Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Good Meatloaf

1.5 - 2 lbs of hamburger
1 16oz can of meatloaf sauce
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
1/3 cup A-1 sauce
2 eggs, beaten
1 C of crushed garlic and cheese croutons
1/8 cup of canned mushrooms, drained and diced
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

Reserve 1/2 of the meatloaf sauce.

Mix remaining ingredients, form into a loaf, and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Pour off fat, top with remaining sauce, cook for an additional 10 minutes.


This was my first attempt at meatloaf. I searched for several recipes, and finally just combined a couple and added some extra stuff. I served this with a garden salad, baked potatoes, string beans, and cornbread. It went over really, really well. And no one added ketchup to the meatloaf! WOO!

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Easy College Student Stew

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 pound stew beef, or round steak cut in cubes
1 can carrots, drained
2 small potatoes, quartered
4 cubes beef bouillon or beef flavor granules or base
1 tablespoon Italian herbs
2 cups water

PREPARATION:

Put all ingredients in the slow cooker/Crock Pot. Add water and turn on Crock Pot on LOW for 8 to 9 hours. Thicken with a mixture of flour and a little cold water, if desired. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve with biscuits or a crusty bread. Makes about 3 to 4 servings.

Crockpot Beef Stew

INGREDIENTS:

10 small new potatoes, halved, unpeeled
12 small whole white onions, peeled, fresh or frozen, thawed
30 baby carrots, 8 ounces
1 red or green bell pepper, seeded, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 cups beef broth
1/2 teaspoon dried leaf oregano
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped, or 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons cold water

PREPARATION:

Place potatoes, onions, and baby carrots in slow cooker. Add bell pepper and beef. In small bowl, combine broth, oregano, paprika, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Pour over meat and vegetables.Cover and cook on LOW 9 to 10 hrs. Turn pot on HIGH. In small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in water; stir into cooked stew mixture. Cover and cook on HIGH 15 to 20 mins. or until thickened, stirring occasionally.

Some Seasoning Blends

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Use this in pumpkin and sweet potato pies, sweet potato casseroles, custards, and other desserts---like a pumpkin pie cheesecake.
INGREDIENTS:

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

Blackened Seasoning for Fish or Chicken

Recipe for blackened seasoning for fish or chicken.

INGREDIENTS:

2 teaspoons ground paprika
4 teaspoons dried leaf thyme
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, or to your taste
1 teaspoon dried leaf oregano
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Poultry Seasoning

Here's an easy homemade poultry seasoning for stuffings, casseroles, stews, and other recipes.
INGREDIENTS:

3/4 teaspoon sage, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon leaf thyme, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon pepper
dash marjoram
dash cloves, optional

How To Make a Taco Seasoning Blend

If your recipe calls for taco seasoning and you don't have a package handy, use this easy-to-make substitute.
Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 5 minutes

Here's How:
1. Spoon 1 tablespoon of minced dried onions in a small bowl or cup.
2. Add 2 teaspoons of chili powder.
3. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt.
4. Add 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
5. Add 1 teaspoon of cornstarch.

Veal Roast with Herb Crust

INGREDIENTS
1 3-pound boneless veal leg round roast
1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1 cup beef broth
2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 cup light dairy sour cream

DIRECTIONS
1. Place meat on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. In a small mixing bowl stir together bread crumbs, water, mustard, lemon juice, basil, thyme, and pepper. Spread mixture over surface of meat.
2. Insert meat thermometer. Roast meat in a 325 degree F. oven for 2-1/2 to 3 hours or until thermometer registers 160 degrees F. (If crust begins to dry, cover meat loosely with foil after 1-1/2 to 2 hours.) Transfer meat to a warm platter; cover and keep warm.
3. For sauce, skim fat from pan drippings. In a small saucepan stir beef broth into flour; add meat drippings. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Stir in the sour cream; heat through, but do not boil. Pass the sauce with meat. Makes 10 to 12 servings.