Tag: Onion

Salisbury Steak

Salisbury Steak II

Salisbury Steak

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: Easy
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When I here the words “Salisbury Steak” my mind immediately goes back to the days  of Glass and Steel Diners where burly truck drivers would chow down on the Blue Plate Special, often times Salisbury Steak, followed by a dessert of Antacids.

Thankfully things have changed and diner food has been elevated to a much higher level including Salisbury Steak.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

For the steak…….

  • 1 pound Ground Beef
  • 3 tablespoons Canola Oil
  • 1/4 cup Bread Crumbs
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Granulated Garlic
  • 2 teaspoons Granulated Onion
  • 1 teaspoon dried Mustard
  • 2 teaspoons Salt
  • 2 teaspoons Ground Pepper

For the gravy……

  • 1 medium Sweet Onion – sliced
  • 1/2 cup Butter
  • 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour
  • 3 cups Vegetable Broth
  • 2 tablespoons Granulated Garlic
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Putting it all together:

  1. In a large bowl combine all the ingredients for the steak, form into oval shaped patties about 1/4 inch thick and put in the refrigerator for about 1 hour to set up.
  2. In a large fry pan heat the oil and place the patties in but do not crowd them.
  3. Cook the  patties for five minutes per side, or until the internal temp hits 160° and when done remove to a plate and tent with tin foil to keep warm.
  4. In the same pan the patties were in melt the butter and add the flour. Stir well to make a Roux. Add the onions and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes.
  5. Add the vegetable broth, garlic, salt and pepper and mix well. Let simmer for 15 minutes.
  6. Plate with your favourite side, cover with gravy and enjoy.

There you have it another “Simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time…….

                           Bon Appetit

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Shells with Sausage and Broccoli

Shells with Sausage and Broccoli

Shells with Sausage and Broccoli

  • Servings: 2-4
  • Difficulty: Easy
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Pasta is one of those go to items when you really can’t decide what’s for dinner and since there are literally hundreds of variations you’ll never be stuck for a recipe.

I particularly like this one because my grandson inhaled it and wanted more for lunch at school the next day.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 1 1/4 cups Large Shells
  • 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 6 Mild Italian Sausage – casing removed
  • 1 small yellow Onion – diced
  • 1 medium yellow Pepper – diced
  • 2 handfuls Spinach
  • 4 cups Broccoli florets
  • 3 1/2 cups Low Sodium Chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 Tbsp granulated Garlic
  • Salt to taste

Putting it all together:

  1. Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven and cook the onion and peppers with some salt until softened.
  2. Add the sausage and cook until broken up and brown then add the Broccoli and Garlic.
  3. Pour in half the Chicken broth and bring to a boil. Stir in the pasta shells and cook until the pasta is cooked through and most of the broth is absorbed.
  4. Mix in the spinach and cook until wilted.
  5. Place in bowls and dust with the Parmesan.

There you have it another “Simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……..

                                  Bon Appetit

Smoked Chicken Wings

Smoked Chicken Wings

Smoked Chicken Wings

  • Servings: 2-4
  • Difficulty: Easy
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When I retired from my career I decided I wanted to cook professionally and so I eventually found myself in a Chicken Wing joint as a line cook where I was responsible for cooking wings and a conservative estimate shows I cooked around 50 Tons of chicken wings in the 2 1/2 years I was there. Needless to say I really have a dislike for chicken wings and I don’t eat them. So how then, you may ask, did I come to do this recipe? I simply asked my wife and daughter what they wanted for Mother’s Day dinner and the first thing I heard was CHICKEN WINGS…. so here we are.

Of course I had to add my own spin to it and that also allows me to use my smoker.

Cooks note: The directions for cooking the wings are based on using a Smoker that has an offset fire box and uses charcoal and wood. For other types of smokers, electric or propane, follow the manufacturers instructions. 

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 4 pounds Chicken wings – 2 lbs Flats 2 pounds Drumsticks
  • 3 tablespoons Canola Oil
  • 2 tablespoons Smoked Paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground Cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground Coriander
  • 2 tablespoons Granulated Garlic
  • 2 tablespoons Granulated Onion
  • 1 teaspoon Season Salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground Pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon Ancho Chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons Brown sugar
  • Wood chips for smoking – Hickory or Apple

Putting it all together:

  1. In a large bowl soak the wood chips for 30 minutes.
  2. Heat your smoker to 225°
  3. Toss the wings in the Canola oil and then in the dry rub.
  4. Place the wings in the smoker and add a handful or two of the soaked wood chips to the charcoal.
  5. Turn the wings half way through the cooking process and add more wood chips to the charcoal.
  6. The wings are finished when the internal temperature reaches 165°.

