Category: Food

Food

Quick Breads – The Unsung Heroes

JanetLeave a comment

Quick breads are those luscious, wondrous easy to make and bake breads that do not require yeast and the most amount of time is spent waiting for them to come out of the oven.

They are not quite a muffin, but you can use a quick bread batter to make muffins, and not quite a yeasted bread. They make wonderful toast, are a great accompaniment to coffee or tea and add something special at the end of a meal. In my house, and probably yours, too, they don’t last long.

Erin Jeanne McDowell did a great video on the basics of creating quick breads. Check it out:

The links to her recipes are in the Description Box below the video.

Enjoy!

Cooking

Homemade English Muffins

JanetLeave a comment

Easier than I thought!

I discovered English Muffins after moving to the West Coast decades ago. Those lovely, crispy platforms for all sorts of goodies were a toast lover’s heaven! A few years later I discovered crumpets. OMG!

A recent edition of Glen and Friends Cooking shows the process to make English Muffins from scratch. Check it out:

Now, I think that if I follow Glen’s guidance and take my time, I could make these gems myself.

Where did I put that Culinary Bucket List…?

Cooking

Casserole 101

JanetLeave a comment

A good casserole is a time saver, budget friendly, and can use up all sorts of left overs or even create loads of left overs. They make wonderful next day lunches, too. If you are contemplating batch cooking, consider doubling your favorite casserole recipe and tucking the extra into the freezer – well wrapped, of course.

Allrecipes.com has come up with a collection of tips to make your next casserole fabulous. Click HERE to check it out.

And, if you need a refresher on how to make casseroles without a recipe, click HERE.

Wyse Guide has created what might be the Ultimate Chicken Pot Pie Casserole. No crust, no biscuit topping. Easy to do, easy to eat.

He even provides the link so you can easily print out the recipe. Go, Kaleb!

Never underestimate the level of Comfort Food that comes with a casserole. When the weather is iffy and you might not be feeling your best, a warm from the oven casserole could be just what the doctor ordered…so to speak.

Enjoy!

Cooking · Recipe of the Month

A Tender London Broil Just Needs Some Time

JanetLeave a comment

As much as I like beef, prices are not exactly encouraging to indulging in more than the usual ground variety. Sound familiar?

Recently, however, I decided to see what was affordable, and interesting, at my local market and came across London Broil.

Actually “London Broil” is more of a preparation or a recipe rather than an actual cut, but my market labels round steak as London Broil to make it easier for customers to find. The cut is usually a tough flank or round steak that might be marinated and then prepared. While this can be quite tasty, I’ve not had a lot of success using the traditional method or preparation. Hence, the slow cooker.

Print

Slow Cooker London Broil

Simple. Easy. Tasty
Course Main Course
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 hours
Servings 4

Equipment

  • 1 Slow Cooker
  • 1 Slow Cooker Liner Easy Cleanup!

Ingredients

  • 2 Pound London Broil or Round Steak
  • 2 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
  • Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder To Taste

Instructions

  • If you are using the liner, insert it into the crock.
    Season the meat and add to the slow cooker.
    Pour the soup over all.
    Top with the lid.
    Set the slow cooker for LOW 8 – 10 hours.

Notes

This cut of beef is very tough which makes it a perfect candidate for the slow cooker.
Serve over noodles, potatoes or rice. and use the sauce as a gravy.

I set mine up before I head to bed, knowing that the delicious smell might keep me awake.

After 10 hours the meat is tender and juicy and there is just enough gravy to add to the meal.

Granted beef still isn’t <cough> inexpensive, but you can still make a wonderful meal without going broke.

Enjoy!

Cooking · Meal Building Blocks

Ideas for Chicken

JanetLeave a comment

Or, I need to freshen my meal rotation

I love these 30 chicken pasta recipes! (click HERE) They are versatile, easy to do, and lend themselves to any updates or changes I want to make.

Don’t have the ‘right’ shape of pasta? Use what you have. Tired of chicken? Try using pork or ham instead.

There is a lot of versatility in allowing yourself to play with your food. Swap out ingredients, try different combinations. Surprise yourself!

Meal Building Blocks

Restocking The Magic Pantry

JanetLeave a comment

Here’s What I Am Thinking

I have been contemplating my next grocery order. As March has arrived (hooray!) Spring is also in the air and that is when I tend to yearn for fresh produce. I love oranges, grapes, plums, and such so this time of year is the beginning of a monthly indulgence.

