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Sunday Slow Cooker: Easy Meat Lasagna

YumSugar — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 06:30:55 -0800

New to the world of crockpots like PartySugar? Then you might not realize the capabilities that slow cookers have beyond soups, braises, and stews. It might seem counterintuitive to make lasagna in an oval crockpot, but the result will leave you (and your stomach) pleasantly surprised. Arrange browned beef, uncooked noodles, tomato sauce, and cheese in layers, proceed to tend to the rest of your life without ever having to check on the oven, and come back to a glorious Italian family meal.

Make this for dinner tonight when you read more.

Crockpot Chili Is Unbelievably Easy and Amazingly Comforting

partysugar — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:00:01 -0800

A couple of weeks ago, I didn't understand the allure of a crockpot. I was hesitant to try one, but ended up making this chili with Breville's machine. It's the perfect dish for a crockpot novice. All I had to do was dump the ingredients into the pan, turn the gadget on, and voila: hours later my house smelled wonderful and a scrumptious, filling bowl of spicy, chunky chili was in my hands.

The thing I love most about this recipe is its easy adaptability. The original version calls for black beans, but I had pinto and used those instead. Oh and did I mention that you can add the dried beans directly to the crock? They require no preliminary soaking! Seriously, if you have a slow cooker, make this chili - you won't be disappointed. Here's the recipe.

Monday's Leftovers: Bow-Tie Pasta With Chorizo & Tomatoes

YumSugar — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:00:10 -0800

Is one of your New Year's resolutions to save more money? If so, the fastest way to fatten up that piggy bank is to make a super-speedy dinner that'll double as tomorrow's lunch.

Dice up the remaining chorizo from last night's split pea soup, and toss it with bite-sized tomatoes, jack cheese, and al dente bow-tie pasta for an enticing supper that's ready in a mere quarter of an hour.

Pack the rest as the next day's budget-friendly midday meal. For a dinner that's as easy on the wallet as it is in the pan, keep reading.

Monday's Leftovers: Spaghetti With Beef Mushroom Sauce

YumSugar — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:00:03 -0800

There's a reason why spaghetti with meat sauce is America's go-to weeknight meal: it tastes like comfort, works well with a budget, and comes together quickly.

Avoid spaghetti palate fatigue with an update on the old favorite: button mushrooms, heavy cream, and parsley add a Stroganoff-like twist to a classic sauce made from leftover ground beef.

For a healthier alternative, sub whole wheat, high-fiber pasta for standard spaghetti, and swap out evaporated milk for the heavy cream. Get to know a new dinnertime favorite when you keep reading.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Hamburger Buddy

partysugar — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:15:30 -0800

With its finely chopped vegetables, ground beef, and creamy sauce, this dish is great for kids who are picky eaters. The meat, Worcestershire, and sour cream sauce mask the mushrooms, carrots, and onion.

Thanks to the familiar and fun elbow-shaped pasta, no one will notice that it's actually whole wheat. It's a wholesome, nourishing one pot meal that's sure to please parents and children alike, so get the recipe and read more.

Hamburger Buddy
From Eating Well

Ingredients

3 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
2 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
10 ounces white mushrooms, large ones cut in half
1 large onion, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 pound 90%-lean ground beef
2 teaspoons dried thyme
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 cups water
1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium beef broth, divided
8 ounces whole-wheat elbow noodles, (2 cups)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, or chives for garnish

Directions

Fit a food processor with the steel blade attachment. With the motor running, drop garlic through the feed tube and process until minced, then add carrots and mushrooms and process until finely chopped. Turn it off, add onion, and pulse until roughly chopped.
Cook beef in a large straight-sided skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the chopped vegetables, thyme, salt and pepper and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables start to soften and the mushrooms release their juices, 5 to 7 minutes.
Stir in water, 1 1/2 cups broth, noodles and Worcestershire sauce; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
Whisk flour with the remaining 1/4 cup broth in a small bowl until smooth; stir into the hamburger mixture. Stir in the sour cream.
Simmer, stirring often, until the sauce is thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve sprinkled with parsley (or chives), if desired.

Serves 6.

