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Pantry Meals

Portuguese Caldo Verde

February 10, 2021 by Tamara Giebel Leave a Comment

Portuguese green soup, Caldo Verde, delivers soul warming goodness with simple ingredients of potato, spicy sausage and kale. This broth based soup is perfect for the first crisp days of fall and the depths of winter.


Fall hit us Pacific North Westerners a little early this year. It’s the first of October and the air is CRISP. I mean like instant Fall crisp. And would you believe our stove is on back order? Yes. We have no heat currently. So, soup is a REAL GOOD THING around our place.

I feel like broth based soups are the best at warming your body right down to your bones. This one here, Caldo Verde, it’s a soul soothing kind of warm. In the 30 minutes it takes to make, and with very few ingredients, Caldo Verde packs in HUGE flavor. I like to use Jimmy Dean Hot Sausage because it really adds a lot of flavor. Traditionalist may frown upon this, so you can substitute a nice chourico sausage, if you please. Grab some Dinosaur kale from the garden or collard greens, anything substantially dark and leafy is good. A few potatoes, garlic, onion and broth. It’s really that easy and talk about a budget meal! Stay warm and spend less. My kind of meal.


Ingredients

  • Spicy Sausage – This can vary from the traditional chourico, linguica or simply spicy ground sausage.
  • Yellow Onion – I prefer a sweet yellow onion or Vidalia onion.
  • Garlic – Pick firm garlic cloves.
  • White Wine – What you have on hand. I keep a bottle of basic white wine in my fridge. Something on the lighter side.
  • Yukon Gold Potatoes – Thin skinned and medium starch make these the perfect choice for this broth based soup.
  • Chicken Broth – 1st Choice: make your own, 2nd choice: Better than Bouillon…it’s really up to you. I like my broth strong and flavorful.
  • Kale – Dinosaur kale or collard greens are hearty and hold up in this soup.

Preparation

  • Brown sausage in a large soup pot over medium heat.
  • Add onion and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add white wine and cook additional 1-2 minutes.
  • Add potatoes and chicken broth, let simmer for about 10 minutes or until fork tender.
  • Add kale, salt and pepper. Let simmer for at least 30 minutes, so the flavors develop.
  • Serve with crusty French bread and grated parmesan cheese.
Portuguese green soup, Caldo Verde, delivers soul warming goodness with simple ingredients of potato, spicy sausage and kale. This broth based soup is perfect for the first crisp days of fall.
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Caldo Verde

Portuguese green soup, Caldo Verde delivers soul warming goodness with simple ingredients of potato, spicy sausage and kale. This broth based soup is perfect for the first crisp days of fall.
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine Soups, Stews, Chowders
Keyword Broth Based Soup, Fall Soup, Portuguese Soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 with extra

Ingredients

  • ½ lb. Jimmy Dean hot sausage
  • ¾ cup yellow onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ¼ cup white cooking wine
  • 2 cups Yukon Gold potatoes diced
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 3 cups Dinosaur kale or collards rough chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Parmesan for garnish if desired
  • Crusty french bread if desired

Instructions

  • Heat large soup pot over medium heat, add sausage, crumbling as you add to pan.
  • Cook sausage, stirring as it cooks until browned.
  • Add onion and garlic, cook for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add white wine and stir for about 1 minute.
  • Add potatoes and chicken broth, cook until potatoes are fork tender about 10 minutes.
  • Add kale and salt and pepper. Cook for at least 30 minutes, allowing flavors to develop.
  • Serve with crusty french bread and garnish with parmesan.

More Soups:

  • Carne en su Jugo
  • Roasted Parsnip Soup with Crispy Fried Shallots
  • Carne en su Jugo
  • Roasting parsnips brings out their earthy sweet flavor in this winter soup. Not only is this soup easy to make, it's easy on the budget too.

Filed Under: Pantry Meals, Soups, Stews & Chowders Tagged With: Comfort Food, Pantry Meals, sausage potato soup

Classic Cottage Pie

March 17, 2020 by Tamara Giebel Leave a Comment

Classic Cottage Pie is made with spiced ground beef, tender carrots and peas. Topped with creamy potato cheese mixture and carrot tops.

Rich & Hearty ~ Classic Cottage Pie

Talk about easy! The Classic Cottage Pie checks all the boxes. Pantry recipe, YES. One pot meal, YES. Under 30 minutes, YES.

Budget friendly ground beef is browned with garlic, onion, smoked paprika and a pinch of red pepper flakes for added spice. The best part, though, are the creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes that are browned to perfection on top. Blending a creamy cheddar with a pungent Parmesan really adds flavor. If you have a few carrot tops, garnish the top for extra special presentation.

