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Christmas & Thanksgiving, Dinner ideas

Simple Roast Beef Recipe

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This Simple Roast Beef Recipe is just that simple to make. All we are doing here is seasoning with salt and cracked pepper and baking at 375 f for 1 hour. 

WHAT KIND OF ROAST BEEF IS GOOD FOR THE HOLIDAYS

  • RIBEYE ROAST is typically used more for around the holidays and has a fine texture.

However you can use whatever type of roast beef you want as all the below cuts do work well for baking in the oven. 

  • RIBEYE ROAST is typically used more for around the holidays and has a fine texture.

WHAT ROAST BEEF IS THE MOST TENDER

  • The Rib Roast

So depending on what you can find in the store it is best to keep all the above in mind.

If the Rib Roast is on sale or it is around the Holidays.

I will splurge and pick that up, however on most occasions I will go for a cheaper cut and it works just fine for us. 

What I like to do is make a Roast say on a Sunday, then slice it thin the next day and make hot “Roast Beef” sandwiches for the next night’s dinner. It allows me to cook one meal and have it for two dinners for us all in one. 

A roast beef sandwich consists of thinly cut beef, mustard, cheese and lettuce on a Kaiser bun.

CAN ROAST BEEF BE PINK

  • Yes, some people PREFER their meat rare. Rare is when you cut the beef in the middle with a knife and it is bright pink in the middle.
  • Well done meat, has no pink inside at all.

So what type of roast are you familiar with making? I encourage you to give this simple recipe a try. 

Really it is not difficult at all to prepare. I like to bake this in a cast iron skillet, however you can do it in a dutch oven or any other type of baking pan.

Also be sure to remove the Roast once cooked from the baking pan and allow it to sit for 20 minutes before slicing and serving. 

You also will have some beef drippings left in the roasting pan, so feel free to add 1 tbsp of cornstarch and 1/2 cup of water in their to create a gravy if desired. 

WHAT TO SERVE WITH ROAST BEEF

  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Gravy
  • A Vegetable of your liking
  • Salad

SPICES THAT GO WELL ON A ROAST

  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Paprika
  • Onion Powder
  • Garlic Powder
  • Oregano
  • Cayenne pepper

The recipe I GAVE was for a basic Roast, sometimes I will use Rosemary too and garlic powder.

But for this recipe I wanted to keep it simple.

And simple is DELICIOUS too!

IS ROAST BEEF GLUTEN FREE

Yes

HOW TO MAKE ROAST BEEF

BEFORE COOKING LET YOUR ROAST SIT OUT ON THE COUNTER UNTIL IT REACHES ROOM TEMPERATURE. 

You can use COOK Roast beef in your favorite Roasting pan or a cast iron skillet which I prefer. 

  • First you will want to preheat your oven to 375 F
  • Then unwrap your Roast and place it on a large cutting board.
  • If there is string around it, cut it off and remove. 
  • Season generally on all sides with cracked pepper, using your hands to make it stick all over.
  • Then you will want to season it on all side with salt. 
  • Place in the oven on your Roasting Pan on the middle rack and cook anywhere from 2 to 3 hours. It is recommended to cook for “20 minutes per pound”. 
  • Serve and enjoy!

HOW TO MAKE CASHEW CHICKEN SAUCE

Some people use Hoisin sauce in there sauce, I prefer Oyster which makes it less sweet.

  • Oyster Sauce – feel free to use Hoisin
  • Soy sauce
  • Cornstarch
  • Sesame oil
  • Shaoxing wine
  • Chicken stock or Vegetable
  • Sugar
  • White pepper

IS CASHEW CHICKEN SWEET

Cashew chicken should not be only sweet, however there are some places that make it sweet. Traditional Cashew Chicken should have a balance of flavors. Which make it sweet, spicy and savory!

WHAT TO SERVE WITH ROAST BEEF

You can try and of these side dishes below, all would go well with Roast Beef.

Notes: This recipe can also be made with just about any meat such as chinese pork, beef or shrimp.  Plus, if you like a little more heat to your dish then feel free to add some red pepper chili flakes or some fresh chili paste. 

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

If you make this recipe, I would love to hear about it! You can leave a 5 star review in the comments below! Thank you very much for reading and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox!

Dinner ideas

Newfoundland Cod Au Gratin

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Newfoundland Cod Au Gratin is a traditional recipe that comes from the Maritimes in Eastern Canada. It’s also super easy to make and absolutely delicious! 

Newfoundland Cod Au Gratin

If you’re looking for a excellent recipe that utilizes fresh or frozen cod fish, then you have just found it!

It is finished off in the oven or under the broiler till it gets perfectly browned.

I made my cod au gratin in two oven safe baking dishes, however you can also make this exact recipe in a 8.1in X 2.1in baking dish. 

Wanting to make more? Simply double the recipe with my easy to use recipe adjuster above in the ingredients section! Then you can use a large baking dish and serve more people with that!

WHAT IS COD AU GRATIN? 

