Cold Weather Food - Stew, Meatloaf, Crockpot Chicken!

So, these have been in the works for about 2 months.  Yes.  I have been trying to post for two.months.  Work, toddlerhood, family, and friends have taken the front seat, which the way it should be... but now, I give you three delicious, and fairly easy, meals.  They are each from a different friend (thanks mom friends!), and therefore are minimally modified.

Easy Meatloaf (not dry!)

• 2 lbs ground beef or turkey
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup ketchup (plus optional 1/4 cup for topping)
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley (4 tbsp if dry)
• 1 tbsp coconut flour
• 1/4 cup almond meal or 1/4 cup gluten free breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 3/4 tsp dried oregano
• salt and pepper to taste

Heat a skillet over medium heat and saute the onions and garlic until lightly browned.  Let cool, then combine with remaining ingredients.  Shape into 6 equal sized loaves and place in a cooking pan.  If desired, spread some ketchup over the top of each (about 2 tbsp a loaf). Bake at 425 degrees for about 25 minutes.  Center should be moist but not pink.

We like to serve with broccoli or sauteed greens, and top with sriracha mayonnaise...

The Best Beef Stew - crock pot or stove

• 3 lbs boneless beef stew meat, cut into chunks
• 3 tbsp flour, or arrowroot powder
• 1 tsp salt, plus more, to taste
• 1 tsp freshly ground pepper, plus more, to taste
• 1 package of sliced mushrooms (optional)
• 2 medium carrots, chopped
• 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
• 1 potato, peeled and cubed (or 5 small red potatoes)
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp dijon
• 1 tbsp crushed rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 2 cups beef broth
• 4 oz. thick-cut bacon, chopped (optional)

If adding bacon... In a large fry pan over medium heat, cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain. Pour off the drippings into a small heatproof bowl, leaving about 1 Tbs. drippings in the pan. Set the pan, reserved drippings and bacon aside.

In a plastic bag, combine the flour, the 1 tsp. salt and the 1/2 tsp. pepper. Add the beef chunks and shake to coat evenly with the flour mixture. Heat pan on medium, and add the bacon drippings or olive oil. Add half of the beef chunks and cook, turning once, until well browned. Transfer the beef to the slow cooker, or if doing all on stove top, set aside.

Add the veggies to the pan, with more oil, and let them brown for a few minutes, then also remove from pan and set aside. If in crock pot, now scatter the veggies on top of the meat.

Now, combine the broth, mustard, and tomato paste in the same pan. Mix well, bring to a boil and deglaze the pan, stirring to scrape up the browned bits on the pan bottom. If doing all on stove top, add the wine and all other components back in, as well as rosemary and bay leaf, and cook on a low, simmering heat for 1-4 hours.

If in crock pot, pour the wine and contents of the pan over the vegetables and beef. Cover and cook on the high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours or the low-heat setting for 8 to 9 hours. The beef should be very tender. Stir in the bacon and the rosemary. Cook, uncovered, on the high-heat setting for 10 minutes more to thicken the sauce slightly. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Either way, it's delicious with some crusty, well buttered bread, or the primal friendly 90 second bread!

**minimally modified from http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/beef-stew-with-bacon.html 


Super Easy Chicken Maribella

• 2 lbs chicken breast or thighs
• 5 small red potatoes, cubed with skin on
• 1 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 cup manzanilla green olives, with juice
• 1 1/2 cups prunes
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning 
• 1 bay leaf
• salt and pepper to taste

Place potatoes in the bottom of the crockpot, then add the chicken on top.  Next, pour all remaining ingredients over it all.  Place on low for 8 hours and enjoy!