French Dip Sandwiches With Cheese
Sandwiches are more about choosing good ingredients than about mastering complicated techniques.
INGREDIENTS
1 Large Sliced Onion
2 Cloves Minced Garlic
1 Tablespoon Butter
14 Ounces Beef Broth
1/2 Teaspoon Thyme
1/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper
12 Ounces Cooked & Thinly Sliced Roast Beef
8 Pieces Provolone Cheese
4 French Rolls Split
Preheat your broiler. In a large saucepan cook the onion and garlic in the hot butter until tender. Stir in the broth, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add the beef and return to boiling. Reduce the heat and simmer for another 10 minutes. Remove the beef and the onion from the broth mixture. Arrange the beef and onion on the French rolls. Place two pieces of provolone cheese on top of each sandwich and place on a broiler pan. Broil 4 inches from the heat for 1 minute or until the cheese has melted. Remove from the oven and place the tops on the sandwiches. Pour the beef broth into 4 small bowls for dipping. Makes 4 sandwiches.
Fettucini Carbonara
Fettucini Carbonara is the perfect fall dish and a great way to end the work week.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 Pound Bacon or Prosciutto
1/4 Cup Half & Half
4 Beaten Eggs
1 Pound Cooked Fettucini
1/2 Cup Melted Butter
1 1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 Cup Parsley
Cook the fettucini according to package instructions. In a large sauté pan cook the bacon or prosciutto, over a medium heat, until almost crisp. Remove from the skillet and crumble into a small bowl. Drain the fat and return the sauté pan back to the burner. Heat the half and half until it is warm, remove from the burner and beat in the eggs. Beat well. Return the sauté pan back to the burner and cook, over a low heat, for 5 minutes. Stir constantly. Add the bacon or prosciutto and cook for another minute. Place the cooked fettucini into a large bowl and add the butter. Toss the fettucini with the butter. Pour the half & half mixture over the fettucini and toss. Finally add the Parmesan cheese and parsley and toss again. Transfer to serving platter and serve warm. Serves 6
Homemade Biscuit Mix
There is no need to buy premade store bought biscuit mix. Save money and make your own. Besides you’ll be able to pronounce all of the ingredients!
INGREDIENTS
10 Cups Unbleached Flour
1/3 Cup Baking Powder
1/4 Cup Sugar
4 Teaspoons Kosher Salt
2 Cups Shortening – I Like Using Olive Oil
In a large size mixing bowl stir together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. With a pastry blender cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Store in a covered airtight container for up to 6 weeks at room temperature or you can keep it in the fridge. Makes 12 1/2cups.
Pancakes
To make pancakes from your homemade biscuit mix: 2 cups mix, 2 beaten eggs and 1 cup milk. Makes 10 pancakes.
Biscuits
To make biscuits from your homemade biscuit mix: Preheat oven to 450° F. 2 cups mix, 1/2 cup milk. Stir slightly on a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough 12 strokes. Roll to 1/2 inches thick. Cut dough with a biscuit cutter. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Makes 10 biscuits.
Muffins
To make muffins from you homemade biscuit mix: Preheat oven to 400° F. 3 cups mix, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 beaten egg and 1 cup milk. Stir just to moist. Fill greased muffin pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.
Italian Sausage Soup
This soup is a meal in itself and perfect for this fall weather.
INGREDIENTS
1 Pound Mild Italian Sausage
2 Cups Chopped Carrots
1 Large Chopped Red Onion
1 Cup Chopped Celery
3 Tablespoons Butter
1/2 Cup Chopped Fresh Parsley
1/2 Cup Sliced Mushrooms
3 Cups Chicken Broth
2 Cups Cooked Garbanzo Beans
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper
1 Teaspoon Sage
1/2 Cup Water
2 Cups Grated Parmesan Cheese
Slice and remove the casings from the sausage. In a large size skillet sauté the sausage for 5 minutes. Drain off any grease. Add the carrots, onions, celery, mushrooms, butter and sauté over a low heat until the vegetables are soft. Add the parsley, chicken broth, garbanzo beans, sage, salt, pepper and water. If you don’t have time to cook your own garbanzo beans then using canned is ok. Cook on low for 40 minutes. Remove from the heat and serve hot. Parmesan cheese is for topping the individual soup bowls. Serves 4
Dijon & Dill Halibut
Fish is one of the easiest things to make plus we are supposed to eat more of it. Try my Dijon & Dill Halibut for dinner tonight.
