Perfect Turkey Recipe

Pre-heat oven to 500 degrees (trust me on this)

Remove the turkey from the brine (you did brine it, didn’t you? Well, either way...)
Pat completely dry, both inside and out
Place chopped celery and carrots on the bottom of the roasting pan (it works better than a rack)
Place turkey on top, breast-side up
Oil up turkey, and sprinkle both inside and out with salt and pepper
Quarter an onion and stuff inside the turkey
Take a good hand-full of the following herbs: Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Flat-Leaf parsley
Stuff them into the turkey as well
Place bird into the oven and roast for ½ hour - NO MORE THAN THAT.

Reduce heat to 350
Continue to roast turkey until done.

For a 14 lb turkey cooked this way, the average cooking time (unstuffed) is 2 hrs, give or take a bit. For it to be served at or around 6pm, you will want to start it at 3:45, and check the temperature (or attempt to move a leg around) at 5:30 or so. If you have need of it, the Food Network has a turkey calculator that can help you with the time... You want to bring the internal temperature to 162 degrees - remember, removing the bird from the oven doesn't immediately stop the cooking process - there will be carry-over cooking that will bring the temperature up to 165, which is recommended by the FDA...

Let it sit for about a half hour before carving, to allow juices to re-distribute.

Why the carrots and celery on the bottom? Well, it adds to the aromatics that you’ve placed on the inside of the turkey, and will help flavor it… Aroma goes a long way toward flavor…

The Best Darned Chili Mac EVER!

I'm not into diner food, per se. Honestly speaking though, if my husband offers to cook for the night, I'm all for it, even if it IS chili mac from a box and a can. Still, I know that even diner food can be absolutely delicious if the person cooking it pays attention and does it lovingly.

The other night I was not in the mood to cook at all. Strange, I know, but still... So, there I was, defrosting some pork carnitas cuts, and trying to figure out a way I could make them into something that sounded tasty... And, I decided on chili. But I needed something more, since my daughter, being a young 22 month old, can't handle a lot of spice. BUT, she loves a food adventure, and really likes flavor. So, I considered what I had...

Looking in my pantry, I found a bag of wheel noodles, some butter, some flour, some milk, and some cheese... So, technically speaking, I *could* make it from scratch... And, the idea was born...

1 lb pork carnitas, cut to 1/2 inch chunks
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can tomatoes with green peppers and onions
1 can (small) tomato paste
1 can "chili" beans (they have the spices already in them)
1 packet chili seasoning

Heat a pan to medium-high heat
Add Pork and begin to cook, moving around to brown
Once mostly cooked, add the garlic
Continue to cook until pork is done
Add tomatoes, tomato paste, beans and seasoning
Reduce heat to low, stir to combine, and let simmer

MEANWHILE....

Bring 8 quarts of salted water to a boil
Add 2 cups dry wheel pasta
Stir once water starts boiling again

While that is cooking...

2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp butter
1 c whole or 2% milk
1 c shredded cheese

Melt butter in a pan on medium heat
Add flour to the pan, and whisk to combine together
Cook on medium-low heat, whisking until you smell the flour get nutty
Add the whole milk a little bit at a time, whisking to combine
Once smoothly combined, add shredded cheese to the mix

Once pasta is cooked, drain, and add cheese sauce to it

You can either place the mac and cheese on the bottom of the plate and pour chili over it, OR you can mix the two together completely.

Another great way to do this is to make hashed browns and serve the chili over them.

Enjoy!!!

Chile Chicken Chowder (my twist)

So, I was watching Paula Dean the other night and already had a good beef stew cooking, and she started making poblano chicken chowder. I was totally intrigued. I really love making a good chicken tortilla soup, and I adore chicken corn chowder, so the idea of a somewhat-combination really got me going... I had to put my own twist on it, though, as I really love to have potatoes in my chowders... And I prefer to thicken most of my soups with corn starch rather than roux. So, here it is. Enjoy!

Yields: 12-16 servings, depending on your hunger level...

