Thursday, January 21st, 2010 at
12:18 pm
To many people, Italian cooking means pasta and pizza. This sauce is very useful and can be applied to all sorts of noodles.
Easy Meat Sauce
2 pounds ground beef
2 cups whole tomatoes (~ 14 ½ oz. can)
2 cups tomato puree
3 onions
4 cloves garlic
3 green peppers
1 cup tomato paste (~2x 6oz. cans)
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried basil
½ teaspoons black pepper
½ cup water
Salt
Chop onions, peppers and crush garlic. Cook beef , onions, bell peppers and garlic till meat is Brown and onion is tender. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato puree, water and spices. Bring to boil, reduce heat. Simmer abort 1-1 ½ hours uncovered or until desired consistency. Serve over hot pasta.
Note:
To vary this dish you can add ½ cup dry red wine. For nice presentation garnish with fresh parsley and serve with grated parmesan cheese.
Sunday, January 10th, 2010 at
8:47 pm
Beef Stew
This meal is very easy and tasty. Just be sure you make enough. It really warms you up inside. For this hearty stew all sorts of vegetables can be added.
2 lb beef
3 liters of water
2 cups diced potatoes
1 cup carrot
½ cup celery
1 cup onion
¼ cup fresh parsley
2-3 cloves garlic, peeled
¼ cup of flour
2 bay leaves
2 beef bullion cubes
2 tablespoons fat or oil
4 all spice pepper
Salt and pepper
Cut beef into bite-size cubes. Dice potatoes, celery, carrot and onion. Chop parsley. Rub the meat into flour. Brown meat on pan in fat. After 10 minutes add onion and fry for 5 minutes. Cover the beef and onion with water. Add bay leaves, all spice pepper, beef cubes and allow to simmer 2 hours . Cook until beef is tender. 30 minutes before serving add other vegetables.Cook until soft. Season with salt and pepper to taste. At the end add parsley, mashed garlic and serve.
Note: If you want your beef stew thicker blend ½ cup water with ¼ cup flour or corn starch. Stir slowly into hot stew. Cook until thick and bubbly.
Sunday, January 10th, 2010 at
8:45 pm
Looking for new ways to use leftovers of your Thanksgiving Turkey? This is light and easy delicious salad recipe.
Light Turkey Salad
1 cup baked turkey, cubed
1 small red onion
1 red pepper
½ cup celery
1 apple
1-2 spoons mayonnaise
salt& pepper
Dice all ingredients. In a large bowl combine turkey, celery, red pepper, apples and onion. Add mayonnaise and mix together. Season to taste with salt and pepper. To serve, arrange several lettuce leaves on salad plates.
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 at
6:45 am
Traditional Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup margarine (~230 gram)
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
2 tsps baking soda
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla sugar
1/4 tsps salt
Cream butter, add sugars, peanut butter and mix it well. Sift flour and other dry ingredients in large bowl. Beat in eggs and flour mixture. Shape into 1 inch ( 2.5 cm ) balls and flatten with fork. Place on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 F ( 175 °C ) for 15 minutes.
Note: The cookies will be crispier when you substitute butter for margarine. If you want a chewy cookies use shortening.
Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 at
6:30 pm
CRUSTY FRENCH BREAD
Welcome your friends and family to the table with something fresh and crispy from the oven. This recipe produces two great tasting loaves- with nice crusty exterior and soft and tender inside.
Ingredients:
5-5 1/2 cups bread flour or all-purpose flour
2 cups warm water (105° F= 40° C)
2 envelopes (1/4 oz. each) active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
For brushing:
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tablespoon milk
In large bowl dissolve yeast in warm water, 2 tablespoons flour and sugar. Let it stand for about 30 minutes allowing yeast to foam. Stir in 3 cups flour, salt, oil and beat until smooth. Add remaining flour to make dough easy to handle. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic- about 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turn dough to coat all sides. Cover and let rise in warm place until double in size (abort 1- 1 ½ hours). Punch down dough and divide in half and shape two long loaves. Let rise until double the size (30 minutes). Heat oven to 375 F (190 ° C). In small bowl stir together egg and milk, brush over top and sides of loaves. Cut diagonal gashes on top of each loaf (I use scissors). Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Variation:
You can made baguette or smaller rolls suitable for the kids lunchboxes. Mix together : 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh garlic add to your dough and bake tasty garlic herb french bread.
