Blog – Recipes

Plachinda

Plachinda, also spelled as Blachinda, Platchenda, Platchinta, Blachinde, and Blagenda, is a pastry dessert with a flaky pie crust and a delicious pumpkin filling. It resembles a turnover or a hand-pie.

The history of Plachinda is intertwined with the Germans from Russia culture. In 1910, approximately 60,000 Germans from Russia settled in what is now North Dakota, USA. They brought their customs, traditions, and food recipes with them. Plachinda is one such culinary delight that continues to be enjoyed today.

Once again, I set out to bring back the ‘taste of a memory’. Of course, this used to start with some discussion about the meal with my sister Loretta. Between the two of us we could usually remember enough so I can attempt to recreate the taste.

It seemed whenever my mother made plachinda it was served with a white bean soup or ‘Weisse Bohnensuppe’.  Kind of an unusual pairing of sorts  —  bean soup with a sweet pumpkin pastry but it was so good.

It seems most recipes you find on the internet make plachinda as individual turnovers. I think I recall my mother making it in a rectangle casserole dish with the pastry on the bottom and up the sides and the filling showing. I decided to make it as a ‘jelly roll’.

Here’s my ‘spin’ on this much-loved plachinda. Good but as usual never quite as wonderful as my mother’s. 

Print Recipe
 Plachinda
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Cuisine European
Keyword plachinda
Servings
SLICES
Ingredients
Pumpkin Plachinda Filling
Plachinda Pastry Dough
Cuisine European
Keyword plachinda
Servings
SLICES
Ingredients
Pumpkin Plachinda Filling
Plachinda Pastry Dough
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
Pumpkin Filling
  1. In a small bowl, combine the filling ingredients & set aside.
Plachinda Pastry
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder & salt. Whisk together eggs, milk & oil; add dry ingredients, working into a soft, stiff dough.
  3. Turn onto a lightly floured piece of parchment paper. Roll dough into a 14 x 14-inch square; spread pumpkin filling down the center & halfway out to the sides -- about 1/4-inch thickness.
  4. Fold the outside third of the dough over filling, repeating with the last third; pinch to seal. Leaving plachinda on paper, transfer to a baking sheet.
  5. Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Slice & serve warm.
Recipe Notes
  • If preferred, individual turnovers can be made instead.

Chinese 5 Spice Pear & Applesauce Muffins

The flavor of Chinese five-spice is cozy, comforting, and tastes just like fall! While it’s commonly associated with savory dishes, it can also add an interesting twist to sweet and fruity flavors. The warm and aromatic notes of cinnamon, cloves, and star anise work well with the delicate flavor of pears complementing their natural sweetness.

Chinese Five Spice Powder has been used in Chinese cooking for centuries. Although its origins are somewhat mysterious, it seems to have roots in traditional Chinese medicine. The belief was that this mixture would foster internal harmony by uniting the five main flavors traditionally employed in Chinese cuisine: sweet, sour, pungent, bitter, and salty. By achieving this balance of flavors, aligned with the five main elements (earth, fire, water, metal, and wood), tradition held that one could achieve balance in mind and body.

This flavorful blend of spices typically includes star anise, Szechuan peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, and fennel seeds and while five spice powder won’t magically cure ailments, it can certainly elevate lackluster dishes.

Chinese five spice as been a favorite of mine for many years. I like it in both sweet and savory dishes but today I thought it would make these ordinary little fall muffins into something special – and it does!

Print Recipe
 Chinese 5 Spice Pear & Applesauce Muffins
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Course dessert
Cuisine Chinese
Keyword Chinese 5-spice pear & applesauce muffins
Servings
LARGE
Ingredients
Muffins
Topping
Course dessert
Cuisine Chinese
Keyword Chinese 5-spice pear & applesauce muffins
Servings
LARGE
Ingredients
Muffins
Topping
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line muffin cups with 8 jumbo papers or 12 regular size papers.
  2. Using an electric mixer, cream together butter & sugar then add applesauce, eggs & vanilla & mix until smooth.
  3. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt & 5-spice powder.
  4. Add flour mixture to wet mixture, folding in only until barely combined then add diced pear & gently fold into mixture.
  5. Scoop the batter evenly into prepared muffin tin. Divide topping between muffins & gently spread over top using a fork. Bake 25-30 minutes & a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
  6. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from muffin tin.

