claire's kitchen

My husband and I live in Timberlake Ranch, and I have a passion for cooking. I remember trying to make a white sauce when I was about ten years old. My father tasted it and said, "Too much flour." My skills have improved since then, thankfully. This web page is about sharing--food to cook, food for thought, and food for the soul. Just pretend we're sitting at my kitchen counter with a cup of coffee or tea, munching on homemade bread, and talking about good things as much as we can.

FETTUCCINE

WITH PROSCIUTTO

AND SAGE CREAM

4              Slices of prosciutto or thinly sliced him
10           Sage leaves (or dry sage to taste)
2/3 C      Roasted red pepper, chopped
8 oz.       Fettuccine
2 T          Olive oil
12 oz.    Pre-sliced mushrooms
12 oz.    Fully cooked chicken strips
1 ¾ C      Reduced sodium chicken broth
1 C          Alfredo sauce
1/3 tsp. Black pepper
1/3 C      Shredded parmesan and/or Romano Cheese

Cook pasta following package instructions, keep warm. Preheat a large sauté pan on medium-high 2-3 minutes. Place oil in pan, then add mushrooms, cook 2-3 minutes or until browned. Add red peppers and chicken; cook 1-2 minutes to heat.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in broth and Alfredo sauce, simmer 3-4 minutes or until mixture has thickened. Stir in pasta, prosciutto, sage, and pepper. Top with cheese.

Spring Comfort Dinner

(All recipes bake at 350F)

Meatloaf

1 carrot, diced fine
1 rib celery, diced fine
½ onion, diced fine

Saute above slowly in 2 tsp. olive oil for 5 min. (Do not brown) Set aside to cool.
Preheat oven to 350F

Combine 1# ground beef (or ground turkey)
1 Italian sausage (pork or turkey – casings removed)

Mix together in large bowl:
½ C milk
½ C bread crumbs
1 egg
1 T Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. paprika
¼ cayenne pepper
2 tsp. Montreal steak seasoning or salt and pepper to taste.

Add meat and then vegetables and form into a loaf on a greased baking sheet. Glaze*. (If your diet allows, put bacon strips over glaze)

Bake at least one hour.

*Glaze & Sauce:
1 C catsup
2 T brown sugar
2 T cider vinegar
1 T Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp. hot sauce (more or less).
Mix together. Remove ¼ C for glaze. Slowly cook remaining sauce until thick. Serve with meatloaf.

Sweet Potatoes

3 sweet potatoes. Peel and slice into ¼-1/2” half moons. Place on baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with cumin and cinnamon. Use hand to mix together. Put in oven 40 minutes before meatloaf is done.

Baked Asparagus

1 lb. asparagus. Trim and wash asparagus. Place on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, Italian seasoning and Montreal steak seasoning or salt and pepper. Put in oven 20 minutes before meatloaf is done.

Southern Bean Pot

1 can red kidney beans – drained
1 can pork & beans - drained
1 can lima beans – drained
1 C brown sugar
½ C vinegar
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
3 medium onions – slided
2 garlic cloves, chopped fine
1 tsp. prepared mustard
1/4 C catsup

Saute onion and garlic in 2 T oil. Mix rest of ingredients and pour into a 2 quart casserole along with the onions. Stir twice after you first put in oven. May also cook in a crockpot. 350F for 1 hour. 6-8 hours on low in crockpot.

Note: I cut back on the brown sugar. I also added a can of black beans and used vegetarian beans instead of pork and bean for my vegetarian friends.

-Claire Knowles

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"CLAIRE'S COOKBOOK"