Deconstructed Faux Shepherd's Pie

Ground beef, chop meat, whatever you may call it, the ingredient seems to reappear in the same old recipes in this house.  Meatballs are the number one choice, tacos, meatloaf, and chili are the standards.  When I buy groceries I don't always have a plan for all the items I purchase and this week's mystery was how to use this meat in a way I was not tired of and would be appealing to at least 3 out of 4 family members.

A variation on a Shepherd's Pie seemed to be the answer, but honestly, I did not feel like doing much work.  

I began with a large saute pan of onions, celery and carrots in a splash of olive oil with salt and pepper.  

Once the veggies were a little soft, I added the ground meat directly to the pan to allow the vegetables some more cook and soften time.  

The mashed potatoes were prepared and served separately as was the brown gravy (which is a cheat - I use Bisto granules  

Visit Bisto)

Creative, quick and fairly painless we enjoyed the less than glamorous but packed with familiar flavor meal.  It's a dish we don't have very often and though the vegetables were a bit more crisp than some may prefer, we enjoyed the modernized version.

Some flavor combinations, like meat and potatoes, are classic and while they may be revised through the generations, the profile stays the same.  The results leave the diners with a sense of comfort and a feeling of being quite Fed Well.

Tilapia with Garlic Cream Sauce and Pasta on a Tuesday

Making dinner for a family of four, or three or any number other than one really, can be a challenge.  Someone inevitably doesn't like an ingredient whether in the background or the main part of the meal and lucky me, my family is not shy about sharing their thoughts with me.  Here is a short sample of the "please try not to make frequently (or not at all) list,"

baked potatoes - I love them!!!

pasta - I could eat it four nights a week, but I am allowed baked ziti

grilled chicken - one son really prefers only fried chicken cutlets

any kind of soup with beef in it

tilapia - same son who does not enjoy grilled chicken  

"unusual" vegetables - my husband only admits to liking corn, broccoli, string beans and raw veggies in salad so all squash family is out, eggplant is a no-no and anything his mom didn't make when he was growing up.

And so I took a huge risk in preparing the following dish which includes both pasta and tilapia on a night when my younger son was home for dinner.  

I assembled the following ingredients:

The Fish

bread crumbs

butter

half and half

oregano

garlic

salt and pepper

chicken stock

cornstarch

one lemon

The tilapia was placed on a baking sheet then one side sprinkled with bread crumbs to coat, salt, pepper, oregano and then sprinkled with lemon juice before broiled.

The thin spaghetti was prepared according to package directions then drained.  In the hot pot, melt one half stick of butter with about 3/4 cup of half and half.  Whisk about a tablespoon of cornstarch with approximately one cup of chicken stock then add mixture to butter/half and half mixture.  Add garlic and oregano to taste as well as more salt and pepper.  Dump pasta back in pot with sauce to coat then remove spaghetti with tongs and use remaining sauce to drizzle over fish.

Even the skeptic was happy.

I COULD NOT STOP EATING THIS DISH!

Every so often I rebel against the cries of family members and simply cook what I want.  They will adapt.  Also, in all fairness I should confess I cannot, will not, not with a fox not in a box, eat cabbage.  I can't think right now of any other foods that don't leave me feeling Fed Well (though I know I love some far more than others)!

Sunday Snack in the Sun

On an unseasonably warm Sunday afternoon, I have decided to abandon regular chores and simply enjoy the sun with a book.  Since I was old enough to read I have been a fan.  Not only would I escape reality by devouring entire series or favorite authors as I was growing up, I also read everything with words from the back of a cereal box to my mother's gossip magazines.   Today, I try to finish "White Teeth," which was a loaner from a co-worker/friend. 

 Wikipedia link to info about "White Teeth"

The sun is warm and comforting, but at high noon, I am ready for a bite to eat.  Some crackers, a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese and halved grape tomatoes with salt and pepper are the answer.  Simple, satisfying and full of flavor - the tomatoes are crisp and juicy to the bite.  Healthy snacking may take a second or two longer to put together than simply ripping open a bag of chips but leaves me feeling Fed Well while I linger a bit longer in the sun to read and escape reality.

