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Showing posts sorted by relevance for query coleslaw. Sort by date Show all posts
Cowboy Casserole. Such a simple name, but wow, what fabulous flavours. This recipe I am sharing with you today is one I have adapted from a cookerybook entitled the Betty Crocker Ultimate Bisquick Cookbook.
I bought it second hand from Amazon. Most of the time their second hand books are quite reasonable and in fairly decent shape. My heart breaks when I think of the cookbook collection I had to leave behind in the UK. All of my Dorie Greenspan books, etc. I will hopefully gradually be able to build the collection back up again in time. We will see.
One thing which appealed about this recipe is the fact that it seemed relatively simple to make and did not require a lot of ingredients. My sister had taken a pound of ground beef from the freezer. I made several suggestions as to what we could make with it.
Most received a nay. This recipe did tempt them however, and I got the go-ahead. Whew! You can use ready made Bisquick for this or you could make your own baking mix to use in this. I always made my own baking mix when I was in the UK. You can get that recipe here.
You could also make a homemade biscuit dough of a dropping consistency to drop over top of the casserole. I have included some instructions on how to do that in the recipe.
All work well. All are delicious, although I do have to say I am a bit partial to the homemade biscuit dough. It is probably because of the butter. 😋 Butter makes everything tastier.
I am not sure why it is called Cowboy Casserole. Probably because of the ground beef and the baked beans. Surely cowboy types of foods. Many a cowboy has been sustained by ground beef and baked beans when out on the range.
My sister buys organic grass-fed beef. She buys it at a local farm market, frozen in one pound packages. When I was in the UK I bought ground steak from my local butcher.
In any case you want to use a good quality of ground beef here. You want it fairly lean. I think if I was living on my own I would just grind up my own steak for this.
I cannot stand cheap ground beef. Not only do you end up pouring half of it away in fat, which is a huge colossal waste of money, but it stinks when you are cooking it.
There is no economy in buying cheap ground meat. The fat content is far too high for one thing. And you are paying for all of that fat. Fat which you will not be eating.
Or at least that you shouldn't be eating, not if you care for your arteries anyways. A small amount of fat is okay, but I would never use beef that had any more than 5 % fat in it. This is just my way of thinking and how I like to do things.
But then again ground beef has never really been a favourite of mine and not something I would eat at all when I was growing up. And I am really not fond of it mixed with other things, as in casseroles. Its a texture thing.
You know what they say . . . . there's naught so queer as folk. And some of us are a bit weirder than others! We are all different and I like to celebrate our differences as much as I can!
Life would be incredibly boring were we all the same! Now back to the casserole.
You need a tin of baked beans for this, and some prepared BBQ sauce. You could make your own BBQ sauce if you wanted to. For this recipe you would need tomato ketchup, brown sugar, cider vinegar, Worcestshire sauce, dry mustard powder and some seasoning.
I would start with 1/2 cup (120g) of the ketchup and add 1 TBS each of the brown sugar and cider vinegar. 1 tsp of dry mustard powder, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce and then salt and black pepper to your taste.
If you have it you could add liquid smoke to really give it that campfire taste.
We used an ordinary can of original baked beans. (Bush's) In the UK you could use Heinz or any other brand. I think in something like this the brand of baked beans doesn't really matter that much overall.
I did find that the mixture was a bit too thick and so I added a bit of boiling water to thin it out a bit and it could have been a bit thinner still I think. You judge accordingly.
You don't want it too thin and you don't want it too thick. I would also be tempted to add an additional half a can of beans, but then I really like baked beans.
You could really amp it up by adding some chopped onion, green chillies and garlic when you are frying the ground beef. That would give it it a bit of delicious heat, but it is up to you!
As you can see it was fairly thick. The biscuit dough absorbs some of the liquid, so don't be afraid to make your beef mixture a bit thinner!
Its really delicious however, so don't mess with the flavours too much. They don't do salt at all in this house so I only added some ground black pepper. And to be honest you really didn't need any salt.
I've never been one to add a lot of salt to things anyways, but I often do add a tiny bit to things. Its all a matter of taste and what you are used to. Using less salt never hurt anyone.
And in fact its much better for you to use less.
We actually used a Tex Mex mix of cheese to sprinkle on top that we had leftover from some natchos we had made around New Years. It was a tiny bit spicy so that worked well with the rest of the flavours.
I would normally use a good strong cheddar cheese. The stronger the flavour of your cheese, the less you need to use. Its a fact.
Anyways, I think this was enjoyed. I had no complaints really and I did enjoy it myself. I served it with some homemade coleslaw. I do make good coleslaw if I don't say so myself.
