The Cookbook

[Aqua Letifer]

@Mik said in The Cookbook:

As part of the kitchen reno, we're going through the recipes from our mom's. So many greats from years past. But here's an easy one that is quite tasty, although it is not from one of our moms' collection. As you can see it is a well-loved recipe.

Classic. We make a variation much like this I got from my uncle's.

[Mik]

Tried a new marinara tonight - Mezzetta. Excellent, tons of fresh, bright tomato flavor. Maybe better than Rao’s and a couple bucks cheaper.

Ingredients: Italian Plum Tomatoes From Italy's San Marzano Region, California Plum Tomatoes, Imported Olive Oil, Fresh Onions, Sea Salt, Fresh Garlic, Fresh Basil, Black Pepper, Spices.

[George K]

[George K]

I made @jon-nyc 's lasagna on Sunday.

Didn't have meatloaf mix or sausage, so ground beef it was.

We're gonna get at least (probably 4) meals out of this.

[jon-nyc]

Nice! How’d you like it?

[George K]

@jon-nyc said in The Cookbook:

Nice! How’d you like it?

Well, I didn't follow the instructions perfectly. I let it cook, covered for longer than your recipe suggests for "immediate serving". I gave it the full 40 min.

TO SERVE:

Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Unwrap the dish and cover tightly with aluminum foil that has been sprayed with vegetable oil spray (or use nonstick foil). Place a rimmed baking sheet under the dish to catch any overspill. Bake until the sauce bubbles lightly around the edges, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until hot throughout and the cheese is browned in spots, 25-35 minutes longer. Let cool for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

TO SERVE RIGHT AWAY:

Follow instructions above, reducing covered baking time to 15 minutes.

I think the cream and the basil give a nice touch - almost has a sweetness to it.

Most importantly, Mrs. George approves.

[Mik]

@George-K said in The Cookbook:

Had a dream the other night that Trump had us selling homemade marinara and he wasn't happy with the sales figures. I had a lot of one-on-one time with him in the dream.

[Mik]

@Aqua-Letifer said in The Cookbook:

@Mik said in The Cookbook:

As part of the kitchen reno, we're going through the recipes from our mom's. So many greats from years past. But here's an easy one that is quite tasty, although it is not from one of our moms' collection. As you can see it is a well-loved recipe.

Classic. We make a variation much like this I got from my uncle's.

Made it last night, but used a chicken demi-glace instead off stock. Very rich.

[George K]

We're gonna get at least (probably 4) meals out of this.

Yup - four meals it was. I divided into fourths and froze the uneaten ones.

Simple dinner tonight:

Thaw the lasagna, and heat it up (covered) in the oven.
Some salad.
Some "Bake in the bag" bread.

Simple and tasty.

The hour I spent making the lasagna is more than offset by the fact that I don't have to cook for three nights.

[jon-nyc]

@Mik said in The Cookbook:

@George-K said in The Cookbook:

Had a dream the other night that Trump had us selling homemade marinara and he wasn't happy with the sales figures. I had a lot of one-on-one time with him in the dream.

Marinara And Garlic for All, FTW

[George K]

Tonight's dinner: Hamburger Steak with Onions and Gravy

1 pound ground beef
¼ cup bread crumbs
1 egg
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon seasoned salt
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup thinly sliced onion
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup beef broth
1 tablespoon cooking sherry
½ teaspoon seasoned salt

Mix ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper together in a large bowl until combined. Form into 8 balls and flatten into patties.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add patties and onion; fry until patties are nicely browned, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer beef patties to a plate, and keep warm.

Sprinkle flour over onions and drippings in the skillet. Stir in flour with a fork, scraping bits of beef off of the bottom of the skillet as you stir. Gradually mix in beef broth and sherry. Season with seasoned salt. Simmer and stir over medium-low heat until gravy thickens, about 5 minutes.

Reduce heat to low, return patties to the gravy, cover, and simmer until cooked through, about 15 minutes.

---

Mrs. George approved - "This is good! Make it again.

I see it as a gateway to meatloaf.

ETA: I cooked in stainless steel - adjust your temperatures accordingly.

[Mik]

Looks delicious. “Gateway to meatloaf”.

[Aqua Letifer]

It's Michaelmas!

We made bannock for the occasion. Because why not.

Fun superstition regarding the holiday: it was the last day of the season to eat blackberries—after Michaelmas, they turn evil. (Story goes, when God cast Satan out of heaven, he landed in a blackberry bush. He was so peeved that he cursed the blackberries, and so they reveal their curse after the holiday.)

Ingredients
• 2 C oats
• 2 C all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ C butter
• ¼ C honey
• ½ C milk

Egg Wash Mixture
• 1 egg
• ¼ C cream
• 4 oz butter

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Preheat a lightly greased cast iron skillet on the stove on medium-low heat.
2. Using a food processor, blitz the oats until they become a fine flour. In a bowl, combine oat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Cut in the butter and then add the honey and milk.
   (Mix the honey into the milk before adding to the dry ingredients.)
4. Form into a ball and then press down into a disk.
5. Combine the egg wash ingredients (egg, butter, and cream) and slather one side of the bannock.
   Lay that side face-down on the skillet and cook for about 1 minute. Meanwhile, slather the other side with the mixture.
6. Continue flipping and slathering until the cream mixture is used up or until the bannock is browned enough on each side. Then, place the skillet in the oven to bake through. This might take another 10-30 minutes depending on how thick the bannock is.

