Christina's Slow Cooker Herbed Beef Stew (or Roast)

1 1/2 pounds cubed beef stew meat (or roast)
4 carrots, sliced
3 potatoes, cubed
2 onions, diced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp pepper
1 C water, 2 cubes beef bouillon
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 garlic clove
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried marjoram

If making stew, toss meat with 1 cup flour. Otherwise, just put everything in the crock pot and mix well. Cover and cook 4-6 hours on high or 10-12 hours on low.

Christina's Parmesan Fries

from playwithsugar.com

1 pound of medium russet potatoes (approx 3 medium potatoes)
1 1/2 TBSP of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 tsp Dried Thyme
1/4 tsp Dried Oregano
1/8 tsp Dried Rosemary
1/4 tsp of Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp of Old Bay Seasoning
2 TBSP of Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

*Preheat oven to 425.
*Wash and cut potatoes into 1/8ths.
*Place on a cookie sheet that has been lined with foil (I used Reynolds Release foil so that they will not stick, but you could also either use non-stick cooking spray or lightly grease the top of the foil with extra virgin olive oil).
*Mix all of the spices and the parmesan cheese in a small bowl.
*Place all of the potatoes (remember we are talking about one pound at a time) into a gallon size freezer bag, add olive oil and the parmesan cheese/spice mixture to the bag.
*Seal the bag and shake until the potatoes are evenly coated.
*Once thoroughly coated dump onto the prepared cookie sheet and spread in a single layer.
* Bake 30-45 minutes or until tender and lightly golden brown. (Baking times will vary depending on the amount of fries that you make and the size that you cut them). For the ones shown in the picture they were baked at 425 for 45 minutes.

Christina's Ham, Potato and Leek Soup

from Simply Recipes by Elise

2 Tbsp unsalted butter
4 cups thinly sliced leeks, white and light green parts only
4 cups chicken broth
2 large russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
2 cups ham, diced
1/4 cup cream or half and half (optional)
Salt to taste
3 Tbsp fresh parsley, chives or dill, chopped

1 Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks, cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chicken broth, potatoes and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium high heat.
2 Reduce heat; cover and simmer 25 minutes or until vegetables are very tender. Using a blender or food processor, working in batches, process until smooth.
3 Stir in diced ham and cream. Season to taste with salt. Garnish with parsley, chives or dill.

Christina's Cod in a Sack

adapted from Rachael Ray

parchment paper
2 Yukon gold potatoes, thinly sliced
1 bulb fennel, cored and thinly sliced
1 large onion, thinly sliced
4 large cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup chopped red or other bell peppers
2 pounds cod fillets, cut into 4 portions (get thick pieces from the center cuts rather than tail-end pieces)
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, a generous handful, chopped
Extra-virgin olive oil, for generous drizzling
1 lemon
Crusty bread, to pass at table

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Rip off 4 sheets of parchment paper, each a little over a foot long.

Saute potatoes, onions and bell peppers for a few minutes until barely soft. Add garlic and saute one more minute.

Make layered stacks dividing the potato mixture, fennel, and cod among the parchment pieces, working in the center of each piece of paper. Season the cod with salt and pepper and top with parsley. Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil liberally over the fish portions. Fold the top and bottom edges together and crease several times then crease up the ends of the packets. Arrange the packets on the baking sheet and place in the center of the hot oven.

Bake packets 20 minutes. Serve a packet per dinner plate and cut open at table. Cut lemon into wedges and serve to squeeze down over the hot fish. Pass bread to mop up the cooking juices in the sack.

Christina's Curry Soup with Cauliflower

adapted from Angry Chicken

1-2 yellow diced onions
4-5 Yukon gold potatoes cubed
1 head cauliflower chopped
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cayenne
salt and pepper
lemon juice for 1 lemon
2 cups chicken broth
coconut milk

In a bit of olive oil, saute the onions about 5-7 minutes. Add the spices and the potatoes and saute another 5 minutes. Add the chopped cauliflower. Then add the broth and a bit of water--you need to cover everything. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer and cover. If you are in a hurry this will take about 40 minutes to cook, otherwise I let it simmer all day. Puree with the stick blender and then add the lemon juice and enough milk to change the color and make it creamy. Taste and add more salt/pepper/cayenne as needed.

Christina's Broccoli, Red Pepper and Cheddar Chowder

from Epicurious

• 1 small head broccoli (1/2 pound)
• 1 large boiling potato (1/2 pound)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• l large garlic clove, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 6 oz sharp Cheddar, coarsely grated (1 1/2 cups)
  

Discard tough lower third of broccoli stem. Peel remaining stem and finely chop. Cut remaining broccoli into very small (1-inch) florets. Cook florets in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking, then drain. Reserve 3 cups cooking water for chowder.
Peel potato and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Cook potato, onion, bell pepper, broccoli stems, and garlic in butter in a 3- to 4-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add cumin, salt, pepper, and mustard and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add flour and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add reserved cooking water and simmer (partially covered), stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in cream and cheese and cook, stirring, until cheese is melted, then season with salt and pepper.
Purée about 2 cups of chowder in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids) and return to pot. Add florets and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 2 minutes.