You can find my coleslaw recipe here. Creamy Coleslaw. Its my favourite. I don't always add the cucumber. Yesterday it was only cabbage, carrots and some scallion/spring onion. BBQ always goes well with coleslaw.
I hope you will want to give this a go. I highly recommend it for a fabulously tasty, family friendly, mid-week supper entree!
Cowboy Casserole
Yield: 6
prep time: 10 Mincook time: 25 Mintotal time: 35 Min
Quick, easy and incredibly delicious. This tasty casserole uses only a few ingredients, cooks quickly and is a real family pleaser.
Ingredients
- 1 pound (453g) extra lean ground beef
- 1 can (16 oz/453g) baked beans
- 1/2 cup (120g) BBQ sauce
- 2 cups (240g)Original Bisquick
- 2/3 cup (160ml) milk
- 1 TBS softened butter
- 1/2 cup (40g) grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven o 425*F/220*C/ gas mark 7. Have ready a 2 litre/Qt casserole dish. No need to butter it.
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Crumble in the ground beef. Scramble fry the beef for 5 to 7 minutes until browned and no longer pink. Drain if needed.
- Add the BBQ sauce and baked beans, stirring everything thoroughly together. Bring to the boil, stirring occasionally. Keep warm.
- Stir together the baking mix, softened butter and milk.
- Pour the beef mixture into the baking dish. Smooth over and then drop the baking mix over top by spoonfuls to cover.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes until the biscuit topping is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the cheese. Return to the oven for about 3 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
- Serve hot.
notes:
You can make your own biscuit mixture from scratch to drop on top very easily. Whisk together 2 cups (280g) all purpose flour with 4 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt. Cut in 1/2 cup (120g) butter until crumbly. Stir in 3/4 cup (180ml) milk until you have a soft droppable dough. Proceed as above. You may need more milk to get the right consistency.
This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com
Thanks so much for visiting. Do come again!
Mahi Mahi, also known as the Dorado or Dolphin fish is a beautiful fish that is not only sustainable but very easy to cook. It has a firm white flesh that is fairly mild in flavour. This makes it quite adaptable, hearty enough to grill and yet firm enough to sear, glaze, fry, etc. making it very versatile. Don't confuse it with the common Dolphin. This is not Flipper. Don't worry. Far from being even closely related to its namesake Mahi Mahi is highly sustainable, responsibly fished and harvested due to strong regulations. They spawn and grow rapidly, which helps to keep their population stable.
The people at Seafresh recently sent me some to try. I was quite excited at the opportunity to try a new fish I had never tried before! I decided to give it a somewhat simple treatment. I created a sweet and savoury rub to coat it with and then simply pan seared it until it was nicely blackened on the outside, but perfectly cooked on the inside.
I had to do some research on the fish first so that I knew how to cook it properly. I learnt a lot about it and about what it might taste like. Having never tasted it before I was flying in the dark here!
It is a carnivorous fish which gathers in schools which mostly eat forage fish. The word Mahi (Hawaiian) means strong and these fish are strong and fast swimmers.
They are brightly coloured and mostly found in Pacific waters, although they can also be found in the Atlantic.
They are considered to be highly nutritious and rich in Iron and low-fat protein. Low in sodium and rich in Omega-3, which not only are good for your heart but also help to combat cancer.
It is also a great source of essential minerals and important B vitamins, so altogether it can be considered a fairly healthy fish to eat. It is however high in cholesterol so if you are watching yours, you will still want to consume it in moderation.
I was told that it had a fairly mild flavour . . . not a "strong fishy" flavour. I am not fond of overly fishy flavoured fish. I can just about tolerate Salmon.
So what did it taste like?
It was definitely not benign in flavour like cod, it was probably more like Halibut, so not unpleasant at all.
I was quite surprised that the flesh turned out as white as it did when cooked. It was quite darkish raw so I expected it to cook dark, but it was not dark in the least!
Other than that searing rub I put onto it . . . the interior flesh was cream-coloured when cooked . . .
It had a very firm texture, which I think would make it excellent for using in Fish Tacos, or for grilling on the BBQ.
I am thinking it would also be lovely stir fried . . .
I had made a lime and honey dressed coleslaw to go with it, almost like a pickle, except fresher . . .
It went very well. I would highly recommend. I can't wait to try it again one day!
Yield: 4
Pan Seared Mahi Mahi
Mahi Mahi rubbed with a delicous blend of savoury and sweet spice and then pan seared to perfection. Delicious!
ingredients:
- 4 Mahi Mahi fillets (each about 4 - 6 ounces)
- 1 1/2 tsp smoked Spanish Paprika
- 1 tsp dark soft brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder (not salt)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder (not salt)
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 3/4 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1 TBS light olive oil for frying
instructions:
How to cook Pan Seared Mahi Mahi
- Mix together the paprika, sugar, garlic and onion powders, salt, cumin, chili, black pepper and oregano in a small bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning over both sides of each fillet and rub it in.
