My first Bittman!
After talking with my friend Raquel, a true food blogger, I learned of the amazing "How to Cook Everything" by Mark Bittman. We both saw Julia & Julia on Sunday (muuuuuch better than the book, by the way), and I was inspired and went out and bought it on my way home. [Notice that I wasn't inspired to get Mastering the Art of French Cooking; I was actually frightened away from it and will likely never attempt a single Julia Child recipe.]
"How to Cook Everything" reads more like a piece of non-fiction than a recipe book, and from what I can tell so far, it features fresh, simple, tasty food. Not knowing what I was getting myself into, I chose a simple - yet intriguing - first dish to attempt. I'd never had pasta + potatoes before, and since I love both so much, I had to give it a whirl.
The result was very satisfactory, though it would have been better suited to the winter months (which Bittman warned me, but I naively chose not to heed his advice).
*Note that the pasta in the recipe is "leftover pasta," meaning it's already cooked...
Pasta with Tomatoes
Recipe courtesy of Mark Bittman, How to Cook Everything
1. Combine 2 T. olive oil, 4 oz minced bacon, and 1 t. crushed red pepper flakes in a large soup kettle over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon becomes crisp, about 10 minutes. Add 1 T. chopped garlic; cook 1 minute more, then add 5 medium waxy potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-sized chunks. Raise the heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes brown a bit, about 10 minutes.
2. Add 1 (28-oz) can whole plum tomatoes with their juices along with 1 C. hot water. Add about 1.5 lbs leftover pasta, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over low heat, uncovered, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and adding hot water as necessary - the texture should remain thick and stewy, never dry.
3. About 30 minutes later, when the potatoes are tender and the pasta is much, it's done. Adjust seasoning, as necessary.
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Dinner :: Ham and Potato Casserole
My love affair with casseroles began when my mom started including it in every holiday family dinner. But before that, casseroles were a major part of my life. Growing up in the midwest, we had as many types of casseroles as eskimos have words for snow. There was broccoli and cheese casserole, tuna casserole, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, chicken tettrazini casserole, spaghetti casserole, pepperoni pizza casserole, chicken and rice casserole, Mexican Frito casserole, hash brown casserole, tator tot casserole... I'm sure there are more, but I only wanted to list casseroles that came from my family's vault. We midwesterners pass down casserole recipes like heirlooms.
The beautiful thing about casseroles isn't actually in the taste, but in the way they make you feel. Casseroles were what you gave to people during major landmarks in their lives - holidays, yes, but also birthdays, deaths, anniversaries, divorce, graduation, as a "welcome to the neighborhood", when a loved one is sick, or loses a job, or gets a promotion. All of these things are acknowledged with a big dish of steaming love and compassion, evidenced by the energy and thought that went into making it. And now, when I make a casserole for my husband and myself on a normal weekday night, I still find comfort in it, and feel closer to home.
I don't think people in New England make enough casseroles. There's this strange aversion to mixing one's entire meal into a singular dish and baking it all together. When my good friend Anne invited us to her family's home for my first Thanksgiving away from family, I introduced corn casserole to their holiday spread. It was initially met with severe cynicism. (Really? This is comprised of a box of cornbread, 2 cans of corn, a stick of butter and cheese - and you want me to eat it?) But after one bite, I had made converts of every single one of them, and now they have it at every holiday meal.
No, this blog does not feature a recipe for my favorite of all casseroles - instead, it's a ham and potato casserole we ate earlier this week for dinner, which yielded enough leftovers for 4 lunches. However, if you're ever down on your luck, or on cloud nine, there's a good chance I'll be at your doorstep with my Pyrex dish, full of the best way I know how to share love - cheesy, sweet, hot corn. And I'll maybe even throw in the recipe for free...
Ham and Potato Casserole
Recipe courtesy of The Big Book of Easy Suppers by Maryana Vollstedt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a lightly sprayed 8x10" glass baking dish, layer 2 Russet potatoes, peeled and sliced. Sprinkle with 1 T. flour and salt and pepper to taste. Layer on 1 lb. cubed cooked ham, half of a sliced onion (you'll use the other half later), and 2 C. grated Cheddar cheese. Add 2 more sliced potatoes, and season again with salt and pepper. Add remaining sliced onion half and top with another C. grated Cheddar. Pour 3/4 C. milk over all, cover with aluminum foil, and bake until bubbly and potatoes are tender, about 1 hour. Remove foil and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
The beautiful thing about casseroles isn't actually in the taste, but in the way they make you feel. Casseroles were what you gave to people during major landmarks in their lives - holidays, yes, but also birthdays, deaths, anniversaries, divorce, graduation, as a "welcome to the neighborhood", when a loved one is sick, or loses a job, or gets a promotion. All of these things are acknowledged with a big dish of steaming love and compassion, evidenced by the energy and thought that went into making it. And now, when I make a casserole for my husband and myself on a normal weekday night, I still find comfort in it, and feel closer to home.
