Category: here’s the beef!
…not your usual St. Patrick’s Day celebration!
Okie Dokie… so my blog is getting a sloowwww start! Life has a way of keeping us bizzzzy, which is one reason I even contemplated doing a blog for a couple of years (!) before heading into blog fog. So don’t worry about my posts becoming invasive and ‘too much’ because I don’t think THAT is gonna be an issue…
This week, St. Patty’s Day to be exact, is a special day for me. Nope, I’m not Irish, but it is a day of celebration for me because…
March 17th is my Personal Day of Freedom Celebration!
WoW…6 y.e.a.r.s it’s been!
My precious little nephew Wyatt came into my world the previous September, and as much as I wanted to quit before he arrived, I just couldn’t (or more like “didn’t”). But as he grew, I didn’t want his little senses to be subjected to something even I found disgusting! I didn’t want him to SEE me smoking… I didn’t want him to SMELL the nasty stinch on my clothes… so I did it! Just six months after God blessed our family with him, I QUIT! And haven’t had or wanted so much as a puff since that day… So St. Patty’s Day will always be ‘my day,’ the day I started smelling better… breathing better… living better… and tasting foods ‘more better!’
Speaking of tasting… I found this recipe, or some form of it, years ago visiting the home of a personal chef colleague in Dallas, TX. While hanging out in Donna’s kitchen and browsing through her cookbooks, I came upon this soup in a book I made note of as “Sensibly Thin.” So that’s the best I have to offer in terms of giving credit where credit is due… but the picture is my own. It was taken before I started learning ‘more better’ food photography tips… so ‘scuse the poor quality!
This week, grocery stores have the usually expensive Corned Beef Roasts on sale, so it’s a great time to pick one (or a few) up and crock pot tomorrow while at work for a tradtional Corned Beef and Cabbage supper tomorrow night.
Then, in a few days, stir up a pot of this really DEE-lish soup with the leftovers! (And y’all know I’m a ‘throw cooker’ so throw leftever cabbage into this soup too…just yet one more layer of flavor.) It’s incredibly easy and fast to make and probably not a soup you’ve made before… Sooooo 
… celebrate something… if nothing but simply being alive with a roof over your head that a big fat wave didn’t just swoosh over, taking away everything you treasure and need to live each day, including loved ones.
With the events this past week in Japan, this Irish Blessing seems to be the appropriate one… so let us all stop to count our blessings today, and every day!
Blessings to your and yours…
Bless This House |
Bless this house, o Lord, we pray.
|
Speaking of GROCERY stores… gotta run now… our *new* Piggly Wiggly store opened in town today (wheeee doggies!)… headed there right now! 
Stay tuned… may be a blog post over there somewhere…. hope y’all enjoy this soup, just perfect for chilly winter’s eve on the doorstep of SPRING!!
This is the original recipe I created, but like my makeover one even better… that is the one you’ll find on the “Print Recipe” page! Enjoy one, the other or both… or one you create with a little of both!!
Cream of Reuben Soup (original recipe…see edited below)
Serving Size: 8
1 small onion — chopped
2 cloves garlic — minced
1 large carrot — shredded
3 T. cornstarch*
6 c. chicken broth
1 c. skim milk (I use 1/2 and 1/2)
10 oz. corned beef brisket — chopped
…from some you cooked or deli sliced
(more is a ‘good thang’)
8 oz. Bavarian sauerkraut — drained and rinsed
(I just ‘throw in’ an entire can)
1/2 t. thyme (I throw in a bit more)
1/4 t. white pepper
1/4 t. tarragon
1 t. Old Bay Seasoning
1/3 c. water (only if needed for consistency)
8 oz. shredded Swiss cheese
Rye or Pumpernickel Bread (for croutons) – omit or sub for gluten free
…broken into pieces and toasted**
Cook onion, garlic and carrot in microwave-safe bowl on HI for 2 mins. Drain.
Blend in cornstarch. Add broth and milk. Cook on stove over med. heat until thickens.
Add remaining ingredients and cook until cheese melts.
