It's time to continue talking about *Comfort Food*. Growing up or later in life, there are those family meals that stir memories of good times spent together at the dinner table. While my family had those favorite meals that we had often...maybe too often for my tastes...those meals stayed in the back of my mind when I got out on my own.
Eventually I wanted those meals again but not prepared in the same old way. I didn't want to just open a can of this and a can of that and mix them all together. I wanted to make them from scratch. These are some of those meals...
*Meatloaf*
(My cousin Judy's favorite)
INGREDIENTS
8 oz garlic-flavored croutons
1/2 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 onion, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and finely diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 egg
18 oz ground chuck
18 oz ground sirloin
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
FOR GLAZE
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tsp ground cumin
dash Worcestershire sauce
dash hot sauce
1 tsp honey
Preheat oven to 325 degrees
In a food processor combine croutons, black pepper, cayenne, chili powder and thyme. Pulse until fine. Put the mixture in large bowl. Combine the onion, carrot, and garlic in processor and and pulse but not puree. Combine ground meats, vegetable mix, and bread crumb mixture. Add salt and egg.
Pack this into 10-inch loaf pan or form into a loaf on baking sheet.
Place in oven. Combine glaze ingredients and brush on meatloaf after it has cooked for about 15 minutes. Cook until firm and internal temp is 155.
One of the nice things about a meatloaf is the leftovers. Leftover meatloaf makes a great sandwich...
As a family I remember having Sloppy Joes alot. It was one of the old man's favorites and it was fairly inexpensive. I like sloppy joes but not with a can of "Manwich" and some ground beef.
*Sloppy Joes*
This might seem strange to someone who grew up in the south...I never had Banana Pudding until I met Vickie. It's true! It doesn't matter if you use instant vanilla pudding or the recipe on a box of "Nilla Wafers" it's a great dessert. Here's a Pakistani twist on Banana Pudding...
*Coconut Banana Pudding*
Of course, just about everyone likes Pizza. Growing up on the south side of Chicago we had our pizzas delivered by our local Pizzeria. Now it's Pizza Hut or Dominoes and they are great. But, there something special about a homemade pizza...
*Pizza Sauce*
INGREDIENTS
25 to 28 tomatoes
2 large onions, minced
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tbs olive oil
2 tbs lemon juice
1 tsp fresh cracked pepper
1 tbs sugar
2 tbs parsley, chopped
1 tbs dried oregano
1 tbs dried basil
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp celery seed
2 tsp kosher salt
Method : Peel and puree tomatoes. Put olive oil in a large, deep pan and saute onions & garlic until transparent. Add tomato puree and rest of ingredients. Stir to blend and cook over low heat until mixture is reduced by half. This should take about 2 hours.
*note : You may can the sauce for future use.
*Pizza Dough*
Another of my family favorites and probably one of yours is homemade cookies. My mom always made Chocolate Chip cookies and when I met Vickie, one of her favorite cookies was Peanut Butter. I always liked Oatmeal cookies. So for Vic and me...I make a cookie for both of us...
*Peanut Butter-Oatmeal Cookies*
INGREDIENTS
2 1/4 cups AP flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temp
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 2/3 cup quick-cooking oats
1. Preheat oven to 350 degree. Combine peanut butter and butter in mixing bowl.
2. Add brown sugar and white sugar...Beat until light and fluffy...
3. Add eggs one at a time, until completely mixed in batter. Add vanilla and mix again...
5. Add quick-cooking oats and mix again until just combined...
6. Using a small cookie scoop or tablespoon drop cookie dough on a cookie sheet about two inches apart. Bake for 10-15 minutes at 350 degree. Let cool 10 minutes then transfer to cooling rack...
Makes about 90 cookies, so freeze some or share with family & friends.
In my senior year in high school I went to England...where my mom was born and raised. On this trip I discovered 2 things...Pubs and Scones. Later at "Murhpy's Restaurant" in Atlanta, where I worked in the bakery on weekends, I first made scones. They are no harder to make than biscuits but have their own charm...
*Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Scones*
INGREDIENTS
2 cups AP flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp kosher salt
6 tbs unsalted butter, chilled
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup hazelnuts, chopped
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly butter a 9-inch circle in the middle of a baking sheet.
2. In a large bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut butter into 1/2-inch cubes and distribute evenly over flour mixture. Cut butter into flour. Stir in buttermilk, egg, and extract. Stir in chips and hazelnuts. The dough will be sticky.
3. Spread the dough on baking sheet and cut with a serrated knife into wedges.
4. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until top is lightly brown. Transfer to cooling rack. Serve warm or cool completely and store in airtight container.
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