There you have it another “Simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond”.

Until next time………

                           Bon Appetit

Ground Beef Stuffed Shells

 

Ground Beef Stuffed Shells II

Ground Beef Stuffed Shells

  • Servings: 8 - 10
  • Difficulty: Easy
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This is a recipe I have wanted to try for some time now but for some reason I just never got around to it until today.

Now since I have never made this one before I am borrowing a recipe from Taste of Home Magazine but of course I will be adding my own little flair to it.

Cooks Note: This recipe is a bit labour intensive so give yourself adequate time to prepare it. 

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 1 package Jumbo Pasta Shells
  • 3 tbsp Canola Oil.
  • 2 pounds Ground Beef
  • 1 Medium Sweet Onion – diced
  • 4 Garlic Cloves – chopped
  • 5 cups Baby Spinach
  • 15 ounces Ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded Italian blend cheese
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 8 ounce jar Sun Dried Tomato Pesto
  • 1 jar Spaghetti Sauce
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • chopped Parsley for garnish.

Putting it all together:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
  2. In a large pot of salted water cook the shells according to the package instructions. When cooked run under cold water.
  3. While the pasta is cooking brown the  ground beef in a large pan, drain and remove to a bowl.
  4. Return the ground beef to the pan and add in the onion, garlic, spinach, pesto, salt and pepper and simmer for about ten minutes.
  5. In a separate bowl mix the Ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups Parmesan and egg.
  6. Mix half the beef mixture with the cheese.
  7. In a greased 13×9 baking dish spread 3/4 cup of pasta sauce. Stuff the shells with the beef and cheese mix and place in the dish.
  8. Mix the remaining pasta sauce in with the remaining half of the ground beef and pour over the stuffed shells.
  9. Top with Parmesan and Italian blend and bake until cheese has melted and is bubbly, about 15 mins.
  10. Garnish with Parsley and enjoy.

There you have it another “Simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……..

                            Bon Appetit

Balti Chicken

Balti Chicken

Balti Chicken

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: Easy
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I’ve wanted to make this recipe ever since I saw it in a movie set in the U.K. and tried some from a local Indian restaurant, Koh-I-Noor and because it has been rainy and nasty outside today (kind of reminds me of Britain) I decided to make it today.

This particular version is “healthier” than those that you would find in an Indian Takeaway joint in the U.K. however it is still full flavoured and filling.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless Chicken Breast cut into bite sized pieces
  • 250 ml Passata
  • 150 ml Water
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
  • 1 medium Onion – coarsely grated
  • 1 medium Tomato – diced
  • 1 Red Pepper roughly chopped
  • 1 small to medium Green Chili
  • 4 Garlic cloves – diced
  • 1 tbsp Lime juice
  • 2 tsp Paprika
  • 1/4 tsp Chili powder
  • 1 Cinnamon stick
  • 3 tsp Ground Cardamom 
  • 1 1/2 tsp Cumin
  • 3 tsp ground Ginger
  • 1 tsp Turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground Coriander
  • 2 tbsp Garam Masala 
  • Rice Pilaf for service

Putting it all together:

  1. Put the chicken in a medium bowl. Mix in the lime juice, paprika, chili powder and a grinding of black pepper , then leave to marinate for at least 15 mins, preferably a bit longer.
  2. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large non-stick sauté pan. Tip in the cinnamon stick, cardamom , whole chili and 1 teaspoon ground cumin , and stir-fry briefly just to colour and release their fragrance.  Stir in the onion, garlic and ginger and fry over a medium-high heat for 3-4 mins until the onion starts to turn brown. Add the remaining oil, then drop in the chicken and stir-fry for 2-3 mins or until it no longer looks raw. Mix the turmeric,  remaining cumin, ground coriander and Garam Masala together. Tip into the pan, lower the heat to medium and cook for 2 mins . Pour in the Passata and 150 ml water, then drop in the chunks of pepper. When starting to bubble, lower the heat and simmer for 15-20 mins or until the chicken is tender.
  3. Stir in the tomato, simmer for 2-3 mins. Season with a little salt. If you want to thin down the sauce, splash in a little more water. Remove the cinnamon stick and chili.
  4. Serve with rice.

