Basic Potato Soup

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How To Dress Up Basic Potato Soup

Basic Potato Soup

If you know the how to of a basic Potato Soup you have multiplied your soup recipes, well, not infinitely exactly but too numerous to count. So many options … make it creamy and rich or spicy and meaty … mash the potatoes or leave chunks for more texture … add greens and leave off cream … add milk and not cream … add clams or sausage or just go it plain. An economical soup with so much potential.

My brother is here to visit and today is  going to be our first day of real rain in months.  Yes I’m in the California drought area. To celebrate I’m making soup. I know Dan likes Portuguese Soups but he has plans to help his daughter with Sopas tomorrow. Not sure he would appreciate chicken soup. How about a rich Potato Soup! It’s not unlike the base for Boston Clam Chowder and this too is his favorite.

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Pork Casserole Portuguese Style

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Pork Casserole Portuguese Style

A Hearty Dish That Doesn’t Skimp On Taste!

Pork Casserole Portuguese Style

So, what’s going on here? There’s a unique condiment in Portuguese cuisine, Massa De Pimentao. This Red Paprika Paste adds a lovely flavor to meat, poultry and fish alike. I’ve put together a very quick paste, not to compete with the usual days process, that works perfectly in this dish. If you like the flavor of sweet paprika (Spanish paprika will do … mild to hot, your choice) and roasted red bell peppers you’ve got to try this!

 

 

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Portuguese Bean Soup Revisited

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Portuguese Bean Soup

Portuguese Bean Soup

My brother is coming to visit and I’m pulling out all the old family cold weather favorites. We’re going to be busy; so, the meals aren’t going to be that planned. (Just a warning, Dan.) This is one of our favorite soups. It’s a stew, vegetable soup and beans all in one. Certainly this can come together in a slow cooker.

Let’s take a look at the recipe and see how this can be done. Portuguese Bean Soup

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One Recipe Two Savory Pumpkin Dishes

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One Recipe For Two Savory Pumpkin Dishes

Pumpkin Parmesan Cream Soup

Pumpkin Parmesan Cream Pasta Sauce

One Recipe Two Savory Pumpkin Dishes

William Sonoma Gift Certificate … loved my birthday gift. Wandering around in the WS Store I came across all sorts of sauces, starters, mixes not to mention the beautiful holiday ware. I became intrigued with the holiday sauces. I tried to read the ingredient labels but my contact wasn’t cooperating. (I do the one eyed thing.) I could only see that the ingredient lists were lengthy. And while I do feel WS has amazing prepared or nearly prepared foods the lists seemed too long. (I’m very pleased with my all clad waffle iron. Thank you Will.)

So, here I am making my own. And I love the two for one idea. It actually works!

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Simple Beef Goulash

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Round Steak Goulash

easy and economical … Need I say more!

Easy Beef Goulash

 

Depending on the amount of liquid you add to this recipe it can be a soup or stew. It takes so few ingredients I’ll bet you have most in your pantry and fridge. It comes together in 10 minutes. Then simmer for about 1 1/2 hours or place in a crock pot for all day cooking.

Serve this on a bed of egg noodles or in the last minutes of cooking add peeled and quartered potatoes. Perfect Simple Beef Goulash!

 

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Meatloaf Stuffed French Bread

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Meatloaf Stuffed French Bread

Meatloaf Stuffed French Bread

You either like meatloaf or you don’t. Yes, despite good recipes you may still dislike meatloaf. The texture and the ingredients aren’t going to change much from recipe to recipe.

I took on a challenge when my brother confessed he didn’t like meatloaf. I bet I can make a meatloaf you’ll like. First, let me do some changes to our mother’s recipe … Too many onions I’ll bet, and the bell pepper chopped too coarse … The hamburger too fatty … No lean hamburger in those days. If your steer was fat so was your hamburger.

Meatloaf was a favorite of mine as a child especially with the mashed potatoes. Since my brother experienced the same and still didn’t like meatloaf…. Let’s see if he likes this!

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Linguica Prosciutto Pizza

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Portuguese Pizza Or Folár De Carne

Portuguese Meat Bread Meets Italian Pizza = Amazing!

Linguica Prosciutto Pizza

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All about the crust and olive oil!

Add meats and it’s closest to meat bread. But this is one of those recipes that easily becomes vegetarian even vegan. Make this extra special by using Portuguese olive oil. There’s a definite taste difference even a non-discriminating palate can detect. That’s me! Haven’t met a quality olive oil I didn’t like. Olive oil replaces the typical pizza sauce.

This bread dough recipe is great for pizza crust. Make your crust thick, 12-13 inch pizza, or thin and crispy, 14-15 inch pizza. Perfect either way.

Enjoy!

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Orzo Stuffed Bell Peppers

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Orzo Stuffed Bell Peppers

Cozy kid friendly meal for the Fall!

With the greater availability of milder tasting bell peppers Stuffed Bell Peppers have found a place among the most popular home cooked meals. There are many recipe variations throughout the world. This recipe stays very close to the American cuisine with a few changes; including, orzo replacing the typical white rice and milder red and yellow bell peppers used along with the traditional stronger less sweet tasting green.

Amazing colors of Fall.

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Stromboli

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Stromboli the Easy Way

Stromboli

Stromboli is a rolled up pizza! With a bread crust, a little sauce and veggies or meats or both. Prep time is about 20-30 minutes then into the oven for about the same. Nope! No jar sauce, nor pizza dough from the refrigerated section. I’m sure there’s some good sauces out there these days but for me as close to scratch as possible ensures a better taste and ingredients I recognize. Yep! I’ve taken some short cuts but I think you’ll approve.

Vegetarians can easily make this their own. Any pizza topping can go into this … So, the choices are in your hands. I’ve included a simple red sauce but give it a cream sauce or just olive oil. This is amazing.

In the next weeks I’ll be posting Portuguese Pizza. That’s right! And I’ll be making the pizza dough from scratch. If you’re into a scratch pizza dough and can’t wait for mine Mario Batali’s is super amazing … one variation even cooked on a griddle.

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Comforting Soups

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Soup’s On!

Navy Bean and Ham, that is!

SoupsThe beans are soaking and later today I’ll be putting together a simple but hearty soup of Navy Beans and Ham. Here are some soups to tide you over until then:

TOP: Portuguese Green Soup, Chunky Root Soup, Basque Vegetable Soup

MIDDLE: Portuguese Bean Soup, Chicken Soup

BOTTOM: Clam Chowder, Vegetarian Black-eyed Pea Soup, Sausage and Navy Bean Soup