Brownifer Bites: mashed potatoes
Showing posts with label mashed potatoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mashed potatoes. Show all posts

Monday, May 15, 2017

Mushroom Bourguignon (with recipe)

This recipe is so delicious; you'll almost forget it's vegetarian!  The flavors work so well together and of
course, whatever wine you choose to cook with, a glass of that same wine will pair perfectly with your meal!

I know when you're weighing your mushrooms in the produce section that it will seem like a lot - but trust us:  it's right.

We've tweaked the recipe a bit and it turned out amazing.  Depending on the amount of mushrooms you end up with, you may need to add a little extra broth or wine.  Don't be afraid to play with it!

Make a list and head to the store to make this for dinner tonight!  You won't be sorry!




 Ingredients:

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 pounds portobello, shiitake or crimini mushrooms, sliced
4 Medium/Large Leeks, trimmed and thickly sliced
1 large carrot, diced

1 medium onion, diced
1 heaping teaspoon fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 1teaspoon dried
sea salt & cracked pepper, to taste
2 or 3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup full-bodied red wine
2 cups vegetable broth
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 1/2 tablespoons flour (you can use arrowroot powder to keep it gluten-free if you prefer)
Mashed potatoes - made as you like them



Directions:


  • Cut potatoes - get started on the stove for mashed potatoes
  • Slice Mushrooms and leeks, add to soup pot with olive oil
  • Chop onion and carrot, set aside
  • Sear mushrooms and leeks until they begin to take on a little coloring, about 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully remove from pot and set aside.
  • Reduce heat to medium, add one tablespoon of oil. Add the carrots, onions, thyme, salt and pepper, saute for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are lightly browned. Toss in the garlic and cook for another minute.
  • Slowly add the wine to the pot and scrap any bits that are stuck to the bottom or sides. Turn heat to high and reduce wine by half.
  • Stir in tomato paste and broth, mix. Add in mushrooms and leeks, including any juices that have collected, back to the pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, or until mushrooms are very tender. Let simmer, covered or cover askewed, stirring occasionally and enjoy the wonderful aroma.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the remaining tablespoon oil, or water, with flour to make a paste, stir into the stew. Simmer for 10 minutes. If the sauce is too thin, boil it down to the right consistency. Season to taste.
  • Serve spooned over mashed potatoes (or cooked grain/pasta of your choice), sprinkled with a pinch of fresh thyme.


We used Swallow Pinot Noir to make this - it's inexpensive and it was really good!  I suggest buying 2 bottles of whatever you choose - some to drink while cooking, some to cook with and more to enjoy your food with!  

The original recipe we tweaked a bit can be seen here:
http://www.simple-veganista.com/2012/11/mushroom-bourguignon_10.html


Saturday, September 26, 2015

Trout Cakes and Mashed Potatoes



The kiddos love to cook with us!  Well, sometimes.  Today was a college football day and a few of them just weren't in the mood to sit and watch the games.  Now, I know they can make mashed potatoes, so that was easy.  But what else to use?  All I could think of was some trout that we had caught and cooked that was waiting to be eaten in the refrigerator.

So we de-boned the meat and made trout cakes!  The kids love to impress their dad and I with pretty plating when they make food - so this was their final product!  Of course, potatoes and trout aren't a usual pairing but ... the kids were so proud and ... both were delicious so ... win/win!

Happy Footballing, college fans!

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Brownie's Birthday Dinner



We were so swamped this weekend with my sister-in-law's wedding!  Somehow, the kids and I pulled off plans to make Brownie a fabulous dinner we knew he'd love.

The kids helped me make the French Onion Soup, his favorite, they made the mashed potatoes and one of my stepson's even took his Bobby Flay perfect grilling instructions out to the BBQ grill and grilled the steaks 100% by himself!  He did an amazing job and we are SO incredibly proud of him!

Brownie was relaxing and enjoying watching us go in and out of the kitchen - it was a fabulous birthday dinner for him, he loved it!

Our kids are awesome!