Recipe Thread

[Amby 490]

ina garten has this 40 garlic clove chicken recipe that's pretty good. I was skeptical, but the lady I cook for insisted it was amazing and wanted it for her dinner party so I made it...it was pretty good.

[GabiandVi 34]

Red Beans and Rice

(This is probably similar to any bean dish -white beans, black-eyed peas, crowder peas - but I grew up with red beans.) This is traditionally made on a Monday which was laundry day and the woman of the house needed a dish that she didn't have to tend to much during the day and that would be ready when she was done washing, hanging, ironing, folding and putting away the laundry.

1 lb. red beans (I can't find these anymore. Most people use red kidney beans, but it's not quite the same.)

1 onion, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

about 5 stalks of celery, chopped

garlic, minced or crushed

salt meat - preferably a ham hock

1 lb. sausage of choice, but NOT too Italian and definitely NOT Asian (if you can get andouille or another type of Cajun sausage, NOT boudin, it's best.)Sliced and rendered.

salt (about a palm full)

Bay leaf (if you want)

Cajun spices (if you want)

Soak the beans overnight. Rinse the next morning and add back a little more than enough water to cover the beans. Some people saute the trinity but it's not necessary. You can just add it in with the beans raw. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. After about 30 minutes to an hour, turn down to simmer and cover. Stir occasionally. Continue simmering for about 5 or 6 hours.

This is best when made a day in advanced and reheated. Serve over rice. Add tobasco if you like.

[sachinky 465]

Thanks for that Carmen's Caper recipe. I made it two nights ago and it was delicious. I spiced it up a lot!

[ValerieA 350]

Thanks for that Carmen's Caper recipe. I made it two nights ago and it was delicious. I spiced it up a lot!

What spices did you use? It is a great base recipe...and kids like it as much as adults!

[Dave and Helena 0]

Finally a recipe thread on VJ. I looked for one a while back, figuring that with so many people from different countries here there should be an abundance of yummy, authentic recipes to be found.

West African Peanut Sauce and Chicken

Chicken (enough for your purposes)

oil (about 1/2 cup)

tomatoes (to make enough sauce for your purposes)

onions, diced large (about one or two large onions)

garlic, minced (about a teaspoon or two)

salt (pinch)

maggi chicken powder - pinch or two or three (or some sort of chicken bullion)

peanutbutter (you can use the no sugar kind, but I like that little bit of sweetness)

Benin peppers (Ashanti peppers) if you can get them, but use them sparingly

cayenne

Brown the chicken in oil until fairly well cooked. Remove. In a blender, liquify the tomatoes. Add oil to the pot. Pour in the tomatoes. You are basically "frying the sauce." Add the chicken powder and salt and throw in the onions and garlic. Lower the heat after about 5 minutes and stir in the peanutbutter. (About 1 part peanut butter to 2 parts tomato sauce.) If the sauce is too thick or too thin, adjust. Add your peppers if you have them. Make the pieces big enough for people to pick them out. If you don't have the peppers, add cayenne to taste. Add the chicken back in and simmer for about 20 minutes.

Serve over rice.

Sounds delicious and will work well with my diet. I will have to try that one.

Here's my mom's recipe for meatballs. The recipe can be halved since this recipe is for making a lot of them and putting some in the freezer.

1.1 lbs ground beef

1.1 lbs ground pork (makes them juicier than using just beef)

10 tbsp bread crumbs

4 tbsp flour

1 2/3 cup water and cream

3-3 1/2 tsp salt

2 large eggs

3/4-1 tsp ground black or white pepper

2.5 tbsp finely grated yellow onion

Use the smallest amount of salt and pepper. Mix bread crumbs, flour, water and cream. Let it stand for at least 10 mins. Put in beef and salt and mix well. Add egg, pepper and onion. Mix, but not too well since that will make the meatballs tough. Make a couple of small meatballs (we're talking Swedish meatballs, not Italian ) and saute them in some butter. Taste to see if more salt and/or pepper is needed. Make the meatballs and cook them stove top or in the oven. If in the oven spray a cookie sheet with some oil. Preheat the oven to 480 degrees and put the meatballs in the middle of the oven for 8-12 minutes for normal sized Swedish meatballs, adjust time if you make really small meatballs.

Serve with boiled or mashed potatoes), brown gravy (preferably cream gravy) and lingonberry jam (can probably be replaced with cranberries). Can also be served with pasta or stewed macaroni. http://www.recipezaa...Macaroni-200902

[sachinky 465]

What spices did you use? It is a great base recipe...and kids like it as much as adults!

I mixed some red chilli powder and some red chilli flakes into the beef. A dash of garlic salt.

[sachinky 465]

Indian Chicken Curry

I'm bad with measurements so just estimate according to your taste and the number of people you're cooking for.

--Chicken (1lb)

--Onions (red or yellow, 1 big)

--Tomatoes (1.5 tomatoes cubed or diced)

--Salt, sugar (dash)

--Garlic paste (1tbsp)

--Ginger paste (1tbsp)

--Garam Masala (1 teaspoon)

--Hot water (Half a cup)

--Cilantro (chopped for garnish)

--Red chilli powder (according to taste)

--Oil/Butter. (2tbsp)

Grease pan with butter or 2 tbsp of oil. Drop one tbsp of garlic paste and one tbsp ginger and fry chicken and onion in it. Wait till it turns brown. Sprinkle sugar and salt over it. Mix the diced/cubed/sliced tomatoes and fry them for a bit. Pour hot water into the pan. Just enough to cover the chicken. Stir it around. Put one teaspoon of garam masala and red chilli powder (however spicy you want it). Let it simmer. If you want more gravy, leave it open. If you want the chicken drier with thicker gravy, cover the pan. Take it off when the chicken is done/the gravy is boiling, reducing/ the tomatoes have pretty much melted to give the gravy a nice reddish color. Sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro. Serve with white rice.

