Spaghetti al Caffe

Ingredients:

• 4 medium onions, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons. olive oil
• 2 lbs. lean ground beef
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 12 oz. chopped mushrooms
• 1 can whole peeled tomatoes, chopped
• 3/4  cup strong coffee
• pinch of sugar (optional)
• salt, pepper, oregano, and basil to taste.

Directions:

1. Heat large pot to medium high.
2. Put the oil in the pot, then add onions and garlic. Brown until golden.
3. Add the ground beef, tomato sauce, mushrooms and coffee. Simmer for 30 minutes, adding water if necessary.
4. Add seasonings to taste and simmer another 5 minutes.
5. Serve over cooked spaghetti

Written by Ian McKenzie on December 5th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Beef and Main Dish and Mediterranean and Italian and Pasta.

Sausage and Potato Stew

Ingredients:

• 1 slice Canadian bacon
• 1 Carrot — finely chopped
• 1 Celery stalk — finely chopped
• 1 Onion — finely chopped
• 1 Garlic clove — minced
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 28 ounce can Plum Tomatoes6 Potatoes — cubed
• 1 ound Italian sausage — (cut into 2″ pieces)


• Salt and pepper to taste


• fresh parsley or basil for garnish

Directions:

1. Fry bacon in a large non-stick saucepan until crisp.


2. Add carrot, celery, onion, garlic and basil.


3. Saute in pan drippings until onion is lightly browned.


4. Add tomatoes, potatoes and sausage. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low.


5. Simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally,  adding water for desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.


6. Optional: add cubed zucchini, yellow squash.


7. Serve garnished with chopped fresh parsley or basil.

For Crockpot: After browning step, put in crockpot with remaining ingredients and cook for 8  or 9 hours. Serve with crusty bread.

Written by Ian McKenzie on December 5th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Main Dish and Mediterranean and Pork and One Pot Meals and Stew.

Sacher Torte Bites

My favourite Christmas cookie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter/margarine
• 1 package instant chocolate pudding (4 serving size)
• 1 egg
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• apricot jam
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 3 Tablespoons butter/margarine

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Cream butter and pudding mix together.
3. Beat in egg.
4. Mix in flour.
5. Shape into small balls, roll in sugar and place on greased baking sheet.
6. Make a dent in each ball with your thumb.
7. Bake for 5 minutes, remove cookies from oven and press dent again. Continue baking for 10 more minutes.
8. Fill dent with apricot jam.
9. Melt chocolate and butter in saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently.
10. Glaze top of cooled cookie with melted chocolate.

Written by Ian McKenzie on December 5th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Baking and Cookies and Holiday Recipes.