1/4 cup olive oil
3 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 large onions, cut into 1/2-inch dice
5 stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 lbs gold potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 cups frozen or fresh corn
1/8 cup minced garlic
2 to 3 small poblano peppers, roasted, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch dice -OR-
2 to 3 small anaheim peppers, roasted, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin, or more to taste
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, or more to taste
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
2 quarts water or chicken broth
1 bunch fresh cilantro leaves, minced
3 cups diced (large pieces) grilled chicken
1 Tbsp corn starch, mixed into
1 pint heavy cream

Directions

Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium heat
Add the carrots, onions, celery, garlic, peppers, salt, white pepper, cumin, and thyme
Saute for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften
Stir in the chicken bouillon
Add the chicken broth, potatoes, corn and cilantro, and cook until the carrots and potatoes are tender
Stir in the chicken and cook, stirring frequently, until the chowder is thick and the chicken is heated through
Add the cream and corn starch mixture
Bring up just to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for about two minutes, stirring constantly

Serve garnished with some fresh tomatoes and tortilla chips

If you really want to make the nice warm burn come alive, add both the poblanos and the anaheims. I found the flavor to be really fabulous.

Asparagus with Lobster and Cream Sauce...

OK - so, you think you can't have lobster because it's so expensive. Actually, it's not all that expensive if you get it on sale, and if you're mixing it into other things, like in this dish. I picked up 4 lobsters for about $24 total at my local store - they were having a sale - and if you look around, you may surprise yourself. It's a bit of work to pick them, but it's really tasty. If lobster isn't your thing, you can also do this with shrimp or crab as well...

Serves 4 people

4 small lobsters (about 1 lb each - you'll get about 5 oz of meat out of each), picked clean
1.5 lb pencil-thin asparagus, chopped into 1.5" long pieces
2 medium shallots, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
nutmeg
salt
pepper

Heat 12" non-stick skillet on medium heat
Add 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter and let melt
Add shallots and garlic
Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg*
Let sweat for about 6 minutes, until super fragrant - do not let brown
Add asparagus, and cook about 6 minutes - stirring every few minutes
Chop lobster into bite-sized pieces
Add cream and let cook until starting to thicken, stirring every few minutes
Add lobster and parmesan cheese
Let cheese thicken, and lobster fully heat up

Serve over baked potato or linguine pasta

*Nutmeg should be used with caution. I'd say only 2-3 scrapes on a microplane, if you're not used to the flavor. It brings out the sweetness of the lobster, but can overpower it if you aren't careful. No more than about 5-6 scrapes tops in this dish, at this serving size.

Tex-Mex Rice...

I can't call this Mexican rice - it's not. It's not technically Spanish rice, either... It's hispanically inspired, thus the tex-mex. I did this in my 10-cup rice cooker, but you can do it in a single pan with a good lid. It's easy to do, inexpensive, very tasty, and leftovers are great in a tortilla.

Prep time: About 15-20 minutes
Cook time: About 20 minutes
Serves 6-8 hungry people

1.5 lbs ground meat (I like 2/3 turkey, 1/3 pork)
4 cloves garlic
1 pasillo pepper, minced
2 red bell peppers
2 yellow bell peppers
1 jalepeno pepper, minced (you can seed and de-vein for less heat)
1 large red onion, diced
2 cups black beans, cooked
2 cups rice, cooked
1 cup corn, cooked
salt and pepper to taste

Brown the meat in a pan and, once almost completely done, add garlic and peppers
Stir to combine, and let cook a few minutes
Add onion, and cook for about 5-7 minutes on medium heat, until softened
Add remaining ingredients, stirring to combine and heat

I like serving this with homemade guacamole, cotija cheese, and creme freshe.

Enjoy!

~M

Oaxacan-inspired Shrimp Salad

So, I play around in the kitchen a lot with different foods and ideas. Many times, the weather inspires me to put together whatever it is I end up serving. Other times, it's budget that constrains me... Tonight, both of these were in play, but there was nothing cheap about what came of it...

There are two componants to this salad - the first is the meat, namely shrimp. You can also do this with tilapia fillets if you like, or scallops. I wouldn't recommend any seafood that was meaty or dark, since this ends up being really delicately flavored... The second is the rest of the salad, which can be prepared up to several hours in advance...

