The 2 Spoons

Quick & Comforting – Beef Ragu with Pasta

February 24, 2019 by Becky Spoon

Quick & Comforting - Spicy Beef Ragu with Fettuccine — Quick & Comforting – Spicy Beef Ragu with Fettuccine

What screams comfort food more than a bowl of pasta, smothered in a beef ragu, topped with shavings of fresh parmesan?

This beef ragu is simple and most of the ingredients are common pantry items. Garlic, onions, tomatoes, olive oil, red pepper flakes, ground beef are a few of the ingredients. I do like to use Italian tomatoes like San Marzano. If you aren’t familiar with San Marzano, here is a link that explains why they are such a good tomato to buy for a recipe like this: https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/best-canned-tomatoes-san…

While this recipe calls for anchovies, you can omit them, but honestly, they make this beef ragu. You may think you don’t like them but anchovies just dissolve into the sauce, you don’t even know they are there!

I used fettucini with this beef ragu because it is wider than regular spaghetti and I wanted a thicker pasta with this sauce. Pappardelle pasta would be beautiful with this ragu, but you really can use any noodle you desire or that is your favorite.

Quick & Comforting – Spicy Beef Ragu with Fettuccine

Serve this delicious beef ragu with pasta with an Italian Salad or the salad of your choice, and garlic bread. If you’d like a vegetable side dish my garlicky sauteed spinach would be the perfect addition to the meal:https://the2spoons.com/garlicky-sauteed-spinach-red-pepper-flakes/

Quick & Comforting – Spicy Beef Ragu with Fettuccine

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Ingredients

2 Tbsp Olive oil plus more for drizzling
1 Medium yellow onion, finely chopped
4 Garlic cloves, finely chopped
Salt and pepper
Pinch red pepper flakes
2 Anchovy filets (optional) Anchovies add so much! You won’t know they’re in the ragu
2 Tbsp Tomato paste
1 Ib Ground beef, pork or lamb
1 28oz Crushed tomatoes I use Italian San Marzano
12 Oz Cooked fettuccine or other pasta
Parmigiana Reggiana Cheese shavings, Parmesan or Pecorino Romano grated
Fresh thyme parsley for serving

Instructions

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have become translucent and have totally softened, 5 to 8 minutes. Add a pinch of red-pepper flakes and anchovies, if using, and cook for a minute or two, just to toast the spices and melt the anchovies.
Add tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring occasionally so it has a chance to stick to the bottom of the pot and caramelize a bit, 2 or 3 minutes.
Add ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Using a wooden spoon or a spatula, stir beef until the fat starts to soften and the meat begins to break down. Continue to cook, stirring rather frequently until the beef begins to brown and sizzle in its own fat, 5 to 8 minutes.
Add crushed tomatoes, stirring to scrape up any bits on the bottom of the pot. Fill the tomato can halfway with water and swirl around to get all the remaining tomato, then add to the pot. Season with salt and pepper if needed and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook until sauce is thickened and insanely flavorful, 25 to 30 minutes.
Serve sauce mixed into and over pasta with plenty of parmigiana reggiana shavings or Parmesan cheese Or Pecorino Romano for grating over the top, scattered with a handful of crushed parsley.

Notes

Perfectly Peachy – Peach Cobbler

February 24, 2019 by Becky Spoon

Buttery, perfectly risen crust, loaded with peaches, this peach cobbler is the perfect dessert any time of the year!

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Perfectly Peachy - Peach Cobbler — Perfectly Peachy – Peach Cobbler

For years I would make peach cobbler with a pie crust on the bottom and a lattice top. There was no way I was going to change!

Well, one day, actually not that long ago, I decided to try this version of peach cobbler crust and it was quick to become a favorite especially with guest! Because it is such a favorite I always double the recipe when we have company for dinner or Sunday lunch.

Keeping it real southern I always serve this peach cobbler with Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream or my own homemade ice cream.

This peach cobbler literally takes 10 minutes to throw together! You want to make sure you have self rising flour, butter, canned sliced peaches, sugar, milk on hand and as an option I add vanilla and lemon zest.

My southern mother and grandmother would make peach cobbler with fresh peaches, sugar, a little flour as a thickener, allowing the juices to make its own sauce and would use a pie crust for the top and bottom. I still love that style peach cobbler, but if peaches aren’t in season and time is an issue, this peach cobbler is easy and a perfect substitute.

