WHAT'S COOKIN'? Week of January 24th ************************

[Phentex]

I put a roast in the crockpot earlier today and it's making me (and the dogs) hungry!

I'm going to cook a turkey later this week. It's one of those things we love and makes for good leftovers.

I am craving a big juicy hamburger but will probably do meatloaf or some other version.

Haven't had chicken stew in a while. Du'er mtnester stole it from epicurious and posted it here back in '07 and I've been making it ever since. I add spinach and sometimes sausage and the boys like it when I serve it over ditalini.

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Chicken Stew with Tomatoes and White Beans

4 bacon slices, chopped
6 chicken thighs with skin and bones (about 2 1/2 pounds)
All purpose flour
1 large onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 14 1/2-ounce cans stewed tomatoes
1 14 1/2-ounce can low-salt chicken broth
3/4 cup dry red wine
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 15-ounce cans cannellini (white kidney beans), drained


Cook chopped bacon in heavy large pot over medium-high heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towel. Sprinkle chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour, shaking off excess. Add to drippings in pot and sauté until brown, about 3 minutes per side. Using slotted spoon, transfer chicken to large bowl. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons drippings from pot. Add chopped onion and minced garlic to pot; sauté 4 minutes. Add bacon, stewed tomatoes, chicken broth, red wine, basil and oregano. Bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Return chicken and any accumulated juices to pot. Cover and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Add cannellini; simmer 10 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

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What's cookin' at your place?

[cbayer]

1. I am going to make chicken marsala tonight.

Found a great recipe on finecooking. Going to add mushrooms and have peas on the side.

Yummy!

:hi:

[hippywife]

2. We just had leftovers tonight.

Bison meatloaf, mashed red potatoes, skin on, and baby peas. But I did some baking:

Sweet potato muffins
http://noblepig.com/2008/10/21/huffin-puffin-and-muffin.aspx

Bill wanted cranberries and didn't want the cinnamon spice mixture all over them. I guess I was a little inconsistent with the amount of batter in the cups, too. Haven't tasted these yet because we're still full from dinner.



And some peanut butter cookies:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Favorite-Peanut-Butter-Cookies/Detail.aspx



:hi:

[yellerpup]

10. Those muffins look mighty tasty.

How did they turn out? :hi:

[hippywife]

14. They are just okay, but

I think that was my fault. I should have taken it off the stand mixer after I creamed the butter and sugar. I think it was too much and should have done the rest by hand. I'll try them again sometime and do it that way.

Good to see you, hon. :hug:

[yellerpup]

20. I loaded up on canned pumpkin for the holidays

and then Mr. Pup ended up working throughout so we didn't entertain at all. It is easy to overmix muffins. They'll probably be perfect next time. :hug:

[daleanime]

3. Chicken and sweet potato curry...

although the stew sounds wonderful.

[yellerpup]

4. Thai hot and sour soup

made with chicken and shrimp as well as a nice, chunky bok choy chopped into it. Chocolate cake for dessert. (Sunday night)

[kfred]

5. Haven't decided

Tonite it is leftover spaghetti. I have to go grocery shopping today, but not for meats - just need to reload on vegies.

I've been meaning to make salmon patties - not the stuff along the line of crabcakes but using salmon filets, a simple topping, lettuce and maters. Might do that because it would make a great lunch for hubby. My sourdough biscuits on Friday came out like hockey pucks, but the sourdough pancakes have been a total hit. Still have bread to make, but have an overage in the cupboard so don't want to make that yet. An Oriental vegie and noodle dish is somewhere in the cards this week also. I use cellophane noodles, bean sprouts etc to make it. Mostly canned vegies though. By the time they marinate in the dressing they are pretty much wilted anyway. I did discover buying fresh vegie mixes for stir frys are great for salad toppings without the work or the vegies going bad. Freezer is full of meat and broth ranging from smallish lobster tails to leg-o-lamb. Probably don't have a snitch of hamburger down there! Ah well, it's cold, snowy and breezy - some sort of comfort food is on the horizon.

[cleveramerican]

6. Chili and cornbread

been looking forward to it all last week.

[The empressof all]

7. I'm making Chicken and artichoke calzones today

I have a Costco chicken and I finally opened that gigundic can of artichokes that's been lingering in the back of the pantry. I'm going to add onions and peppers to it at the SO's request and use a very garlicky white sauce to bind it together with some prosciutto and mozz. I'm making a simple processor pizza dough with the left over bread flour from my adventures in making Challah for Christmas.

[grasswire]

8. a southern chicken gumbo

Found a "new" old southern cookbook at the thrift store. I have dozens of southern cookbooks, but this one has a lot of historical photos and illustrations in it that have really charmed me. So I'm making a chicken gumbo from an old recipe tonight. Have to use frozen okra, but I guess that's okay. I guess cornbread goes with that.

[yellerpup]

11. I love gumbo.

Our local cajun cafe sold out to a Greek restaurant. Both good, but on a windy, rainy night gumbo sounds fabulous! :hi:

[yellerpup]

9. Monday: Salmon cakes with a side of dill-spiked raita,

sweet potato fries, steamed broccoli, and corn muffins. More Chocolate cake for dessert. :9

[grasswire]

13. hmm....I've never used yogurt alongside salmon cakes

sounds yummy and raises all kinds of other ideas.