Prep time: About 30 minutes
Cook time: About 2 minutes

Ingredients

1 lb 51-60 shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 habanero pepper, seeded and chopped
1 lime, zested and juiced
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp Kosher salt
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper

1 can (12 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups fresh or flash-frozen (now thawed) yellow corn
1 large red onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 habanero pepper, minced
1 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
1 lime, zested and juiced
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 avocados, diced
1/2 package of queso fresco cheese, diced
2-3 Tbsp Kosher salt
1-2 tsp fresh ground black pepper

In a plastic ziploc bag, combine the first portion of the ingredients together, and let marinade at least 1 hour.

Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients together, and let sit in the fridge until the shrimp have finished marinating.

Heat a large skillet to high heat. Once you see the beginnings of smoke come off the pan, add all the shrimp at once, and stir constantly. This size shrimp should be perfectly cooked in about 1-2 minutes.

Add to the salad, and let chill in the fridge. Season to taste and serve cold.

Lime Coriander Garlic Aoli

Condiments, when good, are the best things in the world for food... I came up with this to go with Tilapia, since it's such a bland fish. I like to spice up my flavors and go wild with them, so this was a perfect way to do it. This aoli (basically, a home-made mayo with garlic added), has the flavors of coriander seed, lime, parsley, thyme, and chives in it. The color is green, and the taste is delicious. I recommend using it on fish tacos, onion rings, and burgers, too!

3 egg yolks
5 cloves fresh garlic
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp lime juice (about 1/2 a lime)
2 tsp fresh lime zest (off the 1/2 lime from above)
2 Tbsp coriander seed
2 Tbsp parsley, chopped
1 Tbsp thyme
2 Tbsp chives
1 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper

In your food processor, add all ingredients together, reserving the olive oil.

Blend, and slowly stream in olive oil until you get a nice emulsion going.

Add salt and pepper to taste, and blend for another minute or so.

This will keep in your fridge for about a week or so. It makes about 1 1/2 cups of aoli.

Enjoy!

Toad In The Hole

Sounds a bit off, but really, it's rather tasty, if you like toast and over-easy eggs. Enjoy!

serves 1

2 eggs
2 slices bread
butter
salt
pepper

Heat a flat pan or skillet to medium.
Using a cookie cutter or knife, cut a hole in the middle of your bread (a 2" hole is recommended)
Place butter into the pan and spread to cover the bottom of it
Place bread onto the bottom of pan
Crack eggs into the hole, and season with a little salt and pepper
Let sit about 2 minutes, or until the whites are firm
Flip, and let sit another two minutes

Serve!

Tex-Mex Braised Beef Short Ribs

OK, so this is really heavy on beef fat. Why? Because these are short ribs, and even if you get some of the cleanest-cut beef in the world, it will still render down. Deal with it. Skim it off, remove it, and move on. These are tasty, and if cooked properly, they'll melt in your mouth.

This is actually a mild version of what I normally would make. If you want to add some heat to it, include 2 serrano chiles to it, stabbed but left whole. This will flavor the whole thing, but you can remove the chiles at the end...

Oh, when looking for different flavored boullion cubes, look to your "international" or "mexican" aisle of the supermarket - or go to a local mexican supermarket. They're sure to have it...

4 lbs beef short ribs
2 Tbsp kosher salt
2 Tbsp cracked black pepper
1 Tbsp cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp ground coriander seed
1/4 cup olive oil
4 Tbsp water

2 pablano or passillo peppers, diced
1 onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 boullion cube garlic
1 boullion cube onion
2 cups water

Rub the short ribs with the spices, salt, olive oil and water combination. Let marinade for 24-48 hours in the fridge.

12 hours prior to being ready to serve, place all the ingredients together in a large crockpot, and set to low. Walk away and enjoy the rest of the day.

When you're ready to serve, fish out the bones, and fork-pull the meat from the remaining gristle and fat.

Serve as filling for tostadas, quesadillas, tacos, enchilladas, whatever you'd like...

and enjoy!

