Unorthodox Shepard's Pie from Diane Mott Davidson **Sweet Revenge**

 

I've been reading Diane's novels, and they are full of great food and she's always cooking while she solves crime. Hence I am always hungry reading her books. SO I decided to try one of the recipes, since I usually cook Italian I had never made Shepard's pie, or commonly called Cottage pie when you use beef instead of lamb. And  I don't like lamb so I have eaten Cottage pie all me childhood years and never knew what it was called lol.

2 pounds ground beef

2 cups onions chopped

1 cup carrots chopped

2 cups celery chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon all purpose flour

2 cups chicken stock

2 teaspoons dried thyme, crumbles

1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary crumbled or ground

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon grated black pepper

1 cup frozen baby peas

1 cup frozen corn

4.5 pounds russet potatoes 

1.5 cups half and half

1 cup Gruyere cheese grated

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

additional salt to taste 

additional pepper to taste

2 ounces unsalted butter (1/2 stick) cut into bits

paprika

In a very large saute pan, saute the ground beef, onions, celery and carrots in the oil over medium heat until the beef is browned and the vegetables limp. Add the flour and stir for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture begins to bubble. Slowly add the chicken stock. Stir until completely combined, then stir in the thyme, rosemary, and salt and pepper. Cook and stir until the mixture is bubbling and thickened. Stir in the peas and corn and set aside.

Bring a large quantity of salted water to boiling. Peel the potatoes and drop them into the water. Cook about 40-45 minutes. In a small saucepan, heat the half and half until steaming, but not boiling.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Butter a lasagne pan.

Remove the potatoes from the heat, drain and place them in the large bowl of an electric mixer. Begin to beat the potatoes on low speed, slowly adding the additional salt and pepper.

Place the beef mixture in the pan. Place the potatoes on top of the beef. Scatter the butter bits on the potatoes and sprinkle generously with paprika. 

Bake for about 45 minutes or until the potatoes are browned and the pies are heated thru.

Makes 8 servings. 

Gone all day Beef Stew (From Teresa Cowx)

 

We were invited to Teresa's for supper one night and she made this stew. OMGosh I couldn't stop eating so I had to get the recipe, it was an oldy from a calendar, the recipe was hard to read with all the well loved creases in the print out. So here is one I can read, and never lose! 

1 Can tomatoes diced 10 3/4 ounce

2 Cups of water

1/4 cup flour

2 Pounds beef chuck,fat trimmed cut into 1 - 2 " cubes - Seared

3 Medium carrots cut into bite sized pieces

2 large onions quartered

4 medium potatoes cubed

2 celery stalks cubed

1 cup (ish) of mushrooms cut in half

2 beef bouillon cubes ( just throw in no water mixed ) 

1 teaspoon of basil

1 tsp oregano

1 bay leaf

3 grinds of fresh pepper

1/2 tsp garlic salt

Mix together flour and water until smooth, add tomatoes stir in 

add all other ingredients in covered roasting pan

Bake at 275 for 4-5 hours, or use a crock pot. 

Great with Coleslaw and warm bread 

Carrot Ribbon Salad

 

Maddie sent me this this Tik Tok link for Carrot Ribbon Salad. Maddie said it was yummy so I had to try! She was right :-)

10-12 carrots

1/8 teaspoon crushed garlic 

1 TBLSP sesame seeds

2 TBLSP soy sauce

3 TBLSP rice wine vinegar

2 TBLSP sesame oil

1/8 teaspoon chili pepper flakes

Use a peeler to make your carrot ribbons ( slices) I placed the carrot on a cutting board and sliced again and again without turning the carrot so I got nice thick slices 

the dry ingredients was a sprinkling and the liquids were once around the bowl? hope that makes sense there were no measurements in the video 

it's better after one - days :-)

The Real Pecan Pie

 

Thanks to Sally's Baking Addiction for this wonderful and extremely easy Pecan pie recipe!

https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/my-favorite-pecan-pie-recipe/

• 2 and 1/2 cups (250g) shelled pecans (pecan halves)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup (240ml) dark corn syrup*
• 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup (60g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Put the pecans on top of the pie crust.   

