Beef | Rosie's Riveting Recipes

Roast Beef a Classic Comfort Food

Sometimes I wonder if I may have been a cannibal in a previous life. I’ve always preferred my beef cooked rare. Whether it’s a T-bone, a rib eye, or roast beef, for me it always tastes best when it’s rare or medium rare.

Roast beef was a staple on our dinner table when I was growing up. It’s so versatile and it comes in many cuts, such as tri-tip, chuck roast, and rump roasts. My personal favorite is prime rib, which I sometimes order on special occasions when I’m eating out. At home I prefer the top round. If it’s unavailable, or too expensive, I can make do with a bottom round. Both cuts are flavorful and reasonably priced.

The secret to cooking any roast, regardless of the cut, is a good meat thermometer. It takes the out guesswork, giving you the best results. I bake my roasts in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven, and set the timer to allow 20 to 30 minutes per pound.

For rare to medium rare, I roast the meat until it reaches an internal temperature between 115 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Those who prefer medium should cook it until it reaches 145 to 170 degrees, with well done being 170 degrees and above.

Once the desired internal temperature is reached I remove the roast from the oven and allow it to rest for about 10 minutes before carving. Add some mashed potatoes and gravy, and you’ll have yourself a delicious plate of good, old-fashioned comfort food.

One final note. You can alway cook your roast a little longer if it’s too rare, but if it overcooks you can’t go back and fix it. Be sure to keep a close watch while it’s roasting.

Gayle Martin

Classic Swiss Steak

This is a classic recipe I learned from my mother, and it’s become one of my personal favorites. It’s easy to prepare and tasty. Best of all, it’s delicious, so enjoy.

CLASSIC SWISS STEAK

2 pound round steak, 1 inch thick
¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
¼ cup beef broth or water
1 onion, chopped
½ bell pepper, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix flour, salt and pepper together in a bowl. Cut round steak into 5 or 6 pieces and coat both sides with the flour mixture. Pour oil into skillet, turn on heat to medium, and brown steaks until brown, approximately 7 to 10 minutes per side. Add broth, cover and reduce hit to low. Simmer for 1 hour, adding more broth or water as needed. Turn steaks over, add onions, bell pepper, and canned tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer an additional 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Imagine the government telling you how much meat or chicken you could buy, or how much sugar or flour you could have. Strange as it may seem, at one time it actually happened. During WWII, the United States government devised a food rationing program to help insure that every family would have enough to eat. Rosie’s Riveting Recipes gives a glimpse into life on the WW 2 home front. A cookbook and a history lesson in one with more than 180 economical, back-to-basics World WarII ration recipes with short tales of life on the American home front interspersed throughout.

Rosie’s Riveting Recipes is available on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com.

Southwestern Roast Beef Soup

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, I rented a booth in an antique mall in Tucson, Arizona.

The mall included a small soup and sandwich shop. Nothing big and fancy, but it was a cozy, quiet place to grab a quick lunch whenever I was there. The food was always top notch.

One day they were serving a southwestern roast beef soup. It tasted like a cross between a beef stew and chili con carne. I wanted to ask for the recipe. However, their soups were usually made from the prior day’s leftovers, so I doubt there was a recipe. So, I did the next best thing. I let my palate decide, and then I came up with my own recipe. It’s a close match, and since it uses leftover roast beef, I’m sure Rosie would have approved.

Sadly, the antique mall is no more. While I made a profit each year, it wasn’t much, and maintaining my booth was a costly undertaking. I eventually closed it out. The mall itself went out of business a few years later, which I was sorry to see. That said, I have no regrets. I met a lot of interesting people while I was there, and I learned a lot about how the retail business works.