Classic Cottage Pie is made with spiced ground beef, tender carrots and peas. Topped with creamy potato cheese mixture and carrot tops.
Print Pin

Classic Cottage Pie

Rich and savory cottage pie topped with creamy potatoes and filled with spiced ground beef, tender carrots and peas.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Irish
Keyword Irish Recipes, One Pot Meal, Pantry Recipes, Shepherd’s Pie, St. Patrick’s Day Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients

Potato Topping

  • 4 russet potatoes peeled
  • 6 tbsp butter
  • 1/4 cup whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1/2 cup medium cheddar cheese grated

Beef Filling

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 1/2 cup yellow onion diced
  • 1 cup carrot diced
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1 cube tomato chicken bouillon (Knorr's in Mexican section grocery)
  • 1/2 tsp beef 'Better than Bouillon' bouillon
  • 2 cups potato water
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Potato Topping

  • Place peeled potatoes in a pot of lightly salted cold water and bring to boil. Boil until fork tender. Reserve 2 cups of potato water. Drain and return to pot.
  • Using the tines of your fork, 'rice' the potatoes until fluffy.
  • Add butter and blend.
  • Add whipping cream and blend.
  • Fold in cheese and set aside.

Beef Filling

  • Brown ground beef in a large cast iron pan over medium high heat. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tbsp in pan.
  • Push ground beef over to one side of the pan. Add garlic, onion and carrot. Saute until almost tender. Add peas and combine with ground beef.
  • Add tomato chicken and beef bouillon, potato water and remaining spices. Simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Spoon potato mixture over top of beef filling. Broil until browned. Top with fresh carrot tops or parsley.

This Classic Cottage Pie can be reheated with ease! Just pop it in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until heated through. Serve with salad or fresh cheddar biscuits.

Make it Your Own

Add your favorite ingredients to make it your own. Here are a few ideas:

  • Switch out mashed potato topping for mashed cauliflower topping
  • 1/2 cup corn
  • 1/2 cup mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup parsnip
  • Mix up the cheeses in the potato topping with sharp white cheddar or smoked cheddar.

More Recipes Like This:

  • Roasted Corned Beef with Cabbage and Bacon
  • Garlic Wine Poached Cod
  • Mushroom-Thyme Hand Pies

Filed Under: Beef, Pantry Meals, St. Patrick's Day Tagged With: budget friendly dinner, Comfort Food, One Pot Meal, Pantry Meals

Frijoles Charros

January 30, 2020 by Tamara Giebel Leave a Comment

Creamy, comforting Frijoles Charros with chorizo and bacon, topped with crispy tortilla strips and crumbled cotija cheese.

Charro Frijoles are creamy pinto beans are cooked with bacon and chorizo to get that smokey, spicy flavor and a mirapoix of celery, carrot and onion add a richness. Topped with crumbed cotija and crispy fried tortilla strips, you've got a family friendly meal in a bowl.
Creamy pinto beans cooked with bacon and chorizo, topped with cripsy tortilla strips and cotija cheese

You know the bean dip that you get at the local Mexican restaurant? Well, if you are anything like my family you devour it within minutes..and ask for more! These Frijoles Charros a.k.a. cowboy beans are reminiscent of those beans only made into a flavorful, filling soup. Perfect for these cold winter nights. Creamy pinto beans are cooked with bacon and chorizo to get that smokey, spicy flavor and a mirapoix of celery, carrot and onion add a richness. Topped with crumbed cotija and crispy fried tortilla strips, you’ve got a family friendly meal in a bowl. 

Frijoles Charros are creamy pinto beans are cooked with bacon and chorizo to get that smokey, spicy flavor and a mirapoix of celery, carrot and onion add a richness. Topped with crumbed cotija and crispy fried tortilla strips, you've got a family friendly meal in a bowl.
Print Pin

Frijoles Charros

Creamy, pinto beans slow cooked with chorizo and bacon topped with crunchy tortilla strips and cotija cheese.
Course Appetizer, Soup
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword Appetizers, Bean Dip, Game Day Food, Pinto Beans
Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. bacon cut into lardons
  • 8 oz. chorizo ground
  • 2 cups yellow onion diced
  • 1 cup celery ribs and leaves, diced
  • 1 cup carrot diced
  • 1 tsp. garlic minced
  • 8 cups or 4 – 16 oz. cans pinto beans
  • ½ tsp. cumin
  • ½ tsp. oregano
  • ½ tsp. chili powder
  • ½ serrano pepper minced
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • Garnish:
  • Cotija cheese
  • Cilantro
  • Tortilla chips

Instructions

  • Heat a large cast iron or heavy bottomed pot over medium heat.
  • Brown bacon and chorizo, stirring continuously about 10 minutes.
  • Add onion, celery, carrot and garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add beans, cumin, oregano, chili powder and serrano pepper.
  • Add broth and simmer over medium low heat for 45 minutes.
  • If desired, using an immersion blender, blend ¼ to ½ of the soup. This will give a nice texture to the soup, but is not necessary.
  • Garnish with cotija cheese, cilantro and tortilla chips.

Multi-Use Recipe

  • Frijoles Charros doubles as a dip! Perfect for #cincodemayo or #gameday or any other gathering of friends. This is perfectly dippable! Set it out aside your favorite guacamole and pico de gallo for a Mexican themed spread.
  • Make it extra cheesy! Top with shredded Monterrey Jack cheese and let it get all melty. Maybe add a few diced green chilies to the top.

Filed Under: Mexican, Pantry Meals, Side Dish, Soups, Stews & Chowders Tagged With: Bean Dip, Game Day Food, Pantry Meals, Pinto Beans

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