Ease Into Fall Cooking

 Summer cooking is an easy rut to fall into. You either grill or microwave. Not much else. Yet when fall arrive the family demands a more wholesome, possibly more intricate dinner. What to do? Ease into fall cooking.

Easing into a more elaborate meal is simple. Now you can make pastas on these chilly nights You can buy already cooked spaghetti or just boil the regular kind. As for sauces start off with the jarred. Customize them by adding mushrooms or basil from the garden. Make it heartier by offering a loaf of Italian bread with it to mop up the sauces. Don't sweat if the family wants garlic bread. Supermarkets such as Acme sell already buttered and laden with garlic loaves. All you have to do is rub oil and salt on the crust and pop it in the oven. As for lasagna, there are already boiled pasta sheets and again use jarred sauce.If the family wants a chicken or turkey dinner then head to your local grocery store. Pick up a rotisserie chicken, and grab a box of instant mashed potatoes. You can use the chicken's juices for gravy.Round it out with any steam in the bag vegetable and dinner rolls and you have a great supper. Meat loaf is another easy fix that can be made.It's just a blend of ground beef or turkey mixed with bread crumbs and seasoning. You can add chopped onions and peppers if you want. Again instant mashed potatoes make the perfect side to this along with a tossed salad.

Sheet pans dinners are another quick and simple dinner choice. You can put anything on it,from all sorts of meat and fish to nothing  but veggies.A tasty combo is salmon with asparagus and red potatoes. Another delicious pairing is shrimp with mixed veggies. The seafood shares the pan with onions broccoli and onions. This is sure to be a crowd pleaser and easy to make.Sub in chicken for the shrimp for a different week night meal.Sheet pan dinners can go vegan too. Try marinated tofu cut in squares or triangles with any number of veggies like green beans and carrots or broccoli and sweet potatoes. You could also try an all vegetable sheet pan dinner. Roast Brussels sprouts with  cubed butternut squash and onions,Make it with a teriyaki sauce and serve with instant rice.Crockpots and Insta-Pots figure heavily in transitional cooking. You can make a simple chili with just ground beef , two or three kinds of beans , spicings and tomato sauce. Serve over a bed of nacho chips. Stews are also an easy cook in a crockpot. Try a chicken one with dumplings or a beef one with carrots , potatoes and turnips.

The weather is changing. Summer becomes fall. It's time to ease into heartier more complex dinners. You can if you just keep it simple and easy.

A Hearty Loaf

Meat loaf is one of those winter comfort foods that can be tailored to everyone and anyone's tastes.It can be subtly flavored or highly spiced. It can made with a variety of meats and even non-meats. Best of all any novice home chef can make it with confidence and ease.

It was the subject of an article written by Kim Severson in Wednesday's New York Times Food section.. as she also celebrated a new cookbook,Meat Loaf In Every Oven Batali'sfrom Mom's To Mario BataliA . It's all about the meat loaf and was written by longtime Times and Food writer, Frank Bruni and Jennifer Steinhauser. The idea came from Mr. Bruni as these friends gathered recipes from all home chefs such as Chuck Schumer and Mr. Bruni's mother, Leslie, The last is the Cadillac of meat loaf recipes.It's probably the recipe most of us grew up on - seasoned with onions and topped with tomato sauce. Other recipes have a definite Japanese and Chinese vibe along with an Arab vibe, thanks to switching out the beef for lamb and including harissa, the fiery chile paste from North Africa.  Their book also includes a chicken (!) one that  tastes like a buffalo wings with a hit of blue cheese dressing. Poultry actually is good for the dish, especially the dark meat.it's the perfect canvas for highlighting other flavors such as fennel or even eggplant, according to Ms. Steinhauser.

Home chef's can also make individual fried loafs. My great aunt, Manya Mary, my Nonna's older sister was known for hers. These could also be also be turned into meatballs which her Neopolitan husband loved (as many of you know, we're Piedmontese and have our own spin on it). It starts out with ground beef that's been hollowed by a spoon or thumb. and then each mini loaf or meatball gets a quarter of an hardboiled egg each along with an equally sized piece of mozzarella. A slice of  prosciutto is also added and them they're browned on all sides in olive oil. My prozia or great aunt served them with tomato sauce. If you don;t want them fried then, make them in mini loaf pans (Kohl's and Wal-Mart has these) and serve with a side of tomato sauce. Vegans can also get their loaves on  with the use of vegan meat crumbles from Morningstar Farms. Binding is important here because the soy doesn;t have the adherent fat that real meat has,Using egg or an egg substitute is crucial in creating a shape that will stick together and not fall apart when sliced.

Meat loaf is the ultimate winter comfort food. No matter how you make it, whether stuffed with cheese , egg and prosciutto or laced with harissa , it's still a cozy tasty , stomach warming slice. It's the perfect dish on a cold, snowy day.