Gayle Martin

Southwestern Roast Beef Soup

½ to 1 pound leftover roast beef (such as round roast), including the pan drippings

1 cup beef stock
1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounce)
1 can tomato sauce (14.5 ounce)
1 small can diced green chilis (optional)
1 cup corn or mixed vegetables
3/4 cup small, uncooked pasta, such as a shell pasta
2 teaspoons cumin
½ teaspoon lemon pepper
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon salt, if desired

Chop roast beef into small, bite-sized cubes. Blend all the ingredients into a 4 quart stockpot and bring to a boil. If soup is too thick, add more stock until desired consistency. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 30to 45 minutes or until meat is tender.

***

Book Cover for Rosies Riveting Recipes — Cover photo by Rob Resetar

Imagine the government telling you how much meat or chicken you could buy, or how much sugar or flour you could have. Strange as it may seem, at one time it actually happened. During WWII, the United States government devised a food rationing program to help insure that every family would have enough to eat. Rosie’s Riveting Recipes gives readers a glimpse into life on the WWII home front. A cookbook and a history lesson in one Rosies’s Riveting Recipes includes more than 180 economical, back-to-basics World War II ration recipes and short tales of life on the American home front interspersed throughout.

Rosie’s Riveting Recipes is available on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com.

Barbecued Ribs Crockpot Style

My college boyfriend, who I’ll call George, was studying to become an architect. However, had he pursued it, I truly believe he would have been a damn fine chef. George was a whiz in the kitchen. He was master at creating simple, tasty dishes on a slim budget. George could take a boring, frozen pizza, pile on his own freshly made toppings, and turn it into a gourmet meal.

One of George’s signature dishes was his short ribs. He’d dump them in a crock pot, pour in a bottle of barbecue sauce, and cook them on low for eight hours. They came out so tender the meat fell off the bone. Neither of us had access to an outdoor grill at the time, but George’s ribs sure satisfied our yen for barbecue.

Over the years I’ve tweaked his recipe, ever so slightly. These days, with food prices on the rise, short ribs are like gold. However, their ugly cousin, the back rib, is cheaper and flavorful. They also work nicely in a crock pot.

I simply stack the ribs in and add a little barbecue sauce between the layers. I’ll then add a little sauce on the top. The sauce becomes watery as it cooks, so I only use a quarter to half a bottle. Then I turn the pot on low and cook for seven to eight hours. I also check them while they’re cooking. If the meat on top gets a little dry I simply spoon some of the sauce from the bottom of the pot over it. Then, once the ribs are cooked, I’ll pour on a little more fresh sauce when I plate them.

I like to serve mine with scalloped potatoes or baked beans. Or both. Some people like corn on the cob and mashed potatoes. Or you may wish to try grandmother’s green bean recipe. Whichever way you choose, it’s a nice recipe for those who don’t have access to an outdoor grill.

Gayle Martin

Imagine the government telling you how much meat or chicken you could buy, or how much sugar or flour you could have. Strange as it may seem, at one time it actually happened. During WWII, the United States government devised a food rationing program to help insure that every family would have enough to eat. Rosie’s Riveting Recipes gives readers a glimpse into life on the WWII home front. A cookbook and a history lesson in one Rosies’s Riveting Recipes includes more than 180 economical, back-to-basics World War II ration recipes and short tales of life on the American home front interspersed throughout.

Rosie’s Riveting Recipes is available on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com.

Crown Roast of Back Ribs

from the Rosie’s Riveting Recipes historic cookbook

The back rib. Some people may think it’s the ugly cousin of the short rib, but with a little creativity they can be delicious. This historic recipe seemed daunting at first, then a friend suggested attaching the ribs together with wooden toothpicks or skewers instead of sewing them together. It worked. It made the dish much easier to prepare, and the results were positively yummy.

Gayle Martin

CROWN ROAST OF BACK RIBS

1 1/2 lbs. back ribs
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons butter
3 cups soft bread crumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon poultry seasonings

Rub back ribs with salt. Mix remaining ingredients to form dressing. Sew ends of ribs together to resemble a crown. Place stuffing inside of ribs and bake in 350F oven for 2-3 hours or until tender. Makes 4 servings.

