- Lets Talk About Food -

[Vela]

Actually if you want a tender roast you need to cook it hot and fast generally. The long slow cooking actually dehdrates your food, that's how they make jerky. You should light oil, salt and pepper the outside of the roast and heat it on all sides in a skillet on high heat to sear the outside. This helps maintain moisture. You should preheat the oven to 450 degrees and cook on that heat for half an hour, turn down to 375. It seals the juices in. Also, when it's done cooking let it rest for about 15 minutes under a tinfoil tent. This helps the juices redistribute through the meat rather than pouring out as much when you cut into it. Depending on the weight of the roast and how you like the meat doneness, this can take around 45 minutes to an hour and a half or so. Which cut of meat are you using? Medium rare is 130 degrees in the middle, if you like it more well done cook to 135-140 degrees internal temperature with a thermometer. A 5-6 pound roast takes about 1-1/2 hours to 1 hour 45 minutes or so to get to medium, maybe a bit longer, best way to tell is with a thermometer. Also, take the meat out about 5 degrees less than you want it as it will finish cooking while it rets and go up the last 5 degrees.

Use the pan drippings for the yorkshire pudding, yumm.

I love Rachel Ray's shows, Giada's shows, Iron Chef America, and Good Eats with Alton Brown, he's my favorite. Oh that new one, Ham on the Street is pretty funny too.

[sirrahbed]

Have you thought about a potroast instead of oven roast? I make mine in a dutch oven ...brown it first and then pour a coke over it. Also a packet of dry onion soup. Cover the roaster and simmer for about 4 hours and this makes the most tender, moist and yummy potroast.

hmmm....your dinner sounds yummy!

I made a 30 Minute Meal last night and will go find the recipe

[sirrahbed]

This was from Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meal show last week and is what I made for dinner last night - oh my was it good!!! I could not find the smokey paprika and so used regular paprika and added cumin. I also took a shortcut and used refrigerator prepared mashed potatoes. The flavor of this meal is just wonderful and shepherd pies are so perfect for this winter weather I think.

3 large Idaho potatoes, peeled and cubed
Coarse salt
2 tablespoons EVOO - extra-virgin olive oil - 2 turns of the pan
1/4 pound smoky bacon or turkey bacon, chopped
1 1/3 pound ground turkey breast
1 tablespoon smoked paprika, available in small cans on spice aisle of market
(You may substitute 1 1/2 teaspoons each sweet paprika and cumin combined)
Coarse black pepper
2 tablespoons, 5 or 6 sprigs, fresh thyme leaves
1 medium onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and diced
3 ribs celery from the heart, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cups frozen peas
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream, divided
3 tablespoons butter
1 large egg, beaten
10 to 12 blades fresh chives, chopped or snipped

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil, salt it, and cook the potatoes until tender, 12 to 15 minutes.

Heat a deep, large skillet over medium-high heat. Add EVOO, 2 turns of the pan, to the skillet. Add bacon and brown it up, then add ground turkey to the pan and break it up. Season the turkey with smoked paprika, salt and peppe,r and thyme. When turkey browns up, add: onions, carrots, celery. Season the veggies with salt and pepper. Cook 5 minutes, then add red pepper and peas cook another 2 minutes. Stir in flour and cook flour 2 minutes. Whisk in broth and combine. Add 1/2 cup of sour cream and combine. Simmer mixture over low heat.

Preheat your broiler to high.

When potatoes are tender, add a ladle of cooking water to the egg. Drain potatoes and return to the warm pot to dry them out a little. Add remaining 1/2 cup sour cream, butter, half of the chives, and salt and pepper. Smash and mash the potatoes, mashing in the beaten, tempered egg. If the potatoes are too tight, mix in a splash of milk.

Pour turkey mixture into a medium casserole dish. Top turkey with an even layer of smashed potatoes and place casserole 5 inches from hot broiler. Broil the potatoes until golden at edges and remove the casserole from the oven. Garnish the casserole with the remaining chives and a sprinkle of smoked paprika.

