Category: RECIPES

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GABBY COOKS – porcupines & mushroom sauce

There are no quills in this dish about which to be concerned.  It’s just simple, down-home cooking that combines pork, rice, and mushrooms in a one pot, stove top meal.  For many years pork was the bad boy in the health-conscious diet.  Those ribs, chops, sausages, and bacon were attributed with ailments from cardio-vascular disease to bad skin.  Baby, times have changed.

We don’t eat pork 5 nights a week nor do we have BLTs  at every lunch.  But, in moderation, chops, ribs, cutlets, sausages are a wonderful alternative to beef and chicken.  Remember – pork is the other white meat.

Here are some pork facts:

  • pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)
  • it is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide
  • pig husbandry dates back to 5000 B.C.
  • pork is the most popular meat in Eastern and Southeastern Asia
  • Asia cuisines prize it for its fat content and texture
  • it is forbidden by Jewish, Muslim, and Rastafarian dietary law for religious reasons

A three and one-half ounce serving of lean pork contains the following nutritional value:

  • 13.92 grams fat
  • 27.32 grams protein
  • 36% DV of Vitamin B-6
  • 29% DV of Vitamin B-12
  • 35% DV phosphorous
  • 25% DV zinc

Add this meat to the wholesome goodness of mushrooms and rice – voila – heaven in a Dutch cooker.

here are the ingredients

 

 

  1. 1 cup cooked white rice
  2. 1 LB ground pork
  3. 2 cloves chopped garlic
  4. 1 egg
  5. 1 tsp dried basil or 1 TBS chopped fresh basil
  6. 1 tsp dried parsley or 1 TBS chopped fresh parsley
  7. salt and pepper
  8. 2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
  9. 1 cup chicken broth
  10. 2 TBS flour
  11. 2 TBS butter
  12. 2 TBS oil, olive or canola

DIRECTIONS

  1. Cook the rice according to directions
  2. In a mixing bowl combine the pork, garlic, herbs, salt & pepper, egg and mix well
  3. Reserve a small portion of the herbs to add to the mushroom sauce
  4. Add the cooked rice which has cooled and mix well
  5. Shape in balls just like meatballs, place on plate and chill for an hour
  6. After an hour’s chill, heat the oil in a Dutch oven or heavy pot with a lid
  7. Brown the porcupines in the oil
  8. Remove them from the pot
  9. Add the butter to the pot and another TBS oil
  10. Add the mushrooms and stir to coat evenly with melted butter and oil
  11. After about 3 minutes sprinkle the flour over the mushrooms
  12. Cook the flour to a light brown, don’t burn it, stirring as it cooks
  13. Add the chicken broth and stir to mix with the mushrooms
  14. Stir constantly until the broth thickens into a creamy sauce
  15. Add the reserved pinch of basil and parsley
  16. Return the porcupines, cover and simmer about 1/2 hour

This dish is complete in itself, but sometimes I like to serve it in a bowl over hot noodles.

Posted on

GABBY COOKS – Elva’s BBQ

Howdy folks, welcome to GABBY’S PLACE.  Hey, did you hear about the young man standing on the pier watching the dolphins frolic in the water with an older woman standing nearby sporting a gorgeous sun bonnet?  A sudden gust of wind whipped along the shoreline and lifted the woman’s dress above her waist.  Unfazed by her exposed underside, she held on adamantly to her sun bonnet.

“Ma’am, don’t you care that everyone can see everything?”

“Young man,” she snapped, “everything down there is 85 years old.  I bought this hat just yesterday.”

Oh no, I hear groans out there in the blogosphere.  Okay, here’s my BBQ recipe handed down for generations of Pennsylvania Dutch folks in my native community.  On Saturdays during the summertime, the premier social event was an estate sale.  Household belongings, farm equipment and sometimes real estate were sold to the highest bidder in a lively exchange of camaraderie.   Drama was added to this scenario when antique dealers from nearby cities competed for the coveted, centuries-old kitchen utensils and furniture.

Always a local church group, the Boy Scouts or the community Grange would offer a wide variety of food at a make-shift kitchen.  For many of us this was the main event.  Lemon sponge and shoo-fly pies, homemade bread, cakes, chicken and corn soup, hot dogs and BBQ sandwiches.  The menu was not complete without those BBQ sandwiches.

