Category: ROOT

CAMPFIRE FOILS ~ BEEF, CHICKEN & ROOT VEGGIES

CAMPFIRE FOILS ~ BEEF, CHICKEN & ROOT VEGGIES
4 tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon FRESH, FINELY chopped tarragon
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 cup baby carrots, halved
1 LARGE sweet onion, cut into thin wedges
3-4 beets, peeled and chopped
3-4 red potatoes, cut into large chunks
1 lemon, THINLY sliced
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken tenders
1/2 pound grilled medium rare flank steak, rested and cut into bite sized chunks
1/4 pound salt pork, diced (or substitute 4 slices thick bacon)

  • Preheat oven to 375° or grill to medium heat.
  • In a small skillet rendered salt pork or bacon until ALMOST crisp.
  • Add butter, tarragon, garlic, salt and pepper in a small saucepan and simmer until melted and well blended.
  • Toss veggies and lemon slices with the melted butter mixture. Drain veggies, reserving butter mixture.**see note
  • Arrange 4 large (12×16 or so) pieces of foil on the counter top.
  • Spray with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Divide veggies evenly among the foil pieces.
  • Toss chicken tenders with the drained butter and arrange evenly on top of veggies.
  • Drizzle any remaining butter on top of each packet.
  • Bring the edges of the foil up, folding a couple times to seal, but leaving air space.
  • Bake or grill 50 minutes until chicken is cooked through and veggies are tender.

NOTE: If you would like to prepare this in advance as I have many times, cut the chicken tenders into thirds.  Then toss to coat well all the meats and veggies with the butter mixture in a large mixing bowl.  Cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to prepare foil packets.

SHEET PAN SCALLOPED POTATOES ala VALERIE BERTINELLI

SHEET PAN SCALLOPED POTATOES ala VALERIE BERTINELLI
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large VIDALIA onion, THINLY sliced
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
3 1/4 pounds medium Yukon Gold potatoes (6 to 7 potatoes), cut into 1/8-inch rounds
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 1/2 cups grated Fontina cheese – about 8 ounces
1 cup grated Parmesan – about 5 ounces
2 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon lemon zest

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
  • Spray a LARGE 18X13, rimmed baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat.
  • Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly caramelized, 15 to 20 minutes; if the onions are browning too quickly, reduce the heat to low. When the onions are almost done, stir in the garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes to lightly toast. Remove from the heat.
  • Layer half of the potatoes, shingle style in 6 or 7 even rows on the prepared baking sheet, making sure the sheet is completely covered.
  • Season the potatoes with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with half of the fontina and Parmesan.
  • Spread the caramelized onions evenly over the top.
  • Shingle the remaining half of the potatoes over the onions, and season with more salt and pepper.
  • Turn the heat to medium under the sauté pan.
  • Add the cream, rosemary, Dijon and lemon zest, stir together and bring to a SLOW simmer.
  • Season with salt and then pour the cream over the potatoes; tilt the baking sheet slightly in all directions to ensure even coverage. Top with the remaining Fontina and Parmesan.
  • Cover the baking sheet with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
  • Remove the foil and continue baking until the top is golden brown, the edges are crispy and the potatoes are tender, another 20 to 25 minutes.
  • Let the cool for 15 minutes before serving.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH, BACON and APPLE HOT DISH

This is a Molly Yeh recipe from Girl Meets Farm. I normally love her recipes and experimenting with new things, but this one needed some serious tweaking to make it right.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH, BACON and APPLE HOT DISH
FILLING
3/4 pound thick-cut bacon
2 large purple onions, chunky thin wedges
2 pounds 1 small butternut squash, seeded, peeled and chopped into small 1/2-inch cubes
6 sprigs fresh thyme, stems removed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Crushed red pepper flakes
1/8 cup white wine
1/2 cup vegetable broth
2 3 large Honey Crisp Granny Smith apples, chopped into 1/2-inch cubes

  • In a LARGE cast iron skillet cook bacon until crisp. Remove to paper toweling for draining.
  • Drain half the bacon grease from the skillet, leaving just enough to coat the skillet.
  • Add the onions and turn the heat to medium-high. Saute until soft, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the squash, thyme, some salt, a few turns of pepper and a few pinches of crushed red pepper, stirring occasionally, about 8-10 more minutes.
  • Add the wine and broth.
  • Roughly chop the bacon and add it to the skillet along with the apples.
  • Bring the mixture to a SLOW boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, while you make the biscuits.

BISCUITS
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for dusting
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
14 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 large egg, lightly beaten
FRESHLY ground black pepper

  • Preheat the oven to 425°.
  • Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
  • Add the butter and, using a food processor, pastry cutter or your hands, incorporate the butter until the mixture is the consistency of raw oatmeal.
  • Mix in the cream until the mixture comes together to form a dough.
  • Turn it out onto a floured work surface, pat it out to 3/4-inch thick and then cut out round biscuits, re-rolling scraps as needed.
  • Turn off the heat before dotting the top of the skillet with the biscuits.
  • Brush the biscuits with the beaten egg and top with black pepper.
  • Bake until the biscuits are golden brown, cooked through and flaky, about 25 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and serve right from the skillet!

