Uncle Jim’s Alfredo Sauce

Alfredo sauce is one of the best sauces – good on all kinds of pasta!

Uncle Jim's Alfredo Sauce
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Sauces
Cuisine: Italian
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 c. cream
  • 1 c. chicken broth
  • 1 c. Mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • ½ c. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
  • 3 tbsp fresh parsley, finely minced
  • 5 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • ¼ c. dry white wine
  • salt & black pepper
Instructions
  1. On medium heat, melt butter & add flour. Cook 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to cook flour completely.
  2. Add cream & broth together, blending well. Add cheeses, parsley, garlic, & wine, stirring until cheese is completely melted.
  3. Add salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Photo courtesy of DenisenFamily on Flickr

Grandpa Gary’s Meatballs

meatballsGary Says: The meatballs may be stored, covered, in the refrigerator until you’re ready to finish cooking. You can also use this mixture to make hamburgers for grilling.

Grandpa Gary's Meatballs
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Entree
Cuisine: Italian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
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Ingredients
  • 2 lbs. ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 1 lb. ground pork sausage
  • 2 eggs, gently beaten
  • ½ c. seasoned bread crumbs
  • ½ c. oatmeal (uncooked)
  • ½ c. Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 pkg. onion soup/dip mix
  • 4-8 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ c. fresh parsley
  • 1-2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • cooking oil of choice
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef with ground pork. Mix thoroughly together to combine. Be sure to wash your hands afterwards if you mix with your hands.
  2. Blend eggs, bread crumbs, oatmeal, Parmesan cheese, onion soup mix, garlic, parsley, & Italian seasoning. Using your hands, thoroughly mix these in with the meat.
  3. Take the mixture & form into balls. Set aside & cover with a towel.
  4. In a large skillet, heat the cooking oil of your choice & butter until the butter starts to foam. Place meatballs one at a time into the skillet & keep rolling around to brown on all sides evenly.
  5. Set aside the browned meatballs on a paper towel lined plate to drain. You can now add the meatballs to your sauce to finish cooking.

 

Joe’s Butternut Squash Risotto

Joe's Butternut Squash Risotto
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Side Dish
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
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Ingredients
  • 1 c. butternut squash, cubed
  • 1 c. Arborio rice
  • 3 c. hot vegetable stock
  • ⅓ c. dry white wine
  • ¼ c. Parmesan cheese, grated
  • ¼ c. Pecorino Romano cheese, grated
  • ½ onion, minced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • salt & ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Place squash cubes & 1 tbsp of butter into a skillet over medium heat. Stir occasionally until cooked through (roughly 10 minutes) then remove from heat & set aside.
  2. Melt remaining butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion & garlic; cook & stir for 2 minutes until they begin to soften, then stir in the rice. Continue cooking & stirring until the rice is glossy from the butter, & the onion begins to brown on the edges, about 5 minutes more.
  3. Pour in the white wine; cook, stirring constantly, until it has evaporated. Stir in ⅓ of the hot vegetable stock; reduce heat to medium. Cook & stir until the stock has been absorbed by the rice, 5 to 7 minutes. Add half of the remaining stock, & continue stirring until it has been absorbed.
  4. Finally, pour in the remaining stock & butternut squash, & continue stirring until the risotto is creamy. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, & season to taste with salt & pepper. Finally top each individual serving with Pecorino Romano cheese.

 

Photo Courtesy of Warren Layton on Flickr

The Califunky Hot Brown

Submitted by randilicious
Serves 2

Ingredients

5 tbsp canola oil 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1½ c. milk 6 tbsp Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
3 tbsp sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 egg, beaten
½ tbsp pepper ½ tbsp oregano
1 tsp paprika 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
1 c. mushrooms, sliced 8 stalks asparagus
1 tomato, thinly sliced 4 slices of bread, toasted
1 avocado leftover turkey slices and/or ¼ lb. pork roast thinly sliced

Directions

  1. To prepare sauce, in a large skillet combine 3 tbsp canola oil & flour little by little & mix to create a roux.  Stir in flour to absorb the oil.  Slowly whisk in the milk, & add Parmesan cheese & cheddar cheese.  Stir in the egg to thicken the sauce, but do not allow to boil.  Season with pepper, paprika, & Old Bay seasoning & remove from heat.
  2. In a separate skillet, heat 2 tbsp canola oil.  Saute mushrooms in the oil until soft.
  3. In the same skillet, saute the asparagus.
  4. Preheat the oven broiler.  For each serving, put 2 slices of toast on a broiler-safe dish.  Cover toast with layer of slices of turkey/pork roast & mushrooms.  Smother each serving with sauce.
  5. Place dish in broiler until the top of the sauce in speckled brown & bubbly.  Remove from broiler, add tomatoes, & cross cross 4 stalks of asparagus (per serving) over top, & serve.
  6. For each serving, slice up half an avocado & add as garnish.

Chef’s Note: The Kentucky Hot Brown retains a special place in my heart, as I was born in Kentucky.  Of course, I had to add in more of a California flavor (and a dash of my Maryland side too) to make it healthier.

Nancy’s Corn Dip

Submitted from Bill Samuels, Jr.
Serves 6-8

Ingredients

2 c. colby jack cheese 2 c. mayonnaise
1 c. fresh Parmesan 2 oz. canned jalapenos
22 oz. Green Giant Mexicorn (2 cans) Frito’s Scoops corn chips

Directions

  1. Mix ingredients together & bake at 350° F for 40 minutes.  
  2. Serve with corn chips.