Wholly Crepes

A shout out to Rick from Hallifax – Chef at Wholly Crepes.  To find him near the cruise terminal, just go to the Farmers Market and he will usually be there.  Photo to the right.

Rick was very hospitable.  He allowed me to photograph his menu board (photo left – click for an enlargement) and even shared his recipes with me.  CLICK HERE FOR RECIPES, or go to the bottom of this page for some recipes from other sources.  The batter is pretty basic, but it does take a bit of finesse to make the crepes just right.

Basic Crepe Batter

  • Flour, salt, eggs, whole milk, melted butter, sugar
  • Optional additions: cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, mustard
  • Crepe batter needs to rest at least 30 minutes so that the glutens can relax

Here is a link if you want to buy your own Crepe Maker.  This is one of the models that Rick uses.

Here is Rick making crepes for two young visitors, whose photo has been posted by permission of their mom.  Use the link below to see Rick’s crepe spreading process.

Video of pouring and spreading a crepe.

Another Video

Buckwheat Crepe Recipe from Bobby Flay

  • First caramelize your onion – cut into strips, and add 1 TBL butter and 1 TBL EVOO and a pinch of sugar.  Season with a bit of salt and pepper.  Sautee for about 25 minutes.
  • BATTER
    • 3 eggs
    • 3/4 C warm water
    • 1 C milk
    • 1/2 C AP flour
    • 1/2 C Buckwheat flour
    • Black pepper and salt
    • 2 TBL Canola oil or melted butter
      • Put into blender and mix
  • Let batter rest for 30 minutes
  • Splash of red vinegar and thyme to the onions, then set aside
  • Coat flat pan with tiny bit of butter
  • Pour in 1/2 C batter and tip to spread
  • Cook crepe about 60-90 seconds, flip and cook other side
  • Put crepe back on the skillet and add grated Gruyere cheese, sliced Black Forest Ham, and onions
  • Fold over into quarter and serve

 

Filling:   Heat in a skillet:   Papaya and Mango, sugar, vanilla, sugar

Lentil Soup

Ingredients

  • 1  C dry lentils
  • 2 C distilled water
  • 2 C beef stock

Step by Step

  1. Heat above to boiling and simmer 5 minutes
  2. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand 1 hour
  • 1 bottle lager beer
  • 1/2 C diced celery
  • 1/2 C diced carrots
  • 1/2 C diced onion
  • 3 slices bacon (minced0
  • 1/2 tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 2 sliced all beef hot dogs
  1. Heat to boiling
  2. Reduce heat to simmer
  3. Simmer 60-90 minutes, or until lentils and vegetables are tender
  4. Serve hot
  5. Option: Blend and strain

Cream of Broccoli Soup

  • 1 small onion (pieces)
  • 1 TBL Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 box frozen chopped broccoli
  • 1 C chicken broth
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 TBL butter
  • 1 can mushroom soup
  • 1 C sour cream
    or 1 C heavy cream with 1 tsp sugar
    or 1 C sweetened condensed milk
  1. Soften onion in 1 TBL olive oil
  2. Add broccoli, broth and nutmeg
  3. Cook about 5 minutes
  4. Add butter and mushroom soup
  5. Bring up to simmer
  6. Put into blender and add 1 C sour cream
  7. Serve from blender, or return to saucepan a place at a low simmer until your guests are ready to eat
  8. Garnish with diced tomato

Serve with Homemade Pita Bread fresh out of the oven

Talapia Two Ways

talapiaBAKED or FRIED

Ingredients

  • Talapia, sole or flounder
  • 1 C milk
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 onion (slivered)
  • 1/4 C AP flour
  • 1 egg (beaten)
  • Panko bread crumbs
  • 1/2 onion (grated)
  • salt, pepper
  • 2 TBL butter

Step by Step

  1. Place fish in a zip lock baggie with 1 C milk mixed with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 onion (slivered)
  2. Let soak two hours
  3. Let drain on a rack two minutes
  4. Dredge in flour, then egg, then bread crumbs

BAKED

  1. Place close together in greased pie pan
  2. Sprinkle with grated onion
  3. Top with salt and pepper
  4. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese
  5. Dot (or drizzle) with 2 TBL butter
  6. Pour 1 tsp cream over top of each fliet
  7. Bake at 450º for 12 minutes

FRIED

  1. In separate small pan braise grated onion with butter
  2. When onion is softened, add cream
  3. Place each filet in hot oil (360º) until browned
  4. Plate fish and top with onion mixture, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese

 

Fried Chicken Breast

Basic Fried Chicken Breast

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 chicken breasts
    MARINATE
  • 1 egg (well beaten)
  • 1/2 C evaporated milk (sub buttermilk)
  • 1/4 C water
    DREDGE
  • 1/2 C flour
  • 1/2 C Panko crumbs
  • 1/2 tsp Lowrey seasoning salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

STEP BY STEP

  1. Combine marinate ingredients
  2. Put breast into a baggie, refrigerate, and let breast marinate overnight
  3. Next day, combine dredge.
  4. Preheat canola or safflower oil to 365º
  5. Let breast drip for about 10 seconds, then cover in dredge
  6. Press crumbs into the breast
  7. Fry for 15-20 minutes

