Ingredient: olive oil

French Country Pate

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE!

Pate, or pâté in French, can be a paste, loaf, or pastry type that is filled with ground meat from pork, beef, poultry, fish or from vegetables such as mushrooms. Pâté is commonly associated with French cuisine. However, variations of this dish exist worldwide.

Paté’s roots can be traced back to country sides of northern and central Europe, where it is believed to have developed as a means of preserving the meat of game that could not be kept fresh. In the 16th century, it became popular with French royalty, and in the 17th century, the first recorded pâtés appeared. At its core, pâté was a humble peasant dish, but over the years, French chefs experimented with the form by incorporating different ingredients, and eventually, baking it in pastry dough, or what we know as pâté en croute.

In France, pâté is considered a delicacy and is often served as an appetizer or snack. It is commonly enjoyed with bread and paired with wine or champagne. This dish has many different varieties, each with its unique flavor profile.

Most pâtés are considerably easier to make than you might think. It can be served hot or cold and is an essential requirement with any cheeseboard, served with a thin slice of crusty bread, toast or crackers, tiny pickles and mustard, or as a perfect dinner starter. 

Traditional country-style pâté is defined by its coarse texture and liberal seasoning, which includes onions, garlic and herbs and spices.

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 French Country Pate
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Course Finger Food Buffet
Cuisine French
Keyword French country pate
Servings
Ingredients
Course Finger Food Buffet
Cuisine French
Keyword French country pate
Servings
Ingredients
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
  1. In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat 1 to 2 minutes or until hot. Add onion; cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to soften. Stir in herbs de Provence, garlic, salt and pepper; cook 2 minutes. Stir in wine. Increase heat to high; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until no liquid remains in skillet. Cool completely, about 10 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix beef, pork, bread crumbs, pine nuts, parsley, chives and cooled onion mixture until thoroughly combined. Shape into 5-inch-long loaf, packing mixture tightly to hold together. Wrap bacon around loaf to cover, with ends of bacon slices all on bottom of loaf.
  3. Place loaf, bacon seam side down, on rack in roasting pan. Bake 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes or until thermometer inserted in center of loaf reads 160°F.
  4. Remove loaf from oven. Cover loosely with tent of foil; cool completely, about 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight. Using serrated knife, cut into 17 (1/4-inch) slices; cut each slice in half to serve.
  5. To serve, spread a small amount of mustard on a thin slice of French bread. Top with a slice of pâté and serve with a tiny French pickle on the side.
Recipe Notes
  • Add 1 cup water to the roasting pan before baking to prevent drippings from spattering and burning on the oven floor.

Blueberry & Brie Turkey Wellington

SEASON’S GREETINGS!

Christmas is undoubtedly one of the most special holidays, from the religious significance of the holiday to the cultural impact it has, the delicious food, the festive music, and the classic movies. Christmas provides a magical atmosphere that fills homes with warmth and joy. It’s a time to celebrate and appreciate the blessings in our lives and to spread love and kindness to those around us.

Today, December 25, is my sister Rita’s birthday and though it has been many years since we could all be together at this time as a family, her birth date brings many precious memories. Nostalgia is a very strange thing. It pops up when you least expect it. Taste, smell, music can take you right back to a moment. I have fond memories of her Christmas Eve family birthday ‘parties’. On the eve of Christmas, our family would go to church. After returning home, we were joined by some family friends to have birthday cake and homemade root beer. My parents wanted my sister to always have this special time to honor her birthday apart from the Christmas festivities.

At the heart of a memorable dinner is the main entree, so why not make it just a bit more special by serving it ‘En Croute’.  In the culinary arts, the term en croute (pronounced ‘on Kroot’) indicates a food that has been wrapped in a pastry dough and then baked in the oven. Traditionally the type of pastry used was a simple dough called pate pastry. Today, puff pastry is frequently used for most en croute recipes.

The key to preparing items en croute is that however long it takes to cook the pastry until it is golden brown is how long the item will spend in the oven. Some of the best choices are beef tenderloin, salmon or brie cheese, due to the fact they require less time to cook.

In the 1950’s and 60’s, Beef Wellington or as the French called it, ‘Boeuf en Croute’, became very popular. It was an elegant meal, using a beef tenderloin covered with liver pate and wrapped in pastry. My first introduction to this meal was a much more low-key version. It was simply achieved by making a nicely seasoned meatloaf, wrapping it in a basic pastry and baking it. My mother would serve it with tomato soup sauce. Definitely good but not quite the elegance of the true en croute entrees.

