Idaho Potatoes
New Red Skinned potatoes
Peel and cube or slice thickly and put into a stock pot. Add salt and pepper. I treat potatoes like pasta and season them as I cook them.
Add enough COLD water to barely cover and cook on a slow simmer until potatoes are fork tender, or just under fork tender.
Thinly dice a medium onion and a rib of celery, and add this to potatoes about halfway through cooking
Add a cube of Chicken Bullion to pot. Add some dried Parsley, some minced garlic to taste, and stir gently.
In a bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups milk or cream with 2T flour until smooth and SLOWLY stir into potato mixture. Simmer on low for about five minutes and if soup is too thin, take some of the broth and put it in a bowl, mix with cornstarch and stir it back in. DO NOT make this too thick, because you are going to be adding cheese, which will also thicken it.If it is too thick, add some chicken broth or some water, but add warm or hot water, not cold... it will cause your cheese to congeal.
Simmer gently, taste and add salt and pepper to your taste.
Now, cube 1 to 1 1/2 cups American Cheese ( I mix Cheddar with the American) American melts smoothly, but Cheddar adds that flavor we all love, so I use about half American, Half Cheddar.
Simmer until potatoes are cooked, taste, and serve. I put chives, real bacon pieces, and shredded Cheddar on top for garnish... YUMMY!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Thanksgiving Ideas
We spend so much time trying to make things fancy for th1e Holidays. I do, too. Here are some really simple tips to take care of the everyday things, so that you can add that fancy new dessert or try that new stuffing recipe... these are easy things to do and will make the day go more smoothly, but not doing them can change your whole day for the worse..
Looking for a pretty dish to just add some umph to your table? My Nanny (Grandmother, for those of you who are more formal) , opened peach or pear halves, filled the area where the seed were with whipped topping, and put a pecan half on top... it was beautiful and looked fancy to me. If you have a diabetic or calorie conscious person, this is a simple sweet taste without a lot of added sugar. Use sugar free or reduced sugar whipped topping. Voila'..
Most of us have family and friends for Thanksgiving. Make the traditional things your family loves. I spent 15 years trying to "out do" last year's dishes. My daughter told me one day... "Mom, stop changing everything. Thanksgiving is a meal where I look forward to knowing what will be on the table. The flavors are the memories I look forward to." So, now I try to keep it steady on Thanksgiving, and do only one or two new dishes each time..
Order in the desserts, or if stuffing isn't your best dish, order that. Make what you can, put your love into that old family favorite and order a smoked, roasted or fried turkey from your market or local restaurant and focus on what you know. A holiday meal ISN"T the day you want to serve thirty dishes you've never cooked before. If your potato salad is to die for, and you bake amazing yeast rolls, but you can't make mashed potatoes, skip them, or buy them, or have those who offer to bring a dish do so.It isn't the end of the world if everything isn't cooked from scratch in YOUR kitchen! What is important is that you shared the time, made some really good food, and shared the meal! It took me years to realize that I may love creme' brulee... I can't make it on Thanksgiving and enjoy my time with my family... we have cheesecake I made on Tuesday. My daughters and my nephew won't touch a table that doesn't have devilled eggs on it... my grandson adores green beans. It doesn't have to be gourmet... it has to be what they want and what you know... get it? We've made this a stressful day. It should be a day of happiness, sharing a good meal with loved ones... there ya go!
Now, let's make dinner...
1. Check your oven ... okay, I got some of these ideas from Rachael Ray...set your oven at any temperature, when the indicator light says it is at that temp, put an oven thermometer in and if it is off, increase or decrease your temp from then on by the number of degrees off... for example, if your oven is set at 400 but the thermometer says 350, then set the oven 50 degrees higher next time.
2 Check your thermometer. Water boils at 212... boil some water, put the thermometer in. If it isn't right, buy a new one next time you shop.
3. Defrost your turkey in the fridge for at least 3-4 days. Nothing will ruin Thanksgiving faster than a frozen turkey on Thanksgiving morning. It is EXTREMELY UNSAFE to try and thaw the turkey in WARM water. If you must use water, use cold water that covers the turkey, change it every thirty minutes until thawed completely.
