Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Week 4: Crock-Pot Chili

The Recipe
1 lb round roast (I ended up using pork because beef is too expensive)
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp chili
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 large onion, chopped
1 beef bouillon cube
29 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
14.5 oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 bell pepper, chopped

Slice the roast into strips. In a large bowl combine the mustard, chili powder, garlic, salt and pepper into a paste. Add beef and toss to coat. Add beef to bottom of the slow cooker. Layer onions on top. Crush the bouillon cube and sprinkle over the onions. Add beans, bell pepper and tomatoes over everything. Cook on low for 5-7 hours.

Serve over rice or with bread with shredded cheese and sour cream for toppings.

The Verdict
Well! For once being considerate of my DH backfired! I thought 1 tbsp chili sounded like an awful lot, so instead I used diced tomatoes with chili - usually plenty spicy for him when I use it in soups and stews etc. - but even he complained that this wasn't spicy enough! I've learned my lesson, and will be adding the chili the recipe calls for when I make this next! Because I'll definitely be making it again! Other than the blandness (which could be easily sorted by adding chili at the table) it was delicious, and really easy to make too :)

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Week 3: Hoisin Turkey

The recipe
2 bell peppers, cut into bite-size pieces
2 small onions, cut into thin wedges
1 pound turkey breast, halved crosswise
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp black pepper
1dl orange juice
1dl hoisin sauce

First the substitutions.. I couldn't find turkey, so I used chicken instead. Nor did I have any hoisin sauce, so I used teriaki sauce instead. The rest is as listed though.

Place bell pepper and onion in a slow cooker; place turkey on top and sprinkle with garlic and black pepper. In a cup, combine orange juice and hoisin sauce; pour over all. Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours.

Serve with rice.

The Verdict
I only discovered when I came to get the meal, that I'd accidentally cooked the meal on MED instead of on LOW for 4 hours. The chicken turned out to be lovely tender and moist though - not dry at all - so I guess no harm was done :)

One of the better crock-pot meals I've tried. It smelled fantastic while cooking, and tasted great too, although the taste of garlic was slightly overpowering. I think I'll use less next time and make sure it's fully submerged in the liquid, rather than lying on top of the chicken.

Other than that really good, and I didn't even need the chilli sauce to make it taste of something ;)

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Week 2: Italian Chicken Chowder

The Recipe
1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
1 pound chicken breast, chopped
2 14.5-oz can stewed tomatoes, undrained
2 cup chicken broth
1 medium zucchini, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 cup elbow macaroni, uncooked
2 tsp basil
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Heat the dressing in a large pan or wok. Add chicken and cook for 5-10 minutes until done. Add broth, stewed tomatoes, zucchini, macaroni and basil. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and let the chowder simmer for about 8 minutes or until macaroni is tender. Add cheese and stir until melted.

Can be served with rice if it needs to be stretched.

The Verdict
I loved it :) Cooking the chicken in the dressing gave it a wonderfully tangy taste, and it turned out nice and moist - not dry at all. I added about a spoonful of sugar at the very end, as it was bordering being too tangy, but I'm not entirely sure it needed it... a blob of milk might have worked just as well.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Week 1: Cheese-Sausage Pie

A reeeally easy recipe for the first one of the year...

The Recipe
4 eggs
1 2/3 dl cream
2 tbsp shredded parmasan
6 slices of salami or similar sausage (I used chorizo)
1 tbsp fresh basil.

Chop up the salami and basil into smaller pieces.

Mix together the eggs and cream and add the parmesan, salami and basil. Pour the mix into an ovenproof dish and bake it at 180C for 25 minutes.

The Verdict
"Pie" is most definitely a misnomer here - this was absolutely an omelet! And as thus great for breakfast, but decidedly misplaced for the tapas plate it was meant for. I might make it again if I was serving brunch though.

Best of 2011

Well, what would you know... I actually managed to complete this for the second year running! I know that I left out two weeks back in April, but since I weren't even in the country for those two weeks, I think that's acceptable, and still count my goal reached.

