Showing posts with label gravy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gravy. Show all posts

Friday, November 18, 2011

The Menu

Turkey
Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Stuffing (with apples)
Fresh Green Beans
Frozen Corn
Sweet Potato Soufle
Herbed Rolls
Olives
Pickles
Deviled Eggs
Dessert (Mom B Providing)

Drinks:
Iced Tea
Pink Lemonade
Decaf Coffee
Wine
Milk


Recipes

Turkey not sure how big my turkey will be yet so I might have to adjust times above.... but no matter how big it is, I will rub with sage then butter (under the skin too) and then sprinkle with salt and pepper. In the neck cavity I place a few sage leaves, lemon slices and green apple. I also stuff the turkey (stuffing below) before placing it in a turkey cooking bag. The cooking bag leaves the turkey SUPER moist!

Stuffing
diced bread that has been "crusted" up (good bread is best...sour dough, french, etc)--I have been freezing mine for a few months all torn up as I came to the end of loaves...just gotta get it out now :)
bag or two of pepperidge farm coutons
chopped celery
chopped onion
butter
sage
thyme
salt
pepper
broth
chopped green apple
2 eggs beaten

Saute the celery, and onion in butter. Add to the bread cubes and croutons, salt, pepper, and herbs. Toss with your hands. Add apple. Then add eggs, mix with hands. Now add broth, a bit at a time, until it is moist but not too wet. Place in a baking pan or stuff your turkey. I do both.

Gravy
Made with drippings from the turkey, broth, tad bit of kitchen bouquet and cornstarch thickener

Herbed Rolls 
herbed rolls
need:
frozen roll dough--thawed (overnight or all day)
melted butter
italian seasoning

do:
cut dough into halves or quarters
dip into hot butter mixed with herbs
layer in a greased bundt cake pan
let raise for 45-60 minutes (covered with a towel)
bake 30-45 minutes 350-375 degrees

Sweet Potato Souffle BEST SWEET POTATOES EVER!!
Beat together: 3 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup evaporated milk, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 stick butter.

Put in a greased cassarole dish.

Topping: mix together and put on top of sweet potato mix.  1 cup chopped pecans, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 stick butter, 1/3 cup flour, 1/2 tsp cinnamon.

Bake 350 for 30 min or until knife comes out clean.

Grandma Johnson's Deviled Eggs
12 egg yolks
4 T mayo
2 tsp vinnegar
1 tsp salt
dash pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp dry mustard OR 2 tsp prepared mustard

mix and refill egg whites

Garlic Mashed Potatoes
  I will use Yukons....and then mash them BY HAND (the only way to go) with half and half that is simmered with garlic and melted butter

Pickles and Olive Tray
sweet pickles, dill pickles, green and black olives

Corn
 From the freezer

Green Beans 
fresh green beans, trimmed and simmered with fresh garlic


Sunday, October 3, 2010

weekly menu and recipes

Saturday: date night
Sunday: Beef Roast (see below), Homemade Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Roasted Broccoli, French Bread and Caramel Apples (thank you mom b for the yummy apples)
Monday: Spaghetti and Bread
Tuesday: eat out after appts
Wednesday: Beer Pizza Crust (penzey's), Fruit and Chips
Thursday:Tuscan Herb Marinaded Chicken Tenderloins (skwered), Roasted Sweet Potatoes/Potatoes (see another blog post for recipe), and Carrots
Friday: Grilled Steak, Baked Potatoes and Frozen Broccoli
Saturday: Pumpkin Carving Party
Sunday: Carnitas (see other post for recipe) 
Monday: Warmed Sandwiches

Roast
NEED:
1 beef roast
2 cups broth (or Penzy's Beef Stock in a jar--4 tsp mixed with 2 cups water)
a bag of baby carrots
4 cloves of garlic whole
Steak Seasoning (peppercorns, salt, spices)
Dried Italian Herb Mix

DO: put garlic and carrots in the bottom of a crock pot
place roast on top
liberally put steak seasoning and herbs on top of roast
pour broth/stock around roast
add additional seasoning/herbs to broth for more flavor
cook on low ALL DAY

SERVE
take meat out, shred. place carrots next to beef. use liquid for gravy--put in a pan, bring to boil. mix 1 tbs cornstarch with 1/4 cup of cold water. stir into boiling liquid. boil until thickened and cool slightly before serving.

Mashed Potatoes
NEED
yukon gold potatoes
half and half
butter

DO:
peel and cube potatoes
boil in salted water until done (tender)
mash with hand masher--adding butter and half and half until you get the consistency you desire
add salt to taste

Roasted Broccoli
NEED
broccoli
olive oil
seasoning (i used green goddess by penzy's spices but you could use anything)
salt

DO:
cut broccoli into bite sized pieces. dry on paper towel. toss with oil and seasonings. put on a baking sheet. place in oven (450) for 15 minutes or until heated through and at the consistency you desire.

Pizza Crust

  • 2 Cups warm water

  • 2 TB. honey

  • 2 TB. active dry yeast

  • 7-8 Cups all purpose flour

  • 2 tsp. salt

  • 4 TB. olive oil
  • 1 12 oz. can beer
Toppings (Large Pizza):

  • 2-3 TB. extra virgin olive oil; a thin coating

  • 1/2-1 Cup tomato sauce

  • 2 tsp. PIZZA SEASONING (an absolute must)

  • 4 oz. turkey pepperoni

  • 4 oz. chopped up Canadian bacon

  • 4 oz. chopped sun-dried tomatoes (drain well if packed in olive oil)

  • 4 oz. sliced olives

  • 4 oz. sliced mushrooms
  • 1/2 Cup finely shredded Pecorino Romano and/or mozzarella cheese


Mix the yeast with the water and honey in a small mixing bowl. Mix 4 cups of the flour with the salt in a large bowl. Once the yeast becomes foamy, pour it into the bowl with the flour mixture. Add the olive oil and beer. Stir to combine and then add the remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until the dough isn’t sticky. Once you’ve reached 7 cups of flour, turn the dough out of the bowl onto the tabletop and knead for a few minutes until smooth and elastic, sprinkling with flour as needed to keep it from sticking. You may not need the full 8 cups. Once the dough is soft, smooth and elastic, place in a deep, greased bowl and let rise 45-60 minutes, or until double in size. Once risen, you're ready to make pizzas! This makes 2 large or 4 medium pizzas. Divide the dough into 2 or 4 balls. This is the point where you would freeze any crusts you’d like to save for later—just wrap them well in plastic wrap.

Preheat oven to 425°. Have all the topping ingredients assembled before rolling out the crusts. If you are using a pizza stone make sure it is also heating in the oven. Sprinkle a flat surface with flour and gently roll out the dough and place the prepared crust on a pizza paddle sprinkled with cornmeal or a perforated pizza pan.

Add the toppings to each pizza. Any combination of the above works, or add your own favorites.

Carefully transfer the pizza pan to the hot oven, or shift the pizza off the paddle onto a baking stone in the hot oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the edges have browned.

Prep. time: 90 minutes
Baking time: 10-15 minutes
Serves: 4 per large pizza