DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Posts Tagged ‘seasoning’

Friday Foodie Feature – Oxtail Stew

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

This week’s Foodie Feature is Slow Cooked Oxtail Stew

Oxtails or tails of cattle is a very popular dish in *South Africa and this bony, gelatin-rich meat is usually slow-cooked.  In our Delaware home as soon as the weather cools Oxtails are definitely on the menu-of-must-haves and this is how I slow cook mine.  

 Unfortunately the cost of Oxtails in the grocery stores can be outrageous which is why I stalk Dutch Country Farmer’s Market to get them!

Ingredients:

  • Oxtails 6-8 pieces
  • Vegetable Broth
  • Ground Ginger
  • Brown Sugar
  • Vegetables: Onions/Celery/Parsley/Carrots
  • Canned or Fresh Tomatoes – optional
  • Garlic fresh or minced
  • Oxtail Seasoning
  • Dry Beans or Lentils
  • Flour
  • Olive Oil

Put Oxtails into a plastic bag and pour in enough flour to coat, adding as little or as much of the Oxtail Seasoning, Ground Ginger and Brown Sugar according to your tastes.  Seal bag and rub all dry ingredients onto Oxtails.

Pour in just enough olive oil to cover bottom of a pan, heat on low and add coated Oxtails turning to brown on all sides.

In the meantime, chop and dice veggies

I also added a little Curry to the browning Oxtails, however, this is optional.

Remove browned Oxtails from the pan, then rinse the lentils or beans. Coat inside the Crock Pot with cooking spray for easier clean up.

Put in the Oxtails…

…add lentils or beans

…top with sliced and diced veggies

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Pour in 2 containers of broth or use water seasoned with Beef Bouillon Cubes – enough to cover all ingredients

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Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 depending on your Crock Pot/Slow Cooker

I had to work late and none of my men took pictures so I don’t have the finished product, but trust me it was good!  You can add any vegetable or potato or omit the beans and serve over rice.  No matter how you make it, it’s oh so good and filling especially on a cold winter’s night!

What is your favorite Slow Cooked Stew?

* This post was written only a few hours before Mr. Mandela’s death

RIP “Giant for Justice”

mr mandela

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Crocktober – Cajun Chicken & Shrimp

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

Today’s Crocktober Foodie Feature is Cajun Chicken (of course) AND Shrimp

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 Ingredients:

  • 1 pound skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 can stewed tomatoes – undrained and chopped
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pound shelled shrimp, deveined and cleaned
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Hot Sauce to taste
  • 1 cup of prepared rice
  • * diced red pepper and celery rib can also be included

Spray Crock Pot with cooking oil

Place chicken thighs in Crock Pot, top with onion, garlic, tomatoes with juice, paprika, pepper, sugar, and Cajun seasoning

Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours – depending on Slow Cooker

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In the last hour of cooking add the shrimp, lemon juice and hot sauce.

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Serve over hot cooked rice

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It is always great to come home to a fully cooked meal with a wonderful aroma.

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Friday Foodie Feature – Fiesta Chicken

Hello Friends and Happy Crocktober Fri-Yay!

I missed a few Friday Foodie Features last month but the timing is now right with the official start of Autumn. October begins the season of football, family and comfort foods and it also means a return to my all time favorite way to make a meal and that is with the Crock Pot or Slow Cooker.

It wasn’t too long ago that there were only a few Slow Cooker Seasonings available at the grocery stores, now there are several more options available on the supermarket shelves.  I’ve tried a few of the new ones by McCormick’s and the Fiesta Chicken was a hit in my house, my men loved it – ‘ole

Ingredients:

  • 1 can of black beans
  • 2 cans of diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1-2 lbs or chicken thighs or breasts
  • 1 packet of McCormick’s Slow Cookers Seasoning – Fiesta Chicken

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OOTD September 099 Spray Crock Pot with cooking spray or use liner, put in chicken thighs or breast – remember NOT to wash the chicken.

OOTD September 100 Mix all ingredients into a bowl and stir

OOTD September 101 Pour mixture over chicken

OOTD September 103 I had this frozen tomato so I added it

tip when a tomato begins to soften, don’t throw it away, put it in the freezer to use later in sauces or the Slow Cooker.

OOTD September 102 Cook on low 7-8 hours

OOTD September 119 Served over rice – Cilantro optional – dinner is served!

Have a fantabulous Day – Smooches!

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4 Ingredient 40 Minute Meal

Hello friends and Happy Friday Eve!

Here’s another 4 ingredient 40 minute meal idea

Ingredients:

Chicken Strips/Tenders

Frozen Mixed Pepper Strips

Olive Oil and your choice of Seasonings

Jasmine Rice

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Rinse and season chicken tenders, cook in a little olive oil for approximately 15 minutes or until no longer pink

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Add frozen pepper strips and boil water for rice

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Cook rice according to package

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Cover and turn heat on low for approximately 15 minutes

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Spoon chicken and peppers over rice, serve and enjoy!

Linking up with Katherine’s Corner – hop on over and have some fun!

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Buffalo Bleu Crockpot Meal

On Saturday I purchased three seasoning packs from Sugar Spice and Everything Nice: Buffalo Bleu, Cracked Crab and Habanero & Green Chile. On the back of each label is a recipe for making a Dip but I decided to use the Buffalo Bleu as a seasoning for a crockpot meal.

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Ingredients:
Frozen chicken thighs
Package Buffalo Bleu seasoning
1 cup water
Jasmine Rice
Mandarin Oranges (optional)

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Spray Crockpot with cooking spray or use a Slow Cooker liner for easy clean up

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Mixed seasoning with 1 cup water – could have used less but didn’t want dry chicken

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Place frozen chicken thighs in crockpot, cover with seasoning mix, cook on low

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Returned home to a kitchen smelling wonderful!
Cooked rice according to instructions, warmed oranges in microwave for a few seconds

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Chicken and rice was served with a small salad and was delicious.  The seasoning did not make the chicken overly spicy nor salty as I expected, I used drippings over rice.  My men and I thoroughly enjoyed this dish and am looking forward to using the Habanero & Chile seasoning as a dip.

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Paired extremely well with a glass (or two) of Liberty Creek Sweet Red Wine !