Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Easy Scratch Mac and Cheese

1/2 lb pasta, macaroni, or whatever suits your mood.
2Cups Shredded Cheese; this can be mozerella, cheddar, colby jack...
2 T butter, I use real butter, salted but margarine should work fine.

Cook the pasta.  Drain.  Return pasta to the still hot pot in which it was cooked.  Add the cheese of your choice and butter.  Stir, stir, stir.  Add more cheese if you desire. 

You may want to salt individual portion or the whole pot.  I like my food less salty so I allow others to salt and pepper individual servings.  I also LOVE to add chopped cooked Hebrew National Hot Dogs, the flavor is not like any other dog you can find.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Spanish Rice

This is, as all my recipes, the minimalist version.  It is always more dynamic and nutritious with the addition of fresh onion, fresh garlic, and fresh bell pepper.  However, I do not keep these on hand and when in college I could not afford to buy the 'extras'.

So here is my budget friendly version.  It still has plenty of nutrition, and of course, Tastes great!

1/2 lb of ground meat, it can be beef, turkey, or whatever suits you.  Vegetarian is always an option too.
1 Tbs Dried onion
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Garlic powder or granules
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cumin seed
2 15oz (approx) stewed tomatoes
1/2 C rice (uncooked)

Brown meat with all spices (onion to cumin);  Add rice and brown further; 3 to 5 minutes.  Add Tomatoes and all their liquid and 1/2 C water, cover and simmer for 30 minutes.  OR Until the moisture is absorbed.  I love to top with sour cream or parmesian cheese. 

When choosing to go the vegetarian route, simply brown the vegi's in place of the meat.

When Adding vegi's to the recipe, do so after meat has been browned.  I like my vegi's minced or finely chopped.  But whatever suits your fancy will work.

Enjoy!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Potato Soup

This can be made with just the basic's or you can add chicken and vegi's.

4 cups peeled and cubed potatoes; skins can be left on potatoes.
4 cups water and 4 boullion cubes  OR 4 cups chicken broth, vegi broth, or beef broth.
1 tsp salt

Simmer till potatoes are fork tender.  You can mash or puree some of the potatoes if you want a creamier soup.  I add garlic or any spice that I am craving.