Appalachian Spaghetti (Or Taylor Spaghetti)

DAD'S MEATBALLS
(To be Served with Dad's Spaghetti)
James M Taylor III
Elsie Taylor
18 lbs. of hamburger
2 lbs. Bob Evan's Italian sausage
1 1/2 bunches of celery, chopped
1/4 c. Worcester's sauce
1/4 -1/2 c. A-1 sauce
2 1/2 green peppers, chopped
2 large onions (6 cups) chopped
6 eggs
1 can of evaporated milk
1 T. garlic powder
4 T. dried basil, oregano, and parsley
2 "handfuls" of oats (old or quick, doesn't matter)
 salt and pepper to taste * Mom does not like any pepper.
vegetable oil for frying (Mel & I don't think this is needed but Dad says yes)

In a very large container, mix the meats together. Add celery, onion and pepper. Add eggs and mix well. Throw in 2 handfuls of dry oats and mix. Add seasonings (spices and sauces). Use enough evaporated milk to make the mixture pliable or "wet" but still be able to form small balls. If you overdo it add more oats. Get 2 large iron skillets with hot vegetable oil, and brown the golf ball sized meatballs until very done. The veggies on the outside caramelize and the juices seal inside. Once the meatballs are cooked you can freeze them for later use, or put them into a huge pot of spaghetti sauce (see Dad's recipe for spaghetti sauce, too). You should cook the fried meatballs in the sauce overnight.

Note: To "taste" the mixture, fry up a small patty and adjust seasonings. I went light on the garlic, and usually add a lot more. I like garlic. Plan 6 lbs. of hamburger for 12 people. This recipe makes about 200 meatballs. you can cut it down. I'm not. When we make this it's a huge family party and everyone brings a container. This freezes great!

DAD'S SPAGHETTI SAUCE
(Requires an overnight prep)
James M Taylor III
Elsie Taylor - My Grandma
12 30 oz. cans of tomato sauce
1 30 oz. can of water cups
3 12 oz. cans of tomato paste
6 T. each parsley, basil, oregano and garlic powder
1 1/2 bunches of celery
2 large sweet onions, chopped
2 1/2 green peppers, diced
1/8-1/4 c. A-1 steak sauce

Place all the tomato sauce and paste in a huge stock pot. Take 1 30 oz. empty tomato can and fill it with water. Pour it into all the other empty cans, rinsing as you go, then pour it into the mixture. Add the vegetables to the pot and stir. Coat the top with the dried herbs and don't be afraid to really season it. It does cook down overnight! Add the A-1 steak sauce to taste. Mix and simmer overnight, stirring frequently. We add 200 meatballs to this and it makes quite a huge pot of spaghetti. If you are going to make it, then just make all of it! Freezes well.

2021 we doubled the herbs in sauce and meat and this update is reflected here.

Low Fat Taco Salad (Page 20)

This is a quick and easy recipe which is low fat, but a little high in sodium. I make the beef and the cottage cheese mixture the day before then assemble the day of the party. We think it's best served with Tostido's scoops. It makes a 9x13 dish.

This is a photo of my Dad and Jim swinging outside the ship in Cozumel Mexico- OLE!

Taco Salad
1 lb. lean ground beef (we use a little more)
1 packet dry taco seasoning, like Ortega/El Paso
1 cup of water
1 lg. container of SMALL curd cottage cheese
1 packet of dry Hidden Valley ranch seasoning
1/2 head of lettuce, chopped
1-2 tomatoes (I like plum and get rid of all the seeds/messy stuff) , dice
1-2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Tortilla chips (We like scoops)

Brown the hamburger, add taco seasoning and water. Cook until water is reduced. Spread in a 9x 13 dish and set aside to cool. (Or in a container for a day before prep- reheat beef the next day)
Place the cottage cheese in a bowl and mix until creamy. Add the dressing mix and whip some more.
(You can stop here for a day before and place back in the cottage cheese container)
Or layer the cottage cheese mixture over the slt. cooled beef.
 Sprinkle with lettuce cheese and then tomatoes. Serve with tortilla chips.

