Beef Stroganoff

2 lb beef (I use petite sirloin)

salt and pepper
1/2 c butter
olive oil
1 sweet onion diced
2 tbsp minced garlic
4 tbsp flour
1 can beef broth (10.5 oz)
1 tsp Coleman's mustard
2 tsp basil
2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 lb mushrooms, sliced
1 c sour cream

Cut beef into strips about 1 1/2 inches long.  Season with salt and pepper

Heat skillet or dutch oven over high heat and then add butter and a splash of olive oil.  When butter is melted add beef in small handfuls and brown.

(Instant Pot: Use the saute feature)

Reduce heat to medium, push beef to one side and add onion.  Cook til translucent (about 3 to 5 minutes), then push to one side.

Add 1/4 cup flour to empty space and whisk until it thickens (now you have a roux), mix roux, onion, and beef thoroughly then slowly add beef broth while stirring.  Add mushrooms, mustard, basil, and paprika,  and bring to a boil.  Cook covered at a simmer for 45 minutes.

(Instant Pot: Pressure cook for 25 minutes)

Stir in sour cream and serve.  Really good served over wide egg noodles but since I generally don't eat pasta this mostly just gets ladled into a bowl and eaten.

Apple Raisin stuffed pork chops

I can't believe I haven't posted this recipe.  It is one of my favorites.

Four thick cut pork chops
Stuffing (see recipe below)

Cut a deep pocket into each porkchop.

Pack tightly with stuffing

Bake at 350º in an uncovered baking dish for about 50 minutes.

Serve.

Stuffing

One apple, peeled and chopped
One small onion, minced
Raisins (to taste, I just throw in a handful)
Two slices whole wheat bread, cut into small pieces
 Sage, thyme, salt, and pepper to taste
1/4 cup butter melted
1/4 cup boiling water
Mix together

If you are on a low carb diet or just don't eat bread, try making this into a casserole by using thin cut pork chops, lining the dish with sliced apples and onions, and putting the rest of the stuffing ingredients over the top.

The perfect steak

I start with a New York or a Top Sirloin about an inch and a quarter thick.

To confuse the issue, steaks apparently have different names in different parts of the world.  Near as I can tell, the New York is also a sirloin or sometimes a porterhouse, although some websites suggest that porterhouse is a t-bone with more of the tenderloin attached.  Either way, get yourself a piece of steak.

I rub it with a steak rub that I make and let it sit for about ten minutes.  Heat up the grill on high, then turn the heat down to medium just before you put the steak on.  You may not like the idea of a rub.  Fine, don't put rub on it.  Nobody asked you to come here and complain.  I like the added spiciness.

3 minutes each:  First side, first side rotated 90º, second side, second side rotated 90º.  Total of 12 minutes.  If you buy a thinner steak you may find that it is overcooked so you'll have to adjust accordingly.

Remove from  heat, cover with tinfoil and let rest for about five minutes.  This steak will be rare inside but that is how I like it.  You can experiment with times if you prefer it more well done.

Shown here served with garlic sauteed green beans as suggested by Adam Piggott.

Beef Rub

3/4 c paprika
1/4 c ground black pepper
1/4 c salt
1/4 c raw sugar
2 T chili powder
2 T garlic powder
2 T onion powder
2 t cayenne

Green Beans

Heat skillet over medium high heat.
Add 2 T olive oil and heat (occasionally throw in a little piece of garlic.  If it sizzles the oil is ready.  Don't let it smoke.)
Add two cloves of smashed or minced garlic and give it a quick stir.
Add 2 cups of green beans, broken into bite sized lengths.
Give it a quick stir and put the lid on.
Every minute or so take the lid off and give it a quick stir.
After about five minutes squeeze the juice of a half lemon (or less if you don't like it too lemony), stir the whole thing and serve.

Shown paired with a Clos la Coutale Cahors, one of my favorite reds.

