Just back from Miami, and the Argentinian Chimichurri over Beef was to die for!!!!!
Its a parsley pesto like sauce. I am going to experiment with the ingredients listed for the best taste, any suggestions?
Basic Combo of the items below, mixed in a food chopper or processor
Fresh Parsley, full bunch
Oergano
Crushed Garlic,
Vinegar, salt, pepper
Pepper flakes
maybe a dash of lime
I love Chicken Piccata, Lemony, Salty with Capers, Yummy. With a side of pasta even better. This recipe is Wheat Free, served with my favorite Orecchiette gluten free pasta.
Packed with a double hit of Protein packed Quinoa. You don’t need to be Gluten free to enjoy this. Quinoa is the binder instead of Breadcrumbs. You can sub breadcrumbs, gluten free or not. You favorite pasta will do too. Serves 4-8 depending upon portion control. Meatballs can be served as an appetizer.
Spray non-stick pan. Saute shallot, peppers with 1/4 cup of broth until tender. Set aside and cool. Remove veggies which will be mixed into the meat, retain liquid in the saute pan for the sauce.
Prepare 1 Cup quinoa, with 1 3/4 cup Broth, and 1/4 cup lemon, allow to cool. It can be used as you would couscous. Makes 3 cups. You can serve it with the meatballs, or save the other 2 cups at another time.
In mixing bowl, break apart Chicken, add half the capers, cooled veggies and ONE cup of cooled quinoa. Add optional well beaten egg or 1/4 cup eggbeaters. Get down and dirty, mix thoroughly with your hands. Preheat oven to 350 degees. Spray a cookie sheet with gluten free spray. Form walnut sized meatballs, and place on cookie sheet without touching.
Bake for 25 minutes, 1/2 way thru carefully turn with tongs.
While the meatballs are baking, add 2 tablespoons of broth or butter into the saute pan on low that the peppers and shallot were cooked in. Sift the cornstarch in slowly while whisking on low heat. As mixture thickens, continually add broth to the desired consistency.
Finally add meatballs and remaining capers and simmer for an additional 20 minutes (very low). Some prefer this sauce to be a thinner broth for a more rustic style. Steffie prefers a clingy thicker sauce, that sticks to your pasta.
Prepare pasta, and serve, sprinkle with your favorite cheese.
Meatballs can be served as an appetizer, put into soups, or even a meatball grinder.
Weight Watcher and Gluten-free friendly
This may be the most decadent chili you will ever taste, Rich, Savory, and you can make it as spicy as you would like. Serves 6 or more. If you are calorie counting it isn’t for you. I do take multiple opportunities to remove fat, once after roasting, and once after the long cooking. The rendered fat can be preserved in the freezer as a starting base instead of using oils and other fats. Just remember it will have a spicy kick.
you need about 5 hours to cook minimum, but it’s worth it
preheat oven to 350 degrees
in large roaster/turkey roaster size, layer onion, garlic cloves, carrots and whole jalapenos on the bottom
evenly distribute spice mixture on all sides, In one layer spread short ribs on top of the base of sliced onions and carrots.
roast in oven for 1 1/2 hours turn frequently to brown, the more the beef and onions are caramelized the richer the flavor.
Remove from oven until cool enough to work with. Remove all gristle and cartilage. At this time you may not want to dispose of the bones, to increase flavor
Place all ingredients from roaster in large dutch oven/stock pot or crock-pot, except whole jalapenos. Seed and preserve for final step.
Add crushed tomatoes, Cilantro, green peppers and enough broth to cover meat. Skim fat before next step.Simmer on low for 1 hour. If using crock pot 2 hours on high.
Remove from heat, remove all bones and excess fat. Meat should be at a point where it can be easily shred. Add beans, finely chopped jalapeno that had been seeded. Simmer an additional 2 hours or 4 hours in crock pot on low. Add salt and pepper and spices to taste. If mixture is too dry add more broth to reach the consistency of chilli, if mixture is too wet, allow to simmer with lid off until liquid is reduced. The longer you cook the better it tastes.
Serve as an entree with Rice, with taco shells, or in crusty rolls, Gluten free eating? Try Udi’s new line of hotdog and hamburger rolls, they are the best find! How about Gluten-free Corn bread.
If you have additional time you can chill between steps and skim chilled fat. A pressure cooker can be used to speed up the first simmering process. instead of 1 hour, use pressure cooker 30 minutes
This is made for my gluten free, nitrate free, nearly vegetarian best guy!!! It’s on the stove right now. Ground Turkey, Chicken or Buffalo can be used to maintain the lo-cal theme.