I am also thinking about getting back to salads and fresh veg. A nice grilled chicken Caesar salad sounds wonderful at the moment. The trick, for me, it to have enough, but not over do it, so I can enjoy the benefits without much waste.

Chicken… There are a lot of options here. I enjoy grilled chicken as much as baked or roasted chicken. Ditto pork. And I won’t lie, the other day I caught an episode of ‘The French Chef’ where Julia Child walked us through pot roast and it made me HUNGRY in a way I haven’t been in a long time.

Pasta is always a good thing to have on hand and I found myself browsing through the pasta aisle in my local market online shop just to see what they have. I need to check space in my pantry but I think I could grab a couple of different options to work into meals with the chicken or pork. And who doesn’t love a good Mac & Cheese?

I really liked See Mindy Mom’s idea for frozen peaches and mangoes. Good to munch on, easy to run through a blender or food processor for a quick sorbet, a slam dunk when paired with an easy shortcake. Other frozen fruits and berries could fit that bill, too.

While it might be a tad early for iced tea season (or not depending) it might be a good idea to stock up on tea…

Now is the time to start weaning off Winter Menu Items. Not exactly a thrilling thought as I really enjoy a good casserole or pot pie. Then again, it might be a good opportunity to look for recipes that straddle that line between Winter fare and Spring lighter foods.

What are you contemplating for your next grocery shop?

Cooking

Looking For Healthier Menu Ideas

JanetLeave a comment

I don’t know about you but around this time of year I find I need to look for updates and alternatives to my regular menu rotation. Recently See Mindy Mom posted a great video about how she eats healthy on a budget. Check it out:

Sticking to a budget can often be a hurdle when you are trying to eat healthy food. It is not impossible, but it can be frustrating. Mindy has some great ideas and food for thought.

Enjoy!

Cooking · Food

Couldn’t Find What I Needed At The Market. Now What?

JanetLeave a comment

My last grocery order was a bit more…incomplete than I had hoped (planned) for. I went in with the intention of creating a specific recipe but at the end of the day, I wasn’t able to find everything I needed.

It happens to everyone at one time or other. <sigh>

Between what I had on hand and what I was able to get at the market, here’s what I was working with:

  • Boneless Chicken Breasts
  • Broccoli Florets
  • Swiss Cheese
  • Stuffing Mix
  • White Rice
  • Sour Cream
  • Cream Soup
  • Canadian Bacon and Regular Bacon

I could not get the prosciutto, which should not have been a game changer but somehow was.

I ended up seasoning the chicken and baking it in the oven until almost completely done. I knew I was going to continue to cook it, so this short time wasn’t a game changer.

I pulled out my rice cooker and made my regular white rice setting up the steamer tray with frozen broccoli florets and one of the cooked chicken breasts. Once that was done, I added butter and pepper to the rice (I always salt my rice water before cooking) and pulled the chicken & broccoli aside to cool and be cut into serving pieces.

I now have one cooked chicken breast in addition to what I put into the rice cooker. I can combine it all with a sauce and add cheese with a topping…or use the stuffing mix as a topping…

This is what I was originally aiming for:

Either way works and I have options that I hadn’t considered when I put together my grocery order.

It also comes down to the other reality we all face at one time or other…sometimes we just aren’t in the mood for what we put on our menu. This bit of comfort food hit the spot and will be good for at least one more meal.

Happy cooking!

Cooking · Meal Building Blocks

Taking Advantage of What’s On Sale

JanetLeave a comment

Glen over at Glen and Friends recently posted a couple of videos where he made components to a fabulous meal. It started with a ‘What’s On Sale’ purchase.

The links to the roasted potatoes and Yorkshire Pudding recipes are below the video on his channel. Check them out, too!

The beauty of this is that it is flexible. You might not find a brisket when you are shopping. Customize your menu to fit what you can find.

Start thinking about alternatives. Roast potatoes…baked potatoes…mashed potatoes. What vegetable is available? Is there a sale in the frozen food section?

Think about leftovers. A good sized roast can become a stew or shredded for sandwiches. That leads us to looking at breads…cornbread…soda bread…

Enjoy!