I've been sick and struggling with some personal things and when this happens I turn to comfort foods. A conversation has lead me to telling you about one in particular.
My mom wasn't a great cook, actually when I was a kid she very rarely cooked. It was box macaroni and cheese, cup of soup or take out. On a super rare occasion she would however make meatloaf and for some reason, I loved it! When I had my son Aiden she wanted to help me out so she asked if she could make some dinners for me. I begged for her meatloaf first thing. Always with mashed potatoes and the veggie varies. If I had my way I would eat it with buttered baby lima beans, but, as I can't get those, peas , broccoli or mixed veg are good substitutes.
My recipe is simple and is 1/2 recipe 1/2 instructions... Meatloaf is simple.
Basic ingredients:
Ground beef (you could use other meats) 500 gm (1 lb)
Oatmeal 3/4 cup ( roughly estimated)
Onion (chopped) a small onion
Italian seasoning 1 tsp or so
Parsely 1 Tbsp or so
Beef bouillon (powder is best) 1 tsp
Egg 1
Ketchup (or BBQ sauce, or tomato paste) 2 Tbsp (if using paste thin it some)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl
Shape into a loaf and or put into a bread pan
Top with more ketchup or BBQ sauce
Bake at 375°f for about an hour
Friday, January 24, 2020
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Leftovers
Sometimes I plan for them, other times they just happen. Tonight it is leftover pasta and some chili I had in the freezer. Baked under a lovely blanket of cheese. 😁 The chili was a planned leftover. I like to freeze chili, soup, stew or other items to use up later when the kids aren't around. Saves some trouble cooking and they are yummy!
I had chicken leftover last week and turned it into a 'gravy'. Normally you would make it with a can of condensed chicken soup but I have a recipe that gets me around that. 😉Just chop the chicken, add peas and carrots. Made some biscuits and poured it over. I had leftovers from that with toast. I could have made pies and used it as a filling but that was too much work for just me. The leftover biscuits I could eat with butter.
Leftovers are a great way to experiment and have fun with food.
What do you do with your leftovers?
I had chicken leftover last week and turned it into a 'gravy'. Normally you would make it with a can of condensed chicken soup but I have a recipe that gets me around that. 😉Just chop the chicken, add peas and carrots. Made some biscuits and poured it over. I had leftovers from that with toast. I could have made pies and used it as a filling but that was too much work for just me. The leftover biscuits I could eat with butter.
Leftovers are a great way to experiment and have fun with food.
What do you do with your leftovers?
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Traditions (Hoppin John)
It seems with the holiday I missed posting. That's OK, not sure anyone was exactly waiting with baited breath for my next post. Though I like to try to keep it regular I am learning to go with the flow.
Normally this is a time of resolutions. A lot of them centered around food. To eat healthier, change one's diet, become a vegetarian, etc.. I am taking a different approach this year to it, I am going to work on being kinder to myself. And not beating myself up over a missed or late post.
Now on to some food.
Many places have traditions on what to eat for a last meal or a first meal to try and bring luck in the coming year. The American south has a strong tradition of 'Hoppin John' (a black eyed pea stew of sorts) and greens to bring luck and draw money. Needing a bit of both myself I searched recipes of Hoppin John . I have made it in the past but never felt it was quite right. I am leagues closer that ever before, In fact this is a recipe well worth repeating.
8 oz dry black eyed peas
300 gm Cabanossi ( or other sausage, Andui is more traditional)
2 Tbsp Salt pork (diced small)
1 small onion (diced)
1/2 Green Pepper
3 cloves Garlic (crushed or minced)
2 cups Vegetable broth
1 tsp Tony's ( a cajun spice mix)
Pre cook the beans by boiling in water or broth. Cook until soft.
Cook the sausage until browned, remove from the pan leaving the grease
Add the salt pork to the grease and fry for 5 min , leave in the pan
Add the peppers and onions, cook until soft
Add the garlic and cook quickly, 30 sec to 1 min
Add the broth
Add Spices
Add the peas, cook until the beans are creamy and the liquid is almost gone.
Add salt and pepper to taste
Iy you want it soupier and less thick add more broth or water.
Normally this is a time of resolutions. A lot of them centered around food. To eat healthier, change one's diet, become a vegetarian, etc.. I am taking a different approach this year to it, I am going to work on being kinder to myself. And not beating myself up over a missed or late post.
Now on to some food.
Many places have traditions on what to eat for a last meal or a first meal to try and bring luck in the coming year. The American south has a strong tradition of 'Hoppin John' (a black eyed pea stew of sorts) and greens to bring luck and draw money. Needing a bit of both myself I searched recipes of Hoppin John . I have made it in the past but never felt it was quite right. I am leagues closer that ever before, In fact this is a recipe well worth repeating.
8 oz dry black eyed peas
300 gm Cabanossi ( or other sausage, Andui is more traditional)
2 Tbsp Salt pork (diced small)
1 small onion (diced)
1/2 Green Pepper
3 cloves Garlic (crushed or minced)
2 cups Vegetable broth
1 tsp Tony's ( a cajun spice mix)
Pre cook the beans by boiling in water or broth. Cook until soft.
Cook the sausage until browned, remove from the pan leaving the grease
Add the salt pork to the grease and fry for 5 min , leave in the pan
Add the peppers and onions, cook until soft
Add the garlic and cook quickly, 30 sec to 1 min
Add the broth
Add Spices
Add the peas, cook until the beans are creamy and the liquid is almost gone.
Add salt and pepper to taste
Iy you want it soupier and less thick add more broth or water.
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