Ingredients for six servings
Saute in a non stick pan, onions, carrots and pepper until onions start to caramelize, add ground meat. Chop into small bits as you saute, thoroughly cook and brown, add clove garlic finely chopped, add a few tablespoons at a time of broth if mixture is too dry. Add spice mixture to taste.
Remove from heat.Allow to cool, enough to add to a food processor. I use my Magic Bullet Grinder for processing and do in small batches, add tomatoes and blend, to a rough smoothness. My last batch I did extra smooth.
Place mixture in a crockpot or 2 qt sauce pan, add your favorite beans. Add broth to desired thickness, simmer on low for 1 hour, or crockpot on low for two hours or more. Add more broth if mixture becomes to thick. the broth will cook off and also be absorbed while cooking.
Serve as entree with rice, as tacos or in rolls. Gluten free eating? Try Udi’s new line of hotdog and hamburger rolls, they are the best find! How about Gluten-free Corn bread.
Weight Watcher points is 5 for Ground Chicken. 6 for Buffalo, the lowest is Ground 99% Turkey Breast a 4 points. Regular Ground Turkey 93% is 5 points. If you are a beef lover and can’t go without it ranges from 4-8 depending on leanness of the meat. Weight Watcher recipe is 8 points posted on twitter 1/29
There are so many ways to build a yummy pulled pork meal or sandwich.This recipe will serve about 10, reduce the ingredients for smaller portions, or freeze cooked batches into serving size.
You need a big hunk of pork, apple cider vinegar,spices & time and patience, a minimum of 4 hours. It’s yum. You need 1 pork shoulder about 8 lbs, pork butt or pork roast. Center cut pork roast is too lean. For quicker cooking you can use pre-cut ‘country style’ ribs.Country style ribs are the blade end of a pork loin, halved crosswise then sawed into 1″ or greater strips. They will appear 1″ x 6″ long and have a good lean to fat ratio to create tenderness. A piece of pork with a fatty appearance will make tender, moist pulled pork. If you can get your butcher to butterfly or bone, a bone in piece is preferred. The first stage of cooking is roasting and caramelizing bone in meats that will develop a richer taste.
Mix Thoroughly all dry ingredients, Sugar, Salt, pepper and spices. I do taste mixture to see if it needs a little something. DO NOT add extra salt at this time, you can always salt later, chicken broth will also add salt.
Rub mixture into all surfaces of the meat, The more surface areas exposed and spiced the better the depth of flavor. Let set for an hour or more as a dry marinade in the fridge. Overnight is better.
Preheat oven to 350, If you have a convection use the fan feature. You can also grill in a BBQ on indirect heat. In large open pan roast or indirect BBQ for at least 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Turn frequently to allow all sides to brown. If you want to omit the sugar due to dietary concerns, the fat will still allow the meat to caramelize without it. The roasting and then simmering method with spices and vinegar produces, the savory, sweet, spicy, yummy taste they call Umami.
While meat is roasting saute the mirapoix mixture in the vegetable oil, allowing a light caramelization, the vegetables do not need to be cooked until soft.
In a large dutch oven, stock pot or crock pot, place cooked vegetables. Add 3 cups of stock and one cup of cider vinegar. Remove meat from oven, place cooked meat into stock pot. Deglaze the pan (add 1 cup of stock to pan), scrape all bits of browned pieces and spices into the liquid, pour all of the liquid into the pot with the meat. Add Green pepper mixture.
Add a combination of Vinegar & remaining stock to completely cover the meat. Ratio should be 1 part vinegar to 3 parts stock. 1/4 cup to 3/4 cup ratio.
Stove-top, simmer meat on low for 2-3 hours until fork tender. Set crock pot on low for about 6 hours. You can use a pressure cooker for 30-45 minutes to accomplish the same. Do not completely submerge in liquid. Fill liquid to 1/3 full only. When pressure cooking check half way through to make sure all liquid has not been dissipated.
After meat is tender, it should shred when touched with a fork. Remove all pork to a platter. Strain leftover liquid, and reserve, this will be your liquid to keep your pork moist. Liquid can also be used on the side as a mopping sauce. The liquid may be fatty, skim fat from top as it rises.
Pull pork apart with two forks to shred. Remove all bones and fat and discard. Place shredded pork into a foil tray for warming or back into crock pot. When pork is finished, add only enough of the reserved liquid to moisten the pork. It should not be soupy. Keep heated until serving, or refrigerate and reheat before serving. Cooked meat can also be frozen.
