These days, it can difficult to find meals that are cheap, healthy and taste good, especially if one has an underlying health issue, such as diabetes. But it doesn't have to be impossible. There are recipes that can fit the bill on all three.
Today, I'm posting several recipes that I've found online that are well worth making. With the exception of the No Peek Chicken, they've come from an emailing list that I signed up for years ago. When we discovered that my husband was diabetic, he was worried that he wouldn't be able to eat "real food." Thank goodness the visiting nurse who came by the first couple of weeks helped him through that.
The emailing list is ; I've tried listing the exact link to each recipe where possible. Of course, you don't have to be diabetic to enjoy these recipes, but if you are cooking for a diabetic, these might help you explore a few choices.
And now, without further introductions, we have:
BROCCOLI CHOWDER
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped (1-1/2 cups)
1 large carrot, diced (1/2 cup)
2 stalks celery, diced (1/2 cup)
1 large potato, peeled and diced (1-1/2 cups)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3-1/2 cups vegetable broth or reduced-sodium chicken broth (two 14-ounce cans)
8 ounces broccoli crowns, cut into 1-inch pieces, stems and florets separated (3 cups)
1 cup grated reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot and celery; cook, stirring often, until the onion and celery soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Add potato and garlic; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in flour, dry mustard and cayenne; cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add broth and broccoli stems; bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Stir in florets; simmer, covered, until the broccoli is tender, about 10 minutes more.
Transfer 2 cups of the chowder to a bowl and mash; return to the pan. Stir in Cheddar and sour cream; cook over medium heat, stirring, until the cheese is melted and the chowder is heated through. Season with salt.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup each): Calories: 180, Fat: 8 g, Cholesterol: 15 mg, Carbohydrate: 23 g, Protein: 6 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sodium: 354 mg Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 1 High-Fat Meat
Green Beans with Poppy Seed Dressing
Yield: 4 servings (3/4 cup each)
View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/922.shtml
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon white-wine or rice-wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 pound green beans, stem ends trimmed
To prepare dressing: Heat a small dry skillet over medium-low heat.
Add poppy seeds and toast, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl (or jar) and let cool. Add oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, shallot, salt and pepper; whisk (or shake) until blended.
To prepare beans: Cook beans in a large pot of boiling water until just tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain. Warm the dressing in a large skillet over medium heat. Add beans and toss to coat.
Nutritional Information (Per Serving) Calories: 113; Protein: 3 g; Sodium: 104 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Fat: 8 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g Exchanges: 1-1/2 Vegetable, 1-1/2 Fat
NO PEEK CHICKEN
This is one of those "Not sure where it came from" recipes.
4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 package dry onion soup mix
1 cup milk or water
3/4 cup rice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken in a baking dish. In a bowl, mix remaining ingredients together. Pour mixture over chicken breasts. Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 2 hours, remembering not to peek!
STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD
This is another recipe from
Yield: 10 servings
Source: "Mr. Food Every Day's a Holiday Diabetic Cookbook"
1 package (10 ounces) fresh baby spinach, washed, dried and trimmed
1 pint fresh strawberries, cleaned and sliced lengthwise to 1/4-inchthickness
1/2 of a small onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
Place the spinach in a large salad bowl; add the strawberries.
In a small bowl, combine the onion, sugar, water, vinegar, mustard, and oil. Whisk until well combined. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup): Calories: 79, Fat: 6 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 23 mg, Carbohydrate: 6 g, Dietary Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 4 g, Protein: 1 g Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Carbohydrate, 1 Fat
PENNE WITH GREENS AND CANNELLINI BEANS
Low in fat and loaded with fiber, the smooth texture and slightly nutty flavor of cannellini beans (or white kidney beans) makes a great addition to healthy pasta recipes.
Yield: 6 main dish servings
Source: Dreamfields Healthy Carb Pasta
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/Trusted_Brands/Dreamfields
Print & Photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/713.shtml
1 box uncooked Dreamfields Penne Rigate
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup reduced-sodium, fat free chicken broth
1 pound fresh collard or mustard greens, washed, trimmed and cut into large bite-sized pieces
1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (or other white beans)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and return to pan.
Meanwhile, in large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, garlic and red pepper flakes; cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add broth; bring to boil.
Add greens; return to boil. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, uncovered, until greens are just crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Add greens with liquid to pasta; toss to coat. Add beans; toss gently. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Top with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Serving Note: Any dark, leafy greens such as kale, spinach or chard can be substituted for the collard greens. 1-1/2 cups cooked cannellini beans can be substituted for the canned beans.
Nutritional Information (Per Serving):Calories: 336; Protein: 16g; Sodium: 128 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Fat: 6 g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Dietary Fiber: 11 g; Digestible Carbohydrates: 22g
Note: The Dreamfields process results in a pasta with 5 grams fiber and only 5 grams digestible carbohydrates per serving and a 65% lower glycemic index than regular pasta. If traditional pasta is used in this recipe there is a total of 63g carbohydrate.
STRAWBERRY-PEACH COOLER
Yield: 2 servings (1 cup per serving)
Source: "The Diabetes Snack, Munch, Nibble, Nosh Book"
Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/1.shtml
Print version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/737.shtml
1 cup dry-pack unsweetened frozen strawberries
2/3 cup dry-pack unsweetened frozen peaches
3/4 cup orange juice
In a 2-cup measure or similar microwave-safe bowl, combine the strawberries and peaches. Cover with wax paper, and microwave on high power 45 seconds to 1 minute to thaw the fruit slightly. The fruit should be icy but not hard. Working with a small knife in the measuring cup, cut each peach slice in half.
Transfer the peaches and strawberries to a blender container. Add the orange juice. Blend on low power to combine. Then increase power to high and continue to blend until the peaches are completely pureed, at least 1-1/2 minutes.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cup):
Calories: 105, Fat: 0 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 2 mg, Carbohydrate: 26 g, Dietary Fiber: 3 g, Sugars: 23 g, Protein: 2 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Fruit
FRESH FRUIT CLAFOUTI
Yield: 1 Cake (6 servings)
Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes
Book info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/26.shtml
Print Version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/387.shtml
1-1/2 cups slice ripe nectarines, plums, peaches, or pitted cherries (about 10 ounces cut fruit)
2/3 cup fat-free evaporated milk
1 large egg, beaten, or 1/4 cup egg substitute
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, preferably freshly grated
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sifted powdered sugar
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare an 8-inch glass pie plate with non-stick pan spray. Layer the fruit in the pie plate.
