Category: Recipes

Recipes · Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd’s Pie

jachancellorLeave a comment
Meat and Potatoes.

Really, comfort food.

Ground beef 2 pounds
2 medium onions chopped

3 cloves of garlic chopped
2 carrots chopped

1 small can tomato paste
1 cup ketchup
1 beef bullion

1/2 cup hot water
black pepper
Worcestershire sauce – to taste (I use 1 tablespoon)

1 large can of green beans

Mashed potatoes

Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Brown the hamburger, onions, garlic and carrots. Drain.

Mix together the ketchup, paste, beef bullion and water. Add the sauce to the beef mixture.  Season with black pepper (to taste).  Pour into a 9 x 13 pan.

Top with the green beans.

Top the green beans with the mashed potatoes (okay, I have to confessed. I used Ore-Ida Steam and Mash – these were great – two packages of the russett potatoes).

Make sure that the edges are sealed with the potatoes (adds to the yum factor).  Sprinkle some sharp cheddar.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until golden brown on top and bubbly.

Serve immediately.

Yummy – really.

Serve with a salad or nothing at all.
artichoke · crab · dips · Recipes

Artichoke & Crab Dip

jachancellorLeave a comment

This dip is one of my favorites. Sometimes it is just artichoke dip, sometimes it is artichoke and crab dip. Same basic recipe.


So…
1 can plain artichokes (in water) rough chop
1 can crab meat -drain
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup Parmesan cheese (reserve 1/2 cup)
Squirt of lemon juice
dash of pepper

Drain and chop the artichokes. Squirt the lemon juice on the artichokes. Add mayo, cheese, pepper and blend. Add drained crab and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese gently. Pour into a grease casserole dish. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

I served this with Stacey’s Bagel Chips, which were perfect. Yummy.

baked ziti · Recipes

Baked Ziti Rigati

jachancellorLeave a comment


This is one of our go to dishes.

Pasta – really any kind – I prefer ziti or spaghetti – boil per directions but not all the way. It will cook more in the oven.

Meat sauce – brown and drain 1 pound hamburger and sausage. Add your sauce of choice – we prefer Ragu thick and chunky, but any will do.

Cheese – mozzarella, Parmesan.

So, cook pasta, drain. Add to meat sauce. Mix in 2 cups of mozzerella. Top with some of the sauce, and more cheese.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 30 minutes or until cheese browns a little and is bubbly.

We had fresh snap green beans. Served with gentle sprinkling of Parmesan.

Yummy.

Enjoy.

hamburger · Recipes · rice

Dirty Rice

jachancellor2 Comments

Dirty Rice…

This was a staple for me growing up. Ground beef, rice, and tomatoes. It was wonderful to have as leftovers, and you could cook it year round.

It is a comfort food for me.

Start cooking your rice (I use Jasmine Rice), and I cook it in the microwave.

Then chop 1 medium yellow onion (or any other kind of onion that you like), and about 4 stalks of celery. My hands were hurting, so David (my wonderful hubby) did the chopping for me.

Start browning hamburger meat, celery, and onions until hamburger is browned and the onions are translucent.

I add in some spices, and soy sauce.


I add this to taste –really not sure how much. Sorry.

Once meat is browned, add in cooked rice.

Slice some tomatoes (my plants have grown and have yet to produce fruit) so these are store bought, but still good.

I chopped up a couple of sliced tomatoes, and stir in to the dirty rice.



Yummy – enjoy.

grades · Recipes · Sunsets · sushi

Time to play catch up

jachancellor1 Comment

I have to say, that I never thought I would have to play catch up with a blog. I have been terrible about taking pictures while cooking, but if you continue reading, I have taken pictures about other things.

It has been crazy busy at our house the past couple of weeks.

Stephen and Carmen finished up 6th and 10th respectively.

Stephen…

Stephen made A/B Honor Roll – Yeah! The biggest accomplishment for him was actually seeing what happens when he studies. He will just review a subject before a test, take the test, make anywhere from a “C” to a “F”. He failed one test scoring a 41 (vocabulary words and definitions) doing this type of studying. I explained it to him, that he was a lot like me, and needed to slowly study throughout the week, absorbing the information over time. We reviewed the material together, and he studied all week. The last day of school he brought home all of his papers…and in that pile of papers… a 100% on the vocab test. YEAH! He looked at me and said, “I think I know how to study this now.”

Stephens Baseball ended well. I think (yes, think) that they finished 2nd…but truthfully I don’t remember and really don’t care as long as they were not last. Yes. They were last – last year.

He received the award of most improved player. He deserved it. He made 3 outs of the season, and compared to last year, that is three more than last year.


