Serves if no sides – and depends on size of pita –
3 or 4
3 or 4
lamb ground
1 lb
1 lb
Beef 80/20
½ lb
Garlic granual
½ tsp
1 tsp
onion granual
1 tsp
1 tsp
Tuscan Blend ** see note
1 tbl
1 Tbl
Pepper Black coarse ground
½ tsp
½ tsp
sea salt coarse or if table grind, use ½ amount
½ tsp
½ tsp
Lemon zest or peel *optional but worth including for more “greek” like taste
1/8 tsp
1/8 tsp
Paprika smoked
1/8 tsp
1/8 tsp
Panko or Maize – optional in fact I usually forget it
¼ c
Gravy Mix – Brown -optional – enhanced meat flavor
1 Tbl
Meat Directions – This is an easy recipe to double or more “as written” – I recommend freezing uncooked extra for future meals in unsliced “logs” (just add a few extra minutes to baking or air fry time for fresher flavor.
Mix all dry ingredients thoroughly
Mix Dry into meat REALLY MASH – into an almost paste like texture.
Place in covered bowl and refrigerate at least 3 hours if time allows.*
Shape into approx 5 x 5 x 1 inch square (easiest when refrigerated but the world does not end if you don’t)
Cut into 1 in square “Logs” (like a square hot dog)
Optional, chill the logs before Bake/AirFry – if you have time, if not, not to worry it will be fine. place on rack in shallow pan – chilling does make it easier to shape.
Either Bake at 350F – 30 mins Or AirFry 325 – 20 mins Check for Internal temp of 160F/72C Allow to rest 5 mins before slicing.
* The world does not end if you do not have time to refrigerate and allow flavors to meld. It is also easier to shape the logs when cold.
**Drogheria & Alimentari Organic Tuscan Herb Seasoning is my preferred version of Italian Seasoning – We use this Tuscan Herb Blend in many ways. In this recipe, usually calling for Greek Seasoning by adding Lemon Zest or Peel and Mint adding 1/8th tsp (teaspoon) each per tablespoon of the Drogheria & Alimentari Organic Tuscan Herb Seasoning offers a pleasant flavour to the this or any other Mediterranean regional dish. For other ways see my post: Ingredient: Tuscan Herb Seasoning
Your Kitchen = Your Choice: Many recipes call for diced black olives. We don’t like olives.
Plating as Pita Pockets. Heat 01 or 2 Pitas per person (or more in you have teenage boys or hardworking adults) Slice meat longways to make strips about 1/8-1/4 inch thick. 1 Tbl Tzatziki smeared inside pocket Add Meat, thin slice onion, tomato and crumbled Feta
Plating as “Dinner” per person 1/2 cup Brown Basmati Rice Cooked and HOT Crumble 1 Tbl Feta onto hot rice Cut meat into bite size pieces. Add Meat evenly distributed over rice Add 2 Tbl Diced Fresh Tomato Add 2 Tbl Diced Fresh Onion Top with tzatziki & finely crumbled Feta
Plating as Salad (my favorite) Shredded Lettuce of your choice Distribute following evenly Meat cut into bite sized pieces 2 Tbl Diced Fresh Tomato Add 2 Tbl Diced Fresh Onion Top with tzatziki & finely crumbled Feta Optional: Top with Tzatziki Dressing (tzatziki thinned w/Mediterranean olive oil 2:1 ratio Top with crumbled Feta
October 8 is National Pierogi Day. While we really like the little crescent of delicious dough filled with savory, sweet or something in between – making them can be annoying. We found the Hunky Bill’s Big Pierogi Makers about 10 years ago and they are well worth the cabinet shelf space.
If I could only have one, it would be the larger size. Just enough larger to make the stuffing as much the hero as the crispy dough outside. We do have both sizes, but the smaller has only been out of the box a few times. The larger is my go two since it make enough for (two adults) as a hearty side dish for two meals and one meal if it is the entree.