Flattened Chicken Breast

OVERVIEW

  1. Oil chicken breast well
  2. Put into heavy ziplock bag
  3. Let set out at room temperature for 30 minutes
  4. Pound (pallard) breast until it is evenly about 1/2 inch flat
  5. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic
  6. Preheat grill pan to about 400º
  7. Cook 2 minutes on one side
  8. Rotate breast 90º and cook 2 more minutes
  9. Flip and cook another 2-3 minutes (medium or well done)
    – I prefer medium, because it is not too dry
  10. Plate with a dollop of Dijon mustard on the side
  11. Squeeze the juice of one lime over top
  12. Serve with asparagus Parmesan or your favorite vegetable or a salad
  13. Serve also with Parker House Rolls

 

Kung Pao Beef

kung-paoBefore we begin…

  • If you want to know the differences between the five main traditional Chinese dishes, [popup url=”https://www.grandpacooks.com/recipes/mongolian-sichuan-kung-pao-mandarin-hunan/”]CLICK HERE.[/popup]
  • Kung Pao usually starts off with fresh, moist, unroasted peanuts or cashew nuts. These are often used instead of their pre-roasted versions. The peanuts or cashew nuts are dropped into the hot oil on the bottom of the wok first, then deep-fried until golden brown before the other ingredients are added.

Ingredients to feed 4 people

  • 1 LB flank steak
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 TBL olive oil
  • 1/4 C unsalted peanuts (or cashews)
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 1/4 C chicken broth
  • cooked rice
  • 1 tsp chili paste with garlic
  • 2 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sherry
  • 1 tsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil

Step by Step

  1. Combine chili paste, soy sauce, sherry, rice vinegar, sugar and sesame oil.
  2. Place flank steak in a large resealable bag.
  3. Pour marinade mixture over top and refrigerate for one to eight hours.
  4. Remove flank steak from marinade and set aside.
  5. Pour marinade into a sauce pan.
  6. Add chicken broth, nuts and cornstarch.
  7. Bring to a boil then simmer until it thickens.
  8. Preheat grill.
  9. Cut bell pepper in half and remove stems, seeds and membranes.
  10. Brush with olive oil.
  11. Place flank steak on very hot grill.
  12. Grill for one minute per side.
  13. Reduce heat or move to a cooler section of your grill and continue grilling until cooked through (about 4 to 5 minutes per side).
  14. Grill pepper halves over medium heat for about 1 to 2 minutes per side or until browned.
  15. Remove steak and bell pepper from grill.
  16. Allow steak to rest for five minutes.
  17. Carve against the grain into thin strips.
  18. Cut bell pepper into thin strips.
  19. Place a portion of rice on a plate.
  20. Top with 1/4 of the flank steak and 1/4 of the pepper.
  21. Spoon sauce over top and serve.

Oh, one more thing…

  • Click here to view excerpts from Kung Pao – Enter the Fist
  • Although the dish is found throughout China, there are regional variations that are typically less spicy than the Sichuan serving.
  • Kung Pao chicken is also a staple of westernized Chinese cuisine.
  • The dish is believed to be named after Ding Baozhen (1820–1886), a late Qing Dynasty official, and governor of Sichuan Province. His title was Gongbao (Kung-pao).

This is a recipe that has been created or modified by Robert (Grandpa) Andrews.
CLICK HERE for a free sample copies of Grandpa's Cookbooks. © 2016, 2017, 2018.

Sichuan Beef

sichuan-beef( formerly Szechwan or Szechuan )
Before we begin…

  • If you want to know the differences between some of these traditional Chinese dishes, [popup url=”https://www.grandpacooks.com/recipes/mongolian-sichuan-kung-pao-mandarin-hunan/”]CLICK HERE.[/popup]
  • Sichuan Beef usually includes Thai peppers or some other very hot peppers

Ingredients to feed 4 people

1 lb. beef flank steak
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tbsp. fresh ginger root, minced
6-24 Thai hot peppers – depending on taste
1 sm. red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
8 oz. frozen baby corn, defrosted
1/4 pound pea pods, julienned
 2 tbsp. soy sauce, low sodium
4 tsp. Oriental dark roasted sesame oil, divided
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. cornstarch

Step by Step

  1. Put flank steak in freezer for 30 minutes
  2. Combine soy sauce, 2 tsp. oil, sugar and cornstarch; stir into strips.
  3. Heat remaining 2 tsp. oil in wok or large skillet over medium-high heat.
  4. Add garlic, ginger and peppers; cook 30 seconds.
  5. Add bell pepper and corn; stir-fry 30 seconds.
  6. Remove vegetables.
  7. Stir-fry beef strips (half at a time) 2 to 3 minutes.
  8. Return vegetables and beef to wok and heat through.
  9. Serve with hot cooked rice.

Oh, one more thing…

  • You might have heard of a Ming vase.  This is a VERY expensive antique produced in the Szechuan Province of China
  • The Sichuan Province is about the size of Spain
  • The big Buddha of Le Shan is the tallest stone-carved Buddha in the world. It is 71 meters (250 feet) tall.

This is a recipe that has been created or modified by Robert (Grandpa) Andrews.
CLICK HERE for a free sample copies of Grandpa's Cookbooks. © 2016, 2017, 2018.

