166 always Recipes

i use a 3 1/2 to 4 lb chuck roast, well marbelized with fat, and if you can find a bone-in roast, that s better yet (but it s almost always boneless chuck that you find at the grocer). i like to quickly rinse the roast in cold water just before i lay it on the cutting board to coat it with seasoned flour. place the following ingredients in a small baggie and shake the closed bag to mix it up, flour, salt, garlic salt, crazy mixed-up salt (if you can tsp get this seasoning, use seasoned salt instead, but jane s is by far the best), pepper, use your hands to generously pat the seasoned flour into the roast, on both sides, flipping the roast a couple times and repeating the process., in a dutch oven or roasting pan large enough to hold the roast, heat 1 tbsp oil over medium high heat - you want your pan and oil to be hot enough to sear the roast well when you put it in the pan. when the oil is just about to the smoking point, put the roast in and cover the pan. let the meat sear until nicely browned on the bottom, then flip the roast. let it sear for a minute or two on the second side, then add, beef stock (i much prefer the boxed stock to the canned broth - it just seems to give the gravy a much richer taste in the end), cover the roasting pan and place it in a pre-heated 300 degree oven. roast for 4 to 5 hours, until the meat is fork tender and falls apart easily. i check the roast each hour, quickly opening the lid, just to make sure the stock has not evaporated. as long as your pan has a good seal on it, this shouldn tsp happen. but if necessary, add more stock to the pan., an hour before the roast is done , prepare the mashed potatoes. peel 6 large red potatoes (these work better - at least for me - because they are much moister than the russets, so the mashed potatoes are creamier); cut into 1/4th, and place them in a large saucepan - rinse the cut potatoes 2 times in cold water, then cover them in fresh cold water and place the pan over medium high heat; boil until tender. this is usually about 30 minutes, but it depends on the size of your cuts, so just cook them until you can easily insert a fork into a potato. drain potatoes well, reserving 1 cup of the water for the gravy. add the following to the hot potatoes, butter, sour cream, milk, salt, crazy mixed up salt (use regular salt or garlic salt if jane s salt is not available), pepper, i use a hand masher , but you can use an electric mixer or however you chose to mash the potatoes into a creamy yet firm texture. add more milk if potatoes are too stiff. place the mashed potatoes in a buttered casserole dish, cover with foil, and place in the oven to keep warm while you make the gravy., prepare the gravy, melt 2 tbsp butter, stir in 1/4 cup flour to make a paste, stir in enough beef stock to thin the paste enough to pour., finished roast from the pan and place it on a plate; cover meat with foil to keep warm., place the roasting pan over a medium flame and bring the liquid to a gentle boil (i usually seem to have about 1 1/2 to 2 cups liquid in the pan when the roast is done - if you have less, just use the beef stock to increase your liquid)., use a whisk to gradually whisk in the butter/flour/stock liquid., add 2 tbsp beef base - i use tone s (i prefer beef base to buillon - has a richer flavor and is really worth having on hand, but if you can tsp find this, try knorr s beef buillon extra large cubes), add the 1 cup of reserved potato water, add 1/2 cup beef stock, taste the gravy and see if you want more seasoning. i usually find i don tsp need to add anything at this point, since i have the seasoning from the flour coating and the stock and the beef base. if you think you need more seasoning, add salt and pepper to your taste. beef base will also give you more saltiness., keep the gravy warm while you uncover the meat and use 2 forks to pull the meat apart into small to medium chunks., you are now ready to assemble...

how to estimate food quantities, source : catering handbook by edith weiss, all good quantity cook books will indicate the size of the portions, and all packaged food items indicate the total weight of the package. ultimately, it is for the caterer to determine if the portions indicated are what he wishes to serve, if not, then he must make the necessary adjustments. the size of the portion should be determined by, occasion, time of service, age and sex of guests (young, old , all men, etc.), appearance of the portion on the plate (or in the package)., teenagers eat more than any other age group. they eat practically anything and everything, and the spicier the better., people from their mid-twenties to mid-fifties have sophisticated tastes. they are apt to eat in moderation and good taste., people past sixty eat much the same as the middle group , except for a lessening of the sharp and spicy foods., when hors d oeuvres are to be served, the following outline suggests a suitable number, all of which are considered generous servings, at a four-hour reception , regardless of the starting time - 12 per guest., cocktail hour , to be followed by dinner - four per guest., wedding reception , from 2:30 to 5:30 - eight per guest., cocktail reception , from 3:00 to 6:00 - eight to ten per guest., all other occasions , estimate four per guest per hour for the first two hours, and two per hour after that., these figures include both hot and cold hors d oeuvres and canapes., do not include relishes and dips., self-service vs. served, sometimes when guests serve themselves they tend to be very generous; at other times they may be very timid. for a self-service buffet allow slightly more than if the same buffet is to be served by waiters. guests do not al ways take more themselves, but since they do not always know how to serve properly, more food is wasted., hors d oeuvres, when calculating quantities for an hors d oeuvres only cocktail party, figure approximately 12 pieces per person for the first hour (8 hot, 4 cold) and 6 pieces per person every hour past the first hour., hors d oeuvre only cocktail party : number of people x 12 hdv for first hour number of people x 6 hdv for every hour there after., example, hour cocktail party for 25 guests you will need approximately 450 pieces of hors d oeuvres, guests x 12 hors d oeuvres = 300 pieces hors d oeuvres for the first hour, guests x 6 hors d oeuvres = 150 pieces hors d oeuvres for the second hour, hors d oeuvre before dinner : number of people x 6 hdv for 1 to 1 and a half hour service, example, hour cocktail service before dinner for 25 guests you will need approximately 150 pieces, salads and side dishes, when calculating quantities for salads and side dishes, please figure approximately 5 oz per person if you are serving multiple salads and / or side dishes. if you are serving only 1 salad or side dish, please figure approximately 1/2 a lb per person. use the following chart to figure out quantities., side dish or salad, number of guests x .50 = number of lb needed, example : 10 guests x .50 = 5 lb needed, multiple side dishes or salads: number of guests x .30 = number of lb needed, example : 10 guests x .30 = 3 lb needed, entrees and first courses, when calculating quantities for a first course, please estimate 2-4 oz of protein per person., example : you are serving 10 guests salmon for an entree., x 1/2 lb = 5 lb salmon needed, example : you are serving 10 guests salmon for a first course., x 1/4 lb = 2.5 lb salmon needed, source : cook s fresh market

