Thursday, November 14, 2013

Earla's Old Time Potato Stuffing


Earla's Old Time Potato Dressing (may also be eaten as we did in my childhood, as a stuffing). Ready in one hour.  Serves six or more.  From allrecipes.com by Lauren Buckner with a few changes by moi. My mom made this.

Ingredients:
1 large onion, chopped fine
3/4 cup finely chopped celery
1/4 cup (or more) butter
1/4 turkey or chicken broth (or veggie broth)
8 slices day old white bread, cubed with crusts removed
3 cups mashed potatoes (you can cheat and use prepared dry potato flakes to make 3 cups)
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 t. poultry seasoning  (I'll used fresh thyme, summer savory, and the herbs that constitute poultry stuffing).
1 t. kosher salt
1/2 t. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 t. ground nutmeg (I always do fresh)

Directions:

1. In a skillet, saute onion and celery in butter until tender.  Remove from the heat; stir in broth.  In a large bowl, combine bread cubes, prepared potatoes, egg and all seasonings.  Sir in onion mixture.  If mixture seems dry, add more melted butter or broth. Transfer to a greased  2-qt. baking dish.  Cover and bake at 325 degrees F. for  40 minutes.  Uncover and bake for another 15-20 minutes until the top is browned and a  meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.  You can also put a little extra butter, salt and pepper on top and place under a broiler until browned and bubbly.


Bok Choy with Beef

Sometimes I find myself with one smallish (less than a pound) steak in the freezer and two hungry diners.   The best thing to do with this is a stir-fry dish, and we're particularly fond of baby bok choy which cooks quickly and offers the nutrition of the cabbage family.  I'm providing a link to the recipe, but I never cut my meat that finely.  I tend to leave it in 1/2 inch cubes and   by the way, cut the extra fat off.  We always have dry sherry and Asian sesame oil in the pantry (two staples of Asian cooking), so except for the bok choy, you''re home free.  Sometimes I have fresh ginger, but if not, a smallish piece does not break the bank.  I like to serve this with a salad of lettuce with fresh oranges and a mild oil and lemon juice dressing.  We always have fresh oranges, too.  A well-stocked pantry is a cook's greatest asset.  Well, maybe some kickass recipes and her cast iron skillets.

The lone pork chop can also provide a stir fry entree, as can a few random shrimp or even some left over tofu.  A paltry amount of chicken will also work.  We keep Basmati rice on hand, as well.  If you don't have quite enough meat you can always scramble an egg into the mixture.  If mushrooms are on sale, they will work well, too, as will green beans or broccoli.  Spinach, too.  Combinations are endless, so you are not always repeating yourself and everything is cooked up fresh and tasty without the expense of a Chinese take out meal.  I have been keeping Siracha sauce in the fridge, too.

By the way, keep your sesame oil refrigerated to keep it fresh.  Tip compliments of the food network.

Tonight we're having the third evening of potroast.  I mis it up by varying the starch and the veggies.   We still have a few tomatoes ripening on the kitchen window sill, but alas, the end is in sight.  Don't ever recall a summer where the tomatoes multiplied for four whole months.

So here is the recipe, and for heaven's sake don't think you have o use filet.  Any tender cut of steak will  do.  Ye gods!  Tenderloin.

Bok Choy with Beef 

Here's the skinny on bok choy:  Nutritional value of bok choy

The Cheeseparer