Pack up the holidays that packed on the pounds!

The Holidays are finally over.  Everyone is thinking of the Fresh Start right around the corner and coming up with their resolutions.  Mine has been forced on me, I'm going Gluten Free.  Hurray?  I've never been much for making New Years' Resolutions because I've also never been one to keep them.  This year will be different because if I don't keep this one my body will punish me almost immediately. 
In October Mike and I began a homeopathic HGC inspired diet.  I lost 10 pounds, he's lost over 30 now.  This diet consisted of a breakfast 'shake' made with almond milk with lunch and dinners of 3 ounces lean meat and two cups of vegetables.  We were also given snacks of two pieces of fruit a day and a few almond crackers.  This diet is dairy, fat, carb and gluten free.  This is what began as the diagnosis for my for Celiac Disease. 
The first two weeks of this thing was miserable, going from eating rice, pasta and bread on almost a daily basis to not at all.  Also, I had to learn an entirely new way to cook!  Cooking without even non-stick spray or my favorite fat free half and half for creamy sauces was daunting but a challenge I eventually embraced. 
I adapted many of my regular recipes and developed some new ones.  I discovered some super substitutes and discovered new foods. 
While on this diet my doctor and I realized that my body was finally functioning the way it should.  We have discovered that if I'm going to have milk it should either be almond or organic, drug free dairy and that a gluten free diet has been what my body has been screaming for for years.  No wonder I've felt like crap for so long. 
Well, I'm on my way to becoming a healthier, happier, more fit person.  Through this diet change and taking up karate I already feel a little better.  I hope you join me on this journey of new discoveries in food.  And I promise that what I come up with will certainly stick to the 'No Cream of Crap' promise of healthy, delicious, budget friendly and quick to prepare recipes. 

Even zombies have a sweet tooth!

This is my latest cake creation!

The brain is red velvet with a home made butter cream icing and covered in a home made marshmallow fondant.  The blood is seedless raspberry jelly.  The bottom is a yellow cake with more butter cream and then royal icing for the decorations.

I only hope that it tastes as good (or gross) as it looks.

Challenge!

I don't know how many read this blog but I'm putting forward a challenge to every single one of you.  If you dare, post as a comment on your best ideas for saving money on food. 
Today food is one of the most expensive necessities that we cannot live without.  Obvious, huh?  Thanks to the fact that this country actually pays our farmers NOT to grow food and encourages them to ship whatever food they do grow to other countries, our cost for food keeps increasing with no end in sight.  I don't know about you but I love food.  I love my country.  This doesn't mean that I like what both of them do to my bottom line.  (You can take that figuratively and literally.)  
Here is my tip: Quality has a price and its worth it!  For the past few years we have had a vegetable garden.  This was the worst year ever.  I didn't reap even though I sewed.  I learned the hard way that quality of seeds and transplants is really important.  I will never buy from 'big box' sources again.  It costs a little more but Seed Savers Exchange (www.seedsavers.org) will be the only place I ever buy from. 

Definately NOT Kosher...

How do you make six servings of a meal for under $5 TOTAL?  I know most of you are saying that it is impossible but take my word for it- it is not only possible but delicious.
Ham and Beans
1 lb ham trimmings/ends/assorted pieces (I found this at our Super Walmart for $2.99 and was really surprised that it was good quality meat)
1 lb dry navy beans ($0.59)
2 cans chicken broth ($0.59 each)
1 T sage
Big handful of salt
1 T corn starch, optional
The night before add dry beans and salt to a really big bowl.  Cover the beans and an additional 3 inches above with heavily salted water.  I've found that this way the beans soak up the salt with the water and have better flavor than salting them afterward.
In the morning drain the beans and add to a large crock pot.  Trim any fat off the ham and chop into bite size pieces.  Add these along with the chicken broth and sage to the crock pot and add enough water to raise the water about 2 inches above.  Stir and cover set pot on low all day, about 8-10 hours.  Occasionally check to see if water is running low, if so add just enough water to come to the top of the beans and ham.  If you like a really thick Ham & Beans like I do, add a T of corn starch to cold water to dissolve and add this in about the last 15-20 minutes of cooking.