Proud. He should be.

Juno’s Sushi!

I have to say, that I have been in withdrawals. I have loved sushi for 20 years now. One person’s sushi in particular – Juno for the past 5 years. He used to work at a Japanese restaurant about 3 years, then another. He ended leaving and opening his own restaurant! We are so happy. The quality is high, and the flavors wonderful. We went without sushi or if we just had to have some it was from Publix while he was renovating his new restaurant.

David and I have eaten there twice or three times before telling the kids. They love sushi. Carmen will eat most everything. Stephen is more choosy. But, today – oh today, it was Carmen and I.

I finally got Juno to place my roll (he named it after me mainly because I could never pronounce the proper way to say what type of roll it is) on his specials board. Raw salmon, green onion, masago (fish eggs), spicy mayo, crunchy’s, soy bean paper (instead of Yaki Nori), rice. Yum. It is even better when he adds avocado.

Jerry Roll and Dragon Roll

However, today was nigiri pieces of saba (mackerel), fresh salmon, and squid with masago, and a red devil roll (tempura shrimp, cucumber, chili sauce, avocado on the inside, and Krab on the outside with eel sauce). Carmen had the Jerry Roll and a Dragon Roll. I had the nigiri pieces, and the Red Devil roll.

Carmen…

Day one of not being in school, my daughter decides it is time to kick butt on Guitar Hero. She has always been the one (besides David) to really take hold of the guitar part. She has been on Medium for a long while, and the 1st day of summer —-Expert level.

She is a proud young lady…and we are proud of her. But, not for guitar hero…no.

She has been looking for a job…and has gotten her first paycheck from the church. She has been working on Sunday mornings during early service in our preschool. She made $14.00. Woohoo!

Carmen did great in school as well. Some of her art work is a bit odd, but showing of her abilities to think outside the box, and hopefully she will continue to enjoy art.

Sunsets…

I know that I have posted some pictures of the sunsets while David and the kids have fished. I have become fascinated with them now, and the way they change from the actual colors to the colors on the camera. Some of the pictures that I have taken recently, the water looks iridescent with purples and pinks.

I think it is gorgeous and comes through on the picture quite well.

The moon cooperated this time. And, so I have discovered I like sunsets and the moon glow.

I think this one is my favorite now.

I now know what I want for Christmas, and Mother’s Day, and all of the birthday’s in the future…a new camera. Preferably a Nikon D90. Ree (pioneer women) uses one…and I am in awe of her pictures.

Recipes

Crawfish Pie

jachancellor1 Comment

Once – way too long ago…
ha.
I made this pie for my friend Leslie for her birthday.
I have given her the recipe so many times – it is sad…so I decided that since I was typing it out anyway…I would blog it. Hopefully, soon, I will make it again.

Crawfish Pie

I used a Pillsbury Crust – roll out kind. I am afraid that I have never made crust.

Filling:

2 Tbs Brandy – but I normally don’t use it.

1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter
1/4 cup flour
1 cup chopped onion
2 tsp. finely minced garlic
1/3 cup chopped green pepper
3 Tbs chopped parsley (flat leaf)
2 Tbs chopped celery
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions (mainly tops)
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 lb crawfish tails (I always get the package kind)

Melt butter over low heat. Add the flour, and cook slowly until it forms a golden roux. Add onion, garlic, green peppers, parsley, celery, green onion, cook until soft. Add the salt, black pepper, cayenne, heavy cream (and if you are using the brandy – now). Mix gently and cook for about 5 minutes over low heat. Add the crawfish, and cook until the tails are tender but still firm.

Line the pie plate with your pie dough…press down. Add filling. Cover with another pie sheet. Press down edges – cut in slits (4-6). Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes until golden brown. Yum.


Recipes

Seared Pork Chops with Provolone, Balsamic Vinegar Reduction with Mushrooms and Onions

jachancellorLeave a comment


I had this pork loin…had not a clue what to do with it…should I make some sort of stir fry? No…

I start cutting the loin, and out comes these beautiful chops.

I decided to look around, and I found white button mushrooms, and some yellow onions, provolone cheese…and so…I chopped the onions, sliced the mushrooms…


Put some olive oil in a pan and sear off the chops…placed them in my dutch oven (for the space), put some beef broth in there…

Add slices of the provolone cheese…and put it in the oven (350 degrees) to finish off the chops…then to the onions and mushrooms…Saute them in the oil left over from the chops. Add some butter, and then this glorious balsamic vinegar…and reduce…reduce…

YUM…yummy…

I served it with sauteed cabbage that my beautiful daughter cooked…and some jasmine rice.

