Next Group Cooking: Sept.10, 2009

Here's the menu list. Please let me know by the beginning of Sept. if you want to do the cooking so I can find others who are interested to fill the last spots. Thanks!

1. Chili con Carne
2. Mini Cheddar MeatloavesLoaves
3. Stuffed Manicotti
4. Turkey Sloppy Joes
5. Beef Stroganoff (tomato based)
6. Real BBQ Chicken (recipe to come later - just a really good homemade BBQ sauce with chicken in the crockpot)
7. Porcupine Meatballs
8. Spanakopita (recipe to come) - this one's a little up in the air but would love to do it this time. It's a Greek lasagna made with feta, phillo dough, spinach and butter - yumm!

Chili con Carne

1 pound ground beef, browned
1 cup onion, chopped
3/4 cup green pepper, chopped
16 ounces chopped tomatoes canned, undrained
8 ounces red kidney beans, canned, drained
8 ounces white 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 leaf. Serving ideas:cornbread, salad

Mini Cheddar MeatloavesLoaves:
2 eggs1 ½ cups milk2 cup shredded cheddar cheese1 cup oats1 onion, finely chopped2 teaspoons salt,
½ teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder2 pounds lean ground beef, raw
Sauce:
1 ½ cup ketchup
½ cup packed brown sugar
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
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 bowl, 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 12 loaves; place in a 9x13 inch baking dish (you might need 2 since it is doubled). Spoon the sauce over loaves. Bake, uncovered, at 350*F (175*C) for 45 minutes. Additional items needed:none. Serving ideas:roasted potatoes, salad, green beans

Stuffed Manicotti

3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1 ½ cups frozen spinach, chopped, thawed and drained
1 box manicotti noodles

To assemble:(Note: save the plastic noodle holders that come in the manicotti box). Combine cheeses and spinach; stuff into manicotti noodles. Place stuffed noodles back into the plastic containers. Put into a Ziploc bag and seal. Freeze. To Prepare:Thaw completely in the refrigerator. Place manicotti in a greased 9x13 pan. Pour spaghetti sauce over the shells. Add your own 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 (provided)
1 c mozzarella and/or parmesan cheese (not provided)Serving ideas:salad, breadsticks

Turkey Sloppy Joes

1 onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 lbs. ground turkey, raw
1 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups ketchup
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon salt
2 dashes black pepper
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
8 French rolls

To assemble:Place all ingredients except cheese and rolls in a Ziploc and mix. Put cheese in a small Ziploc. Freeze

To prepare:
Thaw completely in the refrigerator. Put turkey mix in a crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 4 ½ - 6 hours. Use a fork to break up any chunks of turkey. It will seem very runny but once you really break up the turkey and let it cook a little longer (on high) it works out nicely. Cut French rolls in half and toast. When serving, spoon turkey mixture over 2 halves of open-face, toasted rolls with cheese sprinkled liberally on top.

Additional items needed:8 French rolls (not provided)
Serving ideas:pickles, steak fries

Beef Stroganoff (tomato based)

5 1/2 cups ground beef, browned
1 1/3 cups tomato paste (about 12 oz.)
2 cups beef stock
2 cups sour cream (about 16 oz.)
½ cup flour
rice

To assemble:
Mix all ingredients together well and pour into a Ziploc. Freeze.

To Prepare:
Thaw. Pour into a crockpot and cook on low 8-10 hours (it really needs at least 8 hours). Stir it periodically (once in the middle and a few times towards the end) as it will burn on the edges if left alone! Serve over rice.

Additional items needed:
Cooked rice (at least 10 servings)

Serving ideas:
steamed green beans or asparagus

Real BBQ Chicken (to come)

Porcupine Meatballs
1 ½ Pounds ground beef
1 cup oats
1/2 cup bread crumbs
½ cup uncooked long-grain rice
2 slightly beaten eggs
2 Tablespoons (1/8 cup) snipped parsley
¼ cup finely chopped onion
1t salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
Sauce:
1 big box tomato soup
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
To assemble:Mix thoroughly beef, oatmeal, bread, rice, eggs, parsley, onion, salt & pepper together with ½ cup of the tomato soup. You can make this into 20 small balls and put in Ziploc or put the whole lump into a bag and make balls later.Mix remaining soup, seasonings and Worcestershire sauce in a 1 quart bag.
Place both bags inside another large Ziploc and freeze.
To prepare:Thaw completely in the refrigerator. Place meatballs (or form 20 small balls now) and place in a large pan. Pour the sauce over the meatballs. Bring to boil; reduce heat; cover and simmer 335 to 40 minutes, stirring often. Makes 8-10 servings.
Additional items needed: none
Serving ideas: green beans, salad