Cleaning out the Fridge equals: January 2023 edition

Roasted Red Grape and Chicken, over Goat Cheese Potato Gnocchi

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Chicken with Blueberry Balsamic Sauce, Roasted Sunchokes, and Honeynut Squash, Apple, and Goat Cheese Puree (that became really loose…)

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Roasted Cauliflower Steaks, with Bacon, Pinenut, and Crispy Onion Breadcrumbs, over Honeynut Squash, Apple, and Goat Cheese Puree.

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Bacon, Pinenut, and Crispy Onion Breadcrumbed Cauliflower Bites, Roasted Sunchokes, and Blueberry BBQ Sass

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Chicken Breast with Blueberry BBQ Sauce, over White Rice

New Years Day feast


Pork Loin with Grape and Pomegranate Sauce, Pan (not so) Fried Black Eyed Peas, Citrus and Honey Green Beans, and Buttered Pretzel Bread.


I mushed a lot of New Years Traditional Foods together.


Pork = Abundance because they root forwards rather than backwards like a chicken.


Pomegranate = Abundance. The Greeks believe that the pomegranate seeds symbolize fertility.


Grapes = In Spain they will eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight to bring luck for the next 12 months.


Black Eyed Peas = Wealth because they supposedly resemble coins.


Chinese Long Beans = Green = Wealth because money is green + Length = Longevity. In Asian cultures they believe noodles symbolize a long life.


Orange and Honey = The Chinese believe that eating Orange and Honey will bring good fortune, wealth, and money.


Buttered Pretzel Bread = Buttered Bread = Good Luck. The Irish believe that banging buttered bread on the door will ward off bad luck. And sharing buttered bread with friends will bring good luck + Pretzel = Luck and Prosperity. The Germans believe pretzels bring luck and prosperity… for some reason…

Pork Chops and Squash

2 inch Pork Chop cooked in Butter, Sage, and Garlic. Roasted Acorn Squash with Sage and Garlic. Wild Rice with Onion, Walnut, and Blueberries, cooked in Cider and Chicken Stock. And Chicken Stock, Cider, Brown Sugar, Pan Dripping Gravy.

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Second Pork Chop. With Walnut Pumpkin Risotto

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Leftover Wild Rice with Walnuts and Blueberries. Roasted Squash with Sage Pesto. And Quartered Chicken with Blueberry Sauce.

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Leftover Pumpkin Risotto. Seared Duck Breast, cover it in Cranberry Sauce and Toasted Walnut Crumbs. Roasted Endive covered in Bacon and Goat Cheese. And roasted Fennel and Apple plop.

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Cleaning out the Fridge
Leftovers Edition:
When you have too many leftovers, but a freezer full of chicken stock.

The Baked Potato journey

When you have a crazy craving for a Baked Potato…
You throw Chili, Cheese, and Sour Cream on it!
Then add some Cream Corn, and cut up an Avocado, and grill some Scallions.

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Baked Potato round 2.
With like Steak, and Roasted Romaine with Butter Balsamic Sauce

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Last Baked Potato.
With Beer Braised Chicken and Apple Sausage, with Beer, Onion, and Mustard gravy sauce.

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The meal the keeps on giving.
Leftover Sausage and Beer and Mustard Gravy Sauce with Pasta and Braised Cabbage

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Leftover Braised Cabbage with Bone-in Pork Chop and Mustard Cream Sauce

Easter Gifts

I made a lovely meal for one on Easter. The leftovers took me a long way…

Lamb Choppers, with Blueberry Sauce, Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes, and Sauteed Green Beans.

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Round Two:


Leftover Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes. Apple, Date, and Bacon stuffed bone-in Pork Chop. And Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon and Honey.

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Round Three:

Goat Cheese Mashed Potato Gnocchi, in Rosemary Lemon Cream Sauce, and Chicken with leftover Blueberry Sauce.

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Round Four:

Farfalle in Rosemary Lemon Cream Sauce, with Arugala, and Blueberry Greek Yogurt Marinated (huge) Chicken Boob.

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Last Round:

Apple Date Stuffing, Brie, and Arugula Grilled Cheese

Beef Stews of the World

I love beef, and I particularly love beef stew. I had really only known of the bigger known stews from Ireland, and France. I began to think, surely there are delicious stews from other countries as well. I did some research and this is what I found.

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Irish Beef Stew

Special ingredient: Guinness

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French Beef Stew

Beouf Bourguignon

Special Ingredient: Red Wine

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Belgian Beef Stew

Carbonnade a la Flamande

Special Ingredients: Belgian Beer, Brown Sugar, Dijon Mustard

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Chinese Beef Stew

Special Ingredients: Soy Sauce, Chinese Cooking Wine, Star Anise, Cinnamon, Ginger

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Vietnamese Beef Stew

Bo Kho

Special Ingredients: Lemongrass, Chinese 5 Spice, Soy Sauce, Fish Sauce, Star Anise, Cinnamon, Coconut Water

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Argentine Beef Stew

Carbonada

Special Ingredients: Sweet Potato, Acorn Squash, Frozen Corn, Apricots

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Moroccan Beef Stew

Special Ingredients: Cinnamon, Cumin, Ginger, Apricots

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Jamaican Beef Stew

Special Ingredients: Soy Sauce, Allspice, Scotch Bonnet

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Puerto Rican Beef Stew

Carne Guisada

Special Ingredients: Sofrito, Light Beer, Adobo Seasoning, Sazon, Green Olives

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Ethiopian Beef Stew

Siga Wot

Special Ingredients: Ghee, Ginger, Berbere

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Then I decided to take it full circle.

Dublin Coddle

Special Ingredients: Beef Sausage, Dark Beer, Bacon

The Comfort Food Journey

As the weather got colder, and life got harder, I felt like it was time for some comfort foods.

Butternut Squash Lasagne, with Sausage, Apple, and Kale

Apple Pie Bread Pudding, with Bourbon Hard Sauce

Shepards Pie, with Lamb, Leeks, Little French Carrots, Snow Peas, and Garlicky Mashed Potatoes

American Goulash

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Chicken Divan, with Hashbrown Potatoes

Biggest take away: There are no sexy pictures of comfort food…