De Ma Cuisine

Beef Archive

Friday

13

September 2013

3

COMMENTS

Saving Dinner – Rotini Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Written by , Posted in Beef, Cheese, Dinner, Fruit, Gluten Free, Main Dishes, Meat, Pasta, Sauces, Thoughts, Vegetables

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Picture this: You’ve had a long day. You’re tired, kinda grumpy, and gosh you’re hungry. Maybe you’re cooking for 1, maybe it’s for 7… and you don’t have dinner planned. Does this ever happen to anyone else? No? Just me? That’s ok. Because I almost always have pasta on hand.

Add to it a bit of tomato sauce, some fresh veggies, and you’ve got dinner. If you have ground beef, that’s a bonus. If not, don’t worry. I think you’ll be just fine.

Maybe you haven’t made it to the store yet this week. You’ve got some cheese and veggies, but no tomato sauce in the pantry. I’ve got you covered. Sauté some veggies (the ones from this recipe if you have them, minus the tomatoes). Once they’re cooked, remove them from the pan. Then make a béchamel sauce (fancy sounding way to say a white sauce): add 2 T olive oil to a pan, heat it until it shimmers, then add 2 T all purpose flour and whisk. Cook for about 30-60 seconds, then slowly add some milk (1 to 2 C should do), whisking and letting it thicken between additions. Let it heat up, but don’t boil (the sauce may break) – just heat until steam rises. Remove from the heat and whisk in 1/2 to 1 C cheese, a little at a time. (You could add the fresh tomatoes now. Just let them warm through.) Add your sautéed veggies, some salt, pepper, and Italian seasonings.

Or, you could do both… I call it Spaghetteroni and Cheese. It’s any sort of pasta with tomato sauce that gets topped with cheese sauce. In our home, we think it’s crazy good.

I don’t think you can really go wrong with any of these options. And I’m not sure if I can choose a favorite. But, if I’m going with easiest, this Rotini Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce is super simple and doesn’t take too long to go from starving to eating.

Dinner is saved.

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Leftovers can be frozen, so don’t be shy about making a double or even triple batch. Store a few single servings in freezer-safe containers – they’ll be great for lunches if you’re tired of PB&J (I mean, who doesn’t love PB&J?! I do, but it can get old…). I don’t know that I’d recommend freezing the pasta, but you could make enough for dinner and for everyone to take some for lunch the next day. The sauce would also be delicious over top of some Roasted Summer Squash (toss thinly sliced squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes, or until slightly crispy), mixed in with a roasted spaghetti squash, as Stuffed Tomatoes (heat sauce, hollow out large tomatoes, fill with sauce, serve topped with parmesan cheese), or mixed with rice to stuff a Zoo Boat (Stuffed Summer Squash)… the possibilities are endless!

Aaaand now I’m craving PB&J.

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Happy Eating!

Rotini Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Yield: 4

Rotini Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb ground beef
  • 1 T olive oil (opt.)
  • 1 small red onion, chopped
  • 2 small zucchini, chopped
  • 3-4 medium tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped (opt)
  • 1 carrot, grated (opt)
  • 3 cloves garlic, diced
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 t dried savory
  • 1/2 t dried Parsley
  • 1/2 t dried basil
  • 1/4 t dried oregano
  • Pinch coriander
  • 1 T balsamic vinegar
  • 2 T lemon juice, divided
  • 2-3 8oz cans tomato sauce
  • 1/2 C pasta water
  • 1/2 pkg rotini rice pasta (or your favorite kind of pasta)
  • Parmesan cheese, grated, for topping

Instructions

  1. Cook beef. Remove from pan and set aside. Wipe out pan if desired.
  2. (If pan has been wiped out, add 1 T olive oil. Let it get hot.) Add veggies and some salt. Cook over medium-low heat until tender, 10 min or so.
  3. Add seasonings, balsamic vinegar, 1 T lemon juice, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 min.
  4. Cook pasta according to package directions.
  5. Before draining pasta add 1/2 C pasta water to tomato sauce and stir in. Add 1 T lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  6. Top pasta with sauce and some parmesan cheese.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/saving-dinner-rotini-pasta-with-fresh-tomato-sauce/

Friday

6

September 2013

5

COMMENTS

Veggies and Beef – Taco Salad

Written by , Posted in Beef, Cheese, Dinner, Gluten Free, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, Salads, Vegetables

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Are you ever too lazy to wash lettuce? Right. Me neither… It’s never a problem. That’s false. I don’t know why washing lettuce is a bother. It’s not like it takes all that long. And, I have a salad spinner, so I’m not even washing by hand. Sheesh, I say. Sheesh.

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We have 3 heads of lettuce in our fridge right now. And while I’m cool with using any that gets a little past its prime in vegetable stock, I’d much rather eat it raw. (Plus, I’m making vegetable stock right now, a lot of vegetable stock, and I may never have room in my freezer for anything else, let alone MORE vegetable stock… good thing it’s almost soup season.)