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.

Print Recipe
 Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
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
You:
Rate this recipe!
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.

Scalloped Potato & Beef Lasagna

There are countless variations of lasagna across Italy and beyond. Entire cookbooks have been dedicated to this beloved dish, showcasing its multifarious nature.

 Potato slices absorb sauce and moisture so using them in place of lasagna noodles is a creative twist that can yield a delicious and hearty dish.  Along with potato slices there are a variety of alternatives to traditional lasagna noodles that you can use in your recipes. From zucchini strips and eggplant slices to portobello mushrooms and butternut squash, these alternatives offer flavorful and healthy ways to enjoy the classic Italian staple.

This beef potato lasagna combines layers of tender potato slices with creamy cheese and ground beef. Nothing but pure comfort food!

Print Recipe
 Scalloped Potato & Beef Lasagna
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Cuisine Italian
Keyword beef potato lasagna
Servings
Ingredients
Cuisine Italian
Keyword beef potato lasagna
Servings
Ingredients
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter a 9 x 9-inch baking dish. Set aside.
  2. Microwave washed potatoes (with skins) for a few minutes to partially cook. Slice in 1/8 -inch slices & place half of them in a layer on bottom of baking dish.
  3. In a saucepan, sauté onions & garlic in oil until soft then add beef, salt, pepper & Italian seasoning. Add a layer of the meat mixture over the layer of potatoes.
  4. In a small saucepan, melt butter then add flour. Cook for a few minutes until bubbly then add 2/3 cup milk & 23 gm parmesan cheese. With a wire whisk combine into a smooth sauce.
  5. Spoon half of the butter/cheese mixture over the ground beef. Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese.
  6. Repeat with remaining ingredients, layering in the same sequence. If using the cream, pour over all.
  7. Bake for 1 hour, covered with aluminum foil. Remove the foil for the last 10 minutes. Test to be sure the potatoes are soft.
  8. Remove from oven, cool for a few minutes then sprinkle with chives.

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Cookies

Pumpkin spice – the festive blend can be found flavoring absolutely everything at this time of year. From late summer to early January, coffee drinks like lattes and cold brews, baked goods such as cookies, muffins, and pies, and various breakfast items like pancakes and oatmeal. It’s also found in cereals, creamers, and even some savory dishes, while non-food products like candles and soaps are popular as well. Its associated spices have become laden with nostalgia during the fall season.

The modern demand for all things pumpkin spice can be traced to Starbucks’ introduction of the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) in 2003. The PSL’s success cemented the combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves as the quintessential flavor of autumn. 

The flavor itself is much older. Spice companies like McCormick began selling pre-mixed ‘pumpkin pie spice’—a blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves—in the 1930s. This made the seasonal flavor more accessible to home bakers. 

The history of pumpkin spice cream cheese cookies is a recent development, emerging in the 2020s. The cookie gained popularity by combining the established autumn tradition of pumpkin spice with the widespread appeal of cream cheese-filled, ‘bakery-style’ cookies. 

These pumpkin spice cream cheese cookies feature a vanilla dough with a pumpkin-spiced filling swirled together in a spiral of simple sweetness and aromatic spice. I guess you could say, ‘the same only different’.

Print Recipe
 Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Cookies
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Course dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword pumpkin spice cream cheese cookies
Servings
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
Pumpkin/Cream Cheese Filling
Course dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword pumpkin spice cream cheese cookies
Servings
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
Pumpkin/Cream Cheese Filling
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
Cookie Dough
  1. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder & salt. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, beat softened butter & sugar until light & fluffy, approx. 2 minutes. Add the egg, egg yolk & vanilla. Mix until well combined, about 1 minute.
  3. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mix on low speed until a thick, sticky dough forms.
  4. Divide dough into 2 equal pieces & chill for at least 2 hours.
Filling
  1. In a bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar, pumpkin puree, spices & vanilla. Beat until smooth & creamy. Set aside but do not refrigerate.
Assembly
  1. Once dough has chilled, roll out one piece of dough at a time between 2 large pieces of parchment paper about 1/4 inch thickness. Divide filling mixture between the two rolled out pieces of dough.. Using the parchment paper, roll each tightly into a log. Cover with plastic wrap & place in freezer overnight.
Baking
  1. Remove dough from freezer & allow to sit at room temperature only long enough so you can slice it as this is a very soft dough.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  3. Slice logs (I like to use floss for slicing to make a clean cut) into 1/4"-1/2" thick cookies. Sprinkle with pepita seeds. Arrange on cookie sheets & bake for 10-12 minutes.
  4. Allow to cool for 2-5 minutes on the pan then remove them to a cooling rack.
Recipe Notes

These are a soft cookie & are best eaten within a few days. We enjoyed them so much that wasn't a problem!