An Oldie But A Goodie!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Mmm, (almost) year old bread.

Yes folks, the date on the jar is correct. This bread was made in October of last year.
I've never know anyone I've given my 'canned' bread to to wait more than a few days before cracking it open so I just had to make sure for myself that it would last this long.
I hid the jar way in the back of my pantry so I would forget, which worked pretty well until this morning when I was craving something sweet but filling for breakfast. I had my doubts, I mean 10 month old bread, yuk. I unscrewed the ring and was happy to have to pry the lid off. That meant that it was sealed up tight this whole time. I just couldn't believe it, it was as moist as the day I made them and tasted just as fresh!
Any kind of quick bread can be baked right in the jar like this, just make sure to spray the inside with nonstick spray and when they come out immediately place the lid and ring on. When the middle of the lids are completely depressed they are sealed air tight, this is accomplished by the hot air in the jar vacuum sealing the lid on. You should hear a little pop when it seals. When the jars are completely cooled label them. Don't forget to label! No one wants to eat mystery bread that's who knows how old.
I don't know the true shelf life of these but I would have to assume they aren't the infinite lifespan of a Twinkie. Especially since they taste a whole hell of a lot better.

Sloppy Joe, sloppy, sloppy Joe

Manwich, schmanwich. I want real food!

Yesterday was a day that screamed for something warm, hearty and comforting for lunch.  I had cooked, crumbled ground beef, hamburger buns and peppers.  Hm, Sloppy Joe's!
A while back after reading the ingredients on a Manwich can I was surprised.

INGREDIENTS:
Tomato puree (water, tomato paste), high fructose corn syrup, distilled vinegar, corn syrup, less than 2% of: salt, sugar, dehydrated onions, dehydrated red and green bell peppers, chile pepper, tomato fiber, spices, guar gum, xanthan gum, dehydrated garlic, carob bean gum, natural flavors.

 Yes, the 2nd, 4th and 6th ingredients are sugar!  And exactly what are guar gum, xanthan gum and carob bean gum?  I want a sandwich not candy!  

The first couple of recipes I tried were OK, but around here OK isn't good enough to get a second try.  The one I tried last night was THE ONE!  http://www.recipezaar.com/Manwich-Copycat-198485 

I did make some changes, so here is my version:

1 lb ground beef, cooked, drained and crumbled

1 cup ketchup

1 T mustard (I used Jack Daniel's mustard because I don't like the neon yellow stuff)

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

1 T chili powder

1 T paprika

1 small chopped onion

1 chopped green pepper

1 T chopped garic

Saute the onion, pepper and garlic until softened but not mushy.  Mix everything else in and heat through.  

Yesterday I made six pounds of this stuff, that is how good it was.  No, we didn't eat it all.  We had a little less than a pound for lunch, another pound in the fridge and the rest was put into freezer bags and well, frozen.  In the time it took me to make lunch, I made another 5 meals!

Saving by making- bread, baby!

Give us this day...

I jumped in head first and landed in flour.  I was at Satan's (aka Sam's Club) a quite a while ago and saw they had 25 lb bag of bread flour for $7.  A loaf of bread at the grocery costs, when on sale, $2.50.  Stand back, I'm about to do math.  That's 2.5 divided, no multiplied, carry the zero, that's not right.  My brain hurts, let's just say that if I waste (shame) most of the flour I will still have saved a frillion pennies.  And with Gryffin eating PB&J's like crazy and toast with breakfasts, we go through a lot of bread.  Plus with Fall Soup season on the brink, what's better than some fresh bread with soup?
For years I've struggled with bread machines.  When they first came out I wanted one so bad.  Mike and his Mom bought me one for my birthday one year. I used the hell out it until it gave up the ghost.  Got another one used and ran it into the ground too.  

