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Monthly Archives: September 2016
Here is a fast and tasty pasta dish that will satisfy completely. It is a simple Italian based red sauce with lots of flavor – and completely open to your own interpretations. Some options are to add red wine, substitute vodka and cream for the tomato sauce, adding oregano, roasted red peppers, or red pepper flakes. Of course, the Italian sausage used will also impact the flavor! Are you ready? Great, then let’s get cooking! Sausage and Mushroom Sauce with Penne Ingredients: 6 oz of Italian sausage 5 – 6 oz penna pasta (cook per the instructions and drain well) 1/2 onion, diced 1 large garlic clove, minced 8 oz tomato sauce 4 oz mushrooms, diced (fresh or canned) 2 tbsp tomato paste 1/2…
Today was one of those interesting food days. I was hungry for a meal packed with fresh vegetables. And my favorite way to satisfy that hunger? With a stir fry of course! A stir fry is so incredibly easy to make and so open to different ingredients (and amounts!), this recipe will give you the basics for a veggie packed stir fry with a light glaze. Now I’m hungry, so let’s get cooking! Garlic Chicken Stir Fry Ingredients: 8 – 12 oz chicken breast or chicken tenders, cut into 1 inch cubes 1 1/2 cups broccoli flowerets 1 carrot, sliced diagonally 1/2 onion, sliced 1 red pepper, julienned 2 large cloves garlic, slivered 2 tbsp cornstarch 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp…
Tonight, it is another recipe I created for the family when my daughters were younger. The beauty of this recipe is that it can be tweaked and twisted to suit whatever is in your pantry or on your taste buds! I made the basic variation, which was delicious! Other variations include using Italian seasoning instead of herbs de provence, substituing broccoli or thinly sliced brussel sprouts for the peas and carrots, etc. Let your imagination run wild or just try the basic… but do give it a try! Kielbasa and Macaroni with Peas and Carrots Ingredients: 1/2 kielbasa (approximately 6 to 8 oz), split and sliced 1/3 box of elbow macaroni (approximately 5 oz) 1/2 bag of frozen peas and carrots (approximately 6 oz…
When all that menu planning I discussed in an earlier post gets sidetracked, it is time to improvise. Today I was surveying the refrigerator and found the following items: about 1 cup of kimchi 1 carrot 3 green onions 1 red pepper 2 heads of broccoli Hmmm, that looks like the ingredients for a tasty fried rice. I checked in the freezer and I had a partial bag of medium (51-60) prawns – perfect as the protein in my fried rice plan. So let’s get cooking, shall we? Prawn Kimchi Fried Rice Ingredients: 24 medium prawns (51-60 size), thawed, deveined, peeled and tails removed 3/4 – 1 cup of kimchi, cut into 3/4 inch 1 carrot, sliced diagonally or julienned 3 green…
Just a picture post today, I made a biscuit breakfast sandwich with a sausage patty, scrambled eggs, and cheese…
Recently, some friends asked me if I could post more breakfast meals. Coincidentally a good buddy told me about a restaurant that makes this variant of Biscuits and Gravy (thanks Adam!). Before I could get to the restaurant to try it, I decided to make it myself. Another breakfast post to honor the request and my curiosity satisfied all in one meal – that’s definitely a bonus! Are you ready? I certainly am! Biscuits and Chorizo Gravy Ingredients: 6 oz bulk Chorizo 1 can refrigerated Biscuits (the 5 count buttermilk is my favorite!) 8 oz whole milk, half and half or cream 1 1/2 tbsp all purpose flour black (or white) pepper to taste parsley for garnish (optional) paprika for garnish (optional) Preparation: Bake the…
Remember the Bolognese Sauce I made recently? Well, I saved some and tonight I used it with cavatappi for a fast, tasty dinner. Here is a picture for your enjoyment…
Like sauerkraut, rotkohl has many variations. This side dish is another that pairs excellently with traditional German fare – schnitzel, sauerbraten, rouladen, wurst, etc. I suggest playing with the recipe to suit your own tastes – substitute cider vinegar for the balsamic, brown sugar for honey, omit the onions and/or bacon, add apples, pears, or caraway, etc. Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage (Rotkohl) Ingredients: 1/2 head small red cabbage, sliced thinly (approximately 3 – 4 cups) 1/2 small yellow onion, diced (approximately 3/4 cup) 2 -3 slices bacon, cubed (approximately 3/4 cup) 1 tbsp butter 2 tbsp honey 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar salt pepper Preparation: Heat a large skillet over medium medium-high heat. Add the bacon and render until almost crisp…
This side dish is great with many German dishes – sauerbraten, rouladen, schnitzel, wurst, etc. I will admit up front and unabashedly, I use imported dry spaetzle because it is so easy. The key for me is to add a little something special to the spaetzle – like this brown butter and thyme variation. Spaetzle with Brown Butter and Thyme Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups of dry spaetzle 1 tbsp butter 1/4 tsp dry thyme 1 tsp olive oil salt cracked black pepper Preparation: Prepare the spaetzle per the package instructions.Shave a minute or two off the cooking time as you want the spaetzle to be a bit firmer. Drain the spaetzle and toss with the olive oil to keep it loose and from sticking…
Yesterday, I made one of my daughters’ favorite meals. Tonight, I honor my Austrian heritage with a family favorite and give thanks to my mom for making sure I knew how to cook (and clean and do laundry and manage money and…). Well, I’m hungry so let’s get started! Schnitzel Ingredients: 2 boneless pork loin chops, 1/2 inch thick 2 medium eggs (or 1 jumbo) 1/2 – 1 cup of all purpose flour 1 1/2 – 2 cups of bread crumbs 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp shortening salt cracked black pepper Lemon wedges (optional) Horseradish (optional) Preparation: Pound the loin chops to 1/4 inch thick using a pan or mallet using a downward and slide outward motion. Season…