NOTE: 

  • NEXT TIME I will change the apples to Granny Smiths and add an extra apple and decrease the squash.  Hubby wants me to trade the squash altogether for potatoes or Brussels sprouts.
  • This recipe also works well with “cheater” biscuits from the dairy case 😀

SCALLOPED POTATO TURNIP GRATIN

SCALLOPED POTATO TURNIP GRATIN
4 tablespoons butter
2 green onions, sliced thin
1/4 cup WONDRA flour
1 pound turnips, peeled and thinly sliced
1 pound YUKON gold potatoes, thinly sliced
2 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped FRESH thyme
1 tablespoon chopped FRESH oregano
1/3 cup chopped Italian Parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup FRESH grated Parmesan cheese

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • LIGHTLY spray sheet pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Alternately layer turnip and potato slices.
  • Generously sprinkle with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Repeat with a second layer and sprinkle again with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • In a skillet melt the butter.
  • Add the green onions and saute 30 seconds.
  • Whisk in flour until smooth.
  • Add garlic, thyme, oregano, parsley and heavy whipping cream, cooking until thickened.
  • Pour sauce over potatoes and turnip, smoothing evenly.
  • Top with Parmesan cheese.
  • Bake 25-30 minutes until cooked through and golden.

HONEY MISO FISH FILLETS & CAMP CARROTS

HONEY MISO FISH FILLETS & CAMP CARROTS
HONEY MISO FISH FILLETS

4 tablespoons QUALITY honey
3 tablespoons white miso paste
1 tablespoon water
3 tablespoons Bragg’s liquid aminos
2 tablespoons sake or dry white wine
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
4 5-6 ounce fish of choice fillets* (SEE NOTE)

  • In a small saucepan mix the honey, miso and water, whisking until smooth. Bring to a SLOW boil, simmering until dark golden.
  • Remove from heat and whisk in soy sauce, white wine, liquid aminos, rice wine vinegar and sesame oil.
  • Divide mixture in half.
  • Add half to ziploc bag along with fish fillets and marinade overnight.
  • Reserve other half for next day.

NEXT DAY

  • Preheat oven to 475°.
  • Add reserved marinade to cast iron skillet and heat over medium-high heat until it begins to bubble.
  • Add fillets skin side up and brush with marinade.
  • Transfer cast ion to oven for 5-10 minutes until golden in color and fish is flaky.
  • Flip fillets and plate.
  • Spoon remaining sauce over fillets and serve immediately.

NOTE: COD, SALMON, HALIBUT OR SWORDFISH WORK BEST.

CAMP CARROTS
3 cups sliced carrots or baby carrots
1/4 pound crisp crumbled bacon
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon QUALITY honey
FRESH ground sea salt and tri-color pepper

  • In a 2 quart saucepan add carrots and enough water to cover.
  • Bring to a FULL boil, reduce to medium and cook 10 minutes until carrots are crisp tender.
  • Drain well.
  • Add butter, brown sugar and honey to pan, mixing well.
  • Add carrots and season to taste with FRESH ground sea salt and tri-color pepper.
  • Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.
  • Add bacon pieces and serve immediately.

POLYNESIAN CARROTS

POLYNESIAN CARROTS
2 1/2 tablespoons sweet cream butter
2 cups sliced carrots
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
3 tablespoons golden raisins
1 small can crushed pineapple, well drained
1 tablespoon QUALITY honey

  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add carrots and seasonings.
  • Cover and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until carrots are tender.
  • Stir in pineapple and honey, sauteing 2-3 minutes until heated through.
  • Serve immediately.

CARROTS & APPLES

CARROTS & APPLES
2 pounds carrots, baby or 2 large carrots cut into 1 inch pieces
6 granny smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1/4 cup QUALITY honey
1 tablespoon Whiskey
1 tablespoon molasses
2 tablespoons butter, cut into chunks
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Sprinkle of paprika

  • Spray crock pot insert with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Layer carrots on bottom of crock pot.
  • Add apple slices over carrots.
  • Sprinkle with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Whisk together the honey, whiskey and molasses.
  • Drizzle honey mixture over top.
  • Randomly place butter chunks.
  • Cover and cook on low 3-3 1/2 hours or until carrots are fork tender.

PICKLED BEETS

PICKLED BEETS
4 LARGE beets
¾ cup apple cider vinegar
¾ cup water
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ cup sugar

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Wash and trim beets, but leave 2-3 inches of tails on.
  • Cover baking sheet with foil and LIGHTLY spray with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Bake 35 minutes until fork tender.
  • Cool 30 minutes.
  • Trim again and rub off outer skin.
  • Slice ¼ inch thick or julienne and place in canning jar.
  • Whisk together water, vinegar, sugar and sea salt in saucepan until sugar and salt are dissolved.
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Cool 15 minutes.
  • Pour over beets and seal jars.
  • Refrigerate.