Hunan Beef

hunanBefore we begin…

  • If you want to know the differences between some of these traditional Chinese dishes, [popup url=”https://www.grandpacooks.com/recipes/mongolian-sichuan-kung-pao-mandarin-hunan/”]CLICK HERE.[/popup]
  • Hunan Beef is very spicy, and is sometimes difficult to distinguish from a Sichuan meal.  There are minor differences in vegetables and seasonings.  Hunan uses hot Thai peppers.

Ingredients to feed 4 people

¾ lb flank steak (sliced into thin strips)
1 egg white
1 T. cornstarch
.
oil (for frying)
4 c. broccoli florets
1 T. dry sherry
⅛ teaspoon salt
2 T. soy sauce
1 T. chili paste with garlic
1½ t. cornstarch
½ t. sugar
Several drops sesame oil (to taste)
2 garlic cloves (minced)

Step by Step

  1. In a medium bowl combine beef, egg white and 1 TBL cornstarch.
  2. Mix well and set aside.
  3. In another bowl mix together soy sauce and chili paste.
  4. Mix in 1½ tsp cornstarch, sugar, sesame oil, and garlic. Set aside.
  5. Heat oil in a deep fryer to 375°F.
  6. Deep fry strips of beef in batches for about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
  7. Drain on paper towels.
  8. Heat a wok or skillet over medium-high heat.
  9. Add the sauce mixture to the wok and cook until it becomes thickened and bubbly.
  10. Mix in cooked beef strips and cook for 1 minute.
  11. Remove beef and sauce from the pan to a platter and set aside.
  12. Wipe the fry pan clean.
  13. Heat 1 T. of oil in the wok or skillet over medium high heat.
  14. Add sherry and salt.
  15. Add broccoli florets and stir fry for 1 minute.
  16. Serve broccoli with the beef mixture and white rice.

Oh, one more thing…

  • Hunan cuisine, a recognized Chinese cuisine, is also referred to as Xiang Cai and is characterized by its aromatic, spicy and delicious food. Hunan food is indeed a strong flavored spicy version of Szechuan food. A pungent flavor in all dishes makes food here unique and chili, shallot and pepper are used in almost all the food preparations of Hunan cuisine.
  • Hunan, which is situated at South Eastern China, is also called as land of fish and rice because of the abundance of the two.
  • Due to the humidity in the air and hot climate, peppers are excessively used in Hunan food in order to take out the body heat by sweating.
  • Among all the Chinese cuisine, Hunan cuisine is considered best and spiciest.  Sweet and sour sauce has its origin in Hunan.


This is a recipe that has been created or modified by Robert (Grandpa) Andrews.
CLICK HERE for a free sample copies of Grandpa's Cookbooks. © 2016, 2017, 2018.

Mandarin Beef

mandarinBefore we begin…

  • If you want to know the differences between some of these traditional Chinese dishes, [popup url=”https://www.grandpacooks.com/recipes/mongolian-sichuan-kung-pao-mandarin-hunan/”]CLICK HERE.[/popup]
  • The beef is tossed in cornstarch early, which gives it kind of a coating.
  • Mandarin Beef is the least spicy of the five recipes outlined here at GrandpaCooks.com

Ingredients to feed 4 people

1 LB skirt steak
2 green onions (with tops)
1 lg green pepper
1/4 C vegetable oil
2 tsp finely grated ginger root
1 tsp finely chopped garlic
1/4 C shredded carrot
1 to 2 tsp chili paste
1 TBL dark soy sauce
1 TBL vegetable oil
2 TBL cornstarch
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soy sauce (light or dark)
½ tsp sugar
¼ tsp white pepper

Step by Step

  1. Trim fat from beef; put into freezer for thirty minutes
  2. Cut beef into thin strips
  3. Toss beef, 1 TBL vegetable oil, the cornstarch, salt, 1 tsp soy sauce, the sugar and white pepper in glass or plastic bowl.
  4. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
  5. Cut green onions into 2 inch pieces.
  6. Cut green pepper into 1/8 inch strips.
  7. Heat wok until 1 or 2 drops of water bubble and skitter when sprinkled in wok.
  8. Add 1/4 C vegetable oil; rotate wok to coat side.
  9. Add beef, ginger root and garlic; stir-fry until beef is brown, about 3 minutes.
  10. Add green pepper, carrots and chili paste; stir-fry 1 minute.
  11. Stir in green onions and 1 TBL soy sauce; cook and stir 30 seconds.

Oh, one more thing…

  • Mandarin Beef originates near Peking, China
  • Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken of all Chinese dialects spoken as a first language in a vast area of northern and southwestern mainland China. There is also a huge number of Mandarin speakers in Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mongolia, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, USA, and Viet Nam. With close to 850 million speakers, Mandarin Chinese  is by far the world’s largest language.

This is a recipe that has been created or modified by Robert (Grandpa) Andrews.
CLICK HERE for a free sample copies of Grandpa's Cookbooks. © 2016, 2017, 2018.

Mongolian Beef

mong-beefBefore we begin…

  • If you want to know the differences between some of these traditional Chinese dishes, [popup url=”https://www.grandpacooks.com/recipes/mongolian-sichuan-kung-pao-mandarin-hunan/”]CLICK HERE.[/popup]
  • Freezing your meat for 30 minutes will help you get nice thin cuts
  • Mongolian cuisine primarily consists of green onion/scallions and beef. Use of vegetables and spices is limited. Sometimes foods are cooked on a large flat grill.

