Innie or Outie

This is a hearty curry hubby made where the sauce is a different color than what is usually expected, Chunky Chicken White Curry:

(Click on image to view large size)

For the curry hubby used chunky chicken, yellow bell pepper, potato, onion and carrot pieces.

Hubby’s really getting into this means of creative expression. Here’s his latest endeavor, Papa’s Cabbage Roll Dinner:

(Click on image to view large size)

The cabbage rolls are stuffed with herb sausage in tomato garlic sauce and topped with a béchamel sauce. As a side dish, hubby used boiled potatoes and carrots drizzled with a basil-garlic-balsamic sauce.

So, Hubby’s back in the kitchen. This time he decided to go a different direction and looked-up some recipes on a Japanese foodie site. This is what he came up with – Papa's European-Style Dinner:

(Click on image to view large size)

The meal consisted of hamburger steak (ball) with red wine sauce, sautéed mushroom-bacon potatoes, and carrots with creamy cheese dressing.

Here is a simple scratch meal that requires very little preparation time, Portuguese Sausage & Veggie Dinner:

(Click on image to view large size)

For the Portuguese Sausage & Veggie Platter, we chose sausage, potatoes, and cabbage:

(Click on image to view large size)

Using an electric skillet, begin with the potatoes and simply fry in butter. Sprinkle with a little white pepper. Add the sausage and remaining desired vegetables. Once fried, a little whole mustard and/or soy sauce can be added to individual servings for flavor. Also, the raw broccoli and cauliflower can double as pre-entrée appetizers using a dipping sauce. (Hubby and I used Sesame Thousand Island dressing mixed with mayonnaise and horseradish for the dipping sauce.)

(Click on image to view large size)

In the early ‘90s I created a St. Patty’s Day appetizer as a joke, Deviled Green Eggs:

(Click on image to view large size)

This year hubby and I decided to use the appetizer as part of a complete St Patrick’s Day meal so this is what we had for the occasion, Green Eggs and Ham Meal:

(Click on image to view large size)

The meal consisted of Green Egg Salad, Stir-Fried Ham and Broccoli, and Herb New Potatoes. (Although it’s difficult to tell from the pictures, the eggs are avocado-colored and the ham and broccoli had a light chicken bouillon and cornstarch green-colored sauce.)

Although St. Patrick’s Day is still a few days away, someone is back in the kitchen and getting a little green:

Papa’s St. Patty’s Herb Pesce Dinner

(Click on image to view large size)

For this dinner, hubby braised new potatoes and basil, sautéed Russian Red Fish in olive oil, added asparagus, then smothered it all in herb sauce. The plate was accompanied by a small bowl of salad greens, sweet peppers, and red radish topped with Sesame Thousand Island dressing.

Here’s another yummy recipe that will fill you up and warm your tummy during these cold winter months.

Crockpot Sausage and Potato Stew

2 medium potatoes (quartered and thinly sliced)
1/2 medium onion (quartered and thinly sliced)
12 ounces spicy sausage (sliced into bite-size pieces)
1 15 ounce can red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes (undrained)
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup beef bouillon
1/2 cup flour

Layer potatoes, onion, and sausage on bottom of crockpot. Add kidney beans, tomatoes with liquid, oregano, garlic, sugar, pepper, and cumin. Mix flour in bouillon and pour on top of other ingredients in crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 6 to 8 hours. Serve with bread or over rice.

This is a chunky and hearty chicken recipe:

Crockpot French-Country Style Chicken Stew

3 medium potatoes (quartered and sliced)
10 slices bacon (julienned)
3 skinless chicken breasts (cut into bit-size pieces)
1 medium onion (quartered and sliced)
1 cup frozen green beans (cut into bit sized pieces)
1 15 ounce can kidney beans (drained)
1 14 1/2 ounce can stewed tomatoes (with juice)
1 tablespoon minced garlic paste
1 tablespoon thyme flakes
1 teaspoon rosemary
1 teaspoon pepper
1 pinch salt
2/3 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup flour
1 10 1/2 ounce can chicken broth

Place potatoes on bottom of crockpot. Add bacon, chicken, onion, green beans, kidney beans, stewed tomatoes, garlic, thyme, rosemary, pepper, salt, and wine. Mix flour and chicken broth, then pour mixture on top of other ingredients in crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 8 – 10 hours. Serve over rice or with bread.

This is an easy and earthy-flavored stew:

Crockpot Irish-Style Pork Stew

2 lbs boneless pork (cubed)
4 medium potatoes (quartered and sliced)
2 large onions (quartered and sliced)
1 tablespoon minced garlic paste
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
2 laurel leaves
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 101/2 ounce can chicken broth
1 large pinch salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 12 ounce stout Guinness beer

Place potatoes on bottom of crockpot. Top with pork and onions. Add garlic, parsley, caraway seeds, laurel, brown sugar, olive oil, chicken broth, salt, black pepper, red wine vinegar. Mix flour and beer together, then pour mixture into crockpot. Cover and cook for 8 to 10 hours. Serve over rice or with bread.

This is an easy, yet deliciously spicy, seafood recipe:

Crockpot Spicy Seafood Stew

2 medium potatoes (quartered and sliced)
1 large red bell pepper (julienned)
1 large onion (quartered and sliced)
2 large tomatoes (quartered and sliced)
1 package frozen seafood mix (thawed) – this is a combination (approximately 3 cups) of peeled shrimp, bite-size squid, and clams found in the frozen food section at local supermarkets
1 cup peeled shrimp
¼ cup olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried red chili pepper flakes
2 teaspoons turmeric
½ teaspoon mustard powder
1 cup white wine
2 cups fish stock or chicken broth
1 tablespoon dried cilantro flakes
1 large pinch salt

Place potatoes in bottom of crockpot. Top with bell pepper, onion tomatoes, seafood mix, and shrimp. Add olive oil, garlic, chili pepper, turmeric, and mustard powder. Pour in wine and fish stock. Finish with cilantro and salt.

Cover the crockpot and cook for 8 to 10 hours on high. Stir occasionally. Serve over rice or with bread.