Sunday, October 5, 2008

AUSTRALIAN DINNER

Dinkum Chili and Rice Salad

I finally made our third international dinner. I was sick with a cold that turned into bronchitis for over three weeks. I am sick of being sick! I am finally starting to feel better! Fortunately, the meat for this recipe was already in my fridge and I didn't want it to go to waste so I had to make the meal. I reduced the amount of meat and hot chile pepper in the chili substantially from the original recipe. I also reduced the amount of rice in the rice salad. You can go with the original amounts or reduce them as I did. It is totally up to you as far as how much food you need to make and how "hot" you like your chili.

Dinkum Chili (Beef)

1/2 lb bacon, packaged (I used Nature's Promise brand and reduced the amount to only 2 slices)

2 tbsp Oil, vegetable (I just cooked the meat in the bacon grease that was already in the pan)

2 Onions, medium, course chopped (I reduced by half)

1 Celery stalk, coarse chopped

1 Bell pepper

2 lbs top sirloin beef, 1" cubes (I reduced by more than half)

1 lb ground beef (reduced to half pound)

1 lb ground pork (I used ground turkey and reduced the amount to half pound)

4 tbsp red chile, hot, ground (I just used a sprinkle or two from my grinder)

3 tbsp red chile, mild ground (I used 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper)

2 garlic cloves, medium, finely chopped

1 tbsp oregano, dried, preferably Mexican (I used 1 tsp)

1 tbsp cumin, ground (I used 1 tsp)

2 12 oz cans beer, preferably Australian (I reduced to 1 can)

1 14-1/2 oz can whole tomatoes

3 tbsp brown sugar (I reduced to 1 tbsp)

1 Boomerang

Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium heat. Drain the strips on paper toweling and cut into 1/2" strips, dice and reserve.

Heat the oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add the onions, celery and green pepper and cook until the onions are translucent.

Combine all the beef and pork with the ground chile, garlic, oregano, and cumin. Add this meat-and-spice mixture to the pot. Break up any lumps with a fork and cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is evenly browned.

Add the beer, tomatoes, and reserved bacon to the pot. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered for 1-1/2 hours. Wave a boomerang over the pot 14 times each hour from this point on. (This is definitely optional adding no noticeable flavor, just a touch of authenticity and fun.) Stir for 3 minutes. Taste, adjust seasonings, and add more beer if desired. Simmer for 2-1/2 hours longer. (I used a crock pot after I browned the meat.)

Add the brown sugar and simmer for 15 minutes longer, vigorously waving the boomerang over the pot.

Makes 8 servings

Aussie Rice Salad
3 cups jasmine rice, cooked
1/2 cup peas
1 onion, chopped
1 small can corn
1 red pepper, diced
some bacon bits
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Allspice
1 tablespoon fresh coriander
Combine rice, vegetables and bacon bits. Mix soy sauce, mayonnaise, Allspice and coriander. Stir sauce into the rice mixture.



Monday, September 29, 2008

Macaroni & Cheese

I was asked to make a side dish for our son's cub scout den's Fishing Derby. My son enjoys attending the Fishing Derby each year and each year I make a side dish for it. I usually make macaroni and cheese. I figure that the adults will enjoy it and the kids may, too. To be honest, kids generally prefer the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese from the blue box. In fact, my son is definitely one of those who will only eat Kraft Mac & Cheese. It doesn't bother me. I still like to make homemade mac and cheese now and then. I got this recipe from a friend of a friend. It has served me well. I know you'll enjoy it. It isn't gourmet food. I would call it comfort food.

Apparently, good 'ole mac and cheese has a long history in the U.S.A. I read a blog that indicated some people believe that Thomas Jefferson created the dish! According to an article in a 1996 "Restaurants & Institutions", Barbara Bell Matuszewski wrote that Jefferson served the dish in the White House in 1802. However, according to food historian Karen Hess, Jefferson did not invent the dish, he returned from a trip to Paris with a macaroni mold. He was definitely the first president to serve macaroni and cheese at the White House and maybe the last!

I am also going to include a recipe for the dish from Mary Randolph's (Thomas Jefferson's cousin) "The Virginia Housewife," first published in 1824. It is an interesting recipe, to say the least.

Macaroni and Cheese

16 oz of uncooked elbow macaroni or shells
1 stick of butter
4 cups of milk
12 oz sharp cheddar (grated) cheese, reserve a handful to sprinkle on top
1 teaspoon of salt (I cut this down from 2 teaspoons in the original recipe)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne or black pepper
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cook the macaroni according to the package directions.
In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter, whisk in flour to make a paste. Add milk. Bring to simmer over medium heat until thickened (about 1-2 minutes). Add the salt, pepper, nutmeg and cheese, stir until smooth. Stir the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce and pour into a 3 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and bake for 30 minutes.

(You can easily do half the recipe in a 1-1/2 or 2 quart baking dish or even double the recipe for a large crowd.)

Mary Randolph's Macaroni and Cheese
from "The Virginia Housewife"

This is an example of a very early recipe for macaroni and cheese.

Ingredients:
macaroni
cheese
butter

Preparation:
Boil as much macaroni as will fill your dish, until quite tender. Drain and sprinkle a little salt over it. Put a layer of macaroni in your baking dish, put on it slices of cheese, and on that a few bits of butter, then macaroni, cheese, and butter, until the dish is full, put on the top thin slices of cheese, bake in a 400° oven for 20 to 30 minutes.

The Creative Cook