I’ve come to realize, there are two turkey ‘camps’ for most people. Those who love a roast turkey for the holiday dinner and those who like to part with tradition and have something different.

Now, I’m not actually in either turkey camp. Sometimes I love a juicy roasted turkey with all the complimentary side dishes. And other times, I crave something a little different but also mixed with a bit of tradition.

This savory blueberry & brie turkey wellington is a perfect showpiece for a holiday meal. Warm, melted cheese and crumbly bacon combined with fresh herbs, blueberries, topped with mushroom duxelle and covered in airy puff pastry. Served with blueberry chutney takes this meal to the next level!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RITA!

LOVE TO YOU & RICK .. WISHING YOU HEALTH & HAPPINESS!

SEASONINGS GREETINGS TO EVERYONE WHO ENJOYS & FOLLOWS OUR BLOG

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 Blueberry & Brie Turkey Wellington
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine British
Keyword blueberry & brie turkey wellington
Servings
Ingredients
Stuffing
Turkey & Prosciutto
Mushroom Duxelle
Blueberry Chutney
Course Main Dish
Cuisine British
Keyword blueberry & brie turkey wellington
Servings
Ingredients
Stuffing
Turkey & Prosciutto
Mushroom Duxelle
Blueberry Chutney
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
Stuffing
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 F.
  2. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add bacon, shallot & garlic; cook, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Stir in thyme, rosemary, ¼ tsp salt & ¼ tsp pepper. Remove from heat; set aside to cool.
  3. Place the turkey breast on a large cutting board. To butterfly the breast, with a sharp knife, slice into the thickest portion of the breast & cut down the length (the side) of the breast, but not all the way through, about ¾ of the way through. You should be able to unfold the turkey breast like a book.
  4. Place the turkey breast in a large zip lock bag. Using a meat mallet, pound out both sides until they are even in thickness, about ¾-1-inch. Sprinkle turkey with remaining salt & pepper.
  5. Place brie slices on one half of the inside of the turkey breast and the cover with the shallot, thyme mixture, blueberries & bacon. Fold the top over onto the bottom, closing it like a book. Gently transfer the turkey breast to a parchment lined baking sheet.
  6. Place prosciutto slices over the top of the turkey breast. If the prosciutto is thin and tears, that’s ok, just continue to layer the prosciutto over the breast, tucking the prosciutto under the breast as needed.
  7. With either 4 – 5 strands of kitchen twine or wooden toothpicks, tie or ‘pick’ the turkey breast. Don’t tie the breast too tight. Just enough to keep it secure.
  8. Place in the turkey breast in the oven & bake for about 35 minutes. The turkey will be par-cooked & needs to cool for about 10-15 minutes. Once cool enough, cut the twine off (or remove picks) the turkey.
Mushroom Duxelle
  1. While the turkey is cooling, make the mushroom duxelle. In a skillet, add olive oil & cook shallots just until they are soft. Then add the mushrooms & fresh herbs. Let the mushrooms cook until soft & wilted & have released some of their liquid. Stir in the garlic & cook a few minutes longer. Then stir in the breadcrumbs & season with salt & pepper.
Pre-Cooking Turkey
  1. When ready, set the oven temperature to 400 F.
  2. Place one sheet of puff pastry on a flat lightly floured surface. Roll it out a bit lengthwise, about 1-inch. Most puff pastry is about 10×15 inches. I roll the pastry out to about 11×16 or 17. Then do the same with the second piece of puff pastry.
  3. Place one sheet of prepared puff pastry onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Then place the cooled par-cooked turkey breast in the center of the puff pastry. With a sharp knife, cut horizontal slits (about 1 inch apart) on the edge of each side of the pastry dough.
  4. Top the turkey breast with the mushroom duxelle, patting it securely into place. Some of the mushroom mixture will tumble off but just put it back on & continue patting it gently until it sticks. Fold each piece of pastry over the turkey breast in a crisscross manner continuing until the breast is completely covered. Tuck the edges of both sides in & pinch them well. Use any extra bits of pastry to make decorations for the top if you like. I used a small holly leaf cookie cutter to make leaves. Use the egg wash to attach your pastry decorations.
  5. Then brush the remaining egg wash over the puff pastry and sprinkle with a little sea salt if you wish. Place in the oven & cook for 70 minutes. The turkey is done when the pastry is a deep golden brown or meat thermometer reads 165 F. Remove the Wellington from the oven & let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.
Blueberry Chutney
  1. While the turkey is roasting, make the blueberry chutney. In a saucepan, combine all chutney ingredients: mix well. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Boil for 1 minute.
Serving
  1. To serve, slice the turkey Wellington & place it on a platter. Drizzle with a little blueberry chutney & serve. Serve the extra chutney on the side.
Recipe Notes

