SANDRA'S PERFECT VENISON/MOOSE/BEEF ROAST with VEGETABLES and GRAVY DINNER – Every time!

This is an ultimate weekend dinner when you're busy,
just place a frozen roast with its trimmings (at the times noted)
into the oven, and
your complete dinner is ready
if you also make your rice ahead of time
so it is ready when your roast and veggies are...

To make a tender Venison Roast, place it “frozen” into a low temperature oven ~ 

and smell the happiness do its work...

Servings: (6 to 8)
Prep: 10 Mins. |
Braise in Oven: 3 to 4 Hrs.,
--depending roast size
and desired doneness

Posted by Sandra

INSTRUCTIONS

***Cook for the first 2 hours:
4 lb. frozen venison roast, trim outer side of excess fat (or moose, or beef roast)
1 (15 oz. can) beef broth
1 cup water
2 (.087 oz.) pkgs. dry pork gravy mix (I prefer McCormick’s Brand)
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground pepper

***Add and cook for an additional 2 hours:
1 medium onion, chopped
2 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1.5” cubes
2 handfuls of baby carrots
2 ribs of celery, cut into 1.5” chunks
8 whole crimini mushrooms

***Serving (Options)
--Horseradish Sauce (for recipe, click here: Sandra's Kicker Horseradish Sauce ~ THIS IS A MUST!!!
--Prepared steamed rice

METHOD

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.

Place frozen venison roast trimmed of excess fat into dutch oven, along with remaining ingredients. Cover to dutch oven, and cook for 2 hours.

Remove dutch oven, and add the veggies, and place back in oven, covered, and cook for 2 more hours, or until your desired doneness is reached when inserting a meat thermometer into the center of roast, refer to the chart below* (Note: The Venison Roast will increase 5 to 10 degrees more while it stands.) When desired doneness is reached, let Venison Roast stand for 5 minutes out of the oven prior to serving for the inner juices to redistribute before carving.

Meanwhile, about an hour prior to the Venison Roast and veggies being done, begin preparing the Kicker Horseradish Sauce and refrigerate it 1 hr. prior to serving, including starting the steamed rice.

*Doneness Chart: Internal Temperature of Venison Roast (or Moose, or Beef) will read:
--Medium-rare is 135-140
--Medium is 140-145
--Medium-well is 150-155
--Well-done is 155-160

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Tip: If you prefer a thicker sauce, remove and roast to a platter to rest. Place the dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-high heat, and mix a slurry consisting of equal parts  (about 2 tablespoons) of water and cornstarch and add slurry to the sauce while whisking, and continue cooking just until a boiling point is achieved.

MAX'S BRAISED CHICKEN and MUSHROOMS with ROASTED ASPARAGUS

This method of cooking the poultry is what 
makes it very tender and oh so flavorful...

Servings: (6)
Prep: 5 Mins. |
Cook: Just slightly over 1 Hr.

Posted by of Max via Sandra

INGREDIENTS

*Braised Chicken and Mushrooms
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 medium-size boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise
kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste
1 garlic clove, minced
2 (10.75 oz. cans) cream of mushroom soup (Campbell Brand)
1 (0.87 oz. pkg.) dry pork gravy mix (McCormick Brand)
1 cup celery, chopped
8 fresh crimini mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons yoshida sauce, (or for recipe, click here: Sandra's Homemade Yoshida Sauce)
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning, (or for recipe, click here: Sandra's Poultry Seasoning Blend)
1 handful fresh parsley, chopped

--3 cups prepared steamed rice

***Roasted Asparagus
1 bunch of pencil-thin asparagus, tough ends removed (roasting time may vary, depending upon thickness)
olive oil
kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste

METHOD

*Braised Chicken and Mushrooms:
Heat olive oil in a dutch oven, or large heavy-bottom skillet, to medium-high heat. Add the halved chicken pieces, and sprinkle with kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste, and sear on each side, until golden brown. Remove excess grease with a spoon, while retaining 1 tablespoon in dutch oven.  Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Add all the remaining ingredients, and bring to boil, and then reduce heat to a low simmer, cover, and continue cooking for 1 hour, while occasionally stirring.  Taste for seasonings, adding additional kosher salt and ground pepper, if need be.

**Prepare the steamed rice, and the following Roasted Asparagus; so they finish cooking at the same time the Braised Chicken and Mushroom mixture is due to be done.

***Roasted Asparagus:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove rough stems from ends of asparagus by bending them to find their natural breaking point. Place in small ovenproof baking dish and drizzle lightly with olive oil, and sprinkle with kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste. Toss to coat, and spread out asparagus spears evenly into one layer, and roast for 15 to 20 minutes, just until crisp-tender, depending upon thickness.

To serve, place the steamed rice on a plate, and ladle the Braised Chicken and Mushroom mixture over the top, along with placing the Roasted Asparagus on the side – enjoy!


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Tip: Max says this recipe also works excellent using most poultry as well.

SANDRA'S MOROCCAN CHICKEN with SAFFRON and PITA TRIANGLES

A ethnic dish that has a complexity
of flavors, spices, and textures that compliment each other,
which you are simply going to love...

Servings: (2 to 4)
Prep: Marinade 2 hrs. |
Cook: 1 Hr. - 15 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

4 bone-in, skinless chicken breasts

***Marinade
½ teaspoon ground pepper
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 garlic cloves, quartered
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil

***Sauce
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground pepper
1 (15 oz. can) diced fire-roasted tomatoes, drained
¼ cup calamata olives, quartered lengthwise
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Pinch saffron threads (soaked in ¼ cup hot tap water)
2 tablespoons honey (for recipe, click here: Sandra's Homemade Alaska Fireweed Honey)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

***Garnish & Serving Options:
2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted (for garnish)
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
2 to 4 slices of pita bread, each cut into quarters, forming triangles for serving

METHOD

Combine the chicken with the marinade ingredients in a shallow non-reactive baking dish, covered, and leave in refrigerator to marinate for two hours.