Incidentally, I made a different tartar the other day. Mayo, Meyer lemon, a spoon of dill relish, minced scallion, and a swig of pepperoncini juice. It was crazy, but the pepperoncini perked it up. I might put some chopped pepperoncini in next time.

[hippywife]

16. That is a good idea, too!

Pepperoncini juice certainly would brighten that up. Good thinkin'. ;)

[yellerpup]

18. Such creativity!

I love experimenting with different combinations and the mayo/Meyer lemon/etc. w/pepperoncini combination make me reach for a napkin to catch the involuntary drool. Sounds luscious! :hi:

[hippywife]

15. That sounds really yummy!

Good idea using the raita. I used to make a little tartar sauce with them, but now we just eat them with a few squirts of fresh lemon. I never thought about trying something else with them.

:hi:

[yellerpup]

19. Because I've missed milk products for years (due to allergy)

I have been using goat yogurt in place of yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, you name it. It's so healthy and it makes awesome biscuits! I also am mad for fruit salsas with fish. The dill I used was left over from last Friday when I made salmon filets in a dill/butter/white wine sauce. Fresh herbs are such a luxury in winter. Now, if only I has a place to buy frash aigs!! :hi:

[hippywife]

21. Well, if you were closer

you wouldn't have to buy them! :hug:

[cbayer]

12. Spaghetti and meatballs tonight.

Made bread today and having guests for dinner. I am running very low on supplies (we have been out for about 4 weeks), but I have meatballs from TJ's left in the freezer, bottled marinara and pasta. And I can make a very simple salad with oil and vinegar.

Leftover brownies warmed up and that will be it!

:hi:

[Inchworm]

17. Baked Potato Soup tonight

I think I got the recipe here in C&B. I altered it a bit since I do Meatless Mondays.

I'm set to make deer stew tomorrow for rhe snow expected tonight.

:hi:

[Tesha]

22. Turkey Biscuit!

leftover roasted turkey legs have been waiting patiently and so has some lovely stock.
and now the meat and the stock are joined and bubbling away - awaiting a little thickening,
some peas, and some hot buttery biscuits...


mmmmmm - :9

[Duer 157099]

23. Butternut squash risotto

I followed Lidia's recipe, although I don't know if it can properly be called a risotto if you don't stir in the liquid gradually, but since she's Italian and knows authentic, figured she knows what she's doing. It turned out really well, imho, but then I'm no expert on risotto at all. I just know it tasted really good and was easy.

Here's how I made it:

1 onion, 1 lg carrot, 2 celery stalks, in food processor chopped fine (the ratio is basically 1:1:1, so equal portions of each, depending on the sizes of your veggies)

In dutch oven, melt some butter+olive oil and sweat veggies briefly, adding a pinch of salt, grind of pepper.

Add cubed butternut squash (I used about 4-6 cups) and saute for a few minutes with the other veg.

Add enough water/stock (I used chicken stock) to cover squash (was 4 cups for me) and bring to boil; reduce heat to just above simmer and let cook for about 5 minutes.

Add 1.5 cups arborio rice, stir in and return to boil, then reduce heat to low simmer, cover and let it go.

I didn't time it but just checked a couple time until it was the texture I wanted.

Add some parmesan and (optional but really nice) a tablespoon or so of marscapone.

It was nice just like this, but I then added some dried cranberries and that made it just perfect, imho.

[yellerpup]

24. Tuesday, leftovers of

Hot Italian sausage and cremini ragu on fettucini with green salad and viniagrette. Chocolate cake
Wednesday: smothered pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy, steamed broccoli. Last of chocolate cake
Thursday: Thai style shrimp/bok choy/lotsa veg stir fry over coconut-jasmine rice.
Friday????? Maybe we'll go out. I do plan to make a pot of 16 bean soup for the weekend, though.

[ginnyinWI]

25. it's still soup weather.

Our January thaw is over and we are back down in the teens.

I made a bean soup with fresh spinach that went over well. Threw in the last of a bottle of red wine that had been sitting around since November--nobody wanted to drink it because it wasn't very good wine.

My mother in law made Lasagna with artichokes and had us over last weekend--that was wonderful.

I found some crab cakes at the store--"10 for $10" that were pretty good. "Ocean Cafe" Cajun Crab Cakes with heat!

Haddock: I had a yearning for some haddock because it's been years. Bought a half pound fillet and breaded it with crushed cornflakes and baked it in the oven with some oven fries. That was so good!

Tonight we'll have a chickpea curry using the rest of the fresh spinach, and serve it over brown rice. Oatmeal bars for dessert(has chocolate chips and candied orange in it).

[Tesha]

26. Spinach Pie...

sort of.

We had some feta that was needing to be used, and he had the idea he'd like a "spanakopita".
Two things stood in my way - I'd never made it before and I just didn't feel like following a recipe.

feta and ricotta and eggs mixed with sauteed onions and spinach in filo sheets -


It came out pretty good! :9

[The empressof all]

27. I make something very similar

I use a Bechemel with shredded Swiss, spinach and onions. I make it every Thanksgiving and is my SO's favorite part of the meal.

[Tesha]

28. oh.. yummm

I think I'll try that next time... thanks!:hi: