In Search Of My Signature Dish

Potato Herb Soup

2009-12-28T13:05:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

2 leeks, cleaned and thinly sliced
500g of potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 litre of chicken broth made from two chicken bouillon cubes
1 bunch of fresh parsley
1 bunch of fresh celery (or around 2 celery stalks)
Salt and pepper
4 tbsp of creme fraiche

METHOD

Put the leek and potatoes in a pan with the chicken broth. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for around 15 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked.
Add the parsley and celery, stir and simmer for about 2 minutes.
Remove from heat, add salt and pepper to taste and then blend thoroughly in a blender.
Serve straight away with one tbsp of creme fraiche per bowl.

VERDICT

This is a great soup for St. Patrick's Day as it really does turn out green. It is semi-thick and has a really nice flavour. Combined with the fact that it takes very little time and effort to make, puts in firmly towards the top of the leaderboard.

Score: 93/100

Spicy Beef and Vegetables

2009-12-28T11:04:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

1 pound beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 (30 ounce) jar meatless spaghetti sauce
3 1/2 cups water
1 (16 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chilies
1 cup sliced celery
1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
1 teaspoon pepper

METHOD

In a skillet over medium heat, cook beef and onion until meat is no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a slow cooker. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until the vegetables are tender.

VERDICT

Another nice and tasty meal, especially good with potatoes. Will be making this one again. :)

Score: 89/100

Pasta with Curly Kale and Bacon

2009-12-28T09:38:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

Salt and pepper
200g smoked bacon-blocks (spekblokjes)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tbsp of dried thyme
350g cooked pasta
400g pan-ready curly kale (borenkool)
50g parmesan cheese

METHOD

Bring a pan of salted water to boil and cool the pasta according to the package.
In a dry pan, cook the bacon-blocks and then remove from the pan, leaving the grease behind.
Cook the onion in the pan for about 5 minutes, add the garlic and thyme and cook for a further minute.
Mix the curly kale through the onion and garlic mixture. Cooking the kale for about 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Add the drained pasta to the mixture and stir well. Add the bacon and stir well.
Add the cheese and stir until melted and mixed.

VERDICT

This dish is wonderful. It is quick to make and any extras heat up well the next day. Because the vegetables are cooked in the bacon grease before being added together with the pasta, it means that everything has a nice flavour. A real favourite!

Score: 98/100

Chicken Casserole

2009-12-28T09:11:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

4 skinless, bone-in chicken breast halves
2 stalks celery, cut into thirds
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup cooked rice
6 ounces sour cream
2 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups crushed buttery round crackers
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bring to a boil the chicken breasts, celery, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and enough water to cover. Cover, reduce heat to medium low; simmer for 35 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup liquid. Cool chicken, remove meat from bones, and cut into bite-size pieces.
In a large bowl, stir together sour cream, soup, broth, celery salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix in cooked rice and chicken. Spoon mixture into a 9x13 inch casserole dish. In a resealable bag, shake together crushed crackers and melted butter. Sprinkle crackers over the top.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes.

VERDICT

A tasty although slightly repetitive dish. Worth making again but not a top favourite.

Score: 78/100

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

2009-12-28T08:56:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

1 (4 pound) boneless beef top round roast, halved
1 1/2 cups apple juice
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 small onion, chopped
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup water

METHOD

In a Dutch oven coated with nonstick cooking spray, brown roast on all sides over medium-high heat; drain. transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. In a bowl, combine the juice, tomato sauce, onion, vinegar, salt, ginger and cinnamon; pour over roast. Cover and cook on high for 5-7 hours.
In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into cooking juices until well combined. Cover and cook 1 hour longer or until the meat is tender and gravy begins to thicken.

VERDICT

An easy but not necessarily that tasty pot roast. This wasn't anything special and I probably won't make it again.

Score: 70/100

Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

2009-12-28T08:24:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds beef sirloin, cut into 2 inch strips
garlic powder to taste
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cube beef bouillon
1/4 cup hot water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 large green bell peppers, roughly chopped
1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes, with liquid
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon salt

METHOD

Sprinkle strips of sirloin with garlic powder to taste. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the vegetable oil and brown the seasoned beef strips. Transfer to a slow cooker.
Mix bouillon cube with hot water until dissolved, then mix in cornstarch until dissolved. Pour into the slow cooker with meat. Stir in onion, green peppers, stewed tomatoes, soy sauce, sugar, and salt.
Cover, and cook on High for 3 to 4 hours, or on Low for 6 to 8 hours.