Now, when this Pennsylvania Dutch Yankee moved south and ordered a BBQ sandwich at a local eatery, he was severely disappointed.  What is this mass of shredded beef or pork soaked in a tomato sauce and dripping out the bun?  Too sweet, too runny, too spicy.  Not at all what a good, ole Yankee country boy remembers.  And to beat all, some folks actually topped it with cole slaw.

here are the ingredients


 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  


 


    

  1. 1 lb ground beef
    2. 

  2. 1 tsp celery seed
    3. 

  3. 2 tsp prepared mustard
    4. 

  4. 3 tsp chili sauce
    5. 

  5. 3 tsp Worcestershire sauce
    6. 

  6. 1/2 cup catsup
    7. 

  7. 1 small onion peeled and chopped
    8. 

  8. salt and pepper to taste
    9. 

  9. 12 burger buns
    10. 



DIRECTIONS


    

  1. In a saucepan brown the ground beef and the onion
    2. 

  2. add the remaining ingredients and mix well
    3. 

  3. simmer about 15 minutes
    4. 

  4. Serve up on plain or sesame buns
    5. 



(Commercial chili sauce is not the same as Grandma’s home-made sauce, but it will work in this recipe.)


 

	


	





		

		
Posted on 
GABBY COOKS – white bean & kale soup
	


	
	

		
Kale is a member of the cabbage family Brassica oleracea.  Of all the super healthy greens, kale is acclaimed as king.  Some of the beneficial compounds in kale have powerful medicinal properties.


A single cup of raw kale ( 2.4 ounces) contains:


    

  • 206% of DV of vitamin A (daily required value)
    • 

  • 684% of DV of vitamin K
    • 

  • 134% of vitamin C
    • 

  • 9% of vitamin B-6
    • 

  • 26% of manganese
    • 

  • 9% of calcium
    • 

  • 10% of copper
    • 

  • 9% of potassium
    • 

  • 6% of magnesium
    • 



This 2.4 ounces also contains 3% or more of DV for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, iron, and phosphorous.  This nutrient dense green contains very little fat, but that fat is mostly the healthy omega-3.  And it pumps another 3 grams of protein into your diet.


Red beans, also known as Mexican red beans,  are nutrition dynamos.  They are rich in antioxidants and packed with protein, folate, minerals, and fiber including resistant starch.  Resistant starch boosts the body’s ability to burn fat, aids the full feeling, and controls blood sugar.  A 1/2 cup serving will provide 90 calories and 7 grams of protein.


Great Northern beans per 1/2 cup serving contain 104 calories, and provide 6.2 grams or 25% of fiber DV plus a little over 7 grams of protein.  They are rich in vitamin B-6 and are dense in minerals and amino acids.


I love using dry beans in cooking.  They have a better flavor and are much less expensive.  The process of a soak is easily manageable when planned ahead of time.  My favorite soak method is to place the desired amount of beans in a heavy cookpot, cover with water, bring to a boil for three minutes, turn off the heat, cover with a lid and allow to sit for at least an hour.  When ready to cook, drain and rinse, and cover with plenty of water or broth (at least 2 inches over the beans).  Cook on slow simmer for an hour or until tender.  Then you are ready to add the other soup ingredients.


here are the ingredients


 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
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  • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 

  • 1 cup chopped onion
    • 

  • 1 tsp chopped fresh ginger
    • 

  • 3 tbs olive oil
    • 

  • 8 cups fresh kale center ribs removed
    • 

  • 2 cups fresh carrots sliced
    • 

  • 2 tbs chopped fresh basil
    • 

  • 2 tbs chopped fresh parsley
    • 

  • 2 tbs chopped fresh rosemary
    • 

  • 1 tbs freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • 

  • 1 cup dry great northern or red beans
    • 

  • 1 quart chicken broth or vegetable broth
    • 

  • parmesan cheese to top soup when serving
    • 

  • corn chips to accompany soup (optional)
    • 

  • additional hot water as needed to keep it soup
    • 



directions


    

  1. in heavy Dutch oven or heavy cook pot heat the olive oil
    2. 

  2. when hot add the garlic, onion, ginger, and saute about 3 minutes
    3. 