Drain the chicken, and pat dry with paper towels, and remove all the garlic pieces (or else they will burn during the following searing process.) Melt the butter and olive oil in a dutch oven over medium-high heat, and add the chicken and sauté, until golden brown on all sides, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate and cover with foil, and set aside.

Meanwhile, place the saffron threads into 1/4 cup of hot tap water, and set aside to let soak for 20 minutes (reserving both liquid and threads).  In a small dry and nonstick skillet, toast the pine nuts over low heat, just until fragrant, and set aside to cool.

After chicken is seared, reduce the heat under dutch oven to low, and add the onion to caramelize by slowly cooking, stirring often, until onions are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Add the garlic, cinnamon, ginger, kosher salt, and pepper and cook 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, and cook for 5 minutes. Add the black olives, chicken broth, saffron with soaking water, honey, lemon juice, and the reserved chicken (including any juices the chicken has given off on the plate), and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cover the dutch oven for 20 minutes. Remove the cover and continue simmering to reduce the sauce for another 15 minutes. Taste sauce for seasonings, adding kosher salt and ground pepper, if need be.

Serve the Moroccan Chicken on a rimmed platter, and garnish with toasted almonds and cilantro, including placing pita triangles along the perimeter for sopping up the sauce (BTW: This dish is meant to be eaten with clean fingers and pita bread as your utensils. – Enjoy!


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Tips: For an even heartier meal, you might also wish to serve this dish with couscous, orzo, or steamed rice.


Also, most moroccan recipes call for raisins to be added at the end of the cooking process, although I do not particularly care for them, but feel free if you choose to do so ;-)

SANDRA'S OVEN BRAISED TEX-MEX CHICKEN

A very flavorful method in which to make
a hearty and rewarding meal that you'll wait in anticipation for...

Servings: (6)
Prep: 15 mins. |
Braise: 1 hr.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

4 boneless chicken thighs, cut in half
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 strips of bacon, sliced
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
½ cup chopped red bell pepper
1 fresh jalapeno, seeds, stems, and ribs removed, and finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup quality white wine
2 (15.5 oz. can) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
--(or your fav. brand of white beans)
1 bay leaf
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1-1/4 cup low-sodium chicken stock
1 tomato, sliced
1/4 cup italian seasoned breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, finely chopped

--Prepared baguette, sliced on the diagonal
--Coleslaw (Click for recipe here: Sandra's Coleslaw)

METHOD

Begin making coleslaw 2 hours before servings for flavors to meld in refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large dutch oven, over medium-low heat, brown the bacon until crispy, and remove to drain on paper towel-lined plate (retaining all the drippings in pot). Raise the heat to medium-high and add the chicken, placing it skin side down. Sear the chicken on both sides, and then remove to the same plate as the bacon.  Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the drippings.  Add the onion, celery, and carrots saute for 3 minutes. Add the red bell pepper, jalapeno, and garlic, and continue sauteing for 2 more minutes. Add the white wine, while scraping bits from bottom of pot, and continue to simmer, until reduced by half. Stir in the beans, bay leaf and poultry seasoning. Return the chicken and bacon to the pot, immersing chicken into vegetable mixture. Add the chicken stock, cover, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove casserole from oven, and top with sliced tomatoes, and then sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Return to oven and continue to bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes longer. Serve family style on a large platter, with a sprinkling of fresh cilantro. Place hot baguette slices around casserole. I also like to serve this dish with a side of coleslaw. - Enjoy!

SANDRA'S OVEN BRAISED CORNED-BEEF BRISKET and CABBAGE with a HORSERADISH SAUCE

Excellent for St. Patrick's Day or any other day of the year...

Servings (6)
Prep: 15 mins.
Cook: 4 hrs.

INGREDIENTS:

--Brisket:
· 4 lb. center-cut corned-brisket, trimmed of visible surface fat
· 1 bottle of beer (Recommend: Alaskan Pale Ale)
· 2 tablespoons pickling spice (tied up in cheesecloth)
· Water to cover
· 3 large garlic cloves, minced
· 1 lemon, quartered, seeds removed
· 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

***Add to pot 1 hour before done:
· 10 medium red potatoes; scrubbed, unpeeled, and cut in half
· 5 medium carrots; scrubbed, and cut into 1” chunks

***Add to pot 20 minutes before done:
· 1 onion, cut into 8 wedges
· 1 large head of green cabbage, cut into 8 wedges

--Optional:  Fresh lemon wedges for serving (although highly recommended)

Horseradish sauce:
· ¾ cup sour cream
· ¼ cup jarred ‘hot’ horseradish
· 1 tablespoon dried chives
· 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Rinse brisket to release its corning salt. Place corned beef in dutch oven and cover with beer and water. Add the pickling spice tied in cheesecloth, then the garlic, lemon wedges, and pepper. Cover pot and bring to boil on stove top.  Transfer dutch oven, covered, to preheated oven, placing it on middle rack. Braise for 3 hours, and add ingredients listed as stated above (1 hour before done), and return, covered, to oven.  After 40 minutes, add remaining ingredients listed as stated above (20 minutes before done), and return, covered, to oven.

Meanwhile, prepare horseradish sauce in a small bowl by adding all  ingredients in order listed; whisk to combine (I like to do so about 1 hr. ahead of time to allow flavors of sauce to meld)

Place vegetables on serving platter, adding brisket sliced against the grain and drizzled with a bit of cooking liquid. Place lemon wedges around edge of platter. Serve meal family style with a side of horseradish sauce. ~ Enjoy!