Stroganoff from Scratch

1 C Sour Cream
1 C Beef Broth - I used "Better than Broth"
1/2 C Mushrooms (3-4 LG) chopped into grape sized pieces
1 Sm Onion (3/4 C) finely chopped
1/4 C Dry Red Wine
2 Tbs Butter
1/2-3/4 TBS Paprika
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp ground pepper
Pan Drippings - scrape the drippings from the bottom of the baking pan, after cooking two batches of Swedish meatballs - much crispier after the second baking...

Sautee onions and mushrooms in butter until softened.
stir in pan drippings
add spices
add broth and wine, bring to a boil for about a minute.
lower heat to low and stir in sour cream
heat through and serve with Swedish meatballs

A variation I did not try called for adding 2 Tbs mustard, to be served over a pork cutlet.

Christmas Present

"The Flavor Bible." my wife loves me and my cooking.

Chili Leftovers 12 25 2009

1 can Hunts diced tomatoes
1 can Hunts diced tomatoes with mild chili peppers
1 can corn
1 can frijoles negro
1 can frijoles roja / pinto
1 LB leftover meat - pork roast
2 cloves garlic
1/2 - 1 diced onion
2-3 TBS Chili powder
2 TBS Cumin
1 Tsp Hot Hongarian Paprika
1 Tsp Oregeno
1 Tsp Ground Black Pepper
1/2 Tsp Coriander

Crockpot until hungry.

I think that's everything I threw in the pot Christmas morning at 3 a.m. after configuring net books for the boys.

Tuna Cassrole #1

2 cans chunk light tuna in oil (more flavorful than albacore)
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 soup can of milk (10 oz.)
1 lb cooked noodles - this inspired debate - egg noodles, elbows or farfalle
1 stalk finely chopped celery
1/2 finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic, pressed.
4 slices of cheese (swiss or cheddar) broken into small bits
breadcrumbs or 1/2 stack crushed Ritz cracker
2-4 TBS parmesian (aka sprinkle) cheese

mix all the ingredients except the breadcrumbs and parmesian in a 3-4 qt pyrex casserole dish
bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until bubbly.
mix the breadcrumbs and the parmesian, and sprinkle on top.
cook for 5 more minutes

season to taste with your choice of salt, crazy janes, Mrs. Dash, pepper.

Notes

This is not really a cookbook, but more of a scratchpad to take notes that I can access from any kitchen with internet.

Pot Roast November 09

1 Bottom Round Roast
3 Potatoes
3 Large Carrots
1 Stalk Celery
1 Med. Onion
1 Clove Garlic
1 Can Progresso Hearty Tomato Soup
Salt, Pepper, and Paprika to taste (1 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 TBS)

Layer onions and vegtables at the bottom of the Crock Pot, Beef on top.
Pour soup and seasonings over, cook on low 8-10 hours.

Remove liquid and make a gravy by simmering and adding 1-2 TBS flour mixed in 1/3 cup H2O with seasoning to taste.

Serve with rice or Egg Noodles.

Sherried Brie Mushroom soup

Sherried Brie Mushroom soup This weekend's experiment!

from http://www.talkoftomatoes.com/2008/10/21/a-perfect-soup-to-usher-in-fall-sherry-brie-mushroom/

1.5 cups dry sherry
1 T butter
10 oz mushrooms, sliced
1/3 cup shallots (can sub some red onion)
1 T lemon juice (optional)
2 T flour
2 cups beef stock
1 1/2 cups Brie cheese, trimmed and cubed
1 cup half & half
1/2 tsp pepper

Boil sherry to reduce by half; set aside. In large saucepan melt butter, stir in shrooms, shallots and lemon juice. Cook over medium high heat, 4 minutes. Stir occasionally. Stir in flour, add stock and sherry. Bring to boil then simmer 15 mintues. Add brie, stir to melt. Add 1/2 and 1/2 and pepper. Simmer 5 more minutes. Remove from heat, puree in batches (OR employ your favorite tool and mine: the immersion blender), and serve.

Chicken Stock

enjoyable reading and good ideas

http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2006/09/05/making-stock-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

Crab Cakes

We grew up on a peninsula, the Delmarva Peninsula. My ex-wife wanted the boys to take karate. I insisted they get swimming lessons. We have water on 3 sides...

Moose taught us how to crab. My most excellent neighbors stopped by today with "extra crabs" My more excellent wife decided to pick them for crab meat b/c she wanted crab cakes. Several hours later we have a pound of crab meat. My wife rocks! A real crab cake has minimal filler:

1 lb picked crab meat
2 eggs
1 TBS Mayonaise
1 TBS Dijon Mustard
1 TBS Crab seasoning (Old Bay)
2 TBS grated shallot
1 TBS grated Celery
16 Ritz crackers (low sodium are sweeter)

Crush crackers
Mix egg and all other ingredients
Add crab, mix together
form into patties, 3", about 8
Refrigerate for 45 min to 1 hr to set

Broil patties for 3-4 min per side.