Southwest Chicken Egg Rolls

Makes 30 small “snack” egg rolls, or 15 large egg rolls

This actually contains 2 recipes, one for roasted corn and black bean Pico De Gallo, and one for the actual southwest chicken egg rolls… The Pico De Gallo is great for a chip dip, served mixed in a salad, or even as part of a chili…

Pico De Gallo

5 large red tomatoes, seeded and diced
5 large yellow tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 red onion, diced
1 12 oz can black beans, rinsed
2 c frozen corn, roasted in the oven with olive oil
2 oz cilantro, chopped
1 large lime, (just the juice and zest of it)
1 serrano chile, seeded and minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper

Mix all ingredients together, salt and pepper to taste.

Tip: The longer you let it sit, the better the flavors mix together.

Southwestern Chicken Egg Rolls

2 pkg medium or large egg roll wrappers
1 whole chicken, roasted, picked and chopped
1 full recipe of Pico De Gallo
1 lime, juice and zest
2 oz cilantro, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced

Mix all ingredients together (except the wrappers), and let sit about 1 hr
When ready, get a small dish of water to help seal the wrappers
Follow wrapping instructions for making egg rolls
Make sure egg rolls and wrappers are kept under damp cloths or paper towels to keep them supple
Try not to let them touch one another, and lay a damp paper towel between layers if necessary
Heat vegetable or peanut oil to 360 degrees
Carefully deep fry each one until skins are turning a golden brown
Remove and place onto a drain rack
Serve hot, with sour cream, and enjoy!

Easy, one-pot potato curry

Serves 6

1 onion, diced
2 tbsp olive oil
2 chicken breasts, cubed
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp curry powder
2 large baking potatoes, cubed
1 ½ c water
2 Tbsp kosher salt
Cracked black pepper
1 pkg (12-16 oz) frozen mixed veggies
¼ c cornstarch slurry (half and half cornstarch and cold water, mixed)

Heat a skillet to medium high and add olive oil and onion
Cook on medium high, stirring constantly, until onions are just tender
Add chicken, garlic and curry powder
Continue to cook until chicken is just barely done
Add potatoes, water, salt and pepper
Cover, and let cook on medium heat about 10-15 minutes, or until potatoes are just done
Add frozen mixed veggies, stir, and cover again
Cook another 3-5 minutes, or until veggies are cooked and heated through
Add slurry if necessary, and bring up to a boil
Let cook 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly

Serve and enjoy!

Red Flannel Hash

Want to know what to do with your corned beef leftovers... Well, if you had any? This is an old family recipe of mine that I loved - even though, I must admit, I'm not a huge fan of beets. If you aren't a huge fan of beets, either, don't worry. Trust me, you'll find that it's actually quite tasty. If you ARE a huge fan of beets, this is a fun way to get them into your diet.

2 large baking potatoes, cleaned and diced
1/2 c water
2 Tbsp salt
1 Tbsp cracked black pepper
1 large onion
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 can diced beets**
8-10 oz corned beef, cooked and diced

In a large frying pan, place diced potatoes onto the bottom
Add water and seasoning
Cover and let steam on medium heat until water is completely evaporated (about 10 minutes - potatoes should be completely cooked at this point and just need browning)
Add onion and olive oil, and stir to combine completely
Add beets and corned beef
Stir to combine completely
Cook about 5 minutes to completely heat through
Serve

Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage

1 package corned beef
12-16 oz dark beer
12-16 oz beef broth (or water and 2 beef boullion cubes)
4 cloves garlic, minced
6 stalks celery, chopped
1 lb carrots, chopped
4 LARGE baking potatoes, cleaned and chopped
1 medium head cabbage, chopped
1 large onion, chopped

In a large crock pot, place 1 chopped potato on the bottom
Lay corned beef over top, and seasoning packet
Add garlic, celery, carrots and onion
Add remaining potatoes and cabbage
Add all liquid and boullion cubes

Season with salt and pepper to taste
Slap lid on
Turn on around 10 or 11am at low, to serve by 7pm.

Enjoy!!!

Fresh, easy mayo...

Mayonnaise is *so* easy to make, it's hard to believe anyone would honestly buy it unless you're making HUGE batches of stuff for a party. This is so much healthier for you, not to mention easier on your budget - and it only takes about 5 minutes!