I was told…it was good!

Seared Pork Chops with Provolone, Balsamic Vinegar with Mushrooms and Onions

6-8 Pork Chops
2-3 onions, sliced (I did chop mine by accident)
1/2 small container of fresh white button mushrooms
4 tablespoons olive oil
provolone cheese slices – or any other smoked type white cheese
Herbs De Provence (basil, marjoram, thyme, sage, savory and rosemary)
salt and pepper to taste
3/4 cup beef broth
2 pats of butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Pour olive oil in a saute pan, sear off pork chops, place into a dutch oven, pour broth over chops. Place slices of the cheese on top. Bake for 10-15 minutes (until pork is no longer pink).
In the meantime, add the onions and mushrooms to the oil. I add the Herbs De Provence (about 1 full tablespoons) to this mix. Sauteed until golden. Add in vinegar and reduce. Right before serving, add butter and stir. Serve with the pork chop down and spoon some broth over…then the mushrooms and onions.

Enjoy.

Recipes

Cream Chicken with Tomato Raguot

jachancellorLeave a comment

Another night of “what to cook” for dinner…?

Well, searching through Gordon Ramsay’s Fast Food cookbook, and I find:

Baked Chicken with eggplant, zucchini and tomato ragout…well, I don’t have half of the items needed…so I will just wing it.

Saute the chicken, seasoned with coarse salt and pepper (I used rib-bone in chicken breasts) in olive oil. Remove from pan, set aside.

Chopped the onions, garlic, and rosemary (fresh). Cook until the onions are translucent. Add 1 can of diced tomatoes, and 2 glasses of white wine. Simmer and reduce by half.

Add chicken back into the sauce and simmer for 30 minutes. Then add 1 cup of heavy cream, and 1/2 block of cream cheese (mix together so it won’t curdle when placed in the hot sauce). Simmer for 15-20 minutes more and serve over rice.

I also, cooked carrots…just simmered sweet. Yum.

Recipe below. Enjoy!

Cream Chicken and Tomato Ragout

3 chicken breasts with rib bone
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 yellow onions – chopped
4 sprigs of rosemary chopped
4 cloves of garlic chopped
2 tablespoons of parsley
2 glasses of white wine
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 brick (small) cream cheese
1 cup of heavy cream
Salt & pepper to taste

Saute chicken in the olive oil until soft brown, remove and set aside. Place in chopped onions, garlic, rosemary in remaining olive oil, simmer until translucent. Add in white wine and tomatoes, reduce by half. Add chicken back into pot. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add in cream cheese and heavy cream, cook an additional 15-20 minutes more. Serve over rice or noodles.

Carrots

3 pounds of regular carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
water

Place in a pot, water to cover, simmer until done al dente.

Yummy.

Enjoy!

Recipes

White Beans & Ham

jachancellorLeave a comment

After thinking that I was supposed to be cooking chicken-and-dumplings (forgetting to lay out the chicken), I remembered that I had the leftover ham bone and meat from Easter dinner. Carmen volunteered to go to the store (Wal-Mart), and returned with the needed green bell pepper, and purple onion.

So, I made white beans and ham. Saute the bell pepper, onion and garlic, add the northern white beans, chicken stock, and two bay leaves. Yummy.


There is barely enough for tomorrow.

Recipe:

White Beans & Ham
1 package of Northern White Beans (16 oz.) rinsed
1 large chicken stock
Leftover ham (bone preferred)
1/2 purple onion, chopped
1 whole green bell pepper
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
salt & pepper to taste

Saute onion, pepper, and garlic until translucent. Add beans, stock, ham, and bay leaves. Bring to boil, and simmer for at least 2 hours. Stir occasionally. Add water to keep consistency of a broth.
Enjoy.


Recipes

Asparagus

jachancellor1 Comment

Asparagus…
Easter Sunday menu of baked ham (spiral cut with a honey glaze), roasted potatoes, and roasted asparagus.
This blogging thing is new to me (and to my family) , and I forgot, once again, to take photos.
But…Yum.

I love asparagus.

2 bunches asparagus (washed, and snapped)
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
cracked salt & pepper to taste
Oven at 400 degrees.
Roast for 12-15 minutes.
Yum.

Roasted Potatoes

2-3 pounds of red potatoes (washed, and quartered)
1-2 olive oil
fresh rosemary (I use 3 twigs) remove leaves, and finely chop
Salt and pepper to taste
Oven at 400 degrees – roast until brown and crispy (I do shake about 1/2 thru cooking)
about 30-35 minutes depending on how large your potatoes are.

Enjoy!