Peaseats: Gumbo

I love a bowl of Gumbo with potato salad and pickled okra, or just by itself. I know people also love it with rice, both potato salad and rice, or with neither.  However you like to dress up your bowl this recipe has not failed me. 

If you like Gumbo I hope you'll give this recipe a try. 

Chili Dogs (With The BEST Boiled Hot Dogs)

I'm sitting here typing this up and I just watched the Chicago Cubs win the World Series. I don't watch baseball usually. Unless it's live. But either way this would have went it would have been historical. So we watched and it was stressful at times! What a game! Appropriate that this post is about hot dogs, a great ball park food.
I made about 40 of these for a Halloween party, they are a huge hit. My kids hardly ever eat hot dogs and they loved them. I knew that for a crowd I wanted to put them in the slow cooker like I did for DD's Big Hero Six party. As I was putting them in the slow cooker (my Instant Pot was busy with the chili) I thought, I should flavor this water. I choose whole spices like garlic, bay, and celery seeds. It was PERFECT. Usually hot dogs can be salty for us, so I didn't add any salt. I didn't use stock or anything like that. Even my DH, who doesn't really eat hot dogs said they were good. My kids requested them for lunch the next day. I kept the chili hot in a thermos, and cut hot dogs up in there. I sent buns and toppings separate.

Frito Pie (Slow Cooker and Pressure Cooker)

Frito Pie topped with cheese and plain yogurt.

I know, I know. Lots of Instant Pot recipes. It just happens to be soup and stew season, and the Instant Pot makes for great soups and stews. So here's an oldie but goodie that's been adapted for Instant Pot cooking, so I'm posting it as a Manic Monday post. If you prefer a slow cooker you can use that also! You can serve this without the Frito chips and put it over baked potatoes, in a steamed winter squash, or with crackers.

Bo Kho

Have you had Bo Kho? I grew up having it with French bread to dip in the spicy fragrant broth. Not hot spicy, but aromatic herbs spicy. You can make this as spicy hot as you like by adding more spicy chilies to it. This is a Vietnamese dish. I was very fortunate growing up that my parents had such a wonderful variety of friends. Their children in turn because good friends of mine. We would gather weekly for meals at someones house. Late late nights, as they shared stores. Some of the country they left behind to come America for. Other times to sing Karaoke until early morning. And they were always "Auntie" or "Uncle" if not

Instant Pot Chicken and (Rolled) Dumplings

 Rolled Cracker Barrel style Chicken and Dumplings. We had it at night for dinner, and the girls asked me to make more for their school lunches. So the lighting in these pictures of the process is a bit off. Because it was 0 dark hundred. Not really, but six in the morning seems early to me. Making this in the Instant Pot really helps the morning go smoothly, I'm not constantly stirring or checking a pot for one. Second the cook time is reduced quite a bit! For my stove top Chicken and Dumplings please follow this link.

Irish Beef Stew and Irish Soda Bread

Irish Beef Stew and Irish Soda bread.

Is it stew weather yet? I dropped my laptop this past summer and I have a whole folder of things and recipes to blog. Lost somewhere. They can be recovered and I suspect will be when there's time. Eek. I'm debating scheduling this for the fall. It's June 16th right now, so.. maybe September/October? Or, whenever I actually finish the post? Gives me time to test the recipe several ways and update right?

Good news, my smart husband recovered my files, fixed the laptop, and all should be well in that area. So let's talk stew.

Give Peas A Chance Frito Pie

I can't believe I have never made this for the girls. They LOVED it. I mean, we've had Walking Tacos, but not Frito Pie. Really this chili (basically) can be put on pasta, baked potatoes, fries, whatever you want. I made it to our liking spices and all, but adjust the seasonings to what your family likes best. My girls don't like chile with chunks of tomatoes in it, so I didn't use chunks. I don't like beans, so I left them out, I served them on the side for everyone else. This recipe freezes well also which is perfect for quick meals on chilly evenings.
If you are looking for the slow cooker or Instant Pot methods for this Frito Pie, use the search function on the left hand side of my blog.

Paleo/Gluten Free Tip: Serve this over a baked potato and leave out the masa for a grain free, gluten free option. Use coconut amnios or a gluten free soy sauce. Same goes for the Worcestershire sauce.

Give Peas A Chance Frito Pie

1-1.5 pounds lean ground beef
1 tablespoon bacon grease, 17 grams (You can also use butter, ground beef renderings, or olive oil)
1 onion chopped, 220 grams
2 jalapeno diced, 60 grams
2 garlic cloves minced, 6 grams
2 cans tomato sauce (15 ounces each)
1 small can tomato paste (6 ounces)
2 teaspoons cumin, 5 grams
2-3 tablespoons chili powder, 12-18 grams
1 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 grams
1 teaspoon onion powder, 2 grams
1 tablespoon oregano, 2 grams
1-2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 7 grams= 1tbs
1-2 tablespoons soy sauce, 10 grams= 1tbs
4 tablespoons Masa Harina (corn flour- optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Serve with:
Black beans
Onion
Cheddar cheese (shredded)
Frito Chips
Sour cream
Jalapeno slices
Cilantro leaves

1. Brown ground beef. Drain.
2. In the same pot, saute the onion, garlic, and jalapeno with the oil. Cook until the onions are translucent.
3. Return drained beef to the pot. Turn the heat to medium/medium high.
4. Add the remaining ingredients but NOT the masa. Stir, making sure the tomato paste is dissolved.
5. Mix the masa with about 1/2 to 1 cup of water. Pour this into the pot. Stir well.
6. Simmer for 10-20 minutes, stirring so food at the bottom of the pan does not burn.
7. Taste and adjust seasonings.
8. Serve over Frito Chips with other toppings.

Notes-
I don't like beans, if you do drain and rinse a can of black beans and a can of pinto beans. Add them to the pot at the same time you add the tomato sauce.
The Masa Harina is optional, but it is a great thickener and carries that corn flavor/theme throughout. You know corn chips. If you don't have masa grind up two corn tortillas or use corn meal. Corn meal is not as fine as the masa.

Freezer Tip: This freezes very well, make a double batch. Heat it up for a quick meal with Frito chips, over a baked potato, or even over pasta.

Thanks for reading Give Peas A Chance!

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