Edited June 5, 2010 by sachinky

[sachinky 465]

Here's a simple different potato salad that goes really well with grilled hot dogs!

--1 large potato.

--1/4 cup mayo.

--1/4 cup tomato ketchup.

--Chopped cilantro.

Boil potato with salt. Mash it and mix in the mayo and ketchup. Mix in the fresh cilantro. Tangy and awesome!

Edited June 5, 2010 by sachinky

[Dave and Helena 0]

Indian Chicken Curry

I'm bad with measurements so just estimate according to your taste and the number of people you're cooking for.

--Chicken (1lb)

--Onions (red or yellow, 1 big)

--Tomatoes (1.5 tomatoes cubed or diced)

--Salt, sugar (dash)

--Garlic paste (1tbsp)

--Ginger paste (1tbsp)

--Garam Masala (1 teaspoon)

--Hot water (Half a cup)

--Cilantro (chopped for garnish)

--Red chilli powder (according to taste)

--Oil/Butter. (2tbsp)

Grease pan with butter or 2 tbsp of oil. Drop one tbsp of garlic paste and one tbsp ginger and fry chicken and onion in it. Wait till it turns brown. Sprinkle sugar and salt over it. Mix the diced/cubed/sliced tomatoes and fry them for a bit. Pour hot water into the pan. Just enough to cover the chicken. Stir it around. Put one teaspoon of garam masala and red chilli powder (however spicy you want it). Let it simmer. If you want more gravy, leave it open. If you want the chicken drier with thicker gravy, cover the pan. Take it off when the chicken is done/the gravy is boiling, reducing/ the tomatoes have pretty much melted to give the gravy a nice reddish color. Sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro. Serve with white rice.

Yummy! Curry's my favorite, I'm definitely making this next week.

[Marilyn. 340]

Here's a simple different potato salad that goes really well with grilled hot dogs!

--1 large potato.

--1/4 cup mayo.

--1/4 cup tomato ketchup.

--Chopped cilantro.

Boil potato with salt. Mash it and mix in the mayo and ketchup. Mix in the fresh cilantro. Tangy and awesome!

sounds interesting.. I might have to try that one of these days

[Marilyn. 340]

I know it isn't really soup weather but this is really simple and good!

Cream Of Potato Soup Recipe

* 2 tablespoons butter or margarine

* 1/2 cup chopped onion

* 3 cups potatoes, peeled and diced

* 1 cup chicken broth, lowfat okay

* 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

* 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

* 1/4 teaspoon celery seed

* 1/4 teaspoon salt

* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

* 1 1/2 cups milk, lowfat okay

* 2 tablespoons flour

1. In large saucepan, cook onions in butter until soft.

2. Add potatoes, chicken broth, parsley, thyme, celery seed, salt, and pepper to saucepan.

3. Simmer for 15 minutes.

4. Add milk to saucepan.

5. Puree half of soup and flour in blender.

6. Return to saucepan.

7. Heat through.

I basically followed the recipe but I did make a few adjustments though. I didn't have enough potatoes so I added some frozen carrots. I also didn't have celery seed or parsley but I used dried cilantro and a dash of paprika. My husband found the soup a bit thick so the next time I make it I will add a bit more milk. I will also add some diced celery next time too.

[Marilyn. 340]

not to many desserts here yet..

this one is yummy... I like that the topping stays crisp and doesn't get soggy like some of the other recipes I have tried

Peach Crisp Recipe

* 2 (29 ounce) cans sliced peaches

* 1 cup brown sugar

* 1 cup flour

* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

* 1/3 cup butter

1. Arrange the peaches in an ovenproof casserole dish.

2. Mix the remaining ingredients together and sprinkle over the peaches.

3. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 30-45 minutes.

4. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

You basically could use any kind of fruit, canned or fresh ... I used fresh nectarines.... so good!

[Amby 490]

hmmmm for potato salad I do something like this

fingerling potatoes

bacon

red onion

coleman's mustard (must use this type of mustard)

mayo

parsley, chives, chervil (you can skip any or all of these if you don't like them or don't have them)

cook bacon to render fat. fry red onion in bacon fat. whisk remaining fat from bacon (there's not much) into mayo. add in some salt & pepper and some coleman's mustard. mix with everything else.

sorry I really have no actual amounts of this. I just kinda do it. I rarely make it but when I do it goes VERY fast.

Edited June 5, 2010 by Amby

[Dave and Helena 0]

Ok.... I'll bite on the dessert theme. My favorite dessert next to creme brulee.

Marängsviss

Meringue

Whipped Cream

Chocolate Syrup

Some people like to put bananas and ice cream in there as well. Personally I prefer just meringue, cream and the syrup, layer in a bowl and enjoy....

[Marilyn. 340]

here is a nice quick recipe ...

take some flour tortillas spread them with peanut butter and then layer some sliced banana and chocolate chips over half of the tortilla.. fold the tortilla over and either bake in the oven or grill on the BBQ.. then brush them with some butter and sprinkle with some cinnamon sugar. Then enjoy!