Halloween Soul Cakes

Today’s Halloween traditions are all about feasting on chocolate and sweets, but you might be surprised to learn we’ve actually been celebrating this time of year with sugary treats since medieval times. ‘Souling’, the ancient precursor to trick-or-treating, involved the giving of a small, round cake in exchange for prayers to commemorate the dead during All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween), All Saints’ Day (1 November) and All Souls’ Day (2 November). On these days, all Saints in Heaven — known and unknown — are venerated, their intercession begged, and relief is offered the Holy Souls in Purgatory through indulgent prayers and special Masses.

During the evening of the vigil of the feast of All Saints ( All Hallows in Olde English), children in cities, towns, villages, and hamlets would go ‘souling’— strolling door-to-door, calling on their extended families, friends, and neighbors, singing ancient souling hymns about the need to pray for those in Purgatory. Grateful housewives presented singers with small, round loaves of sweet quick breads, small cakes looking like muffins, or thick cookies, each marked with a cross of raisins or currants. The singers ate them warm, while saying prayers for the souls of that family’s faithful departed in Purgatory. This particular custom was popular in Britain and Ireland in the Middle Ages and was maintained for many centuries.

These small round cakes made of flour and spices were generally made with ingredients like oats or wheat, honey, butter or oil for sustenance; salt for wisdom; cinnamon to help banish negative energies; nutmeg to bring prosperity into your home; and ginger for healing. 

This is the origin of the Halloween tradition of ‘Trick or Treat’. The trickery wasn’t part of the original tradition.

Print Recipe
 Halloween Soul Cakes
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Course dessert
Cuisine European
Keyword Halloween soul cookies
Servings
Ingredients
Course dessert
Cuisine European
Keyword Halloween soul cookies
Servings
Ingredients
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. Cream the butter & sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks. Sift together the flour & mixed spice. Add to the creamed mixture along with the milk to give you a soft dough that you can easily roll out. Stir in the currants.
  3. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into rounds with a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter. Using the dull side of a knife mark a light cross indentation into the tops of each biscuit. Push additional currants into the crosses. Sprinkle with a bit of coarse sugar & place about 2 inches apart on the baking tray.
  4. Bake for 10 - 15 minutes until puffed & golden brown. Remove from oven & cool on a wire rack.
  5. Store in an airtight container.
Recipe Notes
  • MIXED SPICE:

  • Combine 1 TBSP ground cinnamon, 1 tsp each of ground coriander and nutmeg, 1/2 tsp of ground ginger, 1/4 tsp each of ground cloves and allspice. Mix well and store in an airtight container out of the light for up to 6 months.

Orange Bread w/ Strawberry Chia Preserves

The other day Brion & I were in a ‘Winners’ store and were looking through the gourmet food section. A couple of Pol’s Gourmet Preserves caught our attention. One was the Strawberry Chia Preserve. The preserve combines ripe strawberries with chia seeds, date juice, and lemon juice, cooked in vacuum boilers. It is marketed as a healthy and natural product with a focus on natural flavor and consistency. Pol’s utilizes vacuum technology to maintain the strawberries’ natural qualities during the cooking process. They also emphasize the use of natural base ingredients and the absence of additives beyond the natural components. 

We purchased a jar even though I wasn’t sure at the time what I would use it for since neither of us use a lot of preserves on toast. Of course, it didn’t take long to find a way to incorporate it into a recipe.

I have childhood memories of my mother making an orange bread loaf. I always thought it was so unique because it used the fresh orange zest from two whole oranges. The flavor was so distinct along with the bread being wonderfully moist. This recipe was one that has remained with me over the years, long after I had left my parents’ home. I used it numerous times over the years in my food service career in different applications.