Ingredients to feed 4 people

  • 2 TBL regular soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 TBL rice vinegar
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 2 tsp dry cherry or white wine
  • 2 tsp hoisin sauce
  • 1 tsp chili paste (sambal or gochujang)

Combine top seven ingredients – stir until smooth

  • 2 tsp peanut oil or sesame oil
  • 1 TBL minced peeled fresh ginger
  • 1 TBL minced fresh garlic
  • 1 pound skirt steak – thinly sliced across the grain
  • 1/2 onion chopped into large, bite-sized pieces
  • 1/2 bell pepper cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 16 medium green onions, cut into 2 inch pieces
  • 1-2 C broccoli pieces
  • Thai chili peppers if you like it spicy

Step by Step

  1. Start pot of boiling water for udon noodles
  2. Heat peanut or sesame oil in a wok over high heat
  3. Add minced ginger and then minced garlic
  4. Add pieces of beef
  5. Sauté for one minute
  6. Add Thai chili, broccoli and onion
  7. Sauté for one minute
  8. Add green onion and bell pepper pieces and sauté another minute
  9. Add soy sauce mixture and toss until thickened, stirring constantly

Serve with udon noodles or rice.

Oh, one more thing…

  • Mongolia is the region between China and Russia in the right half of Asia
  • Mongolia is 1/4 the size of the United States
  • Mongolia is the most sparsely populated nation in the world, with only 4.3 people per square mile.
  • In Mongolia, there are 13 times more horses than humans, and sheep outnumber humans 35 to 1.
  • The Gobi desert, a part of which lies in Mongolia, is the largest desert in Asia and is the fifth largest in the world.
  • Many Mongolians still live in a traditional ger, which is a type of tent. Also known as “yurts,” these portable dwellings were traditionally used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia as their homes.

This is a recipe that has been created or modified by Robert (Grandpa) Andrews.
CLICK HERE for a free sample copies of Grandpa's Cookbooks. © 2016, 2017, 2018.


The information below this section is from a third party. It is part of Grandpa's Personal Recipe box. Feel free to browse, but know that this information is from someone else.

Mongolian Beef (Chinese-American food, not authentic Chinese, less spicy)

Ingredients:

1 lb flank steak
¼ c. cornstarch
2 t. vegetable oil
½ t. ginger (minced)
1 T. garlic (minced)
½ c. soy sauce
½ c. water
½ c. brown sugar
2 T. rice wine
½ t. red pepper flakes
2 green onions (sliced)
1 medium onion (sliced)
Oil (for frying)

Cooking Instructions:

To make the sauce- in a sauce pan heat 2 t. of oil. Add garlic and ginger, stir fry 10 seconds. Add soy sauce, wine and water. Add brown sugar and dissolve into the sauce. Add red pepper flakes. Bring the sauce to a boil and boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat. Slice the flank steak against the grain into ¼” thick slices. Tilt the knife blade at a 45 degree angle to the top of the steak to get wider cuts. Toss the steak slices with cornstarch and let the beef sit for 10 minutes (this is very important, do not skip). Heat up about a cup of oil in your wok to about medium heat.  Add the beef slices to the wok and cook for 3 minutes (or use a deep fryer).  Remove the meat from the wok with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Drain all of the oil from the wok expect about a tablespoon. Add onions to the wok and stir fry for 2 minutes. Add the steak back to the wok and pour in the sauce. Cook while stirring until the sauce began to bubble.
2 Servings.

– $10 Hamburger

burgerBefore we begin…

  • You will need to get 1/2 LB of ground top sirloin, skirt steak or chuck for each person – COARSELY ground.
  • Cut the meat into one inch cubes across the grain
  • Spread out and freeze it for 30 minutes before grinding
  • Don’t overpack or overwork the meat
  • If you do not have a meat grinder, pulse in your food processor briefly
  • Alternately go to the supermarket and get 80/20 hamburger or ask the butcher to grind it for you.  Be sure to specify a coarse grind though.

Ingredients to feed 4 people

2 LB hamburger
– see notes above
Melted butter to brush on top during grilling2 strips of bacon for each burger – Cut into 3 inch piecesBrioche bun or toasted sesame seed bun
Dredge:

1 tsp each: salt, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder

1/2 tsp each:  fresh ground blck pepper, chili powder, celery salt, cumin

Step by Step

  1. Divide your meat into four servings (if there are four people)
  2. Flatten into round patties.  Do not overwork your meat or it will become tough.  If you are making “Jucy Lucy Burgers” flatten it extra big, put cheese in the center, then fold the edges over to COMPLETELY encase the cheese.
  3. Mix your dry dredge and press the burger patties into it coating the patties well
  4. Put a dimple in the center of your hamburger patty. This will keep it from rounding.
  5. Cook the bacon first at about 400º, then set aside.  Cook the burgers in the residual bacon grease
  6. Baste the top with butter each time you turn it over to keep your burger juicy.  You will cook the burgers a total of twice on each side – a total of 12 minutes – 3 minutes per flip
  7. Place on toasted sesame seed bun or brioche bun, and top with bacon and a slice of cheddar cheese or blue cheese.  Skip cheddar if added at Step Two.
  8. Toss the onion and lettuce briefly in the remaining burger juice in the pan to give it a nice flavor
  9. Serve with condiments

Oh, one more thing…

  • Carl’s Jr.’s Original Six Dollar Burger (since there are other variations now) is a hefty burger with a charbroiled Black Angus beef patty, two slices of American cheese, lettuce, two slices of tomato, red onion, pickles, mustard, mayo, and ketchup on a toasted sesame seed bun.  Grandpa thinks his is better.
  • You can make your own French fries using Grandpa’s Recipe.  Another fun option is to make medallions rather than the standard long fries.