So let’s talk about lettuce for a minute. There are so many different varieties. I don’t know if I have a favorite. I tend to prefer the not so bitter ones, but other than that, not too picky. I have noticed that certain varieties (the less heavy leaves) don’t stand up as well to being prepared in advance and can get soggy if they’re not dried properly or if they’re dressed too soon. Simple solution: dry the lettuce well and dress it right before eating. Ok, that was easy.

I’ve never made anything like lettuce soup (is that a thing?). The craziest I get with lettuce is putting it on a sandwich or in a salad. Of all the salads, I’d say the Taco Salad is my favorite. I love it with any combination of the following: beans, beef, shredded chicken, chips, corn, shredded carrot, tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cheese, Greek yogurt, salsa, guacamole… anything else? Oh ya, and lettuce, duh.

Taco Salad is one of two or three salads that Husband considers a meal. He’s not picky when it comes to food, but has mentioned this particular preference (he also doesn’t prefer overcooked asparagus and some squash, but he usually eats without complaint and sometimes the dog just gets a little more to clean off the plate ;)).

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Today, I don’t have any beans cooked (I tend to use dried beans, which require overnight soaking and then hours of cooking – definitely a time investment, but quite simple when I plan ahead… today I did not). So I’m going with what would be a regular old taco, in salad version. Almost regular. I’m definitely going to add zucchini and broccoli. And while I might be fine with that on a taco, I know that someone else in this household might not prefer it (but I think he would still eat it… after asking if there really was broccoli on it). There will be ground beef, bell peppers, tomato, corn chips, chives, Greek yogurt and salsa for dressing, and cheddar cheese.

I’m ready. Let’s eat!

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Taco Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 2

Taco Salad

Ingredients

  • 1/4 to 1/2 lb. ground beef
  • 1/4 t chili powder
  • 1/4 t smoked paprika
  • 1/4 t sweet paprika
  • pinch cumin
  • pinch salt
  • pepper
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • 3-4 C lettuce, torn
  • 1 small bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 C zucchini, finely chopped or grated
  • 1/2 C broccoli, chopped into small pieces
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • 1/2 T chives, chopped
  • 1/4 C cheddar cheese, grated
  • corn chips, crumbled slightly, if desired
  • Greek yogurt
  • salsa

Instructions

  1. Cook beef with seasonings. Drain and discard fat. Set aside.
  2. Divide lettuce into two bowls and top with remaining veggies, chives, cheese, yogurt, and salsa.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/veggies-and-beef-taco-salad/

Happy Eating!

Wednesday

13

June 2012

0

COMMENTS

Summer Chili – Episode 27

Written by , Posted in A Cooking Show with Rachel O, Abundant Harvest Organics, Beans, Beef, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten Free, Herbs, Kid-Friendly, Legumes, Main Dishes, Meat, Soups, This Week's Feast, Vegetables

I made some yummy summer chili this week! It’s kinda like regular chili, except it has summer veggies. Like summer squash, green beans, basil, and other more year rounders like carrots and onions, all from this week’s Abundant Harvest Organics box. The squash and carrots are grated, so you don’t even notice they’re in there (not that I’d mind, but it’s fun to hide veggies sometimes, just because). Was it ever goooooood!

I forgot to eat lunch before I started filming. It was just torture to be smelling that chili for an hour. After I finally finished and plated and took photos I was going to try a bite. One turned into half the bowl and most of the cornbread… it was delicious. I ate it again a few hours later as real dinner.

I served it with this cornbread. It’s my go-to recipe. It’s easy and so delicious. (It’s even good the next day.)

We had it for dinner, and we also shared some with some friends who had a baby over the weekend. Even their picky eater ate some of it. 😉

The little “song” at the end had been stuck in my head ALL day. While editing, I think I counted 5 different times that I sang parts of it. It’s in my head again today. It makes me giggle a little.

Summer Chili

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 60 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Yield: 4-6

Summer Chili

Ingredients

  • 1-2 lb. ground beef
  • 4 C beans, cooked
  • 2 carrots, grated
  • 1 lg. summer squash, grated (squeeze to remove excess water if needed)
  • 1 C green beans, diced
  • 5 cloves garlic, diced
  • 2 T tomato paste
  • 3 T olive oil
  • 2 T balsamic vinegar, divided
  • 1 T dijon mustard
  • 1 T honey
  • 2 C water (or red wine, or stock, or beer)
  • 1/2 C decaf coffee
  • 2 t salt
  • 1 t pepper
  • 1/4 t allspice
  • pinch cayenne
  • 1 T sweet paprika
  • 2 T chili powder
  • 1 T smoked paprika
  • 1/2 t ginger
  • fresh basil, torn (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Heat soup pot. Add beef and cook. Drain fat and return beef to pan. Add olive oil, veggies, and seasonings. Cook about 5-7 minutes, or until veggies are tender.
  2. Add tomato paste, stir in, cook 1 minute. Add 1 T balsamic vinegar, stir, cook 1 min.
  3. Add honey, dijon, water, beans, and coffee. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook over med-low heat for about 55 minutes.
  4. Add 1 T balsamic vinegar and cook 5 min more.
  5. Serve topped with fresh basil.
http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/a-summery-take-on-chili-ep27/

This episode is sponsored by: Abundant Harvest Organics, Bari Olive Oil CompanyMolly Jenson, and TX Bar Organics.

