Cabbage Rolls

Cabbage Rolls

I'm not even sure what compelled me to make these. I'm not a fan of cooked cabbage... but I must broaden those horizons. Plus they are so easy to make, then I found out they are stuffed with meat, rice and served with a sauce. I'm down!

Ingredients
-Cabbage... no way
-Ground meat
-Cooked Rice
-Jalapeno
-Egg
-Milk
-Tomato Sauce

Creation

So cabbage rolls. Yes some of the ingredients are vague they will be explained. Hakuna Matata.

I use beef and jalapenos

So cabbage rolls can be filled with an assortment of ground meat. I use beef but you can also use lamb or pork. In the bottom is some chopped onion and milk. I guess that's about a quarter.. half a cup.

Mixing it up

After that one egg and about a cup of cooked rice it added and then it is all mixed up and left to rest. Doesn't need to rest, but a sauce needs to be made.

This is the making of another ketchup/jelly sauce. (blurry... I know)

A tomato is normally used. I decided to make a sauce like the one in the Potstickers dish, just cause I could? I wanted something a little sweet. 

Tastiest mush ever!

Yeah the cabbage... needs to be boiled... and I did it the wrong way. Attempting to pull off each leaf to boil. Apparently you can either freeze it as that makes it soft or boil the whole head as they will indeed make it soft enough to roll without tearing. Still have yet to try those.. maybe I'll do a Asian version with napa cabbage and pork.. hmmm

Rolled and sitting in their sauce.

To roll start from the bottom. Tuck the ends in. Continue rolling. Nothing special with the rolling techniques here. Ready for the oven! Cover first. Doesn't matter what with.

Looking good.

See that black part over there? That's why you don't let the aluminum foil touch the cabbage. Can be remedied by adding another layer of cabbage. so you don't burn the good stuff.

Plated.

I don't cover in the sauce cause I think it looks better this way. I know right.

Yes it is cooked.. an oddly a light dish.

Made five of these for three people. There was no seconds.... it was claimed to be oddly not as filling as expected... but that's normally what happens when you make..

Beef Cream Sauce

Beef Cream Sauce... or Gravy?

Now this brings me back to the college days. This was something that my roommates all came in smelling something good but then they are like "what is that?" Well this is it...

Ingredients
-Ground Beef
-Cream
-Milk
-Onions

Creation

So yeah starts off like most of my dishes. Onions in oil. Yep. Looking mighty normal right now.

Amateur stuff

Time to add the beef and cook that down. Render the fat cause that will be needed with a roux coming up.Add some flour and then some milk. Not a whole lot. Really just enough to get the flour dissolved and thickening.

Still looking good.

 Add some flour and then some milk. Not a whole lot. Really just enough to get the flour dissolved and thickening.

Looks like porridge.

This is the time people usually walk in. Smells great... looks... lacking.. remedy?

Cream.

Adding cream later to loosen it will also lighten it. Also why I'm not sure what this is. I used the drippings from the beef which makes it a gravy... but then added cream.. cause it needed it.... so yeah.I would consider it a throw away. Its no sawmill gravy.

Now when its plated like this...

Doesn't look so good. Just an example of how plating affects the end result. Yes this goes well with pasta. Its beef and cream...

But like this...

Looks pretty tasty... and it was. Ate it so fast I was unable to share it.. terrible I know... but it was...

Beef Ravioli

Beef Ravioli

Yes, follows the theme of homemade pasta. Probably gonna make December the month of Pasta. Yeah that sounds good. 

Ingredients
-Beef
-Homemade Pasta
-Celery
-Onion
-Bechamel

Creation

I remember the first time I made pasta. Attempted to make ravioli. Didn't know the ratios or anything. Was totally dry in the middle. Yeah. Now I know you are supposed to boil them and then add to sauce... who knew?

Being that pasta is one of my favorite things ever being able to make it at home sure does change things.

