Showing posts with label onions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label onions. Show all posts

Friday, November 20, 2009

You want easy? I got easy....

One of my biggest concerns about returning to work full time this year was the issue of meals. My shift starts at 4 eastern but it's necessary to be signed in and ready to go some time before then since there are many things to catch up with every day. That fact alone makes the kind of cooking I have done for many years nearly impossible so I've had to figure out other ways of doing things. With the help of my friend Karen, her genius and instinct, I have been able to do this. I owe this one to her. Thank you, Karen, you are incredible.
Slow cooker meals, braised dishes, along with "fend for yourself night," has made it possible to eat well without a lot of fussing. The following recipe is a staple for us, hearty, rich and flavorful without much work at all. It doesn't matter what size your potatoes are cut into just as long as the pieces are thick enough to withstand hours of cooking. Onions should be about 3/4 inch thick slices, other than that, this is pretty self-explanatory. This will serve about 4 people. Try it and enjoy...

Easy 4-ingredient Supper

  • 1 ring sausage, kielbasa is great for this, 2 inch chunks
  • 1/2 pound good quality bacon, cut into 1 - 2 inch pieces
  • 1 softball size onion (about 1 1/2 pounds of regular onions), thick cut
  • 5 or 6 large red potatoes (any kind works, actually) cut into equal size chunks
  • 1 pint ham stock
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley
  • ground black pepper

Put the bacon and sausage in a heavy frying pan, bringing heat up just until the bacon begins rendering out fat. Brown meat slightly but don't cook it all the way through. Bring ham stock to boil, reduce heat and maintain. Turn cooker to high.

While meats are browning, put half the onion slices in the bottom of your cooker. Add half the meats and half the potatoes. Sprinkle with parsley and pepper. Repeat with rest of ingredients, including bacon fat. Pour hot stock over all and cover tightly. Cook on high until stock returns to a boil, turn control to low and re-cover.

Allow this to cook for at least 4 hours, 5 or more is better and even longer won't hurt at all. Keep at least an inch of liquid in the bottom of the cooker at all times.

Serve in bowls with hearty bread and cooked cabbage if you want...

Friday, October 3, 2008

Chicken with red wine and mushrooms

This is a sneaker recipe. Goes together in a flash, no messing while it cooks, and the results are great. For those who don't like red-wine tinted chicken, use white wine... Don't put oil in the pan and don't grease it. It isn't necessary and will just make your sauce greasy.

1 whole chicken, 3 - 4 pounds, cleaned well.
1 large onion, sliced very thin.
1/2 pound portobello mushrooms, sliced.
4 garlic cloves, mashed.
3 tablespoon crushed dry oregano
1 cup dry red wine

Preheat oven to 375.
In a heavy dutch oven with lid, layer the onions, then the mushrooms, scatter on the garlic and oregano. Place chicken, breast side up, on top and pour the wine over all.

Put the d.o. on the cooktop on low to start heating the contents up. After 15 to 30 minutes, turn chicken over. Cover.

When oven is ready, place covered d.o. on middle rack. Don't remove the cover for 90 minutes then check chicken for doneness. If necessary, recover and return pot to oven.

When chicken is done remove it, placing on serving dish. Cover and let rest.

Return the pan to the cooktop, simmer remaining sauce down to desired consistency. Skim any fat. Serve beside the chicken.