Blend the rest of the ingredients in the blender and pour the filling on top.

350 degrees for 55 minutes.  It just couldn't be easier!

Stampede Super Slider - Jurrasic Burger

The Stampede Super Slider/Jurassic Burger

Ingredients:
2 Waffles
2 Breaded chicken patties
Steak
pulled pork
burger (optional)

Cooking:

Cook chicken, burger and steak on bbq.
Heat pulled port as desired.
Toast waffles as desired.

 Assemble slider:

Waffle on bottom
Place chicken patty
Pulled pork
Steak
Burger (optional)
Second chicken patty
Waffle on top.

Place knife through entire Slider/Burger for stability.

Top with pancake syrup if desired.

Take photo and enjoy!

Mac and Cheese Stuffed Burger

Ingredients
mac and cheese
1/2 lbs macaroni cooked
1/2-1 shallot
2 Tbsp butter
1 1/2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 Tbsp corn starch
1 C half n half
6 oz shredded cheese blend I use sharp cheddar, cloth bound cheddar and gruyere
Salt and White pepper to taste
3 oz extra shredded cheese
Caramelized onions and pepper
1 large onion
1 large pablano pepper
Burger
3 lbs ground chuck
Seasoned salt
pepper
onion powder
6 slices pepper jack cheese or another cheese you like for melting on top
brioche buns


Instructions
Mac and cheese
in a saucepan on med/low heat melt the butter and add the shallots - cook until fragrent
add the flour and stir - cooking until the roux is a light tan
then add the half n half (I just make my own with milk and cream since I always have both on hand) and stir until thick
take off the heat and add the cheese - stir until melted
then take out some of the sauce - about 1/2-2/3rds cup - to top your burgers with later
add the noodles and stir
add the extra cheese (optional - for cheese chunks) and spread out in the bottom of a pan - I made a double batch in the video but you could use a 9x13 pan for this size batch - refrigerate until firm - 2 hours
Caramelized onion and pepper
over medium heat add some oil to a non stick pan
slice the onion and pepper and add to the oil
stirring occasionally cook until the onions are a dark golden color - about 15 mins
Burger
while the onion is cooking season your ground chuck with pepper and onion powder (or whatever you like to use) and mix it - go as heavy or light as you prefer
Cut the mac and cheese into circles - I cut mine 3 1/2 inches
press out the meat into a flat circle, around 4 1/2 inches around and about 1/2 inch thick
place a mac and cheese round on top - cover with another round of meat and seal the edges (you can pull away any excess)
sprinkles salt on both sides of patties
place in a hot skillet with some oil in it and cook for about 5 mins on the first side, flip and cook about 5 mins on the second side (I like to use a lid simply to make sure the mac and cheese is getting heated inside
about the last min add slices of cheese (I used pepper jack) to the burger, add an ice cube to the pan for moisture and put a lid on it.
add to a toasted brioche bun, top with the onions and extra cheese sauce and the top bun! ENJOY!

Thank you ashleemarie.com!

https://ashleemarie.com/mac-and-cheese-stuffed-cheeseburger-recipe-video/

Mozzarella Sticks Grilled Cheese

Ingredients:
6 frozen mozzarella sticks

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

4 slices hearty white bread or Italian bread

8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced into 12 slices


Directions
Bake the mozzarella sticks according to the package instructions.
Meanwhile, start the grilled cheese. Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat. Butter 1 side of each slice of bread and arrange the slices buttered-side down on the griddle. Top each slice of bread with 3 slices of cheese and cover with a lid to help the cheese melt. Cook until the bottom of the bread is toasted and golden brown and the cheese is melted, 4 to 5 minutes.
Top 2 of the bread slices with 3 baked mozzarella sticks each. Top with the remaining bread slices to form 2 sandwiches. Slice and serve.

Thanks to foodnetwork.com!

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mozzarella-stick-grilled-cheese-3667788