp dried thyme 1 cup brown or green lentils 4 tbsp red wine (or less of red wine vinegar) 1.5-2 cups water 1-2 tsp salt 2-3 lbs yukon gold potatoes (buy a 5 pound bag and sort out quantity, see below) Few tsp salt 3 large garlic cloves, peeled but left whole Butter or olive oil (if vegetarian or making vegan) Black pepper 4 cups chopped kale (2 bunches) 2 cloves garlic, chopped roughly Parmesan cheese Instructions (do filling and mashed potatoes concurrently to save time) Filling: In small sauce pan on medium heat, saute onion, carrot and thyme until softened (~5 minutes). Add lentils and wine and stir well, bring to lively simmer. Add 1.5 cups water and bring back to simmer. Lower heat, cover and cook until tender (~40 minutes). Add more water if necessary. Taste at end and add salt if needed. Set aside Mashed potatoes: Get a large/wide soup pot and fill one layer (only one layer) densely with potatoes. Then add water until just the last millimeter of potato is above the water line. Add whole garlic, plenty of salt/pepper and simmer for ~30 minutes or until potatoes are well cooked (more time does not hurt) Remove potatoes and garlic from water (DO NOT discard water or drain) and mash in large mixing bowl. Add butter (or olive oil if making vegan), salt and liquid from pot until you have a good consistency and flavor of mashed potatoes. Add black pepper to taste With final bit of garlic and chopped kale, heat more oil in frying pan and saute garlic briefly before adding kale (as much as you can fit). Add more kale as it shrinks until all is cooked. Stir constantly to avoid burning garlic Combine kale mixture with filling mixture and put in greased baking dish (pick a size so filling is only ~1/2 inch tall in dish and evenly spread). Add mashed potatoes and spread evenly on top with spoon (this layer can be thicker). Sprinkle heavily with parmesan cheese. Cook at 350°F for 25 minutes. During final 2 minutes, set oven to broil and brown the cheesy top (watch carefully so no burning) Remove from oven, slice and serve. It cools quickly enough