Beef and Barley Soup/Stew

Hearty stew that can be cooked in a couple hours on the stove top or low and slow all day in a crock pot. The crock pot version creates a creamier stew while the stove top version is more of a soup.

Beef and Barley Soup/Stew

2 pound roast, trimmed and chunked (crock pot) or cut into 3/4" pieces (stove top)

olive oil

6 cups beef broth 

2 cups water*

1-1/4 cup chopped/sliced carrots

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/3 cup chopped onion

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup quick barley (more or less as you change the dish's consistency)

1 cup frozen peas

CROCK POT VERSION:

In a stainless steel pan heat oil, then brown beef pieces.  It is not necessary to sear on all sides if you do not have the time.  Dump meat into a crock pot.  Add some of the broth to the pan to get all the bits and flavor off.  Pour it also into the crock pot.  Add the rest of the broth, (*1 cup only of water,) carrots, celery, onion, and salt/pepper.

Cook on low for 8-9 hours.  The beef should be tender.  I add  in the barley about an hour before serving.  It gives me a chance to see how much liquid is in the crock.  If I think it is too much I add more barley to soak it up a little. 

Break apart the pieces of beef if they are large and add frozen peas in and give a stir.  The heat from the stew will thaw the peas. 

STOVETOP VERSION:
In a large pot brown beef in oil.  Drain off any oil.  Stir in broth, water, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for at least an hour stirring occasionally. Add vegetables (except peas,) cover and simmer for another 45 minutes to an hour until vegetables are soft.  Stir in peas, again the heat from the soup will thaw the peas.

Carl's Wicked Awesome Bars

My husband wanted to make granola bars.  He searched for recipes that didn't contain white or brown sugar and found nothing the really suited him so he threw together this one based on several recipe ingredients he found.  He emailed me the recipe he had tested a couple times and titled the email "Carl's Wicked Awesome Bars :P" so the name stuck!  

Carl's Wicked Awesome Bars

4 cups regular oatmeal

1/4 cup milled flax seed

1/4 cup milled chia seed

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup craisins

1 cup honey

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Dash of cayenne pepper

1 Tablespoon cocoa powder

1/3 cup sunbutter

(Feel free to change up the nuts, butters, and fruits to suit your taste!)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Drizzle some olive oil on a paper towel and rub inside of 7 x 11" baking dish.

In medium bowl mix together oats, flax seed, chia seeds, and nuts.

In another bowl mix together craisins, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, cayenne, cocoa,  sunbutter.  Yes it looks a little nasty but I promise it'll be fine once added to the oats!

Pour honey mixture over dry ingredients. 

Stir until dry ingredients are completely coated. 

Dump into prepared pan.  

Press firmly into pan. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes. After you remove from oven, press them again. 

Allow them to completely cool before you cut them.  Store them in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap. 

Baked Cabbage

This recipe is my husband's mom's recipe.

Baked Cabbage

1 head of cabbage, cut up

8 ounces Velveeta, cubed

2 Tablespoons butter

2 Tablespoons flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 cups milk

1 cup bread crumbs

2 Tablespoons butter or olive oil

Bring large pot of water to boil.  Add cabbage.  Cover and cook for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile melt the butter and mix with breadcrumbs or mix the olive oil and breadcrumbs together. Set aside.

Make cheese sauce with butter, flour, salt, milk and Velveeta.  Start by melting butter, adding in flour, then slowly adding milk, stirring until it begins to thicken.  Melt in the cheese. It will seem runny but will thicken as it bakes.

Drain cabbage.

Dump half of the cabbage into a 9x13" baking dish. Pour 1/2 of the cheese sauce over.  Repeat layers. 

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. It's ok to have color like this.  It's flavor as my husband would say.

Top with buttered breadcrumbs and bake for 15 more minutes.

Honey Mustard Parmesan Baked Chicken

Honey Mustard Parmesan Baked Chicken

3 Tablespoons homemade mustard
1-1/2 Tablespoons honey

3/4 cup dry bread crumbs

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

olive oil or melted butter

Slice chicken breast halves into nice strips

or leave whole. (I slice off the back to make it even and take off the tip so it bakes more evenly.)

Dip in honey and mustard mixture.

Then in Parmesan and bread crumb mixture.  (I used my homemade goat Parm which was shredded)

Lay on greased cookie sheet.  Mist/drizzle with a little olive oil spray or drizzle with melted butter. Bake tenders at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  If you do whole pieces then bake for 25-30 minutes.

Homemade Mustard

I learned this recipe from a personal cooking class with Chef Gaby.  Check her out!!

