Tough steak- lets cook it awhile!

So, I had bought a couple large steaks (buy one get one free!!) and had stuck one in the freezer.  I kept one out so that I could cook it soon.  So, last night for supper, I got the steak out and seared it in olive oil.  Then I added  diced tomatoes, cubed zucchini, chopped onions, crushed garlic, salt, pepper, basil and oregano.  I cooked it for 2-3 hours in a covered cast iron pan.  When it was done, I removed the meat, and thickened the veggies/sauce with a little corn starch slurry (you could use flour instead of corn starch).  I sliced the meat and served it on a bed of rice with the sauce on top- Yummy!!

I am definitely learning to be resourceful.  Not only am I using what is in my pantry, but I'm learning new ways to make tough meat tender...

I am very excited as hunting season has just opened here.  Hopefully I will be able to get my hunting license soon, and we will be able to have quail, pheasant, duck and goose!  Can't wait to see what I can come up with for cooking game birds and waterfowl- stay tuned! :)

What to do with fettucini noodles?

I had a package of fettucini noodles in my pantry- but no spaghetti sauce...  I love creating new sauces, so I went for it!

I have been getting yummy zucchini at the local farmers market and had some left.  I also had a can of diced tomatoes in my pantry.  So, I decided to make a tomato zucchini sauce!  I sauteed some garlic and minced onion (the dried kind) in some olive oil, then added the zucchini.  I used my julienne peeler on the zukes, to get thin strips.  I sauteed that for awhile, then added the can of diced toms.  I covered it and let it simmer to cook down some of the tomato juices.  I can't remember if I put in any seasonings (this was a couple weeks ago...).

While the toms/zukes were cooking, I decided to make a white cream sauce to add with the tomato sauce.  I just made a simple white sauce.

Once everything was done cooking, I drained the noodles, and returned them to the pot.  I added the tomato/zucchini sauce to the noodles along with a little bit of the starchy cooking water from the noodles that I saved.  I tossed that around and added just enough of the white sauce to make it somewhat creamy.  I topped it with fresh chopped basil.

This was another wonderful recipe that I don't think I would change anything on...

My First Experiment :)

So it begins.... :)

My first "experiment" was with a beef soup bone.  The soup bone has been in my freezer for a year, because quite honestly, I was afraid of it!  I had no clue what to do with it, so it just sat there... I finally got up the courage to put it in my crockpot and cook it!

So, with my fear behind me, I had to figure out what to add to the soup bone!  I chopped an onion and put it in the bottom of my crock pot.  Next, I added a few dried crushed ancho chili peppers, dried basil and dried oregano.  I put the soup bone in the pot, and added 4 cups of au jus!  I cooked it on high for a couple hours, then added cubed zucchini, cut Dragon's Lingere beans and barley.  I cooked it for another couple hours and then added a corn starch slurry to thicken it slightly- I didn't add very much, because I wanted it to be more like a stoup!

I served it with pita bread and hummus.

I don't think I would change anything about this one...  And next time I won't be so afraid of my soup bone! ;) :)

Introduction: Time to raid the cupboards!

So, The last few months have brought many changes to the lives of Aaron and I.  We moved into a new house in March, our first baby was born in April and Aaron started a new job in June!  With that new job, our income was cut into half of what it was.  That has necessitated a change in my cooking- I've had to make do with what's in my pantry and "invent" new recipes!  All I can say is thank goodness for homegrown beef from my parents, and lamb from my sister!

This blog is inspired and created because I am learning to cook supper with ingredients that I have in my pantry. Unfortunately, I have made some yummy dishes in the past, but can't remember them because I forgot to write them down!  This is my way of recording them for myself, but knowing that there are others out there who are on a tight budget as well, I thought I would share my experiments (good and bad!) and how I would change them if necessary!

So, I hope you enjoy the journey as I have, and that you will have the gumption to try it yourself whether you try my recipes or invent your own!

Enjoy!

PS Just a simple warning- I don't measure anything.... so pretty much I just guess and put stuff in till it tastes right! ;)