- Heat the oil in a large heavy based pa over medium high heat. Add the fish fillets, presentation side down and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until the fish reaches your desired level of doneness, bearing in mind that it will continue to cook while it sits. Serve hot with your desired accompaniments.
Here is the recipe for the sweet and tangy coleslaw which I made to serve with the fish. It went down a real treat. Do beware however it is more like a pickle and will not keep well, so whilst you can prep the vegetables ahead of time, you shouldn't dress them until just prior to serving.
Honey Lime Coleslaw
Yield: 4
This is the perfect blend of sweet and tangy. It doesn't keep well so you will want to eat it on the day. You can prepare the vegetables ahead of time, but don't dress until just prior to serving.
ingredients:
For the salad:
- 1 cup of green cabbage, thinly sliced
- 1 cup of red cabbage, thinly sliced
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and grated
- 1 small red pepper, trimmed, deseeded and thinly sliced
- 3 spring onions, finely sliced
For the dressing:
- the finely grated zest and juice of one lime
- 1 TBS liquid honey
- 1/8 tsp powdered garlic
- 2 TBS light olive oil
- 1 TBS dried coriander leaf
instructions:
How to cook Honey Lime Coleslaw
- Toss all of the vegetables together in a bowl. Whisk together the dressing ingredients to amalgamate thoroughly. Pour over the vegetables and toss all together to combine. Serve immediately.
Here you can see how creamy white the flesh actually was when it was cooked, a complete contrast to what I had expected when I first saw this fish raw. Seafresh is an on line fish monger, which sells quality fish, seafood,
poultry and meat. If you can recall, I was very impressed with both
their product and their delivery service! There was absolutely nothing
that I could fault with any of it. Feel free to read about my experience here. Many thanks to Seafresh for sending me this Mahi Mahi to try. There doesn't appear to be any Mahi Mahi available on their page at the moment,but keep checking back to their website to see when it becomes available again.
A few things about Seafresh:
- Same Day dispatch on orders received before 1 PM.
- All packages are carefully hand packed.
- Free delivery on orders above £50, £8 on orders below that amount.
- Responsibly and sustainably sourced.
- Air Blast Frozen at source within 4 hours of being caught.
- Wide variety to choose from.
Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Note - Although I was gifted with product free of charge for the purposes of review, I was not required to write a positive review in exchange, nor would my integrity allow me to recommend anything if I did not truly like it. Any and all my opinions are my own entirely.
Up Tomorrow: Irish Oatmeal Muffins
One thing I love about the warmer months is Salads! We are no longer craving the hearty sustenance that we craved all winter but are longing for lighter, fresher flavors and ways to really incorporate as much of the fresh produce available at this time of year as we can!
I am a person who enjoys salads any time of year, but in the summer months we can get a bit more inventive with them, and pasta salads are a wonderful way to do that. A tiny bit heartier than a bit of lettuce and cucumber they go really well with all of our BBQ's, Picnics, Pot Lucks and outdoor eating!
Today I am sharing some of my absolute favorite pasta salads, each one designed to bring some flavor and flair to all of your warm weather meals! Quick, easy and yes, delicious!
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom to read all of my hints and tips for making this the best pasta salad season ever!
TURKEY, SOUR CHERRY, & ALMOND PASTA SALAD - This is a lovely main dish salad. I like to use farfalle (bowtie)pasta for this, whole wheat if I can get it It has the perfect shape to use in a pasta salad. Nice and open, but with a few little pleats to hold in the dressing.
And the dressing for this salad is delicious. A homemade poppy seed dressing that is lovely and tangy from fresh lemon juice, with a bit of punch from Dijon mustard and sweetness from creamy honey.
The salad itself boasts the inclusion of cubed cooked turkey breast. You could also use chicken if you don't have any turkey. Also in the mix are dried sour cherries for a bit of sweet tartness, sharp red onions, crunchy celery and salted almonds . . . and creamy tangy Gorgonzola cheese.
ITALIAN PASTA SALAD - This fabulous salad is a small batch salad designed to feed only two people, but can be very easily multiplied to feed more! Italian Pasta Salad is actually a pretty versatile salad. Basically you can add any Italian style ingredients you wish. I used a hard Italian Salami in this version, but you could also use bite sized bits of pepperoni!
Bocconcini, fresh peppers, basil, parsley, Parmesan cheese, tomatoes, artichokes, salami and a punchy Italian dressing complete the picture. You will want to use a nice corkscrew type of pasta that helps to hug in all of that tasty dressing!