Combine the milk, egg, flour, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and salt in a food processor. Process until smooth; pour over the fruit.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature. At serving time, sprinkle with powdered sugar and cut into 6 slices.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 slice):
Calories: 92, Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 36 mg, Sodium: 92 mg, Carbohydrate: 17 g, Dietary Fiber: 1 g, Sugars: 13 g, Protein: 4 g Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Other Carbohydrate
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Now, Eat Your Veggies!
I have to admit, I love veggies.
There, I said it. And while I do tend to favor some of them more than others, I'm willing to give most veggies a try at least once. Who knows where one's next favorite will come from?
If you're like me, I think you'll find these a nice variety to get you started. And not to worry: I'll post more in the future.
Baked Butter Carrots
These are from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!
2 1/2 lbs. carrots
2 T oleo or butter
dash of pepper
1 T salt
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. lemon juice
Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.
Sweet Potato Soufflé
My mom’s recipe. Really good with baked ham.
4-5 sweet potatoes
1 small can pineapple
2 T orange juice concentrate
cinnamon
1/2 C brown sugar
1 egg
1 C nuts
1/2 tsp. salt
dash pepper
9 large marshmallows
Peel & dice sweet potatoes, place in pan of water, and cook until tender. Mash & add other ingredients except marshmallows. Put in square pan, cut in 9 squares & place 1 marshmallow in each square. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
Onion Supreme
My dad came for a week at Christmas, 1987. He fixed this to go with Christmas dinner, along with several other veggies. The day I drove him to Tampa International to fly back to New York, we went for coffee at a shop in the airport. When I asked for a copy of this, he grabbed a paper napkin and wrote down the recipe. It’s a great way to fix onions; I’ve always had onions in things, but never as a side dish. However, this is incredibly easy, as well as fantastic.
2 leeks (discard green), sliced thin
4 bunches scallions (discard green), sliced thin
2 cloves garlic, sliced thin
3-4 yellow onions, sliced thin
1 stick butter or margarine
20 small white onions
1 1/2 C half & half
Melt butter over low heat & sauté leeks, scallions, garlic & yellow onions for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, cook white onions in enough water to just barely cover. Add white onions (after 45 minutes) to skillet & pour in half & half. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes more & serve.
Jason’s Home Fries
This is another of J’s inventions. He fixed this on one of his many trips back home.
3-4 potatoes, scrubbed, not peeled
3-4 T butter or oil (or both)
1 pepper (red, green or yellow), diced
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
Cut potatoes across (not length-wise). Heat oil or butter. Add potatoes, onions, pepper & garlic. Cover, cook over medium heat, turning occasionally with a spatula, until brown & crusty.
Jean’s Special Potatoes
Jean and I used to spend many hours on the phone together. One afternoon, we spent the better part of 30 minutes talking about food. I told her about Dad’s Onion Supreme; she, in turn, gave me this recipe.
8-10 potatoes
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. sour cream
1/2 C butter
2 tsp. chives
Peel & cook potatoes. Whip cream cheese & add potatoes. Mix sour cream, butter & chives. Add to potato mix. Cover & chill overnight (or several hours). Put in greased 2-quart casserole & cover; bake in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
There, I said it. And while I do tend to favor some of them more than others, I'm willing to give most veggies a try at least once. Who knows where one's next favorite will come from?
If you're like me, I think you'll find these a nice variety to get you started. And not to worry: I'll post more in the future.
Baked Butter Carrots
These are from my Grandma Hallock, who was a fantastic cook. She wrote, “Good with Veal Birds (Beef Rolls).” Eat & enjoy!
2 1/2 lbs. carrots
2 T oleo or butter
dash of pepper
1 T salt
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. lemon juice
Peel carrots. Cut into lengthwise slices. Put them & rest of ingredients into casserole. Cover & bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. Uncover & brown on top for 15 minutes. Serves 6.
Sweet Potato Soufflé
My mom’s recipe. Really good with baked ham.
4-5 sweet potatoes
1 small can pineapple
2 T orange juice concentrate
cinnamon
1/2 C brown sugar
1 egg
1 C nuts
1/2 tsp. salt
dash pepper
9 large marshmallows
Peel & dice sweet potatoes, place in pan of water, and cook until tender. Mash & add other ingredients except marshmallows. Put in square pan, cut in 9 squares & place 1 marshmallow in each square. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
Onion Supreme
My dad came for a week at Christmas, 1987. He fixed this to go with Christmas dinner, along with several other veggies. The day I drove him to Tampa International to fly back to New York, we went for coffee at a shop in the airport. When I asked for a copy of this, he grabbed a paper napkin and wrote down the recipe. It’s a great way to fix onions; I’ve always had onions in things, but never as a side dish. However, this is incredibly easy, as well as fantastic.
2 leeks (discard green), sliced thin
4 bunches scallions (discard green), sliced thin
2 cloves garlic, sliced thin
3-4 yellow onions, sliced thin
1 stick butter or margarine
20 small white onions
1 1/2 C half & half
Melt butter over low heat & sauté leeks, scallions, garlic & yellow onions for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, cook white onions in enough water to just barely cover. Add white onions (after 45 minutes) to skillet & pour in half & half. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes more & serve.
Jason’s Home Fries
This is another of J’s inventions. He fixed this on one of his many trips back home.
3-4 potatoes, scrubbed, not peeled
3-4 T butter or oil (or both)
1 pepper (red, green or yellow), diced
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
Cut potatoes across (not length-wise). Heat oil or butter. Add potatoes, onions, pepper & garlic. Cover, cook over medium heat, turning occasionally with a spatula, until brown & crusty.
Jean’s Special Potatoes
Jean and I used to spend many hours on the phone together. One afternoon, we spent the better part of 30 minutes talking about food. I told her about Dad’s Onion Supreme; she, in turn, gave me this recipe.
8-10 potatoes
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. sour cream
1/2 C butter
2 tsp. chives
Peel & cook potatoes. Whip cream cheese & add potatoes. Mix sour cream, butter & chives. Add to potato mix. Cover & chill overnight (or several hours). Put in greased 2-quart casserole & cover; bake in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Elephant Stew
My dad and I used to exchange long letters years ago. His longest letters were when he went to Union Theological Seminary (affiliated with Columbia University in New York City).