NOTE: This recipe has several steps, but it’s worth the effort. The stuffing as well as the mushroom duxelle can be prepared a day in advance and held in the refrigerator. Prepare chutney, cool & refrigerate until ready to use.

Pear, Red Onion & Gorgonzola Tart

With only 13 days left until Christmas day there are probably numerous gatherings you will still need to prepare for. Hors d’ oeuvres are part of the holiday party tradition. I think that the best appetizers are ‘finger foods’ that you can eat easily and with very little mess. It seems every culture has its own collection of favorite appetizer recipes which have evolved over the years.

In North America, frozen puff pastry has become the ‘go-to’ when it comes to party fare. Puff pastry is so magical. It looks just like regular dough, but it doesn’t contain yeast, baking powder, or baking soda. Nevertheless, it puffs in the heat of the oven into flaky golden layers. Probably the big plus is that you can buy it frozen and have great success without it being labor intensive.

Not only do puff pastry appetizers make for a chic presentation, but they also make it easy to time your guests’ arrival with taking the appetizers out of the oven if you are serving them hot. Most recipes require a short cooking time, which allows you to pop them in the oven half an hour before your guests arrive and serve a warm appetizer as soon as they walk through the door.

Combining pears, gorgonzola cheese, and red onion in puff pastry appetizers creates a delightful blend of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors. Certain flavor pairings are so underrated and pear and gorgonzola are definitely one of them.

Gorgonzola is an Italian, blue-veined cheese, made from cow’s milk. It can be creamy, firm, or crumbly. Neither Brion nor I like the taste of traditional blue cheese, but we really enjoy the dolce gorgonzola (the milder and creamier version).

This combo of pears, red onion and gorgonzola is very versatile in that you can use it to make appetizers as well as topping for pizza dough.

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 Pear, Red Onion & Gorgonzola Tart
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Course Finger Food Buffet
Cuisine American
Keyword pear, red onion & gorgonzola tart
Servings
Ingredients
Course Finger Food Buffet
Cuisine American
Keyword pear, red onion & gorgonzola tart
Servings
Ingredients
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
Nuts
  1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
  2. Chop nuts & roast them in a dry skillet until golden brown. Spread them on a plate & allow to cool.
Pastry
  1. Place the sheet of puff pastry on a large piece of parchment paper. Score each edge with a sharp knife about 3/4" in from outer edge making sure not to cut all the way through. Beat the egg & brush the EDGE of the pastry with it. If you prefer, sprinkle a very small amount of sea salt on the EDGE.
Caramelized Onions
  1. Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in skillet until hot. Add red onion & sprinkle with salt. Cook & stir about 15 minutes or until moisture is evaporated & onion is soft. Reduce heat; sprinkle with vinegar. Cook & stir until golden. Stir in brown sugar; cook & stir until caramel brown in color.
Remaining Fillings
  1. Peel & seed pear. Cut into thin slices. Strip the thyme leaves from the sprigs & crumble gorgonzola.
Assembly/Baking
  1. Brush sour cream over inside of the pastry (NOT on the edge). Top the pastry with pear slices, gorgonzola & the red onion. Sprinkle thyme over all. Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper if you wish.
  2. Bake the tart for about 20 minutes or until golden brown on bottom & edges. Sprinkle with nuts (if using).
  3. Cut in whatever size you wish. Serve for hors de oeuvres or as pizza with a simple tomato-arugula salad.

Aged Cheddar & Apple Focaccia

Focaccia is a wonderful and aromatic bread with a rich history that transcends cultural boundaries. Focaccia seems to have medieval origins and gained popularity in the 16th century. It was a common breakfast choice for port workers who had little time to eat. Paired with a glass of white wine, it provided energy for their morning tasks. 

Over time, focaccia has evolved into an expression of culinary craftsmanship, with bakers creating intricate designs and flavor combinations.

