Meat Pancakes

One of the things I loved as a kid was when Mom made meat pancakes. It is a great way of using up leftover roast meat. It was one of those casual meals we often had for Sunday evening dinner. I just assumed all families knew about meat pancakes. When I married Mick he’d was skeptical at first, as he’d never heard of such a thing, but he soon became a big fan of them. Often we have cold roast beef or lamb with salad for lunches but the other day when we’d had roast beef he said, ‘Make sure … Continue reading →

Beef and Mushroom Pie

I’ve been having fun since I discovered the gluten free pastry in our supermarket recently. So here’s another one for a delicious homemade meat pie. HINT This recipe contains one of my favored ingredients –lentils. Lentils are almost undetectable when added to soups, stews and casseroles as they will absorb the flavor of other ingredients, while still being are a great source of fiber and protein that contain little fat. There is no need to cook the lentils in this dish beforehand. Simply rinse them and pick out any lentils that are discolored. ONE NOTE OF CAUTION Do not get … Continue reading →

Affordable Asian-Inspired Meals

One of the best parts of going home to Hawaii is that I get to eat as much Asian food as possible. Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai restaurants can be found on practically every street corner throughout the state. The food is unbelievably delicious and the portion sizes are generous. Plus, there is nothing quite like dining on authentic Asian food in a tropical setting. Now that I’m back in the Artic… I mean, Wisconsin, I am once again reminded of how much I am missing back home. To console myself I have been making very inexpensive Asian-inspired meals in … Continue reading →

My Love of Meatloaf

My dad makes a killer meatloaf. When he pulls it out of the oven it’s not swimming in oil nor is it dehydrated and crusty like decade-old fruitcake. Rather, it’s a perfectly juicy blend of meat and spices glistening with a glaze of his secret tomato sauce. I left home after graduating from high school and have never been able to find a recipe that came anywhere close to my dad’s famous meatloaf. Boston Market’s meatloaf is quite tasty, as is the version served at The Machine Shed, but they don’t include all of the extras my dad puts in … Continue reading →

Dairy Free Recipes

It’s a pain having some sort of allergy and being unable to find recipes to suit you. Recently Angela asked for dairy free casseroles. Okay, so one isn’t a casserole here, but they are both dairy free recipes that are simple to make and of course they’re gluten free. As always, if you don’t have gluten free problem then substitute plain flour for the rice flour. Skewered Beef Ingredients 1 small onion diced 2 teaspoons sweet chili sauce 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon dried basil 2 teaspoons turmeric 1 pound beef thinly sliced 1 punnet … Continue reading →

Saturday Steak Night

Growing up, Saturday was always steak night at our house. Rarely did my parents ever serve steak on any other night. There were a couple reasons for it being that way: First, my dad worked long hours during the week and the weekend was the only time he could fire up the grill and cook steaks for our large family. The other reason had to do with the fact that steak is not cheap. Purchasing eight steaks more than once a month was simply not in the budget. So, one Saturday per month we splurged, and each of us got … Continue reading →

Rockin’ New Year’s Party Dishes

Ring in 2010 with a meal to remember. Whether it’s prime rib, a huge lobster dripping with butter or a succulent turkey, menu choices for New Year’s celebrations should be opulent and delicious. Fortunately, fancy doesn’t have to mean hard. The following recipes prove that. The Tenderloin with Bordelaise Sauce and Holiday Pork Roast don’t require professional chef skills to make. Still, the end results make stunning additions to your first dinner of the New Year. BEEF TENDERLOIN WITH BORDELAISE SAUCE Ingredients: 12-inch center cut beef tenderloin Kosher salt Fresh ground pepper 3 cloves garlic, minced, divided 4 tablespoons butter … Continue reading →

Holiday Meat and Potatoes

Steak and potatoes are a family favorite around my home, but the duo gets a makeover during the holiday season. Take a look: SIMPLE STEAK AU POIVRE Ingredients: 2 beef tenderloin steaks (8 to 12 ounces each) 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon olive oil Kosher salt 1/4 cup beef stock 1/3 cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns 1 tablespoon finely chopped Italian parsley Directions: Coarsely grind peppercorns by placing them in a Ziploc bag and using a rolling pin. Spread crushed pepper on a plate. Sprinkle steaks with salt and then coat them on both sides with pepper. … Continue reading →

Have a Merry Meaty Christmas

Meat is big at our home around the holidays. Whereas I am a huge proponent of twice weekly meatless meals, when Christmas and New Year’s roll around I give into temptation and pull out my favorite red meat recipes. The following dishes are perfect for large groups. If you are planning to host a holiday party, you might consider adding these recipes to your menu. Not only are they simple to make, but they also hearty enough to satisfy the meat lovers at your table. SPICY SLOW COOKER POT ROAST Ingredients: 3 to 5 pounds boneless beef chuck roast 2 … Continue reading →

Not Your Mama’s Meatloaf

My mother’s meatloaf is to die for. However, after eating it for more than three decades I recently decided to try a new version of the dinnertime classic. If you are looking to add some pizzazz to your next Meatloaf Night, then consider the following tantalizing recipes. The Steak Meatloaf is hearty and rich, and when you serve it with a healthy helping of Dill Potatoes you get a taste combination that can’t be beat. STEAK MEATLOAF Ingredients: 1 1/2 lbs ground beef 2 eggs 1 cup breadcrumbs 1 cup grated cheddar cheese 1 cup very thinly cut steak (filet … Continue reading →