Vegetable Beef Barley Soup

     This has been a really crazy winter in terms of the weather. It was cold early, then very warm right before Christmas and then the Polar Vortex, with another one coming again this week.  

     When the freezing cold weather hits, all I want to do is to stay inside. And when I am inside, all I want to do is cook. It doesn't matter to me if I cook sweet or savory. If I make meals or desserts. Cooking or baking. When I am in the kitchen, I am happy.  

     So with this upcoming Polar Vortex, here is a great stick to your ribs soup. It will fill you up and warm you from the inside.  

     Please be sure to follow the directions of the barley that you use. This time I used Goya barley and it took 30 minutes to cook, but there is quick cook barley which only takes a few minutes.  Just take notice.

     I will give you my recipe, but feel free to substitute any vegetables that you like or have on hand.  I usually add fresh green beans, but didn't have any, so I used mushrooms instead. If you like peas or Lima beans (I don't) they would be perfect in here as well.  Experiment and have fun.

     This will make a nice big pot of soup and with the barley it gets thicker when leftover.  You could even thicken it up a bit more with some cornstarch and put it in a pie plate, top with a refrigerated pie crust and have a pot pie.  

Vegetable Beef Barley Soup

2 TBSP canola oil

1 1/2-2 pounds stew meat, cut into bite sized pieces

1 cup barley

6 cups beef stock 

3 cans stewed tomatoes (I used 1 can of Rotel)

3 stalks celery, chopped

5 carrots, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

5 large red potato, chopped 

1 green squash, chopped

1 lb green beans, chopped 

1 lb mushrooms, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp black pepper

1 TBSP Italian seasoning

juice of one lemon

In a large dutch oven brown the stew meat in the oil.  Add the onion, garlic, celery and carrot. Cook until the onions are translucent. Add the rest of the veggies, stock, pepper, Italian seasoning and the lemon juice.  Bring to a boil,stir thoroughly to combine. Cover and turn down to a simmer for about 20 minutes. Add your barley and continue to cook until the barley is done.  

Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken pot pie is a favorite comfort food, and a great way to stretch a little leftover chicken.  of course you can always substitute turkey too. 

I used fresh chopped onions, carrots and celery because that is what I like. But you can certainly use some left over veggies also. If you have a bit of leftover corn, peas or green beans, they would only make this even more comforting.  Use what you have and it will not disappoint you.  

 4 stalks of celery

4 carrots

1 large onion

4 TBSP butter

2 cups cooked chicken, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 cup flour

2 cups chicken stock

1 tsp chicken bouillon base

1/4 cup white wine

1 cup heavy cream

1 tsp poultry seasoning

1 tsp kosher salt 

Black pepper to taste

Freshly chopped thyme, rosemary and sage

( a few sprigs of each) optional

1pre made pie crust

Preheat oven to 400. 

Finely dice the celery, carrots, and onion. Melt the butter in a large pan, add the veggies and sauté until they turn translucent. ( if using leftover veggies, add them now)Add the chicken and stir to combine.  Sprinkle the flour over the veggie, chicken mixture stirring until combined. 

Pour the chicken broth in and stir to incorporate.  Add the bouillon base and the wine.  Continue stirring as you pour in the cream.  Let the mixture cook over low heat for about 5 minutes.  Add the seasoning, salt, pepper and fresh herbs.  Remove from the heat.  

Pour the mixture into a deep dish pie pan or a small round casserole.  

Unroll the prepared pie crust on the top of the veggie chicken mixture. Press the edges to the side of the dish to seal. Cut a few steam slices on the top of the crust.

Bake for 30 minutes until nicely golden brown. Allow to rest for 10 minutes, cut and serve. 

Barbecue Brisket

My family loves BBQ Brisket.  The last time I made it, my oldest had a few of his friends over and everyone enjoyed it.
I got the recipe a few years ago when I went to Wegmans. They were giving samples and it was so good that I had to try it.
I use any flavor barbecue sauce that I have on hand. I happened to have STUBB'S today. 

4-6 lbs boneless brisket
salt and pepper
flour
1 TBSP vegetable oil
1 cup water
1 tsp Better than Bullion Beef Base
1 bottle (18 oz) Barbecue Sauce


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut the brisket in half, season with salt and pepper and dust lightly with the flour.
Heat oil on a large dutch oven over medium high heat. Working with one half of the brisket at a time. Sear the brisket on each side until paper-bag brown. Keep browned halves on a clean plate until needed.
Add the beef base to the water, stirring to combine.  Add this to the pot, loosening the browned bits with a wooden spoon.  Cook until reduced by half. Stir in barbecue sauce.
Return brisket halves to pan  Cover and place in the oven. Cook for about 3 hours, until meat is fork tender.
Transfer brisket to a serving platter. Cut thick slices making sure to cut against the grain.  Skim fat from the sauce, cook an additional 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
Serve with the barbecue sauce.

Speedy Chicken and Dumplings

Today we will have a harvest moon. To me that means that fall is truly here. I hope it is big and bright and I will be able to get a nice picture. 

With fall comes all of my favorite comfort foods. We started fall off with Chicken and dumplings.  I have always loved my mom's chicken and dumplings, but never got her recipe,  This one is close, as close as I could get. I know that a few things are different and I adapted it to my taste, but it still reminds me of my mom.  

I make enough for my family of seven. So this recipe is more than enough for an average family with ample leftovers..


Speedy Chicken and Dumplings

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tsp butter
salt 
pepper
4 stalks celery, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 medium onion, sliced
4 cups chicken broth
2 bay leaves
1 TBSP Italian seasoning
6-8 carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
Season the chicken with a good amount of salt and pepper on both sides. In a large Dutch Oven melt the butter, add chicken and brown it in the hot butter.  Add the celery, onion, broth,bay leaves, and Italian seasonings.  Heat to boiling; reduce to a simmer. Simmer covered for 20 minutes. Add carrots and simmer again for 15 minutes or until carrots are just about tender. Add dumplings and cook as directed.

Dumplings

(I double this recipe)
 I have never had another dumpling, only the Bisquick kind. Feel free to use your own recipe.

2 cups Bisquick
2/3 c. milk  
mix together and drop by spoonful into dutch oven.  Cook for 10 minutes uncovered and then 10 minutes covered.