One snowy February day, Dad took the train from White Plains, New York into New York, only to find that school had been called off for the day. It turned out to be a blizzard that was talked about for years. (For anyone keeping notes, it was February 6, 1978. Anyone remember the blizzard?) He managed to get a seat on one of the few trains back out of New York City that day. While on the train, he wrote me a nine-page letter. This recipe was included near the end of it; it was from that day's New York Times.
Elephant Stew
One large elephant
Salt & pepper to taste
Brown gravy
2 rabbits, optional
Cut elephant into bite size pieces. This should take about two months. Add brown gravy to cover & salt & pepper. Cook over a kerosene fire for about four weeks at 465 degrees.
This is sufficient to serve 3,800 people. If more guests are expected, two rabbits may be added, but do this only if necessary, as most people do not like to find hare in their stew.
One snowy February day, Dad took the train from White Plains, New York into New York, only to find that school had been called off for the day. It turned out to be a blizzard that was talked about for years. (For anyone keeping notes, it was February 6, 1978. Anyone remember the blizzard?) He managed to get a seat on one of the few trains back out of New York City that day. While on the train, he wrote me a nine-page letter. This recipe was included near the end of it; it was from that day's New York Times.
Elephant Stew
One large elephant
Salt & pepper to taste
Brown gravy
2 rabbits, optional
Cut elephant into bite size pieces. This should take about two months. Add brown gravy to cover & salt & pepper. Cook over a kerosene fire for about four weeks at 465 degrees.
This is sufficient to serve 3,800 people. If more guests are expected, two rabbits may be added, but do this only if necessary, as most people do not like to find hare in their stew.
It's Chili weather!
Winter meals and summer meals tend to be different. When it's cold out, we tend to want something to warm us up, while the hot summer months make cooking over a hot stove almost unbearable.
During these chilly months, chili seems like a natural option. I've added five chili recipes here. Actually, it started out as four fecipes, but one of them has been tweaked: The Vegetarian Chili is originally from an issue of Runner's World; after fixing it many times, I began to change it to where it's different from what was published in Runner's World. Both recipes are marked accordingly so that there is no question as to which is which.
It seems that another one of the recipes might have been discovered in an airline magazine while in flight decades and decades ago (we're talking over forty years ago!). However, since my dad discovered it while flying home, and airlines have folded, merged with others, etc., I have no idea where it came from and how much Dad changed it. If anyone knows the origins of the Texas Chili (as far as airline, etc.), please let me know so that I can give credit where it's due.
Texas Chili
One of my dad’s recipes. Note: Actually, it is the one he said he found in the airline magazine. Whenever Dad fixed this, he’d have to make 2 batches of chili: this for those brave enough to try it, another for everyone else, somewhat cooler.
A funny anecdote: Dad had been involved in Civil Defense when we lived in New York. He had a friend who was also in C.D. who swore that since he'd grown up in New Mexico, he could eat anything spicy hot without it bothering him; in fact, the hotter it was, the better he liked it.
One evening, Larry and his wife came to dinner. Dad had invited them, fixing up a batch of this chili, along with the milder batch. Larry was served the hot stuff. Next time Dad went to a C.D. meeting, he overheard Larry state, "I can eat anything hot - except John S's chili!" Be forewarned!
3 balls ground beef suet
4 slices bacon, cut up
2 lbs. stew beef, cut small
2 lbs. chopped chuck
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Bernudea onions, chopped
1 T paprika
3/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. cayenne
6-9 T chili powder
2-4 walnut-size pieces suet
1 can beef broth
1 tsp. oregano
3 cans measured water
3/4 tsp. cumin
6 C tomatoes & juice
1 2/3 T salt
1 1/2 lbs. drained kidney beans
In heavy pot place 3 balls suet with bacon. Cook out fat. Add & brown beef & chopped chuck. After browning, add garlic. Cook lightly. Add remainder of spices. In another pot, heat 2-4 pieces of suet. Add onions. Cook until almost burned. Add to meat pot. Deglaze pot with meat broth. Add water, tomatoes & juice. Mash tomatoes into chili. Cover & simmer slowly 1 1/2-2 hours. Uncover. Cook down for about 1/2 hour, adding kidney beans. Serves 6-8.
Super Chili
One of my inventions.
2 C pinto beans
4 C water
4-8 cloves garlic, minced
2-4 onions, chopped
2 T chili powder
6 oz. can tomato paste
2 T oil or butter
1 lb. ground beef
1/4 lb. bacon, chopped
28 oz. can tomatoes (undrained)
1 tsp. oregano
1 T chili powder
Soak beans in water for several hours. Drain & place in 4 C water. Add 2-4 cloves gar-lic, 1 onion & 1 T chili powder. Bring to boil, stir, reduce heat, cover & simmer several hours, or until soft & creamy. Add tomato paste & 1 T chili powder & water as needed. Stir, cover & let simmer 30 more minutes. While beans are simmering, brown 1-3 onions, 2-4 cloves garlic & ground beef in butter. Add to beans. Cook bacon & add to beans. Add tomatoes, oregano & 1 T chili powder. Cook for 1-1 1/2 hours. Great for anyone who likes good, hot chili. Better the next day.
Vegetarian Chili
This is from Runner's World. Apparently, it was in the December 1999 issue and repeated after someone mentioned it in a letter in the February 2000 issue. I'm always amazed at the great food coming out of there!
1 onion, chopped
1 sweet green pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon soybean or olive oil
1 16-ounce package extra-firm tofu, drained and crumbled
1 or 2 19-once cans of beans (kidney, pinto, or white)
1 28-ounce can stewed tomatoes
3 medium carrots, sliced
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon hot sauce
Salt & Pepper to taste
Sauté the onion, pepper & garlic in oil over medium heat. Add the tofu and sauté until crisp & lightly browned (about 10 minutes). Add the beans, stewed tomatoes, carrots, chili powder, cumin, hot sauce, & salt & pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer for 50-60 minutes. Serves 4.
From Runner’s World, December, 1999/letters Feb. 2000
Reworked Vegetarian Chili
I've fixed this recipe probably several hundred times, easily. I started off with the above Runner's World recipe; it slowly morphed into this recipes.
