Feb. 26, 2009

This was our first group cooking time! We learned a lot about logistics and how to make it better for the times to come. We made 11 recipes with the Lime Chicken and Black Bean Corn Salad going together as one meal. Here is the menu list of what we made:

Tacos
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup onion, minced
1 cup black beans, cooked
1/2 can black olives, sliced
1/2 cup salsa
1 tablespoons chili powder (more or less to taste)
1 teaspoon cumin
6 ounces tomato sauce
2 cups cheese, shredded
1 dozen tortillas

To assemble: Cook beef and onion together. Remove from heat and drain the fat into a can. Add all other ingredients except tortillas and mix well. You can mash the beans a little if preferred.
To Prepare: Thaw. Warm up on the stove and serve with tortillas and additional toppings. Or you could place some mixture down the middle of a tortilla, wrap it up and heat it on a skillet on med. heat on the stove for about 5 minutes on each side. Additional items needed:taco toppings: lettuce, tomatos, sour cream, avocado etc.
Serving ideas: chips and salsa, corn


Baked Beef Stew
2 cans (14-12 oz each) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups water
6 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
4 teaspoons sugar
3 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 pound lean beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch chunks
4 medium carrots, cut into 1 inch chunks
4 celery ribs, cut into ¾ inch chunks
2 medium onions, cut into chunks
2 slices of bread, cubed

To assemble:
In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, water, tapioca, sugar, salt, and pepper. Add remaining ingredients: mix well. Pour into a Ziploc. Seal and freeze flat.

To Prepare:Thaw in refrigerator. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 2 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender. Place a cookie sheet (or something similar) underneath the 9x13 in the oven to catch drips as it tends to spill over, even when covered. Serve in bowls.
Additional items needed:3 small potatoes quartered if desiredServing ideas:bread

BBQ Ground Beef with Veggies
1 1/2 pounds ground beef, browned
1 cup chopped onion
1 chopped green bell pepper
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. cloves
2 tbsp. mustard
1 tbsp. white vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup ketchup
3 stalks chopped celery
1 medium grated carrot

To assemble:Thoroughly mix all ingredients together. Put into a Ziploc and freeze.

To prepare:
Thaw completely in the refrigerator. Put mixture into a crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Serve on hamburger buns.
Additional items needed:toasted hamburger buns, condiments like ketchup, mustard, pickles, etc.Serving ideas:salad, potato wedge fries


Caribbean Lime White Fish
2 tablespoons tamari soy sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons ginger, grated
1/3 cup lime juice
2 teaspoons agave nectar
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 pounds white fish fillets

To assemble:Thoroughly mix all ingredients except the fish in a bowl. Place the fish in a Ziploc and pour the mixture over it. Seal well. Rub the mixture into the fish through the bag.

To prepare:
Thaw completely in the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat 2 tablespoons in an oven-proof skillet. Remove fish from marinade; set marinade aside. Place fish in the pan and sear for 1 minute; turn and sear second side for 1 minute. Leave fish in the skillet and place in oven. Bake until fish is almost cooked through about 7 to 10 minutes. Remove skillet from oven and place on stove. Add reserved marinade and deglaze the pan (just stirring the marinade in with the juices from the fish cooking), letting the liquid reduce some before serving.

Additional items needed:2 Tablespoons of olive oilServing ideas:brown rice, steamed green beans


Chili con Carne
1 pound ground beef, browned
1 cup onion, chopped
3/4 cup green pepper, chopped
16 ounces chopped tomatoes canned, undrained
16 ounces red kidney beans, canned, drained
8 ounces tomato sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

To assemble:Mix all ingredients together. Pour into a Ziploc bag and freeze.
To prepare:Thaw completely in the refrigerator. Add 1 bay leaf. Put in a crock pot and set it for low for 6-8 hours. Remove bay leaf before serving. Additional items needed:1 bay leafServing ideas:cornbread, salad

Corn and Black Bean Salad
3 c corn
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed.
5 onion, diced.
5 gr bell pepper, diced.
5 bell pepper,
diced1 can green chili peppers
.5 c cilantro,
chopped1 T chili pwd.
2 t minced garlic
1 t salt.
5 t pepper
.75 c salsa
.25 c olive oil
To assemble:Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Stir well. Place in Ziploc, seal and freeze flat.
To prepare:Thaw. Place in bowl, stir and serve.Additional items needed:none
Serving ideas:Spicy lime chicken and tortilla chips


Honey Baked Chicken
1 (3 pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup prepared mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon curry powder
To assemble:Melt butter on the stove. Remove from heat and mix in remain ingredients except chicken. Place whole chicken in Ziploc, pour mixture over bird. Seal well. Rub the mixture into the chicken through the bag. To prepare:Thaw. Place chicken in casserole dish. (something with decent sides) Bake 375 for 1.5 hrs, basting occasionally.Additional items needed:noneServing ideas:steamed brown rice, asparagus

Lasagna Rolls
.5# ground beef, browned
1.5 c ricotta cheese
1 c mozzerella cheese
1/4 c parmesan cheese
1 t salt, pepper, minced garlic, Italian seasonings
12 lasagna noodles, cooked half way
Brown the meat and boil the noodles for half of the recommended time
To Assemble:Mix together the first four ingredients and spices. Lay one noodle out flat, and spread a bit of the cheese mixture on it. Be generous, but not too thick! Roll up. Place seam side down in Ziploc. Make 12 total.
To Prepare:Remove rolls from Ziploc and place in a 9x13 pan. Allow to thaw. Top with a jar of sauce. Bake for 30 minutes @ 350.Additional items needed:1 lg jar of spaghetti sauce or marinara
Serving ideas:caesar salad, bread, steamed green beans

Mini Cheddar MeatloavesLoaves:
1 large egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt, pepper and garlic pwd
1 pound lean ground beef
Sauce:
2/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons lemon juice or white vinegar
To Assemble:Place first 7 ingredients in a bowl and mix well (using your hands works well). Place in freezer bag, remove air, and flatten. In small measuring cup, mix brown sugar and lemon juice well, add in Worcestershire and ketchup. Pour into separate qt Ziploc.To Prepare:Thaw both Ziplocs completely. Shape into eight loaves; place in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spoon the sauce over loaves. Bake, uncovered, at 350*F (175*C) for 45 minutes. Additional items needed:noneServing ideas:roasted potatoes, salad, green beans

Spicy Lime Chicken
.5 c chicken broth
.33 c lime juice
2 T olive oil
2 T dried parsley
1 t minced garlic
1 T minced onion flakes
1 t salt
.25 t cayenne pepper (or more!)
1 t black pepper
2.5# chicken drumsticks
To assemble:Mix all ingredients except chicken. Place chicken in ziploc, pour marinade on top. Seal and mix well.To Prepare:Thaw. Bake in a 9x13 pan @ 375 for 30-40 minutes, until no longer pink.Additional items needed:none
Serving ideas:black bean and corn salad, tortilla chips

Stuffed Manicotti
4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
15 ounces ricotta cheese
¾ of a package frozen spinach, chopped, thawed and drained
12 ounces manicotti noodles

To assemble:Combine cheeses and spinach; stuff into manicotti noodles. Place stuffed noodles into a Ziploc bag. To Prepare:Thaw completely in the refrigerator. Place manicotti in a greased 9x13 pan. Pour spaghetti sauce over the shells. Add 1 cup mozzarella/parmesan cheese mix on top. Cover and bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until heated through.
Additional items needed:28 ounces spaghetti sauce
1 c mozzarella and/or parmesan cheese (can be mixed)
Serving ideas:salad, breadsticks