A Healthy Spring Picnic

It's time to celebrate Spring and what better than an old fashioned picnic.Yet what  gets packed in some baskets can be unhealthy. It's time for a change, and get rid of all those snacks. There's nothing like enjoying fresh air with freshly made sandwiches and nibbles. Besides it's a good time to take advantage of  the proudce just come into season.

A big part of any picnic are the sandwiches. Most people slap processed meat on bland white bread  and consider it a good meal. For variety they may add some tasteless processed cheese or even cold, ,greasy bacon. It's time to change that. Sub in darker bread which is healthier.The base doesn't have to always be whole wheat.it could be a twelve or fifteen grain bread or even rye or pumpernickel. As for fillings, always think fresh. Picnics are a great way of getting rid of any leftover meat or meat loaf. Last night's chicken, turkey or even London Broil and meat loaf make better fillings than processed cold cuts. Even a tomato sandwich is a delicious picnic treat. Layer thickly cut Beefsteaks on bread with mayo. If it;s not too warm think about a tarragon egg salad on whole grain rolls.Add some mayo or ketchup for more taste and a pickle on the side.

As for the extras, think fresh again. Nix the overly processed chips and cheese puffs. Grape tomatoes are fun to bring along as are radishes  and  baby carrots. Cut celery is also good and you can pack up an easy to make vinaigrette for dipping. Try bringing other easily totable veggies such as cauliflower and broccoli too. Fresh mozzarella balls are another fun snack. Carry this theme into dessert where you can bring small containers of melon, strawberries and pineapple. Put them on sticks for an "au naturale" kabob. These are definitely healthier (and maybe a bit more fun) than s'mores.  Another bring along are all natural cookies (such as "Back To Nature's  many kinds)Wash everything down with fresh brewed teas or fruit juices.

Enjoy a healthy and fun day out with healthy and fun foods. They'll give more energy to run around and enjoy the Spring air and company. It's also a nice way to appreciate nature!

Loving From The Oven And Stove And Fridge

A fun and sweet thing to do this Valentine's Day is to whip up something yummy for your beloved. It could be cooked, roasted baked or even frozen. Nothing says "I love you" than having a favorite dish made just for him or her.Forget the fancy bonbons and roses , sometimes a slab of meat loaf or cupcakes from your oven are the best gifts of all.

A neat idea would be creating a sweetheart's favorite childhood food. You can ask directly but a better way is asking mothers grannies , siblings or best friends. That way the meal is a complete surprise. Meat loaf is usually the number one favorite food and it;s easy to whip up . Even though it's not a fancy lobster tail it's a comfort food and a link to a happy time. Other childhood faves are spaghetti and meatballs pulled pork sandwiches and a simple hamburger with homemade fries. There may even be some ethnic dishes like dolmades or fufu thrown in. Don't be afraid to try some of the more exotic recipes. Ask for help from his or her family. A mother or grandmother will always be amenable to help and also grateful you;re taking an interest in the family's culture.

Of course anything sweet is also appreciated. Nothing says a simple "Je t'aime " than homemade chocolate chip cookies. Again these s are easy to make and if you haven't the time, then go for the slice and bake logs. If your beloved likes cake then bake one using his or her favorite flavor and add homemade butter cream icing . Sprinkle some red hot cinnamon hearts on it for a fiery kick. Another popular dessert are cupcakes Again , you can just take a cake mix and make them up quick, A real comfort treat is ice cream. You can even make a banana split or hot fudge sundae for two. If you're sticking with the whole childhood faves then think about making a bowl of pudding that can be topped with Cool Whip and sprinkles.

This valentines' Day give your beloved something yummy. There's nothing as satisfying as creating a well loved dinner or dessert . There's also the reward of seeing the happy look on their faces as well when they bite into the best gift ever.

Take Home Homemade Goodness

I've noticed a phenomenon in recent months in my local supermarket. There seems to be a glut of plastic containers not unlike what your mom or any other relative gives you when you've had dinner over at their house. Except these have Marie Callender or Stouffer's labels on them. What they are are dinners or sides in a microwavable , reusable container,

I guess putting food in these containers give s them a homey feel .Yet in the end they're just like a TV dinner or even takeout.I'm sure they taste good but they still processed food. There is a big variety from steak tips and rice to meatloaf and gravy. There are even pasta selections that can be downright fancy. These are not badly priced and I can see a lot of single twenty and thirty somethings stocking up on these. After all these meals are probably the closest to homemade that they'll eat.

To be honest if you have the time you can make these dinners yourself on a Saturday or Sunday night.It's a no brainer to prepare a big pot of pasta or a meat loaf or anything else and freeze it into microwavable containers. This way, you're cutting on down on the amount of sodium added as well as nixing the preservatives. Your creationswill have a somewhat fresher taste than the store bought variety. A good thing is you can do this after large holidays meals and still enjoy the taste a month after.

Ready to eat meals are fine if you re in a hurry and don't have the time to make and freeze your own. They're quick and easy , along with being the closest to a fresh from the stove or oven taste.If you can't make your own, then go this route.