Serve as a main meat with cornbread or as sandwich/sliders. Reserved liquid can also be used southern-style as a side mopping sauce. Add your favorite BBQ sauce or spicy mustard as condiments. Butter pickles also adds a nice twist. For those with needing a gluten free option, serve with Gluten Free Cornbread, or Breads. Udi’s make a great selection of bread and rolls. Homemade Cornbread or muffins is pretty easy.
You can cook with an oven only method without liquids if you prefer. LEAVE WHOLE. Roast or indirect BBQ for 3 1/2-4 hours as a whole pork shoulder or butt @ 275 degrees. Remove, wrap completely with foil for 1 hour after cooking. Set on counter to cool. After an hour the meat will still be warm to hot, shred and remove all fat and bone before serving. De-glazing the pan with chicken stock and little vingar will give you a bit of liquid to keep the meat moist. It will be a bit drier, but tasty.
Lets make a Taco Bar. You can prepare and precook all the day before, Gluten Free options are included
Premade taco shells will save you time but you can use fresh toasted corn tortillas to be authentic and to save money. Provide soft flour tortillas for those that would prefer less of a crunch. Use your favorite salsa, or make a fresh one. Left over shredded pork, chicken of beef or a combo or traditional ground taco meat. You can lighten with Turkey, Buffalo or Ground Chicken instead of Beef. All sorts of fun condiments will make it a hit.
This recipe is for 4 full servings, double for 8, triple for 12 and so on for more.
Day before, make the salsa. In large nonmetallic bowl, add all the following ingredients together
Saute meat in a nonstick pan, brown well, after draining fat, add preserved tomato water, add taco spice or homemade taco spice blend. For an extra kick, add minced garlic, onions, shallots while browning. If meat is cooked day before, reheat just before serving. See homemade spice instructions.
Time to Serve- assemble a counter space with Taco Fixins
Tacos, Warm Taco Meat, fish or shredded meats, Various Cheeses, Lettuce, Condiments and Salsa, there is no wrong way to assemble a taco-ENJOY
This recipe is Gluten Free friendlily when you omit flour tortillas and premade taco seasoning and make your own. See make your own
When I was a kid, Shepard’s pie was a basic, burger and mash concoction with a can of corn. I loved it, comfort food. Gram or mom would mash the potatoes, add them to the top of the cooked crumbled burger, smooth out the potatoes and score lines on the top, sprinkle with paprika and bake. Plain simple and Homey. 
Basic Shepard’s pie. , I bake in a Shallow baking dish, or pie plate
Initial cooking and assembly should take less than a half hour, Baking will be another 25 minutes
Tips to cut the calories & make gourmet
I love Pesto, that basil,sweet, savory, clingy topping to pasta. The Hungry Girl, just perked up my appetite with her new Guilt free option, Gluten-free as well. It’s easy to grow your own Basil in the garden or a kitchen herb planter box. Freeze pesto for quick meals. Pesto is a NO-COOK sauce, really convenient, the addition of warm pasta or spaghetti squash releases the yummy savory aroma.
Hungry Girl‘s savory concoction omits most of the oil with Fat free Ricotta Cheese Pesto recipe, maybe i”ll try it tonight.
Steffie’s Basic Pesto for Pasta, or Spaghetti squash
In a food processor, process basil, garlic, salt and 2 teaspoons of juice into a paste. Add oil and thoroughly blend, it should be thick and smooth. Add nuts and blend, add cheese last, the cheese can heat and melt if it is over processed. For thinner sauce add extra oil.
To serve, cook your favorite pasta, drain return to pot or serving dish, stir in desired amount of pesto. The heat of the pasta will release all the flavors and aroma in the pesto, serve immediately. Serve with Extra grated cheese on the side. For a decadent flair add 1/4 cup of cream to a lb. of hot pasta, before adding the pesto. Reduce cream amount for smaller portions.
Pesto freezes well, to freeze, drizzle lemon juice or oil on top to avoid darkening and freezer burn from exposure to the air. An Ice cube tray works great for single servings. Another great use, the cubes can be added to a pasta sauce, still frozen to give it great Basil flavor.
Options
Betty Crocker has started developing a line of Gluten Free products, The GF Chocolate chip cookies are one of the best. but it’s still second best to my Steffie’s Version of Bob’s Redmill Recipe made with their pancake mix, delicious, closest thing to Entenman’s.
