Cooking 4 Fun

More Chili

2010-02-27T18:37:00.001-08:00

2 lbs ground beef - (browned with half can of beer, chili powder, cayene pepper and garlic)

3 large cans of tomatoes (2 diced, 1 crushed)

1 can kidney beans

1 can black beans

1 can great northern beans

1 can chick peas

1 can white (sweet) corn

1 large red onion - diced

1 can of light beer (yes, beer)

Combine in the crock pot and cooked on high about 5 hours

Southern BBQ Stew

2009-10-11T10:53:00.001-07:00

3 ½ lbs. boneless pork butt
17 oz can white corn, drained
14 oz. bottle ketchup
1 large onion, diced
2 cups diced cooked potatoes
10 oz. pkg frozen peas
2 10.75 oz can condensed tomato soup
2 cups water
1 tablespoon of worchestershire
2 tablespoons of your favorite bbq sauce
dash cayenne pepper
salt
pepper
hot sauce (optional)

1. Salt and pepper the pork then place in crock pot with 1 cup water, cook on low for 6 – 8 hours, covered.
2. Remove meat (pour remaining juices into a freezer safe container for later use) cool, shred (or just squish between your fingers, since it will be falling apart anyway). Add worchestershireand bbq sauce to meat.
3. Combine all ingredients in crock pot, cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
4. Serve over white rice if desired, carefully, because you will want to eat it all in one sitting! (be sure you have taken your antacid first)

Easy Roll Ups

2008-12-26T07:16:00.000-08:00

6 or 8 Flour tortillas
thinly sliced ham, turkey or other sandwich meat
Cream cheese - softened
leafy lettuce

Spread cream cheese thinly onto tortilla.
Add sandwich meat and lettuce.
Roll tightly and refrigerate overnight.
Cut into 1/4" slices and serve with any condiment you wish, or none.

(photo to come)

Loaded Crock Pot Potato Soup

2008-12-02T06:16:00.000-08:00

Slow cooked goodness at it's best, so I'm told.

4 lbs +/- Russett potatoes - peeled, cubed
3 (14oz) cans chicken broth
1/2 lb bacon - fried crisp, crumbled (save the grease)
1 large onion - diced
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
8 oz. sour cream
1 cup (at least) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup flour
1 cup HOT water

Combine potatoes, broth, salt, pepper and onion in crock pot. Cook on low for 8 hours, or high for 4, until potatoes are tender. Use mixer to break up the potatoes some and thicken the stock.
Add sour cream and cheese, allow it to melt as you prepare the roux.
To make the roux, heat the left over bacon grease in the frying pan you used to brown the bacon. Stir in the flour, adding some if necessary, to get almost a paste-like consistency. be careful that it doesn't brown or this will darken the soup. When it's fairly thick, add HOT water stirring briskly with a whisk. Add this to the crock pot and mix well.
Add the bacon and allow to cook on low for another 30 - 45 minutes.

Serve hot, and enjoy.

(If you like to add crackers or cornbread to soups, TRY THIS WITHOUT first.
You will probably realize you won't need them)

Homemade Garlic Bread

2008-07-24T12:06:00.001-07:00

This should go well with the Lasagna...first, make a loaf of Beer Bread
As the bread cooks, microwave a stick of butter NOT MARGARINE just enough to make is really soft, but not melted! Add to this one heaping teaspoon of garlic salt. If you want to add some parsley flakes for color, you can. Mix together well and set in refrigerator while bread cools and lasagna cooks.

Once the bread has cooled, spread butter mix over a slice of bread. Put in oven set to broil. Watch this closely or it will burn quickly! When the desired crispness on top is achieved, remove from oven and serve.

(photos to follow - maybe)

Easy and Cheesy Lasagne

2008-07-13T14:42:00.001-07:00

(1) lb lean hamburger
(1) lb mild ground italian sausage
(2) regular jars of Bertoli 5 cheese sauce
(1) 8 oz. box lasagna noodles
(2) cups shredded mozzarella - divided
(1) cup grated parmesan
1/4 lb shredded gouda (optional)
(1) 15oz. container ricotta
(3) eggs beaten lightly
(1) tsp Italian seasoning
(1) tsp garlic salt
1/2 cup shredded colby jack
cayenne pepper - pinch
(1) clove garlic

Preheat oven to 350

Brown beef and sausage together, adding Italian seasoning and garlic salt, and fresh crushed garlic...drain. Be sure to crumble meat as small as possible as it cooks. I actually add about half a cup of water to help break it into smaller pieces - makes spreading it later go smoother. I'm just sayin...

While meat is cooking, mix together 1 cup mozzarella, parmesan, gouda, ricotta and eggs in large bowl.

In another bowl, combine meat with sauce, add a pinch of cayenne pepper, mix well.