This is a recipe that has been created or modified by Robert (Grandpa) Andrews.
CLICK HERE for a free sample copies of Grandpa's Cookbooks. © 2016, 2017, 2018.

Salsa Boracha

Ingredients:

One onion
EVOO
1 bottle (or can) dark beer
(alt: instead of beer, you can use 1/2 C each tequila and OJ)
4 dried peppers (see below)
1 tomato
1 fresh jalapeno

Instructions

  1. Cut one onion and heat in EVOO over medium heat for 8-10 minutes
  2. Add four cloves chopped garlic
  3. Add to pan and continue cooking another minute
  4. Add 1 C dark beer OR 1/2 C each tequila and orange juice
    – beer will give you a rustic yeasty taste
    – tequila and OJ will give you a brighter taste
  5. Add four (deseeded and de-stemmed) dried Anaheim, Pasilla, ancho, or poblabo peppers
  6. Add 1/2 tsp each cumin and salt
  7. Cook until liquid reduces to about half
  8. Add one chopped tomato and one deseeded fresh jalapeño pepper
  9. Let cool, then pulse in a blender until you get the desired consistency
  10. Serve with chips

Grandpa’s French Toast

french-toastINGREDIENTS – REGULAR

  • Bread – Preferably French bread, Brioche, or Challah bread
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 C buttermilk
  • 1 TBL Grandpa’s CinnaSugar®
  • 1 TBL sugar

INGREDIENTS – SPECIAL

  • Above ingredients plus
    • 2 TBL cream cheese
    • Fruit Jam or Compote

STEP BY STEP

  1. Combine all of the above except the bread
  2. Cut your bread.  Don’t be boring. Cut your French Toast into triangles, rectangles, or even circles.
  3. Use the scraps to make a French Toast Casserole.
    • SPECIAL:  Cut a “pocket” in the bread
    • Spread inside with softened cream cheese and compote
  4. Dip bread and let it soak for a couple of seconds, then put into hot greased pan @ 375º
  5. Flip a total of 4-5 times so that it heats all the way through and gets a nice crust on it.
  6. Serve with butter and syrup or heat fruit in the microwave.

VARIATIONS

  • Try using a bit of cardamom rather than cinnamon

Chicken and Dumplings

chick-dumpBefore we begin…

  • This recipe is pretty easy, and you can make it even easier by buying a pre-cooked chicken.
  • This particular recipe is shown a bit differently than the rest of our recipes.
  • You can even cut corners more by using Pillsbury crack and cook dinner rolls for your dumplings.
  • Read on…

Cooking the Chicken

  • 6 chicken thighs
  • 1/2 onion
  • 1 stalk celery
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 tsp ginger
  • 6 mushrooms
  • 1/2 tsp sage
  • 1/2 tsp thyme
  • 2 tomatoes or one can – diced
  • 4 C chicken stock
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 small can baby peas
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 2 TBL butter

Or buy a pre-cooked chicken and shred it

Brine thighs in salty/sweet water 4 hours
Season meat with salt and pepper
Brown pieces in cast-iron skillet
Add 1 stalk celery – chopped
Add 3 cloves garlic and 1/2 tsp ginger
Add 1/2 tsp sage and 1/2 tsp thyme
Add 4 C chicken stock to deglaze
Add 2 bay leaves
Simmer for 1 hour
Remove chicken and set aside to cool
Add 2 tomatoes (or one can) – diced
Add 6 mushrooms – quartered
Add 1/2 onion – slices
Meanwhile, shred the chicken and set aside
Simmer for 1 more hour
Add 1/2 C peas and 1 tsp lemon juice
Add chicken back in, add butter and simmer
At this point, you are ready to add dumplings, then cook 20 more minutes.  Do not over-stir

Cooking the dumplings

Prepare the dumplings
while the pot is
on the stove
with the chicken,
so they will be ready
to add when it is time.


  • 1 CU all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 CU whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

or buy Pillsbury crack and bake dinner rolls

  1. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
    – Repeat 3 times (this makes the dumplings very light).
  2. Mix all ingredients together quickly
    – Do not overmix of they will become tough
  3. Set aside for 10 minutes
  4. Roll dumplings flat and cut into noodles, into 1/2 inch balls and roll round, or wrap around pieces of cheese for “bags of gold”
  5. Chicken stock should be barely simmering, or dumplings will fall apart
  6. Cover and cook (maintaining a simmer) for 10 – 12 minutes

Alternate Dumpling Mixture

1 C Ricotta cheese
2 egg yolks
salt
Just enough flour to allow you to form small balls
Cook about 3 minutes each – or until they rise

Oh, one more thing…

  • Some areas of the US will call this Chicken and Sliders
  • In China this is called Chicken Won Ton
  • In Jewish culture, these are called matzah balls
  • Some chicken and dumplings are made with flat noodles, rather than balls.  This is called Chicken and Slicks
  • A kreplach is a dumpling filled with cooked meat
  • Grandma made bags of gold when she was a little girl, which is a small cube of cheese wrapped in dough

This is a recipe that has been created or modified by Robert (Grandpa) Andrews.
CLICK HERE for a free sample copies of Grandpa's Cookbooks. © 2016, 2017, 2018.