VERDICT
This was a really nice and simple dish. The meat was tender and flavourful, the sauce tasty and served with rice (or potatoes) makes a good complete meal.

Score: 86/100

Slow Cooker Brisket

2009-12-28T07:08:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

1 (3 pound) beef brisket
2 (12 ounce) bottles chili sauce
1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
2 teaspoons garlic powder

METHOD
Place the beef brisket into a slow cooker. In a medium bowl, mix together the chili sauce, onion soup mix, and garlic powder. Pour over the brisket. Cover, and cook on the Low setting for 8 to 10 hours. Slice the brisket against the grain, and pour the gravy over the slices.

VERDICT
This recipe was so simple that I was really praying that it would turn out yummy. 'Chili Sauce' seemed pretty non-descript so I wasn't sure which type to get. In the end I went with the lompeia chili dipping sauce since I knew I liked it. Cooking on low appears to be very important with this dish as otherwise some parts start to almost burn (medium might be okay but high was not a good choice). Also getting a good cut of meat is also important. The meal has a lot of potential and I will try it again with a few adjustments and be careful of the chili sauce you choose as it can make the meal VERY hot!

Score: 77/100

Chicken Cordon Bleu

2009-12-28T06:44:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
6 slices Swiss cheese
6 slices ham
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon paprika
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup heavy whipping cream

METHOD

Pound chicken breasts if they are too thick. Place a cheese and ham slice on each breast within 1/2 inch of the edges. Fold the edges of the chicken over the filling, and secure with toothpicks. Mix the flour and paprika in a small bowl, and coat the chicken pieces.
Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat, and cook the chicken until browned on all sides. Add the wine and bouillon. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.
Remove the toothpicks, and transfer the breasts to a warm platter. Blend the cornstarch with the cream in a small bowl, and whisk slowly into the skillet. Cook, stirring until thickened, and pour over the chicken. Serve warm.

VERDICT

These were a little hard to imagine when reading the recipe but in the end they were pretty straightforward to make. I was a little sceptical that they would actually have that 'cordon bleu' flavour but they really did and the sauce that you pour over the top was super yum!

Score: 88/100

Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff

2009-12-27T17:08:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

*4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
*1/8 cup margarine
*1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
*1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
*1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup

METHOD

1. Put chicken, margarine and dressing mix in slow cooker; mix together and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.

2. Add cream cheese and soup, mix together and cook on high for another 1/2 hour or until heated through and warm.

VERDICT

An easy dish to make with a slightly unusual but not awful taste. It will probably remain in my recipe box because of how easily it can be made but not something I will be making a lot.

Score: 70/100

Italian Sausage Soup

2009-12-27T16:56:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

*1 1/2 pounds sweet Italian sausage
*2 cloves garlic, minced
*2 small onions, chopped
*2 (16 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
*1 1/4 cups dry red wine
*5 cups beef broth
*1/2 teaspoon dried basil
*1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
*2 zucchini, sliced
*1 green bell pepper, chopped
*3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
*1 (16 ounce) package spinach fettuccine pasta
*salt and pepper to taste

METHOD

1. In a large pot, cook sausage over medium heat until brown. Remove with a slotted spoon, and drain on paper towels. Drain fat from pan, reserving 3 tablespoons.

2. Cook garlic and onion in reserved fat for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, wine, broth, basil, and oregano. Transfer to a slow cooker, and stir in sausage, zucchini, bell pepper, and parsley.

3. Cover, and cook on Low for 4 to 6 hours.

4. Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain water, and add pasta to the slow cooker. Simmer for a few minutes, and season with salt and pepper before serving.

VERDICT

YUM, YUM, YUM!! I loved this soup. Every flavour and smell that springs to mind about traditional Italy was in this soup. Quite easy to make and vegetables can easily cut up and frozen to speed the process up even more.

