English Cottage Pie

Let's go British for today. A quick and easy meal is Cottage Pie. The British use beef or kidney. I prefer ground beef.



                                   English Cottage Pie


1# lean ground beef
1 small white onion, diced
3 carrots, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
2 Tbl spoons A.P. Flour
2 Tbl spoons dried Italian herbs
1 tsp. cinnamon (Optional)
2 Tbl spoons fresh chopped parsley
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1 Tbl spoon tomato paste
S/P to taste

Sauté ground beef over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add onion, celery, carrots and for 5 more minutes, and then add herbs and flour. Mix thoroughly.

In a separate bowl, mix beef broth and tomato paste. Add the ground beef mixture. reduce heat to simmer and cook 15 minutes or until most of the moisture has been absorbed. Add salt and pepper to taste. Place mixture into a 9-inch pie pan.

Potato Crust

(Instant potatoes will suffice instead of hand-mashed, but hand-mashed are tastier.)
4 potatoes, peeled and diced 
1/4 cup butter or margarine.
3/4 cup milk
s/p to taste
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a large pot, boil potatoes for 15 minutes until soft. Drain, mash and add butter and milk, Salt and pepper to taste. Spread potatoes over meat pie mixture. Cover with shredded cheese. Bake in 400 degree oven for 25 minutes.

Grilled Flank Steak Sandwiches

Summer grilling is the perfect opportunity to connect with friends and family, but there is no need to spend hours grilling or break the bank cooking out. Sandwiches are great for conversation. Guests aren't tied to the table. Grilled potatoes make an excellent side dish. This recipe is quick, easy, inexpensive, and satisfying.



                         Grilled Flank Steak Sandwiches



2# flank steak (should make 6 sandwiches)

Marinade mix

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbl. spoon brown sugar
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp salt

Mix ingredients in plastic baggie. Add steak and marinate in refrigerator for at least one hour. Remove steak.

On medium-high grill, cook steak ten minutes on one side and six on the other side. let stand ten minutes before slicing. Slice thinly against the grain using a bias cut that exposes the inside of the steak.

While grilling steaks, wrap 3 garlic cloves in aluminum foil. Grill with steaks. Allow to cool.


Grilled Potatoes

4 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, sliced thin, peeling on
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tbl spoon fresh rosemary
1 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 tsps. salt

Bring 6 qts, water to a boil, add sliced potatoes. Cook for two (2) minutes. Allow potatoes to cool. (Can be prepared ahead of time). Toss slice potatoes in the seasoned olive oil mixture. Allow to drain. Spread out potatoes on grill. Grill for three (3) minutes on one side.


Sandwich Spread

1/2 cup Mayo
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
3 roasted garlic cloves cooked with steak, mashed and minced

Mix ingredients.

Garnish

4 large tomatoes, sliced
1/2 head Iceberg lettuce, shredded

Use whatever bun or sandwich roll you prefer. Brush with olive oil and lay face down on grill until warm. Spread with Sandwich spread, add meat, sliced tomato, and lettuce.

Tortellini with Gorgonzola Sauce

This past weekend I made an easy pasta and cheese dish that received a lot of nice reviews. Tortellini with a Gorgonzola cheese sauce is a hearty meal that can be served alone or as a side dish with a meat dish.





                       Cheese Tortellini with Gorgonzola Cheese Sauce

1 pkg. cheese tortellini (Fresh or frozen If frozen, allow to thaw before cooking.)
1 tsp olive oil
1 qt. heavy cream
1 tbl spoon butter
1 tbl spoon flour
5 oz. Gorgonzola cheese
4 oz  Parmesan cheese
1 tbl spoon chopped fresh basil
salt/pepper to taste



In a heavy pot, heat butter on med-high heat and add flour. Stir until mixed. Cook for 4-5 minutes. Lower heat to medium and add heavy cream slowly, stirring to reduce lumps. Allow cream to simmer for 20 minutes to reduce and to cook flour in roux. Whisk occasionally.

Remove from heat, allow to cool slightly, and add both cheeses slowly while stirring to prevent curdling. Salt and pepper to taste.

Bring 4 qts. water to a boil. Add 2 tsps. salt and 1 tsp olive oil. Add tortellini. Cook until pasta floats. Remove from pan and drain to eliminate moisture. Add to sauce and mix.

Ladle onto plate and sprinkle with chopped basil to serve. To reheat leftovers, add 1/4 cup milk or heavy cream and heat slowly.

Easy-As-Pie Greek Pasta

Sometimes you need a break from the same old boring Italian dishes (Not to knock Italian food - I love it). Try this easy Greek pasta dish to shake up your taste buds.


                                                  
                                          Easy-As-Pie Greek Pasta

4 Greek sausages, sliced (Freeze sausages for 30 minutes to make slicing easier)
12 oz. penne or fusilli pasta
1 1/2 cups tomato sauce
1/2 cup Feta cheese
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1/2 cup chopped red pepper
1/2 cup diced zucchini
1/2 cup diced fennel
1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
1/2 cup grape tomatoes, sliced in half
1 tsp minced garlic
2 tbl spoons olive oil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
salt/pepper to taste

Cook pasta per instructions (Usually 4 quarts boiling, salted water)
Preheat oven to 350.
In an oven-proof sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook sausage until almost done (about 15 minutes). Add onions, peppers, zucchini, fennel. Cook until onions soften (about 5 minutes). Add garlic. Cook 2-3 minutes. Add olives, tomatoes, herbs and pepper flakes.