Note: I have a habit of buying anywhere from 16 to 20 (or more) peppers of varying colors at the same time, then chopping them all up, putting them into several containers, and freezing them. When I put them into the containers, they're not separated by color, but, rather, dumped in together. This way, I end up with containers with red, green, yellow and orange bell peppers all thrown in together. Then, whenever I need cut up peppers, I end up with a colorful bunch of peppers in whatever I'm putting them in. If you prefer, you can buy one or two peppers as needed (like for this recipe) and cut it up at that time. You can use whichever color bell pepper you want; if I'm out of frozen peppers, and am planning to buy only one or two for this recipe, I usually go with the green peppers, since they're usually the cheapest.
Also, with the onions, I usually try to have both yellow and red onions on hand; when I do, I use one of each in this recipe. Finally, for the cans of beans, I lean toward one can of black beans and one can of either Navy or Great Northern beans, both of which are white. Between the multi-colored peppers, two different kinds of onions, and different colored beans, it makes for a more colorful chili. But if you only have two cans of white, red or black beans, that's fine, too.
2 T olive oil
2 onions, chopped
4-6 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 peppers, chopped
16-ounce package extra-firm tofu, drained and crumbled
2 19-once cans of beans, drained
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
3 medium carrots, sliced
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
Salt & Pepper to taste
Sauté the onion, pepper & garlic in oil over medium heat. Add tofu and sauté until crisp & lightly browned. While this is cooking, peel and cut the carrots. Add the beans, crushed tomatoes, carrots, chili powder, cumin, & salt & pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer for 50-60 minutes. Serve over noodles. Serves 4.
Quick And Easy Chili
I first had this at my former in-laws' house. It is about as quick and simple as you can get. It took me a while to warm up to this chili, after eating Dad's Texas Chili. No matter; my younger two love it, and I've grown to like it.
Note:The beans were pretty much required for this recipe. I usually don't push certain brands, and I suppose that other cans of chili beans could be used. But when I fix their dad's/paternal grandparents' chili, I use the beans listed. I've also added the oil to this, but this was not an original part of the recipe.
2 T olive oil
1 pound ground beef
4 cans Ranch Style beans
1 can tomato soup
Chili powder, to taste
Brown ground beef in oil. Add beans, soup, and chili powder. Stir, heat, eat.
During these chilly months, chili seems like a natural option. I've added five chili recipes here. Actually, it started out as four fecipes, but one of them has been tweaked: The Vegetarian Chili is originally from an issue of Runner's World; after fixing it many times, I began to change it to where it's different from what was published in Runner's World. Both recipes are marked accordingly so that there is no question as to which is which.
It seems that another one of the recipes might have been discovered in an airline magazine while in flight decades and decades ago (we're talking over forty years ago!). However, since my dad discovered it while flying home, and airlines have folded, merged with others, etc., I have no idea where it came from and how much Dad changed it. If anyone knows the origins of the Texas Chili (as far as airline, etc.), please let me know so that I can give credit where it's due.
Texas Chili
One of my dad’s recipes. Note: Actually, it is the one he said he found in the airline magazine. Whenever Dad fixed this, he’d have to make 2 batches of chili: this for those brave enough to try it, another for everyone else, somewhat cooler.
A funny anecdote: Dad had been involved in Civil Defense when we lived in New York. He had a friend who was also in C.D. who swore that since he'd grown up in New Mexico, he could eat anything spicy hot without it bothering him; in fact, the hotter it was, the better he liked it.
One evening, Larry and his wife came to dinner. Dad had invited them, fixing up a batch of this chili, along with the milder batch. Larry was served the hot stuff. Next time Dad went to a C.D. meeting, he overheard Larry state, "I can eat anything hot - except John S's chili!" Be forewarned!
3 balls ground beef suet
4 slices bacon, cut up
2 lbs. stew beef, cut small
2 lbs. chopped chuck
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Bernudea onions, chopped
1 T paprika
3/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. cayenne
6-9 T chili powder
2-4 walnut-size pieces suet
1 can beef broth
1 tsp. oregano
3 cans measured water
3/4 tsp. cumin
6 C tomatoes & juice
1 2/3 T salt
1 1/2 lbs. drained kidney beans
In heavy pot place 3 balls suet with bacon. Cook out fat. Add & brown beef & chopped chuck. After browning, add garlic. Cook lightly. Add remainder of spices. In another pot, heat 2-4 pieces of suet. Add onions. Cook until almost burned. Add to meat pot. Deglaze pot with meat broth. Add water, tomatoes & juice. Mash tomatoes into chili. Cover & simmer slowly 1 1/2-2 hours. Uncover. Cook down for about 1/2 hour, adding kidney beans. Serves 6-8.
Super Chili
One of my inventions.
2 C pinto beans
4 C water
4-8 cloves garlic, minced
2-4 onions, chopped
2 T chili powder
6 oz. can tomato paste
2 T oil or butter
1 lb. ground beef
1/4 lb. bacon, chopped
28 oz. can tomatoes (undrained)
1 tsp. oregano
1 T chili powder
Soak beans in water for several hours. Drain & place in 4 C water. Add 2-4 cloves gar-lic, 1 onion & 1 T chili powder. Bring to boil, stir, reduce heat, cover & simmer several hours, or until soft & creamy. Add tomato paste & 1 T chili powder & water as needed. Stir, cover & let simmer 30 more minutes. While beans are simmering, brown 1-3 onions, 2-4 cloves garlic & ground beef in butter. Add to beans. Cook bacon & add to beans. Add tomatoes, oregano & 1 T chili powder. Cook for 1-1 1/2 hours. Great for anyone who likes good, hot chili. Better the next day.
Vegetarian Chili
This is from Runner's World. Apparently, it was in the December 1999 issue and repeated after someone mentioned it in a letter in the February 2000 issue. I'm always amazed at the great food coming out of there!
1 onion, chopped
1 sweet green pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon soybean or olive oil
1 16-ounce package extra-firm tofu, drained and crumbled
1 or 2 19-once cans of beans (kidney, pinto, or white)
1 28-ounce can stewed tomatoes
3 medium carrots, sliced
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon hot sauce
Salt & Pepper to taste
Sauté the onion, pepper & garlic in oil over medium heat. Add the tofu and sauté until crisp & lightly browned (about 10 minutes). Add the beans, stewed tomatoes, carrots, chili powder, cumin, hot sauce, & salt & pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer for 50-60 minutes. Serves 4.