The stuffing is beef and cheese. Needed a lot more cheese (not a beef lover) but it was and is...

Beef Stew

Beef Stew over Rice

This was really an impulse dish, due to the impulse buy of some bottom round. Originally it was gonna be a roast but then I didn't feel like going through all that. So diced it up and made a stew... Brisket-style. 

Ingredients
-Bottom Round
-Carrots
-Onions
-Balsamic Vinegar
-Wine
-Spices

Creation

Stews are generally one of the easiest things to make and are usually one pot things, but not this time! The Beef is seared first. I know... why? Not sure.. probably shouldn't. Being it is cooked for such a long time.

Depending on what onions I have on hand they will be caramelized as well cause this is a sweet stew. Then everyone into the pool. For hrs and hrs. Then you'll have something like the picture.

Which if you look closely you can see shreds of beef. Yeah. It falls apart when attempting to scoop out. Mhmm... fall apart deliciousness in...

Fettuccine and Meatballs

Fettuccine and Meatballs

Mmmm fettuccine makes a return with meatballs this time. No I didn't make them from scratch, cause I don't have the time to ground up 3 different kinds of meat. That is just crazy... good.. but crazy and now I'm growing quite fond of Beurre Blanc.

Ingredients
-Meatballs... shocker
-Fettuccine
-Beurre Blanc based white sauce

Creation

Seeing how the meatballs were pre-made this was essentially making them look good. Simple Beurre Blanc with vinegar and Moscato wine. With some shallots and jalapenos for some spice.

Assuming you know how to cook pasta it can't be much more simple than that. Toss and serve. Well Toss... plate nicely... pull out camera.. take multiple pictures... then serve. How else would you see...

Beef Soup

Beef Soup

You ever have one of those days when you just want something simple and comforting, but your lactose intolerant and shouldn't be drinking milk? Enter Beef soup. 

Ingredients
- Beef
-Pasta
-Mirepoix
-Beef stock or Beef bouillon
-Spices

Creation

Got the idea for this when I was making a shrimp stock for a risotto. If you take onions, carrots and celery, some salt, and a stock, put it in some boiling water and let it just go. Kitchen will smell delicious.

Take that and throw in some beef to stew and people will come for their portion

Then make pasta just for kicks and giggles and you have...

Braised Beef

Braised Beef in Black Sauce

Beef.... uhhh. Guess I need more of these dishes. So I turned Black sauce into a braising liquid which was then added back to finish the dish. Possibly the most tender beef I have made so far. Then the sweet Black sauce.. oh yeah baby.

Ingredients

-Beef Steak
-Celery
-Onion
-Garlic
-Ginger
-Vinegar
-Black Sauce

Creation

Should know by know Black sauce is a balsamic reduction with stuffs. Everything else is a marinade. Don't marinade for too long cause the acid can turn meat mushy.

To turn Black Sauce into a braising liquid essentially add water and vegetables. The water will boil away after simmering for over an hr and what you are left with is a sweet thick sauce.

And don't forget braising is two cooking methods so first sear the beef. Gotta love that sear. If only it wasn't so messy to make...

Orange Beef

Orange Beef over Rice

So... beef. Not my first, second or third choice when it comes to meat. I don't know. Just never really cared for red meat so much. So I figured its about time I make something with it. I always wanted to make orange beef. So here we go.

Ingredients

-Beef
-Rice
-Onions
-Green Onions
-Ginger
-Garlic
-Orange Juice
-Soy Sauce
-Cider Vinegar
-Sesame Oil
-Cornstarch

Creation

Sear beef in Sesame Oil and set aside. Don't cook all the way through.

Begin sauteing all the veggies in left over juices and then deglaze with vinegar and orange juice. Let that reduce to about half and then add some soy sauce and a cornstarch paste.

Once syrupy, add beef, heat through and you are done. Yes this is pretty much add everything, reduce, re-add meat, serve.

Of course there is this deal with the rice. Which it should be served over and of course this is a...