The White Wolf Restaurant for a Special 40th Birthday Dinner

White Wolf

For my sister's special 40th birthday dinner, we went to a special restaurant to her - the one in which she recently had her wedding reception.  The owner greeted her by name and offered his birthday congratulations.  Very nice personal touch.

My husband has a "thing" for French Onion soup.  He has likely tried hundreds of varieties over the years and so it was no surprise he sampled the White Wolf version. When I looked over he had eaten it all so it must have been quite tasty :)

I started with a potato pancake appetizer and shared a few with my Mommy.  Though my mother enjoyed them, she said, "They are good.  Not as good as my mother's, but good." 

Potato pancakes are kind of like tomato sauce.  I have never had the same type twice.  These were kind of like deep fried mashed potato patties.  My favorite version are the shredded potatoes with shredded onion that is mixed with very little flour then fried in a cast iron skillet.  These were delicious in their own way.

I often select an appetizer as a main course, especially if I know I will be having dessert.  Tonight I ordered the pumpkin ravioli with brown butter and sage.  The seasonings and spices screamed autumn.  Even the photograph captures some of the flavors.  The pasta itself was tender and the filling was savory pumpkin that was dense enough to be considered "meaty." 

A popular entree at the table was the Chicken Cordon Bleu.  My mother ordered hers with a baked potato...

while the Mr. ordered his with rice.

My sister enjoyed the Eggplant Caprese and her husband had the pasta special of the evening.  My younger son had the pulled pork sandwich.  All were given thumbs up or forks up reviews.

We talked about the devastation left behind from Hurricane Sandy, whether company's should offer Martin Luther King Day or President's Day as paid days off for all employees, education, alternative uses of foods and beverages by female inmates (for example, hair dye made from Tang) and the food in England.

Our server, Sara, took the cake my mother brought into the kitchen and lit the 4 and 0 candles.  A variety of employees, including the chef, came out singing, "Happy Birthday."  I love how when they plated the cake a dollop of whipped cream was added.

Here's hoping my sister had a joyous and happy day turning 40 and wishing her a lifetime of feeling loved and Fed Well.

Recovering from Hurricane Sandy with Laughter and a Diner Dinner

We were lucky - correction, we are lucky.  The storm came and went, we lost a few pieces of siding that were easily replaced and power for a few days.  We are not in the middle of the devastation but we are in the struggle to find gasoline.  We have lost beloved areas of our past family vacation spots at the New Jersey shore and are beyond words watching those who have lost loved ones, their homes, cars and battle to recover life as they knew it before October 29 and the uninvited Sandy.

In an effort to conserve gas, my older son (24) and I took one car to run some errands and met my younger son (19) out at a local diner for dinner.  I had already been laughing at myself thanks to my older son's spot on impersonations of some of my silly antics.  For example, we went to make some changes to our cell phone service plan and an electronic sign in is now required.  When faced with the flat touchscreen keyboard for some reason I switched from using my index fingers to my ring fingers.  ????  It was a sight.

Next, grocery shopping.  This experience is comical in itself because my older son will pretend he is going to throw two gallon jugs at the cart from the opposite end of the aisle or simply try to prevent me from pushing the cart by holding the other end with two fingers.  Back in the car, for some reason we started quoting funny lines from "Talladega Nights" "Kiss me on the lips" and then of course, "Step-Brothers" "So much room for activities".

We arrive at the Americana Diner and are immediately seated in a booth.  Let the laughter begin.  My sons end up quoting entire scenes from movies including "Pulp Fiction" Big Kahuna Burger scene (R rating for language) - though my sons did not use the F-bomb in their re-enactment.