Cover the bottom of a 9"x13" glass pan with sauce mix, then add a layer of noodles, followed by a layer of cheese...sauce, noodles, cheese, sauce noodles, cheese...top with remaining mozzarella.

Cover with aluminum foil, bake for 55 minutes.
Remove foil, add colby jack, bake for another 10-15 minutes.

Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving.

ENJOY!! I know I do...and so does everyone I have prepared it for. :-)

Potato Salad

2008-07-13T14:40:00.001-07:00

(Recipe to follow)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Pie

2008-07-13T14:34:00.000-07:00

PURE GOODNESS!

3 cups of choc chip cookie dough ice cream (allow to melt to room temp-2 hours or so)
1 container of cool whip
1 package vanilla pudding mix
most of a box of nilla wafers
1/2 cup butter

Crush all but about 30 nilla wafers either in a ziplok bag, or a food processor until no piece is larger than 1/8 inch. Melt butter, mix well with wafer crumbles. Line a pie plate with this mixture and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature.
Fold pudding mix into cool whip thoroughly. Add melted ice cream and mix well.
Pour into pie plate, cover with saran wrap and freeze overnight.

Be prepared for your tongue to beat your brain out as you taste this.
(you can't say I didn't warn you)

(This recipe is courtesy of Linda MacBay, my cohort in the cooking world...except she used a graham cracker crust...personally, I like mine better)

Super Easy Cole Slaw

2008-07-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

Half head of cabbage - shredded
(1) bell pepper
(1) carrot - sliced thinly
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup peanut oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
(1) tablespoon sugar

Combine ingredients in large bowl, stir well to coat with oil/vinegar.

Sweet & Tangy BBQ Sauce for Chicken

2008-07-13T14:26:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups apple cider vinegar
4 ounces tomato paste
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
3/4 tablespoon steak sauce
3/4 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tablespoon hot pepper sauce

PREPARATION:

Mix all ingredients together in a sauce pan and let simmer for 10 minutes. Marinate chicken in 2/3 of the sauce overnight. Use the other 1/3 to baste the chicken while grilling.

Rainy Day Three & Three Chili

2008-07-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

Three kinds of meat, three kinds of beans, tomatoes prepared three ways!

Oh this is GOOD!!!

I decided to get a little creative since today was a rainy day. Chili is always good, but especially on a rainy day. The fun part is letting it cook for several hours while you stay busy around the house...or just kick back and relax.

2 lbs. ground beef
1/2 lb Jimmy Dean Regular sausage
1/2 lb Italian sausage (I used "mild")
1 can dark red kidney beans
1 can navy beans (drained)
1 can black beans (drained)
1 onion quartered
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 large can diced tomatoes
chili powder
(sour cream and black olives optional)
shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese

Pour tomatoes into large crock pot or medium stock pot. Turn on medium-low heat. Drain and rinse all 3 cans of beans, the add with onions to pot. Add chili powder and stir. Brown beef in frying pan adding chili powder liberally, then drain completely (do not rinse) and add to pot. Combine the sausages and brown, adding chili powder, drain, add to pot stirring in chili powder. Bring chili to boil, stirring frequently. Reduce burner to simmer. Allow to cook at least 4 hours, stirring occasionally.

When serving, add cheese generously.
Add sour cream and black olives, if desired.

Sausage-Stuffed Chicken Breasts

2008-07-13T13:54:00.000-07:00

(shown here served with snow peas and couscous)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 lb Italian sausage, casing removed
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 T horseradish mustard
2 eggs, well beaten
1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 c Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs

Pound chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness. Sprinkle
lightly with salt and black pepper (optional). Wrap
tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2
hours.

Break up sausage and mix with Italian seasoning,
garlic powder, chili powder and horseradish mustard.
Shape sausage mixture into 4 link shapes. Wrap tightly
in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375°. Brush one side of each breast
with beaten egg. Place 1 sausage link on egg glaze.
Roll up and secure with toothpick.

Roll each breast in flour; dip in remaining beaten
egg, roll in breadcrumbs. Place on broiler pan. Bake
45 to 50 minutes or until meat thermometer inserted
into the center reaches 160°.

Serves 4.

Banana Pudding Pie

2008-07-13T13:53:00.001-07:00

My first pie from scratch!! I never thought cooking could be so fun!

(I didn't feel like typing it up, so I scanned the page from the magazine
Just click on the pic to enlarge it - I may type it up later :) )

Simple Crock Pot Chili

2008-07-13T13:48:00.000-07:00

1 ½ lbs ground chuck
1 medium onion
1 can dark red kidney beans
1 can navy beans
3 cans crushed or diced tomatoes
chili powder

Brown meat in frying pan, adding chili powder generously so it cooks into the meat. Drain grease from meat. Drain and rinse beans, add to crock pot with tomatoes. Slice then quarter onion and add to crock pot. Add meat and a bit more chili powder to crock pot and turn on high. Leave on high for 45 minutes to an hour. Stir well, and turn to low. Allow to cook 3-4 hours.