I don't think people in New England make enough casseroles. There's this strange aversion to mixing one's entire meal into a singular dish and baking it all together. When my good friend Anne invited us to her family's home for my first Thanksgiving away from family, I introduced corn casserole to their holiday spread. It was initially met with severe cynicism. (Really? This is comprised of a box of cornbread, 2 cans of corn, a stick of butter and cheese - and you want me to eat it?) But after one bite, I had made converts of every single one of them, and now they have it at every holiday meal.
No, this blog does not feature a recipe for my favorite of all casseroles - instead, it's a ham and potato casserole we ate earlier this week for dinner, which yielded enough leftovers for 4 lunches. However, if you're ever down on your luck, or on cloud nine, there's a good chance I'll be at your doorstep with my Pyrex dish, full of the best way I know how to share love - cheesy, sweet, hot corn. And I'll maybe even throw in the recipe for free...
Ham and Potato Casserole
Recipe courtesy of The Big Book of Easy Suppers by Maryana Vollstedt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a lightly sprayed 8x10" glass baking dish, layer 2 Russet potatoes, peeled and sliced. Sprinkle with 1 T. flour and salt and pepper to taste. Layer on 1 lb. cubed cooked ham, half of a sliced onion (you'll use the other half later), and 2 C. grated Cheddar cheese. Add 2 more sliced potatoes, and season again with salt and pepper. Add remaining sliced onion half and top with another C. grated Cheddar. Pour 3/4 C. milk over all, cover with aluminum foil, and bake until bubbly and potatoes are tender, about 1 hour. Remove foil and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Dinner :: Chicken Florentine
Here's a super easy, super cheap, pretty healthy dish. I must warn, however, that mine came out quite bland. Perhaps adding more salt, or seasoning the chicken prior to cooking, or adding some garlic would help.
Chicken Florentine
Recipe courtesy of The Big Book of Easy Suppers by Maryana Vollstedt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add 2 boned and skinned chicken breast halves (about 1 pound), cut into 1-inch pieces and 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion and saute until chicken turns opaque and onions are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in 3/4 cup long-grain white rice. Add 1 can (14 oz) chicken broth, 1/2 package (5 oz) frozen spinach that has been thawed and squeezed dry, 1/2 t. dried oregano, 1/4 t. salt, pepper to taste and a pinch of ground nutmeg and mix well. Transfer to a lightly sprayed 2-quart casserole and sprinkle with 1/4 cup grate Parmesan cheese. Cover and bake until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 45 minutes.
Chicken Florentine
Recipe courtesy of The Big Book of Easy Suppers by Maryana Vollstedt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Add 2 boned and skinned chicken breast halves (about 1 pound), cut into 1-inch pieces and 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion and saute until chicken turns opaque and onions are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in 3/4 cup long-grain white rice. Add 1 can (14 oz) chicken broth, 1/2 package (5 oz) frozen spinach that has been thawed and squeezed dry, 1/2 t. dried oregano, 1/4 t. salt, pepper to taste and a pinch of ground nutmeg and mix well. Transfer to a lightly sprayed 2-quart casserole and sprinkle with 1/4 cup grate Parmesan cheese. Cover and bake until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 45 minutes.
Dinner :: Chicken Burgers with Roasted Poblano and Onion
I'm from the Midwest, which automatically means I love red meat. Unfortunately, now that I'm getting a little older and my metabolism is slowing down, I actually need to start watching what I eat a little. So I've been looking for ways to substitute chicken for ground beef whenever possible, and I found this recipe that looked simple and yummy.
Unfortunately, I could not track down a poblano chile the day I needed to cook this, so I just used a jalapeno instead. Also, Martha Stewart recommends eating these burgers with "watermelon and cucumber, plus lime wedges dipped in a mix of ancho chile powder and salt." Yeah, I just made generic frozen tator tots.
