Tuna on toast

Cold days, lazy days, just because, my Gram used to make this for me. My daughter now loves it too.

2 Tbsp Butter
2 1/2 - 3 Tbsp Flour
1 1/2 C Milk
1 C Peas (I defrost frozen ones, leftovers or canned work too)
1 Can Tuna Fish, drained well
Salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a small sauce pan
Add the flour and cook for a min or two
Slowly add the milk and stir together well
Cook until thickened (about 5 minutes)
Add the Peas and the Tuna

serve over toast or with toast triangles

Simple and easy

Meatloaf

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

Gumbo

I grew up in the North East of the US. And when I say North I mean NORTH. So people have always been shocked when I whip up something that is typically not found in the Northern diet, Like chicken fried steak, though that has become a truck stop favorite all over the US. Things like biscuits and gravy, though this too has a far reach. But Gumbo, and not just something that shares the name, but honest made and feeds the soul, they just say 'You musta been southern in a previous life'.

Cooking of all kinds comes naturally to me and I love to explore new things. So part of my 'What do I do with leftovers' was solved again by my good friend Emma (from her mom) and the donation of her recipe of Gumbo to my repertoire of recipes. Changes have been made as again, some ingredients are just not findable at this time in Germany but many things are coming and the internet can help sometimes.

6 Tbsp Oil
6 Tbsp Flour
1 lb Sausage (Andui is best, but I work with what I can get so cabanossi is what it usually is)
1 Chicken (deboned, or a leftover Chicken or Turkey carcass)
2 Gallons of water or stock
2 Onions, Large (butcher onion size)
4-5 Celery stalks (Or half of a ball celery about the same size of the onions)
1 Bell Pepper (green)
5 Green Onions (tops only)
2 tsp Parsley, chopped
2-3 Bay leaves
Basil, Thyme, Cayenne, Salt and Pepper. All to taste

Make a Roux with the oil and flour, you are going to slow cook this until it is the color of a penny
Pan fry the sausage and drain off the oil
Saute the onions and green pepper
Boil the chicken in the water (debone it after, save the water)
Combine the chicken (turkey), Roux, and sausage with the seasonings(not parsley)
Add water and spices, cook at least 2 hours
Add parsley at the end to wilt it
Serve over rice with File' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil%C3%A9_powder)

Spinach Madeline

I can't tell you how long ago it was when I first had this recipe, but I know who made it and it has been a part of my holiday dinners ever since.My friend Emma passed this on to me from her cookbook. I've had to make slight adjustments due to not being able to find an exact substitution here, but all in all it still tastes about the same and that is fantastic!

6 oz Jalapeno Cheese (or a chilli cheese, or a mild cheese like Gouda and a couple Jalapeno peppers       chopped) Grate the cheese.
2 Pkgs Frozen Spinach ( The American packages are 10 oz each, so 20 oz total)
4 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp Flour
2 Tbsp Onion (chopped small)
1/2 C Evaporated Milk (I make this myself. Measure 1 cup in small pan and slowly cook down to 1/2      cup. Condensed milk is NOT THE SAME THING)
1/2 C Veggie liquor (This is the juice squeezed from the spinach, not alcohol)
1/2 Tsp Black Pepper
3/4 tsp Celery salt
3/4 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Salt (optional)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Defrost the spinach
Squeeze the spinach until mostly dry reserving 1/2 cup of the liquid
Melt butter in a sauce pan over low heat
Add flour, stir until blended smooth. Do Not Brown
Add liquid from the spinach and the milk, Stir constantly and slowly
Cook until smooth and thick
Add the cheese and spices, stir until smooth
Add spinach


You can serve it immediately or put it in a buttered casserole dish and bake it with buttered bread crumbs on top (about 1/2 hr while the Turkey is resting).