Posts Tagged ‘Food’
Written by Pineknot on 01 September 2010
To start off September’s easy dinner meals, let me introduce you to the first casserole. Guaranteed tasty, a hit with kids and teenagers and it’s a no-fail recipe!
First you need these ingredients:
I used Ziti pasta, but you can use anything. Make it curly or shells if you want to entice a picky eater.
Get your pasta started. REMEMBER salt that H20! See how much I have in my hand, and I added a bit more!
Make sure you stir that pasta, to keep it from sticking, both to the pan and to each other. I like my pasta a little bit chewy, al dente, if you want to sound I-talian…
Meanwhile cut up one small onion. Do not be afraid.
Cut up one small (or more if you like) clove of garlic. If you don’t have fresh, use 1/2 tsp of garlic powder. But, hey, be brave, buy some fresh, and see how good it is! (Good for you too!)
Put the ground meant, onions, and garlic into a skillet and start cooking. I used very lean meat. If you use something with a bit more fat or water, you may want to drain a bit of that off once you get the meat and onions and garlic nice and done.
Now it’s time… to put it all together… Add the can of Rotel Tomatoes. Keep all that juice and watery goodness, don’t drain those babies. If you are cooking for little ones, go ahead and get the not so spicy ones. But if your mainly feeding adults, give em a little capasin in their diet. It’s good for the digestion!
(Capasin is the compound in peppers that makes them hot. It’s also what you find at the health food stores in pain relief patches. And while we’re at it, research shows you get a little happy feeling just out of that spicy compound!)
Spoon in the pasta. If a little water comes with them, all the better. This dish is good when it’s juicy.
Now because we’re in the South and we are all about flavor, keep this a secret, but besides adding your standard S&P, go ahead a sprinkle liberally some Montreal Steak Seasoning… I wish I had a stake in Montreal Steak Seasoning.. its that good.
Now, one final touch, some good cheese. The harder the cheese, the better it is for you, but if you are a sucker for pasteurized and sure that your little chillin’s would like it better, shoot, go with Velveta, otherwise, I used a nice sharp cheddar.
And after 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven, voilà…
Add an easy salad and enjoy. Good leftover, late at night, or for sharing with others.
Here’s the particulars!
8 oz bag of pasta
8 oz of ground beef
1 clove of garlic, chopped
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 can of Rotel Tomatoes
Salt and Pepper (Montreal Steak Seasoning, optional)
3/4 cup of shredded cheese
Tags: Food, Food Experiments
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Written by Josh S on 04 August 2010
Inspired by his uncles, Soldier Josh creates a healthy, delicious salad, that you too can make in your own home. Step by step directions and instructions for a cool, summer recipe guaranteed to make your Mother wish she had been there when you made it… I’m just sayin’.
This stuff you might want.
Flatten the chicken breast. (Flatter is better… a roller would likely work better than say… a frying pan, serving spoon, or dead blow hammer from the garage)
Fill one side of the chicken with spinach, feta, and capers…. use more of what you like less of what you don’t.
Now the tricky part… fold the chicken and keep folding edges and pushing the filler back in repeatedly and inserting toothpicks to hold gaps closed until complete (or frustrated whichever comes first).
Grill Stuffed Chicken with high heat to sear the outside. (Helps keep them from falling apart.
Once the chicken is done grilling, wrap it really tight in aluminum foil and let it sit for 10-20 minutes depending on how patient (hungry) you are. (This is known as the Neil Huddle Wrap)
(Not pictured: Take arugula lettuce and season with salt, pepper, oil, and vinegar.) After the chicken sits unwrap the foil and admire your handiwork. After a few min of this, cut the chicken in to slices.
Plate the sliced chicken on top of the arugula salad. Make it pretty or don’t… makes no difference.
Would Gordon Ramsay approve…. well no probably not.
But I do.
(Tip: Use paper plates, towels, and aluminum foil as much as possible to minimize dishes you have to wash later.)
Tags: Food, The Lab
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Written by Pineknot on 28 February 2010
All over the prairies of Texas the lupines buds are swelling about ready to bust forth in indigo blue. I love Texas in the spring when the Indian Paintbrush and Mexican Pinwheels and winecups give only small relief from those fields of blue. I am sure Heaven’s going to have a bit of this…
So … here’s the skinny.. all you new mothers and fathers and old aunts and granny’s and gigi’s and paw paws and whoever else.. you’re all going to be compelled to go out and take a pic..
See.. been there, done that..glad I did.. would do it again…happy I did…
So I’m here to tell you the three best places to eat, if you find yourself around Hempstead in Waller County. I’m talking real good places to eat. Like out of the ordinary.
I promise.. no kidding.. these three restaurants will make your picture taking adventure and spring family outing… well, delightful, scrumptious, satisfying… and you get your pick! What I am offering here is an unbiased, tried and tasted, smorgasbord of delight for any palate.
1. In the mood for BarBQ? Try Hill Country. This is some amazing barbq…it’s always good. The chopped beef is real, the ribs are fall of the bone, and if you want, you can have ‘em pack it up for you! Kid friendly (they might even be serenaded by the owner), open Tuesday – Saturday! On Hwy 6 between Hempstead and Navasota.
2. Interested in the best fried, panko battered shrimp you have EVER had? Try T&C Seafood in the Field Store Community. (I LOVE french fries but here they got good fried rice.. fries… fried rice.. fries.. sometimes I just order both). Open every day, all day… at least I haven’t ever seen them closed.. well except that one time their propane went out. When you see the two blue water towers that say ‘Field Store’ on them, look for the little strip shopping center in the middle of nowhere. On Hwy 1488
3. When is a tea room not a tea room? When it’s in the back of a nursery next to a Hometown Ace Hardware Store in Hempstead, Texas. The Garden Cafe at the Blue Bonnet Herb Farm. This fare is hearty, homemade, scrumtous come-to-supper food. Baked Spaghetti, homemade dressing on fresh salad greens, and homemade beer batter bread… your mouth watering? If Ms. Mary Helen is serving Apple Crisp… GET IT! Only one word of explanation. OMG. Open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday. Kids would have fun on the patio.
Happy Bluebonnet hunting ya’ll.
Tags: Food
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