From Runner’s World, December, 1999/letters Feb. 2000
Reworked Vegetarian Chili
I've fixed this recipe probably several hundred times, easily. I started off with the above Runner's World recipe; it slowly morphed into this recipes.
Note: I have a habit of buying anywhere from 16 to 20 (or more) peppers of varying colors at the same time, then chopping them all up, putting them into several containers, and freezing them. When I put them into the containers, they're not separated by color, but, rather, dumped in together. This way, I end up with containers with red, green, yellow and orange bell peppers all thrown in together. Then, whenever I need cut up peppers, I end up with a colorful bunch of peppers in whatever I'm putting them in. If you prefer, you can buy one or two peppers as needed (like for this recipe) and cut it up at that time. You can use whichever color bell pepper you want; if I'm out of frozen peppers, and am planning to buy only one or two for this recipe, I usually go with the green peppers, since they're usually the cheapest.
Also, with the onions, I usually try to have both yellow and red onions on hand; when I do, I use one of each in this recipe. Finally, for the cans of beans, I lean toward one can of black beans and one can of either Navy or Great Northern beans, both of which are white. Between the multi-colored peppers, two different kinds of onions, and different colored beans, it makes for a more colorful chili. But if you only have two cans of white, red or black beans, that's fine, too.
2 T olive oil
2 onions, chopped
4-6 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 peppers, chopped
16-ounce package extra-firm tofu, drained and crumbled
2 19-once cans of beans, drained
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
3 medium carrots, sliced
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
Salt & Pepper to taste
Sauté the onion, pepper & garlic in oil over medium heat. Add tofu and sauté until crisp & lightly browned. While this is cooking, peel and cut the carrots. Add the beans, crushed tomatoes, carrots, chili powder, cumin, & salt & pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer for 50-60 minutes. Serve over noodles. Serves 4.
Quick And Easy Chili
I first had this at my former in-laws' house. It is about as quick and simple as you can get. It took me a while to warm up to this chili, after eating Dad's Texas Chili. No matter; my younger two love it, and I've grown to like it.
Note:The beans were pretty much required for this recipe. I usually don't push certain brands, and I suppose that other cans of chili beans could be used. But when I fix their dad's/paternal grandparents' chili, I use the beans listed. I've also added the oil to this, but this was not an original part of the recipe.
2 T olive oil
1 pound ground beef
4 cans Ranch Style beans
1 can tomato soup
Chili powder, to taste
Brown ground beef in oil. Add beans, soup, and chili powder. Stir, heat, eat.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Sunday Chicken
A generation or two (or three) ago, Sunday dinner wasn't Sunday Dinner without chicken. At one time, chicken was more expensive than it is now (comparatively speaking), so it was reserved for the big meal of the week.
And so, without further adieu, I present chicken...
Chicken in Wine
One of my numerous inventions before I moved out on my own.
2 onions, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 T butter
2-3 lb. chicken, cut up
1 tsp mustard
1/4 C red wine (note)
1 tsp Worchester sauce
1/4 C milk or water
3 T honey
1/2-1 C cornmeal
3 1/2 C tomatoes
6 oz. can tomato paste
salt, pepper, spices to taste (note)
Brown onions & garlic in butter. Add 2 T honey to milk or water. Dip chicken in milk & honey, then in cornmeal. Add to onions & garlic. Mix other ingredients & pour over chicken. Cover & simmer until done (about 45 minutes). Serve over brown rice.
NOTE: Alcohol-free wine, water or tomato juice can be used in place of the wine. For the spices, I used a mixture of oregano, marjoram, thyme, savory, & ground lemon peel, for a total of about 2 T (not including salt & pepper), though any spices can be used.
Fast Chicken Curry
1 C sour cream
2-5 oz cans boned chicken
4 T butter
2 T flour
1 1/2 tsp. curry
1 small can pineapple, crushed
1 lb. cooked string beans
salt & pepper to taste
Melt butter slowly & add chicken. Stir constantly & heat thoroughly. Add flour, curry, salt & pepper. Add enough water to make thick cream sauce. Add pineapple, string beans & sour cream. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Serve over boiled rice with hot rolls & tossed salad. Serves 4. Time about 1/2 hour.
Chicken Special
One of my inventions.
2-3 lb. chicken, cut up
3 T oil
1 onion, chopped
2 T butter, melted
2 1/2 T peanut butter
salt & pepper to taste
8 oz can tomato sauce
1 C water
16 oz package peas & carrots
Brown chicken in oil. Put in casserole or baking dish. Sauté onions in butter. Put on top of chicken. Add salt & pepper, tomato sauce, water & peas & carrots. Top with peanutbutter. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Mexicorn Chicken
Another one of my inventions.
2-3 lb. chicken, cut up
3 T oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T wheat germ
12 oz. can Mexicorn
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 C water
1 T soy sauce
1 T honey
Brown chicken to oil. Put in baking dish. Brown onion, garlic & wheat germ, stirring. Pour over chicken. Add mexicorn, soup, water, soy sauce & hone. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
And so, without further adieu, I present chicken...
Chicken in Wine
One of my numerous inventions before I moved out on my own.
2 onions, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 T butter
2-3 lb. chicken, cut up
1 tsp mustard
1/4 C red wine (note)
1 tsp Worchester sauce
1/4 C milk or water
3 T honey
1/2-1 C cornmeal
3 1/2 C tomatoes
6 oz. can tomato paste
salt, pepper, spices to taste (note)
Brown onions & garlic in butter. Add 2 T honey to milk or water. Dip chicken in milk & honey, then in cornmeal. Add to onions & garlic. Mix other ingredients & pour over chicken. Cover & simmer until done (about 45 minutes). Serve over brown rice.
NOTE: Alcohol-free wine, water or tomato juice can be used in place of the wine. For the spices, I used a mixture of oregano, marjoram, thyme, savory, & ground lemon peel, for a total of about 2 T (not including salt & pepper), though any spices can be used.
Fast Chicken Curry
1 C sour cream
2-5 oz cans boned chicken
4 T butter
2 T flour
1 1/2 tsp. curry
1 small can pineapple, crushed
1 lb. cooked string beans
salt & pepper to taste
Melt butter slowly & add chicken. Stir constantly & heat thoroughly. Add flour, curry, salt & pepper. Add enough water to make thick cream sauce. Add pineapple, string beans & sour cream. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Serve over boiled rice with hot rolls & tossed salad. Serves 4. Time about 1/2 hour.