Garden Skillet Supper

Ingredients

½ c butter
1 c onion (thinly sliced)
2 zucchini (1/2” slilces)
1 med eggplant (peeled and cut ½” slices)
½ c flour
2 green pepper (cut in strips)
2 tomatoes (wedges)
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp oregano
1/8 tsp pepper
garlic

Instructions

  1. In covered elect skillet melt butter, sauté onions, garlic until onions tender.
  2. Dip zucchini and eggplant in flour to coat lightly. Add to onions along w/green pepper, cover and simmer 30 min.
  3. Add tomatoes, salt, oregano and pepper.
  4. Cook an additional 15 min.
  5. Serve over rice.

Meat Skillet

Ingredients:

1 stalk celery (chopped)
1 carrot (chopped)
1 onion (chopped)
2 TBL butter
————
1 potato diced small
1 bay leaf
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp poultry seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
————-
2 TBL flour
2 TBL EVOO or butter
————-
1 CU good white wine
1 tsp grated ginger
————-
1 liter chicken stock or broth
1 LB chicken or other meat (cooked)
1 tsp tarragon
1 sm can peas
1/2 CU asparagus (chopped)

Instructions

  1. Add first four ingredients and saute for about 10 minutes
  2. Add potato, bay, thyme, etc. and saute for 5 more minutes
  3. Add 2 TBL flour and butter/EVOO and stir until combined
  4. Add next ingredients including wine and heat to scrape and deglaze pan
  5. Add chicken stock or broth and bring up to a simmer.
  6. Add 1 LB cooked chicken or other meat
  7. Add tarragon and peas, then simmer 20 more minutes
  8. Add asparagus as it starts to thicken, and cook 10 more minutes

Tortilla Española

AKA Spanish Tortilla

In Spain, the tortillas are not the thin things that we are used to in Phoenix, but rather thick potato quiches.
In Spain, tortillas are not the thin things that we use here in Phoenix, but rather thick potato quiches.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1-1/4 pounds waxy potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
  • 8 extra-large eggs
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Optional:  Cheese mix: See notes at bottom of this page.

STEP BY STEP

  1. Heat half of your oil in a large skillet till hot, but not smoking.
  2. Add the onion and stir occasionally.  Onion should sweat and soften, but not caramelize.
  3. Gently toss the potatoes in with the onion, seasoning with salt and pepper along the way.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium, and cover.
  5. Simmer – stirring occasionally and adjusting the heat if necessary so that the vegetables do not brown, until the potatoes are tender when pierced with the tip of a parking knife, 15 to 20 minutes.
  6. Meanwhile, beat the eggs with salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl.
  7. Heat the oil in a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high until very hot but not smoking.
  8. Gently temper the potatoes and onion into the eggs
  9. Pour the entire thing into the skillet, spreading the potatoes evenly in the pan.
  10. Cook for about 1 minute, just to set the bottom of the egg mixture.
  11. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 20 minutes, or until almost set through.
  12. Carefully flip the tortilla over (invert it onto a plate if you must, then slide it back into the pan, bottom side up) and cook for 5 minutes longer, until set.
  13. Flip out onto a clean plate and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
  14. Serve warm or at room temperature.

NOTE

  • After reducing the heat to medium-low in Step 11, start checking for doneness after about 15 minutes. It may not take the 20 minutes mentioned depending on the pan you use. You don’t want to overcook the eggs or they’ll toughen and become dry.
  • You could, of course, Americanize this just a bit with cheese.  Option 1 is to use a Monterey Jack and cheddar mix.  Option 2 is to grate a nutty Gruyere, Manchego or Parmigiano-Reggiano and toss into the egg and potato mixture. It isn’t traditional but it adds another layer of flavor.
  • Use organic eggs if possible. There is a difference, especially in dishes like this one where eggs are the focal point.
  • Tortilla Española is essentially the national dish of Spain. You can eat it as a tapa, for breakfast, in a bocadillo (sandwich), or for dinner with salad and a bit of jamon. Basically anytime, anywhere. We had a great one at Valdubon and I think it’s because they weren’t afraid to use a lot of olive oil. No fear!

Reprinted from Spain: A Culinary Road Trip by Mario Batali with Gwyneth Paltrow, published by Ecco, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2008 with adaptations by Robert (Grandpa) Andrews

 

Southern Winter Soup

Southern Winter Soup
Southern Winter Soup

Grandpa created and submitted this recipe to The International Rescue Committee for inclusion in its Gila Farm Cooperative CSA Newsletter. This is a program that we subscribed to, and prepaid for, which gives the farmers money for seeds. Throughout the coming year, we get all sorts of greens and other produce fresh from the farm.

This is also great if you are traveling and get a chance to sample the street side farmer stands or a local farmers’ market.

Use 16 oz of canned stock, or make your own. It’s much healthier and really easy.  Here is a link to Grandpa Cooks HOMEMADE MEAT AND VEGGIE STOCK.

