I have to admit this here – like a huge chunk of the population, I fell for the hype and got an Instant Pot this past November. After I got mine, I found out that it fit into my kitchen routine quite nicely. It paid for itself within weeks of buying, just by allowing me to get food ready quickly on and not having to resort to takeout. You can … [Read more…]
Rosemary Scented Slow Cooker Beef Stew
It hasn’t been super cold here yet this winter, but with everyone being sick, comforting stews and quick-cooking soups were our mainstays for a while. This one saved us on a day when we knew that we were going to busy all day, and would need something waiting for us at dinnertime. Rosemary Scented Slow Cooker Beef Stew 1-2 … [Read more…]
Caldo De Yum! , or Turkey Sausage, Spinach, and Alphabet Noodle Soup
We needed soup, because everyone in our house was sick. I didn’t have any chicken, but I did have sweet Italian turkey sausage, so I decided to make a soup that complemented the sausage. I thought of tomato, automatically, but we didn’t want it too strongly tomato-ey. So, this soup is mostly chicken stock based, with some tomato paste to flavor … [Read more…]
Beef and Green Bean Curry
This is a curry made up of beef and some flat Italian green beans that I froze at the end of summer. I had been feeling too unwell to go to the supermarket, so this had to be a pantry meal day. You could use regular frozen green beans, or fresh, blanched green beans for this.Peas would also work well. 1-2 tablespoons cooking oil 1 pound beef … [Read more…]
Red Lentil and Swiss Chard Soup
The lentil is a humble but mighty ingredient. It is a superior form of protein, and contains significant amount of fiber and iron. It is also good source of folate, an important nutrient for women of child-bearing age. But, what is the best part? It cooks in a short time, relative to dried legumes. That makes it a better option for a weeknight … [Read more…]
Ropa Vieja in the Slow Cooker
This is a lovely dish of shredded beef, with a delicious sauce. It is really easy to put together, since you prepare everything, set it in the slow cooker, and go about your day. Ropa Vieja is a Cuban dish. It translates to “old clothes” , because it looks like shredded old fabric. It tastes a heck of a lot better than old clothes, though. … [Read more…]
Throwback Thursday : Fall Lentil Vegetable Stew
It appears that this time last year was the same kind of chilly, rainy Fall weather that we are having today. I made a lentil stew then that had carrots and spinach, and nicely spiced with curry, cumin, and allspice. This is a wonderfully homey, satisfying stew that can be made with things that most people have on hand. Thus, I have tagged it … [Read more…]
Chicken Freekeh Soup
NPR predicts that freekeh is one of the new foods to watch in 2014. Freekeh is a very nutritious and filling ancient grain. It has a low glycemic index, according to Eatright.org , and is higher in protein and fiber than other grains. Freekeh is a really rustic food that has been around in the Middle East forever. It is roasted green … [Read more…]
Reshta/Rashta – Stewed Lentils and Noodles with Tangy Caramelized Onions
Reshta/Rashta – Stewed Lentils and Noodles with Tangy Caramelized Onions “The day is cold, and dark, and dreary It rains, and the wind is never weary”…. Maybe not quite as bad as that, but this is the view of my deck from my kitchen window: …and that is why it is the perfect day for this dish. Whenever the weather is cold and/or rainy, I … [Read more…]
Beef and Potato Green Bean Stew
When your son asks for green bean stew, you make green bean stew. He’s actually been asking for a couple of days in a row, but I was too sick to go shopping. Today I realized that we were too low on everything but I am still not well enough to go shopping, so I ordered grocery pick up, including…..green beans! I previously posted a vegetarian … [Read more…]