DU cooks - Trying out new recipes, give me your favorites.

[mandyky]

Tonight is my first attempt at Chicken spaghetti. Last night, we had spaghetti and meatballs, and for 3 or 4 days in a row we've had red meat of some sort. I had leftover cooked spaghetti to use up, and was googling chicken recipes, and found this chicken spaghetti recipe (I made some adjustments):

1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 cup spaghetti sauce from last night (original recipe call for cream of tomato soup)
1 chopped sweet onion
1 small green pepper, chopped
8 ounces of fresh, sliced mushrooms
(Sauteed the onion, pepper, and mushroom with 2 cloves of garlic)
1/2 can of black olives (sliced)
3 chicken breasts (I baked them), with season salt and pepper (diced)
leftover cooked spaghetti (about 3 cups) reheated in chicken broth

Mixed all the above in a 9 X 13 glass baking dish and shredded a cup of Monterey Jack cheese and spread on top. Baked for 1/2 hour on 350 degrees. I'll serve with French bread buttered and toasted in the broiler.

Let ya know how it is, when we eat.

If you submit recipes, here's what I usually have on hand:

My grocery budget is $200 a month to feed 2 adults and 1 9 y/o boy. I usually buy about 12 pounds of ground chuck, smoked sausages, frozen chicken breasts, and pork for meat, and green peppers, onions, celery, carrots, mushrooms, lettuce, zucchini, and apples for fresh produce. I have frozen brocolli, corn, green beans peas and mixed veggies, too. Also, I try to get potatoes, sweet potatoes and eggplant when I can. I have rice, pasta, and instant mashed potatoes, as well as bisquick, french bread, bread and buns (hamburg and hot dog). I also try to get at least 2 large block cheeses (mozzarella and cheddar or Monterey Jack )and some sliced American cheese food.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear mandyky!

Here is my husband's and my favorite chicken recipe: You will need one cut up chicken.....

I cut up chicken, 3-4 pounds

Mix together:

1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1 cup uncooked rice
1 can cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup
1 can tap water

Stir these together thoroughly, and then pour the mixture into the 9 by 12 roasting pan.

Place the chicken pieces on top, and cook for 90 minutes at 350degrees F.

When you take it out of the oven, you will find that the chicken pieces have isolated the liquid in the mixture. I just put the chicken onto a separate plate, and then I stir the rice mixture till it's well blended. It's not a big deal.

It is absolutely delicious!

[MsAnthropy]

2. Taco Soup

Taco Soup

1 lb ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 can corn
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 can each kidney, pinto and black beans
1 pkg ranch dressing
1 pkg taco seasoning


Brown ground beef and onion, drain. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for at least an hour. Great with tortilla chips.

[AllegroRondo]

3. Spicy Chicken

4 boneless chicken breasts (or substitute thighs, legs, whatever)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 container (8 ounce) sour cream
1 bunch green onions

flour/spice mixture:
1/2 cup flour
3 TBS Salt
2 TBS Cayanne pepper (more or less to taste)
2 tsp Pepper
2 TBS Paprika

In a large skillet, melt a couple tsp of butter on med/high.
Thaw chicken. Mix spices and flour in a big ziplock freezer bag. Put one chicken breast in at a time and shake to coat. Brown chicken in butter for 10-15 minutes, flipping once.
Add soup and sour cream. Turn down heat to med/low, cover and let simmer for another 15-20 minutes.
Before serving, cut up green onions and scatter on top.

Serve over rice (yummy!) or with mashed taters.

[Lars39]

4. Slightly OT, but here's a recipe for condensed cream soup substitution

from The TightWad Gazette:
It makes the equivalent of a can of soup. You can vary the taste you're going for by adding/leaving out the veggies.
Regular milk works fine if you don't have powdered.

Melt 2 Tbsp of margarine in a saucepan.
Saute 2 Tbsp chopped celery.
Blend in 2 tbsp flour.
Add 1/3 cup dry milk powder and 2/3 cup vegetable broth.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Cook until smooth.

