Saturday, January 9, 2010

I hope that everyone had a great holiday season!

I hope to be updating this page more often and adding some pictures to recipes that dont have any.

I tried to clean the index up to make it easier to find what you are looking for.

If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Sauce

Sauce


Spaghetti Sauce

Spaghetti Sauce


My friend Brian Spagnola gave me a copy of this spaghetti sauce. Said that it was his grandmothers. I have to say no more Ragu for me!!! This is very good stuff! Thanks Brian!!!

Spaghetti Sauce

1 Onion

1 Bell pepper
Garlic (10 cloves)
Basil - 1 bunch
1 tsp Red pepper
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
Black pepper
2 tbsp Olive oil
Chicken broth - 1/4 cup
2 Lg cans tomato sauce
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tsp garlic powder

Saute onion, bell pepper and 10 minced garlic cloves in olive oil. Add salt and crushed red pepper.

Once sauted place in blender with chicken broth and blend until smooth.


Move back to the pan you sauted in and add tomato sauce, sugar, garlic powder and black pepper to taste. Cover with a lid and simmer.


After an hour stir then stir every 20 minutes afterwards until you feel that it's ready, normally 1.5 - 2 hours but you can cook longer if desired.


When it's done add a bunch of fresh basil, remove from heat and serve.


* Make sure that you buy good quality tomato sauce. Dont buy the cheap stuff.


* I also add 1 pound of browned hamburger meat about 15 minutes before it's ready to be served.










CHEESY HASH BROWN CASSEROLE

CHEESY HASH BROWN CASSEROLE

1 onion, chopped
1 (2 pound) package frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
1 pint sour cream
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
3 tablespoons butter
4 ounces buttery round crackers, crushed


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 8x12 inch baking dish.

Over medium heat, cook the onion until soft.

In a large bowl, combine the onion, potatoes, sour cream, soup,1 cup cheese, pepper and hot sauce. Mix well and pour into baking dish. Bake for 50 minutes.

In a saute pan, heat butter or margarine and crackers. Cook until golden brown.

Sprinkle remaining cheese over casserole, then cracker mixture and bake for an additional minute 20 minutes.


Let cool 15 minutes then cut into squares and serve.

Jalapeno ñ Artichoke Dip

My friend HJ sent me recipe. I have taken this to some get togethers and it has always been a hit!


Jalapeno ñ Artichoke Dip

14 ozs. Artichoke Hearts drain well
8 ozs. Philly Cream Cheese
1/2 c. or more Monterey Jack Cheese shredded
1/4 c. mayo
1/4 tsp. paprika
little lemon juice fresh
dash white vinegar
salt to taste
1 T. olive oil maybe little more
1/2 tsp to 1 T. French's mustard
1-2 Jalapeno seeded

Place everything in a blender or food processor and blend until chunky.

Slowly add the following ingredients until like a chunky spreadable moist potato salad:

cream (just a little)
milk
salt to taste

Chill well serve with crackers, celery sticks, tortilla chips or anything else you can think of.
Casserole



Lasagna
Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole

Recipe - Lasagna

My wife (I helped) made this for dinner New Years Eve night and I have to say that it is probably the best lasagna that I have eaten! This stuff was terrific!

Lasagna


Sauce

1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion
6 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed (about 2 tbls)
1 pound ground meat (80/20)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 can tomato puree (28 oz)
1 can diced tomatoes (drained)


Cheese Filling and Pasta

1 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
2 1/2 oz grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup chopped basil
1 large egg slightly beaten
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
12 lasagna noodles (no boil)
16 oz whole milk shredded mozzarella cheese (about 4 cups)


Adjust the oven rack to the middle and preheat the oven to 375°.



Sauce

Heat oil in large dutch oven over medium heat until simmering.

Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally until soften but not too browned, about 2 minutes.

Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.

Increase the heat to medium high and add the meatloaf mix, salt and pepper breaking the meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon until the meat loses it's raw color but has not browned, about 4 minutes.

Add the cream and simmer, stirring occasionally until the liquid evaporates and only the rendered fat remains, about 4 minutes.

Add the tomato puree and diced tomatoes and bring to a simmer.

Reduce heat to low and simmer until the flavors have blended, about 3 minutes.

Set aside.

*The cooled sauce can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat before assembling the lasagna.


The Cheese Filling

Combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the parmesan cheese, basil, egg, salt and pepper in a medium bowl and set aside.

Spread the bottom of a 13X9 baking dish with 1/4 cup of the meat sauce (avoiding large chunks of meat).

Place 3 noodles in a single layer on top of the sauce. Spread each noodle evenly with 3 tbsp of the ricotta mixture and sprinkle the entire layer with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Spread the cheese evenly with 1 1/2 cups of the meat sauce.

Repeat the layering of noodles, ricotta, mozzarella and meat sauce two more times.

Place the 3 remaining noodles on top of the sauce, spread evenly with the remaining sauce, sprinkle with the remaining cup of mozzarella then the remaining 1/4 cup parmesan.

Spray a large sheet of foil with cooking spray and cover the lasagna.

Bake 15 minutes the remove the foil. Continue to bake until the cheese is spotty brown and the sauce is bubbly, about 25 minutes.

Remove and let cool for about 10 minutes.

Cut into pieces and serve.

Soup/Salad

Soup/Salad


Chicken Tortilla Soup 

Hobo Stew

Sides

Sides


Dutch's Wicked Baked Beans
Charra Beans
Fried Breakfast Potatoes
Brandied Sweet Potatoes

Seafood

Seafood


Shrimp Scampi & Pasta
Pan Seared Tilapia

Pork

Pork


Crockpot Carnitas
Carnitas

Poultry

Poultry


Stuffed Chicken Breast
Chicken Spaghetti
Fried Chicken Breast
Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken Tacos

Misc.

Misc.


USD

Grilling/Smoking

Grilling/Smoking


ABT's
Stuffed Baked Potato

Dip/Salsa

Dip/Salsa


Fire Roasted Salsa
Jalapeño Ranch Dip
Mango Salsa
Pico de Gallo
Black Bean Salsa
Jalapeno n Artichoke Dip

Dessert

Dessert


Brownies
Chocolate Sheath Cake
Chocolate Pie
Pie Crust
Fried Apple Pies
Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

Bread

Bread

Cheddar Cheese Biscuits

Appetizers

Appetizers



Deviled Eggs

Beef Dishes

Beef Dishes



Beef Stew
Carne-y-papitas
Chicken Fried Steak
Chili 
Goulash
Meatloaf
Roast
SOS