  3. add the carrots and stir, saute another 3 minutes
    4. 

  4. add the chopped fresh herbs and kale, cover and allow the kale to wilt about 5 minutes
    5. 

  5. stir well to mix everything and remove from pot
    6. 

  6. add the drained and rinsed dried beans which have soaked for at least an hour
    7. 

  7. add the broth and bring to a boil
    8. 

  8. gently simmer for an hour
    9. 

  9. when nearly tender, add the reserved kale, etc.
    10. 

  10. cook at least 1/2 hour until the beans and vegetables are tender
    11. 

  11. salt and pepper to taste
    12. 

  12. if you like a thicker soup use a potato masher to lightly smash some of the ingredients – don’t overdo it
    13. 



Serve in bowls and top with shredded parmesan and corn chips on the side


 

	


	





		

		
Posted on 
GABBY COOKS – chicken & corn soup
	


	
	

		
I’m sure I could spend the rest of my life eating Grandma’s chicken and corn soup and be a completely satisfied man.  She always used dark meat chicken for more flavor, but it is equally delicious using chicken breast.  This main course soup is a budget stretcher which complements any shopping list.  Add some chopped escarole and you’ve created a health dynamo.  If escarole is not available at your grocery, curly endive, a cousin of escarole, will work just as well.


Escarole has no fat.  One and one-half cups of chopped escarole has only 15 calories, 1 gram of protein and 3 grams of carbohydrates.  It adds 5.2% to 8% of your recommended daily consumption of fiber which is a critical component of bowel health decreasing risk of constipation, diarrhea and diverticulitis.  We all know that adequate fiber will satisfy hunger with fewer calories, but to avoid bloating and gas work up slowly to an amount of 25 to 38 grams daily.


But wait, there’s more.  This one serving of 1 1/2 cups of escarole supplies 30% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C and 4% of your DRV of iron and calcium.  A shortage of iron may cause you to feel tired, dizzy and headachy.  We all know the importance of calcium, don’t we?  Yeah, strong teeth and bones.  healthfully.com


here are the ingredients


 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
  


    

  • 3 TBS olive oil
    • 

  • 1 cup chopped onion
    • 

  • 2 cloves chopped garlic
    • 

  • 4 chicken legs and thighs or 2 breasts ( or a combination of dark and white meat, it’s up to you whether to use the skin in cooking, I believe it adds additional flavor, but also calories and fat)
    • 

  • about 4 cups chopped escarole (Grandma never used greens other than fresh parsley and it was just as delicious)
    • 

  • 3 ears fresh corn, kernels removed from cob or 2 cups frozen corn
    • 

  • 1 quart chicken broth
    • 

  • 3 hard boiled eggs sliced
    • 

  • a sprig of fresh rosemary or 1 tsp dried rosemary
    • 

  • 3 TBS chopped fresh parsley
    • 

  • salt and pepper to taste
    • 



directions


    

  1. heat the olive oil in a stew pot or Dutch oven
    2. 

  2. add the onions and garlic
    3. 

  3. cook until translucent being careful not to scorch the garlic
    4. 

  4. remove from the pot and reserve for later
    5. 

  5. add the chicken legs, thighs, breast
    6. 

  6. saute in the oil until lightly golden
    7. 

  7. add enough broth to cover the chicken pieces and bring to boil
    8. 

  8. immediately reduce the heat to a slow simmer, cover the pot
    9. 

  9. cook on low heat about 30-45 minutes adding more broth if needed
    10. 

  10. remove chicken from pot, set in bowl to cool
    11. 

  11. add the greens, herbs, corn, and rest of the broth
    12. 

  12. bring to a boil
    13. 

  13. reduce heat to simmer and cover the pot
    14. 

  14. cook about 15 minutes
    15. 

  15. while that is cooking, skin and debone the chicken pieces
    16. 

  16. tear meat into bite-sized pieces
    17. 

  17. add the chicken and reserved onions and garlic to the soup
    18. 

  18. add more broth or hot water if necessary to keep it soup
    19. 

  19. season with salt and pepper
    20. 

  20. ladle into bowls and top with the sliced hard-boiled eggs
    21. 



 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  

	


	





		

	

	





		


		
	








	

		

	

	

	

	
	


	
	
						
		
		





	
	

		

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