I tried this recipe for Cream of Tomato Soup the other day.
It was pretty good and worked well in the recipe I was making.

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/instanttomatosoup.htm

[mandyky]

5. If I don't have cream of tomato soup

and want tomato soup, I mix equal parts tomato sauce and milk or stewed tomatoes and milk.

I had cream of tomato soup but in the family size, so used the sauce instead.

I buy Cream of Mushroom and Tomato in the 26 ounce sized cans. I buy cream of celery and chicken in the 10.5 ounce size.

[Lars39]

6. If your bunch is anything like mine, they never know the difference.

:D

[EstimatedProphet]

7. Here's a rockin chili I just made

Effective Chili

3.75 lbs coarse grind ground chuck
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 lb red kidney beans
15 oz beef broth
15 oz chicken broth
24 oz can diced tomatoes
1 large tomato, diced
Cumin
Ground chipotle chile
Ground ancho chile
Ground Anaheim chile
Seasoned salt
Paprika
Fresh cilantro
Fresh thyme
Minced garlic
Rubbed sage
Ground oregano
1 bottle pale ale
2 oz Cabo Wabo Blanco tequila
2 oz malt vinegar
1 pork chop

Soak beans in 6 cups cold water overnight.

Brown ground chuck in a large (3 gal.) stock pot. While browning, begin first seasoning: add 1 tbsp. cumin, 1 tsp minced garlic, 1 tsp seasoned salt, ½ tsp chipotle and ancho chile. When brown, add diced tomatoes and onion, chicken and beef stock. Drain water from beans; add beans. Add porkchop.

Begin second seasoning: mince 4-5 8-inch stalks cilantro and thyme; add to mixture. Add 2 tbsp. cumin, 1 tbsp. minced garlic, 1 tbsp. seasoned salt, 1 tsp chipotle and ancho chile, 1 tsp sage, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tbsp paprika. Add pale ale and malt vinegar. Bring to boil.

When boiling, begin third seasoning: mince 4-5 8-inch stalks cilantro and thyme, and add to mixture. Add 1 tbsp. cumin, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tsp seasoned salt, ½ tsp chipotle and ancho chile. Boil for ½ hour covered. Reduce heat to simmer, uncover.

Begin final seasoning: add ½ tsp Anaheim chile. Add tequila. Simmer until thick stew-about 1 to 2 hours.

[Benfea]

8. Ginger chicken

I posted this in another thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=4705806&mesg_id=4705971

The recipe is very forgiving. You can monkey with the amounts of stuff all you want and it generally comes out great no matter what. About the only thing you can do wrong is overcook the chicken.

[hatredisnotavalue]

9. Souper Bowl Soup

This is a very eye-pleasing, nose-pleasing and tasty soup. Also works well for an informal dinner party served with crusty French bread and Caesar salad. Plus it only uses one cooking pot!

Cook six Italian sausages until done in a large soup pot. Remove sausage, pour off grease and add a tablespoon of olive oil. And add the following:

Saute two teaspoons of minced garlic, a medium onion, a small green pepper, two chopped carrots, a handful of broccoli flowerets, a can of chopped tomatoes (not the big can) and some sprigs of herbs. I have basil and chives growing in my kitchen garden. When the onions are transparent, add the sausage cut into bite size pieces. Add seven cups of water and seven beef bullion cubes. To this mix add a can of tomato soup and a can of water. (If you like the taste of tomato more than beef stock, add another can of soup and another can of water).Simmer for about half an hour.

And if you have left over spaghetti sauce or whatever, throw it in. About ten minutes before serving, add a couple of handfuls of uncooked bowties or ziti or whatever, a cut up zucchini and a cut up yellow winter squash, and a handful of sliced fresh mushrooms. If you are using cooked pasta, throw it in about a minute before serving. When the pasta is done, the soup is done.

Serve with grated Parmesan cheese or leftover shredded cheddar cheese.

Sorry the measurements are not exact, I made the recipe up using leftovers one day and it truly is a crowd pleaser.

