Mama B's Beef Stew

1 large roast
1 large onion, diced
2 lbs baby red potatoes, quartered
1lb carrots, sliced
1/2 bottle red wine - I used a Cabernet
1T Worcestershire sauce
1/4C soy sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
4C beef stock
corn starch, for thickening


1. Place roast, liquids, veggies, salt and pepper in your crock pot. Set it on low heat to cook for 6-8hours, or high heat to cook for 4-5 hours.


2. When roast is done, it will fall apart. Separate meat and veggies from cooking liquids. Place cooking liquids and beef stock in a stock pot and heat to boiling. Remove about 1C of liquid and add corn starch, about 3T. Mix well so there are no lumps, and add back to liquids, stirring well to combine. Add meat and veggies when liquid is at your desired consistency.


3. Cook over med heat to heat through.



I served this with popovers with cinnamon honey butter. Heavenly.

The Frenchy Burger

This is my rendition of the fabulous burger from the Blue Door Pub.

Makes 4 large burgers

1.25lbs ground hamburger
1 large white onion, thinly sliced
6 slices provolone cheese
5-6 basil leaves, minced
1 sprig oregano, leaves removed and minced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 pkg baby bella mushrooms, sauteed in butter and garlic
3/4tsp Lawry's seasoned salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper
1tsp Worcestershire sauce
1tsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 white wine
2T olive oil
1 jar Au Jus (I use Jimmy's)
4 good buns - See recipe for pretzel rolls

1. Saute onion, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and white wine over medium heat for 30 minutes, until onions are translucent.

2. In the meantime, combine hamburger, basil, oregano, Worcestershire, seasoned salt and pepper in bowl.

3. Form hamburger mixture into large, flat patties - I am talking cake plate sized.

4. Place sauteed onion mixture in center of patty and top with 1/2 slice provolone. Wrap the sides of the burger up on top of the mixture and pinch all seams closed well, or they will open when cooking.

5. Place on grill, seamed side down first. Cook for about 8 minutes on each side, to ensure meat is fully cooked on inside. 2 minutes prior to removing burgers from grill, place full slice of provolone on top to melt.

6. Place on bun and serve with a side of Au Jus.

Sides at the Blue Door Pub include sea salt french fries, beer battered green beans and tater tots. I opted to serve our burgers with tater tots and seasoned sour cream.

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

Preheat over to 375 degrees

1 lb ground hamburger
10 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 small onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz medium cheddar, shredded
1 C pretzels, blended to crumbs
2 eggs
1/4C mayo
1/4C ketchup
2T mustard
1T Worcestershire

Stick your hands in there and mix it all together. Form 2 loafs on a baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for approx 30 minutes. Slice and serve over rice or mashed potatoes.

Cousin Jack Pasties

From La Fuji Mama

Medium Rich Pie Crust
3 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 c. shortening
ice water, as needed

1. In a large bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in half the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Cut in the remaining shortening until the mixture is the size of peas.
2. Add ice water a little at a time, toss gently and push to the side of the bowl. Repeat until all the flour is moistened. Knead the pastry lightly with fingertips until the pastry cleans the bowl. Form pastry into 2 flat rounds, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill 30 minutes.

Filling
Grind, measure and mix together:
1 1/2 cup raw potatoes
1 cup raw carrots
1/2 cup raw turnips
3/4 cup raw onions1
1/2 lbs. hamburger
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 tsp. salt

Assembling the pasties:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Pat out 1 round of pastry on a lightly floured surface, then use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll out dough into a rough 11-inch square about 1/8-inch thick. (It does not have to be perfect!) Using a knife cut the dough into 4 pieces.
3. Place a scoop of the filling (1/8th of the mixture) in the center of each of the 4 pieces. Pull the sides of the pastry up around the filling and pinch on top, forming a ball. Prick tops to allow steam to escape.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with second round of pastry. Place pasties on baking sheets and bake in oven for one hour. Serve with ketchup, chili sauce or gravy.