There you have it another “Simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time…..

                          Bon Appetit 

Chicken Enchiladas

®Chicken Enchiladas II

Chicken Enchiladas

  • Servings: 8
  • Difficulty: Easy
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My Sunday nights lately consist of making dinner and then rushing out the door to get to my Pool League for 6:00 p.m. and this usually means I miss dinner because I just don’t have the time.

This time I decided that a very simple, time saving recipe was needed so I could eat before going out and since it has been quite awhile since I have made these and the family loves them it was a no-brainer.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 8 large Tortillas
  • 4 cups cooked shredded Chicken
  • 1 16 ounce jar of Herdez® Salsa Verde
  • 6 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • 3 Green Onions – rough chopped for garnish
  • 2 Poblano peppers – seeded and diced
  • Sour Cream for garnish

Putting it all together:

  1. Pre heat the oven to 375°
  2. Warm the tortillas for about 30 seconds to make them pliable.
  3. In the centre of the tortilla place a 1/4 cup of cheese then top with 1/2 cup of the chicken, Poblano peppers and salsa. Roll into a cylinder shape and place on a sheet pan.
  4. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
  5. Cover the enchiladas with the remaining cheese and salsa and put in the oven until the cheese has melted and the enchiladas are heated through.
  6. Plate the enchiladas and top with some sour cream and chopped green onion.

There you have it another “Simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time………….

                           Bon Appetit

 

 

Salmon En Papillot

Salmon En Papiotte

Salmon En Papillot

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: Medium
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Fish and Chip night around here just got a whole lot more interesting. I still make the “normal” type for my grandson however for the elder crowd I decided to do Salmon En Papillot because it is simple to make and very simple to clean up. The one major issue with this technique is you cannot see the fish so it is tough to know when it’s done which is why I have labeled the difficulty level on this as medium.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 4 Salmon filets – about 5 ounces each
  • 2 cups Yellow Onions – sliced
  • 2 cups Red Pepper – sliced
  • 2 cups Carrot – julienned
  • 4 teaspoons Capers
  • 3 tablespoons Butter
  • 4  tablespoons Dill
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 4 Sheets Parchment paper

Putting it all together:

  1. Pre heat the oven to 400°
  2. Place the vegetables in the middle of the Parchment paper and season with salt and pepper then place the Salmon on top of the vegetables.
  3. Melt the butter and dill and then brush over the salmon. Top with the capers and seal the parchment paper by rolling the top down and tucking the ends underneath.
  4. Place in the oven on the middle rack for 15 minutes.
  5. To serve simple place the pouch on a plate and cut open the top.
  6. Enjoy.

There you have it another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……..

                           Bon Appetit

Seafood Pho

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Seafood Pho

  • Servings: 2-4
  • Difficulty: Easy
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I got home from my first ever Singles Style Pool tournament (that’s where it is one on one…. oh and, I lost but that’s a story for another day) and was really tired but also really hungry so I went looking for something to feed not only myself but the rest of the bunch so after a short root through the pantry I managed to come up with this.

Now traditional Pho – pronounced PHA – can take hours depending on what meat you may use, how long you braise it and most importantly how much flavour you wish to impart into the broth. For this recipe I used the ingredients I had on hand and those that would prep and cook quickly.

Cooks Note: For this recipe I used Campbells® Pho Broth.

Here is how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 3 packages (roughly 25 ounces) Thick Noodles
  • 1 bag 31-40 Shrimp – peeled and deveigned
  • 1/4 cup each Clam and Mussel meat
  • 2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil
  • Half of one large White Onion – sliced
  • 2 Garlic cloves – rough chopped
  • 1 large Red Pepper – julienned
  • 1/4 of a small Cabbage – sliced
  • 2 cups Broccoli florets
  • 1/4 cup Fish Sauce
  • 4 cups Campbell’s Soup® Pho broth 
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Garlic Chili sauce and chopped Parsley sauce for garnish

Putting it all together:

