Author Archive
Mom's Chili
This is a basic, yet delicious chili, that I have been making for 40+ years. Growing up, when I could handle the cast iron pan and chop things, I was cooking. I make this often, finally got around to taking photos on 3 Nov 2016. I modified the recipe slightly to make the simmering hands off, no stirring or watching needed, I use a slow cooker to simmer the chili!
Ingredients
- 1 kilo minced pork, OR ground beef
- 1 bag dry red kidney beans, 500 gram bag
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
- 2 cartons tomato juice, OR use 4 cans of tomato paste and 16 cans of water
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Soak beans overnight.
- Drains beans and rinse well. Add to a large pot and cover with about 2 inches of water and bring to a boil. Cook until beans are soft, about 1-2 hours. Once beans are soft (if you can put a bean in your mouth and crush it with your tongue only then it is done), drain beans and set aside.
- Same large pot, rinsed out, add the chopped onion and garlic and cook until translucent, 3-4 minutes.
- Add the minced pork or ground beef and chop up with a spatula and brown. Drain off most, not all of the fat, the fat adds flavoring.
- The minced pork, cooked beans, and spices added to the slow cooker.
- Tomato juice added and mixed into the bean, pork, and spices. Set to High setting and simmer this for 2-3 hours.
- After 2-3 hours, the spices are well blended and the chili is ready.
- I like to add dry pasta to my chili, it is a filler to extend it and is a good way to use up small amounts of pasta from making other dishes. I added about 1 cup of spiral pasta to the chili, just mix it in and simmer for another hour.
- Serve, I like to grate some cheese on the top.
Notes
For the tomato juice, you can use 2 cartons of juice, these are normal size cartons you find in Tesco. An alternative if no juice is available is to use tomato paste. To make juice from paste, it is easy, 1 can of pasteĀ and 4 cans of water, whisk to combine, use 4 cans if making the recipe as stated here.
Most expensive item is the beef or pork, pork is available where I live, beef is not. Beef would run 200 baht per kilo, beans, juice and other ingredients is minimal. Comes out to right about $1 per meal person, much less if minced pork is used.
Variants: You can add items to make the meal bigger, add 1 1/2 cups of dry macaroni while simmering, name changes then to Chili Mac (I do this a lot). Or add a couple of big scoops of cooked rice or just serve over rice.
Family recipe I have been making for years, AND a big thank you to my parents for showing me how to make this!
Taco Seasoning
Easy to make from ingredients you probably have on hand. Store in a jar and use when needed.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oinion powder
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon ground oregano
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- Ā½ teaspoon salt, optional
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Here is what I use, I reuse leftover canisters for when I buy spices in bulk. Not in this photo is the sugar and salt. I also omit the onion powder as I cook onions with the ground meat.
- Mix everything in a bowl then store in an airtight container, I reuse canisters and jars for this purpose.
- Use 2 tablespoons per 500 g (1 lb) of ground meat and Ā½ cup of water. Add to browned meat and simmer until water is absorbed.
Notes
Variant: 1. Omit the onion powder if you cook onion with the ground meat. (I normally cook onions with the ground meat so onion powder is not really needed here).
Used in Recipes Listed on this Site:
- Basic Tacos, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Cottage Cheese Chicken Enchiladas, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Easy Mexicali Pork Chops.
- Baked Jalapeno Poppers, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Dorito Taco Salad, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Taco Spring Rolls, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Easy Taco Soup (Slow Cooker).
- Taco Soup.
- Mexican Deviled Eggs, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Taqueria Fish Sliders with Taco Tartar Sauce.
- Easy Taco Bake (Slow Cooker).
Cheater Chicken Cordon Bleu
Easy slow cooker recipe. Serve with pasta or rice and a vegetable. Cooked in soup and milk for tender and juicy chicken, not pan fried or deep fried in oil. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 6 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, OR make from a shortcut
- 1 cup milk
- Swiss cheese, sliced
- ham, sliced
- bread crumbs, OR make from a shortcut
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
Instructions
- Mix together the cream of chicken soup and milk in a small bowl. Pour enough of the soup into a slow cooker to cover the bottom. Layer chicken breasts over the sauce. Cover with slices of ham and then Swiss cheese. Pour the remaining soup over the layers, stirring a little to distribute between layers. Sprinkle the bread crumbs on top, and drizzle butter over bread crumbs. Cover, and cook on Low for 4 to 6 hours, or 2 to 3 hours on High.