Trying out new recipes can hardly be called a resolution any longer - it has become a hobby. I love experimenting, and while most have been merely average (and an unfortunate few were decidedly BAD!) I did end up with some very nice additions to my repetoir.

So with no further ado, here are the best recipes of 2011:

Garlic shrimp
Mushy Mushy Chocolate Cake
Parmesan Chicken
Honey BBQ Chicken
African Peanut Soup
Chicken with Bacon and Pesto
Orange Pork Chop
Mexican Chicken Lasagna
Spring Chicken
Cashew Chicken
Roasted Asparagus

But I'm only just getting started here...

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Sides

Bacon-Cheddar Biscuits
Baked Eggs
Baked Zucchini Sticks
Braised Carrots
Broccoli Fries
Carrot Fries (Airfryer)
Cheese Pancakes
Creamed Corn
Crispy Edamame
Garlic Bread
Garlic Bread (Airfryer)
Garlicky Grilled Corn
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Marinated Bell Pepper
Mashed Potato Patty Cakes
Microwave Potato Chips
Roasted Asparagus
Roasted Mushrooms (oven)
Roasted Mushrooms (pan)
Rucola with Pistachios and Chocolate
Southwestern Bean Salad
Spanish Carrot Dish
Steamed Cauliflower Mash
Sweet Potato Fries
Tomato-Pepper Casserole
Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Vegetable Gratin
Watermelon Salad

Drinks, Cakes and Desserts

Caramel Ice Cream
Cheesecake with Raspberries
Chocolate Horns
Chocolate Ice Cream with Baileys
Chocolate Ice Cream with Nuts
Chocolate Peanut Lava Cake
Coconut Cookies
Crunchy Apple Pie
Eggnog
Elder Flower Ice Cream
Giant M&M Cookies
Jordan's Cookies
M&M Cookies
Mocha Ice Cream
Mushy-Mushy Chocolate Cake
Nell's Nutella Cookies
Nutella and Peanut Butter Brownies
Oatmeal Cookies with White Chocolate and Freeze-Dried Raspberries
Orange Ice Cream
Orange Sorbet
Pavlova
Peach Orange Sorbet
Picnic Cake
Potato Chip Cookies
Raspberry Cheese Cake
Raspberry Cheese Cake Ice Cream
Raspberry Lemonade
Rhubarb Crumble
Strawberry Ice Cream
Strawberry-Melon Smoothie
Strawberry-Raspberry Smoothie
Vanilla Ice Cream w. Chocolate & Almonds
Watermelon Ice Cream
Watermelon Lemonade

Misc

Baked Potato Buffet
Burning Love
Casserole
Chorizo Casserolle
Christmas Recipes
Crisp Tortilla Towers
Croissant Rolls
Curried Veggies and Rice
Danish Omelette
Empanadas
Fajita Casserole
Huevo Rancheros
Jamaican-Style Beans and Rice
Loaded Potato Salad
Meatballs with Chili and Curry
Mexican-Style Beans and Rice
Omelet with Tomatoes and Cheese
Oven-baked Meatballs
Pasta Gratin
Pepperoni Roll
Pizzadillas
Potato Quiche
Puff Pastry Roll
Risotto with Mushrooms
Risotto with Tomatoes and Basil
Sausage & Potato Bake
Smothered Beef Patties
Spanish Brunch
Spicy Penne with Bell Peppers
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Stuffed Bell Peppers w. breadcrumbs, capers and olives
Stuffed Bell Peppers - Philly Style
Sweet and Spicy Grilled Cheese
Texas Dry Rub
Tortillas Pizza
Tortillas Torte

Crock-pot

Beef
Beef Curry
Beef Bourguignon
Crock-pot BBQ
Crock-pot Beef Stew
Kizzy's Crock-pot Stew
Lori's Crock-pot Chili
Mongolian Beef