INGREDIENTS
1 Pound Halibut Fillets
2 Tablespoons Mayonnaise
2 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
3 Teaspoons Fresh Dill or Dried Dill
Preheat your oven to 350° F. Oil, with olive oil, a 2 1/2 quart glass baking dish. In a small size bowl, mix the mayonnaise, mustard and dill. Place the halibut fillets in the oiled baking dish and pour the mustard mixture over the halibut. Bake, covered, for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Serve hot. Serves 2
**If you don't want to use mayonnaise then feel free to use sour cream instead.
Toasted Walnut Salad
My Toasted Walnut Salad is the perfect fall salad and can be eaten as a main course or pears well with just about any main dish that you decide to cook up.
INGREDIENTS
3/4 Cup Toasted & Coarsely Chopped Walnuts
3 Medium Peeled Oranges
1 Thinly Sliced Medium Red Onion
1 Large Peeled & Sliced Avocado
26 Pitted Greek Black Olives
2 Heads Butter Lettuce
1/4 Cup Crumbled Feta Cheese
Lemon Juice Dressing
In a large size serving bowl tear the butter lettuce into pieces. Coarsely chop the oranges and add to the salad. Add the red onion, avocado, olives and feta cheese. Mix the salad and then toss with Lemon Juice Dressing. Serves 6
Lemon Juice Dressing
1/4 Cup Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
1/2 Teaspoon Dijon Mustard
1/8 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/8 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper
3/4 Cup Walnut Oil
Mix all of the ingredients in a blender or food processor for 30 seconds. Makes about 1 cup.
Grilled Duck Breasts
This duck dish is so easy. The key ingredient is to marinate the duck breasts in beer overnight.
INGREDIENTS
2 Large Duck Breasts
10 Garlic Cloves
2 Bottles of Ale
Place the duck breasts in a large ziplock bag. Add the whole garlic cloves and pour in the two bottles of ale. Marinate overnight in the fridge. Remove from the fridge when ready to grill. Throw away the ale marinade. Prepare the grill to a medium heat. Place the duck breasts on the grill skin side down and grill for 10 minutes. Turn the duck breasts over and grill another 10 minutes. Adjust the grilling time to how done you like your duck breasts. Remove from the grill and let sit for 10 minutes. Slice and transfer to a serving platter. Serves 4
Dijon Baked Pork Chops
My Dijon Baked Pork Chops are perfect for a rainy day meal. They are simple to make and are perfect for an end of the week hearty meal.
INGREDIENTS
1 Chopped Red Onion
1 Cup Dijon Mustard
6 Medium Size Pork Chops
Preheat your oven to 350° F. You will need a medium size glass baking dish. Brush the baking dish with olive oil. Spread the red onion on the bottom of the dish. Lay the pork chops on top of the onions. Spread the mustard on top of each chop and cover the baking dish with either foil or a lid. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Serves 6
Penne Rosa
Here is a quick and delicious weeknight meal that everyone is sure to love.
INGREDIENTS
8 Ounces Penne Pasta
2 Tablespoons Butter
2 Tablespoons Minced Garlic
2 Cups Whole Tomatoes (Drained & Finely Chopped)
1 Teaspoon Dried Basil Leaves
1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper
2/3 Cup Heavy Cream
3 Tablespoons Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
Cook the penne according to package directions. Make sure NOT to rinse the pasta after draining the pasta. While the pasta is cooking melt the butter, over a medium heat, in a medium size skillet. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Make sure NOT to brown the garlic. Drain the tomatoes, but reserve the liquid. Add the tomatoes with 1/4 cup of the tomato liquid. Add the basil, salt and pepper. Heat to boiling. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes or until most of the liquid is reduced. Add the cream. Heat through on a low heat for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and in a large pasta bowl toss the hot pasta and the sauce together. Sprinkle with cheese and serve immediately. Serves 4
Ribs With Peaches
These ribs are great for dinner. Just put them in the slow cooker in the morning and when you come home from work you and your family will have a delicious meal. If you are having a party these ribs make a good appetizer.
INGREDIENTS
4 Pounds Pork Spareribs
1/2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Ketchup
1/4 Cup White Vinegar
2 Minced Garlic Cloves
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper
15 Ounces Cubed Cling Peaches With Juice
Preheat your oven to broil. Put the ribs onto a foil lined broiler pan and broil for 10 minutes. Cut the ribs into serving size pieces. Place into your slow cooker. In a medium size bowl combine the brown sugar, ketchup, white vinegar, garlic, kosher salt, pepper and cubed peaches with their juice. Pour the mixture over the ribs and cover. Cook on low for 10 hours. If you don't have a slow cooker then put them in the oven at 250° for 4 to 5 hours. Remove and transfer to a serving platter. Serves 4