The one thing to note is at the very last portion of this recipe: Do not keep for more than a week. Because this does not have preservatives, this will not keep safely past the 1 week mark. Also, as this is an emulsion, it won't freeze very well - thus the small portion yield. But - it's really great to do, and if you don't use Mayo very often, it's a great thing to do Sunday night after you've planned the week's meals.

Yield: 1.5-2 cups

2 egg yolks
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon powdered mustard OR
1 tsp mustard
4 to 5 teaspoons lemon juice or white champagne vinegar
1-1/2 cups olive oil
4 tsp hot water (to help pasteurize the egg yolks)

Beat yolks, salt, mustard, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice in food processor and blend
Add about 1/4 cup oil, drop by drop, beating vigorously all the while
Beat in 1 teaspoon each lemon juice and hot water
Add another 1/4 cup oil, a few drops at a time, beating vigorously all the while
Beat in another teaspoon each lemon juice and water
Add 1/2 cup oil in a very fine steady stream, beating constantly
Mix in remaining lemon juice and water
Slowly beat in remaining oil

If you like, thin mayonnaise with a little additional hot water

Cover and refrigerate until needed

Do not keep longer than 1 week

Amazingly simple chicken noodle soup

Time: about 30 minutes
Yields: about 8 large servings

1 whole rotisserie chicken
2 quarts water
2 chicken boullion cubes
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 long fresh rosemary twig
1 Tbsp fresh thyme, minced
1 Tbsp fresh oregano leaves, minced
1 large yellow pepper, minced
3 large carrots, peeled or chopped
6 medium celery stalks, chopped
4 c uncooked pasta

Salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

Debone and strip rotisserie chicken completely, removing skin (reserve the bones for stock if you wish)
Bring water to a boil
Add herbs, garlic, and boullion cubes
Cook on medium high about 5 minutes
Add carrots and celery and let cook about 10 minutes
Add chicken and noodles
Let noodles cook to al dente and season with salt and pepper

Serve and enjoy!

Summer Feast

This goes great with the pesto from my last post... Enjoy!

serves about 8 people

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
3 chicken breasts, thawed and cut into small strips
2 bell peppers (I prefer one red and one yellow)
1 lb asparagas, chopped into 1" pieces
1 lb zucchini, chopped into 1" long pieces, and quartered
2 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp pepper
1 lb ravioli (I like spinach and cheese ravioli) cooked and drained
1/2 c pesto sauce

In a 14" wide sautee pan, heat olive oil and butter to medium-high heat.
Cook chicken til just done.
Add peppers and asparagas (reserving tips).
Sautee for about 6 minutes, moving fairly constantly in pan.
Add zucchini, asparagas tips and season.
Cook another 2-3 minutes.
Add ravioli and pesto sauce.
If necessary, add up to 1/2 c of reserved pasta water.
Mix completely and serve.

Best Pesto EVER!

My husband calls this the Elvis Pesto - as in, the King of Pestos... Even though there isn't a banana, a slice of bacon or a drop of peanut butter anywhere near it. But, I have to say, it's the best pesto I've ever made, and that's saying something. The secret? The aged gouda - I kid you not, it's the best stuff ever.

yields about 1 c pesto

5 cloves garlic
1/2 c toasted pine nuts
1/4 c 3-yr-old aged gouda (you can get it at Costco)
3 fronds basil, all leaves
1 stick rosemary (about 4" long), stripped of leaves
1 c thawed spinach leaves, wrung in a cloth to dry out excess water
3 Tbsp parmesan cheese
2 tsp kosher salt
Olive Oil as needed

Blend together in a food processor until completely chopped.
Remove feeder from top of processor and, with processor running, drizzle olive oil into mix until just wet. Do not add too much!

Add to pastas, chicken, pork, or use as a spread on sandwiches or breads.

Rustic Tuscan Soup

This is my version of what the Olive Garden serves... My husband has stated several times that this is SOOO much better, it's not even funny.

