Recipes

Here’s a couple of my new favourite recipes.  And, other than the puff paste, I have all the ingredients in my house at any given time.  They are easy to make too.

Corn Chowder

makes about 8 cups
2 T butter or bacon fat
1 c chopped onion
1/2 t salt and pepper
1/4 t paprika
11/4 lbs potatoes, peeled and diced fairly small and cooked
2 c milk
2 14oz cans cream-style corn
1 c cheddar cheese, shredded -or to taste

Melt butter or bacon fat, add onion and cook until starting to caramelize but not too brown.  Add seasonings.  Add potatoes, milk and corn.  Stir until heated through.  But don’t boil.  Stir in cheese until melted.

If you have leftover potatoes this goes together really quickly.  It’s very yummy and freezes well.

I’ll mention one of my favourite kitchen ‘gadgets’.  It’s called the Simmer Mat and it’s from Lehman’s.  It allows me to simmer things, like cream soups, without having to worry about it sticking and burning.  My gas stove only goes down so low before it goes out, so the mat is heaven-sent.  I actually have 2  🙂

Bavarian Beef Pie

pastry for a 2 crust, 7-8 inch pie pan (I used a French tart shaped pan)

1 lb stew beef, cut into 1/2 inch cube
2 t oil and 1 T butter
1 small potato, cut into 1/2 inch cube
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 c shredded apple
1 clove garlic, minced
2 t flour
1 1/2 t beef bouillon granules
1 t parsley
1/8 t celery seed, dill weed, thyme, and pepper
1/2 c water

Brown beef in oil.  Remove.  Melt butter and saute onions, potatoes and apple for 2-3 minutes.  Stir in garlic and flour.  Cook for 2 minutes.  Add seasoning, beef broth, beef, and water.  Cook and stir until thickened.

Pour into a pastry lined pie pan.  Cover with pastry.  Cut slits to let out steam.  Bake 375F for 30-35 min.