Uncle Paul Meets Bon Jovi: Make a Memory

By now I hope you have all taken the time to visit my Uncle Paul’s FABULOUS blog, Redneck Latte Ravings. Today, Emily and I are proud to preset a guest post written by him with some of his famous & fabulous recipes. Since you will never see any fabulous recipes from either of us. *Ahem* and Uncle Paul is an awesome cook AND writer! Enjoy!

Some of the best memories I have involve food.
Me loves to eat.

But, me loves to cook as well.

Twas not always so.

I married into a family that can seriously cook.

My wife, Diane makes the best…well everything…but Peanut Butter Pie comes to mind, and Sloppy Joes, and Broccoli Ham Roll UPs, and Open faced egg sandwiches with Arugula, and on and on and on.

Some of the best times we’ve had are in the kitchen. We have fun cooking together.

But, we rarely agree, and we do things so differently.

She’s a very methodical cook, a builder, an engineer, a planner.

Me, I’m a combination of Paula Dean, Emeril and The Barefoot Contessa on Crack.

But it works.

I keep tellin’ her that we should try out for a cooking show…we could call it

“Bitchin’ in the Kitchen with Paul and Diane”.

She’s not too keen on the title, but really, it’s true!

So, why am I here? Jenny (my lovely niece) and Emily, (her lovely cousin, who’s not my niece) asked me to guest blog…something Moms would love and Dads and kids would wolf down.

So here goes.

My two favorite easy-peasy-just-so-pleasy recipes.

First.

UP’s Chili:

2 lbs ground beef (yes, you can use Turkey!)
1 medium onion, chopped (about a cup – but I no longer measure)
1 cup green pepper…chopped
1 cup celery…about two sticks…ok, the celery is muy importante…don’t leave it out.
2 15 and 1/2 oz. cans of RED kidney beans
2 16 oz cans tomatoes, cut up…you can food process them if you want…just not too long.
1 6 oz can of tomato paste
2 cloves of garlic…use a press…mincing is messy and smelly
1 to1 and 1/2 tablespoons chili powder…for those of you in Texas, feel free to add more!
2 teaspoons salt…if you’re sodium free…leave it out

Cook beef, onion, green pepper, celery, unitl the meat is cooked and the veggies are tender.

Add beans…you can drain them, but I don’t…if you do, save the liquid…you might need it.

add everything else..cover and let simmer for 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours.

Serve anyway you like it!

Cincinnati style
Over spaghetti
or Five way.

It’s your choice.

Believe me…they’ll love it.

and…you can make it for a cast of thousands. this recipe make about ten servings, just double it or triple it and keep on going. I once made it for 70 people.

Now, if you’re having an incredibly lazy morning and just don’t want to cook for the evening…try this one.

UP’s Zippy Beef Tips.

1 lb beef tips.
1 can Golden Mushroom or Cream of Celery Soup
1 Pkg of Lipton Onion Soup
1 SMALL can (you know the half size) of 7 UP, that’s right…I said it…7-UP…and yes, Jenny, Mountain Dew will work too.)

Dump it all in the crock pot, in the order listed above and cook on low all day.

Serve over noodles or rice…frankly, I like the fat egg noodles you get in Ohio better…you kids will love this…a friend of mine said her 10 and 12 year olds didn’t talk at dinner, they just ate!

Enjoy.

And remember, kitchen time doesn’t have to be Mom time…Do a Bon Jovi and Make A Memory!

_____________________
Thanks UP! You are a kitchen rock star!
Don’t forget to go visit Uncle Paul’s blog for more general awesomeness!