Fill with DISTILLED water to cover two inches over top of ingredients

INGREDIENTS

  • 16 oz stock
  • Handful of mustard greens (chopped)
  • Handful of Collar Greens (chopped)
  • 2 green onions (diced)
  • 1 stalk celery (diced)
  • 1 carrot (julienne strips or peeler strips, then chopped)
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and pepper to taste

STEP BY STEP

  1. This is about as easy as it gets…
  2. Bring stock up to a simmer
  3. Add ingredients
  4. Let simmer for 30-45 minutes
  5. Serve with bread or even better BISQUICK DROP BISCUITS.

 

Potato and Cheddar Cheese Soup

soupINGREDIENTS

  • 2 strips sliced bacon, cut into pieces
  • 1/2 onion – chopped
  •  2 large russet potatoes – peeled and chopped ( see note below )
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 ounces cheddar, grated – about 1 cup)
  • 2 TBL chopped chives or scallion tops

STEP BY STEP

  1. In a large saucepan, cook the bacon until crisp
  2. Remove the bacon and set aside on a paper towel
  3. Pour off all but 1 tablespoons of the bacon fat
    If you don’t have 1 tablespoons, add a bit of canola oil
  4. Reduce the heat to low
  5. Add the onion and cook until softened – about 5 minutes
  6. Stir in the potato pieces until they start to brown
  7. Add water and salt and bring to a boil
  8. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes
  9. If you want a creamy soup, pour the soup into a blender and puree
    For a more rustic soup, use a potato masher to do most of the work.
  10. Return the potatoes to the pan
  11. Still over low heat, add the cheese bits and stir until melted
  12. Remove the pan from the heat
  13. Taste the soup and season with salt, pepper or cumin to the desired taste
  14. Serve the soup topped with the bacon and chives, and a dollop of sour cream

MORE STUFF YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Boiling potatoes have less starch than baking potatoes and consequentially hold together better when boiled. This is why they are used in dishes such as potato salads. Not in this soup, though. Since we want most of the potato to break down into smaller pieces and thicken the soup, baking potatoes are preferred.
  • For Vichyssoise, prepare soup as above, then add 1/2 cucumber – peeled and seeded and 1 TBL  light cream.  Let soup chill, then add Vichy ingredients and blend in a blender until smooth.  Refrigerate several hours.  Garnish with chopped chives.
  • SAFETY TIP:  If you blend your hot soup, DO NOT put the lid tightly on the blender.  The explosion of hot air will spread hot potato soup all over your kitchen, ceiling and face.  Leave the lid off, and cover the top with a heavy towel or wash cloth.

 

Tomato Soup – COLLECTION

see also recipe for Bags of Gold

Basic Tomato Soup

Ingredients

  • 2 TBL butter
  • 2 TBL flour
  • 1/4 C sliced onion
  • 1 C chicken broth
  • 2 C crushed tomatoes
  • ¼ tsp celery salt
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup milk

Step by Step

  1. Cook butter and flour until flour starts to brown
  2. Add onion and cook until softened
  3. Add chicken broth, tomatoes, salt and bay leaf
  4. Simmer uncovered 15 min
  5. Remove from heat
  6. Remove bay leaf
  7. Blend (carefully and vented) in blender or food processor
  8. Press thru sieve
  9. Reheat if desired, then add milk and serve

Just a Little Bit Fancier

Ingredients

  • 1 TBL butter
  • 1/2 onion or leek- caramelized
  • 1/2 carrot (minced)
  • 1/2 stalk celery (minced)
  • 1 TBL tomato paste
  • 3 cloves of garlic – chopped – lightly caramelized
  • Small handful of basil
  • 1 TBL ketchup
  • 1 C white wine
  • 1 large can peeled San Marzano tomatoes
    Note:  This actually is better than using fresh for this recipe.
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 whole orange (cut into 4 pieces)
  • 1/4 English cucumber
  • 1/4 C whole milk yogurt

Step by Step

  1. Turn stovetop to medium heat
  2. Caramelize onions in 1 TBL COLD butter
  3. Add carrots and celery after butter has melted
  4. Add tomato paste when onions start to brown
  5. Add garlic when tomato paste has been incorporated
  6. Add basil when garlic becomes fragrant
  7. Add ketchup when basil starts to wilt
  8. Add white wine and let simmer while you chop your tomatoes
  9. Add the canned tomatoes and orange sections
  10. Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce heat
  11. Simmer for 30 minutes
  12. Add water as necessary to achieve desired soup texture
  13. Remove the orange sections
  14. Add cucumber and yogurt, and pulse in a blender
  15. Run the mixture through a strainer or food mill
  16. Put into bowl and decorate the top with cream or a mixture of yogurt thinned with a splash of buttermilk
  17. Alternately you can use a spiralizer and cut cucumber ribbons with a sprig of basil or cilantro

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Grandpa’s Tomato Harvest Soup

TomatoesSo this year we planted tomatoes. We figured that half of the plants would die, so we planted a dozen of them. ONE DIED. This leaves us with an abundance of tomatoes.

We made TOMATO SAUCE, TOMATO PASTE, and Tomato Soup. Here is our recipe for tomato soup.

Ingredients

As it turns out, Roma tomatoes are the best for all of the above recipes. Keep your Beefsteak tomatoes for sandwiches and dessert. They are great for slicing but use Romas for your blended tomato recipes.