Chicken
Apple BBQ Chicken
BBQ Chicken
Chicken Parmesan
BBQ Crock-pot Chicken
Braised Crockpot Chicken
Butter Chicken Crockpot
Café Chicken
Cheesy Chicken
Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce
Chicken Korma
Chicken Philly Sandwiches
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Crockpot Cajun Chicken
Crockpot Cashew Chicken
Crockpot Chicken-Curry
Crockpot Chicken with Cashews
Crock Pot Chicken Indonesian
Crockpot Easy-Peasy-Cheesy Chicken
Honey-Garlic Chicken
Crockpot Tuscan Chicken
Easy Chicken Tikka Masala
Ethiopean Chicken Stew
Garlicky Parmesan Chicken
Hoisin chicken
Honey Garlic Chicken
Indian Crockpot Chicken
Italian Chicken
Lemon-Honey Chicken
Moroccan Chicken
Orange Chicken
Southwestern Chicken
Southwestern Chicken and Bean Soup
Sun-Dried Tomato and Chicken Pilaf

Misc
Crocked Maple Salmon
Crockpot Fajitas
Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
Slow Cooker Nachos
Sweet Chilli
Vegetarian Chilli
Vegetarian Sloppy Joes

Pork
Asian Peanut Butter Pork
BBQ Pork Tenderloin
Brassiered Pork
Cajun Pork
Caroline Crock Pork
Honey Glazed Ham
Honey Parm Tenderloin
Italian Crock-pot Pork Chops
Peking Pork
Pulled Pork
Tex Mex Pork Wraps

Soup
African Peanut Soup
Basil-Tomato Soup
Crockpot Thai Curry
Orange Chicken Soup

Soup

African Groundnut Stew
Baked Potato Soup
Beijing Soup
Butternut Squash Soup
Chicken Chili
Chicken-Noodle Soup
Chicken Ramen
Chickpea Soup
Coco Lime Soup
Coconut Curry Soup
Corn and Chorizo Chowder
Corn, Sausage and Pepper Chowder
Eggs 'n' Bacon Ramen Noodle Soup
Fiesta Avocado Soup
Fungi Soup
Goulash Soup
Ham and Potato Corn Chowder
Hungarian Goulash Soup
Jerusalem Artichoke Soup
Loaded Potato Soup
Mexican Soup
Onion Soup
Pepper Steak Soup
Pseudo-mulligatawny Soup
Red Curry Soup
Roasted Red Pepper and Avocado Soup
Spanish Bell Pepper Soup
Spicy Bean Soup
Squash Soup
Stuffed Pepper Soup
Tex-Mex Chicken Soup
Thai Curry Soup
Thai Peanut Chicken Noodle Soup
Tomato-Pepper Soup
Tomato Soup with Garnishes
White Chicken Chili

Pasta / Stir-Fry

Asian Bow-Tie Pasta Salad
Avocado Mac and Cheese
Butter Garlic Noodles
Caramelized Wok
Cheesy Pasta
Chorizo Pasta
Creamy Pasta Casserole
Creamy Spaghetti Cabonara
Eggplant Pasta
Fettuccine Alfredo
Mac and Cheeseburger
Nudel-Auf-Lauf
One Pot Wonder
Oriental Wok
Pasta Cabonara
Pasta Dish with Sausages
Pasta Parmasan
Pasta with Bell Pepper
Pasta with home-made pesto
Pasta with Pesto and Asparagus
Pasta with Pesto and Walnuts
Pasta with Tomatoes and Squash
Ravioli w. Garlic Cheese Sauce
Red Curry Wok
Red and Green ravioli
Red/Yellow rice
Spaghetti Puttanesca
Spicy Sausage Pasta
Stir-Fry ala Jonna
Tomato-Basil Chicken Pasta
Traditional Stir-fry

Fish

Asian Fish
Salmon with Honey-Cashew Crust
Salmon Lasagna
Salmon w. Mango
Salmon Poached in Elder Flower Juice
Fettuccine Salmon
Garlic-Chili Shrimp
Garlic Shrimp
Greek shrimp pasta