Stuffed Peppers

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

4 large green peppers, tops cut off and cleaned out
2C basmati rice, cooked
1lb hamburger
2 cans tomato juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 small onion, minced
1 can stewed herbed tomatoes (I use Muir Glenn organic)
1/2C shredded Parmesan cheese
1tsp salt
1tsp pepper
1 egg

Saute hamburger, onion and garlic in 1 can tomato juice. Turn heat off. In same pan, add rice, stewed tomatoes, cheese, salt, pepper and raw egg. Stuff peppers with rice mixture and pour 2nd can of tomato juice over top (can use a jar of marinara sauce instead). Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

Dill Meatballs

From LV

Meatballs, 5 lbs. pre-made (I use 6 lb. club store bag)*

¾C chopped onion (one medium)

1/4C melted butter (use a little more)*

2C chicken broth

¼C flour

¼ tsp salt

1T dill weed (yes, this is a lot)*

16oz Top-the-Tator or sour cream

Heat meatballs in large roaster with a small amount of water on bottom. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes. You do not have to pre-roast the meatballs, but you might have a lot of grease in the sauce if you don't.

While the meatballs are roasting, saute onion in butter until tender. Whisk a small amount of chicken broth and the flour together, then add that mixture and the rest of the chicken broth, salt, dill and Top-the-Tater to the pan with the onions and butter.

Drain excessive water/juice from heated meatballs and dump meatballs into very large crock pot (if serving as an appetizer). Pour warm sauce over heated meatballs and stir.
If making for dinner, serve over egg noodles.

Rolled Flank Steak

1 Flank or skirt steak
1 pkg prosciutto
1/4C pesto
1 jar roasted red peppers, drained, patted dry, sliced open and rolled flat
1/4 C fontina or asiago cheese
salt and pepper
1/4C white wine
2T olive oil
cooking string

Place steak between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and pound flat. Remove plastic and spread pesto over steak. Next, lay slices of prosciutto across steak, followed by roasted red peppers. Sprinkle with cheese, salt and pepper and roll as tightly as possible. Tie in 3 places with cooking string. Brush with olive oil and place in baking dish. Pour white wine in bottom of pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until meat is at desired level of doneness.

To make for a dinner party, make several rolls and place them in a roaster to cook. Excellent with a caprese salad (can find this easy recipe under the salad section).

Mama B's Meatloaf

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2lb ground beef
1/2 small onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2/3C bread crumbs
3/4C ketchup
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1T Dijon mustard
2 eggs
2T parsley, minced
1T brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste

In large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, 1/2C ketchup, mustard, worcestershire, garlic, parsley, eggs, salt and pepper with your hands. Form into 2 loaves on a baking sheet lined with tin foil. Sprinkle with onions. Combine 1/4C ketchup and brown sugar and spread over top. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.

Spagetti Pie

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1lb spaghetti noodles, cooked and drained
1pkg pizza dough (I get mine in the cold section at Trader Joe's)
1lb hamburger, browned
1 small onion, diced and sauteed
1pkg baby portabella mushrooms
2T basil, minced
1/4C green olives
1/4C black olives
1/2 cup white wine
2T olive oil
1tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 egg white
1 1/2 jars marinara sauce
1 can tomato paste
8oz mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Spray medium casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Flour work surface and roll out 3/4 of the dough. place in baking dish and bake for 8 minutes at 350 degrees.
Saute mushrooms, onion and olives in white wine, olive oil, garlic and salt. Add to browned hamburger. In separate bowl, mix 1 jar marinara sauce, tomato paste, 2 eggs, basil, mozzarella cheese and 1/4C Parmesan cheese. Add meat mixture to sauce, then toss with spaghetti and heat on stove. Pour spaghetti mixture into baked pizza crust. Roll out remaining crust and place over casserole dish, pinching sides. Brush with egg yolk. Bake at 350 degrees until crust is golden.
Heat 1/2 jar marinara in microwave. Cut spaghetti pie place on plate. Top with marinara and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Chinese Hot Dish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2lb hamburger
2 small onions, diced
1C chopped celery
1C peas
1can cream of mushroom soup
4T soy sauce
1C raw rice
2C water
crunchy Chinese noodles

Brown hamburger, onion and celery. Add peas and cream soup followed by soy sauce, raw rice and water. Place in 2 quart casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 90 minutes.

Beef Stroganoff

1 pkg wide egg noodles, cooked and drained
1 - 2-3lb boneless roast
1 pkg dry onion soup mix
3C water
1 small onion, finely diced and sauteed
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1C sour cream
2T ketchup
2tsp Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper

Cook roast ahead of time in crock pot with 3 cups of water and 1 package of onion soup mix. Should take about 6-7 hours to cook on low heat. When done, shred with 2 forks. Sauce in crock pot should be thick. Add all ingredients to meat and sauce from crock pot. Heat on stove until bubbly, serve over egg noodles.