- Use real Swiss cheese, you have to slice yourself. For the ham, I used sliced ham found in the cooler section of a Tesco.
- Serve with pasta, rice or a potato, with a vegetable on the side.
Notes
The chicken breasts are the most expensive, but for 6 breasts, well under $1 per serving. The cheese, if you get real Swiss cheese from Australia, that can run 175 baht for 250 grams, slice it and cover the dish at the step in the recipe and it uses little cheese, maybe 6 slices. Overall a great meal for little expense and time.
Shortcuts: Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup, Breadcrumbs.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
American Goulash I
An American twist on a European standard. Hearty, filling meal.
Ingredients
- 1 kilo ground beef, OR ground pork
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
- 2 cups water
- 2 cans skinless tomatoes in tomato juice, chopped
- 1 can corn, drained
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 pinch salt
- ground black pepper, good shaking
- 2 cups dry elbow macoroni, OR spiral pasta
Instructions
- In large pot over medium heat, add onion and garlic, saute until transparent.
- Then add ground beef or pork to the onions, mix, and over medium heat until cooked through, drain the fat.
- Add 2 cups of water, the diced tomatoes with the tomato juice, all seasonings, and bay leaf and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Add pasta and corn, mix, and allow to simmer an additional 20 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Add a little water as needed. Remove bay leaf before serving.
Notes
200 Baht for ground beef, 125 Baht for ground pork. 42 baht per can for tomatoes and corn. Macaroni and other ingredients, minimal. Cost would be for beef: $9.60 for 2 people for 3 days, or $1.60 per person per day. For pork: $7.40 for 2 people for 3 days, or $1.25 per person per day.
This is an easily tailored recipe to suite your tastes or to what you have on hand. No corn on hand, use mixed mixed vegetables, no canned tomatoes on hand, use fresh and tomato juice. No tomato juice on hand, make from tomato paste. Endless possibilities.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
No Crust Chicken Pot Pie I (Slow Cooker)
Delicious meal! Lots of room to change to your liking. My comments below, and prices updated as well as the recipe. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 500 grams chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup, OR make from a shortcut
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cups frozen peas and carrots, you can also use fresh
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon corn starch, optional, added at end to thicken sauce
Instructions
- Cut the chicken into 1 inch pieces, set aside.
- If making your own condensed cream of soup (either chicken or mushroom) after each batch you make, pour that into the slow cooker pot then add the milk, onion, parsley, black pepper, and frozen vegetables. Mix, then add the chicken and mix for a few seconds
- Everything added and mixed. Cook on Low setting for 6 hours or High setting for 3 hours.
- Finished. Serve over mashed potatoes, boiled potatoes, egg noodles, rice, or just enjoy as a soup.
Notes
Chicken breast run about 30 baht per 500 grams. 112 baht for 2 cans of soup, you make yourself from a shortcut that reduces this to about 55 Baht. Everything else is minimal. Overall, the meal for 6 servings is about 70 cents per serving, if you make the soup yourself, the cost is 42 cents per serving.
Shortcut: Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Beef Pasanda
A dish from Pakistan. The beef is tenderized by marinating in yogurt, the yogurt is also used as a cooking sauce.
Ingredients
- 500 grams beef, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup plain yogurt, this is equal to 250 ml
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 onions, sliced
- fresh ginger, grated, to taste
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1/2 teaspoon ground red red chili pepper
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons tumeric
Instructions
- Rub the salt into the meat, place in large and add yogurt, mix to coat all the beef and marinate for 24 hours in the refrigerator.
- After the beef has marinated, in a heavy pan fry the onions till golden in olive oil, then add the garlic and ginger and all of the spices, stir and cook for 5 minutes over low heat.
- Add the beef and yogurt mix and cook till the meat is tender about 50 minutes.