4. Check your roasting pan against the size of your turkey. If you go larger, you may have a big surprise on the big day..
5. If you are serving sliced turkey, and yours is a little dry... go to the cupboard, find some turkey or chicken broth, heat it to a low temp, and bathe the slices in the broth just before serving. No more dry turkey!
6. This one is ALL Rachael. Take the turkey out of the oven, cover it with wide heavy duty aluminum foil, and put the heaviest towel you have across it. This simple little tip will keep your turkey HOT for hours, according to Rachael..
7. Double duty... making stuffing and potato salad, etc? Go ahead and dice your onions for ALL the recipes, peel ALL the potatoes for the salad, the mashed, etc... chop the celery, peel carrots, etc. the day before and store them in ziploc bags in the veggie section of your fridge. On cooking day, all you have to do is measure, if you are anal or the recipe is specific, mix and pop in the oven...
8. Set the table the day before. Save yourself all the steps you can on that busy afternoon. Or better yet, let the kids do it...
9. Shop for non perishables a week or two early. I start my Thanksgiving and Christmas meal shopping in late Sept. I get stocked up on stock, buy the cranberry sauce (yes, I can make my own, but I like the jellied kind on a turkey sandwich and I dont want to be jonesin' for it and not have it in the cabinet), get the frozen or canned veggies (if I didn't have a garden that year), and the paper napkins, paper plates if you use them at all, etc. Move some crap outta that spare cabinet and use it for this. You can always put the crap back in after the Holidays.
10. Candles, if you use them at the table, won't drip if you store them in the fridge overnight or for about four hours before lighting them.
11. There are these great little crockery discs you can buy and put in the bottom of your bread basket, to keep your rolls warm. Inexpensive, too. Just pop them in the oven while you are cooking, take them out and wrap in a towel, put in the bottom of the bread basket and they will keep the bread warm throughout the meal. Most of them are made out of clay, like your terra cotta planters...
12. Lower the lights, light the candles and have the silver and glassware sparkling, and your table will look amazing, even with mismatched plates...
13. Buy LOTS of ziploc type bags, a few foil pans with lids or some foil, and wrap the leftovers for sharing with your guests, or for sharing a plate with a neighbor or shut in. It is so much easier to reheat dinner after shopping all day on Black Friday if you have everything that needs to be reheated in foil.. just pop in the oven, covered, heat while you wrap those bargains you just bought, and serve on paper plates... toss all the empties into the trash or recycling bin, and you have a great, quick meal with little or no clean up! If you have made a meal for a shut in, they have no clean up, either and have the added luxury of not having to worry with returning your prized casserole dish, etc. Trust me, when you have shared a meal with a neighbor, they won't mind if it isn't on your best china... they will be thrilled that you thought of them!
Looking for a pretty dish to just add some umph to your table? My Nanny (Grandmother, for those of you who are more formal) , opened peach or pear halves, filled the area where the seed were with whipped topping, and put a pecan half on top... it was beautiful and looked fancy to me. If you have a diabetic or calorie conscious person, this is a simple sweet taste without a lot of added sugar. Use sugar free or reduced sugar whipped topping. Voila'..
Most of us have family and friends for Thanksgiving. Make the traditional things your family loves. I spent 15 years trying to "out do" last year's dishes. My daughter told me one day... "Mom, stop changing everything. Thanksgiving is a meal where I look forward to knowing what will be on the table. The flavors are the memories I look forward to." So, now I try to keep it steady on Thanksgiving, and do only one or two new dishes each time..