I used to think mixing, kneading, proofing, waiting made for a whole day to make one loaf of bread.  And sometimes it does, depending on the recipe.  However, I've found a recipe that in less than 1 hour, most of it resting time, I can have a loaf of bread in the oven.
This recipe is from breadworld.com and is so quick, easy and delicious it's unbelievable that it requires so little work.

Rich White Bread (Food Processor recipe) Makes 1 loaf. 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons sugar 1 envelope FLEISCHMANN'S RapidRise Yeast (or 2 1/4 teaspoons) 1-1/4 teaspoons salt 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, cut into pieces 1 egg 3/4 cup warm water (120° to 130°F) Directions Insert metal blade in food processor bowl. Add flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, and salt; process 5 to 10 seconds to combine. Add butter and egg. Begin processing, then slowly pour warm water through feed tube just until dough forms a ball, about 10 to 15 seconds (all water may not be needed). Continue processing for 60 seconds to knead dough. Carefully remove dough from processor bowl to lightly floured surface. Cover; let rest on floured surface 10 minutes. Roll dough to 12 x 7-inch rectangle. Beginning at short end, roll up tightly as for jelly roll. Pinch seam and ends to seal. Place, seam side down, in greased 8-1/2 x 4-1/2-inch loaf pan. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 30 to 45 minutes. Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes or until done. Remove from pan; let cool on wire rack. Nutritional Information: Per serving: Serving size: 1 slice (1/12 of recipe) calories 159; total fat 4g; saturated fat 2g; cholesterol 25mg; sodium 280mg; total carbohydrate 27g; dietary fiber 1g; protein 4g.

Just as an example, the other day I had the ingredients out, mixed and covered for the first rise in 5 minutes.  That gave me a 10 minute break to put on some eggs to hard boil, clean up the mess, empty and refill the dishwasher.  Then it was roll, put in the pan and cover for another 30.  During that time I put on my makeup, did my hair, brushed my teeth and ruined them with a cup of coffee.  Then the bake time was spent playing with Gryffin.
Fresh, home made bread with only about a 15 minute investment of time. It took me longer than that to wrestle the behemoth bread machine to the counter, plug it in and program it!  Not to mention all the time saved by not having to curse at it, clean it and figure out why the crust was nasty.

Another exciting installment of...

Menu Monday!

Monday- Skips (skipped the meal), we ate lunch at an Italian buffet and went a little crazy knowing that it would be the last time we eat out for a long while.
Tuesday- Bourbon Chicken with rice, broccoli and carrots
Wednesday- Sloppy Joe's, BBQ beans and Mom Sherry's cole slaw
Thursday- Keil Basa and cabbage
Friday- Broiled Tilapia with macaroni and cheese and lima beans
Saturday- Ham and beans with cornbread

Jambalaya- but no craw fish pie-ya

We love Jambalaya. Looooove. We used to use the Zataran's mix, then they changed it and all I could taste was salt. Even their low sodium (which is a joke) tasted like a rice covered salt lick. I looked everywhere for an easy and quick Jambalaya recipe that I didn't have to drive to Louisiana for the ingredients to. Paula Deen saved me.
I love that Southern Belle. I haven't had a recipe of hers yet that wasn't the bees knees. They aren't exactly figure friendly but, dang if they ain't good. Besides, going to college in Tennessee gave me a love of Southern food that I still can't shake after almost 20 years.
This recipe is a two part-er. First, there is the mix of dry ingredients that you can keep in an air tight container for just about ever. I believe one year for Christmas I actually packaged it up to give as gifts. Second, is the wet and meaty.
Jambalaya Mix
1 cup long grain rice
3 T dried minced onion
1 T dried parsley flakes
4 T beef bouillon cubes ( I omit this altogether and add a can of chicken stock and reduce the water to 1/2 cup)
1/2 t dried thyme
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t ground black pepper ( I omit this too )
1/4 t cayenne pepper ( I only use 1/8th because my son isn't quite ready for the level of spice we like yet)
1/4 t salt ( yup, I leave this out as well )
Combine it all together and store in an air tight container.
Jambalaya
2 1/2 cups water (unless you aren't using the bouillon cube in the mix, then it's just 1/2 cup and a can of chicken broth)
1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes & chilies
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 lb meat of your choice ( I generally use more though. My usual is 1 lb sausage and a 1/2 lb shrimp. I've used it with chicken, kiel basa and ground beef too)
In a Dutch oven or large pot cook any kind of meat you might be using, except seafood. Add everything else and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover and reduce heat to simmer and do not touch for 20 minutes. Add the shrimp at the end and cook until just pink. Let this sit for a few minutes until most, if not all the liquid is absorbed.
I serve this with, of course, cornbread!
Now, if you are looking to make dinner even easier... got a rice cooker? Throw the mix and liquids in the bottom and the cooked meats in the steamer basket. I tried this the other night and this is what I got: picture above.
It was awesome!
Want a faster version: use minute rice. Brown the meats, add the liquid and bring to a boil. Add the mix, cover and let sit for 5 minutes. That is all there is to it!
Want a vegetarian version: omit the bouillon and use the 2 1/2 cups water. Instead of meat, add black beans, pinto beans and corn.
Now how is that for versatile!

