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...

#*@&#^$&*@(#*@#&$%

Aaaaarrrrggghhhh!

Grrrrrrrr!

ROWR!

Yeah, I am totally and absolutely pissed off.

For the 6th month in a row, the taters for Gratin Jurasien will simply NOT GET DONE!

Now, dagnabit, they were thinly sliced, soaked in changes of cold water and "pre-cooked" in a saucepan. And They Are Still Not Getting Tender. Same thing with russets, reds, boilers, yellows, every tater I have tried.

This is just so awful! I have been making Julia's gratin for years and have never had this kind of problem with the potatoes until the last 6 months or so. Is it the taters? Is it me? Is it the oven?

I don't know what it is but this problem has ruined quite a few meals. It has also ruined my peace of mind, too. How can I possibly make a good gratin when the taters simply will not cook?

If someone has an idea, I would really appreciate hearing from you. Puhleeeze?

Dinner this evening is...

chipotle marinated round steak.

Yes. Round steak. I am hoping that by cooking it slowly, very very slowly, it won't turn into shoe leather. The recipe would be much better using something else, like sirloin but as I haven't tried this particular marinade/mop before and if it turns out we don't like it I won't feel like I have wasted a lovely sirloin.

It's a simple marinade. Chipotles in adobo, oil, cumin, cilantro, garlic, onion, paprika... that's it. I suspect that it could use a dash of lime juice or perhaps some lemon zest but we will see.*

Using a tip I found on another food blog for baked potatoes. (Kalofagas post from July 31, 2008) Slicing the taters almost all the way through, pouring melted butter over then sprinkling with Montreal Steak seasoning mix, wrap in foil and bake. Will report on the results of this experiment tomorrow. Think I may go looking for some sweet corn. Maybe when Himself goes to pick up the trailer I will go along and we will hunt for some corn.


Ingredients

# 2 tablespoons oil
# 1 onion , medium diced
# 4 chipotle chiles in adobo , cut up
# 2 cups chopped tomatoes
# 1/2 cup water or tomato juice
# 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro , chopped
# 1 lemon, zest of

Directions
Heat oil in large pan and soften the onions slowly until translucent.
Add the tomatoes, chipotles and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer slowly until reduced a bit.
Remove pan from heat and let cool.
Using either a standard blender or a stick blender, puree the cooled sauce.
Add lemon zest and cilantro.