Apple and cheddar focaccia is a unique pairing that can definitely elevate your holiday entertaining. This focaccia combines the sweetness of apples with the savory richness of aged cheddar bringing out the best in both. It’s easy to make and pairs beautifully with wine, making it perfect for gatherings.

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 Aged Cheddar & Apple Focaccia
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Course dessert
Cuisine European
Keyword aged cheddar & apple focaccia
Servings
Ingredients
Dough
Topping
Finishing
Course dessert
Cuisine European
Keyword aged cheddar & apple focaccia
Servings
Ingredients
Dough
Topping
Finishing
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
Dough
  1. In a large bowl or the bowl, combine the warm water & honey & stir well. Sprinkle in the yeast. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir in 1 Tbsp. olive oil.
  2. Add 2 cups of the flour, the salt & thyme leaves & knead in. Continue adding the remaining flour in small increments, as needed, until well incorporated. Dough will be moist & may look a bit sticky still.
  3. Generously flour a work surface. Remove dough to work surface & lightly flour the top of the dough, then form into a ball. Cover with a tea towel let stand 10 minutes.
  4. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with a large sheet of parchment paper.
  5. Gently press dough in to prepared baking pan, using your fingertips to stretch & push it so it fills the entire pan. Work as gently as possible so you don’t remove all the air from the dough. Cover dough with a tea towel & let stand 15-20 minutes.
Toppings
  1. Meanwhile, prepare the apple slices. Using a very sharp knife or a mandolin, slice the apples super thin. I wanted to have round slices so I sliced the apples thinly then cut out the centers with a miniature star cookie cutter. Grate cheese. Set toppings aside.
Assembly
  1. Use your fingertips to make some indentations in the dough. Scatter dough with 1/2 of the shredded cheese. Top with sliced apples. Place 3 thyme sprigs randomly on top of apples. Drizzle with 1 Tbsp. olive oil.
  2. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven & scatter remaining cheese on top. Return to oven for a further 3-5 minutes, or until cheese has melted. If desired, pop under the oven broiler for a short time to brown cheese a bit. Remove from oven. Allow to stand a couple of minutes, then loosen from pan and slice focaccia on to a cooling rack. While warm, top with a sprinkling of flaky salt & a scattering of a few fresh thyme leaves.
  3. To serve, use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut in to serving pieces. Drizzle with a bit of honey to serve, if you wish.

Crispy Baked Chicken Croquettes

The croquette originated in French cuisine. The word ‘croquette’ is derived from the French verb ‘coquer’, meaning ‘to crunch’.

Croquettes can be served as side dishes, snacks, or fast food as well as a main dish. Typically, small patties, croquettes are made from ingredients like meat, potatoes, or vegetables. While they are traditionally deep-fried, baking them is a healthier alternative that still yields delicious results. Baking versus frying is a common culinary debate, and both methods have their merits. Myself, I’ll always opt for baking. Maybe it has something to do with having worked in the restaurant industry for 35 years of my life. The smell of grease always makes me want to run a mile to get away from it. That being said, I guess it’s whatever you prefer personally that’s important.

These baked chicken croquettes combine leftover chicken with mashed potatoes and shallots. They are coated with breadcrumbs and baked until crispy. The result is a flavorful and satisfying dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or even as an appetizer.

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 Crispy Baked Chicken Croquettes
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine French
Keyword crispy baked chicken croquettes
Servings
Ingredients
Course Main Dish
Cuisine French
Keyword crispy baked chicken croquettes
Servings
Ingredients
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
  1. In a bowl place the potatoes, butter, milk, salt, pepper, & 1 teaspoon parsley. Mash to desired consistency as you want some texture. To the potatoes add the chicken & shallots; stir to combine. Next, add in 1 egg & 1/4 cup unseasoned bread crumbs. Mix to combine. The mixture should be sticky but not runny.
  2. Cover & chill for at least 1-2 hours. You want it to be cold so you can form it.
  3. Preheat the oven to 450 F. with a rack in the middle. Line a baking pan with parchment paper & lightly spray.
  4. In a pie plate beat the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water. In a second pie plate add in the panko & remaining unseasoned bread crumbs & 1 tsp parsley; mix to combine. Make an assembly line starting with the croquette mixture, egg & then breadcrumbs with the baking sheet at the end.
  5. Measure 1/4 cup of the mixture & form into croquettes (long cylinders about 2” or you can make into cone shapes).
  6. Dip, coating all sides, in the egg mixture. Place in the breadcrumbs & coat evenly. Place on the baking sheet & repeat making the rest of the croquettes. Generously spray (or lightly drizzle) olive oil on the croquettes. Do not soak them but you should be able to see the oil glisten on the breadcrumbs. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
  7. To get super crunchy, place the oven to broil & broil for 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove from the oven & serve with pan gravy from the leftover roasted chicken.