Order in the desserts, or if stuffing isn't your best dish, order that. Make what you can, put your love into that old family favorite and order a smoked, roasted or fried turkey from your market or local restaurant and focus on what you know. A holiday meal ISN"T the day you want to serve thirty dishes you've never cooked before. If your potato salad is to die for, and you bake amazing yeast rolls, but you can't make mashed potatoes, skip them, or buy them, or have those who offer to bring a dish do so.It isn't the end of the world if everything isn't cooked from scratch in YOUR kitchen! What is important is that you shared the time, made some really good food, and shared the meal! It took me years to realize that I may love creme' brulee... I can't make it on Thanksgiving and enjoy my time with my family... we have cheesecake I made on Tuesday. My daughters and my nephew won't touch a table that doesn't have devilled eggs on it... my grandson adores green beans. It doesn't have to be gourmet... it has to be what they want and what you know... get it? We've made this a stressful day. It should be a day of happiness, sharing a good meal with loved ones... there ya go!
Now, let's make dinner...
1. Check your oven ... okay, I got some of these ideas from Rachael Ray...set your oven at any temperature, when the indicator light says it is at that temp, put an oven thermometer in and if it is off, increase or decrease your temp from then on by the number of degrees off... for example, if your oven is set at 400 but the thermometer says 350, then set the oven 50 degrees higher next time.
2 Check your thermometer. Water boils at 212... boil some water, put the thermometer in. If it isn't right, buy a new one next time you shop.
3. Defrost your turkey in the fridge for at least 3-4 days. Nothing will ruin Thanksgiving faster than a frozen turkey on Thanksgiving morning. It is EXTREMELY UNSAFE to try and thaw the turkey in WARM water. If you must use water, use cold water that covers the turkey, change it every thirty minutes until thawed completely.
4. Check your roasting pan against the size of your turkey. If you go larger, you may have a big surprise on the big day..
5. If you are serving sliced turkey, and yours is a little dry... go to the cupboard, find some turkey or chicken broth, heat it to a low temp, and bathe the slices in the broth just before serving. No more dry turkey!
6. This one is ALL Rachael. Take the turkey out of the oven, cover it with wide heavy duty aluminum foil, and put the heaviest towel you have across it. This simple little tip will keep your turkey HOT for hours, according to Rachael..
7. Double duty... making stuffing and potato salad, etc? Go ahead and dice your onions for ALL the recipes, peel ALL the potatoes for the salad, the mashed, etc... chop the celery, peel carrots, etc. the day before and store them in ziploc bags in the veggie section of your fridge. On cooking day, all you have to do is measure, if you are anal or the recipe is specific, mix and pop in the oven...
8. Set the table the day before. Save yourself all the steps you can on that busy afternoon. Or better yet, let the kids do it...
9. Shop for non perishables a week or two early. I start my Thanksgiving and Christmas meal shopping in late Sept. I get stocked up on stock, buy the cranberry sauce (yes, I can make my own, but I like the jellied kind on a turkey sandwich and I dont want to be jonesin' for it and not have it in the cabinet), get the frozen or canned veggies (if I didn't have a garden that year), and the paper napkins, paper plates if you use them at all, etc. Move some crap outta that spare cabinet and use it for this. You can always put the crap back in after the Holidays.
10. Candles, if you use them at the table, won't drip if you store them in the fridge overnight or for about four hours before lighting them.
11. There are these great little crockery discs you can buy and put in the bottom of your bread basket, to keep your rolls warm. Inexpensive, too. Just pop them in the oven while you are cooking, take them out and wrap in a towel, put in the bottom of the bread basket and they will keep the bread warm throughout the meal. Most of them are made out of clay, like your terra cotta planters...
12. Lower the lights, light the candles and have the silver and glassware sparkling, and your table will look amazing, even with mismatched plates...
13. Buy LOTS of ziploc type bags, a few foil pans with lids or some foil, and wrap the leftovers for sharing with your guests, or for sharing a plate with a neighbor or shut in. It is so much easier to reheat dinner after shopping all day on Black Friday if you have everything that needs to be reheated in foil.. just pop in the oven, covered, heat while you wrap those bargains you just bought, and serve on paper plates... toss all the empties into the trash or recycling bin, and you have a great, quick meal with little or no clean up! If you have made a meal for a shut in, they have no clean up, either and have the added luxury of not having to worry with returning your prized casserole dish, etc. Trust me, when you have shared a meal with a neighbor, they won't mind if it isn't on your best china... they will be thrilled that you thought of them!
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