Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Goulash

Originally posted by: https://dinnersdishesanddesserts.com/old-fashioned-goulash/#mv-creation-110-jtr

HOW TO MAKE GOULASH
  1. The macaroni is cooked separately, so follow the directions on the box to cook that.  Because you bake the pasta for a few minutes to blend all of the flavors together, you want to under cook the pasta by 3 minutes. 
  2. Use a large skillet or even a dutch oven to brown the ground beef and onions together until the beef is cooked and the onions are soft. 
  3. After the onions are soft stir in the garlic and cook for about a minute until it starts to get fragrant.
  4. Add in Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce and the diced tomatoes and mix until everything is combined. You can really use any combination of tomato products that you have.  If you don’t like chunks of tomatoes, just use all sauce.  If you have fire roasted tomatoes in your pantry, use them!
  5. Add in the seasonings and taste to adjust.  Start with just a little salt and add more if you think it is necessary. 
  6. Once everything is cooked stir in the cooked pasta and cheese until everything is combined. 
  7. Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and everything is hot and bubbly.  If your pan is not oven safe transfer to a casserole dish to bake. 

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 pound elbow macaroni
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 (15 oz) cans tomato sauce
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans petit diced tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook macaroni for 3 minute less than the box directions.  Drain. 
  3. Heat a large skillet over high heat.  Add ground beef and onions to the pan.  Break beef apart, cooking for 6-7 minutes until browned.  Drain any fat.  
  4. Mix in garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. 
  5. Add in worchestershire sauce, tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Mix until combined.  
  6. Stir in Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings to taste.
  7. Mix in cooked macaroni and cheddar cheese. If skillet is heat safe, you can place in the oven for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and cheese is melted.  Or transfer to casserole dish and bake.
Hot Mama Grade: A

Hot Mama Notes: My eldest chose this as a recipe to make for a school potluck themed for the great depression. He made it himself. The kids love this meal! I will definitely make it again. It looks simple and easy while still being tasty! 

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Austrian Coffee Cake

From: Husbands that Cook

Hot Mama Grade: A-

Hot Mama Notes: This is a good coffee cake recipe. Maybe not the best ever, but very tasty and pretty easy to make. The authors doubled the topping amount, but I think I would leave it as the original amount if I make this again. A very tasty coffee cake! :) 

Vegan Paella

From: Husbands that Cook

Hot Mama Grade: A

Hot Mama Notes: I must say I've had good luck with the recipes from Husbands that Cook! This recipe is very good. Almost like a risotto. I used short grain rice, as I did not have arborio rice available. I left out the capers, as well, as I did not have them, and I don't think they add much in general. Frys doesn't carry piquillo peppers, so based on researching substitions, I used jarred mild banana peppers and jarred Roasted red peppers (based on the recipe book recommendation). The main flavors of the dish are the artichoke hearts and the pickled peppers. I will add chicken for my kids that like everything with meat!! I would make this again. Lots of chopping.

One-Pot Pasta Primavera

From: Husbands that Cook

Hot Mama Grade: A

Hot Mama Notes: This recipe is very good. I would make it again. It is a lot of chopping, but I guess any whole food type recipe will be that way. I do like the one pot. I did worry, but it turned out well! I did add an extra cup of water out of fear! I think when I serve this to my kids, I will make some chicken and add it, as my kids like meat with their vegetables. The one tiny pepper adds a lot of flavor and punch!

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Hazelnut Fudge

Originally from:Husbands that Cook Cookbook

Hot Mama Grade: B

Hot Mama Notes: I need to remember 2 things when making fudge. 1. Fudge is a ton of work!! 2. I don't even like fudge that much.  Sigh. Plus, even though I was being careful, I was not careful enough. I was tired and instead of putting 2/3 c evaporated milk in the pan, I put the full 12 Oz can. Oops. :/ so then I was scrambling to double all the other ingredients to salvage the fudge. Also, I hate candy thermometers, incessant stirring, and the heat! :(. I had a taste test, and it seems OK. But I swear. Never again! It's just not worth it!! 

Life-changing Corn Bread

Originally from:Husbands that Cook
Hot Mama Grade: B
Hot Mama Notes: This corn bread is really more like corn cake. And it is very wet. I am not sure I like the moistness. I ate mine with a spoon. Plus, it needs to be refrigerated, or it goes rancid in a few days (vile smells). I don't think I will make this again!

Cauliflower Chick Pea Curry

Originally from: Husbands Cooking Cookbook 

Hot Mama Grade: A-
Hot Mama Notes: This curry is good. Better with chicken in it!! I used canned chicken because I was too tired to cook up chicken, but it would be even better with fresh cooked chicken. This recipe makes a ton of food! We ate it Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday before finishing it. I should have used a less spicy curry powder, but what I had was penzeys hot curry powder, so that is what I used. I didn't add the pepper.

Monday, November 7, 2022

Spicy 5 Bean Chili

Originally from: Husbands that Cook Cookbook
Hot Mama Grade: A

Hot Mama Notes: This is an excellent chili recipe! I am really impressed by how tasty it is! It is easy, but a lot of chopping. Also, it has all the beans!! But they are balanced by the abundance of vegetables. I also added a pound of ground beef. It was a great addition. I will definitely make this recipe again! The kids like it, as well, and that is a tall order!

The only substitution I did was great Northern beans for white navy beans. I served with sour cream, shredded cheddar, and tortilla strips. I omitted the hot pepper, as I worried it would be too hot. I used one can of rotel seasoned tomatoes and one Hunt's first roasted chopped tomatoes. These together with the smoked paprika added lots of great flavors!