Serves about 8 hungry people

1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 lb thick-cut prosciutto, cut into small bits
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 lbs mild Italian sausage
5 lbs potatoes, small cubed
4 stalks celery, small diced
2 Tbsp Kosher Salt
1/2 gal water
2 cubes chicken bouillon
1 pint half and half
2 bunches Kale, de-veined and chopped

In a large stockpot, heat olive oil to medium high.
Add prosciutto and garlic and let cook over medium heat until meat begins to crackle
Add the sausage, breaking it up into small chunks
Cook until sausage is completely cooked through
Add potatoes, celery and salt
Add water and bouillon
Bring to a boil, and reduce to a quick simmer
Let cook until potatoes are just fork-tender
Add half and half and stir
Add kale and stir through
Cook another 5 minutes on medium heat

Serve with rustic bread.

Haluski

This is an old depression-era recipe from the Hungarians in my family. It’s extremely inexpensive, and can be served with practically any veggie you like to make a complete meal. This is actually a half recipe (we Hungarians are big eaters, with big families).

Serves 6-8 hungry people
5 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and washed
1 lb cottage cheese
1 lb bacon

½ c all purpose flour
1 egg

Dumplings:
Take 2 medium-large potatoes out of the 5 lbs and shred them.
Combine the shredded potatoes with flour and egg
Season with salt and pepper
Set aside

Chop bacon into ½ inch pieces and fry on medium heat

Bring 4 qts water and 1 Tbsp salt to a rolling boil
Chop remaining potatoes and place into boiling water
Drop dumplings into water, using large spoon to separate into about 1” balls
Cook until potatoes are tender and dumplings are done
Drain potatoes
Drain off bacon
Combine bacon, potatoes dumplings and cottage cheese

Season with salt and pepper and serve hot

Mexican dipping sauce

1 c crème fraiche (or sour cream)
½ tsp fresh cilantro, minced
½ tsp fresh chives, minced
½ tsp lime zest
1 tsp lime juice
½ tsp kosher salt

Combine all ingredients together and serve with potatoes

Oven Fried Potatoes

3 medium potatoes, washed and unpeeled

1 Tbsp kosher salt
1 Tbsp cracked black pepper
1 Tsp granulated garlic
1 Tsp garlic powder
1 Tsp onion powder
½ Tsp smoked paprika

3 Tbsp olive oil

Preheat oven to 500 degrees
Slice potatoes into 1/8 inch thick slices
Lay on large cookie sheet that’s been lined in foil (easy clean-up)
Coat both sides with olive oil
Mix spices together and sprinkle on both sides
Roast in oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown
Serve warm

Chicken with Salsa Verde

Chicken with Salsa Verde

Serves 4

4 large chicken breasts, thawed
1 c salsa verde
1 Tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp cracked black pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil

1 c salsa verde (held in reserve for serving)

Combine all ingredients into large zip-lock bag and let marinade for 4 hrs in the fridge
Preheat grill to 300 degrees
Pound chicken breasts to even thickness
Place chicken on clean, pre-heated grill
Leave un-touched on grill about 2-3 minutes
Turn 15 degrees around on same side (for grill marks)
Leave another 1-2 minutes
Turn over to other side and leave on grill about 2 minutes
Turn 15 degrees around on same side (for grill marks)
Leave another 1-2 minutes
Remove from heat and cover with tin foil about 5-10 minutes
Serve with a side of Salsa Verde for garnish

Chicken with smashed "dirty" potatoes and gravy

Comfort abounds in this classic dish. I modernized it a bit, gave it a little twist, and came up with something delicious that was easy to make, very little mess, and quick to create.

Serves about 4 hungry people

2 Tbsp olive oil
3 large chicken breasts, skinned, boned and sliced into bite-sized chunks
1/2 onion, thinly diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pkg powdered chicken gravy
1 pkg powdered turkey gravy
2 c cold water

4 large baking potatoes, UNPEELED, and diced
2 Tbsp kosher salt
1 stick butter
2/3 c milk

In a large skillet, heat olive oil, and add onion
Cook on medium-high heat, stirring, until onion turns slightly clear
Add garlic and chicken
Season with salt and pepper to taste
Cook until chicken is just done, then add gravy mixes
Add water and stir until combined
Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, and let cook

Meanwhile...