Sun-dried Tomato Fettucini with Chicken

Sun-dried tomato cream sauce with chicken and fettucinni

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into strips
1 T olive oil
1 heaping t of chopped garlic
1 T butter
1 can low sodium chicken broth
1/3 c sun dried tomatoes, chopped
12 oz box of fettucini
1 cup  fat free 1/2 and 1/2
1 T dried basil
Salt & Pepper to taste




In a large pot of salted water boil the fettuccine per box instructions.  In olive oil lightly brown chicken and remove.  Turn of heat and add butter, garlic and 1/3 can broth.  Scrape up all the yummy bits from the bottom of the pan.  Add the tomatoes and remaining broth and bring to a boil until tomatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.  Reduce heat and add 1/2 and 1/2 and basil, bring to a low simmer until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.  Add chicken back to sauce and salt & pepper to taste.  Serve over fettuccine.

Miso love this soup!

Miso Soup

3 packets Dashi (Bonito flakes)

4 quarts water

2 T red Miso (soybean paste)

2 T white Miso

3 T Wakame flakes (dried seaweed)

1 block extra firm tofu, cubed

3 green onions, sliced thin

In a large stock pot of water, bring the Dashi to a boil and reduce by 1/3.  Remove Dashi packets and discard.  Lower the heat to just below simmer.  Add both Miso to a small bowl and ladle in some of the broth, whisk to dissolve.  Add this back to the pot along with the Wakame, tofu and green onions.  Serve immediately.

Miso soup has many health benefits.  Researchers have found that a bowl of Miso soup a day can greatly reduce the risk of many forms of cancer.  It is high in antioxidants and helps strengthen the immune system.  It is loaded with nutrients. Miso provides protein, vitamin B12, vitamin B2, vitamin E, vitamin K, choline, linoleic acid, lecithin, and dietary fiber.  All this and its delicious!

Super Menu Monday!

Monday 18th: Parmesan Pork Chops with roasted potatoes and corn
Tuesday 19th: Kiel Basa and cabbage with carrots
Wednesday 20th: Lasagna
Thursday 21st: Miso Pork with fried rice, peas and broccoli
Friday 22nd: Blackend Tilapia with herb noodles and grilled squash
Saturday 23rd: Home made freezer pizza
Sunday 24th: Tandoori chicken with rice, grilled peppers and squash
Monday 25th: Honey Mustard chicken with carrots and roasted potatoes
Tuesday 26th: Burgers and 'fries'
Wednesday 27th: Chicken Milano with broccoli
Thursday 28th: Rosemary pork chops with lima beans and carrots
Friday 29th: Crab cakes, corn on the cob and red potatoes
Saturday 30th: Fend for yourself night because after a yard sale I will be too tired to cook!
Sunday 31st: Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots and cole slaw
Monday 1st: Tuna casserole and peas
Tuesday 2nd: Bourbon Chicken, rice and broccoli
Wednesday 3rd: Spaghetti
Thursday 4th: Chicken and rice casserole with peas
Friday 5th: Meatloaf, mac n cheese and broccoli
Saturday 6th: BBQ chops with taters and corn

If you are interested in a specific recipe just leave a comment and I will be sure to post it.  Some of these are new ones I am trying so I will be sure to let you know how they turned out.