flour, milk, any kind , i always use 1, eggs, butter , about, powdered sugar (optional)

apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (or 1-2 quarts canned sliced peaches, drained), flour, sugar (i always use 1/2 cup), baking powder, salt, egg, melted butter, cooled to room temperature, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla ice cream (optional)

oil, steaks (your favourite type and size), brandy, green peppercorns (the ones canned in brine), beef stock, cream (i always use low fat), worcestershire sauce, chopped chives

chili (homemade is always best), head shredded lettuce, chopped roma tomatoes, chopped onion, shredded monterey jack and cheddar cheese blend, sour cream, sliced olives, salsa , if desired

raw long-grain rice, onion flakes, dried celery flakes, green pepper flakes (i know zatarain s puts these out, and they can sometimes be found in bulk spice bins), parsley flakes, bay leaf (i used 3 small ones), beef bouillon granules (i used 2 bouillon cubes), garlic powder, black pepper (always use freshly ground), thyme (i used leaves, not the ground), cayenne, water (low sodium if chicken broth) or 3 cups chicken broth (low sodium if chicken broth), petite diced tomatoes (i used tomatoes with chilies and some complained about the spice), cooked smoked sausage, chopped, cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped

pasta sauce, divided, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, shredded, parmesan cheese, grated, egg, beaten, italian seasoning (optional) or 1 tsp garlic powder (optional), cannelloni tubes, cooked (i always use fresh-made manicotti or cannelloni crepes shells), cooked chicken, shredded (optional)

rolled oats (not instant ), peanuts or 1 cup toasted almond, sesame seeds, roasted sunflower seeds, coconut (i always use unsweetened, but you can go for the sweetened kind if you d like), toasted wheat germ (i often omit this ingredient, as i tend to forget to buy it), raisins, dried fruit (dried apricots, craisins and dried apple are all delicious choices), cooking oil (not olive), honey

unsalted dry roasted peanuts, lightly salted dry roasted salted peanuts, semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, vanilla bark (i always use almond) or 16 oz almond bark (i always use almond)

olive oil, brown onion, halved, coarsely chopped, garlic clove, crushed, chicken thigh fillets, halved crossways, ground cumin, ground sweet paprika, saffron thread, grain white rice, diced italian roma tomatoes, chicken stock, tomato paste, fire-roasted peeled whole bell peppers, coarsely chopped (always fresh brand), coarsely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

tater tots (medallion-shaped crispy crowns work best), oil, onion, finely diced, garlic cloves, minced, red bell pepper, finely diced, jalapeno , finely diced (optional but not very spicy when it is added in), breakfast sausage, salt and black pepper, butter, eggs, beaten, salt and pepper, shredded cheese (freshly grated always works best)

lean ground beef, sliced tomatoes, frozen chopped broccoli, thawed & drained, shredded monterey jack cheese, sour cream (i always use light), creamy prepared ranch dressing (i always use light), milk (i always use skim), egg, buttermilk baking mix (bisquick light is my choice!) or 2 cups bisquick (bisquick light is my choice!)

fruitcakes get an awful lot of bad press , especially the mass produced varieties, but a rich homemade version can be incredibly delicious., fruitcake is a mixture of fruits and nuts with just enough batter to hold them together. when wrapped in cloth and foil, saturated with alcoholic liquors regularly, and kept in in tightly closed tins, a fruitcake may be kept for months or even years, have it your way ..., if there are certain fruits you don tsp like , you can always include more of another, or some of your own favorites. dried fruits cooked in juice can take the place of candied fruits, and seeds can replace nuts. to convert a favorite dark fruitcake recipe to a light fruitcake, leave out the dark spices, use light colored fruits (golden raisins, dried apricots, etc.), and replace dark corn syrup or molasses with light corn syrup

all-purpose flour, dry mustard, salt (i leave this out ), beef boneless round steak, tip (i always use round) or 1 1/2 lbs chuck steaks, about 3/4 in thick. (i always use round), vegetable oil, whole tomatoes, undrained, minced garlic, water, onion, sliced, green bell pepper, sliced, worcestershire sauce

bisquick, milk, egg, oil, diced green chilies (drained ), taco seasoning (we ll only be using half or as much as you want), cheese, grated (cheese is something you could always use more of though), crumbled cooked bacon (optional and you can always use more)

littleneck clams, olive oil, chopped onions , i just always use sweet or red, chopped garlic, dry white wine , something you d drink (not grocery store cooking wine...yuck!), chopped red bell pepper (can be omitted), fresh lemon juice , no seeds, fresh parsley, chopped

pd. carrots,sliced and cooked, green pepper sliced thin ( i always put more), celery, thinly sliced, red spanish onion, thinly sliced in rings( i always cut the rings in four), sauce ), tomato soup, salad oil, white sugar, vinegar, jarred mustard