Sandie's Cottage Pie

Being that I currently reside in England, I like to try new to me dishes. I do like experiment with the local cuisine but I also like to revise how it's made and turn it into something that "I" would serve to my family and friends. I can't wrap my head around eating Lamb- to me they're just too cute and frisky to think about eating them. Besides, I prefer to wear their wool in the shape of hats, mittens, scarves and sweaters!

So first off I bet that you're wondering what's the difference between Shepherds Pie and Cottage Pie right? It's the meat! Shepherds pie is made from minced lamb or mutton (that's meat from an adult sheep). There are subtle variations on the ingredients and I came up with my own version of a Cottage Pie which is pretty darn tasty if I do say so myself. Oh I should mention that I like loads of veggies

Stuff you're going to need-
Potatoes- about 2½ pounds
1 cup milk or half and half
grated cheddar cheese 2 cups (I use white cheddar)
3 cups carrot-diced
1 large onion-diced
2 cups celery diced
1½ pounds of ground/minced beef,chicken or turkey and yes you can even used those vegetarian crumbles-although this really isn't a vegetarian kind of dish
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon grated orange peel
2 cups hot water
2 Knorr Beef Stock Pot (these are little tubs) OR you can use 2 cups of Swanson's Beef Stock
add salt and pepper to your own personal tastes. I only add pepper as the beef stock will add plenty of flavor.

What to do with those things above...

Earlier in the day grab a fork and poke holes all over in all of those spuds! Put them straight on the rack into a preheated 350º oven for 1½ hours.

Use a very large skillet and place your 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil in pan, place carrots in pan and saute for 5 minutes, next add celery and onion cook another 4 to 5 minutes. Next add in your ground/minced meat, cook until browned. Add in your hot water, your 2 Knorr BEEF Stock tubs, the 1 Tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, the 2 Tablespoons of Tomato Paste and the ½ teaspoon of grated orange peel. Let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes so the flavors incorporate. Now if the sauce is not think enough just do the cornstarch thing...read the box it will tell you 1 tablespoon cornstarch to 1 tablespoon cold water. make sure it's all dissolved BEFORE adding in to the pot or you will have cornstarch lumps.

So, you've baked those potatoes earlier, time to peel them and mash them up. Add in your salt and pepper, your milk (or half and half), mix in the grated cheddar cheese. Now set aside.

Your cottage pie is ready to be assembled you can do this a few different ways but which ever way you choose make sure that the dishes you choose are oven proof.
I've done all of the following;
♥ individual bowls
♥ a deep dish ceramic pie plate
♥ a 9x13 ceramic casserole (lasagna dish)

Put the fillings in your bake-ware of choice, do not fill all the way. Place potato cheese mixture on top (this is your crust). Bake at 350º oven for about 20 minutes or until the cheese in the potatoes is melted and the peeks of the potatoes are browned.

♥Today decided that I would make a double batch as I wanted to bring a meal to a family whose military member is Tdy. This is a great dish to make for large families, potluck events or just for you and your hubby. I have more "pie filling" in my stock pot and am going to freeze it for use at a later time.


NOTE- filling will be HOT!

Sunny's Quesadilla Casserole

Another yummy dish from our "Mexican" themed cooking club dinner. There was not a single item that was not delicious last night! I can see myself making every dish that was brought to cooking club be it just for my family or for when we have friends over for dinner. Try one or two of all of these recipes if you're looking for something new and exciting to try!

Sunny's Quesadilla Casserole

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 cans ( 8 oz. each) tomato sauce

1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (8 3/4 oz.) whole kernel corn, undrained

1 can (4 1/2 oz.) chopped green chilies, undrained

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp. minced garlic

1/2 tsp oregano leaves

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)

6 flour tortillas (8-in)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions
1. Brown beef and onion in large skillet on medium-high heat; drain. Add tomato sauce, beans, corn and green chilies; mix well. Stir in all of the spices except red pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes. Add red pepper to taste, if desired.

2. Spread 1/2 cup of the beef mixture on bottom of 13x9x2-inch dish sprayed with no-stick cooking spray. Top with 3 of the tortillas, overlapping as needed. Layer with 1/2 of the remaining beef mixture and 1/2 of the cheese. Repeat with remaining tortillas, beef mixture and cheese.

3. Bake in a preheated 350 F oven 15 minutes or until heated through. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Sopapilla Cheesecake- by Alisha

I got to taste this delicious little treat last night at our cooking club event.

Sopapilla Cheesecake


Ingredients
1 8 oz package cream cheese 1 stick melted butter
1 4 oz cream cheese 1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2cup white sugar 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 packs refrigerated crescent rolls

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare a 9x13 in baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Beat cream cheese with 1 1/2 cup sugar and the vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth; set aside
3. Unroll the cans of crescent roll dough, and use a rolling pin to shape each sheet into 9x13 rectangles. Press into the buttered dish. Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture into dish, then cover with the remaining piece of dough and brush w/melted butter. Stir together the remaining sugar and 1 ½ tsp cinnamon in a small bowl and sprinkle evenly over the top of the cheesecake.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until the crescent dough has puffed and turned golden brown (about 30 minutes). Allow to cool 10 minutes before serving

Sandie's Chicken Tortilla Soup

After looking at literally dozens of tortilla soup recipes and not seeing one that jumped out at me I've decided to make up my own recipe. I knew what ingredients that I wanted in my soup and well tonight is perfect because I'm test driving this recipe on our neighborhood cooking group. Keep in mind that I'm making soup for 15 people and I'm sure that you can cut down this recipe

Sandie's Chicken Tortilla Soup-

Ingredients;

4 - 14½ ounce cans reduced sodium chicken broth

6 to 8 -cooked chicken breasts chopped (add or minus if- if you like lots of chicken use 8, like a little use less)

2 -15 ounce cans diced tomatoes

2-14 ounce cans dark red kidney beans (rinse the beans in cold water)

2- 14½ ounce cans black beans (rinse the beans in cold water)

3- medium sized yellow bell peppers -diced

3 medium sized green bell peppers-diced

3-red peppers (medium heat)-seeded and diced

4-green peppers (medium heat)- seeded and diced

2 cups yellow onion - diced

2 cups frozen yellow corn

2 to 3 teaspoons ground cumin (add or minus to your personal taste)

½ teaspoon dried jalapeno flakes (or add a fresh diced jalapeno if you wish)

Toppings...

Sour cream

Chopped Scallions (green onions)

Shredded Mexi-blend cheese (monterey jack, cheddar, asiago)

Fresh chopped Cilantro or as they call it here in the UK Coriander

Diced Avocado (squirt with lemon or lime juice to keep it from turning brown)

Sour Cream and for my British friends you can use Creme Fraiche

Lime Wedges

Tortilla Chips

Cooking Instructions (can't get by without these)...

Cook your chicken breasts, let cool dice and set aside.

Saute diced onions and diced bell peppers in 1 to 2 teaspoons of olive oil until bell peppers are soft and onions are transparent. Add chicken broth, canned tomatoes, canned beans and those diced medium heat peppers. don't forget to wear gloves when handling hot peppers and what ever you do DON'T touch your nose or eyes!!! Add in your ground cumin and let simmer. Taste it, if you like it spicy add more of the spicy peppers and cumin, don't like it too spicy, use less.

Add chicken and corn shortly before serving or else they will turn to mush.

Top with your favorite toppings (see above list for ideas) and the tortilla chips are a must! Don't forget to have an icy cold Corona Beer with it!