Holiday Side Dishes

As you can see from last week's blog, I'm in "Holiday" mode for a few weeks.  This week I have "Side Dishes" to go with that special entrée you're serving this year.

Holiday meals can come with quite a few side dishes.  After all, we treat the big meal on our major holidays as a feast.  Some folk may have as many as half a dozen different side dishes for the dinner.  I'm going to offer two and both deal with potatoes.  If you are looking for some other type of side dish or even a different potato dish, I have more than enough on the recipe tabs at the top of this page.
Be sure to check them out too.

For Wednesday, I have a "Twice Baked Potato Casserole" for you to try.  It gives you the taste and look of the individual ones that take so much work.  This is quite easy in comparison.  You could also take a little of the mixture and put it in a piping bag.  Then pipe a fancy top on the casserole to give it more of a festive look.

I need to bring up that since I now live in Minnesota, I should be calling this a "Hot Dish" and not a "Casserole" as titled.  Having just read an article on Minnesota and their unique use of "Hot Dish" as a term for anything in a 9x 13 baking dish that goes in the oven.  Although technically, a "Hot Dish" is to contain a protein, starch and a "Cream of" any kind of soup from what I read.  So if you live in Minnesota and make this recipe or share it with someone, please change "Casserole" to "Hot Dish" in the title.  Thanks.

"Mashed Root Vegetables" is the recipe for Thursday.  It starts with "Potatoes" but we add "Parsnips" and "Turnips" to them.  These last two ingredients are big fall vegetables that don't get all the playing time others one do.  But they have great flavor and are versatile too.  Besides working well in this recipe, they are great roasted by themselves or with other vegetables.  If you haven't tried them before, you don't know what you're missing.  Give them a try and they are budget friendly too.

Again, I'm just trying to give you some new ideas to try for this year's holidays or any other special meal you have going.  So give them a try and "Happy Cooking" until next week.

Don't forget to spread the word on my food blog too.  Thanks.

Mustard Crusted Lamb

Mustard Crusted Lamb

(6 servings)

 

Ingredients:

6 individual Racks of Lamb (see note)

2 tsp. Dijon Mustard

2 tbsp. Fresh Parsley, chopped

4 oz. Fresh White Breadcrumbs

1 oz. All-Purpose Flour

½ tsp. Tomato Puree

3 ½ oz. Red Wine

12 oz. Beef Broth

1 tbsp. Fresh Rosemary, chopped

Directions:

Spread the mustard on each of the racks of lamb.  Mix the parsley and breadcrumbs together (can use food processor for this) and place in a flat pan.  Press the breadcrumb mixture all over the mustard coated lamb.  Now place the lamb racks on a rimmed baking sheet and put in a pre-heated 400 degree for 18 to 20 minutes.  Remove from baking sheet and place on a serving platter tented with foil to rest.  Take the baking sheet and place on direct heat on top of stove after removing as much grease as possible.  Scatter the flour over the sheet and mix quickly until flour gets a dark brown color.  Turn down the heat to medium and add the tomato puree.  Mix thoroughly before adding the wine and broth.  Whisk continuously as mixture thickens.  Bring to a boil and then pour through a fine sieve into a clean saucepan.  Boil mixture for 4 to 5 minutes and allow to reduce.  Add the fresh rosemary and continue another minute or two.  Serve the lamb racks with the sauce on the side.

Note:               You want the individual racks to be 2-3 bones each.  Also, ask your butcher to French trim them for you.  This peels all the fat off the bones and leaves the bones exposed and the meat easier to obtain.

Note:               The 18 to 20 minute time may not bring the lamb to a degree of doneness that you like.  It will be close to medium-rare.  Leave it in the oven for a few minutes longer if you prefer it a little more done.

Ideas for Future Efforts

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Holiday Brisket & Onions

Holiday Brisket & Onions

(12 servings)

 

Ingredients:

2 tsp. Kosher Salt

1 tsp. Black Pepper

2 tsp. Chopped Thyme

1 tsp. Chopped Oregano

1 tbsp. Sweet Hungarian Paprika

6 lb. Flat-cut Beef Brisket

½ cup Dried Porcini Mushrooms (1/2 oz.)