Speaking of keeping it Southern, Peach Cobbler has deep roots in the South. Here’s a little history of the cobbler: http://cowboyandchuckwagoncooking.blogspot.com/2012/04/history-of-cobblers-grunts-slumps-dumps.html

This peach cobbler is the perfect dessert to have with my southern fried chicken. https://the2spoons.com/finger-licking-southern-fried-chicken/

Perfectly Peachy – Peach Cobbler

Perfectly Peachy – Peachy Cobbler

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CourseDessert

CuisineAmerican

Keywordpeach cobbler

Prep Time10

Cook Time1

Total Time1 10

Ingredients

2 28 oz Cans sliced peaches
1/2 Cup (1stick butter)
1 1/2 Cup Self rising flour
1 1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Milk
1 Tsp Vanilla
Zest of one lemon

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Drain 1 can of peaches; reserve the syrup from the other. Place the butter in a 9- by 12-inch ovenproof baking dish. Heat the butter on the stove or in the oven until it’s melted. In a medium bowl, mix the flour and sugar. Stir in the milk and the reserved syrup. Add the vanilla and lemon zest. Pour the batter over the melted butter in the baking dish. Arrange the peaches over the batter. Bake for 1 hour. The cobbler is done when the batter rises around the peaches and the crust is thick and golden brown. Serve warm with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Happy Birthday – Iron Skillet Ribeye Steak

February 22, 2019 by Becky Spoon

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No outdoor grill or too cold to cook outdoors? Problem solved! Try these as good iron skillet ribeye steaks.

Happy Birthday - Iron Skillet Ribeye Steak — Happy Birthday – Iron Skillet Ribeye Steak

Ribeye Steaks are probably our favorite steak. The more marbling, the better and when you are married to a meat and potatoes Texas Cowboy like I am, you cook him a ribeye steak for his birthday and of course, serve the steak with homemade French Fries! This Ribeye Steak cooked in an iron skillet is as good, if not better than any you would cook on the grill!

Happy Birthday – Iron Skillet Ribeye Steak

These are serious steaks. I salt and pepper my ribeye steaks and coat them in olive oil at least the day before. Then I stick them in a ziplock and place them in the refrigerator overnight. I remove the steaks from the refrigerator at least 2 hours before cooking so they can come to room temperature.

When I’m ready to cook I heat an iron skillet to smoking and add my ribeye steaks. I let the steaks cook for 4 minutes on the first side without disturbing, then with tongs, I flip the steak over, I add butter, fresh herbs and continue cooking for about 3 more minutes, tilting the skillet and spooning the hot butter over the steaks.

To make these steaks extra special, I top them with my Blue Cheese Compound Butter. Oh my gosh! That butter and blue cheese just melt over the steak and becomes a lucious mess! Here’s a link that describes compound butter. https://culinarylore.com/cooking-terms:what-is-compound-butter

Here’s my Blue Cheese Compound Butter recipe: http://www.the2spoons.com/steak-worthy-blue-cheese-compound-butter/ This compound butter is delicious on any steak, not only a ribeye. Don’t like blue cheese? Substitute a good goat cheese or Parmesan.

I think you will love this method of cooking your ribeye steak. I also cook beef tenderloin steaks the same way. Whether it’s too cold, you or you don’t have an outside grill, this is a perfect method for cooking your steak.

Happy Birthday – Iron Skillet Ribeye Steaks

Here’s the recipe for my ribeye steaks! Make theme this weekend!

Happy Birthday – Iron Skillet Ribeye Steaks

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Coursedinner, Main Course

CuisineAmerican

Prep Time5

Cook Time7

Total Time12

Servings servings

Ingredients

2 nicely marbled ribeye steaks about 1 inch to 1 1/2 inch
oilive oil to coat the steaks
salt and pepper
2 tbsp butter
couple of sprigs of fresh rosemary or fresh thyme

Instructions

A day before serving, coat each steak with olive oil on both sides. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in a ziplock bag and place in the refrigerator overnight.
Remove from the refrigerator at least 2 hours before cooking to bring the steaks to room temperature.
Place an iron skillet over high heat. When the skillet is smoking hot, add the ribeyes. Cook for 4 minutes without moving the steaks. Flip with tongs and add the butter and fresh herbs to the pan. Tilting the skillet and using a spoon, baste the steaks with the herb flavored butter.
Cook for 3 minutes, continually basting for medium rare. Cook an additional 1 minute if you want a little more done.
Serve immediately on a warm plate. Add compound butter or a pat of butter if you like! Bon Appetite!

Fabulous – Garlicky, 1770 House Meatloaf

February 21, 2019 by Becky Spoon

This is not your usual tomato based meatloaf. It is the 1770 House meatloaf which is loaded with garlic and fresh herbs and is absolutely delicious!