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Yummy Links: From Vampire Cookies to Beer-Turkey Pairings

partysugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:50:14 -0800

Celebrate the premiere of New Moon by making vampire cookies. - Baking Bites
Fabio Viviani talks turkey. - Endless Simmer
Find out why ground beef is dangerous. - The Atlantic
Are you on Team Martha or Team Rachael Ray? - The Epi-Log
Anthony Bourdain is not happy that the Travel Channel is now under Food Network's ownership. - Eater
Google has launched a new food-centric portal. - Grub Street SF
A detailed description of Guy Fieri's just launched road tour. - Eat Me Daily
Michael Chiarello on brining turkey. - Chow
Worried about what wine pairs with turkey? How about serving beer instead? - Serious Eats

Monday's Leftovers: Thai Beef With Coconut Rice

YumSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:15:44 -0800

Last night I made an Eastern European-inspired ground sirloin stew with egg noodles, and tonight I'm going to use the leftover beef to make something on the opposite end of the spectrum! I'm craving takeout, but - inspired by my recent successes - I'm going to continue my pattern of preparing Asian foods at home.

Spice up the sirloin with the help of minced garlic, lime, and Asian fish sauce, and wake up your senses with freshly-torn basil and julienned chiles. Complement the fiery protein with a soothing side of milky coconut rice. The result, which is healthier and cheaper than takeout, after the break.

Sunday Dinner: Sirloin Stew With Dill Noodles

YumSugar — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:30:02 -0800

Earlier this month, Party and I were enticed by one reader's rendition of beef stroganoff. If you, too, found yourself salivating over her creation, here's another dish that you need to bookmark! Unlike the classic course, which has sour cream and mushrooms, the ground beef in this recipe becomes a stew with the help of a roux, beef broth, and Worcestershire. Pile it on top of herbed egg noodles, serve with a salad, and you've got a speedy (and guest-worthy!) dinner. Curious? Then read more.

Monday's Leftovers: Loosemeat Sandwiches

YumSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:50:08 -0700

If you don't hail from Iowa, there's a high chance you've never heard of loosemeat sandwiches, a regional specialty that's said to have originated in Sioux City, IA in 1924. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't get to know these close relatives of sloppy joe sandwiches. Use leftover ground beef to form a crumbly, seasoned filling to go between pillowy, sweet hamburger buns. Customize the rest of your meal with condiments, cheese, and vegetables of your choice. To try your hand at loosemeat sandwiches, all you have to do is read more.

Loosemeat Sandwiches
From Saveur

Ingredients

2 lbs. ground beef
1 1⁄2 cups Chicken Stock
Salt and freshly ground pepper
8 soft hamburger buns
1 onion, peeled and chopped

Directions

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef, and cook, breaking up meat with the back of a spoon, until meat begins to fry, 12–15 minutes. Drain meat in a colander, then return it to the skillet over medium-high heat.
Add chicken stock, season to taste with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until liquid is absorbed and meat is well browned, 15–20 minutes.
Divide meat between hamburger bun bottoms, spoon some onion on each, and put other bun half on top.

Serves 8.

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Sunday Dinner: Lighter Beef Tacos

YumSugar — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:00:36 -0700

Now that Spring is here, spend less time in your kitchen and more time outside enjoying your lush new surroundings. Dinner doesn't have to be heavy on the time or the calories for it to taste good, as evidenced by this recipe for piquant, spicy beef tacos. If you're looking for a gratifying meal that'll be ready in 20 minutes, then read more.

Lighter Beef Tacos
From Everyday Food

Ingredients

1 teaspoon vegetable oil, such as safflower
1 large onion, chopped
2 bell peppers (ribs and seeds removed), chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3/4 pound ground beef sirloin
12 soft corn tortillas (6-inch)
Store-bought salsa and shredded iceberg lettuce, for serving

Directions

In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium. Add onion and bell peppers; cook until crisp-tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add 1 cup water; cook until water has evaporated and vegetables are softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
Add garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, and cumin; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add beef. Cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Season taco filling with salt and pepper. To serve, spoon filling onto tortillas, top with salsa and lettuce, and fold to enclose.

Serves 4.

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