BEEF AND BEAN CHILI (Page 33)

2 T. olive oil
1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce
2 large onions, diced
1 28 oz. can chopped tomatoes
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
2 T. tomato paste
1 T. garlic, minced
4 c. chicken broth
1 1/2 lb. good stew meat (or hamburger)
1 (15-oz.) can of black beans,drained and rinsed
1/4 c. chili powder
1 T. cumin
1 (15-oz.) can of kidney beans,drained and rinsed
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
3 bay leaves
1 tsp. chipotle adobo chili, minced


Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook,
stirring occasionally, until softened and light brown. Add the bell pepper and cook 5
minutes longer. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Increase the heat to medium high;
add the beef and cook until browned. Drain off excess fat. Stir in the chili powder and cumin.Cook 1 minute. Stir in the remaining ingredients and bring to a low boil.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer 45 minutes to 1 hour so flavors meld and the
liquid reduces and thickens. Serve warm.
Note: I only use 1 tsp of chopped chili. I buy a can of chilies in Adobo sauce (Mexican aisle).I freeze them in individual bags, in a larger freezer bag. They thaw a tad soggy, but who cares,it's chili.
I will freeze half of this for another dinner (I usually will use up within 3 months)

Herbed Beef Tenderloin (Page 35)

This is beef tenderloin (a huge amount for $71). I bought it at Jungle Jim's for $9.99/lb. I have seen it go as low as $7.99/lb there. Jungle's does something others don't. Ask them to trim up the tenderloin and tell them you want to make meatloaf from the trimmings. It is the highest quality meatloaf you'll ever have. I used it for Italian meatloaf and got 2 meals just out of the meatloaf. We will have 2 very nice beef tenderloin dinners. Usually I have some leftover beef for a swiss cheese/ beef quiche. Without the quiche the breakdown is $17.75/ person, which is cheaper than getting beef tenderloin at a restaurant. And with this beef tenderloin recipe from the cook book... I submit better. Watch Jungle's for the lower price. (I have seen it as high as $13/lb.& as low as $8.99/lb - esp. around holiday/turkey time!) And enjoy a great tasting easy meal (s)! Here's the recipe:

Herbed Beef Tenderloin

1 whole tenderloin, trimmed
1 T. rosemary, ground in a coffee grinder
1-2 T. olive oil
2 tsp. sea salt, fine
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. black pepper
1 T. basil, dried
kitchen string
Take tenderloin and tie up kitchen string at about 1 1/2 to 3 inch intervals . Don't forget to tuck the thinner ends up under the meat and tie it for more even cooking!
Combine oil and garlic and brush it over all of the meat.
In a separate bowl: mix basil, rosemary, salt and pepper. Sprinkle it over all the meat and let it sit about 30 minutes (at room temperature). Place on a shallow roasting rack and bake, uncovered at 425 degrees for 45 minutes. I cook to 150 degrees, pull from the oven and wrap very tight
with foil. Let stand at least 10 minutes. When you let it stand the juices redistribute, so don't skip this step!

Asian Braised Short Ribs (pg 31)

This dish would be awesome in a crockpot. Just do your prep the night before, and make the slurry right before you eat it. Great with rice.

ASIAN BRAISED SHORT RIBS
4 lbs. boneless beef short ribs (~$20, and very lean and we got 2 meals out of it) OR
boneless chuck roast cut into pieces (much cheaper/ ?fatty)
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. rice wine or dry sherry
2 T. olive oil
2 15.5 oz. beef broth
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. fresh ginger root, finely grated (peel with a spoon,freezes,whole,great)
2 tsp. Toasted sesame seed oil (keep refrigerated)$3.50 at Whole foods
1 c. onion, finely chopped
2 T. cornstarch mixed with 3 T. water
4 green onions, chopped
Preheat to 350 degrees. In a Dutch oven, heat the oil and brown the ribs or chuck a
few pieces at a time and set aside. When all the meat is cooked, add garlic, ginger and onion to the pan. Saute 5-7 min. until the onion begins to turn translucent. Add the meat back to the pan and slowly add the soy sauce, sherry and broth. (You can cool,cover, and refrigerate 3 days or freeze for 2 months at this point. Bring to room temp.
before proceeding.) Bake in a Dutch oven, covered, for TWO hours. Remove from oven. In a separate bowl, mix a corn starch slurry with the water and pour around meat. Cover and bake 10 more minutes, until the sauce thickens. Remove from the oven and stir sesame seed oil into the sauce. Garnish with green onions and serve over rice or
noodles.
Note: Versatile dish that can be made ahead, can be done in a Dutch oven or a crock
pot (low 8 hours, high 4 hours). Thicken sauce in a small pan on the stove.