How does my garden grow?

It doesn't.  This is only my third year of vegetable gardening so I'm still trying to get the hang of it.  This year there is nothing hanging though.  The lettuce bolted after one picking.  There are a couple peppers on the vine but they just aren't ripening.  The yellow grape tomatoes I planted aren't producing and neither are the Beefsteaks.  The big difference between this year and previous, I didn't order my transplants or seeds from Seed Savers Exchange.  I picked them up from a local produce shop that has had a steep decline in quality all year. 
Next year everything is coming from Seed Savers. 
We need to relocate some of the planting boxes so I may just go ahead and rip everything out now.  Out of necessity or frustration, either way I will get some satisfaction.  Stupid plants, I'll teach you!

Summer Treat!

In the summer I could eat nothing but popsicles and snow cones.  I crave cold and sweet.  Well, if you can make ice cubes you know how to make popsicles but what about snow cones?  I don't have one of those really cool Snoopy Snow Cone makers.  Hell, I don't even have a blender!  I do have a food processor though and that baby chops ice like there is no tomorrow.  You can buy snow cone flavor syrup but I don't.  I have those little water flavor powder packets though. 

Snow Cones
2 cups ice cubes
1/2 or 1 individual serving water flavor packs

Put the above in a food processor and pulse until you have snow cone consistency.  That is it!

Target even has Margarita flavored ones so a frozen margarita with or without tequila is easy and cheap too.

Snack Attack!

Penny Popcorn

Gryffin and I love popcorn.  Let's face it, it is the perfect snack.  It can be salty or sweet and its not that bad for you.  Plus, you can eat a ton since it has very few calories.  The commercially made, chemical flavored stuff has been reported to give the manufacturer's employees cancer just by making it.   Don't have an old fashioned stove-top or air popper?  Neither do I, you can make microwave popcorn in a brown paper lunch sack.  I used one of the recipes for it via.www.allrecipes.com.  If you've never visited this mecca of deliciousness, you should.  All of their recipes are rated by the users.  I have yet to be led astray but don't attempt anything under 4 stars.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels, can be found in the same isle as the pre-packaged stuff but usually on the bottom shelf.
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil (I used canola)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Directions

In a cup or small bowl, mix together the unpopped popcorn and oil. Pour the coated corn into a brown paper lunch sack, and sprinkle in the salt. Fold the top of the bag over twice to seal in the ingredients.
Cook in the microwave at full power for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, or until you hear pauses of about 2 seconds between pops. Carefully open the bag to avoid steam, and pour into a serving bowl.  

Before I poured the fluffy goodness out into a bowl I added a couple pats of real butter and shook it up to melt and coat.  It worked beautifully!  Real butter popcorn tastes so much better than the fake stuff. 

Now there were quite a few unpopped kernels but you get that with any popcorn and there weren't enough to make it non cost effective. This happens when the kernels get too dried out.  You can remedy this by keeping your kernels in an air tight container and adding a teaspoon or two of water to them.

I vow never to buy the gross, cancer causing, synthetic flavored, has to use the word butter in parenthesis stuff again!

Menu Monday!

I always make a menu for at least a week every week.  This week I've actually challenged myself to make a menu for the whole pay period, which for us is two weeks.  Over the years I've found that having a menu solves so many problems:

• the What's For Dinner issue- I think my husband and I spent the first year of our marriage dealing with this one.  With a menu all we have to do is look at it and we know exactly what is for dinner.
• the What Can I Make With This problem- when there is either an empty or overflowing pantry starring you in the face it can be really overwhelming.  
• the No Money For The Tummy quandary- if I go to the grocery store without a plan all I come home with is ice cream, chips, wine and an empty wallet.  Not a bad combo, I admit; however, when you have a family to feed every night its not exactly a good thing.
• the No Time For That problem- some things take longer to cook than others and knowing what I need to get the job done is on hand gives me more time.  And more time is ALWAYS good.