Reduce heat to medium and slowly stir in tomato sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer for 2 minutes. Add drained, cooked pasta and stir in. Cover with crumbled Feta cheese and place in oven until cheese melts and sauce thickens. (10 minutes)

Serves 4.
Serve with warm garlic bread. Try it with a nice Greek red wine. You can try Ouzo, but be prepared for a kick.

Savory Souithwestern Meatloaf Meatballs

I like meatloaf as a comfort food and I like meatballs, but sometimes meatballs are just too bland without pasta and red sauce. This recipe offers the best of two worlds - meatloaf savoriness in meatball form. Adding a bit of heat with Ancho chilis gives it a nice zing. Perfect for pot luck dishes or large gatherings.

 

 

                      Southwestern Meatloaf Meatballs

 

3# ground beef (85/15 or 90/10)

1 egg

¼ cup chopped onion

¼ cup chopped celery

1 roasted Ancho chili, chopped

¼ cup breadcrumbs (1/2 cup if Panko)

¼ tsp dried thyme

½ tsp cumin

2 Tbl spoons tomato paste

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

 

Sauté onion and celery until soft. Allow to cool. Crumble ground beef into bowl. Add all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Form into 1-inch to 1 1/2-inch balls. Place in greased baking pan or foil-lined sheet pan. Cook in 350-degree oven for 25-30 minutes. Save juice.

 

Gravy

2 oz flour

2 oz butter

4 cups beef stock

¼ tsp thyme

¼ tsp chopped rosemary

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

Salt/pepper to taste

 

In large pan, heat flour and butter to form a roux. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until roux a light brown color. Add juice from meatballs and stock. Stir to avoid lumps. Add herbs, salt and pepper. Cook until thickens, about fifteen minutes.

 

Place meatballs in gravy and serve with mashed potatoes or rice.

 

Fourth of July Apple Pie

I usually don't do deserts - too many measurements - but this apple pie is quick and easy and tastes great. I use Pillsbury packaged pie dough to save time, Their dough is consistent and tastes good.


                                                     Fourth of July Apple Pie


1 package Pillsbury pie dough
1 packaged pie crust
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced thin
3 Gala apples, peeled, cored and sliced thin
1 T butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 T All Purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp cardamom
1 tsp lemon juice

Mix sugar, flour, and spices in a bowl. Place apple slices in a bowl and add lemon juice. Combine apples and spice mixture and place in a 9 inch pie shell.

For a nicely decorative ornate lattice top, cut pastry dough into 3/4 inch strips. It is better to assemble lattice on wax paper on a cutting board than on top of pie. Make sure dough is cold.  Lay 1 strip across middle of board. Cross with 2nd strip. Weave strips basket-like to edge of wax paper - 9 inches. If dough warms, return to refrigerator to cool. Reverse wax paper lattice strips on top of pie. remove wax paper. Melt butter and brush across lattice top. You can sprinkle on a little sugar for sweeter crust.

Cook in 450 degree oven for 10  minutes, and then reduce temperature to 350 and cook 30 minutes or until crust edges are brown. 

Allow to cool before slicing. A little whipped cream or ice cream over the top brings it up a notch.

New Orleans-Style Gumbo

In honor of my recent visit to New Orleans, home of Creole and Cajun cooking and the recent WHC horror convention, I offer this recipe for Chicken-Andouille Sausage Gumbo


                                                       
                                                    New Orleans-Style Gumbo

3# chicken breasts and thighs (White and dark meat give a deeper flavor)
1# Andouille sausage, sliced into 1/2" slices
2 tbl spoons and 1/2 cup vegetable oil
1# Fresh or frozen okra, thawed, sliced into 1/2" pieces
1/2 cup AP flour
1 can tomatoes (Diced or whole)
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 white onion, diced
1/2 cup celery, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp cayenne
1 tsp Kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 tsp file powder
1 tsp hot sauce

Cover chicken with water and simmer until chicken is done (Approx. 20 minutes). Strain chicken, reserve liquid. Remove chicken from bones and rough chop.

In a heavy pot, add 2 tsps. oil. Cook okra over medium heat until no longer slimy (20 minutes). Add remaining oil and flour to make a roux. Stir until mixed. Add onions, peppers, celery, and garlic. Cook roux until dark blond. (10-15 minutes) 

Add Andouille sausage, tomatoes with tomato juice from can, and add 4 cups reserved broth from chicken. Add bay leaf and half of all the spices. Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, skimming occasionally to remove fat. After 1 hour, add remaining spices. This layers the spices and enhances flavor.

Add chicken and simmer for additional 15-20 minutes. This late addition keeps chicken from falling apart. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper and hot sauce.

Serve with cooked rice.