Chicken Burger with Roasted Poblano and Onion
Recipe courtesy of the July/August 2009 issue of Everyday Food
Over a low gas flame or under the broiler, roast poblano chile until charred, about 6 minutes, turning frequently. Place in a bowl and cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let chile steam for 20 minutes, then rub with a paper towel to remove skin. Remove stem and seeds. Slice chile into 2-inch strips and return to bowl.
In a large skillet, heat 2 teaspoons oil over medium-high. Add 1 large white onion, halved and thinly sliced lengthwise and season with salt and pepper. Cook until onion is soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add onion to bowl with chile and stir to combine.
Form 1.25 lbs ground chicken breast into four 4-inch-wide patties and season with salt and pepper. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high. Add 2 teaspoons oil and swirl to coat. Working in batches, cook burgers 2 minutes. Flip, top each with slice of sharp yellow cheddar, and cook until cooked through, about 4 minutes more.
Meanwhile, heat broiler. Butter inside of whole-wheat burger buns and place on a baking sheet, buttered side up. Toast under broiler. Place burgers on buns and top with onion and chile mixture.
Unfortunately, I could not track down a poblano chile the day I needed to cook this, so I just used a jalapeno instead. Also, Martha Stewart recommends eating these burgers with "watermelon and cucumber, plus lime wedges dipped in a mix of ancho chile powder and salt." Yeah, I just made generic frozen tator tots.
Chicken Burger with Roasted Poblano and Onion
Recipe courtesy of the July/August 2009 issue of Everyday Food
Over a low gas flame or under the broiler, roast poblano chile until charred, about 6 minutes, turning frequently. Place in a bowl and cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let chile steam for 20 minutes, then rub with a paper towel to remove skin. Remove stem and seeds. Slice chile into 2-inch strips and return to bowl.
In a large skillet, heat 2 teaspoons oil over medium-high. Add 1 large white onion, halved and thinly sliced lengthwise and season with salt and pepper. Cook until onion is soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add onion to bowl with chile and stir to combine.
Form 1.25 lbs ground chicken breast into four 4-inch-wide patties and season with salt and pepper. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high. Add 2 teaspoons oil and swirl to coat. Working in batches, cook burgers 2 minutes. Flip, top each with slice of sharp yellow cheddar, and cook until cooked through, about 4 minutes more.
Meanwhile, heat broiler. Butter inside of whole-wheat burger buns and place on a baking sheet, buttered side up. Toast under broiler. Place burgers on buns and top with onion and chile mixture.
Dinner :: Stuffed Peppers
Google "budget recipes" and every resulting website will have a recipe for stuffed peppers. Trust me - I've been without a job for almost a month now, so I'm very familiar with all internet searches that include the word "budget." Examples include budget haircuts, budget date nights, budget fashion, budget cable bills, which is a particularly interesting one: sign up for 12-month bundle deals that are only available to first-time customers, then just change cable providers every year. Voila!
I've copied the recipe verbatim, but I would recommend changing two small things. First, I'd use 4 peppers rather than six; and second, I'd cook the rice in the skillet for at least 20 minutes. Also, I have no idea what "blanching" means, so I just skipped that step.
Stuffed Peppers
Recipe courtesy of the First United Methodist Church of St. Charles Cookbook
Blanche 6 lg. whole green peppers, seeds removed in boiling water and set upright in a baking dish. Brown 1 lb. ground beef and 1/3 c. chopped onion until done. Add 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. pepper, 1 (16-0z) can diced tomatoes, 1/2 c. water and 1/2 c. uncooked rice. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, until rice is tender. Add 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce and 1 c. shredded American cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted. Put the beef and rice mixture in the pepper cups. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.
I've copied the recipe verbatim, but I would recommend changing two small things. First, I'd use 4 peppers rather than six; and second, I'd cook the rice in the skillet for at least 20 minutes. Also, I have no idea what "blanching" means, so I just skipped that step.
Stuffed Peppers
Recipe courtesy of the First United Methodist Church of St. Charles Cookbook
Blanche 6 lg. whole green peppers, seeds removed in boiling water and set upright in a baking dish. Brown 1 lb. ground beef and 1/3 c. chopped onion until done. Add 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. pepper, 1 (16-0z) can diced tomatoes, 1/2 c. water and 1/2 c. uncooked rice. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, until rice is tender. Add 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce and 1 c. shredded American cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted. Put the beef and rice mixture in the pepper cups. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.
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