Most of my menus follow what I call the Protein Formula.  No one wants to eat chicken for dinner every night so mixing it up is essential.  Also, since meat is usually the most expensive part of the meal it allows me to make up the cost with side dishes depending on just how pricey the protein is.  I never have the same protein the same way two nights in a row.  For example, if I make chicken one night I will make beef the next, or if I make hamburgers one night I will have steak the next.  Having ground beef or chicken two nights in a row is boring and tends to lead to no one wanting to have leftovers for lunch. 

Here is my menu for the next two weeks just to give you an idea.

Monday- Beef Stroganoff with peas

Tuesday- Dijon Tarragon Chicken with rice, carrots and broccoli

Wednesday- Sloppy Joes with BBQ beans and cole slaw

Thursday- Italian Breaded Pork Chops with asparagus and corn

Friday- Kiel Basa and cabbage with red potatoes

Saturday- Mystery night... maybe leftovers or eat out

Sunday- Lasagna with salad

Monday- Bourbon Chicken with rice, broccoli and carrots

Tuesday- Tuna casserole with peas

Wednesday- Jambalaya (sausage and shrimp) with corn bread

Thursday- Beefy Cheesy Pasta, aka home made hamburger helper with salad

Friday- Breaded fish, mac-n-cheese and lima beans

Saturday- Pork Roast with spicy sweet potatoes and corn

And this is the recipe for tonight's dinner, Beef Stroganoff.  It's quick, easy and contains absolutely no cream of crap soup like most recipes for this done on the cheap.

Beef Stroganoff
(feeds 6)

1 lb lean ground beef

1lb wide egg noodles

1/3 cup dried mushrooms

1 small onion, chopped

1 T garlic, chopped

1 T paprika

1 T black pepper

2 t dried mustard

1/2 to 1 cup fat free half and half or milk

1 to 2 cups low fat sour cream
(these are determined on how creamy or saucy you like it)

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil.  While this is being done break up the dried mushrooms and put in a small bowl.  Brown and drain the ground beef along with the onion and garlic and return to pan.  Once the water is boiling add enough water to cover the mushrooms to rehydrate.  Then add a handful of salt to the pot and add the noodles.  Cook until just tender. Drain the mushrooms and add them along with the spices, half and half and sour cream to ground beef.  Stir to combine over medium heat.  Drain noodles and you can combine it all or serve with the sauce poured over.

Canned Pie

I had some local, organic peaches that had to be used soon but I'm not one to sit down and get covered in sticky peach juice.  I like the taste, I don't like the mess.  So I decided to make some cobbleresque pie.  My pies generally have a bottom crust and the top is a mix of oats, brown sugar and butter.  I don't really know where I came up with this except to say I'm not real crazy about pie crust.

I've also learned in the past few years that if you can bake it, you can can it.  Mason jars are awesome to bake in and if you put the lids and rings on when they are straight out of the oven they seal air tight.  Even if a couple don't seal, the jars are freezeable so none have to be wasted.  You just have to remember to let them cool completely before putting in the freezer so they don't shatter; however, they are making jars specially made for the freezer that can go straight into the oven.  Pretty cool.

I made these in tiny 4 oz jelly  jars.  What I've noticed is that there is just enough there to make me want more.  My next batch will be in 8 oz jars and will be blackberry, maybe even some cherry too.  

You can use any pie recipe you like.  The only thing to keep in mind is that you don't want to fill it all the way to the top. Things tend to puff a little when baking so I recommend only filling to the bottom of the rings on the jar.  This should leave just enough room for the lid to seal after it's baked.

