Category: Main Dishes

Eggplant, Sausage and Ziti Casserole

Basil, Eggplant, Main Dishes, Mozarella, Olive, Parmesan, Sausage, Tomatoes

Emeril Lagasse – 2001 – via Aunt Evie

  • 2 large eggplants, cut crosswise into 1/3 inch thick rounds
  • ½ cup olive oil, plus more as needed
  •  Salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1 pound Italian sausage, removed from casings
  • 2 T. tomato paste
  • 1 28-oz can whole Italian tomatoes, crushed and their juices
  • 1 t. Italian seasoning
  • ½ cup pitted black olives, coarsely chopped
  • ¼ t. crushed red pepper
  • ¼ cup  minced fresh basil leaves
  • 4 T. butter
  • 4 T. flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/8 t. freshly grated nutmeg
  • ½ cup grated parmesan
  • 8 oz. ziti, cooked according to package directions and drained
  • 1 cup grated mozzarella

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Lightly grease a 9 by 13 inch casserole dish (or bigger) and set aside.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat ¼ cup oil.  Add egglplant in batches, seasoning both sides with salt and pepper, and cook until golden, adding more oil as needed.  Transfer to a plate as they cook, and set aside.

Heat 2 T. or remaining oil in large skillet.  When hot, but not smoking, add the onion and sausage, and cook, stirring, until the sausage is browned and the onion is soft, about 6 minutes.  Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to brown, about 1 to 2 minutes.  Add the tomatoes, their juices, the Italian seasoning, black olives, 1 t. of salt, and the crushed red pepper.  Reduce the heat to medium- low and gently simmer, uncovered, until the flavors marry and the sauce slightly thickens, about 20 minutes.  Remove from the heat.  Add basil and adjust seasoning to taste.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.  Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and forms a light roux, about 2 minutes.  Whisk in the milk and, whisking frequently, cook until the sauce is thickened and smooth, about 4 minutes.  Remove from the heat and season with the nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste.

Arrange half of the eggplant slices on the bottom of the casserole, overlapping as necessary.  Top with half of the cooked pasta, then half of the sausage-tomato sauce.  Place another layer of eggplant slices on top of the sauce, then layers of pasta and sausage-tomato sauce.  Pour on the white sauce, then top with the grated mozzarella and parmesan.

Bake for 1 hour, or until puffed and golden brown on top.

Amatriciana Sauce

Bacon, Garlic, Main Dishes, Pasta

The New Basics

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 4 -onions, coarsely chopped
  • 8 oz. sliced Canadian bacon, cut into ¾ inch squares (we usually use regular bacon)
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 cans (35 oz. each) plum tomatoes, drained
  • 2 t. sugar
  • ¾ cup dry red wine
  • salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Heat the oil in a medium-size heavy saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add the onions, and sauté for 10 minutes.

Stir in the bacon and garlic, and sauté for 5 minutes more.

Stir in the tomatoes, sugar and wine.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Simmer, uncovered, for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve over hot pasta.

6 portions; enough for 1 lb. of pasta

Black Beans with Turkey and Rice

Black Beans, Main Dishes, Rice, Turkey

Jane Brody

  • 1 T. vegetable oil
  • ½ lb. ground turkey (we usually use 1 lb.)
  • 1 cup chopped onion (1 large)
  • 1 cup chopped sweet green pepper (2 small)
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 1 T. fresh lemon juice
  • 1 T. Dijon-style mustard
  • 1 t. chili powder
  • 2 T. soy sauce
  • 1 cup (8 oz.) tomato sauce
  • 2 to 3 cups cooked black beans (we usually use 2 cans)
  • 3 cups hot cooked brown rice (we usually use white rice)

In a large skilled, preferable one with a nonstick surface, heat the oil over medium heat, add the turkey, and cook the turkey for about 5 minutes, breaking up the clumps of meat into small pieces.

Add the onion, green pepper, and garlic, and sauté the vegetables for 5 minutes or until they are softened.

In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, mustard, chili powder, soy sauce, and tomato sauce, stirring the ingredients until they are smooth.  Add this to the turkey mixture, combining the ingredients well.

Stir in the beans, and cook the mixture over medium-low heat for 20 minutes.  Serve the black beans and turkey over the hot cooked rice.

Baked Lemon Chicken

Chicken, Lemon, Main Dishes

Evie Davis

6 servings

  • 14 pieces of chicken
  • 1 stick butter
  • ¼ cup oil
  • salt, pepper, oregano
  • juice of 2 lemons
  • cornstarch

Liberally sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper and oregano.  Heat butter and oil together until butter is melted.  Pur half into 2 shallow baking pans.  Place chicken in pans without over crowding.  Mix remaining butter mixture with the lemon juice and baste.  Baste several times during baking with drippings in pan.  Bake 1 ½ hours at 325.  Chicken should be nicely browned and well done.

To make a lemon gravy place chicken on a platter and keep warm in oven.  Put all the drippings in one pan, add two cups, approximately, of water and keep on medium heat.  Make a roux of 4 T. cornstarch in ½ cup water (again, approximately) and stir into the drippings.  Continue to stir, bring to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  You may need to add more water or cornstarch.  Experiment…the results will be tasty!

Meatballs and Mushrooms in Yogurt Sauce

Ground Beef, Main Dishes, Mushrooms, Yogurt

Jane Brody

  • 2 t. olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 lb. extra-lean ground beef
  • 2 slices partly stale bread, crumbled (or bread crumbs)
  • 1 egg, lightly beater
  • 2 ¼ cups plain nonfat or low-fat yogurt
  • ½ t. salt, or to taste
  • ¼ t. marjoram
  • ¼ no-salt seasoning
  • freshly ground pepper to taste
  • ½ cup wheat germ (approximately) (we usually leave this out and add a little bread crumbs)
  • 2 cups sliced or chopped mushrooms
  • 1 T. fresh lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 350

Heat 1 t. of the oil briefly in a small nonstick skillet, add the onion, and sauté the vegetable for 3 minutes or until it is softened.  Transfer the onion to a large bowl.

