Cuisine: Stew
New Orleans Gumbo
Gumbo and Jambalaya always remind me of my aunt Marjorie. She was a fabulous cook
and really inspired me on my cooking journey. She taught me many things, mostly about cooking. She taught me everything she knew about Indian food. She and my uncle lived in India for a year in the early sixties. They lived in New Orleans for well over 30 years and taught me how to make Jambalaya, gumbo, shrimp creole, and the list goes on.... This New Orleans Gumbo is a classic Creole recipe. It’s chicken, andouille sausage, shrimp, and fresh okra simmered with a dark roux and served over rice.
By - Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 1 hr
- Yields: 10 Servings
Kielbasa Cabbage Stew
This Kielbasa Cabbage Stew is simple, savory, and satisfying. It’s the perfect easy-to-make meal to take the chill off a cold day. Since it comes together in just one pot, you’ll spend less time cleaning up and more time enjoying a bowl of pure comfort. Serve it with a thick slice of crusty bread.
Woolworth’s Frito Pie
A Cult Classic
I was watching The Best Thing I Ever Ate on the Food Network last night with my daughter, Zoe. One of the chef’s favorite things is Frito Pie. She was very intrigued. I remember eating it as a child. One of the best ways to eat it, however, is to pour the chili right into a mini bag of Fritos and top with cheese. This is a great thing to eat if you are out at a football game somewhere cold.
As to the origin, some say Frito Pie was invented at Woolworth’s in Sante Fe, New Mexico. Corporate lore at Frito-Lay, however, say that Daisy Dean Doolin, mother of the guy who first bought the rights to market Fritos in 1932, not only perfected her son’s product, but also made it into a dish as a way to help market the crispy fried corn chips.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Polish Hunter’s Stew (Bigos)
Bigos is a traditional Polish hunter's stew, known for its hearty combination of wild mushrooms and tomato-sauerkraut base. This stew is originally made with game meats like venison or wild boar, but this version uses kielbasa, which is a bit easier to obtain!
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Bean Cassoulet – Slow-Cooker Meal Prep
Slow-cooker Meal Prep
Want to get ahead for the week without spending hours cooking? Prep all your meals with this simple freezer bag hack. Simply throw all your prepped ingredients into a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Then when you are exhausted and don’t feel like cooking, pour the prepped meal into a slow-cooker and relax!
This Bean Cassoulet is a classic, hearty French stew that's perfect for a comforting meal. Most cassoulet recipes have sausage and meat, but this is a satisfying vegetarian version.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 3 hrs
- Yields: 4 Servings
Hard Cider Pot Roast with Mushrooms, Carrots, and Onions
Hard Cider Pot Roast with Mushrooms, Carrots, and Onions is a classic comfort food dish that is perfect for autumn. The beef chuck roast is braised in flavorful hard cider and beef broth with mushrooms, carrots, and onions until it is fall-apart tender. The resulting gravy is rich and savory, and the vegetables are perfectly cooked. You can serve over/alongside creamy mashed potatoes or herbed wide noodles.
- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 3 hrs 5 mins
- Yields: 6 - 8 Servings
Coq Au Vin Blanc
Coq au vin is a classic French dish of chicken that is braised in wine, with bacon, and mushrooms. A red Burgundy wine is typically used, though there are variations in the different regions of France, such as coq au vin jaune, coq au riesling, coq au pourpre or coq au violet, and coq au Champagne. I actually prefer it using white wine. Coq au vin is basically a chicken stew.
- Prep: 35 mins
- Cook: 1 hr
- Yields: 6 Servings
Beef & Barley Stew (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot)
This Beef & Barley Stew couldn't be any easier for a cozy weeknight dinner. Whether you make it in a Slow Cooker or Instant Pot, the results are delicious.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Yields: 12 Servings
Swiss Steak
I made this Swiss Steak in an Instant Pot, but I have also included the stovetop/oven method. Swissing is a British expression used to describe how fabric is stretched between rollers or flattened. The meat in Swiss steak, typically round steak, is pounded flat for tenderizing before being browned and braised. It turns out incredibly tender and delicious. I served it over a bed of mashed potatoes.
- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