Can't you just imagine come those cold, dreary winter months opening up one of these.  Hmm, I think I just figured out Christmas presents for this year!

Back in my element

I was able to spend time today coming up with a menu for the week, doing the monthly Sam's run, making a loaf of bread, trying a new recipe and making an awesome dinner for my family.  These are the little things that I really enjoy but lately haven't had the time and energy at the same time to do it.
Tonight's dinner was blackened Tilapia, roasted potatoes with chive and steamed carrots.  I cook a lot, but really don't make fish very often.  Mostly because my favorite way to have fish is fried, but when I found this recipe it looked so good.  It was too.  I changed several things from the original recipe like not using lemon juice or celery salt and didn't use as much oil or serve on white bread with the remaining oil poured over.  Ewww.  This is what I did:

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crush this in your had to release the oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme, crush to release the oil
• 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
•  
• 5 Tilapia fillets
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions

• In a small bowl mix all of the spices together.
• Coat both sides of the fish with the spice mixture, rubbing it in to the fish.
• Let sit at room temp for no more than 30 minutes, but at least 15 so that the spices soak in.
• In a heavy skillet, heat the oil until almost smoking and carefully add fish.

Cook on each side 2 - 3 minutes.  Be sure not to over cook, the fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork.


Next time, I'm going to serve it over some Cajun seasoned rice.  Hey, that sounds like an awesome meal for Mardi Gras!

From a loaf to a ball

My meatloaf and meat ball recipe is exactly the same.  Why?  Because I'm lazy.  Because I make them in very large batches using similar ingredients.  Here is my recipe for both:

Meatloaf/Meatball Recipe
1 lb ground pork
3 lb lean ground beef
1 cup frozen tri-color pepper strips, chopped and thawed.  (Buying them this way is much cheaper than buying fresh peppers)
1 large onion, diced
1 cup quick oats
1 large egg
1 - 2 Tablespoons steak seasoning (I use McCormack's Montreal Steak)
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350.  In a VERY large bowl mix everything together.  If mixture is too wet add more oats.  If too dry, add another egg.  This should be able to hold its shape without falling apart or being too sticky.

Divide this into two.  Take one half and divide into two loaves.  Place a cookie rack in a large baking pan or use a broiler pan and place the two loaves onto this, be sure to spray whatever you use with non-stick spray.  Combine 2 Tablespoons mustard, 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/2 Tablespoon chili powder and a pinch of cayenne.  Pour this on top of the loaves during the last 15 minutes of cooking time.  Bake until internal temperature is 165, about and hour.
With the remaining mixture, form into 1/4 cup balls.  I use a 1/4 cup cookie scoop because I'm lazy.  Place the balls into a mini muffin pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray.  Bake for 30 minutes.  I usually do this when we are eating one of the meatloaves that have just come out.  When its time to use just toss them in your favorite spaghetti sauce.
Allow the extra meatloaf and the meatballs to cool completely then freeze.  Just let them thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat.
In the time it takes to make one meatloaf, you can make 2 meatloaves and 2 dozen meatballs.  This is enough for us to get two meatloaf dinners, along with leftovers for lunches for two days and meatballs enough for 3 to 4 spaghetti and meatball dinners or up to 8 meatball sandwiches.
This technique also works well when making lasagna.  I never make just one at a time because I'm lazy.

Dim sum good vittles

Ok, this one is really good and really easy.  We had it tonight for dinner and I could have eaten a lot more than I did.

Bourbon Chicken  (don't ask me why because unfortunately there isn't any bourbon it)

• 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces 
• 1 large carrot, sliced
• 1 large broccoli crown, cut into bite-size pieces, stems removed 
• 1 -2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar, or red wine or rice
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1 T corn starch
• 1/4 cup cold water

 


In oil, cook chicken until lightly browned and remove. Add remaining ingredients except for broccoli and carrots, heat over medium heat until well mixed and dissolved. Add chicken, broccoli and carrots and bring to a hard boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.  Dissolve corn starch in cold water and add, cook until desired consistency.  Serve over rice.