[christa]

IMO, I think food is over-rated.

I think people eat way too much of what they shouldn't and way too little of what they should. I think people should care more about what they put into their bodies.

As for what I watch, I LOVE Rachel Ray! Her personality is what draws me into her shows! Doesn't matter which one, I love them all! I've considered buying her cookbooks but I really don't love her style of cooking, LOL . . . I have tried her 30 minute meals and I rarely like them, so I think I must just like her personality, and that's it. - and it's not that I'm a bad cook, LOL . . . I LOVE to cook . . . Just not my style.

I love Iron Chef, and not the American version, the original Iron Chef! So funny & so entertaining to watch! I also like watching the Unwrapped shows to see how things are made and I love watching the NAKED Chef. What's his name? Jamie Oliver? He's such a cutie!

Now, for my Favorite Cookie Recipe:

Smart Cookies
Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) corn-oil margarine, softened (I use Smart Balance )
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup golden brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 egg whites
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (I use Whole Wheat Flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (4 ounces) mini-chocolate chips

(I also add 1 cup of Minute Oats & 1/2 cup of chunky peanut butter)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together margarine, water and sugars with an electric mixer on a high speed for 2 minutes. Add egg whites and vanilla and mix well. Blend in flour, baking soda and salt. Mix well. Add chocolate chips and blend thoroughly.

Scoop dough in rounded 1/2-teaspoonfuls and place on prepared cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake until deep golden brown. Cool completely and serve.

Nutritional Info:
Serves: 3-cookie
Prep Time: 15 min.
Cook Time: 17-19 min.
Nutrition Score per serving:
Calories: 64
% Fat 33%
g Fat 3.4 g; 0.95 g saturated
% Carbs 63%; g Carbs 15g
% Protein 4%; g Protein 0.9g
g Fiber 0.3g

[caseysmom]

I think food is an important part of family life. I try hard to sit down as a family every night to dinner together. It ties all the generations together.

I love to watch rachel ray, I love her $40.00 a day show, it ties food and traveling together, what could be more fun?

[Vela]

Well I hate to break it to you, but those cookies may be slightly healthier for you because of the whole wheat, but margarine is actually NOT good for you and whole eggs aren't bad for you, so while those may appear to be healthier in some aspects, they aren't healthy cookies=) A cookie is still a cookie and all things in moderation with a healthy dose of the right proteins, right carbs, and right fruits and vegetables is a healthy diet. You can eat regular foods, even treats, in moderation and try to have a balanced diet. I do agree though that many many people overeat in general, not just bad for you foods, but food in general. And we should all be more concious of eating as healthy a diet as possible. Y

I also agree with what someone else mentioned, that food is an integral part of family life. It doesn't have to be bad for you food, but it's not overrated IMO, it's a good time for the family to gather to communicate, over preparation and dinner, and a good way to get kids involved in having some fun togehter in the kitchen. If you don't have kids or are single then maybe it's not such a big deal but otherwise it's actually an important family time, mealtime, in such a busy hectic life.

[christa]

Well I hate to break it to you, but those cookies may be slightly healthier ....

Well, I hate to break it to YOU . . . I posted the NUTRITIONAL Info . . . the serving size is 3 cookies and 1 cookie is 1/2 a teaspoonful of dough, so yeah, portion control is key. You asked for recipes didn't you?

The reason I posted the cookie recipe is because normal "healthy recipes" usually get looked over in a hurry. I figured that a cookie recipe would get more attention. My lifestyle is completely healthy. Carbs & sugars in moderation. Low fats & lean meats. Veggies . . . the right fruits. Dailey exercise. It's a lifestyle. Staying healthy is important to me and it's not hard to do.

Okay, back on topic . . . I'll try to drudge up some more recipes later . . . maybe something that won't misrepresent what I live.