BACON & TOMATO PASTA SALAD - All the flavors of your favorite toasted sandwich in a delicious salad! With fresh cherry tomatoes, crisp bacon, spring onions and celery.
Mix that with some fusilli and a punchy creamy dressing and you have a salad combination that goes with just about anything!
GREEK PASTA SALAD - This delicious salad embodies all of the elements of a good Greek Salad with fresh crisp cucumbers, ripe tomatoes, red onions, kalamata olives, plenty of parsley and a delicious red wine herbed dressing.
Oh, and pasta twists, which while not exactly traditional, make this a fabulously tasty and hearty salad! Don't have pasta twists? Use any other pasta that will work to hug all of that fabulous red wine herby dressing and hold it close!!
TEX MEX PASTA SALAD - with red and yellow cherry tomatoes, red onions, peppers, sweet corn, avocado, coriander and black beans! Add a zippy Tex Mex dressing and Bob's your Uncle! This salad goes well with all of your BBQ favorites!
I love to use Farfalle for this one. Add some cubed cooked meat or cheese and you can easily turn this fabulous salad into a delicious main dish salad!
PASTA SALAD WITH ROASTED ASPARAGUS & TOMATOES - This is a beautiful salad which I like to make each year which showcases this lovely vegetable beautifully. I quite simply adore roasted asparagus, and it shines in this simple and quick salad, which also contains roasted cherry tomatoes, and al dente farfalle pasta.
I make a simple dressing for it by mixing some lemon mayonnaise, ranch dressing and a bit of fresh basil pesto. Tossed together and garnished with some freshly grated Parmesan cheese you would be hard pressed to find a tastier salad!
CREAMY MACARONI SALAD - this simple salad which dresses up well with a bit of crunch and colour, which you get from the liberal use of fresh vegetables here . . . celery, carrots, radishes, onion and peppers . . .
The dressing for this tasty salad is not overly mayonnaise-y . . . it's lightened a bit with the use of salad cream, and some fresh and tangy lemon juice, with just a hint of sugar to counteract the tartness of the lemon so that it doesn't smack you in the face and make your jaws ache.
BUFFALO CHICKEN PASTA SALAD - This really is an excellent chicken salad. It does pack a bit of a punch. I only add the smaller amount of hot pepper sauce. (I used Chiloula) It is plenty hot with that, but if you are a lover of really hot and spicy, do add more!
In addition there is plenty of crunch from the use of celery & carrot and some sharpness from chopped spring onions. An added creaminess comes from a hint of blue cheese. This is a great way to showcase leftover cooked chicken in a most delicious way!
PASTA SALAD PRIMAVERA - An old weight watchers favorite salad with plenty of fresh vegetables . . . cauliflower, broccoli, cherry tomatoes and red onions . . . chopped fresh basil.
There are as many vegetables in this tasty salad as there is pasta but you won't miss it. Its fabulously tasty with a beautiful punchy homemade Italian dressing and Parmesan cheese!
MACARONI COLESLAW - A delicious mash-up of two summer classics, this Macaroni Coleslaw is loaded with plenty of texture and great flavors!
Not to mention crunch! I do love crunch in a salad, don't you? I also love color! This tasty combination can be as colorful as you like, depending on the coleslaw mix that you use.
FIVE RULES TO FOLLOW WHEN MAKING PASTA SALADS
1. Always make sure to use the right type of pasta shape for your particular salad. This depends on the dressing you are using. A vinaigrette dressing is suited to almost any shape, but if you are using a creamy dressing you will want to use a pasta which will hug onto and hold the dressing.
2. Take care not to over cook the pasta, or under cook the pasta. Remember your pasta will absorb some of the dressing and soften a bit upon standing, so you want your pasta to be cooked just to al dente. Crunchy under-cooked pasta is never good any time. Follow the directions included on your package of pasta to get it right!
3. Make sure you season your pasta right, which means cooking it in salted boiling water, and then tasting it when its done. If you think it needs a bit more salt or pepper then add it. Just be careful not to add too much. You cannot remove what is already done.
4. Unless otherwise directed do not dress your pasta salads while the pasta is still warm. Warm pasta will soak up all of your dressing and leave you with a dry pasta salad. You can add half of the dressing while it is still warm, but hold off on adding the remainder until the salad is completely cold.
5. Take care not to make your salad too far in advance or you will end up with a bowl of soggy pasta. Making it on the day you are actually going to serve it is a great rule of thumb to follow.
If you follow these five rules there is no reason why your pasta salads can not all be delicious and popular at any gathering!
One final rule, less is more! Don't be tempted to go overboard with either the dressing or the add ins!
This content (written and photography) is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at: mariealicejoan at aol dot com
Thanks so much for visiting. Do come again!
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