This is a terrific recipe made with Corn Chex.Their recipe says 25 servings , they mean 25 nuggets@ 25 calories each. This is also great for a salad meal topper! This recipe should serve 4 or more. Rule of thumb 3-4 ounces of raw chicken is an adult serving. This recipe omits 300 calories of butter and 120 calories from 1 cup of Chex® cereal . The addition of the yogurt is under 70 calories, but they are nonfat dairy, protein loaded calories. Any WeightWatcher would love!
Steffie has adapted to reduce the calories and spice it up!
In a nonmetallic bowl combine Chobani or other plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon of spice, salt and pepper. Add cubes of chicken to marinate, coat well. Refrigerate at least one hour. You may marinate up to 24 hours, to enhance flavor and tenderize. The active ingredients in the yogurt will tenderize the chicken.
Pulse or crush the Chex® cereal, add grated cheese (optional) and the other teaspoon of spice or herbs. Mix well, store until Chicken has finished marinating.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Pre-spray a shallow baking pan or cooking sheet with Nonstick Gluten free spray.
Place Chex® cereal crumb mixture on a plate, Dredge each marinated chunk in mixture, place on cooking tray.
Bake for approx 25 minutes, turn half way thru cooking time. I felt the 400 degree temp for 17 minutes was a little too high & short in the Betty Crocker Recipe. Chicken should not be pink when cut. Ovens vary in correct readings, I would test at least one for doneness.
If you don’t like yogurt, you can sub two well fork beaten eggs or 1/2 cup egg substitute and go right to the cooking process. Chicken Breasts halves or thighs can be done the same way for a heartier meal, increase the time to 35 minutes. The herb combinations are endless, add oregano for Italian, mint for Mediterranean, Rosemary for savory……
You can also create a dipping/ranch like sauce from another Chobani, with the same herbs and add dehydrated onion or vegetable flakes combined the day before. Even the Hungry Girl‘ would approve!
Ribbed Small squashes like acorn, delicata, pierce with fork, microwave 2 minutes, cut in half and seed
Large Squashes, like pumkin and spaghetti
pleas submit your favorite recipe, for Steffie to add!
Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s Contest for her VIP GiveAway, this article is pasted from Cheap.com
Facebook entry for getting a chance for her VIP Giveaway
If you don’t win it you can buy it, The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide
Free is cheap!
This recipe can be made with regular flour if Gluten Free is not a necessity. Flours are available at most grocers, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Amazon.com and now Walmart Online.
To make Muffin/bread batter
Fill muffin tin equally, or spread into non glass baking pan. Bake 22 minutes, makes 6 large muffins, or one small tray of 12 pieces of cornbread when divided. For small muffins reduce time to 18 minutes
Serve warm, or cool and store. Freezes well.
Chicken Salad has endless possibilities
Serve on a Salad or Greens. How about a Sandwich of Flat Bread, Flour Tortilla or a Roll. As an appetizer on a cracker.
The Basic mix
To assemble
In a nonmetallic bowl mix well
Makes enough for ten sandwiches or salad toppers, used as a cracker spread makes approx. 40 or more.
Sage mixed with Cranberry gives it a thanksgiving flair. Tarragon has a very savory earthy effect, and is luscious. The combination of bread or greens can make it basic or elegant.
Make recipe for Gluten Free Cornbread,
Two methods, Use Cornbread cubed evenly in 1/2 cubes or less
Store in Sealed container or freeze for future use.
Basic Stuffing,
Place croutons in large mixing bowl
Saute celery and onions in butter until softened, do not caramelize. If omitting butter, use nonstick spray and add several tablespoons of broth to cook.Remove from heat.
Add 1 cup of broth to saute pan, stir, add to mixing bowl, and mix gently with a soft spatula, do not over work or compress. Cover and let stuffing absorb liquid. After 10 minutes test for moistness, if stuffing is to dry additional stock.
Use as a pan stuffing, bake for 25 minutes @325, or stuff inside fish, poultry or pork.
There are many twists on a squash soup, Herbs, Broth and the natural sweetness of a winter squash is what gives it the Savory Umami goodness. Umami is word coined by the Japanese for the flavor that is both savory and has hints of other sensations, a mix of tastes together with sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. Herbiness gives those sensations an oomph!
The staple in a Sqaush soup is generally Butternut squash, But any big meaty Winter Squash can be used including pumpkin. Canned pumpkin can be used as a substitution, if Squash isn’t readily availble. Frozen Butternut squash can be used.