Homemade Mustard

2 Tablespoons ground mustard (start with whole seeds, toast (optional) and grind then measure)
6 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
1-1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire (optional) -  I did not use
1 Tablespoon malt vinegar (optional) -  I did not use
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3 large egg yolks
2 Tablespoons sugar

Using a cast iron pan toast your seeds.  The main picture above was made with toasted seeds (your mustard will be darker).  This picture shows the seeds toasted.  They turned from golden yellows to a much more brown color.  Careful not to burn!!

This picture shows untoasted seeds.  You can mix and match toasted and untoasted to your taste/time preference.   Chef Gaby would use a mortar and pestle.  I do not have one yet so I use a coffee grinder that I use for spices only and gently pulsed until the balls were gone but not too powdery.

Place all ingredients over a double boiler.  The best is to use a round bottom metal bowl over a saucepan that has the water in it so you can whisk and get all the ingredients stirred   Whisk continuously until it thickens.  Takes only a short amount of time.  

Store your mustard in the fridge.  It will be very light and airy.  If you like honey mustard add some honey to your mustard.  Makes a great dip for chicken fingers.

Homemade Ricotta

Homemade Ricotta

Leftover whey from cheese

OR

1/4 cup vinegar

1 gallon milk

LEFTOVER WHEY VERSION: Turn on fire and bring on the heat! I don't stir, I just walk off.  You'll notice clumps and bits heading to the top. Drain into cheesecloth lined colander.

MILK VERSION: Heat milk until almost boiling, remove from heat and add vinegar.  It should separate.  Drain into cheesecloth lined colander.

Can be frozen and used later. Fantastic for lasagna or stuffed shells.

Homemade Mozzarella

You can easily double this recipe and save time!

Homemade Mozzarella

1 gallon whole milk (not ultra high pasteurized*)  - I use our own goat milk
1-1/4 teaspoons Citric Acid Powder (cow's milk recipe says 1-1/2 tsp)
1/4 teaspoon liquid rennet, liquid
1/2 cup cool water cool (divided in half)

salt to taste

Put the cool milk into a stainless pot, preferably a double boiler. Dissolve the citric acid into 1/4 cup of cool water. Stir into the milk. Bring the temperature of the milk to 88 degrees and remove from heat. Mix the rennet into ¼ cup cool water and stir into the milk for about 10 seconds.  Use the spoon to slow down the turning of the milk so it can rest.

Allow the milk to set for 10-15 minutes to coagulate. You should be able to press down on it and it should bounce back a little.  If you cut it with a knife it should break clean.  I always  start checking it at 8 minutes.

Using a large icing spatula cut into 1" grid vertically.

 Then use a bent ladle to cut to cut 1" horizontally.  Let rest for 10 minutes.

Place the pot of curds back onto heat and slowly bring the temperature of the curds to 108 degrees. Hold at 108 degrees for 35 minutes.  Since I use a double boiler it doesn't require much if any heat to hold that.

Stir every 5-10 minutes to keep the curds from matting together.

 They will slowly turn into a more curd like product.

Drain the curds into a colander for 15 minutes. SAVE THE WHEY for RICOTTA!!!
(While you are waiting fill a bowl with cool water. There needs to be enough to cover your cheese.) 

Place colander on a plate, sprinkle with salt.  I use about 1/2 teaspoon. Heat in the microwave for 50 seconds. Remove from microwave and work to mix the curds together. Return to microwave for another 25 seconds.

Divide mozzarella into the size you want.  Shape into balls.

 Place in cool water. Place in fridge until mozzarella is completely cool. 

I pat mine dry, then freeze on wax paper lined cookie sheets.  After they are frozen I use a vacuum seal system to put them in bags.  When thawed they are just as good as fresh.

Shredding the cheese....

for pizza!!

*The proteins in ultra high pasteurized milk have lost their ability to set into curds.

Homemade Sauerkraut

If you like sauerkraut you should try your hand at making your own.  It's easy to do and you can in it jars to have on hand for anytime.

Homemade Sauerkraut

In this ratio...

5 pounds cabbage

3 Tablespoons canning salt

As needed...Brine --1 quart water plus 1-1/2 Tablespoons salt (heated until salt dissolves, then cooled)

Buttermilk Waffles

Buttermilk Waffles                                                             Printable Recipe

1-1/2 cups flour 
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups buttermilk (or 1-1/2 T lemon juice and rest filled to 1-1/2 cups with milk)
6 Tablespoons butter*, melted
2 eggs

In medium bowl whisk together dry ingredients.  In separate bowl mix together liquid ingredients.  Add liquid to dry and whisk until thoroughly blended (batter will be thick.)  For my iron I use 2/3 cup of the waffle mixture. Each iron is different so check your directions to get a good idea how much to use.  

Close lid and cook until it is as brown and crispy as you like it.  This time I made it in a special iron. If I use a round one I break the waffles into quarters, cool them, and then freeze them.  I toss them into a gallon freezer back and for a quick snack or breakfast pop in a toaster to heat.