Slow Cooker Beef and Wild Rice

Wild rice can be an expensive ingredient. I get a better price on it when I buy it on my travels to Wisconsin or Minnesota. My local bulk food store also has a more reasonable price than the grocery store.

Slow Cooker Beef and Wild Rice

1 cup raw wild rice, rinsed and drained
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced carrot
1 cup diced onion
8 oz. fresh mushrooms halved
2 lbs. boneless round steak, cut into 1 inch cubes
2 teaspoons salt free seasoning such as Mrs. Dash (R)
1, 14 oz. can reduced sodium beef broth diluted to 2 1/2 cups

Place ingredients in a 5 quart slow cooker in the order listed, do not stir. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Serves 8.

Easy Skillet Jambalaya

I have rediscovered parboiled or "converted rice". It makes cooking an after work skillet dinner quick and easy.

Shrimp and Sausage Jambalaya

2 teaspoon canola or olive oil
1 cup thinly sliced scallions
1 large stalk celery, sliced
1 small green bell pepper, diced
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped or 2 tablespoons dried
1 lb. peeled deveined shrimp
2 cups low salt canned or home made chicken broth
1 cup converted rice
1/2 lb. low fat smoked turkey sausage, cut into half inch slices
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
pinch of salt and dash of black pepper
1 large bay leaf
1, 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes with juice

In a large, non-stick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add scallions, celery, bell pepper and parsley. Cook and stir for 3 minutes or until onions are tender.

Add shrimp, broth, rice, sausage, thyme, peppers, salt and bay leaf. Bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and simmer 5 minutes or until shrimp are curled, pink and opaque.

Stir in tomatoes, with juice, and bring to a simmer again. Cover, turn off heat and let stand 5 minutes. Remove bay leaf before serving. Stir well. Serves 6.

Serve with hot sauce of choice if desired.

White Chili

A warm and satisfying dish without tomatoes like most chili recipes.

White Chili

1 lb. ground turkey
1/2 cup diced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon each: chili powder and cumin
pinch of salt and dash of ground white pepper
1, 14 to 16 oz. can white beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup green salsa
2 cup chicken broth or stock
1 cup reduced fat sour cream
1 cup 1% milk
Optional garnishes: chopped fresh cilantro, hot sauce, sliced green onion

In a large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking oil spray, cook turkey, onion and garlic until turkey is no longer pink. Combine cooked turkey with spices, beans, broth, and salsa in a 3 quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and simmer 1/2 hour to blend flavors. Meanwhile, combine sour cream and milk. Stir in 1/3 cup of hot liquid. Return all to the saucepan and heat through. Garnish as desired for serving. Serves 6.

Good Use of Leftovers

Roast Beef Hash

2 cups peeled potatoes cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1/2 cup each: diced celery, carrot and onion
2 cups of 1/2 inch cubes of leftover roast beef
left over gravy and water to equal 1 cup
1/2 teaspoon ground savory
1 teaspoon dried bouquet garni herb mix
pinch of salt and dash of pepper

Place potatoes in a 3 quart pan and just cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat and boil until tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain and set aside. Heat butter in deep skillet over medium heat. Saute celery, carrot and onion until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in roast beef and potatoes. Add gravy with water. Stir in seasonings. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer, cover and simmer until heated through about 10 minutes. Better when refrigerated overnight and reheated the next day. Serves 4.

Chicken with Olives

CHICKEN WITH OLIVES

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 large onion sliced
3 plum tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup sliced, pitted black olives
1/2 cup small pimento stuffed olives
2 tablespoons minced fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried

Hot cooked rice

Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper to your taste. Heat oil in heavy deep skillet over medium high heat.  Brown chicken on both sides, about a minute each. Push chicken to the side and saute onion and garlic until soft about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and olives. Cover and simmer over low heat 15 to 20 minutes or until chicken juices run clear and chicken meat is no longer pink inside. Uncover and stir in basil. Simmer uncovered a minute or two to thicken slightly. Serve over hot cooked rice. Serves 4.

Meatloaf Comfort Meal

Gourmet Meatloaf

Combine in mixing bowl:
2 beaten eggs
3/4 cup soft bread crumbs
1/2 cup vegetable juice
2 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
2 lbs. ground beef

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

To finish meat loaf you need:
8 thin slices of ham and 6 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese

Place meat mixture on foil or wax paper. Pat into a 12X10 inch rectangle. Arrange ham on top of meat leaving a small margin around edges. Sprinkle cheese over ham. Starting at short end of rectangle, carefully roll up meat, using foil to lift. Seal edges and ends. Place roll seam side down in a greased 9X13 inch baking pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until juices run clear. Garnish with additional cheese before serving if desired. Serves 8. (is great leftover as a sandwich filling or reheated for dinner another night)

Cinnamon Carrots

For four servings (easy to double):
1 lb. carrots peeled and sliced 1/2 inch thick
2 teaspoons butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Place carrots in a large deep skillet and just cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Lower heat to a simmer, cover and cook 10 minutes until carrots are just tender. Drain and place in serving bowl. Stir in butter and cinnamon and serve.

Cooked corn or peas make for an easy additional side dish.

Better Beef Stew

I really like using my slow cooker for days I'm pressed for time but want a hot home cooked meal to come home to. Yesterday I did not start my beef stew in time for the slow cooker to do it's thing in time for dinner. I will say I got a very rich tasting stew on the stove top. May not go back to making this particular dish the cook all day way.

1 1/4 lb.s beef cut for stew ( I used organic, very lean)
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon each: ground savory, ground pepper, garlic powder and dried thyme
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup dry red wine or water
6 small red or white potatoes, quartered
1 large carrot sliced in 1 inch diagonal slices
2 stalks celery, sliced in 1 inch diagonal slices
1 large yellow onion, peeled and cut into wedges
8 oz. fresh mushrooms, cut in half if large
1, 14.5 oz. reduced sodium beef broth.

Mix seasoning into flour. Dredge beef cubes in flour. In a heavy skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Brown beef cubes on two sides. Place beef in a 4 quart pot. Deglaze skillet with wine and pour into pot. Add remaining ingredients to pot. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover pot and simmer 90 minutes.
Remove lid. Bring to a boil and boil, stirring occasionally until liquid is reduced by half, about 20 minutes. Serves 4.