Modern Adaptation

Ribs can be tacked together with wooden toothpicks or toothpicks or skewers. (Do not use plastic.) After cooking, allow the ribs to rest before removing the toothpicks. Three slices of bread, with crusts removed and cut into cubes, can be also be used to make the dressing. You may also add chopped celery, nuts, or mushrooms.

Rosie’s Riveting Recipes is available on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com.

Beef Chop Suey

adapted from the Rosie’s Riveting Recipes historic cookbook

The following recipe is based on a historic Heart Chop Suey recipe included in Rosie’s Riveting Recipes . However, I used regular beef instead of beef heart. Many people may find organ meat less than palatable, and beef heart may be difficult to find. I used stew meat, but I think chuck steak, flank steak or other cheaper cuts of beef would also work nicely. The end result was a tasty, easy-to-prepare meal that was both healthy and delicious. Somehow, I think Rosie would approve.

Gayle Martin

BEEF CHOP SUEY

1 to 1 1/2 pounds stew meat or chuck steak
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups coarsely chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrots
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 cup diced celery
1/2 coarsely chopped green pepper
2 bouillon cubes
2 cups water (or 2 cups of beef broth, omitting bouillon cubes)
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons soy sauce
4 cups boiled rice

Cut meat into 1/2-inch cubes and dust with flour. Place meat and onion in heavy frying pan and brown in butter or margarine. Add celery, carrots, green pepper and bouillon cubes and 2 cups water. (Beef or chicken stock can be used in place of water and bouillon cubes.) Cover and simmer until tender, about 1 to 1/2 hours. Add seasonings and sauce. Serve with boiled rice or fried Chinese Noodles. Yields 6-8 servings.

Rosie’s Riveting Recipes is available on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com.

Hungarian Goulash

from Rosie’s Riveting Recipes

This historic recipe, included in Rosie’s Riveting Recipes, is great for using up leftovers. However, it includes potatoes as an option. I personally wouldn’t consider it a real Hungarian goulash without the potatoes, or a can of tomatoes for that matter. And if you have any leftover vegetables in the refrigerator you can certainly toss them in as well. Some people like to use ground beef and pasta instead of potatoes, but that would be an American goulash, not a Hungarian goulash. That said, I love American goulash as well.

Gayle Martin

Hungarian Goulash

2 lbs beef chuck, neck or flank meat
2 tablespoons butter, margarine or drippings
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup water
1/8 teaspoon caraway seed (if desired)
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 clove garlic
paprika

Cut meat into 1-inch cubes. Let onion brown in butter, then add meat and let it brown lightly. Add caraway seed, marjoram, salt, chopped garlic and enough paprika to create a noticeable red color. Add 1 cup water, cover and simmer for 2 1/2 hours. Add more water if necessary. Whole potatoes may be added to the goulash 1/2 hour before done. Some goulash recipes call for the addition of tomatoes. Strained tomatoes may be substituted for water in this recipe. Makes 6 servings.

Note: Serve over noodles or your favorite pasta.

Rosie’s Riveting Recipes is available on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com.

Quick and Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs

I usually make my spaghetti sauce from scratch. However, I sometimes get a hankering for spaghetti and meatballs when I don’t have the time to prepare my signature sauce. This is when I have to get creative, and I’ve came up with a tasty alternative. This modern recipe takes about thirty minutes to prepare, and it’s delicious.

Gayle Martin

QUICK and easy SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS

1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning blend
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 egg
1 pound extra lean ground beef
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 (14 1/2 oz) cans Italian style diced tomatoes*
2 small (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
splash of red wine
one small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced**
salt and pepper to taste
pasta

Blend bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, black pepper, egg and ground beef together in a large mixing bowl. Knead together until well blended. Break off small pieces of meat mixture and roll into 1-inch diameter meatballs. Place meatballs on a plate. Pour olive oil in a large, deep skillet or saute pan. Turn stove on medium and heat the oil for about two minutes. Add meatballs, onions and garlic and stir frequently but very gently until meatballs are browned on all sides.

Add canned tomatoes, tomato paste, salt and pepper and a splash of red wine. Blend well, being careful not to break the meatballs. Once sauce starts to bubble reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. (If sauce is too thick add a little more wine or a small amount of water.) While sauce is simmering prepare your favorite pasta according to package directions. Yields approximately 24 meatballs.

*If using plain canned tomatoes add two teaspoons Italian seasoning to sauce.

**1 teaspoon of garlic powder may be substituted for fresh garlic.

if you enjoy cooking and baking please check out Rosie’s Riveting Recipes. This historic cookbook contains many of the recipes for the dishes our grandmothers and great-grandmothers use to make. Available on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com.

Chili con Carne

Who doesn’t love chili con carne? I grew up on canned chili, but trust me, once you get used to eating chili made from scratch, you’ll never want to go back to canned.

Chili con carne is an amazingly simple dish to prepare. It’s also an easy way to use up leftover veggies, so Rosie would have approved. Chili tastes great on its own, or on top of a hot dog. The following recipe is one I put together through trial error and tweaking other recipes. One nice thing about chili con carne is that there really is no way to make it wrong.

Gayle Martin

CHili con carne

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced *
an 8 ounce can tomato sauce
a 4 ounce can diced green chilis
a 16 oz can red kidney beans
a 16 oz can pinto beans
1 cup water or broth
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons cumin
2 tablespoons hot wings or Tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch.
1/4 cup water or broth
salt and pepper to taste

Brown the ground beef, onion and garlic in a small stock pot or kettle until the meat is cooked all the way through. Stir in canned green chilis. Add tomato sauce and 1 cup of water or broth. Stir in the canned beans and add seasonings. Stir cornstarch and water in a small bowl and pour into the chili mixture. Mix well. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for approximately 20 minutes. If desired, top with cheese, sour cream or chives. Serve.

For those who prefer, ground chicken or turkey may be used instead of ground beef. If using ground chicken or turkey, add a tablespoon of cooking oil.

* A tablespoon of garlic powder can be substituted for the minced garlic.

Imagine the government telling you how much meat or chicken you could buy, or how much sugar or flour you could have. Strange as it may seem, at one time it actually happened. During WWII, the United States government devised a food rationing program to help insure that every family would have enough to eat. Rosie’s Riveting Recipes gives readers a glimpse into life on the WWII home front. A cookbook and a history lesson in one Rosies’s Riveting Recipes includes more than 180 economical, back-to-basics World War II ration recipes and short tales of life on the American home front interspersed throughout.

Rosie’s Riveting Recipes is available on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com.

Fish or Meat Soufflé

from the Rosie’s Riveting Recipes historic cookbook

Many common food products were scarce during World War II. It’s the reason why food was rationed. As a result, some recipes included different variations so people could use whatever they had on hand. This historic ration recipe is surprisingly easy to prepare, and it’s delicious.

Gayle Martin

FISH OR MEAT SOUFFLE´

2 tablespoons butter, melted
4 tablespoons enriched flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 tablespoons enriched flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
3/4 cup milk
4 egg yolks, beaten
2 cups flaked salmon, tunafish, ground or cooked chopped meat
4 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Combine flour, butter, add seasonings in top part of double boiler. Add milk gradually, stirring constantly. Cook to form a thick paste.

Beat egg yolks until thick and light in color; add flour mixture and stir until smooth. Add salmon; mix well. Fold carefully, but thoroughly, into egg whites beaten stiff but not dry. Turn into well-greased casserole. Place in pan of hot water; bake in moderate (350ºF.) oven about 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until set, or knife inserted into center comes clean. Serve at once with melted butter, celery, or pickle sauce. Serves 6.

Rosie’s Riveting Recipes is available on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com.