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf

Chicken parmesan, also known as chicken parmigiana, originated from Italian immigrants in the US in the 1950s. The original version made with eggplant was adapted to use chicken breast instead.

The dish has become a ubiquitous mainstay in Italian American cuisine. Variations exist, but the core ingredients remain the same: chicken breast, breadcrumbs, Italian seasonings, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese.

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf combines the best of both worlds—the comforting appeal of meatloaf with the irresistible flavors of Chicken Parmesan.

Meatloaf is elemental. It’s enduring, served without undue fuss or expensive implements …. comfort food without a doubt. I think an easy meatloaf recipe is something every home ‘chef’ should have in their arsenal. This particular one consists of seasoned coarsely chopped chicken thighs nestled under a zesty tomato sauce and cheese topping. I find chicken thighs make such a nice tasting option as opposed to regular ground chicken.

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 Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword chicken parmesan meatloaf
Servings
Ingredients
Meatloaf
Topping
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword chicken parmesan meatloaf
Servings
Ingredients
Meatloaf
Topping
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a 8 x 4-inch loaf pan with foil & spray with cooking spray.
  2. In a saucepan, sauté onion & garlic in olive oil until softened. Cool completely.
  3. In a large bowl, mix all meatloaf ingredients just until combined. Place mixture in loaf pan. Using a fork flatten then top with marinara sauce.
  4. Bake 45 minutes.
  5. Combine topping ingredients. Top meatloaf with mozzarella & bread crumb topping. Bake an additional 15 minutes or until center reaches 165 F.
  6. Cool 10 minutes before slicing.

Baby Potatoes w/ Bacon, Onions & Smoked Gouda Cheese

Just like red wine with chocolate, and milk with cookies, some combinations are enduring classics. Here’s another: meat and potatoes. But not just any potatoes — ‘little potatoes’ have reinvigorated this duo.

Little Potatoes are the brainchild of Jacob van der Schaaf and his daughter Angela Santiago. Unlike a big, bland, starchy potato, the small creamers have a distinctive, naturally buttery flavor—with some varieties more pleasantly nutty, and others more mineral in taste. Little Reds, for example, are slightly sweet with notes of asparagus and artichoke, and a velvety texture. Little Fingerlings, in addition to their spunky shape, are firm yet fluffy with an earthy taste and nutty finish.

Potatoes have taken a lot of flak in recent years. Fad diets and sub-par preparation methods have steered the health conscious away from these tuberous little root veggies. But, these little potatoes are such versatile vegetables, flavorful, naturally buttery tasting, and creamy. You can bake, microwave, roast, barbecue, fry, mash, purée or boil them.

The Little Potato Company was co-founded by Jacob van der Schaaf and his daughter Angela Santiago in 1996 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They aimed to popularize small, flavorful ‘creamer’ potatoes, inspired by Jacob’s childhood memory of working in his father’s fields back in Holland. They started with a single acre of hand-dug potatoes, washing them in a bathtub and selling them at farmers’ markets. These tubers, although tiny, deliver a big, buttery flavor, and because these small creamer potatoes are purposefully pulled from the patch early, their skins are tender enough to skip the peeling step altogether.

The company quickly expanded, driven by Angela’s leadership and strategic vision. Within a few years, the company grew to 30 employees and secured widespread distribution across Western Canada. 

Today, The Little Potato Company is a leader in North America’s creamer potato market, with 14,000 acres of contracted crop, 400 employees, and multiple facilities, including a flagship 95,000-square-foot plant in Edmonton, Alberta. They are expanding with a new, sustainable site equipped with solar panels and water conservation technology.

I prepared this recipe using the ‘garlic & parmesan’ little potatoes as the base. After they were roasted, I topped them with caramelized onions, bacon and smoked gouda cheese. The combination is a stunning balance of spice, smokiness, and creaminess making the ultimate comfort food!

