Vegetable Soup

Lots of vegetables, good dose of pepper and beef broth makes this a favorite winter warmer.

2 medium onions, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
6 carrots, chopped
2 cups shredded cabbage
4 cups potatoes, diced
2 cups frozen cut green beans and corn
2 cans chopped tomatoes
1 can Campbells tomato soup
1 qt. cold water
3 tbsp. beef base
1 tbsp. minced garlic
2 tbsp. Italian seasoning
2 tbsp. black pepper

Add all ingredients to a stock pot.  Bring to boil, stir and simmer 1 hour.

Meatloaf

1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1 cup diced white onions
1 egg
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tbsp. minced dry onions
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. thyme
Italian bread crumbs

Mix all ingredients except for bread crumbs.  Add crumbs till desired textured about 1 cup.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Bake meatloaf for about 30 minutes.
While baking make glaze.

1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup Tabasco Chipolte sauce
2 tbsp. honey

Baste meatloaf with glaze and bake another 15 minutes.  You can just use ketchup if you don't want it spicy.

Shrimp and Corn Chowder

This is a repost of one of my favorites.  By using precooked salad shrimp, this chowder is actually very inexpensive.  It's also very easy to make.

1 large onion, chopped
2 cups celery, chopped
2 cans tomatoes, diced, drained
1 qt. plus 1 cup double strength chicken stock
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. tarragon
1 tsp. black pepper
2 cups frozen corn
2 red potatoes, diced
1 lb. cooked salad shrimp
1 pint heavy cream

In a large stock pot, add all ingredients except cream.  Bring to boil and let simmer at least 30 minutes.  Add cream.

Beef Brisket, Goulash Stew

This is a great winter warmer.

2 lb. beef brisket
2 cups onions, chopped
2 cups celery, chopped
2 cups carrots, sliced
1 can sauerkraut
1 cup shredded cabbage
2 cups red potatoes, quartered
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can Campbell's tomato soup

1 tbsp. minced garlic
4 tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. caraway seed
2 tbsp. dried chopped onion
1 tbsp. black pepper
2 tbsp. all purpose flour

Cut brisket in half and pin with meat tenderizer.  Season with steak seasoning and refrigerate over night. 
Heat stock pot to medium high heat.  Turn on slow cooker to high setting.  Add Rotels, soup and sauerkraut to slow cooker. 
Add 1/4 cup EVOO to pot, brown brisket well on both sides and add to slow cooker.
Add vegetables to pot and saute for 2 minutes, add seasoning, flour and cook for about 2 minutes.  Add 1 qt. double strength beef stock and bring to a boil.
Add veggies and stock to slow cooker.  Let brisket braise for about 4 hours until fork tender.

Salmon BLT

This was a big seller at Riordan's.

8 oz. fresh salmon filet, sliced in half lengthwise
1 tsp. fresh dill
olive oil

4 slices multi grain bread, toasted
shredded romaine lettuce
4 very thin tomato slices
4 crispy cooked bacon slices

2 tbsp. mayo
1/2 tsp. fresh dill
1/2 tsp. lemon juice

Coat thin salmon filets with dill and broil in hot oven until done, about 4 minutes.  Top with cooked bacon and heat until hot. 

While salmon is cooking mix mayo, dill and lemon juice.

When salmon is done assemble sandwiches with dill mayo, bacon, lettuce and tomato.

Maryland Steamed Crabs

When you steam crabs in Maryland, you need a lot of Old Bay seasoning and a lot of beer.  You actually use some of the beer for the steaming. : ) 

In a large steam pot, fill bottom with water, 1 onion, 2 cans beer and 1 packet Zatarain's Crab Boil spice.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat.  Place 1 dozen Maryland Blue Crabs in steam pot top and liberally cover with white vinegar, then Old Bay seasoning.  Steam 10 - 15 minutes until crabs are done.  Serve with Old Bay, malt vinegar, butter and plenty of cold beer.

Old Bay Shrimp Boil

Here's our Maryland version of the N'awleans Shrimp Boil.

1 packet Zatarain's Crab Boil
1/2 pound smoked Polish sausage
3 ears corn, broke in half
6 red potatoes, cut in half
2 tbsp. Old Bay Seasoning
1 tbsp. Tabasco Red Pepper sauce
1 lb. 16/20 shrimp, peeled and deveined

In a large stock pot, add all ingredients except shrimp.   Cover with cold water plus 1 inch.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 20-30 minutes or until potatoes are done.  Add shrimp and cook about 4 minutes.  Drain in a colander and pour out on a platter.  If desired seperate sausage, potatoes, corn and shrimp.  Spray with liquid butter and sprinkle with Old Bay.  Serve with cocktail sauce.