  1. In a large pot bring the Pho broth to a simmer.
  2. While the broth is simmering heat the vegetable oil in a large pan and cook the vegetables until just tender.
  3. Add in the fish sauce, clams, mussels and shrimp and cook until the seafood is done… about five minutes. Season with the salt and pepper
  4. Bring the broth up to a boil and cook the noodles in the broth for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  5. Place the noodles in the bottom of your bowl, ladle in the broth and top with the vegetables and seafood.
  6. Garnish with the garlic chili sauce and parsley.
  7. Enjoy

There you have it another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……

                           Bon Appetit

Souvalaki Pork Stir Fry

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Souvalaki Pork Stir Fry

  • Servings: 2-4
  • Difficulty: Easy
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Anyone who has ever had Greek food has at one time or another had Souvalaki and those who make it at home know it can be rather labour intensive that is why this time I decided to make it into a stir fry along with some Greek style rice.

The main thing to remember with Souvlaki whether Pork or Chicken is it does not take long to cook and it can easily become dry.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 2 pounds boneless Pork loin chops – sliced
  • 1 cup pitted Kalamata Olives
  • 1/4 cup plus 6 tablespoons  Olive Oil
  • 2 Garlic cloves – minced
  • 1 tablespoon Oregano (Greek if you can get it)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 2 teaspoons Tumeric
  • 1 medium White Onion – diced
  • 1 each Yellow, Red and Orange Pepper – sliced
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes
  • 1/2 English Cucumber – diced
  • 2 cups Long Grain Rice
  • 2 1/2 Cups Chicken Broth
  • Sour Cream for garnish

Putting it all together.

  1. Mix together the pork, garlic, oregano, 1/4 cup olive oil and salt and put in a seal-able bag in the refrigerator for about 1 hr
  2. When the pork has marinated for about 45 mins preheat your oven to 350°
  3. When the pork has finished  marinating heat half the remaining oil in a dutch oven and add the onion cooking for about three minutes. Mix in the rice and Tumeric making sure to coat the rice well. Add in the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
  4. Take off the heat and put in the oven for approximately 35 minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed.
  5. In a wok or a large fry pan heat the remaining oil on medium high and flash fry the pork. Pull the pork from the wok, add the peppers and garlic and saute for about four minutes. Add back the pork and continue cooking for about another 4 minutes.
  6. Plate the rice and top with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives and feta cheese.
  7. On the other half of the plate place the pork and peppers and top with sour cream.
  8. Enjoy.

There you have it another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……

                           Bon Appetit

Stuffed Poblanos

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Stuffed Poblanos

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
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“Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what’s for lunch.”
Orson Welles

 

I’m not a fan of traditional Stuffed Peppers mainly because the ones I’ve had usually contain too much tomato sauce and therefore I wind up with major indigestion due to the acid content in the dish. That being said I have to admit that I have always wanted to try my hand at making them just to see what the end result would be however, being who I am I of course have to add a little spin to the dish. I will also point out that this is not an original dish but I have added enough changes to make it my own.

Cooks note: I used Poblanos because they have a medium heat level without being to heavy handed but feel free to substitute whatever kind of pepper you wish keeping in mind that whatever pepper you use it should be as round as possible for ease of stuffing.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 4 large Poblano peppers – halved (cut north to south) and seeded
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground Pork
  • 1 10 ounce can of Black Beans
  • 3 tablespoons Canola Oil
  • 1 8 ounce can Niblets corn
  • 3/4 cup Cream Cheese
  • 3 cups shredded Mexican Cheese
  • 2  tablespoons Granulated Garlic
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons of Granulated Onion
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons Chipotle Powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground Cumin
  • 2 tablespoons dried Parsley
  • 2 tablespoons fresh ground Black Pepper
  • pinch of Salt
  • Fresh Parsley for garnish (cilantro can be a substitute)
  • Sour cream for garnish

Putting it all together:

  1. In a large non reactive bowl combine the pork, dry spices, black beans and corn. Cover and set aside for an hour to allow the flavours to develop.
  2. Preheat the oven to 375°.
  3. Heat the oil in a large sauce pan, add the pork mixture and cook until the pork is just done . Add the cream cheese and continue cooking until the cheese is nice and smooth. Pull from the heat and set aside to cool.
  4. Evenly fill the poblano halves with the pork mixture . Put in the oven until the poblanos have softened, about 30 minutes. Top with the shredded cheese and put back in the oven until melted and bubbling.
  5. Plate and garnish with the parsley and sour cream.

There you have it another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time……….

                          Bon Appetit