Score: 95/100

Baked Potato Soup

2009-12-27T16:43:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

*3 bacon strips, diced
*1 small onion, chopped
*1 clove garlic, minced
*3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
*1 teaspoon salt
*1 teaspoon dried basil
*1/2 teaspoon pepper
*3 cups chicken broth
*2 large baked potatoes, peeled and cubed
*1 cup half-and-half cream
*1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
*Shredded Cheddar cheese
*Minced fresh parsley

METHOD

Bake potatoes in the oven, skin and cut into pieces. In a large saucepan, cook bacon until crisp. Drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings. Set bacon aside. Saute onion and garlic in the drippings until tender. Stir in flour, salt, basil and pepper; mix well. Gradually add broth. Bring to boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, cream and hot pepper sauce; heat through but do not boil. Garnish with bacon, cheese and parsley.

VERDICT

Believe it or not, this soup really does taste like baked potato. It has a nice flavour and is very warming on a cold day. The hot pepper sauce adds a nice little kick to the soup and the bacon on top is a nice extra flavour. With a non-soup lover in the household, I was surprised when there was none left-over and the meal was requested again a few weeks later! The only downside is having to bake the potatoes ahead of time, which while it does make the flavour nicer, adds to the cooking time.

Score: 90/100

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

2009-12-27T16:06:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

*2 cups cubed cooked chicken
*1 cup sour cream
*1/8 teaspoon salt
*1 pinch ground black pepper
*1/2 cup vegetable oil for frying
*12 (5 inch) corn tortillas
*1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained
*2 cups shredded cheese

METHOD

1. Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Combine the chicken, sour cream, salt, and pepper in a bowl; set aside.

2. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Dip the corn tortillas into the hot oil one at a time until softened, about 10 seconds each. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of chicken mixture onto each tortilla, spread down the center and roll into a cylinder. Place seam side down into the prepared baking dish. When all tortillas are filled and rolled, sprinkle the green chilies over all and top with the shredded cheese.

3. Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese has melted and the enchiladas are hot, 12 to 15 minutes.

VERDICT

This dish was quick and easy to make. Frying the tortillas in oil was a great touch as they had a lot of flavour and were a bit crispy (but not too crispy). However, what seemed to be missing was some flavour. The chilies were excluded as I couldn't find any but I am not sure they would have made that much difference. Next time I will add some vegetables and salsa to the chicken mixture before cooking.

Score: 77/100

Garlic Chicken

2009-11-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

*3 tablespoons butter
*4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
*2 teaspoons garlic powder
*1 teaspoon seasoning salt
*1 teaspoon onion powder

METHOD

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken and sprinkle with garlic powder, seasoning salt and onion powder. Saute about 10 to 15 minutes on each side, or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.

VERDICT

Simple, easy and very tasty! Also because this one doesn't need very many ingredients it is good for cooking when you have nothing else in the house.

Score: 89/100

Lemon-Rice Soup

2009-11-18T13:30:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

*3 c. chicken broth
*2 to 3 oz. uncooked regular rice
*2 eggs
*3 tbsp. lemon juice
*Dash of salt
*Dash of white pepper

METHOD

In 2-quart saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Reduce heat, add rice, cover and simmer until rice is tender, about 20 minutes. In small bowl, beat eggs and lemon juice. Stirring constantly, add 1 cup of hot soup, a little at a time. Stir mixture into soup in pan and heat. Do not boil! Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

NOTE: 2 oz. rice makes thinner soup; 3 oz. rice makes thick soup. Weight instead of measurement gives the option of using medium grain rice.

Source: www.cooks.com

VERDICT

This one wasn't too bad. At first taste it seemed a bit too lemon like (yes, yes I know it is Lemon-Rice Soup) but after a few bites it seemed just about right. So a simple, quick and pretty tasty soup...but not my favourite. :)

Score: 75/100

Slow Cooker Meatballs

2009-11-04T09:37:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

*675g minced beef
*140g dried breadcrumbs
*1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs
*4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
*2 cloves garlic, minced
*1 medium onion, chopped
*1 egg, beaten
*1 (737g) jar pasta sauce
*1 (400g) tin chopped tomatoes
*1 (400g) jar passata

METHOD

1. In a bowl, mix the mince, breadcrumbs, Italian herbs, parsley, garlic, onion and egg. Shape the mixture into 16 meatballs.

2. In a slow cooker, mix the pasta sauce, chopped tomatoes and passata. Place the meatballs into the sauce mixture. Cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours.

Serve with spaghetti.

VERDICT

This recipe was super quick and super easy. I found the sauce was very yummy but I think that there will be some variation depending on the type of pasta sauce you use within the recipe. The meatballs seemed to be missing a bit of flavour, even with the addition of some salt and pepper but experimenting with this might help. A recipe that has potential especially because of how easy and quick it is to prepare.