Serve with rye bread or croutons.
* Use a pure gluten free cornstarch to keep GF.
** I love breads, but living alone, I never eat an entire loaf. So when I buy a loaf of rye or pumpernickel, I put some in freezer to have on hand for a change of pace sandwich or for croutons for soups like this. If wrapped well, bread will last a longggg time in your freezer. These breads also can be used in recipes that call for bread crumbs… think outside the usual box and use a different kind of bread to give your recipe needing bread crumbs a new and different layer of flavor!
Cream of Reuben Soup (edited)
As a throw cooker, it’s rare that things are the same any 2 times… that is especially true when it comes to soup. I just made this recipe again, but with the following changes… basically an entirely “same but different” soup! Both recipes are DEElish… but I think I’m partial to this one. Just make some, and if you don’t have any one or more of these ingredients, as long as it is similar, you’ll be sure to enjoy the experience!
NOTE: This recipe is Gluten Free if croutons are deleted or subbed with gluten free bread or cracker! Also, use a gluten free pure cornstarch to thicken if desired.
What to throw together...
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3-4 tablespoons oil (I used garlic oil but use your fav)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 large turnip, small dice
- 4 leeks, washed and sliced into thin rings
- 2 Granny Smith apples, (not peeled) small dice
- 3 tablespoons garlic puree (I use the puree in tubes from produce dept)
- 1 14.4 oz can Bavarian Sauerkraut
- 1 fresh corned beef (3-4 lbs.), cooked and chopped )I cook in crock pot overnight)
- 2 tablespoons dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon white pepper
- Shredded Swiss Cheese
- 8-12 sliced rye or pumpernickel bread (I use rye/pump swirl bread), cut into cubes and toasted
How to throw together...
- Cook onion, turnip, leeks and apple in butter and a bit of oil until tender and starting to brown and caramelize in saute pan.
- Pour into heated crock pot.
- Stir in garlic puree, kraut, corned beef, thyme and white pepper.
- Fill kraut can with chicken broth x 2 and with half and half x 2.
- Stir to blend and cover.
- Heat in crock pot on HIGH until hot and dried thyme is tender.
- Scoop into serving bowls. Top with grated Swiss and toasted croutons. EAT!
Notes
If preferred, make a cornstarch slurry with a bit of the juice and stir back into the soup to thicken. To keep gluten free, use a pure/gluten free cornstarch or thickener.
Country Style Steak Meatballs… “yes, PLEASE!”
| January 20, 2019 | Posted by Wendy Perry under gravy, here's the beef!, meatballs, published, sandwiches, skillet cookery, wendy's signature recipes |
No matter how you serve them, you will get raves on this moist and tender Country-Style Steak Meatballs! Spoon over creamy grits or serve alongside mashed potatoes. Tuck inside slider buns or toasted sub rolls for the best sandwiches!
Wendy’s Spaghetti Sauce… finally on “paper!”
| January 4, 2019 | Posted by Wendy Perry under funeral food, here's the beef!, Italian, Mindless Mutterings from the Teacher's Lounge, pasta, published, soups, stews, chilies chowders and such, Spaghetti, wendy's signature recipes |
“The BEST spaghetti sauce!” That’s what my family and friends call this… make several gallons at the time to eat anytime! Great to “gift” and especially appreciated “funeral food” when grieving folks have been giving away all the boxes of fried chicken dropped off! Maybe I should rename it to Funeral Spaghetti! Just make some…
Steak Bites with Horseradish Whipped Cream
| November 29, 2018 | Posted by Wendy Perry under appetizers, Christmas, grill thrills, here's the beef!, Mindless Mutterings from the Teacher's Lounge, party foods, published |
Steak Bites with Horseradish Whipped Cream
Who doesn’t love steak? If you are looking for a “sure to please” appetizer for your holiday gatherings, you’ll surely want to add this one to your table. They are quick and easy to make, yet really spiffs up the menu. The horseradish whipped cream on the side for dip’n is just right for these steak bites too.