Chicken Special
One of my inventions.
2-3 lb. chicken, cut up
3 T oil
1 onion, chopped
2 T butter, melted
2 1/2 T peanut butter
salt & pepper to taste
8 oz can tomato sauce
1 C water
16 oz package peas & carrots
Brown chicken in oil. Put in casserole or baking dish. Sauté onions in butter. Put on top of chicken. Add salt & pepper, tomato sauce, water & peas & carrots. Top with peanutbutter. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Mexicorn Chicken
Another one of my inventions.
2-3 lb. chicken, cut up
3 T oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T wheat germ
12 oz. can Mexicorn
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 C water
1 T soy sauce
1 T honey
Brown chicken to oil. Put in baking dish. Brown onion, garlic & wheat germ, stirring. Pour over chicken. Add mexicorn, soup, water, soy sauce & hone. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Beef up that meal!
I wasn't always a vegetarian. Even after becoming a vegetarian, those in the house with me have enjoyed meat. Therefore, I've managed to collect (and invent) meat recipes over the years. Here are a few with beef in them.
BEEF STEW
One of my inventions; the recipes I had for stew seemed too bland.
2-3 lbs. stewing beef
3 T oil
2 C water
1 onion, chopped
8 oz. tomato sauce
1 C flour
1 T soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
4 carrots, cut up
1 large potato, peeled & cut up
6 oz tomato paste
4 T vinegar
3 T honey
salt & pepper
Cut beef into bite-sized pieces. Trim fat & dredge in flour & brown in oil. Add every-thing except carrots & potato. Cook 15 minutes. Add carrots & cook 15 more minutes. Add potato & cook 30 minutes. Add water as needed. Serve over noodles.
OVEN POT ROAST
This is from my Grandma Hallock. She added, "I sometimes add soy sauce to thicken & for color. This is an easy meal."
4 lbs. chuck beef (boneless)
1/3 C flour
1/4 C oil
2 C carrots, cut up
2 C onions, sliced
2 C celery, cut up
1 C tomatoes (opt.) or 1 small can tomato paste
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 can mushroom soup (optional)
Wash & flour meat. Brown in fat on stove top (all sides of meat). Put in large casserole or Dutch oven. Cook at 400 degrees for 3 1/2 - 4 hours. Put vegetables around. Last 1/2 hour, add soup. Add 1 T cornstarch dissolved in 1/2 C water to thicken gravy (if necessary). Serves 6.
BEEF ROLLS
Another one of Grandma Hallock’s recipes. She wrote, "Made these a lot when we were young. Kids loved them. Used flank steak." She also sent a recipe for Baked Butter Carrots which, she also wrote, are "good with Beef Rolls."
1 1/2 lbs. flank steak, sliced thin
1 egg
1 tsp. salt
1/2 C boiling water
1/2 tsp. onion flakes
2 tsp. lemon juice
3/4 C bread crumbs
3/4 tsp. poultry seasoning
flour
1/8 tsp. pepper
butter for browning
Wash meat, trim fat. Cut into 6 slices, making them as square as possible. Beat egg. Add crumbs & seasonings. Place in center of pieces of meat, then pin 4 corners of meat with toothpick or tie with string. Flour them, then brown in butter. Add 2 T flour to thicken sauce around meat. Put in casserole. Pour boiling water over it. Cover & bake in oven at 275 degrees for 3 hours or 300 degrees for 1 1/2 hours. Serves 6.
BEAN BURGER
The kids had this one evening when I had a class to go to; they loved it.
1 1/2 lbs. hamburger
2 T mustard (or to taste)
2 cans baked beans
2 T brown sugar (or to taste)
Brown hamburger. Drain grease, then add beans, mustard & brown sugar. Heat thoroughly. May be eaten on hamburger buns, taco shells, or plain.
HAMBURGER SPECIAL
One of my variations of the good, ol’ hamburger. One-half diced yellow pepper may be added along with the red and green peppers, if desired.
2 lbs. hamburger
1 - 2 carrots, peeled & cut into rounds
1/2 green pepper, diced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 package dry onion soup mix
Mix all ingredients together & form into 8 patties. Cook immediately or freeze separately. Serve on hamburger buns.
BEEF STEW
One of my inventions; the recipes I had for stew seemed too bland.
2-3 lbs. stewing beef
3 T oil
2 C water
1 onion, chopped
8 oz. tomato sauce
1 C flour
1 T soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
4 carrots, cut up
1 large potato, peeled & cut up
6 oz tomato paste
4 T vinegar
3 T honey
salt & pepper
Cut beef into bite-sized pieces. Trim fat & dredge in flour & brown in oil. Add every-thing except carrots & potato. Cook 15 minutes. Add carrots & cook 15 more minutes. Add potato & cook 30 minutes. Add water as needed. Serve over noodles.
OVEN POT ROAST
This is from my Grandma Hallock. She added, "I sometimes add soy sauce to thicken & for color. This is an easy meal."
4 lbs. chuck beef (boneless)
1/3 C flour
1/4 C oil
2 C carrots, cut up
2 C onions, sliced
2 C celery, cut up
1 C tomatoes (opt.) or 1 small can tomato paste
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 can mushroom soup (optional)
Wash & flour meat. Brown in fat on stove top (all sides of meat). Put in large casserole or Dutch oven. Cook at 400 degrees for 3 1/2 - 4 hours. Put vegetables around. Last 1/2 hour, add soup. Add 1 T cornstarch dissolved in 1/2 C water to thicken gravy (if necessary). Serves 6.
BEEF ROLLS
Another one of Grandma Hallock’s recipes. She wrote, "Made these a lot when we were young. Kids loved them. Used flank steak." She also sent a recipe for Baked Butter Carrots which, she also wrote, are "good with Beef Rolls."