Score: 76/100

Chili

2009-11-04T09:28:00.001-08:00

INGREDIENTS

*2 pounds lean ground beef
*1 (46 fluid ounce) can tomato juice
*1 (29 ounce) can tomato sauce
*1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
*1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
*1 1/2 cups chopped onion
*1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
*1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
*1/2 teaspoon white sugar
*1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
*1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
*1 teaspoon salt
*1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
*1/4 cup chili powder

METHOD

1. Place ground beef in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, and crumble.

2. In a large pot over high heat combine the ground beef, tomato juice, tomato sauce, kidney beans, pinto beans, onions, bell pepper, cayenne pepper, sugar, oregano, ground black pepper, salt, cumin and chili powder. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours.

Yields 10 servings!

Note: If using a slow cooker, set on low, add ingredients, and cook for 8 to 10 hours.

VERDICT

This recipe was super easy and smelled soooooo good while it was cooking. The taste did not disappoint either, although it was a tiny bit too spicy (we made only 2 servings worth) so for future makings will add a little less chili pepper. A great recipe if you need to feed quite a few people or just for a warm meal on a winter evening.

Score: 91/100

Basil Chicken with Vermicelli

2009-11-04T09:15:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

*250g (8 oz) vermicelli pasta
*1 dessertspoon olive oil
*1 small onion, finely chopped
*1 clove garlic, chopped
*2 (400g) tins chopped tomatoes
*4 boneless chicken breasts fillets - cooked and cubed
*1 small bunch fresh basil, chopped
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1/2 dried crushed red chillies (optional)
*4 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan

METHOD

1. Cook pasta according to packet instructions. Drain, and set aside.

2. In a large frying pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the onions and garlic. Stir in the tomatoes, chicken, basil, salt and chillies. Reduce heat to medium, and cover frying pan. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

3. Toss sauce with pasta to coat and heat through. Serve with Parmesan.

VERDICT

I have just one word for this recipe....BORING!!!! It tasted okay but it was no different to something you might throw together when you have nothing left in the kitchen. I don't think we will be making this one again unless we are desperate.

Score: 49/100

Pork Chops with Soured Cream and Paprika

2009-11-04T09:08:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

*100g (4 oz) butter
*1 onion, chopped
*1 clove garlic, minced
*6 pork chops
*salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
*175ml (6 fl oz) chicken stock
*1 bay leaf
*1 (200ml) pot soured cream
*1 dessertspoon paprika

METHOD

1. Sauté onion and garlic in hot butter. Remove from frying pan and set aside.

2. Trim excess fat from chops and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brown chops in frying pan; pour off any dripping. Lower heat, add bay leaf and chicken stock. Cook covered over low heat for 1 hour. Transfer chops to a serving plate, and cover with aluminium foil to keep warm.

3. Heat juices in frying pan and reduce to half. Add the soured cream, onion mixture and paprika, blending thoroughly. Heat through, but don't boil. Pour over pork chops and serve.

VERDICT

Yum! I am not usually a huge fan of pork but this recipe came out really nice and the sauce is great not only on the meat but also on anything else you serve with it (like vegetables and potatoes). We will definitely be making this one again!

Score: 90/100

Cherry Chicken

2009-10-30T15:29:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS

*3 tablespoons vegetable oil
*1 (4 pound) whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
*salt and pepper to taste
*1/2 cup all-purpose flour for dusting
*1 (15 ounce) can pitted dark cherries packed in water
*1/2 cup white sugar
*1 tablespoon cornstarch
*1 orange - with peel, quartered and thinly sliced
*1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted

METHOD

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then coat with flour. Fry in the hot oil until browned, turning as needed. Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook for about 25 minutes or until meat is tender and juices run clear.

2. Remove the chicken from the pan, and pour off all but 1/4 cup of the drippings. Return to medium heat and stir in the cherries, reserving some of the cherry liquid for later. Stir in sugar and bring to a boil. Dissolve the cornstarch in the reserved cherry liquid, then stir into the pan. Cook, stirring gently, until thickened.

3. Add orange slices and almonds to the skillet, then return the chicken pieces to the skillet. Spoon sauce over the chicken to coat, and simmer over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

N.B. Almonds can be toasted in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

VERDICT

This dish was really easy to make and was really tasty. The orange and cherries go nice together and the cooking method ensures that the chicken is nice and tender.

