Dirty Rice

I’ve only ever made Dirty Rice from a mix, so this simple recipe from the June 2003 issue of Southern Living (original here) caught my attention. The mixes are pretty easy, but this looks easy enough that I will probably give it a try eventually.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 celery ribs, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup uncooked rice
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can beef broth
  • 3/4 cup water

Directions

  1. Cook ground beef, garlic, celery, onion, parsley, and green pepper in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until beef crumbles and is no longer pink.
  2. Stir in salt, red and black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce, mixing well.
  3. Add rice, broth, and 3/4 cup water, stirring well.
  4. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 25 to 30 minutes or until rice is tender.

@newsfromtengrrl for 2011-11-25

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Barbecued Frankfurters

Today is my sister Kerri’s birthday, so I’m sharing one of her favorite meals. The spiral macaroni in the meal came to be known in the family as “Kerri curls” because her hair fell in perfect little ringlets when she was young. They looked just like the macaroni, only a lovely strawberry blonde.

Mom found the recipe years and years ago on a box of Mueller’s pasta. She made it so often that she cut the recipe off one of the boxes and taped it up inside one of the kitchen cabinets so she didn’t have to find it in the recipe box.

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup ketchup
  • ¾ cup water
  • ¼ cup chopped onion
  • 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. prepared mustard
  • 2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 clove garlic, mashed
  • 1 lb. frankfurters, cut in 1" lengths
  • 8 oz. (3½ to 4 cups) Mueller’s twist macaroni (rotini)

Directions

  1. In saucepan, combine ketchup, water, onion, brown sugar, lemon juice, mustard, Worcestershire, and garlic. 
  2. Cover; simmer 10 minutes. 
  3. Add frankfurters; cover and simmer 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally. 
  4. Meanwhile, cook macaroni as directed; drain. 
  5. Serve barbecued frankfurters over macaroni.

Variations

  • Mom usually doubles the sauce portion of the recipe to ensure everyone has as much as they want.

Time Required: 30 minutes

Servings: 4 to 6

@newsfromtengrrl for 2011-11-24

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Paula Deen’s Broccoli Casserole

Here’s another recipe I discovered during the Food Network Thanksgiving shows a few years ago. During the show where Paula makes this casserole, she says it’s not Thanksgiving unless it’s on the table (original here).

Ingredients

  • 2 (10-ounce) packages frozen chopped broccoli, cooked and drained
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup grated sharp cheddar
  • 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 cups crushed crackers
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with vegetable oil cooking spray.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine broccoli, mayonnaise, cheese, soup and eggs.
  4. Mix well with a metal spoon.
  5. Place the mixture in the prepared baking dish.
  6. Top with the crushed crackers and pour the melted butter evenly over the crackers.
  7. Bake for 35 minutes or until set and browned.

Variations

  • We’ve also tried this recipe with Cream of Chicken & Mushroom soup and with Cheddar Cheese soup to vary the taste.
  • Add some chopped chicken or turkey for a main dish.

@newsfromtengrrl for 2011-11-23

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Mini Pumpkin Biscuits

Here’s a cute biscuit that makes me think I’ll consider Jack’o’lanterns for Thanksgiving. How could you not want to make such cute biscuits? The photo and the recipe are from the Betty Crocker website (original here).

Ingredients

  • Mini Pumpkin Biscuits2 cups Bisquick® Original baking mix
  • 3/4 cup mashed cooked sweet potatoes
  • 1/4 cup warm water (105° to 115°)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 12 whole cashews
  • 36 raisins
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 drops red food color

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 350°.
  2. Stir baking mix, sweet potatoes, water and sugar until soft dough forms.
  3. Turn dough onto surface dusted with baking mix; gently roll in baking mix to coat.
  4. Shape into ball; knead 10 times.
  5. Shape dough into 12 balls.
  6. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
  7. Insert round end of cashew into top of each ball.
  8. Make face of pumpkin by inserting raisins for eyes and nose in side of each ball.
  9. Mix egg and food color; brush over pumpkins.
  10. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Serve warm.

@newsfromtengrrl for 2011-11-22

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My Sausage Stuffing

After watching enough Thanksgiving specials on Food Network, I created my own recipe for sausage stuffing. It’s influenced by Rachael Ray, Paula Deen, and Bobby Flay.

Ingredients

  • Nonstick spray (Pam)
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • ½ cup chopped celery
  • ½ cup shredded carrot
  • 1 pound maple sausage
  • 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 to 4 slices whole grain bread, torn or cut into ½ -inch cubes or chunks
  • 1 cup chicken stock (or bouillon and water)

Directions

  1. Spray skillet with nonstick spray, and saute onion and celery.
  2. Add sausage, breaking apart, and cook until no longer pink.
  3. Drain any fat.
  4. Add poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste.
  5. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil.
  6. Add torn bread to pan, and stir to combine.
  7. Allow to warm through and serve.

Variations

  • I prefer the rustic look of torn bread, so I simply tear the bread as I throw it into the pan.
  • To simplify the vegetable prep for the recipe, I often gather my onion, celery, and carrots from the grocery store’s salad bar.
  • Use the sausage of your choice. I like the sweet and savory taste of maple sausage in this dish, but I’ve also used sage sausage.

@newsfromtengrrl for 2011-11-21

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