But after I had the chunks of beef browned and was ready to transfer them to the crock pot, I realized that I really was NOT in the mood for potatoes - or carrots, either.
So, what to do?
I rummaged around in the pantry and came up with a can of kidney beans. Then I found a can of tomatoes and one of tomato sauce. So I dumped them all in the pot on top of the browned meat. In the freezer I found my bag of dried onions, so I put a handful of those in as well.
And then... I had to think about what spices to add. My husband isn't as crazy about chili as I am, but I figured I could get away with a touch of chili powder. I probably added about 1/4 teaspoon.But that didn't seem like enough spice, so I did a couple of shakes over the pan with the cayenne pepper. I had already used salt and pepper and garlic on the meat as it browned, but sprinkled a bit more garlic in for good measure. I like garlic on almost everything.
As dinner time neared and this mixture still looked pretty much like soup, I got out the cornstarch. Putting about a tablespoon full in a small bowl, I mixed it with some cold water and then added it a little at a time until my mixture looked thicker, but not gooey-thick.
To finish the meal, I mixed up a pan of cornbread and steamed some frozen green beans. I ate my cornbread like bread - but Carl cut it in half and poured the meat and tomato mixture on top.
I don't know a name for this non-stew, but it tasted good...
Send me your inventions - I'm always looking for something different for dinner!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Wheat-free Corn Pasta Recipe
First - sorry for my absence. This has been a really busy month around our house. There's always plenty for me to do - because I do write copy for a living and have all the usual stuff with taking care of a house and critters - but this month has been different.
It all started when our neighbor got the flu. He and his wife are in their 80's and they have cattle - and he was too sick to tend to them. Just feeding them doesn't take long, but those cows are having babies now, so Mrs. neighbor has needed a little help.
We've still got plenty of snow and ice, so it's really too cold yet for newborns. That means we've had a bit of fun with getting weak ones into the house to get them warm, and trying to feed them imitation milk that they really don't want until they're strong enough to go back outside - and then moving them back outside. Some of those babies are way heavy! And in between, we had to get our neighbor to the doctor and then - on Saturday night - go after him when the hospital suddenly decided he could go home.
Before you think I'm whining - it's been kind of fun. I hadn't been around calves for many years, and they are awfully sweet. And it sure feels good when you see one getting strong when you weren't sure it was going to live.
Meanwhile, we have found time to eat dinner most nights, and this week we tried the corn rotini.
Maybe it's been around in "big" stores for a long time, but our little store just got corn pasta a few weeks ago. I was tickled to see it, because I'm always trying to find something different that I think my husband will eat (can't get too creative here.)
I had an idea that corn pasta would taste different - more like cornbread or a corn tortilla. So I made a kind of "spaghetti sauce" except with taco seasoning. I added some crumbled and browned ground beef, just like I do when I make spaghetti the lazy way.
We all agreed that it tasted good - but not very much different than regular wheat pasta. The biggest difference was probably the texture - the corn pasta is firmer. That was OK with me, but my husband thought we should have cooked it longer.
I was in a big hurry that night - the cows, you know - so I didn't go all out with extras or trimmings. Next time I think I'll shred some lettuce, chop some tomatoes and onions, and grate some cheese to pile on top of it. Maybe I'll also add a spoonful of sour cream on top.
If you've used corn pasta and have a good recipe - please do share!
Actually, if you have any kind of recipe to share, you're not just welcome to do so, you're invited!
It all started when our neighbor got the flu. He and his wife are in their 80's and they have cattle - and he was too sick to tend to them. Just feeding them doesn't take long, but those cows are having babies now, so Mrs. neighbor has needed a little help.
We've still got plenty of snow and ice, so it's really too cold yet for newborns. That means we've had a bit of fun with getting weak ones into the house to get them warm, and trying to feed them imitation milk that they really don't want until they're strong enough to go back outside - and then moving them back outside. Some of those babies are way heavy! And in between, we had to get our neighbor to the doctor and then - on Saturday night - go after him when the hospital suddenly decided he could go home.
Before you think I'm whining - it's been kind of fun. I hadn't been around calves for many years, and they are awfully sweet. And it sure feels good when you see one getting strong when you weren't sure it was going to live.
Meanwhile, we have found time to eat dinner most nights, and this week we tried the corn rotini.
Maybe it's been around in "big" stores for a long time, but our little store just got corn pasta a few weeks ago. I was tickled to see it, because I'm always trying to find something different that I think my husband will eat (can't get too creative here.)
I had an idea that corn pasta would taste different - more like cornbread or a corn tortilla. So I made a kind of "spaghetti sauce" except with taco seasoning. I added some crumbled and browned ground beef, just like I do when I make spaghetti the lazy way.
We all agreed that it tasted good - but not very much different than regular wheat pasta. The biggest difference was probably the texture - the corn pasta is firmer. That was OK with me, but my husband thought we should have cooked it longer.
I was in a big hurry that night - the cows, you know - so I didn't go all out with extras or trimmings. Next time I think I'll shred some lettuce, chop some tomatoes and onions, and grate some cheese to pile on top of it. Maybe I'll also add a spoonful of sour cream on top.
If you've used corn pasta and have a good recipe - please do share!
Actually, if you have any kind of recipe to share, you're not just welcome to do so, you're invited!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Kitchen Sink Night at the Stove
Tonight I decided the leftovers had to get used - so I started inventing dishes. Since it turned out so well, I'll tell you about it!
I had a small piece of roast beef, and a small bowl of pulled pork in gravy. There wasn't enough of either one to make a meal. So I put them each into the food processor and ground them up. Then I cubed two leftover baked potatoes and mixed the whole thing together. I added a bit of leftover beef gravy to make sure it would be moist enough. Then put it in a baking pan and stuck it in the oven.
Next was the leftover macaroni and cheese. It got a small can of tomato sauce and some Italian spices and went into the oven as well.
Since there are only 2 of us, I had a few leftovers again... so the dogs got most of the meat, and the macaroni will be my lunch tomorrow!
We had a good dinner, and the refrigerator looks much neater, too!
I had a small piece of roast beef, and a small bowl of pulled pork in gravy. There wasn't enough of either one to make a meal. So I put them each into the food processor and ground them up. Then I cubed two leftover baked potatoes and mixed the whole thing together. I added a bit of leftover beef gravy to make sure it would be moist enough. Then put it in a baking pan and stuck it in the oven.
Next was the leftover macaroni and cheese. It got a small can of tomato sauce and some Italian spices and went into the oven as well.
Since there are only 2 of us, I had a few leftovers again... so the dogs got most of the meat, and the macaroni will be my lunch tomorrow!
We had a good dinner, and the refrigerator looks much neater, too!
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