To the bowl add the beef, bread crumbs, egg, ¼ cup of the yogurt, salt (if desired), marjoram, no-salt seasoning, and pepper, and mix the ingredients well.

Shape the meat mixture into 1 ¼-inch balls.  Roll the meatballs in the wheat germ, and place them on a baking tray such as a large cookie sheet.

Place the pan in the hot oven, and bake the meatballs for 20 minutes.  Remove the meatballs with a slotted spoon to a colander or a bowl lined with paper towels, and cover the meatballs to keep them warm.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat the remaining teaspoon of oil briefly.  Add the mushrooms, and sauté them until they begin to give up their liquid.  Stir in the remaining 2 cups of yogurt and the lemon juice.  Add the drained meatballs, and simmer but do not boil the meatballs for 5 to 10 minutes to heat the meat through.

The meatballs go well with noodles, brown rice cooked in beef broth, or mashed potatoes.  Garnish with minced fresh parsley.

Ground Beef and Green Beens

Beef, Green Beans, Main Dishes, Soy Sauce

Jane Brody

Sauce

  • 2 t. cornstarch
  • 1/3 cup cooled broth
  • 1 T. soy sauce
  • 1 T. dry sherry
  • 1 t. cider vinegar

Main Ingredients

  • 1 T. oil
  • 1 lb. green beans, trimmed and sliced diagonally into 2-inch lengths
  • 2 t. finely minced fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • ¼ t. hot red pepper flakes (optional)
  • ½ lb. lean ground beef

In a small bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients.  Make sure the cornstarch is completely dissolved.  Set the mixture aside.

In a wok or large skillet, heat the oil for 30 seconds over high heat, and add the green beans.  Stir-fry the green beans for about 4 minutes – the beans should be tender-crisp and lightly charred in spots.  Remove the green beans with a slotted spoon, and set them aside.

Add the ginger and garlic to the pan, cook them for 30 seconds, and then add the pepper flakes and beef, crumbling the meat with a spatula.  Stir-fry the mixture just until the beef loses its pinkness.  Drain off all the excess fat from the pan.

Stir the reserved sauce once more, and add it to the meat.  Cook the mixture stirring it, for a few minutes until the sauce thickens.  Fold in the reserved green beans, heat the mixture for 1 minute, and serve.

Cheeseburger Pie

Beef, Cheddar Cheese, Main Dishes

Betty Crocker

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • ½ t. salt
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup bisquick
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 eggs

1.    Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 9 inch glass pie plate with cooking spray.
2.    In 10 inch skillet, cook beef and onio over medium heat 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain.  Stir in salt. Spread in pie plate.  Sprinkle with cheese.
3.    In small bowl, stir remaining ingredients with for or whisk until blended.  Pour into pie plate.
Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Blue Cheese Hamburgers

Beef, Blue Cheese, Main Dishes

4 servings

  • 2 lbs. Ground lean beef
  • 3 T. sniffed fresh chives OR severally finely chopped green onions
  • 1 ½ t. chopped fresh basil OR ½ t. dried basil
  • 1 t. dried oregano
  • ¼ t. chili powder
  • ¼ t. salt
  • ½ t. freshly ground pepper
  • ½ lb. Blue cheese, crumbled

Gently mix all ingredients except the blue cheese and shape into 8 thin patties.  Divide the cheese into fourths, place on hamburger patty and cover with another patty, forming a “sandwich”.  Seal the edges very securely.

Broil, sauté, or grill for 5 minutes on each side for rare hamburgers, or cook longer to your taste.

Beef Stew

Beef, Carrot, Main Dishes, Potatoes

My Mom’s recipe – always tastes better when she makes it – especially with dumplings on top

6 servings

  • 2 lbs. of beef stew
  • 2 T. fat
  • 6 cups boiling water
  • 1 T. lemon juice
  • 1 t. Worchester sauce
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1-2 bay leaves
  • 1 T. salt
  • 1 t. sugar
  • ½ t. pepper
  • ½ t. paprika
  • dash of allspice and/or cloves
  • carrots
  • potatoes
  • other vegetables to taste

Brown meat in fat.  Add rest of ingredients and simmer for 2 hours.

Beef Burgandy

Beef, Main Dishes, Mushrooms, Wine

From an old Utopia Beach Club Cookbook

For a crowd of 20

  • 6 lbs. of beef sirloin (Ross’ stroganoff meat)
  • 6 T. margarine
  • 3 lbs. fresh mushrooms
  • 4-5 medium onions, chopped
  • 5 cans Campbell’s beef broth (save 1 can to blend with cornstarch)
  • 8-9 T. catsup
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 2 T. salt
  • 2 cups Burgundy

Melt margarine, add mushrooms and onion.  Cook until tender.  Remove and set aside.  Brown meat, add broth, catsup, wine, garlic and salt.  Put in oven and bake at 300 for 1 ½ hours.  Remove from oven and add mushrooms and onions.  Thicken with broth and cornstarch.

Serve over wild rice

(For smaller portion:4 lbs. beef; 4 T. margarine; 2 lbs. mushrooms; 3 onions; 3-4 cans of broth; 6 T. catsup; 3 cloves garlic; 1 ½ T. salt; 1 ½ cups burgundy).