Monday, January 19, 2009

Sunday Cooking...

So, as a child I remember my mom cooking from the time she got up til the time we went to bed on Sunday. This was her day off and she did what she loved... COOK. Now, I do leave my house on Sundays but I often find myself demonstrating those familiar habits.

Yesterday I started out with a Strata, went to Barnes and Noble, made a soup for the week, did some work, baked cookies, took a nap and then created a crock pot meal for the week. I guess some things are inherent.

Stacey (Ericka) Strata
6 eggs beaten
2 cups of half & half
salt, pepper, garlic, red
nutmeg- pinch
worshire sauce- shake
1/2 cup shredded cheddar
3 piece of wheat bread cubed
2 cups cooked sausage (I choose lean and homemade)

Layer sausage (sprinkle with red pepper) , cheese (most) , cubed bread, the pour the egg/milk/spic mixture on top and cover with remaining cheese. Refrigerate over night and bake for 45 minutes at 350.

Tuscan White Bean Soup
Navy beans (2 cups cooked)
4 cups chicken stock
1 cup water
1 boulion cube
salt and pepper to taste
fresh oregano
1 cup celery
1 cup carrots
1 cup onion
6 garlic cloves chopped
1 16 ounce can italian stewed tomatoes
1/2 bag spinach

Saute veggies (no spinach) and garlic with olive oil. Add beans, tomatoes, stock and water.
Simmer 1 hour. Add spinach and oregano. Great with crusty bread.

Jill's Salty Sweet Chocolate Chip Cookie
(great for hormonal cravings)
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 cup butter
2 and 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1.5 cups chocolate chips

Beat butter (room temp), sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time. Mix flour, salt and baking soda and set aside. Add dry ingredients slowly. Fold in chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Cover with foil and allow to cook 5 minutes after you take out of stove. Eat many!

Slow Cookin for Sassy Girls- Merlot Mushroom Roast
Okay before I give out the recipe let me tell you about the CP story.
Two years ago Scott got me a Cuisinart Stainless Steel Slow Cooker. He gifted me with it after he heard how much my friend liked hers. He knew a traditional floral Crock Pot would not fly in our house... too southern, too retro, too non-creative. To get me to use it he know went every where to find a cool piece and paid too much for a Crock Pot that did not say Crock Pot. SO- We refer to it as CP or slowcooker... there will be no Crock Pot! Now, I love it. You can be creative when you cook low and slow... I even do it with a Pot Roast (which I refer to asa Merlot Mushroom Roast... you know, it is all about the PR.)

1 London Broil or Bottom Round
salt, pepper, onion powder
1 cup merlot
1/4 cup marsala wine
12 garlic cloves
2 cups mushrooms whole
1 onion quartered
red potatoes

Heat olive oil and 6 garlic cloves in a castiron skillet until roasted. Add meat and sear each side.
Add to CP. Lift juices from pan with a marsala. Pour over roast. Add cup of merlot, 6 more garlic cloves, onion and potatoes. Slow cook for up to 8 hours. Serve with crusty bread and wine.

One day, three recipes--- You cannot say I don't keep you updated!