Keep an eye out and pick up your preferred cut when on sale. Go ahead and cut up the pieces, then freeze to have on hand for quick fix’n. Even better, go ahead and freeze in the marinade so that all those flavors can spend some time getting to know the steak making your bites even more better!
I do hope you will give these a try, and come to my facebook community and tell me what you think. See the recipe where it first appeared in the December 2017 Carolina Country Magazine, or below where you can print.
- 4 lbs. lean beef (rib eye, filet or sirloin) cut into 3/4" cubes
- 4 tablespoons oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup grapeseed or olive oil
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons horseradish
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise (Duke's preferred)
- freshly ground black pepper
- pinch sugar
- minced chives
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Combine marinade ingredients. Put beef into zippered bag. Pour marinade over, seal and toss to coat. Marinate, refrigerated, 30 minutes to overnight.
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Heat half the oil and butter in cast iron skillet to medium-high heat. Add steak pieces, making sure not to crowd (cook in batches adding oil and butter as needed). Sear until “crust” forms.
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For whipped cream: Whip cream until stiff peaks form. Fold in remaining ingredients. Garnish with chives. Serve with steak bites.
Note: Be careful not to overcook as the meat will continue cooking after removing from heat.
My Irish is showing….
Well, I’m not Irish that I know of, but I do have reason to celebrate this day each year. It’s my “quit smoking” anniversary… 12 years ago today! My motivation was the birth of my sweet nephew Wyatt, and my desire to be around to see him grow up and live life. Here’s to those of you who have quit too, and for those that haven’t yet, DO! For so many reasons…
I quit cold turkey and really had no desire to smoke once I did, but I did throw the butts of my last ashtray into a little ziplock bag with a splash of water. A whiff of that stink about 2 times was all it took. And here’s what I did to reward myself. I was smoking about a pack and a half a day… about $5 worth. So I put $5/day into an empty skinny neck tequila bottle… the skinny neck was to keep me from quickly “borrowing” it out of the bottle. Do you know what $5/day turns into x 365 days? $1,825!! Now there’s a treat to celebrate your first year eh?
Another great thing about today is the FOOD! I love corned beef, but really don’t cook it until this season each year. I need to change that. I love this soup, and you will too if you like a Reuben sandwich… it’s fast to throw together and crowd pleaser.
…a great way to use up leftover corned beef!
Perhaps you didn't eat up all your corned beef, so turn the leftover bits into this comforting creamy soup... it's like having a reuben sandwich in a bowl with Swiss cheese, rye and all!
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3-4 tablespoons oil I used garlic oil but use your fave
- 1 large onion peeled, chopped
- 1 large turnip peeled, small dice
- 4 leeks washed and sliced into thin rings
- 2 Granny Smith apples not peeled, small dice
- 3 tablespoons garlic puree I use the puree in tubes in produce dept
- 1 14.4 oz can Bavarian Sauerkraut undrained
- 2 15 ounce cans chicken broth
- 1 pint half and half
- about 4 cups shredded cooked corn beef
- 2 tablespoons dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon white pepper
- shredded Swiss Cheese
- 6-8 slices rye bread, cut into cubes and toasted
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Saute onion, turnip, leeks and apple in butter and a bit of oil until tender and starting to brown and caramelize in saute pan. Pour into heated crock pot.
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Stir in garlic puree, kraut, broth, half and half, cream, corned beef, thyme and white pepper.
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Stir to blend and cover. Heat on high until hot and dried thyme is tender.
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Ladle into bowls and scatter with Swiss cheese and croutons. EAT!
If preferred, make a cornstarch slurry with a bit of the juice and stir back into the soup to thicken.
Another of my St. Patrick’s Day faves is my Southern Colcannon. Read more about what colcannon actually is in this post from a few years ago.
festuring white NC sweet potatoes and Wendy’s Almost Famous Cabbards (cabbage n’ collard concoction)
Good old North Carolina sweet potatoes and my cabbards make this traditional white potato and greens dish more bettahhhhhh! It was most exciting to see my recipe shared in print while at Our State Magazine.
Here’s to wishing your and yours a blessed day, today and always!
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