1 1/2 lbs. flank steak, sliced thin
1 egg
1 tsp. salt
1/2 C boiling water
1/2 tsp. onion flakes
2 tsp. lemon juice
3/4 C bread crumbs
3/4 tsp. poultry seasoning
flour
1/8 tsp. pepper
butter for browning
Wash meat, trim fat. Cut into 6 slices, making them as square as possible. Beat egg. Add crumbs & seasonings. Place in center of pieces of meat, then pin 4 corners of meat with toothpick or tie with string. Flour them, then brown in butter. Add 2 T flour to thicken sauce around meat. Put in casserole. Pour boiling water over it. Cover & bake in oven at 275 degrees for 3 hours or 300 degrees for 1 1/2 hours. Serves 6.
BEAN BURGER
The kids had this one evening when I had a class to go to; they loved it.
1 1/2 lbs. hamburger
2 T mustard (or to taste)
2 cans baked beans
2 T brown sugar (or to taste)
Brown hamburger. Drain grease, then add beans, mustard & brown sugar. Heat thoroughly. May be eaten on hamburger buns, taco shells, or plain.
HAMBURGER SPECIAL
One of my variations of the good, ol’ hamburger. One-half diced yellow pepper may be added along with the red and green peppers, if desired.
2 lbs. hamburger
1 - 2 carrots, peeled & cut into rounds
1/2 green pepper, diced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 package dry onion soup mix
Mix all ingredients together & form into 8 patties. Cook immediately or freeze separately. Serve on hamburger buns.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Vegetarian Dinners
Back in the Dark Ages (the 1950s), meat and potatoes were the order of the day; if one didn't eat meat for dinner, it was considered sacrilege. Red meat was king in many households, though chicken, fish, and pork were acceptable variations on a theme.
Of course, there were exceptions and rules to the beef/chicken/fish/pork/etc. rules: If one was a practicing Catholic (or had grown up as one), it was fish on Fridays; if you'd invited the neighbors for dinner and you knew they were Jewish, pork was definitely not what you were fixing that evening; if someone mentioned that he or she simply wanted a salad, chances were that a smaller number on the scale weighed heavily on someone's mind.
But a meatless meal? As in vegetarian?!? You might as well suggest that someone thought that he or she was a three-headed martian, dropped into Roswell with the thought of bringing back every third person back to Mars. What were you, nuts?
(If you've read about my lasagna experience with a certain ex-coworker, you may be aware that there are still people who feel that way. Not to worry, it's entirely possible to adhere to a vegetarian diet and be perfectly healthy; in fact, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, "It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes." (http://www.eatright.org/about/content.aspx?id=8357)
Great, you're thinking, I came here to see what's cooking, and she gives me the food lecture? Okay, lecture's over. Here are few non-meat meals. One or two of them are definitely not vegan (someone who eats and uses no animal by-products at all). I'll post a note after each recipe on what can be done to make it vegan. So...here goes:
Spaghetti Sauce
28 oz. can tomatoes (note)
2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 6 oz. cans tomato paste
3 onions, chopped
3 to 5 cloves garlic, crushed
2 T oil
1 T oregano
1/4 - 1/2 lb. grated cheddar cheese
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
2 T honey
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add tomatoes, sauce & pasted. Stir. Add everything ex-cept cheese & stir. Simmer 1 hour. Add cheese & stir until cheese is melted. Serve over hot spaghetti. Better the next day—if any is left!
NOTE: I usually use crushed tomatoes. If you’d rather use fresh tomatoes, 6-8 large ones may be used (diced, of course) in place of the canned tomatoes, & add an extra can of to-mato sauce.
Note:If you want to make it vegan, leave the honey out and use grated vegan cheese.
Angel Hair Pasta
I had something similar to this at a local Italian restaurant several times, and decided to try making it. A hint for making this: wait until all the veggies have been cut up, then start the water boiling for the angel hair pasta. The veggies should be cooked for 2-4 minutes, and the pasta cooked for 2 minutes before the pasta is drained and then allowed to finish cooking for another 2 minutes with the veggies. Timing is important—unless you like disgustingly soggy pasta.
1/2 C water
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1/2green pepper, diced
1 T oregano
1 lb. angel hair pasta
Cut up veggies while heating the pasta water. DO NOT PUT PASTA INTO WATER UNTIL THE VEGGIES BEGIN COOKING. (There. I said it.) In veggie pot, heat 1/2 C water & balsamic vinegar until it begins to bubble; add onion, garlic, pepper & oregano and stir once or twice. NOW ADD PASTA TO POT OF BOILING PASTA WATER. (Boy, what a bossy broad.) Simmer veggies on low-medium heat for 2-4 minutes, covered. Cook pasta for only 2 minutes, then drain in colander. As soon as pasta is drained, remove cover from veggies, dump pasta into veggie pot, and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring several times. Remove from heat. DIG IN!!! (Now, isn’t that good?)
Baked Noodles & Cheese
No idea where this came from.
8 oz. noodles, cooked
2 1/2 C grated cheese
2 eggs
1 C milk
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 T butter
Layer noodles & 2 C cheese alternately in a 2-quart casserole. Beat eggs, milk, salt & pepper together & pour over noodles & cheese. Sprinkle remaining cheese over it & dot with butter. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes until set.
Note:Not sure how to make it vegan; you can use vegan margarine and cheese, but the eggs...eh.
Grandma Shwedo’s Mac And Cheese
Grandma was a character; I could write a book about her. This is her version of the ultimate comfort food. She told me she made this for my dad and my uncle when they were kids. Very simple, but very good.
1 lb. elbow macaroni
1-2 jars of Cheese Whiz
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Heat Cheese Whiz, either in microwave or boiling water. (Remove lids from jars first.) Drain macaroni, dump into a large bowl, add heated Cheese Whiz, stir, and PIG OUT!!!
Note:I'm really sooo not sure how to replace the jars of Cheese Whiz. Anyone know if there's a vegan replacement?
Jason’s B-B-Q Gluten
This is from my oldest son. Rather than reword any of this, the recipe is included exactly as he wrote it out for me. (This stuff is definitely good.)
Ingredients:
5 lb. whole wheat flour
2 onions
1/2 creamy peanut butter
2 bottles of B-B-Q sauce
1 stick butter
2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons paprika
Huge ass bowl
Take whole wheat flour, empty into Big Bowl. Add enough water to knead into dough ball. Knead really well. I repeat, knead really well. For at least 10 minutes. Fill huge ass bowl with water, put dough ball under water for 2 hours. Pour off water and drowned roaches. Knead doughball under cold running water for 10 minutes or more. Water should be clear. You are washing out the starch and bran. You know it’s ready when stringy and it sticks together and is bouncy. Melt 1 stick butter and fry 2 chopped onions until clear. Dump onto Gluten. Add salt, paprika, and peanut butter. Mix with hands completely. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cooking pan with non-stick spray. Pinch off pieces bigger than a golf ball. Take piece and fold it and twist it and lay it down in pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip over and bake for 10 more. Pour B-B-Q sauce and bake 10 more minutes, then flip and pour more B-B-Q sauce and bake 10 more minutes. It’s done—enjoy.
