Monday, October 19, 2015

Apple Salad with Walnuts and Cranberries


Apples are in season these days and I love buying a big bunch to fill our fruit bowl at home so there is always a healthy quick snack around.  I made this apple salad with yummy crunchy walnuts, tart dried cranberries and some canned pineapple because... well I love pineapple.   I brought this salad over for a family meal over my sister's house and it was a big hit. 

I thought it would make a great light dessert for those of us who don't always want to eat a big slice of cake after dinner.  My mother thought the salad was great, but she decided to dig into it with her meal as a side salad.  So it's a pretty versatile salad because it can be placed on the main table as a side salad or on the dessert table as a light dessert.  Way to go apples! 




Apple Salad with Walnuts and Cranberries
Recipe by Ramona from Kitchen Simmer 

Ingredients:
10-12 medium apples (any kind)
* Bowl of water and 2 tsp salt to soak apples
1 (8oz) brick of cream cheese softened
1 heaping cup sour cream
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1 (20oz) can pineapple chunks or tidbits drained

Directions: 
 
1. Wash and cut apples into small bite size pieces.  Note: peeling skin off apples is optional if you prefer.  Place cut apples into a solution of salt and water for 5 minutes to prevent browning. Then drain apple pieces on paper towel for a few minutes. 



2.  In a large bowl, mix softened cream cheese with brown sugar and sour cream until smooth.  Then add drained pineapple chunks, drained apples, walnuts and cranberries.  Mix well and serve immediately or chill and serve.  Enjoy.




Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless otherwise stated) are the sole property of Kitchen Simmer formerly known as Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Salisbury Steak with Mushroom and Onion Gravy

salisbury steak, mushroom, gravy,

My mother cooked dinner for our family every night, so there was not many frozen meals eaten at our house when I was growing up.  However, she sometimes bought little frozen entrees for us to enjoy after school and I always picked the Salisbury steak.   Of course, now that I can cook for myself and my family, I love to make Salisbury steak at home.  I think the perfect bite is a little bit of Salisbury steak and big dollop of mashed potatoes covered in gravy. Yes, each forkful is pure bliss. 

This recipe is a spiced up version with a really flavorful and rich mushroom and onion gravy.   To complete the meal I always serve it with some green vegetable like peas, broccoli or green beans.  Today I decided to have peas (because it was simple) and some steamed carrots to give a bright orange pop of color to the meal. 

I can't express how much my kids (even my daughter who is our occasional vegetarian) loved this meal.  They were also excited when I took some of the leftover Salisbury steak, heated it up and sliced it to make sandwiches the next day for their lunch box.   Of course my husband loved it so much that he had a Salisbury steak as a midnight snack that very same night!  Next time I better double my recipe because I was the only one that didn't get to enjoy the leftovers...not fair for Mommy!

The good news is that this meal comes together pretty quickly and it definitely beats any frozen dinner out there. 



Ingredients:

Salisbury Steak:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef (80/20 blend)
1 egg
3/4 cup plain bread crumbs
3 Tbs plain milk
2 Tbs sriracha
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt (more to taste)
3 Tbs grated fresh onion 
1 tsp poultry seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp paprika

Mushroom and Onion Gravy:
16oz sliced mushrooms 
1 1/2 medium onions sliced (use the other half for the grated onion in the steak)
1 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 cup chicken or beef broth
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce 
red chili flakes - to taste
1 cup milk
1 heaping Tbs cornstarch
salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:

Step 1:  Mix all the Salisbury steak ingredients together and form oblong shaped patties.  This will make about 8 large steaks.   

Tip:  Mix all the the dry ingredients/seasoning together first and the wet ingredients together first so gets added into the meat at one time and it all mixes evenly.  My photo shows it all separate for instructional purposes. 



Step 2:  Heat 2 Tbs canola oil in a large skillet (big enough to cook the steak and gravy together) and brown the Salisbury steaks on both sides on medium high heat until almost cooked through (about 3 minutes per side).  Then remove the browned steaks from pan until later. 




Step 3:  Make sure there is about 2 Tbs oil in pan and add the sliced mushrooms with a little salt and black pepper.  Cook for 3-4 minutes until the mushrooms brown.   My mushrooms released some of their juices (this helps make the gravy).   




Step 4:  Add the sliced onions and and cook with the mushrooms for 2-3 minutes.  Then add the poultry seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, Worcestershire sauce and the chicken or beef broth.  




Step 5:  Add the browned steaks into the gravy and cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes on medium low.  You can flip the steaks half way through simmering. Cook until steaks are fully cooked through.





Step 6:  Mix the milk and cornstarch together well and pour into the gravy.  Increase the heat to medium high and simmer until the gravy thickens.  Taste for salt and seasoning and adjust as needed.  Serve hot with mashed potatoes and vegetables.  Enjoy. 



Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless otherwise stated) are the sole property of Kitchen Simmer formerly known as Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.







Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Welcome to Kitchen Simmer's second post, Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.  This ice cream is creamy, minty and full of chocolate.  It also has a hidden ingredient that will definitely shock you... Spinach! 

ice cream, mint, chocolate chip

My family loves homemade ice cream and this Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream was a big hit.  I also loved sneaking a healthy ingredient into the ice cream that was a total surprise.  After my family each enjoyed a big bowl of ice cream I asked them if they could guess how I made the ice cream green.  They all thought it was food coloring or mint leaves.  It was fun to tell them that the hidden ingredient was actually fresh spinach

Before you totally dismiss the idea of spinach in ice cream, I have to tell you that both my kids and husband could not even taste it.  I simply used it to give a little added nutrients and the lovely green color that we want to see when we think of mint ice cream.

I also used a good quality chocolate bar that I hand chopped so the chocolate was different sizes.  It was such a fun surprise to get a big piece of chocolate here and there as you ate your scoop of ice cream.    

This ice cream was enjoyed by all and there were even arguments about who would get the last scoop.  No worries, this mother can simply whip this ice cream any time so there is no reason to be "green" with envy.   My Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream was definitely a home run. 

PS.. don't forget to click the "YUM" button to save this recipe in your Yummly recipe box so you can always have it on file. Thanks!




Ingredients:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup regular milk
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 cup or a large handful of fresh baby spinach
1 can (14oz) condense milk
4oz chopped sweetened chocolate (semi-sweet)

Directions:
In a blender, blend together the cream, milk, peppermint extract, condense milk and spinach until smooth, creamy and thick.  

Hand chop the chocolate and fold it into the ice cream mixture.  Place ice cream into a freezer safe container and freeze overnight.  Allow ice cream to sit out for 10-15 minutes before serving for easy scooping. Enjoy.

 
 


Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless otherwise stated) are the sole property of Kitchen Simmer formerly known as Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.