February 2024 Recipes

Fern Michaels > Blog WP > Blog > February 2024 Recipes
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Here are a couple of recipes that will keep you warm and cozy until the tulips stick their head out.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Ingredients
Serves 6 –  Serving Size 2 cups

  • 1 pound bottom round beef roast, cut into 1-inch cubes, all visible fat discarded
  • 1 large russet potato, cut into 1/2-inch pieces about 2 cups
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 medium sweet potato, cut into 1/2-inch pieces about 2 cups
  • 2 cups thinly sliced carrots
  • 10 ounces frozen pearl onions
  • 1 14.5-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
  • 1 14.5-ounce can fat-free, low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 10 ounces frozen peas
  • 2 tablespoons dried parsley

Directions

  1. Add the beef, potato, and flour to a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker, stirring well to combine.
  2. Add the sweet potato and carrots to the slow cooker. Top with the onions, tomatoes, broth, water, thyme, and pepper.
  3. Cook, covered, on low heat for 10 to 12 hours or high heat for 5 to 6 hours. Quickly stir in the peas and parsley. Re-cover the slow cooker. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes.

An easy, healthy favorite: 

Pasta Fagioli pronounced Pasta Fa-zool

This is more like a stew.  If you want it more like a soup see below.

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 3 cloves large garlic chopped
  • medium onion chopped
  • tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried
  • teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 14-oz can diced tomatoes
  • 16 oz. can of tomato sauce (I like Rao’s with basil.)
  • 8 oz. cans Cannellini Beans drained and rinsed
  • ¾ lb. dried small pasta shells (I like the shells because the beans get nestled in them and they hold the sauce better.)
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese
  • ½ cup dry red wine
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Crushed red pepper – optional
  • Fresh chopped basil – for garnish

Directions:

  1. Saute onion and garlic in olive oil
  2. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, broth, wine and herbs
  3. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add parmesan cheese and  pasta and cook another 20-30 minutes until pasta is tender
  4. Garnish with basil, more grated cheese and crushed pepper. This will last in the frig for a week and in the freezer for a couple of months
  5. Easy peasy

For soup:

add 2 chopped carrots and 3 stalks of chopped celery, and 16 oz. of vegetable of chicken stock – follow same directions

And of course what would a letter be without GRILLED CHEESE!!!!

Here are a couple of my favorites.  BTW, did you know you can substitute mayonnaise (the real stuff) instead of butter?  I recently discovered that many diners use it in place of butter.

  • Grilled Swiss Cheese, Bacon & Tomato – I like it on Rye Bread
  • Make sure the bacon is cooked first.
  • *Slather up two slices of bread with either butter or mayo. Place slathered side down on medium heat in frying pan.
  • Place 2-3 slices of swiss cheese on each slice of bread. When cheese starts to melt top with bacon and a slice of tomato.  Let melt for another minute.  Carefully flip one of the slices over and place on top of the other – cheese meets cheese.

If you want a little tang:

  • Sourdough bread
  • Provolone
  • Cheddar

*Same routine as above substituting cheeses

Even more tang:

  • Your choice of bread
  • Monterey Jack
  • Jalapeno peppers – as much heat as you can stand
  • *Same routine as above substituting cheese and adding peppers
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