BALSAMIC CHARRED GARLIC CARROTS

To add a bit of an edgier flavor to carrots I use balsamic vinegar and then char them crisp.  Flavored balsamic vinegars work well also.  Tonight I used a pineapple coconut white balsamic vinegar.

BALSAMIC CHARRED GARLIC CARROTS
2 pounds carrots, sliced on the diagonal or smaller carrots halved lenghtwise
2 cloves garlic, minced or sliced paper thin
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon garlic oil (avocado or olive work well too)
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

  • Heat butter and oil in a non-stick skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add carrots and garlic, stirring to coat well.
  • Cover and simmer 5 minutes until carrots begin to soften.
  • Uncover and continue to simmer until carrots begin to char.
  • Add balsamic vinegar and stir to coat well.
  • Cook 2-3 minutes more until carrots are charred, cooked through and most liquid is absorbed.

BRAISED GREEN BEANS & POTATOES

BRAISED GREEN BEANS & POTATOES serves 6

1 teaspoon avocado oil
2 strips bacon, chopped
2 shallots, halved and sliced thin
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 cups chicken stock
FRESHLY ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 1/2 pounds small red and/or white potatoes, with a strip peeled around the centers
1 pound green beans trimmed and sectioned

  • Cook bacon over medium high heat until crispy.
  • Remove bacon from grease with a slotted spoon. Drain on paper toweling.
  • Add avocado oil to bacon grease.
  • Add shallots, stirring occasionally until tender, about 2 minutes.
  • Add garlic and red pepper, stirring frequently 2-3 minutes.
  • Add chicken stock, salt and potatoes. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes or JUST until potatoes are tender enough to be fork pierced, but still firm.
  • Add green beans, cover and simmer 6-7 minutes until tender.
  • Remove potatoes and green beans with a slotted spoon to a serving dish.
  • Bring liquid to a boil and reduce to 1 cup.
  • Spoon over vegetables and gently fold to mix.
  • Sprinkle with bacon and serve.

SWEDISH MEATLOAVES with MASHED POTATOES, ROASTED CARROTS & LINGONBERRY JAM with HOUSE SEASONING

Meatloaf is really just an oversized meatball. So, why not make it a personal size so you can get more finished edges covered in delicious gravy?

Swedish Meat Loaves are spicy beef meatloaves smothered in a rich tasty gravy served over mashed potatoes with roasted carrots with Lingonberry jam on the side—in other words, Thanksgiving for the rest of the year.

SWEDISH MEATLOAVES with MASHED POTATOES, ROASTED CARROTS & LINGONBERRY JAM

2 Carrots, peeled and sliced into thick coins
3/4 pound Yukon potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/3 cup minced yellow onion
several sprigs Parsley, finely chopped
1 slice white bread
3 tablespoons + 1/4 cup milk
2/3 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup beef consomme
2 tablespoon Lingonberry Jam
1 tablespoon avocado oil
2 tablespoons butter
FRESH ground salt and pepper, taste

  • PREHEAT oven to 425° and adjust rack to upper position.
  • Toss carrots on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil and a large pinch of salt and pepper.
  • Roast in oven for 15 minutes.
  • Add potatoes to a medium pot with a large pinch of salt and enough water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and return to empty pot off heat.
  • Place bread and 3 tablespoons milk in a medium bowl. Break up bread with your hands until pasty.
  • Add in beef, 2 tablespoons minced onion, half the parsley, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon white pepper and salt to taste. Mix by hand gently until thoroughly mixed.
  • Shape mixture into two 1-inch-tall loaves.
  • Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
  • Add meatloaves and cook until browned on surface but not yet cooked through, about 3 minutes per side.
  • Once carrots have roasted about 15 minutes, remove sheet from oven and give carrots a toss. Add meatloaves to same sheet and place back in oven.
  • Bake until meatloaves are cooked through and carrots are tender, about 15 minutes more.
  • Melt 1 tablespoon butter in the same pan you browned the meatloaves in over medium heat.
  • Add remaining minced onion. Cook, sauteing, until soft, about 2 minutes.
  • Add flour and cook, stirring, until pasty, about 1 minute.
  • Slowly whisk in beef stock and 1/4 cup milk.
  • Bring to a simmer, then whisk until thickened, about 1 minute.
  • Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg to taste.
  • Add more water if too thick.
  • Place pot with potatoes over low heat.
  • Add 1/4 cup milk and 1 tablespoon butter mashing until smooth. Add more milk if too stiff.
    Season to taste with additional salt and pepper.
  • Plate potatoes and meatloaves.
  • Drizzle with gravy.
  • Add carrots and jam to the side.
  • Garnish with remaining parsley.

HOUSE SEASONING MIX

1/4 cup fine sea salt
1/4 cup garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
1 tablespoon FRESH ground black pepper

  • Combine in a small bowl until well blended.
  • Store in an air tight container.