  • 1 TBL EVOO
  • 1/2 onion – diced
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 2 C diced tomato
  • 2 C chicken broth
  • 1 C Bread – torn into pieces
  • Parsley to taste
  • Basil to taste
  • 1/2 C Mozzarella – shredded
  • Juice and zest from one lemon

Step by Step

  1. Misc types of tomatoes – chopped – set aside
  2. Sautee onion in EVOO – sweat them, don’t brown them
  3. When softened, add in garlic
  4. Add tomatoes and chicken broth
  5. Simmer 12-15 minutes
  6. Run through strainer or food mill and return to pot
  7. Add salt, chopped parsley and basil
  8. Add chunks of bread to thicken soup and give it body.
  9. Garnish with chunks of mozzarella and lemon on top

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Hearty Tomato Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 C thinly sliced carrot
  • 1/2 C thinly chopped celery
  • 1 small onion, chopped/diced
  • 1/4 C chopped green bell pepper
  • 4 TBL salted butter
  • 2 C chicken or vegetable broth
    (CLICK HERE if you want to make your own broth or stock)
  • 2 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 1/4 C apple juice
  • 1/4 tsp curry powder (optional)
  • 1/4 tsp salt (optional)
  • scant black pepper
  • EVOO for cooking

Step by Step

  1. Halve the tomatoes and put in oven at 350 degrees
  2. In a large pot over high heat, sauté the carrots, celery, and onion in EVOO until tender.
  3. Add the green pepper and cook till softened
  4. When the tomatoes start to “color” add them to the cook pot
  5. Add the broth, tomatoes, apple juice, curry, salt, and black pepper.
  6. Bring the mixture to a boil and then decrease the heat to low
  7. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes
  8. Uncover and let cool for 5 minutes
  9. Put into blender, AND WITH LID VENTED, puree
  10. OPTION: For smooth soup, press it through a strainer. for a heartier soup leave the pieces alone and serve.
  11. Top with a dollop of sour cream and some chives

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Tomato Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

  • ½ onion, finely chopped
  • 1 stalk celery, finely sliced
  • 1 TBS olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup dried zucchini
  • ½ can whole kernel corn
  • 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 2 cups diced fresh tomatoes
  • 1 can tomato paste
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ tsp each – basil, oregano, thyme, cayenne pepper sauce, ground clove,
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step by Step

1. In large stockpot, sauté onions and celery in the oil – 3 min
2. Add garlic, zucchini and corn – 2 min
3. Add stock and bring to simmer
4. Add pasta, tomatoes and seasonings
5. Simmer about 30 minutes
6. Top with cheese

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Creamy Tomato Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons minced onion
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 tablespoons non-alcoholic white wine
  • 3/4 cup tomato juice
  • 5 medium tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 1/2 cups Vegetable stock
  • 1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon ground basil
  • Pinch salt
  • Dash Tabasco Sauce
  • 11/2 teaspoon cornstarch
  • Pinch black pepper
    Garnish:
  • 6 teaspoons chopped chives
  • 6 tablespoons croutons

Step by Step

1. Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add onions and garlic and cook over medium heat until
golden brown.
2. Add tomato paste and saute until it has a rusty color and sweet aroma. Add wine and cook until it is slightly reduced, about 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Add remaining ingredients and cook for 30 minutes.
4. Remove saucepan from heat and transfer contents into a blender – Blend until smooth or run through a food mill.
5. Pour 1/2 cup into each bowl and garnish with 1 teaspoon chopped chives, and 1 tablespoon
croutons.

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Smooth Tomato Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 TBL EVOO
  • 1/2 onion – chopped
  • 1 TBL flour
  • 1 can tomato pieces – drained or two peeled tomatoes
  • 1 sm can tomato paste
  • 2 C chicken broth
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 TBL butter

Step by Step

  1. Sautee onion in EVOO
  2. Add 1 TBL flour and stir 1-2 minutes
  3. Add tomato pieces, paste and chicken broth
  4. Simmer 12-15 minutes
  5. Add sugar and stir a few minutes
  6. Pass everything through a food mill (or blender and then a strainer)
  7. Put in 1 TBL cold butter and stir until it completely melts
  8. Put into soup bowl and top with 1 TBL creme fresh and cilantro

Frontier Tomato Soup

  • Sautee diced onions in 1 stick butter
  • 1 large can San Marzano tomatoes
  • 1 large can Campbells Tomato juice
  • 2-3 TBL sugar
  • Black pepper
  • Three chicken bullion cubes
    • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer
    • Simmer for 30 minutes
  • 1 C cooking sherry
  • 1 1/2 heavy cream
  • Add fresh herbs:  chopped parsley, chives, basil chiffonade
    • Ready to serve

Baked Tomato Soup

  1. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper
  2. Open a large can of San Marzano tomatoes – Drain and reserve juice for later use – Additionally you will use tomatoes fresh from your garden
  3. Prepare tomato and other vegetables by cutting into pieces and tossing in EVOO and a little bit of salt :: Tomatoes, carrots, celery, shallots, garlic, peppers
  4. Bake for one hour at 350º
  5. Put basil and baked veggies into a blender. 
  6. Add 2 TBL sherry wine vinegar- Alternately balsamic or rice wine vinegar
  7. Add 1/4 C cream
  8. Thin as necessary with the tomato juice (from Step 2) only enough to blend
  9. Run the soup through a food mill or wide screen strainer
  10. Garnish with basil leaf chiffonade
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