Cod Au Gratin is a dish that originates from the maritime provinces in Canada, Newfoundland to be exact. It is a dish consisting of fresh cod, flour, bread crumbs, lemon juice, cheese, and other seasonings and spices.

Some people use breadcrumbs and onions, while others don’t. For this dish we used onion powder, panko bread crumbs and a little dijon mustard. It is all about personal preference when it comes to making this or any dish. 

We ask our Direction of Operation what he thought, about the dishes original origins. He stated that it is a well known fact that Newfoundland has a deep connection to it’s Irish and English heritage.

However he thinks that the dish was introduced by the French. What do you think?

If anyone knows indefinitely, we would love to hear about it! 

CAN I USE FROZEN COD FOR COD A GRATIN?

Yes, and that is what I used. Just be sure to defrost it and pat it dry prior to using. I find the best way to defrost fish is in a warm bath of water. Not hot and not cold, luke warm is perfect. 

HOW TO MAKE NEWFOUNDLAND COD AU GRATIN?

 

HOW LONG TO COOK COD AU GRATIN

  • You will want to start with some fresh cod or frozen that has been defrosted and patted dry.
  • Then you will want to set aside some shredded cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese.
  • You will start by heating some milk in a small saucepan till hot, once the milk has reached that hot consistency. Remove it from the heat and create the roux.
  • Create a roux by heating the butter first then flour then whisking the milk in with a whisk to create a smooth texture. 
  • Turn up the heat to medium heat before adding in the parmesan cheese and dijon mustard. Then remove from the heat and set aside.
  • Place the fish in the bottom of a shallow baking dish and toss with olive oil then season with onion powder and salt + pepper.
  • Once the fish has been seasoned, simply pour over the roux and season with fresh dill. 
  • In a small bowl, mix the panko bread crumbs with olive oil and 2 tbsp of water and place overtop of the fish/roux.
  • Cover with the shredded cheddar cheese and bake at 350
  • Individual cod au gratin dishes should take about 30 minutes.
  • Larger dishes take a bit longer, be sure to check the center of the dish to ensure the fish is flaky and cooked before serving! 

I’m really surprised that I have never heard of this dish before, however Canada is a BIG Country.

And Newfoundland is located on the far east and I on the West. So I guess it makes sense, but now that I know of it.

I am forever hooked!! It is not only super simple to make and it is also a very healthy and a hearty meal that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

WHAT GOES WITH COD AU GRATIN?

  • Salad
  • Corn on the cob, frozen corn or another vegetable of your liking

I recently learned about this dish from another Canadian food blogger named Dawn who is over at Girl Heart Food.

She actually lives in Newfoundland and shared her recipe on her instagram feed last week, I was immediately intrigued and vowed to try it.

After doing some more research on it, I learned their are slightly different ways to make it. And so I used what skills I have in the kitchen and made my own variation. 

I hope you give it a try, because it is absolutely amazing!

CAN COD AU GRATIN BE FROZEN?

Yes, that is if you are using fresh cod to begin with. You will want to purchase the freshest cod possible, then you will make the dish exactly as stated.

However before freezing it, be sure to allow the roux to cool down completely before pouring over the fish and do not bake it. Safe that for the day you want to eat it. Remove from the freezer and simply bake at 350 for 45 minutes till done!

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

If you make this recipe, I would love to hear about it! You can leave a 5 star review in the comments below! Thank you very much for reading and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox!

Inspired by two Newfoundland Canadian Bloggers, you can find their recipes here: Cod Au Gratin & cod au grati

Chicken, Curries, Dinner ideas, Instant Pot, Slow Cooker recipes

Spicy Coconut Chicken Curry

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This Spicy Coconut Chicken Curry is a fusion type dish that I came up with in the past year or so.

This dish is packed with flavors that your sure to enjoy!

As you may know, I love Thai and Indian food. So you will always find all those types of spices in my pantry along with coconut milk.

For this recipe, I have infused spices from both cultures, to come up with this Chicken Potato Curry recipe, that I think is worth sharing. And have made time and time again in my kitchen. 

Everything goes so well together to make a creamy, spicy and flavorful curry. Serve over a bed of jasmine rice or alongside some naan bread.

NAAN bread also goes amazingly well with this meal. You can find that recipe at the bottom of this post!

This dish can be made with shrimp too, just add your shrimp during the last 5 minutes of cooking and omit the step  of cooking the chicken. 

Cooking Methods:

  • Pressure Cooker: Cook for approx. 10 minutes – after following the initial steps 1-6.
  • Slow Cooker: Place on LOW for 2-3 hours HIGH for 3 hours. – after following the initial steps 1-6.
  • Stove Top: Cook covered on low for 60 minutes. – after following the initial steps 1-6.


DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

If you make this recipe, I would love to hear about it! You can leave a 5 star review in the comments below! Thank you very much for reading and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox!

 

 

If your a CURRY lover like me. Then you will want to try these dishes below!

LOOKING FOR AN AWESOME NAAN BREAD RECIPE TO SERVE ALONGSIDE THIS CURRY? Then look no further, I got you covered! My Garlic Naan Bread Recipe is a sure WINNER!