Pancakes and waffles

This is the one we grew up with and it still works.

Whisk together:

2 c flour
2 T sugar
6 tsp baking powder

Mix together

2 eggs
2 c milk

Add to dry ingredients and stir until slightly lumpy

Pancakes - 2 T oil
Waffles - 6 T oil

Mix just enough to stir in oil.

For a change, substitute 1/4 c buckwheat for 1/4 c of the flour.

Carne Enchiladas

Sauce

Olive oil
3 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup minced onion ( I used sweet onions)

Saute til onion starts to turn translucent

Add

1/2 tsp dried oregano
2-1/2 tsp chili powder (if you can get smoked perfect)
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/8 tsp ground pepper (I just crank on my pepper grinder til I get bored)
1/8 tsp salt (or just grab a pinch from your salt pig.  If you don't have one, you should.)
1/2 tsp ground cumin

Stir to mix saute just a bit.

Add

1/4 cup salsa (I had Resers Restaurant Style in the fridge, medium hot)
2 cups or so of tomato sauce

Water to the consistency that you want it although I skipped the water this time because it was fine.

Steak

Rub two steaks with southwest seasoning (I make my own but you could use any store bought) and grill over low heat, about ten minutes per side, turning frequently, until completely cooked.  Cut into small pieces

Onion

Chop one sweet yellow onion and saute over low heat in a mix of butter and oil until translucent.

Assembly

Put about 1/4 of the sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish.  In each tortilla shell wrap some crumbled Queso Fresco cheese, some steak, and some onion.  Line the baking dish with wrapped tortillas. Pour the rest of the sauce over top the tortillas and cover with grated Monterey Jack cheese.

Bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees F and serve with sour cream.

Super easy and incredibly good.

7 (I mean 6) Layer Squares

Seven Layer Squares.  One of my favorite recipes, right up there with everything else that has lots of chocolate and sugar.  However the fourth layer is walnuts.  Want to ruin a perfectly good edible treat?  You do?  By all means, just put walnuts in it. So my compromise:

Six Layer Squares

1 stick butter, melted in bottom of 9 x 13 inch pan
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
6 oz shredded coconut
6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
6 oz butterscotch chips
1 can condensed sweetened milk (you know, the Eagle Brand stuff by Borden)

Layer the graham cracker crumbs over the butter
Layer the next ingredients in order (it's OK to go a bit over on quantities)
Drizzle condensed milk all over the whole thing (this will take a while as it comes out slowly but be patient and drizzle it all evenly)

Bake at 350º  for 25 minutes.  Edges should be just starting to brown a bit.  Cool completely then cut into small squares.

Note: You don't want to overcook this as it gets dry.  The recipe from my mother says 30 minutes but I go 25 and then check for edge browning.

Try not to each more than four while you are cutting them up as you will feel sick to your stomach shortly thereafter due to sugar overload and diabetic shock.

Whole grain bread

My mother gave me her bread machine.  She doesn't use it and it was going to Goodwill unless someone wanted it.  I figured it was worth a try.  For the record I eat, on average, less than two slices a day, usually toast with my breakfast.  I am a "low carb" person but have figured out that morning multi-grain doesn't mess with my system so this is a nice treat.


This recipe was mostly found on line with a few tweaks by me for the bread machine. Just add all the ingredients to the bread machine in order.  Use the setting for a 2 lb loaf (although I haven't tried the smaller setting to see if it would make a difference) and the Grain option.  Comes out a little lumpy looking but delicious.

1 cup hot water
1 Tbsp yeast
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 1/2 Tbsp molasses
1 1/2 Tbsp honey
1/2 Tbsp salt
1/4 cup vital wheat gluten
1/8 cup quinoa
1/8 cup flax seed
1/8 cup sunflower seeds
1/8 cup steel cut oats
1/8 cup (long or quick cooking) oatmeal
1 cup white flour
1 cup wheat flour

Yum.