Monthly Cooking Thread - February 2020

[Jamestown1630]

I’m very sorry to be late with this monthly post; I’ve lost an old, very longtime friend over the past week; am dealing with a household issue; and am temporarily out of ideas.

I’m tired of everything I cook; so I thought I’d open this February post up to the folks, to post their favorite recipe. Any – especially fresh, healthy – ideas?

We lost someone else, last month, too. Many of you will remember Phyllis Stokes, whose recipes and videos we’ve often posted/discussed here.

Phyllis passed away in late January, and her son posted this tribute and update:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJkP-eSyHbA

Here is the YouTube channel that Phyllis kept; may she rest in the peace she deserves, with her good man Mr. Bucky:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs9MqrsC3XI47q5uEhyS4ig

Last year, I purchased a Mountain (Appalachian) Dulcimer, and am trying to learn it. I became very interested in music again, after decades away. My only experience with stringed instruments is with very rudimentary guitar, and everyone said that the Mountain Dulcimer is the ‘easiest’ instrument to learn. But not so easy if you aspire to ever play like these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INu3UQ35yVk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJMCpkUa6NY

In my recent musical wanderings, I also discovered another instrument: the Weissenborn Guitar. Sometimes a piece that you’ve heard many times comes alive in a very different way when played on a unique instrument:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-f9bpMpddA

(The picture at the start of this post is entitled 'Feburary', and comes from the 'Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry', an illuminated manuscript created between 1412 and 1416 by Paul Limbourg.)

-JT

[leaning conservative]

Saute.....!!!!

[leaning conservative]

Do you broil with the bread crumbs on top? Do you Saute the crumbs in butter first?

I freaked out when I saw 4C ; )

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Chicken stew.

Brown some chicken in a bit of oil, remove and put to the side.

Slice up leeks, celery, carrots, mushrooms and cabbage and throw it all in the pot (I use a five quart dutch oven it is about half full at this point.) Let the veggies cook covered over low heat until tender. They should look sort of glossy and fill the pan about a third of the way up.

Add in about a tablespoon of grated garlic and ginger root. (The dried stuff does not work here). Add a tablespoon of curry powder. Let them cook about five minutes.

Add in a quart of chicken broth, a chicken bullion cube and a cup of white wine.

Let simmer uncovered for about a half hour or so.

Rough chop the chicken and add it back in along with egg noodles. Let cook for about 12 minutes.

Chop up a bunch of parsley, dill and basil. Should be about a cup or so. Slice up some cherry tomatoes, about a pint. Add to soup and stir. Let cook about another minute.

Serve with hot sauce and lime wedges.

[Jamestown1630]

My husband would love that, and it sounds wonderful.

[Iscool]

I didn’t know Phyllis but it sure seemed like I did from watching her channel...Awesome Lady...

[b4me]

4C is a brand of bread crumbs, I don’t think they meant 4cups.

So sorry for your losses recently.

You mentioned healthy ideas....
there is no set recipe - but my family calls it Giambotti (some kinda slang italian supposed to mean mixture or some thing like that)

everything is cut into 1-1&1/2 inch pieces,
any amount of each though we like more carrots for the sweetness.

onion
celery
carrots
zucchini
bell peppers any color

optional:
green beans
corn
potatoes
any veg you like.

on stove top in a medium to large sized pot - sauté the onion and some fresh chopped garlic in a little olive oil a few minutes start adding veggies one kind at a time usually celery, carrots, then add tomato sauce from a can and water it down so thin liquid.

season with mostly oregano, some salt and pepper, maybe a little thyme.

cook a bit,

add bell pepper, zucchini any other veggies and cook 20ish minutes stirring periodically till almost all tender. turn off and let sit a while so all the flavors blend.

can add cooked beans, can serve with rice or quinoa, lots of options.

we usually have the Giambotti with grated romano cheese and italian bread to soak up with liquid.

very optional dish, can add hot pepper or vary it in many ways.

but you get lots of veggies, fiber and I eat it cold or reheated and don’t feel bad about having a second bowl or having it for breakfast, lunch or dinner LOL

[BunnySlippers]

I had no idea that anyone on FR knew of Phyllis Stokes. I followed her and Mr. Bucky for years. What a lovely couple. I had no idea that she, too, had passed on.

Very sad.

[Jamestown1630]

She was a lovely, very spunky, Lady.

[metmom]

Spanakopita 350F ~35 mins

6 boxes or five bags of frozen spinach, well drained
1 pound ricotta
1/2 pound crumbled feta
8 eggs
parsley
salt to taste but may not be needed as the cheese is salty

melted butter

Phyllo leaves

Mix spinach, cheeses, eggs, and parsley well.

Place 7-8 phyllo leaves in the bottom of a baking dish. Spoon in spinach mixture then top with 7-8 more phyllo leaves. Brush top layer of phyllo leaves with butter. Place in oven and bake until top is golden brown. The spanakopita will rise some as it bakes.

The spanikopita filling freezes beautifully so you can make a big batch and freeze it for later use.

[metmom]

Beef Barley or Oxtail Soup

2 qts of beef broth
¼ C Pearl barley
Onions - diced
Celery - diced
Carrots - diced
Turnips - diced
1 Tbsp Parsley

Put broth in pot and bring to a boil.
Add: pearl barley and parsley, then turn down heat and simmer for one hour.
Add: carrots and cook for 10 minutes.
Add: Celery, turnips, and onion and cook for another 10 -15 mins until vegetables are tender

[Jamestown1630]

I LOVE Spanikopita!

I’ve been trying to make a casserole out of a stuffed-squash recipe with fresh baby spinach, sour cream and red wine vinegar that I have; but so much has happened lately that my spinach has always spoiled before I got around to trying it.

I’m going to have to investigate frozen spinach.

[mylife]

Peace Love & BBQ

[Jamestown1630]

LOL!

(Nice to ‘see’ you again :-)

[metmom]

It’s a ridiculously easy recipe and very forgiving as far as quantities go.

And when you have the frozen filling, as long as you get it out early enough to thaw out, it’s a very quick assembly. A very nutrient dense and delicious meal.

[Jamestown1630]

Thank you. I will try it.

[mylife]

Better Version.. Heck it’s all good!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=PhkJcVcE9LQ&feature=emb_logo

[Jamestown1630]

I like it :-)

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

My husband would love that, and it sounds wonderful.
*************************************

So would mine :-) He’s been eating a lot of soup lately.

Have made french onion, chicken vegetable and vegetarian black bean soup. Have also made black bean chili, topped with sour cream and grated cheddar.

[oldasrocks]

Don’t forget that new chinese cookbook. 101 way to wok your dog.

[Jamestown1630]

Well, you’re certainly a card!

(And I happen to know that you own wok-sized dogs :-)