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 Baby Potatoes w/ Bacon, Onions & Cheese
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword baby potatoes w/ bacon, onions & cheese
Servings
Ingredients
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword baby potatoes w/ bacon, onions & cheese
Servings
Ingredients
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 425 F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, toss the little potatoes & spice packet with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt & black pepper. Mix well to ensure the potatoes are evenly coated.
  3. Spread the seasoned potatoes out in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast the potatoes in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are cooked through.
  4. While the potatoes are roasting, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, then crumble it into small pieces. Reserve about 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease in the skillet & discard the rest.
  5. Thinly slice the onion. In the same skillet with the reserved bacon grease, add the butter & sliced onions. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, for 10-12 minutes, or until the onions are soft & caramelized. Remove from heat & set aside.
  6. Once the potatoes are roasted, remove the baking sheet from the oven & top them with the crumbled bacon & caramelized onions. Lay the slices of smoked gouda cheese evenly over the potatoes. Return the baking sheet to the oven for 2-3 minutes, just until the cheese melts.
  7. Remove the potatoes from the oven and transfer them to a serving dish. Serve immediately.

Gorgonzola Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats

It appears that the zucchini, as we know it, was developed in Italy around the latter half of the 1800s and thought to be reintroduced to the United States by Italian immigrants in the 1920s. This humble vegetable is very well traveled.

Since it is such an easy plant to grow many home gardeners are inundated with the fruits of their labors. It seems there is no end to what you can do with a zucchini such as zucchini bread, muffins, cake, pancakes, pickles or cookies. I have read you can even make it into wine! Did you know the flowers are edible and an expensive delicacy which can be deep fried as fritters or tempura or even used in soup?

Today for our supper, I just wanted to use a few things I had on hand, so our 2 zucchinis became ‘Gorgonzola Turkey Zucchini Boats’. Gorgonzola cheese has long been a favorite of Brion & mine and it tasted just great in this combination.

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 Gorgonzola Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword Gorgonzola turkey stuffed zucchini boats
Servings
Ingredients
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword Gorgonzola turkey stuffed zucchini boats
Servings
Ingredients
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
  1. Using a small spoon, hollow out the inside of each zucchini half, leaving a 1/4-inch shell.
  2. Finely chop the scooped out zucchini flesh. Chop onion & mince garlic. In a saucepan, sauté zucchini flesh, onion & garlic in oil.
  3. Add ground turkey, summer savory & salt. Continue to cook, breaking turkey up as it browns. Remove from heat & set aside.
  4. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  5. Crumble gorgonzola & add 2/3 of it to the turkey mixture. In a square casserole dish, place a small amount of turkey mixture & broth on bottom then top with the zucchini halves. Put remainder of turkey in hollowed out zucchini halves then top with remaining gorgonzola.
  6. Cover casserole with a piece of foil paper & bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven & garnish with sliced green onion.

Retro Porcupine Meatballs

Porcupine meatballs are an North American casserole dish of ground beef and rice meatballs cooked in tomato sauce. This recipe, that appealed to cooks in the 1930s, appears to have been developed during World War I when rice was affordable and readily available, but meat was pricey. The recipe appeared as ‘rice meat balls’ in the 1918 cookbook ‘Conservation Recipes’, a clear forerunner of the recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook (1939). The name comes from the appearance of the meatballs, which appear prickly when the rice pokes out of them as they cook, resembling a porcupine.

Meat, even something as mundane as ground beef, was expensive and home cooks used innovation and imaginative ways to make a small amount of protein stretch to feed a large and hungry family. Porcupine meatballs were one of the answers to the problem.  It’s great that generations later we are still enjoying them!

Of course, this simple recipe is very customizable. Other ingredients could be added to the meatballs like green pepper, mustard, celery, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, or other seasonings. The simple tomato sauce made with canned soup could be enriched with molasses and seasoned with chili powder and cumin. A later recipe from 1969 for ‘porcupine meatballs paprika’ replaces tomato soup with cream of mushroom, and adds other ingredients like mustard, or sour cream and paprika. ‘Porcupine meatballs Chinois’ was a variation influenced by Chinese cooking techniques and ingredients. Served with peach sauce, the Chinois meatballs are made with ground pork, shrimp, rice and green onion, seasoned with soy sauce and sherry, and steamed instead of being cooked in sauce.

Ground turkey can also be substituted for the ground beef, just add 1/4 cup oatmeal to the mix to compensate for the extra moisture in the turkey.