Ina Garten made this 1770 House meatloaf recipe famous when her friend, Chef Kevin Penner of the 1770 House in E Hampton shared the recipe with her. Here’s his link: https://thefoodcharlatan.com/1770-house-meatloaf/. Ina later featured this meatloaf on Food Network’s show, The Best Thing I’ve Ever Eaten. I ran across this recipe, and decided I’d try it, then share it with you.

This meatloaf is garlicky, loaded with fresh herbs and is crazy good! This recipe will serve about 6 and would be perfect with my garlic cauliflower mash as a side dish. Click on this link for my recipe.

http://www.the2spoons.com/love-this-roasted-garlic-cauliflower-mash/

Fabulous – Garlicky, 1770 House Meatloaf

What speaks Sunday lunch more than meatloaf? It is one of the ultimate comfort foods and almost everyone loves a meatloaf. My Mom would make meatloaf when I was growing up. She would have it for weeknights and many times after Church on Sunday’s. This 1770 House Meatloaf is perfect for dinner with guest or a casual dinner at home with the family. Even my picky cowboy thought this meatloaf was delicious.

I’d serve this 1770 House meatloaf with mashed potatoes or my cauliflower mash; a fresh green vegetable like sautéed spinach would compliment this garlicky meatloaf . A green salad will round this meal out!

I know this is different than the meatloaf you normally make, but it is delicious and give it a try! It’s really good.

Fabulous – Garlicky, 1770 House Meatloaf

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CourseMain Course

CuisineAmerican

Keyword1770 meatloaf, meatloaf, garlicky meatloaf

Servings servings

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
2 cups spanish onion, chopped (1 large)
1 1/2 cups small diced celery (2 stalks)
1 lb ground beef
1 lb gound veal
1 lb ground pork
1 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (Italian Parsley)
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
3 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cups whole milk
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
2 1/2 cups panko (Japanese bread flakes)
Garlic Sauce, recipe follows

Garlic Sauce

3/4 cup good olive oil
10 garlic cloves, peeled
2 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
2 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent but not browned. Set aside to cool slightly.
Place the beef, veal, pork, parsley, thyme, chives, eggs, milk, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Put the panko in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until the panko is finely ground.
Add the onion mixture and the panko to the meat mixture. With clean hands, gently toss the mixture together, making sure it’s combined but not compacted.
Place a piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan. Pat the meat into a flat rectangle and then press the sides in until it forms a cylinder down the middle of the pan (this will ensure no air pockets). Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a thermometer inserted in the middle, reads 155 degrees F to 160 degrees F. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Slice and serve hot with the Garlic Sauce.
Garlic Sauce:
Combine the oil and garlic in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned. Be careful not to burn the garlic or it will be bitter. Remove the garlic from the oil and set aside. (I save the oil for vinaigrettes.)
Combine the chicken stock, butter, and cooked garlic in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and cook at a full boil for 35 to 40 minutes, until slightly thickened. Mash the garlic with a fork, whisk in 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and taste for seasonings. Spoon the warm sauce over the meatloaf.

Perfect – Roast Beef and Provolone Sandwich

February 19, 2019 by Becky Spoon

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We love sub sandwiches!

The other day I made Roast Beef and used the leftovers to make these delicious sandwiches. Homemade Roast Beef and Provolone piled on toasted French bread topped with my Italian Sandwich Topping? Yum, one of our favorite sandwiches. Here’s the link for my Perfect Italian Sandwich Topping: https://the2spoons.com/perfect-italian-sandwich-topping/

After I sliced the roast beef I placed it in a plastic bag and added lots of juice from a jar of Pepperoncini Peppers. That adds a touch of Italian to the meat and honestly after it marinates for a day or so this meat begins to taste like Italian Beef used in the famous Chicago Italian Beef Sandwiches.

Along with the juice from the peppers, I add maybe 2 or 3 tablespoons of Vienna Hot Giardiniera. I get the Giardiniera from Vienna Beef. Here’s the link to order online: https://www.viennabeef.com/…/vienna-beef/condiments/giardiniera

Perfect – Roast Beef and Provolone Sandwich

You know, you are probably thinking “why is she writing a recipe about sandwiches”? My reason is that there are so many components of a good sandwich and a good sandwich is a meal in itself. Honestly, a sandwich can have all of the daily food requirements piled on one bun! Ok, don’t judge!! Haha! Here’s the recipe and you decide:

Perfect – Roast Beef and Provolone Sandwich

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CourseMain Course

CuisineAmerican

Keywordroast beef and provolone sandwich

Ingredients

1 loaf good French bread
1 lb leftover Roast Beef, thinly sliced
1/4 cup juice from the jar of pepperoncini peppers
2-3 tbsp Vienna Hot Giardiniera
4-6 oz button mushrooms
1/2 red and green peppers, thinly sliced
good olive oil for sauteing the vegetables and for a final drizzle
provolone cheese
my Perfect Italian Sandwich Topping
arugula or other greens for topping
parmesan cheese, optional
a little salt and fresh ground pepper

Instructions

For the Beef: Place the leftover roast beef in a plastic ziplock bag with the juice from the pepperoncini peppers along with the giardiniera, a little salt, and pepper and allow to marinate at least 24 hours.
Remove the roast beef from the oven and let it come to room temperature.
Saute the mushrooms, red and green peppers until they begin to carmelize. Set aside.
Slice the loaf of bread down the middle. Hollow out the bread on each side just a little. Butter each side and place on a sheet pan and place under the broiler to toast lightly. Remove from the oven and layer one side with your desired amount of roast beef and one side with your desired amount of provolone.
When the cheese has melted, remove from the oven. Top with my Perfect Italian Sandwich Topping: https://the2spoons.com/perfect-italian-sandwich-topping/
Add arugula or your greens of choice, a little salt, and pepper, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with parmesan if you want.

So Easy – Beef, Broccoli & Noodle Stir-fry

February 19, 2019 by Becky Spoon

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This Beef, Broccoli and Noodle Stir-fry is easy and the perfect dish for creating your own “Takeout Tuesday”. Not being close for Asian Takeout, I just make it at home. I even buy the take out containers for serving. So fun!

My cowboy isn’t as fond of stir fry as I am, so I make it when he may be wanting something I don’t want. Yes, I kind of run a diner, everyone wants something different. I love how easy this recipe is and how quick it is when that happens.

So Easy - Beef, Broccoli & Noodle Stir Fry — So Easy – Beef, Broccoli & Noodle Stir Fry

I love all Asian noodles, especially these easy Udon Noodles. You can buy them packaged and ready to use in your recipe. Here’s a link that describes the difference in Soba, Rice, and Udon: .https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-soba-udon-116505 /.

This Beef Broccoli and Noodle Stir Fry is easy and fun to eat, my kind of recipe! I love Asian food. Ramen, Chinese Dumplings, Pho, Asian Lettuce Wraps, Spring Rolls, just to name a few.

This stir fry literally took me about 15 minutes! Get your ingredients ready as with all stir fry dishes, and you will have lunch or dinner in minutes! It’s pretty healthy too and an easy way to get your veggies with the broccoli, onions, and peppers. Oh, and you can practice your chopstick skills!! HaHa! A skill I need a lot of practice in, but I’m getting better.

So Easy – Beef, Broccoli & Noodle Stir Fry

This recipe is versatile. I used ground beef, but you can substitute ground pork or even a spicy sausage. You could add more vegetables, spinach would work also. The addition of Sriracha or Sambal Oelek gets it just right. I love spicy, and the addition of the brown sugar in the sauce makes this sweet and spicy. Yum!

Ok. Here’s this so very easy recipe. Let me know what you think! I believe it will become one of your favorites! Swap out the ingredients and you can use the same recipe over and over! Use all those veggies on hand and customize this recipe to the ingredients you have on hand.

So Easy – Beef, Broccoli & Noodle Stir Fry

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Coursedinner, Lunch, Main Course

CuisineAsian

Keywordeasy, stir fry, noodles, beef, broccoli & noodle stir fry

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Servings servings

Ingredients

2 7 oz udon noodles, discard seasoning pack if included
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb ground beef (you could substitute pork or a spicy sausage)
1 onion, diced
1 red pepper, thinly sliced
1 green pepper, thinly sliced
12 oz broccoli florets
1 green onion, thinly sliced

For the Sauce

1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp brown sugar, packed
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh grated ginger
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp Sriracha or Sambal Oelek

Instructions

In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and Sriracha, if using; set aside.
If you used Udon that has to be cooked: In a large pot of boiling water, cook udon noodles according to package instructions; drain well. I used ready to use Udon noodles that come in packaging in the Asian aisle at your grocery store.
Heat olive oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef or ground pork and onion and cook until beef or pork has browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble as it cooks; drain excess fat.
Stir in bell peppers and broccoli. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in udon noodles and soy sauce mixture until well combined, about 2-3 minutes.
Serve immediately, garnished with green onion, if desired.

Need a dessert? This Lemon Ice Box Pie will be perfect with this dish: https://the2spoons.com/nostalgic-lemon-ice-box-pie/