Christina's Breakfast Tacos

from $5 Dinners

10-12 eggs
4-5 small potatoes, peeled and diced
1-2 Tbsp olive oil
Salt/pepper
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup salsa
8 corn or flour tortillas

In large skillet, add olive oil and let warm for 1 minute. Add peeled and diced potatoes with salt and pepper to taste. Saute for 6-8 minutes, stirring often. (Add a little water to help them cook faster!) Season with other favorite seasonings if you like!

In bowl, whisk together eggs. Add a few dashes of salt and pepper. Pour over the potatoes after they have been cooking for 6-8 minutes. Cook eggs with potatoes and scramble them as they cook.

Warm tortillas in oven wrapped in foil or tortilla warmer (so they don't get crispy!).

Serve potato/eggs with cheese and salsa in a warm tortilla!

Christina's Clam Chowder

from Aubrey Bowman Bardsley

1 c onion, chopped
1 ½ c celery, diced
2 ½ c potatoes, diced
6 oz clams, minced
¾ c flour
¾ c butter, melted
1 quart milk
1 ½ t salt
2 T red wine vinegar

Put vegetables in saucepan. Drain juice from clams into vegetables, saving clams for later. Add enough water to barely cover vegetables. Cover & cook until tender. In separate saucepan, make a roux of butter & flour. Add milk, stirring constantly until thick. Add salt, vinegar, and clams to sauce. Pour sauce over vegetables & simmer (do not boil).

Makes 8 servings.

Christina's Veggie Frittata with Cilantro Chile Sauce

Cilantro Chile Sauce
2 large cloves garlic
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1 small bunch cilantro
1 green (serrano) chile, seeds removed
2 pinches ground cumin
a couple big pinches of salt

Frittata

6 large eggs
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow onion, chopped
3 small potatoes, very very thinly sliced
1/2 cup yellow zucchini or cauliflower,1/2-inch pieces
1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted
couple pinches of salt

Preheat your oven to 450F degrees. Make the cilantro chile sauce by pureeing the garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, cilantro, chile, cumin, and salt until very smooth. Taste and add more salt if needed. Set aside.

In a medium bowl whisk the eggs with a small pinch of salt. Set aside. In a (small) 8 1/2-inch ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat add the olive oil, onion, and another pinch of salt. Saute, stirring constantly, until the onion starts to brown, 5 - 7 minutes. Add the potatoes and zucchini (or cauliflower), cover, and cook for another 3 minutes or so. Slide everything out of the skillet onto a plate and set aside.
Turn down the heat a bit. Using the same skillet, add the eggs and cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes or until the eggs are just set and there isn't a lot of liquid running around the pan. To facilitate this, run a spatula underneath the sides of the frittata and tilt the pan so the uncooked eggs run to the underside and cook. Drizzle the eggs with a few tablespoons of the cilantro chile sauce, now sprinkle the potato onion mixture over the top.
Place the skillet in the oven and bake for about 9 minutes, or until well set and puffy. Add a crumble of goat cheese and the pumpkin seeds across the top of the frittata in the final 2 minutes of baking. Remove from oven (be careful the handle is hot!), cut into wedges and serve.

Christina's Glazed Chicken and Vegetables

Ingredients
1 2 1/2- to 3-pound whole broiler-fryer chicken
Cooking oil
2 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered
6 carrots, bias cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup prepared mustard
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
2 teaspoons curry powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 medium apples, cored and cut into wedges

Directions
1. Skewer chicken's neck skin to back. Tie legs to tail. Twist wing tips under back. Place chicken, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan; brush with cooking oil.
2. Insert an oven-going meat thermometer into center of an inside thigh muscle, making sure bulb does not touch bone. Roast, uncovered, in a 375 degree F oven for 1 hour.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan cook potatoes and carrots in a large amount of boiling water for 20 to 25 minutes or until nearly tender; drain.
4. For glaze, in a small saucepan combine honey, mustard, margarine or butter, onion, curry powder, garlic salt, crushed red pepper, and ginger. Bring to boiling, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; set glaze aside.
5. Discard fat in roasting pan. Arrange potatoes, carrots, and apples around chicken in pan. Spoon glaze over chicken, vegetables, and apples. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes more or until meat thermometer registers 180 degree F. At this time, drumsticks move easily in their sockets and chicken is no longer pink. Remove chicken from oven; cover and let stand 10 minutes before carving. Makes 6 servings.