Friday

21

October 2011

2

COMMENTS

For Oma and Her Borscht – Beet and Beef Borscht

Written by , Posted in Beef, Dinner, Gluten Free, Inspired By, Legacy, Lunch, Main Dishes, Meat, One Dish Dinners, Potatoes, Soups, Vegetables

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This post is for my Oma, who will probably never read it, as I’m quite certain that she’s not online.

My Oma is a wonderful cook. She’s one of the best, in my opinion. When we were little and we’d go to visit, she would have Chicken Noodle Soup for those of us who hadn’t yet discovered the wonders of Borscht. I didn’t know what I was missing! Her Borscht is amazing! She has two different kinds: Beef Borscht (I don’t know if that’s the real title, it might also be called Winter Borscht) and Sommer Borscht (pronounced like Zumma). I had the Sommer Borscht recently for the first time and it’s oh so good. She also makes Zwieback (the buns being made by me in the above photo), which I have memories of making with her as a small girl. I’ve made them since, as a grownup, and while they’re not quite the same, they’re pretty good (I have her Zwieback recipe, in her handwriting, so they’re as close as they can get!).

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Oma’s Borscht is made differently than mine, but they’re the same idea. A meat and potatoes soup that has a dollop of sour cream on top. I make mine with beets (which I’m told she doesn’t) and she makes hers with dill (which I don’t). There may be other variances too, but those are the main ones.

I think Borscht came from a time where people used what they had out of necessity. I used what I had (beets) because I wanted to (and because it’s the only way we like beets in our house). This is how I normally cook, and why most of my recipes are uniquely my own. Some are inspired by a magazine, a blog, a cookbook. Others are concocted by standing in front of the pantry cupboards, or the fridge with the door open (I used to get in trouble for this as a kid) summoning my creative culinary skills to create something delicious. Either way, I’m often inspired to use things that we already have, often that have come in our Abundant Harvest Organics produce box, in a fresh, creative way.

I’ve made Borscht many times before, but until recently, had never written it down. So, here’s my most recent version, probably slightly different from any other, but good none-the-less.

Happy Eating!

Beet and Beef Borscht

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours, 17 minutes

Yield: 4

Beet and Beef Borscht

Ingredients

  • 2 T olive oil
  • 1/2 - 1 lb. (stewing) beef*
  • 4 carrots, chopped
  • 4 celery stalks, chopped
  • 4 lg. or 8 sm. radishes, chopped (opt.)
  • 3 med. - lg. potatoes, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 8 sm. beets, peeled and chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, diced
  • 1 T (or more) red wine vinegar
  • 1 C crushed tomatoes
  • 2 - 4 C water
  • 4 C beef (or chicken, or vegetable) stock*
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1 C cabbage, chopped
  • Greek yogurt (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Heat soup pot. Add olive oil, then beef. Cook beef 3 - 5 minutes.
  2. Add carrots through beets, cook for about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic, cook 1 minute. Add the vinegar, to deglaze the pan, cook about 1 minute more.
  3. Add tomatoes, water, stock. salt, and pepper, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook 1-2 hours, adding the cabbage in the last 30 minutes or so. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.
  4. Serve topped with yogurt.

Notes

*To make it vegetarian, omit beef, and use vegetable stock.

http://www.de-ma-cuisine.com/for-oma-and-her-borscht/

Wednesday

31

August 2011

0

COMMENTS

Texas Stuff – The Original

Written by , Posted in Beans, Beef, Dinner, Low Carb, Main Dishes, Meat

Texas Stuff – The Original
 
Recipe Type: Main
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 25 mins
Total time: 26 mins
Serves: 2-4
This recipe is not mine. It comes from His Hill, and Sheila Stachofsky. It’s one of my favorite comfort foods, so I have to share. Thanks, Sheila!
Ingredients
  • 1 lb ground meat (beef or turkey)
  • 1 onion, chopped in food processor
  • 1 16-oz can of diced tomatoes
  • 1 small can of diced green chiles (or use 1 can of Ro-tel tomatoes with diced green chilies)
  • 1 package taco seasoning mix
  • 1 can Ranch Style Beans
Instructions
  1. Brown meat with onions, and drain the grease off.
  2. Add all together and simmer for at least 15 minutes, until thoroughly heated.
  3. Serve over Fritos or tortilla chips, with sour cream, jalapeños and grated cheddar cheese on the side. Also very tasty with Ranch dressing over the top.