December 27, 2011: Ham and Corn Chowder Recipe

For Christmas dinner I prepared a big ham. Although we had nine diners that night, there were still lots and lots of leftovers. Of course, we ate ham sandwiches and had slices on crackers with cheese, but I wanted something more substantial for dinner the next night. I quickly put together this recipe using leftover Gratin Dauphinois potatoes from Christmas dinner and the ham bone. The verdict? Almost everyone said it was some of the best soup they’d ever tasted and went back for seconds. I guess it was a hit!

The ham bone I used for the base of this chowder was so big I had to cook it in a roasting pan in the oven.

Ham and Corn Chowder

One large ham bone, with meat still on the bone

1 ½ cups diced celery

1 medium-sized white onion, minced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 T. dried parsley flakes

2 t. dried thyme

2 t. freshly cracked black pepper

1 T. kosher salt

32 ounces chicken stock

3 cups water

2 cans corn, drained

4 cups Gratin Dauphinois*

2 pints heavy whipping cream

In a large Dutch oven (or roasting pan) combine ham bone, celery, onion, garlic, parsley, thyme, salt and pepper, chicken stock and water. Bring to a boil and then simmer on the stovetop for three hours (or place in 350 degree oven). Remove ham bone and let cool; remove any meat on the bone and add back to the pot. Add remaining ingredients and heat through thoroughly. If necessary, combine ¼ cup cornstarch with ¼ cup cold water and add to soup to thicken.

*You can substitute a package of prepared scalloped potatoes plus a teaspoon of dehydrated garlic.

Serves 10

December 14, 2011: Beef Stew 2 Recipe

During the winter months, soups and stews are some of our favorite family meals. Not only are they economical and easy to prepare, they’re hot and hearty and perfect for a cold winter night, along with fresh-from-the-oven biscuits or rolls.

This is a variation on the beef stew recipe I shared earlier this year that uses Lipton onion soup mix. The spices are different and it has a very unique flavor – but one I’m sure you’ll enjoy.

Spicy Beef Stew

1 T. vegetable oil

1 pound beef for stew (try a tough steak, such as top sirloin), cut into chunks

1 small white onion, cut into chunks

1 cup baby carrots, cut into thick, diagonal slices

1 cup chopped celery (use the heart and bottom half of the stalks thinly sliced)

2 small potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

¼ cup ketchup

1 14-ounce can beef broth

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

1/3 cup dry red wine

1 bay leaf

1 cardamom pod

¼ t. ground cinnamon

½ t. thyme

½ t. freshly ground black pepper

1 t. sea salt

In a Dutch oven, heat the oil to medium. Add the chunks of beef and brown on all sides. Add vegetables and cook five more minutes; turn off heat. Add remaining ingredients. Cover Dutch oven and transfer to a low (225 degrees) oven. Bake for 4 – 5 hours, until vegetables are tender and sauce thickens. Remove bay leaf and cardamom pod before serving.

Serves 4

November 21, 2011: The Secret to the Best, Juiciest Turkey Recipe

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post with my mother’s stuffing recipe, I’ve been in charge of making the Thanksgiving dinner for quite some time. It was back in 1986 that I was first pressed into service and I’ve been doing it alone ever since (which I love, by the way – cooking is the best part of Thanksgiving as far as I’m concerned!). Over the years I’ve experimented with different ways of roasting the turkey so it would come out both flavorful and moist. By far, the secret I’m about to share with you is the best way I have ever roasted a turkey.

The secret? Brining.

Just as brining chicken makes it melt-in-your-mouth moist, so does it work for turkey. The only difference is that you’re working with a bigger bird so you have to start the day before to ensure that all those wonderful flavors in the brine are incorporated in your turkey.

There are no exact measurements to this recipe; just try throwing in a handful of herbs and spices at a time, adding a bit more for a large (16 lbs. or more) turkey or less for a small (12 lbs. or under) one.

Roasted Brined Turkey

The day before roasting, clean the turkey and remove giblets. Cook and save for dressing (see stuffing recipe) or as a treat for your dogs.

Brine

Enough water to cover your turkey in brining container (at least 2 gallons)

1 ½ cups kosher salt

1/3 cup sugar

Juniper berries

Black peppercorns

Allspice berries

Whole cloves

Fresh thyme and rosemary leaves

Garlic cloves

Bay leaves

Mix together the brining solution in a large container, big enough to hold your turkey. If you can, store it in your refrigerator overnight; otherwise, if it’s cold enough (38 degrees or less), you can store the covered container outside. An ice chest works really well for this because it’s insulated and won’t allow the turkey to refreeze if left outdoors overnight.

Roasting the Turkey

The next day, remove the turkey from the brining solution (discard - I usually dump it in the yard) and pat dry. Stuff the inside cavity with slices of orange and lemon, along with smashed garlic cloves and fresh sage leaves. Place the turkey, breast side up, in a roasting pan. Take softened butter and rub it all over the skin. Sprinkle lightly with salt, pepper and poultry seasoning and cover loosely with foil. Place in low oven, about 275 degrees. Roast one half hour for every pound, removing each hour and basting with pan juices.

When drumsticks move freely and meat begins to pull away from the bone, the turkey is done. Remove it from the oven and let sit on a platter, tented with foil, for up to half an hour.

August 29, 2011: Herbs de Provence Seasoning Recipe

The end of summer is almost here and chances are, if you’ve been growing a garden, you have lots of herbs. If you’re not sure quite how to use them all, go ahead and dry them. Tie together bunches at the stems and hang upside down until completely dry.

When dry, consider combining several to make this French all purpose seasoning mix, herbs de provence.

Herbs de Provence

3 T. dried marjoram

3 T. dried thyme

3 T. dried savory

1 t. dried basil

1 t. dried rosemary

½ dried sage

½ t. fennel seeds

Combine all ingredients; store in an airtight container. Use to season chicken, vegetables and beef.

Tip: If you don’t have all of these fresh herbs, go ahead and use store-bought jars. If you wish, you can also add a half teaspoon dried lavender to the mix.

April 24, 2011: Seasoned Salt Recipe

When it comes to a really versatile seasoning you can add to just about anything, this salt mixture fits the bills. It’s great on hard boiled eggs or grilled chicken and it’s a wonderful seasoning blend to take camping (my “pantry” space is always tight when we tent camp) because you really don’t need anything else to sprinkle on steaks, baked potatoes, scrambled eggs, etc.

Try this recipe as is; if you like other flavors a bit more, adjust it to fit your personal taste. For instance, I like a stronger garlic and onion flavor so I add a bit more of those spices.

Seasoned Salt

1 cup salt
2 t. sugar
2 t. dry mustard
1 ½ t. dried oregano
1 ½ garlic powder
1 t. curry powder
1 t. onion powder
½ t. celery seed
¼ t. paprika
¼ t. thyme
1/8 t. turmeric

Combine all ingredients and shake to blend. Store in an airtight container. Makes 1 1/3 cups.

Tip: Save clean, empty spice jars from store-bought seasonings to store this homemade seasoning blend in.