1 cup Hot Water

3 tbsp. Pure Olive Oil

2 cups Dry Vermouth (or white wine)

1 cup Chicken Broth

2 cups Canned Italian Tomatoes, chopped

3 Bay Leaves

4 medium Yellow Onions, thinly sliced

3 tbsp. Fresh Garlic, chopped

Directions:

In a small bowl combine salt, pepper, thyme, oregano and paprika.  Rub this all over the brisket (can be done the night before).  Next, in a medium heatproof bowl, cover mushrooms with the hot water and set aside to soften for 20 minutes.  Remove mushrooms from liquid, rinse and coarsely chop.  Reserve the soaking liquid too.  Using a large enameled cast-iron casserole or Dutch oven, heat oil to shimmering over moderately high heat.  Add the brisket, fat side down, and cook until well browned on each side (8 minutes per side).  Transfer to a platter and pour off excess grease from casserole.  Add the vermouth, broth and reserved soaking liquid (stop before you reach grit at bottom of soaking liquid) to casserole.  Scrape up the browned bits on bottom and then add tomatoes, mushrooms and bay leaves.  Return brisket to casserole, fat side up.  Scatter the onions and garlic over meat and into liquid and bring to a boil.  Cover and place in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for one hour.  Uncover and continue in oven another 30 minutes.  Now spoon onions on top of brisket and return to oven for another 30 minutes to brown onions.  Push some of the onions back into liquid, cover and continue for 2 hours more or until meat is fork tender.  Transfer brisket to a carving board and tent with foil.  Simmer sauce on stove top while the brisket rests.  Discard bay leaves, taste liquid and season as needed with salt and pepper.  Carve brisket across the grain into 3/8 inch thick slice and arrange on a large, warm platter.  Spoon onions and sauce over meat and serve.

Note:               Brisket could be cooked a day or two ahead.  Let meat cool some in liquid before separating brisket and from remaining ingredients and refrigerate each.  On day of serving, slice brisket and shingle in a roasting pan.  Remove any fat from surface of liquid and then pour over the sliced brisket.  Cover and warm in a 250 degree oven for 1 to 2 hours before serving.

Ideas for Future Efforts

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Holiday Entrees

How about something different this year as our holiday entrée?  Most people enjoy turkey, ham or prime rib as their holiday entrée for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  I've nothing against them.  In fact, I love each one and have trouble picking just one.  I've usually gone with turkey for Thanksgiving, Prime Rib for Christmas and Ham for Easter.

But why not try something else this year?  If you look at Jewish holidays, the top two contenders are "Beef Brisket" and "Lamb" done someway that meets with a family tradition.

So this week I have two great recipes.  There is one for each of the two meats I mentioned in the previous paragraph.  Wednesday's recipe is for "Holiday Brisket & Onions" which represents a hearty entrée.  You need to remember, no matter what brisket recipe you use, that brisket is a tough piece a meat and needs longer cooking times.  But the results are an incredibly tender dish well worth the time.

Just a bit more on brisket.  You want to pay attention to what you are buying when you pick out a piece of brisket.  Don't be afraid to ask your butcher for help.  Always go for quality and pay the price.  In the end you will be much happier.

"Mustard Crusted Lamb" is Thursday's recipe.  This recipe is using individual racks of lamb.  But lamb comes in many different cuts.  I would say that leg of lamb, lamb chops and the rack of lamb are the 3 main ones used for special meals.  There are many recipes for each of those cuts available to you via internet or cookbooks.  So do a little looking.  Again, you want to buy quality lamb.

Many years ago, we got a deal on some lamb.  It turned out not to be such a deal.  It was terrible and turned me off of lamb for quite a few years.  If in doubt, talk to your butcher.  They will be only too happy to assist you in your purchase.

I'm guessing that a good number of you are saying but we always have turkey or whatever.  That's fine.  So maybe you try one of these recipes for a special event but not your major holiday ones.  If you have never eaten brisket or lamb, you have no idea what you're missing out on.

So be a little adventurous and do let me know how it turned out.  "Happy Cooking" until next week and please share my blog with family and friends.  Thanks.

BCT Breakfast Bake with Eggs

BCT Breakfast Bake with Eggs

(8 servings)

 

Ingredients:

1 lb. White Bread, cut into 1 inch cubes

¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 lb. Applewood Smoked Bacon Slices, cut into ½ inch pieces

1 large Yellow Onion, halved and thinly sliced

1 (28 oz.) can Whole Italian Tomatoes, drained, chopped & patted dry

½ tsp. Crushed Red Pepper

½ lb. (2 cups) Extra-Sharp Cheddar, shredded

½ lb. (2 cups0 Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded

2 tbsp. Fresh Chives, snipped

1¾ cups Chicken Broth (low-sodium)

½ tsp. Salt

8 large Fresh Eggs

Directions:

Toss bread in the oil and spread on a rimmed baking sheet.  Place in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until lightly crisp and golden.  Set aside.  In a large skillet over moderately high heat, cook bacon (about 8 minutes), drain on paper towels and reserve 2 tbsp. of bacon fat in pan.  Add the onion and cook over moderate heat until softened 9about 5 minutes) and then add tomatoes and red pepper.  Cook until liquid has evaporated (about 3 minutes).  Now return bread cubes to the large mixing bowl used to coat them.  Add the contents of the skillet, the bacon, the shredded cheeses, chives and broth.  Mix until bread is evenly moistened.  Season with salt and spread mixture into a 9x13 baking dish that has been sprayed or lightly oiled.  Place a lightly oiled or sprayed sheet of foil over the dish to cover.  Place in the pre-heated 350 degree for 30 minute.  Remove foil and continue baking another 15 minutes or until top is crispy.  Carefully remove dish from oven and set on a solid surface.  Using a ladle, make 8 indentations into the bread mixture.  Crack an egg into each indentation.  Return the dish to the oven and bake for about 15 more minutes or until whites are set and yolks are still runny.  Serve immediately maybe with a little hot sauce.

Note:               You could try different breads to change up the flavor a little.  You could also use diced tomatoes.  Just be sure to drain and pat dry with paper towels.

Ideas for Future Efforts

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Farmer's Casserole

Farmer’s Casserole

(8-12 servings)

 

Ingredients:

6 cups Shredded Frozen Hash Browns, thawed

1½ cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

2 cups Honey Ham, diced

½ cup Green Onions (white & green parts), sliced

8 large Fresh Eggs

2 (12 oz.) cans Evaporated Milk

¼ tsp. Salt

¼ tsp. Black Pepper

Directions:

In a greased (or sprayed) 9x13 baking dish, evenly arrange the hash browns to cover the bottom of dish.  Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the potatoes.  Repeat process with the ham and then the onions.  In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper.  Carefully pour this mixture over the ingredients in the baking dish.  Place the dish in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 45 to 55 minutes or until set and slightly browned.  Remove from oven and let rest for 15 minutes before cutting and serving.

Note:               You could substitute cooked bacon or sausage for the ham in this dish.  Trying other cheeses may be fun too.

Ideas for Future Efforts

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Holiday Breakfast Dishes

It's November and the "Holiday Season" is starting for everyone.  This means all sorts of things to different people.  For one, it can depend on where you live or your religious affiliation.  But I believe most people have some type of holiday to celebrate in the months of November and December (including New Year's Day in January).  If not, these recipes will still work for other occasions with family and/or friends.

I've talked in previous blog posts about dishes for a special breakfast or brunch meal.  Well, this week I have two more recipes that I think you might want to cook.  I know you'd want to eat them as they are both quite tasty.  Not to mention easy to throw together too.

The "Farmer's Casserole" is a dish recommended to me by my good friend, Amy N. in Missouri.  It uses shredded hash browns instead of the usual bread cubes for a breakfast casserole.  In under an hour and a half, you can go from grabbing the first ingredient to be eating this dish.  Most of that time is the cooking and resting of the recipe.  It tastes great just as the recipe reads but you can always play around with the ingredients too.  I love bacon and even though it might take a little longer to be ready, it's well worth it to me.  Just cook up a pound of your favorite bacon and then chop it up. Use the bacon then just as the recipe calls for the ham.  Let me know if you try something different and how it turns out.

On Thursday, the recipe for "BCT Breakfast Bake with Eggs" is probably a little different for many of you.  But it looks impressive and tastes better than it looks.  This one is for those of you that like individual eggs with your breakfast/brunch meal.  There are common and not so common ingredients in this recipe for a breakfast casserole.  The tomatoes and chicken broth may not sound like items for your breakfast eats but they add to this dish nicely.  The biggest argument you'll have with this recipe is how done you want your eggs.  Because they will all be coming out the same way as you bake them on top of the casserole.  It is a dish that pleases so be sure to try it.

As a reminder, there are plenty of other recipes in the links above or in my cookbook, "MORE THAN YOUR FIRST COOKBOOK" for both a breakfast casserole or other accompanying dishes for a great holiday breakfast or brunch.

Since I've mentioned the holiday season coming, I'll give a little plug for my cookbook.  It makes a great gift for someone who likes to cook.  But an even better one for a person wanting to learn to cook.  The cookbook is available in both print and e-book formats.  Just click the link to my website and order.  If you are near any of the locations that carry my cookbook, check with them.  They are in Maryville and St. Joseph Missouri as well as Sioux City, Iowa.  Many of those are signed copies.  Of course if you're in Rochester, MN they are available directly from me and all of them are signed to whomever you wish them to be.

Thank you for reading my food blog and please do pass it on to others.  Until next week, "Happy Cooking" and get ready for those holidays.  I'll be doing more regarding them in the weeks ahead.