How did we get to Pulp Fiction?  My younger son ordered the Hawaiian Burger - triggering the Kahuna Burger memory.  The menu version is grilled pineapple, Swiss and ham.  The modified and personalized version my son ordered includes a swap - instead of the ham - bacon!

I was able to snag a few of those crispy fries!

My older son ordered a classic cheeseburger (medium-rare) with waffle fries.  
 

 I confess, I also sampled a waffle fry!

I ordered a slice of quiche which came with a salad. Not exactly classic diner fare and no jokes could be made but I enjoyed my order.

By the time we left I had laughed so hard my sides hurt.  My sons had imitated me - in good nature and honestly, quite accurately.  It was nice to be out and away from reality for a little while but the feeling of being Fed Well came when we returned home to a warm house powered by electricity.  Made me forget for a little while that I only had 1/4 tank of gas and what the rest of New York and New Jersey was going through.  Laughter (and a good meal) are the best medicine.

Hunker Down for Hurricane Sandy

In the face of the arrival of Hurricane Sandy I prepare.  As with the time of arrival of any guest nearing, I start to really step into high gear.  Yes, I have grocery shopped, have buckets of water for toilet flushing in the bathroom, gas for the generator, candles at the ready and just took a shower.  The cell phone is charging, so is the lap top.  The patio furniture has been put away and the Weather Channel is on in the background. 

My place of employment is closed, my husband works for a business that never sleeps and though we may feel otherwise, the safety of inmates and staff require him to be at work.  Our older son works for a private college and is likely ensuring the grounds are as well tended as possible for Sandy makes landfall.  

However, my younger son is also at work.  He works in retail.  He works at the only mall in the area.  My doctor's office called to reschedule my appointment for later today (nothing wrong, just a routine physical) but the mall, well, that remains open.  

PLEASE do not support mass retail by shopping during a weather event.  PLEASE support the safety of retail employees by staying home and if you must shop, go online.

Back to preparing for Sandy...I first peeked into the refrigerator.

All of those white rectangular dishes are left-overs.  Excess parts of dinners and meals, sort of like the unwanted children's gifts on the Island of Misfit Toys...

 
 (Source)

What to do?  Inventory the canned goods too...

The stove/oven are electric.  Bake some potatoes that will then be scooped of their guts, mixed with cheese and re-baked.  Strip down and chop up chicken to create:

  a fabulous chicken salad and

a wonderful chicken noodle soup in my magical red pot.

A bit of rain has begun.  The wind quiets then gusts.  Leaves swirling and I worry for the safety of my family, my friends and neighbors, first responders and honestly, can't wait for Sandy to leave before she has even arrived.  Stay safe and Fed Well.

Grown ups eat Hash Browns

As part of a particular generation, many may believe childhood included certain foods:  hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, tater tots, fishsticks and maybe hash browns.

Mostly, I didn't really eat any of those things.

Sometimes, while grocery shopping with my husband, he would share food memories of his youth that I simply could not understand.  He used to eat fishsticks.  I'd had actual fish but my mother wasn't a big fan of real or packaged fish of any kind.

When my sons were young they did like things like chicken wings and nuggets as sort of childhood foods, but surprised many with their love for shrimp, fried calamari and steak. It wasn't until I was a mom that I would even consider PB & J on white bread, but I have learned to love it once in awhile.  I have also modified the ingredients for a grown up version to include blueberry jam and peanut butter on a nice grainy bread.

My culinary upbringing included a lot of meat and potato based meals, pasta and lunches were typically sandwiches including cold cuts.  Ok, I did and still do love french fries and fast food hamburgers.

A few years ago when I turned 40 I had my first hash browns and tater tots.  You know what?  They weren't so bad and not really what I thought they would taste like based on their appearance.

Luckily, when our work cafeteria does not offer small red potatoes with breakfast now I can be sort of satisfied with hash browns.

A few childhood favorites would likely make me sick now like Strawberry Quik or bowls of rice with butter.  Some are simply no longer available like Quisp cereal.  What childhood favorites leave you feeling Fed Well?