Score: 92/100

Polska Kielbasa with Beer ‘n Onions

2009-10-29T06:27:00.000-07:00

This is a recipe that I got from my mum. Kielbasa is a Polish sausage and had I bothered to look it up before making the dish, I definitely would not have chosen bratwurst as my substitute. However, now I know!

INGREDIENTS

*1/2 c honey mustard
*1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
*18 oz brown ale or beer
*2 kielbasa sausage (16 oz each) cut into 4” pieces
*2 onions, quartered

METHOD

Combine mustard and brown sugar in the crockpot.
Whisk in ale. Add sausage pieces. Top with onions.
Cover and cook on low 4-5 hours, stirring occasionally.
Makes 6-8 servings.

VERDICT

My first mistake in making this dish was to go with the boring sausage alternative of bratwurst. Being cooked all day in the slow cooker seemed to have sapped the bratwurst of any flavour that it had. My second mistake was not to halve the recipe, since I had much less than the called for amount of sausage (it was clearly one of those days!). This meant that I had to add quite a bit of flour to the sauce before serving to turn it into a gravy, which I am sure took away some of the flavour as well. However, saying all of that, this dish has potential. You can't fault it on how simple it is to make. Despite pouring beer all over the floor, I was still able to get it all ready in under ten minutes. The flavour, or what was left of it, was quite yummy and when served over potatoes it added an instantly 'winter food' quality to it that counts for extra points. So it is worth making again, this time with a different sausage.

Score: 73/100 (possibly higher with the called for sausage or at least a better alternative)

Borscht

2009-10-27T14:45:00.000-07:00

Having lived in Estonia for a year, anything that resembles the good food that I got to eat there is worth trying to make.

INGREDIENTS

*225g thinly sliced potatoes
*140g thinly sliced beetroot
*1L vegetable stock or water
*2 tablespoons butter
*250g chopped onions
*1 teaspoon caraway seed (optional)
*2 teaspoons salt
*1 celery stick, chopped
*1 large carrot, sliced
*250g coarsely chopped red cabbage
*black pepper to taste
*1/4 teaspoon fresh dill
*1 tablespoon cider vinegar
*1 tablespoon honey
*250ml passata
*soured cream, for topping
*chopped tomatoes, for garnish

METHOD

1. Place sliced potatoes and beetroot in a medium saucepan over high heat; cover with stock, and boil until vegetables are tender. Remove potatoes and beetroot with a slotted spoon, and reserve stock.

2. Melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Stir in onions, caraway seeds and salt; cook until onions become soft and translucent. Then stir in celery, carrots and cabbage. Mix in reserved stock; cook, covered, until all vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.

3. Add potatoes and beetroot to the pan. Season with black pepper and dill. Stir in cider vinegar, honey and passata. Cover, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer at least 30 minutes. Serve topped with soured cream, extra dill and chopped fresh tomatoes.

VERDICT

YUM!!!! This soup is one of my favourite and despite what might look like quite a lot of work, is in fact quite simple to make. It does take a little time time to make but is well worth the time and effort. We also tried making it with some meat as well, which was equally as nice.

Score: 98/100

Chicken Pot Pie

2009-10-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

I found the pot pie recipe first and then searched for a pot pie dough recipe, so they are separate.

POT PIE Dough

2 cups of flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp butter
3/4 cup of water

Mix dry ingredients, blend in butter, add eggs and water to make a soft dough. Roll out about 1/4 thick.

MINI VERDICT

While this recipe was simple the dough needed a lot of flour added to it to make it not too sticky, which of course had the extra downfall of making the dough quite tough and heavy.

CHICKEN POT PIE

INGREDIENTS

*1 cup potato, diced
*1 cup chopped onion
*1 cup celery, diced
*1 cup chopped carrot
*1/3 cup melted margarine
*1/2 cup all-purpose flour
*2 cups chicken broth
*1 cup half-and-half
*1 teaspoon salt
*1/4 teaspoon pepper
*4 cups of chopped, cooked chicken
*2 pie crusts (or dough made from recipe)

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 400F/200C.