I recall my mother making these meatballs numerous times when I was growing up. They tasted great then and still do today. I decided to make some with the tomato sauce and some with mushroom sauce since Brion was not familiar with this meal. I think he will enjoy them.

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 Retro Porcupine Meatballs
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword vintage porcupine meatballs
Servings
SERVINGS
Ingredients
Meatballs
Sauce
Alternative Tomato Sauce
Alternative Brown Mushroom Sauce
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword vintage porcupine meatballs
Servings
SERVINGS
Ingredients
Meatballs
Sauce
Alternative Tomato Sauce
Alternative Brown Mushroom Sauce
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
Meatballs/Sauce
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. In a medium bowl, lightly mix together all meatball ingredients. Form mixture into 12 meatballs & place in an 11 x 7-inch baking dish.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients; pour over meatballs. Cover & bake 1 1/4 hours or until rice is tender.
  4. These meatballs are nice served over rice, egg noodles, mashed or baked potatoes. Simple but tasty!
Alternative Tomato Sauce
  1. In a saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté onion until tender crisp. Add crushed tomatoes & simmer for about 5 minutes. Add seasoning to taste & sour cream; combine then whisk in chicken broth. Pour over meatballs & bake.
Alternative Brown Mushroom Sauce
  1. In a skillet, heat oil & sauté onion & mushrooms. Add beef base, pepper, garlic powder & 2 cups of the water. Bring to a boil. Combine cornstarch with remaining 1/2 cup water. Gradually add cornstarch mixture to pan & stir as you are pouring. Cook, stirring often, until thoroughly mixed. Pour over meatballs & bake.
Recipe Notes
  • The advertisement picture on the blog was from life magazine in 1948.

Beef & Cheese Ravioli in Creamy Sauce

Ravioli is a beloved pasta dish that has stood the test of time. With its delicious fillings, cultural significance, and versatility, ravioli continues to be a popular choice for people of all ages and backgrounds.

The name ‘ravioli’ is derived from the old Italian word ‘riavvolgere’ (to wrap). Ravioli was traditionally served ‘al brodo’ (in broth) before the introduction of tomatoes from the New World in the 16th century, when tomato-based sauces became popular.

In the past, ravioli was just a fancy way to recycle leftovers, but today you’ll find a variety of elegant fillings ranging from gourmet cheeses, butternut squash, kale & spinach, wild mushrooms, lobster, and chicken. It can be served in a variety of ways, such as boiled, baked, or fried, and can be paired with a wide range of sauces and toppings.

The sauce you choose to serve with your ravioli will depend on the filling of your little pasta pockets. The idea is to pair the right sauce with the filling to create balance. Light, cheesy ravioli pairs well with a rich, meaty sauce, while hearty meat-filled ravioli works better with something creamy or mild. This keeps the dish balanced so it’s not too heavy or uninteresting.

This casserole pairs cheese ravioli with a creamy beef parmesan sauce making a nice flavorful meal.

Print Recipe
 Beef & Cheese Ravioli in Creamy Sauce
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Rate this recipe!
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword beef & smoked mozzarella tortellini in creamy sauce
Servings
Ingredients
Beef & Ravioli
Creamy Sauce
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword beef & smoked mozzarella tortellini in creamy sauce
Servings
Ingredients
Beef & Ravioli
Creamy Sauce
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
Beef & Ravioli
  1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it up into small pieces with a spoon. Cook until beef is browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat. Add the onion & garlic, cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes until softened & fragrant. Stir in oregano, basil & salt & pepper to taste. Set aside.
  2. While the beef cooks, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add ravioli & cook according to package directions, typically 3-5 minutes. Drain the ravioli, reserving about a cup of pasta water for the sauce. Set aside.
Sauce
  1. In the same skillet you cooked the beef, reduce the heat to medium-low & add the milk, cream cheese & chicken broth. Stir continuously until the cream cheese is fully incorporated into the sauce, creating a creamy base. Add the parmesan cheese, garlic & onion powder & pepper. Stir until the sauce is smooth & slightly thickened, about 2-3 minutes.
Assembly
  1. Add the cooked ravioli & beef mixture to the skillet with the creamy sauce. Stir gently to combine, ensuring the ravioli is coated with the sauce. If the sauce seems to thick, add a small amount of the reserved pasta water to thin it to your desired consistency. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to heat everything through.
  2. Serve hot. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley & additional parmesan cheese if desired.