Squash Soup
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
To easy peel squash, make several pircings with a knife or fork,microwave squash for 2 minutes on high. Let set for several minutes, peeling should be much easier
Cube squash into 1″ pieces, uniformity is not important, Toss Squash pieces with 2 teaspoons of the olive oil to coat, sprinkle very sparingly with salt and pepper. You can always add salt later, broth will also add salt. You can never ‘un-salt’ once its done.
Place a single layer of squash on the baking sheet, sprinkle with Dried Spices of choice, If fresh is avaible use 3 stems of rosemary, 1 tsp of minced thyme. *** Whole cloves of Fresh garlic can also be roasted with the squash as an option.
Bake squash until fork tender and edges are browned an caramelized, about 30 minutes, The caramelization will sweeten and add to the savoriness.
While the squash is roasting, Saute on low-medium heat, your mirapoix , of chopped celery, shallots, and carrot(optional) in the tsp of olive oil. You may omit the olive oil, and use a cooking spray. Do not allow the veggies to burn, you may add broth to the saute pan and cover to soften, it also de-glazes the pan.Once softened allow to cool before blending.
Remove the squash from the oven, and allow to cool before blending, remove the woody stems of rosemary.
In batches, blend the sauteed vegetables and a cup of cubes at a time with a half cup of broth, add additional broth if mixture is too thick. After blending pour each batch into a soup pot for further simmering. You will have extra broth leftover, you may need to add to the simmering soup if it is too thick. If you have made the soup to thin, you can simmer it longer, it will thicken.
Warm the soup on simmer, the longer it simmers the better it tastes. This is the time to add salt, pepper and additional herbs to taste. Steffie’s rule is, ‘Let the person eating do the salting’!
For a richer soup, add cream to finish and a tablespoon of butter.
Other options, you can add, raw or cooked vegetables, cooked meats, or potatoes to add texture and variety. The possibilities are endless. You can also add other root vegetables to the squash such as Carrot, Fennel Bulb, Parsnips, Celery root, the variations are endless.
You can freeze the finished soup.
Leftover Open-faced Hot Turkey Sandwiches:
Thanksgiving in a Roll-Hot or Cold
I just picked up a ‘Hotel Turkey Breast’, a Full breast with wings, no legs. Our family it’s the favorite part. I can even Stuff it, or bone and roll. But what to do with all the leftovers.
Turkey Pie:
Turkey breasts and parts are on sale all year round these days, A Sunday Dinner of a turkey breast is not uncommon. Let’s add some yummy recipes for leftover’s. The longer you simmer the better it tastes. Add your favorite spices and vegetables for your own twist.
Go To cheap.com’s page on Turkey leftovers for more recipes.
Turkey soup:
***To make Gluten free add Quinoa or Alternate Gluten Free Pasta
If you’re not prepared, a 15 minute meal can take you hours to prepare. Most meals should take 10 minutes or less to prepare, and then you add cooking time. Also, timing is everything,. If the protein takes 25 minutes, pasta shouldn’t be started at the same time. Timing is essential, as well as multi-tasking. For example, you can whip up a salad, while the other ingredients heat in the oven.
Stock the cupboards with staples, your must haves, Use Steffie’s Pantry for a start.
Always have on hand, your favorite Pasta & Sauce, Frozen(steamable) bag vegetables, Rice, Potatoes, and Salad fixins. If you have all that, you can cook anything, and quick.
Welcome to my obsession. Cooking, shopping for the cooking, feeding people, and eating! I learned to cook by osmosis. My grandmother’s Special Sunday pot roast (rolled Rib Roast, do you believe it!), when I was younger than 10, spurred the passion. Those roasted brown potatoes being lifted from the Stove-top Dutch Oven, then later melting in my mouth. I was hooked, I had to know how it happened. I actually have a picture from that day.
Grilled cheese, hot dogs and anything that can be heated from the can, were my first solo ventures. I graduated to frying in short order, french fries! I still love french fries, but I make them healthier now.
By the time I turned 16, I was making Hungarian Goulash from scratch on a weekly basis, in a Big Orange Creuset Dutch Oven. I was on my way. During the high school years, I probably cooked most family dinners for my mom, and 3 sisters. No one ever complained, ever. In 1969 I bought that pot for $40, wish I knew where it was now.
I BBQ & make the gravy where ever I go. I think I’m invited just for that reason! “Steffie will do it” is something I hear all the time.
Please feel free to contribute any recipe you would like. With the help of my genius son, I am working on an ingredient cookmethis search APP. It will search out a tasty recipe based on the input of ingredients. Such as Balsamic+Chicken+Pasta. It would probably result in ‘Grilled Balsamic Chicken’.
Welcome to my private Kitchen, Steffie