In a large pot, bring water and salt to a boil
Add diced potatoes and cook until just fork tender
Drain and place back into pot
Place onto VERY low heat and let potatoes dry a bit
Add 1/2 the butter and smash together
Add milk, and season to taste
Add the remaining butter and stir until completely combined

Serve with veggies and enjoy!

Decadent Bolognese sauce...

I can't take credit for the idea behind this... It's all Guy Fieri's fault for inspiring me to make something this good. If you haven't seen the Italian Stallion meal that he does on Guy's Big Bite, I highly recommend it. This is my version... It takes a LONG time to simmer, but it's well worth the time...

2 Tbsp olive oil
6 large pork picnic ribs, cut in half
salt/pepper

1 lb hot italian sausage
1 large white onion, diced
1 large red bell pepper, diced
4-5 garlic cloves, sliced
2 6 oz cans tomato paste
2 16 oz cans italian seasoned diced tomatoes
2 8 oz cans sliced mushrooms

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large, deep non-stick saucepan, heat olive oil to almost smoking
Season ribs with salt and pepper and place carefully into pan
Do not move the ribs for a good 3-4 minutes
Once a nice dark gold crust has been created, turn the ribs
Brown all sides
Place all pieces into oven-safe pan and place in pre-heated oven for 2 hrs

Meanwhile...

Place sausage into pan and brown
Place vegetables and garlic into pan
Cook until onions just go translucent
Add tomato paste and stir through
Add remaining ingredients to the pan and stir completely
Lower heat to low and simmer slowly

Once ribs have roasted in the oven...

Remove from the oven and place into the sauce
Continue to simmer another 3-4 hrs

Serve with noodles or over rice

Twice-baked Sausage-stuffed Potatoes

I cannot take credit for this one… I found it at www.allrecipes.com, and tweaked it to my liking. Yum! Enjoy.

Serves 4 hungry people

4 large baking potatoes
½ lb ground meat
1 medium onion
8 large fresh sage leaves
¼ c fresh (not packed) oregano leaves
6-8 thyme stems, de-leaved (keep the leaves, not the stems)
2 long stalks tarragon
3 cloves garlic
1 c sour cream
4 Tbsp butter
Salt
Pepper
2 c shredded cheese (for topping)

Slice potatoes in half and bake in the oven or microwave until completely cooked through.
Let cool and scoop out insides of potatoes carefully.
Brown ground meat in a pan.
In a food processor, or with a sharp knife, mince onion, herbs and garlic together.
Add salt and pepper and mix together.
Mix ½ the herb mixture into the browning meat.
Add potatoes to the meat and mash together.
Add remaining herb mixture, sour cream and butter, then stir.
Stuff the completed mixture back into the potato jackets
Top each with a ½ c of shredded cheese.
Place under broiler and melt cheese.

Serve.

There will be leftover stuffing – I’ve found it’s a great snack to munch on for later, or dip for crackers.

Suizza Meatballs

Tired of the same old Swedish Meatballs? Try this version! It's a GREAT alternative.

Makes about 8 servings (4 meatballs each with about 2 c noodles)

Meatballs:
2 lb sage sausage (whatever brand you choose)
1 lb ground turkey

Sauce:
2 tbsp oil or melted butter
2 Tbsp all purpose flour
½ c water
1 ½ c milk
2 c Colby-jack cheese, shredded
1 ½ c swiss cheese

1 lb egg noodles cooked per instructions and drained

Directions for Meatballs:
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
Mix meat together completely
Roll into 1” balls and place on a jelly roll or other lipped pan
Bake about 25 minutes or until nicely brown and cooked through.

Directions for Sauce:
In a medium saucepan, heat oil
Add flour while whisking briskly
Switch to a wooden spoon and stir over medium low heat until it smells nutty and begins to turn color
**SLOWLY** add water while whisking briskly to get rid of lumps
Let sit about 4-5 minutes, then slowly add milk while whisking briskly
Cook about 10 mins on medium low, stirring constantly
Add cheese about a ¼ c at a time, stirring constantly

Mix noodles and cheese sauce together
Add meatballs and stir to combine