Serve hot, topped with shredded cheese, add sour cream, black olives or hot sauce to suit your taste.

Mouth Watering Crock Pot Beef Stew

2008-07-13T13:45:00.000-07:00

1 1/2 lbs beef
1 large onion
3 whole carrots
2 medium potatoes
3 cans beef broth
1 small package of frozen mixed vegetables
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 packet onion soup mix

Cut beef into 3/4" to 1" squares. Slice carrots, quarter onions, cut potatoes into 1/2" squares.
Melt half of the butter in a skillet, lightly coat beef with flour, turn heat to high and sear beef. Remove from heat after searing. Place onions, carrots, potatoes into crock pot, adding broth. Add beef on top and sprinkle soup mix across beef. Cover, cook on low approximately 8 hours.
Turn crock pot to high and add frozen vegetables, stir in so they cook thoroughly. In saucepan, melt 1/4 cup butter. Add 1/4 cup flour stirring well. Add broth from crock pot until mix becomes thin. Pour back into crock pot and stir well.

Serves 2-3 hearty appetites

Beer Bread

2008-07-13T13:34:00.001-07:00

3 cups self-rising flour
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 (12 oz) can beer (domestic works better)

Combine ingredients in mixing bowl. Mix well. Pour mixture into a buttered bread/loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes, or until bread sounds hollow when "thumped."

Best served hot, with real butter!

Fried Rice

2008-07-13T13:33:00.001-07:00

1 package bacon (cheap is ok)
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 small bell pepper (diced)
3 cups cooked rice (approx.)
1/2 stick butter
Soy sauce
Worcestershire sauce

Cut bacon into tiny pieces and fry in a large, deep frying pan until crispy.
Drain, saving bacon grease, and set aside. Melt butter and saute' onions. Add Tbsp of bacon grease for flavoring. Add bell pepper. Cook approximately 5 minutes uncovered. Reduce heat and add rice. Stir in soy sauce and Worcestershire to taste. Sprinkle bacon pieces on top and serve.

Homemade Teriyaki Sacue

2008-07-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp garlic powder

Combine ingredients in small saucepan. Simmer until powders are dissolved.
Use for marinade on chicken or beef.

Hamburger Bean Casserole

2008-07-13T13:26:00.001-07:00

1 lb ground beef
1 can light kidney beans
1 can dark kidney beans
1 can garbanzo beans
1 can baby lima beans
1 can great northern beans
1 medium onion - chopped
1 clove garlic - chopped
1 green pepper - chopped
salt
pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 brown sugar
1/4 yellow mustard

Brown beef in skillet with salt & pepper. Drain and set aside. In a large pot, add olive oil and saute' onion, pepper and garlic. Drain all the beans and add to the pot with the beef.
Stir together the ketchup, brown sugar and mustard. Mix well and add to the pot.

Cover and simmer until heated thoroughly. Be careful to not over stir.

Redneck Caviar

2008-07-13T13:25:00.000-07:00

1 container fresh salsa
1 small can corn - drain
1 can blackeyed peas - drain
1 can kidney beans - drain
1 small onion - chopped
chopped cilantro - to taste
salt
pepper

Mix all of the above. Add hot sauce if desired.
Best if made one day before use.

Serve with tortilla chips.

Morgan's Corn Chowder

2008-07-07T08:15:00.001-07:00

I know Morgan from The South Rock Grille...a restaurant I used to frequent. She also lives next door to a friend of mine. Sometime today, I decided I wanted to cook a corn chowder. Why? Beats the everlovin tar outa me! I stopped by and asked Morgan if she had a recipe I could use. Did I mention she's one of the best cooks I have ever known? Yea, she is!

She took the time to write down for me not only the ingredients, but how to cook them, too. Now, I know that's how recipes work, but I was prepared for her to just tell me! She actually wrote it all out for me! What a nice gesture!!

As I cooked, I knew I wanted to blog about it, so I took pics most every step of the way.
Here is the recipe, and following will be the photos...

1 medium onion - diced
5 or 6 ears of corn
4 medium potatoes - cubed
2 cups heavy cream
2-3 cups chicken stock
salt & pepper to taste
3 tbsp butter

Roux:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1+ cup chicken stock

Saute' onions in stock pot with butter.
Add potatoes and stock.
Bring to boil, reduce to medium, allow to cook covered about 15 minutes.

In smaller saucepan, melt 1/4 cup butter.
add flour whisking thoroughly
add enough stock to create thin consistency

Add corn to large stock pot and cook another 5 minutes

Stir in Roux, then add cream

Bring to boil, then remove from heat.

I had pita chips with mine tonight. I have enough leftover to eat on it for a couple weeks, I'm sure!!

Thanks, Morgan!! This was great!!