2. Saute onion, celery, carrots and potatoes in butter for ten minutes.

3. Add flour to sauted mixture, stirring well. Cook one minute, stirring constantly.

4. Combine broth and half and half.

5. Gradually stir into vegetable mixture.

6. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened and bubbly.

7. Stir in salt and pepper; add chicken and stir well.

8. Pour into shallow 2 quart casserole dish and top with pie shells.

9. Cut slits to allow steam to escape.

10. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly and cooked through.

VERDICT

The dough recipe was really disappointing, so if I was to make this dish again, I would find another one to try. The actual filling recipe, however was really quite yummy - creamy, full of flavour and looked exactly as you would expect chicken pot pie to look (unless you are used to the more liquidy version). Be warned that the filling recipe does make a lot. So you might want to reserve some to have with rice or similar on another day.

Score: 75/100 (maybe higher with a different dough recipe)

N.B. If you can't find half and half you can substitute it with the following: 1 tablespoon of butter, melted plus milk to equal one cup.

Turkey, Pasta and Leek Crisp

2009-10-27T14:06:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS

*2 carrots, sliced
*400 g (14 oz) leeks, sliced
*450 ml (15 fl oz) vegetable or chicken stock
*300 ml (10 fl oz) white wine or additional stock
*300 g (10½ oz) cavatelli (fluted pasta shells) or other shapes such as fusilli (spirals)
*2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
*400 g (14 oz) turkey breast fillet, skin removed, then cut into thin strips
*300 ml (10 fl oz) semi-skimmed milk
*45 g (1½ oz) plain flour
*salt and pepper

Topping
*50 g (1¾ oz) fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs
*2 tbsp grated Cheddar cheese
*2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

METHOD

1. Place the carrots and leeks in a saucepan. Add the stock and the wine, if using, and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover the pan and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the carrots are tender but not soft.

2. Drain the vegetables, reserving the stock. Place the vegetables in a large ovenproof dish. Return the stock to the pan and boil it until it is reduced to about 300 ml (10 fl oz). Set aside to cool.

3. Cook the pasta in boiling water for 10–12 minutes, or according to the packet instructions, until al dente. Drain well and add to the vegetables; mix together. Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F, gas mark 5).

4. Heat the oil in a saucepan. Add the turkey and cook, stirring, for 5–10 minutes or until lightly browned. Use a draining spoon to remove the turkey from the pan and mix it with the pasta and vegetables.

5. Remove the pan from the heat and pour in the milk and cooled stock. Whisking constantly, sprinkle the flour into the liquid. Return the pan to the heat and bring the sauce to the boil, still whisking. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 3 minutes, whisking frequently, until the sauce is thick and smooth. Add seasoning to taste.

6. Pour the sauce over the pasta mixture, coating it evenly. Mix together the breadcrumbs, cheese and parsley, and sprinkle this evenly over the top. Bake for about 15 minutes or until crisp and golden.

Copyright by The Readers Digest Association, Inc. 2003

VERDICT

Well first off I couldn't find any turkey in the supermarket (oh the joys of living in the Netherlands), so I replaced the turkey with chicken. Second, this dish took ages to prepare (although I must admit watching the sauce turn thick and smooth was fun!). Lastly, it was kinda boring. We found it quite bland and not very exciting. So probably not one I would make again.

Score: 45/100

Meatloaf

2009-10-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

First off, apologies for the crummy photo. My camera was not cooperating.

However this meatloaf recipe more than made up for the crummy photo!

INGREDIENTS

*1 pound ground beef
*1/4 cup ketchup
*1/2 packet dry onion soup mix
*3 slices leftover bread (heels are great), torn into bite-size pieces
*1 teaspoon Italian-style seasoning
*1 tablespoon water
*water as needed

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

2. In a large bowl, combine the beef, ketchup, soup mix, bread, Italian-style seasoning and water. Mix well. Shape into a loaf and place into a 9 inch pie pan OR a 9x13 inch baking dish. Baste the top of the meatloaf with ketchup.

3. Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for one hour, or until the edges are just crispy and the top has a crust.

4. Cool for 15 to 20 minutes before cutting.

THE VERDICT

This recipe is fantastic! The meatloaf is really moist, full of flavour and any leftovers taste just as good the next day, heated up. The top does seem to go brown (or black if you let it!) quickly with the sauce on top, so the second time I made this I covered the dish in foil for the first 40 minutes of cooking. I also substituted passata for the ketchup, breadcrumbs for the bread and added dill. This one is definitely a contender for the signature dish!