Today I decided to swirl some of this interesting preserve into my mother’s orange bread loaf and the flavor was even better than I thought it would be. This orange loaf recipe is perfect for when you need a make-ahead dessert. I like it even more on the second day because the orange aroma (and flavor) becomes even more vibrant. 

Print Recipe
 Orange Bread w/ Strawberry Chia Preserves
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Course Brunch
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword orange loaf w/ strawberry chia preserve
Servings
Ingredients
Course Brunch
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword orange loaf w/ strawberry chia preserve
Servings
Ingredients
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter or line an 8" x 4" x 3-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. Peel oranges thinly & finely chop peel. Boil with sugar & water for 10 minutes: cool. Pour into a large bowl & add egg & butter.
  3. In a small bowl, combine flour, salt & baking powder. Add dry mixture to wet mixture alternately with milk.
  4. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Top with dollops of strawberry preserve. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, swirl preserve into batter making sure not to over stir so it creates a marbled effect.
  5. Bake for about 45 minutes or until bread tests done. Remove from oven & cool on wire rack. As I mentioned in the blog, the bread tastes better the second day if you can wait that long to try it.

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!

Print Recipe
 Baby Potatoes w/ Bacon, Onions & Cheese
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
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
You:
Rate this recipe!
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.

Print Recipe
 Gorgonzola Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
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
You:
Rate this recipe!
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.

Meatballs & Barley w/ Sun-Dried Tomatoes

When it comes to comfort food, meatballs have a special place in the hearts (and stomachs) of many. This meatball & barley dish takes the classic comfort food to a new level. The unusual blend of herbs and spices used in the recipe give the meatballs a unique and complex flavor that sets them apart from other meatball recipes. 

In savory dishes like meatballs, cardamom can complement the richness of the meat and other spices. It adds a warm, aromatic, and slightly sweet flavor, enhancing both the savory and sometimes subtly sweet notes of the dish. It’s often used in combination with other spices to create complex flavor profiles, especially in dishes inspired by Moroccan or Scandinavian cuisine. 

Cardamom is a tropical perennial plant belonging to the ginger family. Originally native to south India and Sri Lanka, as of today Guatemala is the world’s largest producer. The cardamom plant has long sword-shaped leaves, white and purple streaked flower petals and yellowish-green pods which contain the seeds.

Cardamom should generally be used sparingly due to its potent and intense flavor. A little goes a long way, and a subtle hint of cardamom is often more desirable than a strong, overpowering taste. 

This recipe was one of those that started with these tasty little meatballs then along came some barley, veggies and gravy and it turned out to be an amazing meal.

Print Recipe
 Meatballs & Barley w/ Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword beef barley meatball casserole
Servings
Ingredients
Meatballs
Other Ingredients
Gravy
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword beef barley meatball casserole
Servings
Ingredients
Meatballs
Other Ingredients
Gravy
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
Meatballs
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a baking tray.
  2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients for meatballs & mix well but do NOT overmix.
  3. Measure out 20 meatballs approximately 40 gm each & place on baking tray. Bake for about 15 minutes. You only want to bake them partially so they can finish baking with the rest of the casserole. Set aside.
Other Ingredients
  1. Cook barley in vegetable broth until tender. Set aside barley & any vegetable broth that might still remain when removed from heat.
  2. In the microwave, cook whole potatoes SLIGHTLY then slice into 1/8-inch slices. Slice red onion into wedges. Slice zucchini. Drain sun-dried tomatoes from seasoned oil. Grate cheese.
Sauce (Gravy)
  1. In a saucepan, melt butter; add flour & garlic powder to make a roux. Cook, stirring constantly for 2-3 minutes. Slowly add beef broth, stirring until sauce thickens. Season to taste. The gravy should be thin so the casserole can bake in it. If you find it is too thick, add more beef broth to thin it out.
Assembly
  1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
  2. Lightly spray a 9 x 13 -inch baking dish with baking spray. Spread the red onion wedges over the bottom of dish. Next layer the sliced potatoes on top then the zucchini & sun-dried tomatoes.
  3. Top with the meatballs & cooked barley then carefully pour gravy over top all. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Cover casserole with a piece of foil paper
  4. Cover casserole with a piece of foil paper & bake for 30-35 minutes or until cooked.