(Xtra note—be careful when you first mix wheat and water. Don’t add too much water. Make a hard dough ball. It might take 20 minutes to knead it.)
Of course, there were exceptions and rules to the beef/chicken/fish/pork/etc. rules: If one was a practicing Catholic (or had grown up as one), it was fish on Fridays; if you'd invited the neighbors for dinner and you knew they were Jewish, pork was definitely not what you were fixing that evening; if someone mentioned that he or she simply wanted a salad, chances were that a smaller number on the scale weighed heavily on someone's mind.
But a meatless meal? As in vegetarian?!? You might as well suggest that someone thought that he or she was a three-headed martian, dropped into Roswell with the thought of bringing back every third person back to Mars. What were you, nuts?
(If you've read about my lasagna experience with a certain ex-coworker, you may be aware that there are still people who feel that way. Not to worry, it's entirely possible to adhere to a vegetarian diet and be perfectly healthy; in fact, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, "It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes." (http://www.eatright.org/about/content.aspx?id=8357)
Great, you're thinking, I came here to see what's cooking, and she gives me the food lecture? Okay, lecture's over. Here are few non-meat meals. One or two of them are definitely not vegan (someone who eats and uses no animal by-products at all). I'll post a note after each recipe on what can be done to make it vegan. So...here goes:
Spaghetti Sauce
28 oz. can tomatoes (note)
2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
2 6 oz. cans tomato paste
3 onions, chopped
3 to 5 cloves garlic, crushed
2 T oil
1 T oregano
1/4 - 1/2 lb. grated cheddar cheese
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. dill
1 tsp. anise
2 T honey
Brown onions & garlic in oil. Add tomatoes, sauce & pasted. Stir. Add everything ex-cept cheese & stir. Simmer 1 hour. Add cheese & stir until cheese is melted. Serve over hot spaghetti. Better the next day—if any is left!
NOTE: I usually use crushed tomatoes. If you’d rather use fresh tomatoes, 6-8 large ones may be used (diced, of course) in place of the canned tomatoes, & add an extra can of to-mato sauce.
Note:If you want to make it vegan, leave the honey out and use grated vegan cheese.
Angel Hair Pasta
I had something similar to this at a local Italian restaurant several times, and decided to try making it. A hint for making this: wait until all the veggies have been cut up, then start the water boiling for the angel hair pasta. The veggies should be cooked for 2-4 minutes, and the pasta cooked for 2 minutes before the pasta is drained and then allowed to finish cooking for another 2 minutes with the veggies. Timing is important—unless you like disgustingly soggy pasta.
1/2 C water
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 red pepper, diced
1/2green pepper, diced
1 T oregano
1 lb. angel hair pasta
Cut up veggies while heating the pasta water. DO NOT PUT PASTA INTO WATER UNTIL THE VEGGIES BEGIN COOKING. (There. I said it.) In veggie pot, heat 1/2 C water & balsamic vinegar until it begins to bubble; add onion, garlic, pepper & oregano and stir once or twice. NOW ADD PASTA TO POT OF BOILING PASTA WATER. (Boy, what a bossy broad.) Simmer veggies on low-medium heat for 2-4 minutes, covered. Cook pasta for only 2 minutes, then drain in colander. As soon as pasta is drained, remove cover from veggies, dump pasta into veggie pot, and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring several times. Remove from heat. DIG IN!!! (Now, isn’t that good?)
Baked Noodles & Cheese
No idea where this came from.
8 oz. noodles, cooked
2 1/2 C grated cheese
2 eggs
1 C milk
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 T butter
Layer noodles & 2 C cheese alternately in a 2-quart casserole. Beat eggs, milk, salt & pepper together & pour over noodles & cheese. Sprinkle remaining cheese over it & dot with butter. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes until set.
Note:Not sure how to make it vegan; you can use vegan margarine and cheese, but the eggs...eh.
Grandma Shwedo’s Mac And Cheese
Grandma was a character; I could write a book about her. This is her version of the ultimate comfort food. She told me she made this for my dad and my uncle when they were kids. Very simple, but very good.
1 lb. elbow macaroni
1-2 jars of Cheese Whiz
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Heat Cheese Whiz, either in microwave or boiling water. (Remove lids from jars first.) Drain macaroni, dump into a large bowl, add heated Cheese Whiz, stir, and PIG OUT!!!
Note:I'm really sooo not sure how to replace the jars of Cheese Whiz. Anyone know if there's a vegan replacement?
Jason’s B-B-Q Gluten
This is from my oldest son. Rather than reword any of this, the recipe is included exactly as he wrote it out for me. (This stuff is definitely good.)
Ingredients:
5 lb. whole wheat flour
2 onions
1/2 creamy peanut butter
2 bottles of B-B-Q sauce
1 stick butter
2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons paprika
Huge ass bowl
Take whole wheat flour, empty into Big Bowl. Add enough water to knead into dough ball. Knead really well. I repeat, knead really well. For at least 10 minutes. Fill huge ass bowl with water, put dough ball under water for 2 hours. Pour off water and drowned roaches. Knead doughball under cold running water for 10 minutes or more. Water should be clear. You are washing out the starch and bran. You know it’s ready when stringy and it sticks together and is bouncy. Melt 1 stick butter and fry 2 chopped onions until clear. Dump onto Gluten. Add salt, paprika, and peanut butter. Mix with hands completely. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cooking pan with non-stick spray. Pinch off pieces bigger than a golf ball. Take piece and fold it and twist it and lay it down in pan. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip over and bake for 10 more. Pour B-B-Q sauce and bake 10 more minutes, then flip and pour more B-B-Q sauce and bake 10 more minutes. It’s done—enjoy.
(Xtra note—be careful when you first mix wheat and water. Don’t add too much water. Make a hard dough ball. It might take 20 minutes to knead it.)
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