Pork

Adobo Pork Tenderloin
Apple-Celery Stuffed Pork Chops
BBQ Pork
Cajun Schnitzel
Cuban Spicy Pork
Exotic Pork Tenderloin
Fast and Easy Bean Stew
Fried Pork with Parsley Sauce
Frikadeller
Garlic Pork Chops w. Cheese
Ham w. Apple/Horseradish Sauce
Honey Mustard Pork Chops
Indonesian Sweet and Sour Pork
Italian Stew
Lasagna with Rocket Salad, Ham and Mushrooms
Marinated Flank Steak
Mexican Chorizo
Mexican Pork Chops
Orange Pork Chop
Pork Chops Diablo
Pork Marinara
Pork Tenderloin in Mushroom Sauce
Salsa steaks
Satay Pork with Peanut Sauce
Sausage Sizzler
Schnitzles Provencale
Shepherd's Pie
Slow Jambayala
Spanish Pot Roast
Spicy Crusted Pork
Tandori Tenderloin
Tenderloin with Pesto

Beef

Bacon Double Cheese Burger Salad
Beef Meatballs with Tomato Salad and Mushrooms
Beef Thick Flank
Beef with Ginger and Bell Pepper
Boeuf Bourguignon
Cheesy Enchilada Casserole
Chili Mac and Cheese
Easy Beef-Bean Burrito
Easy Taco Casserole
Elbow Macaroni Caserolle
Greek Gyros
Honey-Mustard Beef Patties
Italian Pot Pie
Macaroni mince
Mexican Beef Patties
Mini Meatloafs
Nacho Potatoes
Pepper Steak
Steaks with Red Wine Sauce
Tacos Salad
Tangy Steak Salad
Tex-Mex Chili
Tex-Mex Meatloaf

Chicken

Almond Chicken
Asparagus Stuffed Chicken
Bacon Chicken with Salsa
Baked Chicken Fries
Baked Chicken Legs
Baked Chicken Parmesan
Baked Chicken Tapenade
Baked Honey Mustard Chicken
BBQ Chicken
BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Cashew Chicken
Chicken Curry
Chicken Fajita Nachos
Chicken Shepherd's Pie
Chicken With Bean Sprouts
Chicken Marsala
Chicken Parmesan Cupcakes
Chicken Parm Stuffed Bell Peppers
Chicken Nicosia
Chicken Pasta Italiano
Chicken Stir-Fry
Chicken Thai Nachos
Chicken Valdostano
Chicken w. Mushrooms and White Wine Sauce
Chili Chicken Cashew
Chinese Chicken
Creamy Jalapeno Chicken
Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Crispy Chicken Cordon Bleu
Firecracker Chicken
Greek Pasta Salad
Herbed Chicken
Honey BBQ chicken
Honey-Mustard Chicken
Honey-Mustard Chicken coated in breadcrumbs
Honey-Mustard Chicken with Pretzels
Indian Chicken
Indonesian Chicken
Italian Chicken Chowder
Jalapeño Chicken
Lemon chicken
Maltese Chicken
Mediterranean Chicken
Mediterranean Roasted Chicken
Mexican Chicken Casserole
Mexican Chicken Lasagna
Mexican Torta
Mum's Mexican Chicken
One Pot Fajitas Pasta
Oven Baked Chimichangas
Parmasan chicken
Peanut-crusted Chicken
Pesto chicken
Salad Chicken Tacos
Salsa Chicken
Sheep Pan Chicken Nachos
Skillet Chicken
Smothered Chicken
Southwestern Turkey
Smothered Jalapeno Chicken
Spicy Cajun Chicken
Spicy Raspberry-Honey Chicken
Spring Chicken
Squash Nachos
Sweet and Spicy Chicken
Sweet Chili Chicken Salad
Tacos con Chicken
Tuscan Chicken
White Chilli