- Serve with a side dish of curried okra and boiled rice.
Notes
Beef is the most expensive at about 200 baht per kilo, this is from a local farm, not a grocery store. Recipe calls for 1/2 kilo, so cost for the beef is 100 baht or about $2.90, for 2 people this meal would probably last 2 meals, about 75 cents per meal per person minus other ingredients which are minimal.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Denise Georgiades.
South Africa.
South Africa.
Rustic Sausage Hotpot
Also know in the US as Sausage, Peppers, and Onions Skillet (no rice in the ingredients), this is a filling meal made with rice, served with a salad on the side, this is delicious and inexpensive.
Ingredients
- 2 onions, halved and sliced
- 1 cup chicken stock, fresh or from powder
- 2 cups brown Basmati rice, rinsed
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thick strips
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into thick strips
- 3Ā¾ cups water
- 500 grams beef sausage, or sausage of your choice, (1 lb)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan, add sausages and cook, turning regularly, for 5 minutes or until browned, you are browning, not cooking through. Remove from the pan and slice thickly. Reduce heat to medium on the pan.
- Add onions and peppers to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally for 3-4 minutes or until soft.
- Add rice, water, tomatoes, stock, and sausages. Stir to combine. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to medium and allow to simmer, covered for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and set aside, covered for 15 minutes (this allows rice to complete cooking). Season with salt and pepper. Spoon hotpot into serving bowls, and a salad on the side.
Notes
Sausage produced in Thailand can be very inexpensive, pork sausage that is. At Makro we can get English Beef Sausage for about 200 Baht/kilo, we can also pick up smoked and spicy sausage for 200 Baht per 1 kilo, or 100 baht per this recipe. So this recipe meets the $1 or less per person per meal, even with a salad.
Beer Barbecued Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 large chicken halves, OR 8 assorted large chicken pieces
- 1 can beer
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcherstershire sauce
- lemon pepper, optional, add for a spicy twist
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for the marinade and pour over the chicken, cover and allow to marinade in the fridge for at least an hour.
- Lightly oil the grill and place the chicken, bone side down, and allow to cook for 20 minutes on each side until the juices run clear.
Notes
Chicken is very inexpensive, 7 quarters which would provide 14 large pieces is about 100-120 Baht. If 8 pieces are used, cost would be about 1.65 to $2 for the chicken, for 2 meals for 2 people, that is 50 cents per person not including a side dish. Very reasonable.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Denise Georgiades.
South Africa.
South Africa.
Baked Chicken & Mushroom Penne
Easy to assemble casserole that is filling. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 500 grams chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cubed
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 green chili, deseeded and finely chopped, optional
- 250 grams button mushrooms, sliced
- 2 cups chicken stock, homemade, canned, or made from powder
- 2 tablespoons corn flour
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, OR 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 500 grams Penne pasta, cooked, follow package instructions
Topping
- 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs, OR make from a shortcut on this site
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180Ā° C.
- In a large frying pan, heat oil. Add chicken, and sautĆ© for about 3 ā 4 minutes, turn over half way during the cooking time, remove chicken and set aside.
- Add onion and chili to the pan and sautĆ© until onions are translucent, the add mushrooms and fry gently for a further 2 ā 3 minutes.
- Return the chicken to the mixture, then add chicken stock. Simmer for a further 8 ā 10 minutes.
- Make a smooth paste with the corn flour and cream, reduce the heat, and add corn flour paste to the chicken, stir through until sauce is smooth and has thickened. Add thyme, paprika, mustard powder, and lemon juice, and mix through. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl, mix together the pasta and chicken mixture, pour into a greased ovenproof dish.
- Sprinkle with breadcrumbs mixed with paprika, and then top with shredded cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese is golden in color.
Notes
500 grams (1 pound) of chicken breasts is minimum, other ingredients are either on hand or very low cost as well. Well under $1 per person.
Shortcut: Breadcrumbs.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Denise Georgiades.
South Africa.
South Africa.
Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
Condensed cream soups are used in a range of recipes. With this shortcut you know exactly what is in it. This can be frozen for up to 6 months or stored in the fridge for several days. This makes the slightly more than a standard can of condensed soup.