Score: 99/100

Parmesan Chicken

2009-04-02T05:10:00.000-07:00

I have tried Parmesan chicken dishes before and never been that impressed, however I thought I would try just one more that I had stuck on a piece of paper in my cookbook and I wasn't disappointed.

INGREDIENTS

1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup of unsalted butter, melted
1 cup dried bread crumbs
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp chopped parsley
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp mixed herb or Italian seasoning
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
skinless, boneless chicken meat (max 900 grams worth)

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 230 degrees Celsius/450F.

2. Combine the minced garlic and melted butter in a bowel.

3. In another bowel mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, garlic salt, seasoning and pepper together.

4. Dip the chicken into the butter mixture and then into the breadcrumb mixture, covering it thoroughly.

5. Place in a greased baking dish. Drizzle over the remaining butter mixture and cook uncovered until the juices run clear and the outside is golden brown, around 15 - 25 minutes depending on thickness of chicken used.

THE VERDICT

This dish was really easy to make, smelled good, tasted good and looked pretty good as well. I would however recommend using smaller pieces of chicken. I had used rather thick chicken breasts and while it looked nice it made the chicken less tasty due to the lack of breadcrumb mixture on the thicker pieces. The other downside is that this is only a chicken dish - you couldn't serve it alone. I used up some potatoes and fresh carrots that I had but even that didn't really help to make the dish less boring as a meal. However a very yummy chicken recipe that will be staying in my cookbook!

Score: 72/100

Albondigas Soup

2009-03-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

Since I was going to be out for the day, I thought it would be a good time to try out a recipe for the slow cooker. There are loads of recipes out there but one that took my interest was for Albondigas Soup, which is a Mexican meatball soup. Since I was wanting to make mine in the slow cooker I decided to mix together the parts I liked best from a few different recipes I had found and this is what I came up with.

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup of thick tomato soup
3 pints (1.5 quarts) of stock mixed with 3 pints of water
2 large carrots, sliced
225 grams (1/2 lb) green beans, cut into one inch pieces
450 grams (1lb) mince
1/3 cup of uncooked rice
1 egg
1/4 cup fresh chopped mint
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cup frozen or fresh peas
Parsley for garnish

METHOD

1. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onion and minced garlic and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Place in the slow cooker.

2. Slice the carrots and chop the beans. Add to the slow cooker.

3. Prepare the meatballs: Mix the rice into the meat. Add the mint and/or parsley, salt and pepper, raw egg and mix until well combined. Form the mixture into one inch meatballs.

4. Over medium heat, cook the meatballs in a pan with a teaspoon of olive oil, until fully cooked.

5. Add the tomato soup and broth mixture to the slow cooker. Then add the meatballs to the slow cooker.

6. Cover and cook on low for eight to nine hours, adding the peas during the last twenty minutes. Garnish with parsley.

Serves 6-8

THE VERDICT

When I walked in the door the soup had a nice aroma and I was looking forward to trying it. However, the first bite was a bit disappointing. Despite almost ten hours in the slow cooker the carrots and green beans were still a bit crunchy, although cooked. This wasn't what I was expecting and while the meatballs were quite yummy, especially the taste of fresh mint, the soup itself wasn't really that exciting. There just wasn't much flavour to it. Combined with the semi-extensive preparation time the soup didn't score very high. However, the meatball recipe is worth keeping.

Score: 40/100

The Search Begins

2009-03-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

Back in January 2008, when I made my 101 list, I decided that I wanted cooking to feature on the list in some way. I really enjoy cooking and trying out new recipes but like most people, I tend not to do it very often. Well that was all about to change in the form of item number 49, which read:

49. Find my signature dish.

I wasn't quite sure how I was going to go about this task. Sure there were a number of recipes that I enjoyed and that got good reviews from family and friends but did narrowing down one of those recipes really equal finding my signature dish? Somehow I didn't think so and so I thought about what I could do to achieve the task.

Fast-forward one year and I once again was thinking about cooking more often and decided to have a go at cooking more and finding my signature dish via cooking many recipes - some new, some old - and ranking them. Towards the end of the project, the top highest scoring meals would be competed against each other and tested out on family and friends to confirm the top favourite and this would then earn the award of being my signature dish.

And that is how we find ourselves at day zero of the search for my signature dish.

Wish me luck!