[Aqua Letifer]

[George K]

Cool stuff, @Aqua-Letifer

[Horace]

Looks good. Maybe some condensed milk on top.

[Aqua Letifer]

@Horace said in The Cookbook:

Looks good. Maybe some condensed milk on top.

Good call. A lot of recipes call for a glaze or something. For this one we just decided to rawdog it.

[Mik]

Looks great. I normally have 6 ounces of blackberries on my cereal. They've been much too expensive lately.

[George K]

Tonight's dinner.

Slow Cooker Rosemary Balsamic Beef Tips

2 pounds beef tips or stew meat, trimmed of excess fat
1 cup beef broth
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
1 teaspoon dried rosemary (or 1 tablespoon if using fresh)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons cold water

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef tips and brown them on all sides, which will give your dish a richer flavor. Transfer them into the slow cooker.

2. To the same skillet, add the diced onion and sauté until it's soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute, just until fragrant. Spoon this mixture over the beef in the slow cooker.

3. In the slow cooker, pour in beef broth, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce. Stir in the rosemary, black pepper, and salt.

4. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the beef is tender and falls apart easily.

5. About 30 minutes before serving, mix cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl until smooth. Stir the mixture into the slow cooker to thicken the sauce.

6. Let it cook for another 25-30 minutes. Then, give everything a good stir, adjust the seasoning to your taste, and serve warm.

Variations & Tips

For families with picky eaters, you can make the beef tips without the rosemary and serve the herb on the side for those who enjoy the extra flavor.

Feel free to add in some carrots or mushrooms during the last 2 hours of cooking if you're looking to sneak some veggies into the meal.

---

Served it over mashed potatoes.

Mrs. George was not fond of the "balsamic-ey" flavor, and I have to agree. Just too much. If I make this again, and I probably will, I'll skip the balsamic vinegar and just increase the amount of broth.

[Mik]

Peruvian Roasted Chicken With Spicy Cilantro Sauce
By Melissa Clark

Burnished-skinned, deeply flavored and more than just a little spicy, it’s no wonder that Peruvian chicken has become something of an obsession here in the United States. There are dozens of way to make this dish, but most recipes call for two different kinds of Peruvian chile pastes — aji amarillo and aji panca — to add the necessary complexity and heat. You can find them at South American markets and online. But in a pinch, you can substitute a red chile paste (like sriracha or sambal) for the aji amarillo, and ground pasilla chile powder for the aji panca. The flavors won’t be traditional, but the chicken will still be tasty — especially when slathered with the irresistibly creamy, spicy cilantro sauce that goes alongside.

Ingredients
Yield:4 servings
For the Chicken

6garlic cloves, finely grated or minced
3tablespoons soy sauce
1tablespoon aji amarillo paste or another chile paste such as sriracha or sambal
1tablespoon lime juice
1teaspoon aji panca paste or 1 teaspoon pasilla chile powder
1teaspoon Dijon mustard
1teaspoon ground cumin
1teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½teaspoon fine sea salt
1(3½- to 4½-pound) chicken, halved (see Note) or 4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken parts
Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed

For the Sauce
1cup cilantro leaves and tender stems
3 to 4jalapeños, seeded and diced
¼cup/1 ounce crumbled feta cheese
1garlic clove, chopped
1½tablespoons lime juice, more to taste
2teaspoons chopped fresh oregano or basil
¾teaspoon fine sea salt, more to taste
½teaspoon Dijon mustard
½tablespoon aji amarillo or other chile paste (see headnote)
½teaspoon honey
½teaspoon ground cumin
½cup extra-virgin olive oil
Lime wedges, for garnish

Preparation

Step 1
For the marinade: In a large bowl, whisk together garlic, soy sauce, aji amarillo paste, lime juice, aji panca paste, mustard, cumin, pepper and salt.

Step 2
Add chicken halves, turning to coat them all over with marinade. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 12 hours.

Step 3
Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Remove chicken from marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Arrange skin-side up on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with oil.

Step 4
Roast until skin is golden and chicken is cooked through, 35 to 45 minutes (if using chicken parts, remove the breasts after 25 to 35 minutes). Remove from oven and let sit, loosely covered with foil, for 10 minutes before serving.

Step 5
While chicken is roasting, make the sauce. In a blender, blend cilantro, jalapeños, feta, garlic, lime juice, oregano, salt, mustard, aji amarillo paste, honey, and cumin until smooth. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in oil until mixture is emulsified. Taste and adjust the seasonings with salt or lime juice or both.

Step 6
Carve the chicken and serve with the sauce and lime wedges on the side.