[mandyky]

10. That sounds yummy!!

Are you from Kentucky? Reason I ask is Central Kentuckians hold a "Souper Bowl Sunday" that feeds the poor and allows them to watch the SB or SB fellowship.

[hatredisnotavalue]

13. Nope from Maine

I got to tell you this soup cleans up everywhere I take it, it is so versatile. Even if there are vegans, they pick through the sausage and eat the vegetables. I also have two teenagers, one boy, and make this soup for the post game dinner at the football games. It is very cheap to make and goes a long way. If I have to make for a large group, but am short on cash, I just double up on the pasta. But the thing is is that it looks like something expensive because of the diversity of the vegetables. And it really is a pretty dish when server in a tureen.

[KurtNYC]

11. Pasta with sausage

1 28 oz can of tomato puree
1 onion, minced
1 lb sausage, casing removed
pasta shape of your choice
garlic

brown onions and sausage together, spoon off some of the grease, add minced garlic then immediately add tomato puree. Allow sauce to simmer while you boil water and make the pasta. Drain pasta, toss with the sausage/tomato mixture. Grate a little mozzarella over it once it is on the plate.

To me, in addition to being much cheaper than store-bought pasta sauces, tomato puree has a better, more focused taste. Oh and I see green peppers, zucchini and mushrooms in your pantry. Any of those is a nice addition to this basic crowd pleaser on the cheap.

[mandyky]

12. Could I substitute tomato sauce for the puree?

I get 1 or 2 #10 cans of sauce every month, and tomato paste (6 oz). I also get 1 or 2 #10 cans of stewed tomatoes (italian style - w/ peppers and onion) when they are available.

[SiobhanClancy]

14. Mexican Black Bean Pizza

This easy recipe has been a big hit every time I've made it....everyone always wants the recipe:)

Ingredients
1 10-ounce package refrigerated pizza dough(or you could make your own)
1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro or parsley
2 tablespoons salsa
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon bottled hot pepper sauce
2 cloves garlic, quartered
1-1/2 cups shredded Monterey jack or cheddar cheese (6 ounces)
1/2 cup chopped red sweet pepper
1/4 cup sliced green onion
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
2 tablespoons salsa


Directions
1. Lightly grease an 11- to 13-inch pizza pan. Unroll pizza dough and transfer to greased pan, pressing dough out with your hands. Build up edges slightly. Prick generously with a fork. Bake in a 425 degree F oven for 7 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
2. Meanwhile, in a blender container or food processor bowl combine black beans, cilantro or parsley, 2 tablespoons salsa, cumin, hot pepper sauce, and garlic. Cover and blend or process until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides if necessary.
3. Spread bean mixture over hot crust. Sprinkle with Monterey jack or cheddar cheese, chopped red sweet pepper, and green onion. Bake about 10 minutes more or until cheese melts and pizza is heated through.
4. In a small bowl combine sour cream and 2 tablespoons salsa. Serve pizza with sour cream mixture. Makes 4 servings.

[ragin_acadian]

15. i'll be making this saturday afternoon from some feral hog meat.

BOUDIN!

6 lbs pork
2 lbs pork liver (store bought)
bacon
3 chopped onions
2 tbsp minced garlic
6 cups rice
cup parsley
2 tbsp salt
2 tbsp cayenne
4 tbsp crushed peppercorn
2 tbsp celery salt

stock:
2 onions
cup chopped celery
4 bay leaves
big pot with water in it

cook pork meat in stock until tender, take out vegetables, cook rice in stock. use bacon drippings to saute onions, garlic, liver, and spices.

put pork and vegetables through grinder, mix, then run through grinder again into casings.

let sit 2-3 nights in fridge to age. to serve: fry or heat in oven till casing is crispy.

i tried an alternate recipe where you make it with uncooked pork, then steamed it for 45 minutes, anyway, i had my 3 level bamboo steamer full of links, and was about 15 minutes into the process when i heard: "pop...pop....poppop...pop....pop...poppoppop" - it was the boudin, exploding. my steamer looked like the medical ward scene from alien.