Serve on hamburger rolls with Mayonaise and fresh lettuce and a tomato slice

London Broil au Montreal avec l'orange

Sounds fancy eh? especially since I don't speak Francais or Francois

2-3 TBS Olive Oil
1-2 tsp Wocestershire Sauce
2-? TBS Steak Montreal
1 Large Orange

Rub London broil in a mixture of Olive Oil and Wocestershire Sauce
Coat to taste with Steak Montreal mixture - McCormicks is fine Rub some more
coat with zest of 1/2 to one Orange on both sides rub some more
Use Sensei Kar'r San's 2 fork tenderizing style
Grill or Broil to desired temperature

Sensei Kar'r San worked in many kithchens and and taught me to hold two forks and repeatedly fork the beef to tenderize it, and allow the marinade to penetrate the meat.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Italiano

Substitute cooked Bacon and provolone for Ham and Swiss

4 chicken breasts
4 slices cooked bacon
6 slices provolone
1 egg
1/2 - 2/3 cup breadcrumb mixture
1/2 TBS Basil
2 TBS Romano Cheese
1 TBS Sweet paprika
1/2 TSP ground Pepper
1/2 TSP Oregeno

Preheat oven to 350

Pound chicken breasts to 1/4" using flat side of mallet (in plastic bag)
try slicing breasts in 1/2
beat 1 egg with water, coat chicken cutlet
coat baking sheet with oil or butter
roll up bacon & cheese in cutlet on wax paper
sprinkle with breadcrumb mixture, turn chicken to coat entire cutlet
place in pan, abt. 20 minutes

Stuffed Mushrooms - Emeril

http://www.emerils.com/recipe/6873/Sausage-Stuffed-Mushrooms

Went to the Boothwyn Farmers Market with Liam today. What to do with 2lbs of lovely large mushrooms and fresh sausage?

Potato Leek Soup

Rich in Creamy Goodness, Calories and Cholesterol

3 Leeks
4 Large Potatoes
1/4 C. Butter
1 C. 1/2 and 1/2
1 Qt. Stock (32 oz.) or 2 cans + 2 addl oz milk
1/4 tsp Parsley
2 tbs Shallot
2 tbs Celery
1/8 tsp celery seed
1/8 tsp SWEET Paprika NOT HOT Hungarian

===

4-6 strips bacon cooked crisp and crumbled
1 oz. CREAM SHERRY not fino or manzilla or vermouth
cheddar cheese
parsley


quarter potatoes
Cut root tips and dark green off of Leeks, reserving for garnish if desired
cut in 1/2 and wash leeks
chop fine
Sautee shallots and leeks in 1/2 butter 5-7 min
add potatoes, celery, stock, simmer 20-25 min
remove vegetables to bowl, mash finely (puree), return to pot
stir in 1/2 & 1/2, remaining butter, sherry and bacon heat for additional minute

garnish with parsley & cheddar cheese

slightly modified from cooks.com
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,191,133188-245192,00.html

Baked Pasta Experiment

Feeding four growing boys is a task unto itself. Ask any Army kitchen. So far they don't like Shepherd's Pie or Lasagna. Pulled Pork was a success. But what to keep in the fridge that they can reheat themselves. My mom made the best Tuna Casserole and I loved it cold or reheated. We actually had a built in Amanna Radar Range in the oven, but they bought a more modern microwave. So tonight is the first experiment in baked Pasta. Large shells (not jumbo for stuffing or tiny shells).

1 LB shells (possible substitutes: Ziti, Moscatelli, Penne)
1 LB Mozarella
1 Lb Ricotta
1 Jar Marinara Sauce
1 egg
1/4 cup grated Parm/Romano/ Locatelli
1 TSP Mrs. Dash Italian blend or Italian Seasoning & garlic
1 Clove Garlic

Preheat oven to 350

Cook Pasta as instructed to al dente
Grate 1/2 Mozarella
Slice 1/2 Moz.
In a Large mixing bowl: Mix Ricotta, Egg, grated Moz. Spices, Parm.
bowl needs to be big enough to fit pasta and mixture
Slice or press garlic and mix into Cheese/Egg mixture.
When Pasta is cooked, drain and add 1/3 pasta to Cheese Mixture, stir, add next third repeat.
Coat bottom of 9 x 12 baking pan with a little sauce
cover bottom of pan with about 1/2 pasta / cheese mixture.
spoon in abt. 1/2 sauce and spread evenly with spoon
add 2-6 slices of Moz. reserving enough to cover the top
spoon in the rest of the pasta, cover with sauce
arrange the remaining moz. slices on top.

Bake for 35-40 min