A FRIDGE FULL OF FOOD...

Chris's White Trash Shepherd's Pie Lives Again! The Redux

 

Chris gave me the original recipe for this as "tater tot casserole" but we renamed it White Trash Shepherd's Pie. However, that being named, don't dismiss it.  This is quick, comforting food at it's best and the kids will eat the vegetables to get to the tater tots!

Why the redux?  Not only did I substitute more veggies instead of just the green beans from the first go 'round, I played with the meat as well, using ground deer meat (it's not high falutin' venison if the deer is shot by you or yours), sausage, and bacon.  The difference is a good thing, Martha would say.  More nutrition plus more flavor.

Big kisses to my brother, Hal, for sharing the deer meat!

Another thing I like about this dish, besides the down home country goodness, is that it's a pantry dish. Everything you need is in the pantry and the freezer so not only do you not have to run out to buy ingredients, it's perfect for nights when you have no plan, don't want to cook (quick to put together), and just want something that isn't high brow. I know Gene and I can't be the only ones who crave a church basement-type casserole now and then!

Welcome Fall: Apple Pie in Finnish Cream Pastry

  

Welcome Fall!  I love fall with it's cooler days, smells of leaves and fireplaces and a bazillion scents of different apples in the produce section.  Yesterday, I decided to celebrate that apple smell in a big way. I also decided to take a new cookbook out for a walk around the block.

I've lately been thinking about my heritage, Swedish on both sides with lots of Norwegian, and a little Irish and Scottish mixed in.  I guess I can't regret something I didn't have a hand in, so instead let's say that I miss that my family has no Scandi recipes handed down from the Great-greats.  I wish I had some little "My great-great grandmother's sweet buns" or some such recipe in my repetoire but since there isn't I decided to explore on my own and find some new traditions based on other people's old ones.  One of the books I chose was The Great Scandinavian Baking Book by Beatrice Ojakangas.  Finnish by birth, her parents immigrated to the northern states where she lived in a primarily Scandi community.  She's since traveled and lived in several Scandi countries, collecting favorite recipes along the way.

While I departed from her apple pie recipe when it came to filling, I absolutely loved, highly reccommend, and will use again the cream pie crust.  Rich but very flaky, the pastry was the perfect counterpoint to the crisp clean taste of the apples.

Dr. Respiratory Love in his Birthday....apron

I can't believe he did it.  I gave Chris this apron for his birthday and made a joke about him posing for pics in it....and nothing else.  Really.  Why did I doubt?  So here's a little midweek beefcake blogging... 

Everybody say "Hi!" and "Happy Birthday!" to Chris!

Apple Bourbon Pork Tenderloin: A Manly Recipe

Everyone remember my buddy Chris from Respiratory school?  He of the white trash green bean and tater tot casserole? 

Chris has a new recipe to share with us.  I lifted the directions right off his very own blog:

<<<Apple Bourbon Pork Tenderloin

step one: get in your car 

step two:  drive to wal-mart 

step three: pick up a apple bourbon tenderloin 

step four:  pay for it 

step five: once home cook it for 35 minutes at 425 degrees.

step six: add your favorite sides (i chose green beans and shells and cheese) and enjoy!>>>

And now you all know his secret recipe.

WOBAT: White Trash Shepherd's Pie

This is my friend, Chris, from respiratory school.  (We'll get to food in a minute.)  I chose this pic for three reasons. One, because I knew Chris would laugh at having his beach photo splashed on the internet. Two, it's my entry in Sal's, over at Sal's Virtual Tapas Bar's, (joking) reference a few weeks ago to Weekend Beefcake Blogging.  Three, that makes this post a double whammy of weekend blogging: food porn and porn porn, which makes ME laugh.

A few days ago at work, Chris brought in this casserole, that he'd made himself, for his lunch. I gave him so much trouble over this being decidedly unsophisticated. Tater tots?  But here's the rub. Even though I teased him all afternoon, it smelled very homey and delicious.  Then when I made it last night, Gene and both really liked it.  It's simple, quick, and actually pretty good. Kids will love it.  It reminds me of both the French's Fried Onions green bean casserole, that almost everyone I know has on the Thanksgiving table, and traditional Shepherd's Pie. 

I could have called it Chris's Hamburger, Green Bean, and Tater Tot Casserole but that's too accurate and serious. For WOBAT:  Weekend Obnoxious But Amazingly Tasty blogging,  I renamed it to "White Trash Shepherd's Pie" which is basically what it is: ground meat, vegetables, sauce, topped with potatoes. 

To join the round-up on Monday with your own WOBAT find or creation, please send your entries and links to me at:

Marie9949 (at symbol) sbcglobal (dot) net

by 6pm Sunday, Midwest USA time.

Anyone reading this who doesn't have a food blog but wants to enter, just send me the recipe and a photo of the dish and I'll post it on my blog and in the round-up for you.