Equipment
- Microwave
Ingredients
- 1Ā¼ cups evaporated milk, or 1 regular can of evaporated milk
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons powdered chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- ā teaspoon white pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons cooked chicken, finely chopped
Instructions
- Whisk together in a microwave safe glass container no less than 1 quart in size. Microwave on HIGH for 3 minutes until very thick, stopping to whisk mixture after each minute. Microwave ovens vary wildly so it may take longer in yours. Just keep cooking and whisking every so often until it gets thick. Add chopped chicken. (For the photo, keep in mind, this mixture is hot, thick, but hot, not the gelatinous oily blob you get out of a can and instantly lose your appetite.)
- Alternatively, you may pour whisked mixture (see notes) into a saucepan or skillet and cook on medium low on top of the stove until thickened. If you are unfortunate enough to find lumps in your soup, pour it through a strainer. Add finely chopped chicken.
Notes
You can use fresh milk instead of evaporated (never sweetened condensed milk), but it will not hold up to prolonged cooking or freezing like evaporated milk does.
If you choose to make this on the stove, I recommend you mix it in a blender first, OR plan to push it through a strainer when it has been cooked. The chicken base doesn't seem to dissolve as readily as it does in the microwave so blending it first results in a creamier product.
Be advised that microwave ovens vary wildly. If your soup doesn't thicken after 3 minutes, keep cooking and stirring every minute until it does.
Most recipes will just call for a can of condensed soup, some recipes (or if you just want to make the soup by itself) call for 1 can of water. One can equals 1Ā¼ cups. But as a healthier alternative to using water, try using whey if you recently made cottage cheese, or water used to boil potatoes. Milk can also be used in place of water to make a creamier soup.
Used in Recipes Listed on this Site:
- Crunchy Cucumber Salad.
- Creamy Coleslaw.
- Buffet Layered Salad.
- Meat & Vegetable Packets.
- Herbed Zucchini Casserole, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings III.
- Slow Cooker Angel Chicken & Pasta.
- King Ranch Chicken Casserole.
- Mexican Casserole.
- Chicken Noodle Casserole I.
- Slow Cooker Sausage & Potatoes II.
- Swiss Chicken Supreme.
- Chicken Casserole (Slow Cooker).
- Chicken & Dumpling Casserole, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings II.
- Ultra Creamy Mac & Cheese, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Slow Cooker Creamy Ranch Chicken.
- Easy Chicken Pot Pie.
- Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken.
- No Crust Chicken Pot Pie II.
- Crockpot Italian Chicken.
- Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken And Rice.
- Chicken Noodle Soup.
- Chicken Rice Soup.
- Creamy Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole I.
- Dizzy's Chicken.
- One-pot Creamy Smoked Chicken Penne.
- Easy Cheesy Slow Cooker Chicken.
- Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken.
- Slow Cooker Golden Chicken.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Casserole.
- Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy I, made it.
- Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy II, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Creamy Swiss Chicken Casserole.
- Creamy Italian Chicken, made it.
- Chicken, Broccoli, & Pasta Skillet.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff.
- Cheater Chicken Cordon Bleu, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- No Crust Chicken Pot Pie I, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak III.
- Slow Cooker Ham & Potato Dinner.
- Breakfast Potato Casserole.
- Tuna Bake.
- Tetrazzini Bake.
- Crock Pot Chicken & Noodles II, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Chicken a la King II (Slow Cooker).
- Creamy Garlic Chicken with Broccoli.
- Creamed Chicken on Toast.
- Chicken Pot Pie, made it, GO-TO Recipe.
- Fiesta Cilantro Fondue.
- Chicken & Stuffing Casserole.
- White Chicken Chili II, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Salmon Casserole, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Chicken Noodle Casserole II, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Pork & Noodles, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Chicken & Broccoli Pasta.
- Chicken Ritz Casserole.
- Sinfully Delicious Chicken Casserole, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Crock Pot Chicken & Rice.
- Chicken & Dressing II (Slow Cooker).
- Chicken & Dressing I.