For a lazy “dessert”, use either a pie dough or puff pastry – with any fruit pie filling of your choice, brush with butter and bake or air fry.
Ingredients I use often include Amazon Affiliate Links that may benefit me should you purchase thru Amazon.
Using Drogeheri and Alimentari Organic Tuscan Herb Seasoning in any recipe calling for Italian Seasoning. Is only the beginning of how it earns it place in the Pantry InMySmallKitchen. I have tried at least three other brands and was not pleased with the final flavour. Still, if there is another you prefer – of course – substitute as needed.
The D&A Tuscan Herb Seasoning contains: Marjoram, Rosemary, Basil, Thyme, Savory, Oregano and Sage. (edited to add) This mix with perhaps one or two other ingredients is found in many recipes – including some of my favorite Eastern European recipes – Ukrainian, Polish, Russian and yes even several German.
For most Italian dishes, it does need Garlic (especially InMySmallKitchen where Garlic is a food group), I keep a container with a 3 parts Tuscan to 1 part Garlic granuals handy to sprinkle anywhere I would use a more garlic forward blend.
When a Greek or Mediterranean Seasoning is needed (like my Gyro Meat) 1/4 tsp each of lemon Zest along with 1/8th tsp of mint is pleasing to most
To make an excellent Sicilian Dipping Sauce Add 1 Tbl Tuscan Blend plus 1 tsp Garlic and 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes and 1/8th tsp Coarse Ground Black Pepper to a pint of an Olive Oil Vinaigrette (2/3 cup Olive Oil to 1/4 cup Wine Vinegar of your choices) It is also our daily go to for Salad dressing or Subs/Wedges too.
Swap the Oil for Mayo of your choice and you have a creamy dressing or dip
Thus far, the Amazon Price has been consistently the best (I check when reordering this size about every 3-4 months.
As an important element of my “10-20-30 Minute” Life Style Mise-En-Place is not only worth the effort but it makes many things possible
So do you Mise-En-Place in the Kitchen or anywhere else?
For How to in the kitchen, a nice summary of the steps
Minute 1-5: Read Recipe TWICE or More – the only way to avoid unpleasant realities, like you don’t have the necessary ingredients, so may need to plan a substitute. (like mixing Heavy Cream with Ricotta to make a Marscapone alternative.
Minute 6-10: READ RECIPE AGAIN and then GATHER Tools and needed pots, pans, ice bath, whatever – Because no one wants to stop fail just because the sheet pan is still waiting in the dishwasher and your sauce is about to burn
Minutes 11-18: Prep Each Ingredient, measure or cut those veggies as need for a proper or custom mirepoix once all your ingredients are prepped and ready leave nothing in your space but what you will need. If you are not cooking now, get all the ingredients into the fridge or freezer as needed.
Miunutes19-20 : Clearing the debris – Rinse and add dirty stuff to the dishwasher –
take a nap, read a book, enjoy afternoon snack or tea, answer email, happily knowing that getting dinner going is only a matter of minutes whenever you want to start.
Minutes 20-21: Set Up Work Area This is usually even less than a minute – mostly just grabbing the tray from the fridge to the work area that already has tools and such ready and waiting.
InMySmallKitchen Minute 22-30 is final prep/assembly Using recipe, lay out the ingredients in the order needed
Most of the time much of this can be done in advance and in some cases I freeze the “ready for the oven” or the Ninja Foodi so dinner can be freezer to table in as little as 30 minutes, but usually averaging under an hour.
Admittedly, the 30 minute part may be longer, because of longer unattended cooking time (like 45 minutes in Pressure Cooker or Air Fryer
A few days ago I mentioned in my GAB Food Craft Making and Methods group, I recently came across a “new to me” on line seller who has made it easy to shop “Made In the USA”. Politically speaking, I live in the USA so want to support US Jobs. Personally, I do believe you should, when possible support goods and services produced in your home country.
EverythingKitchen com as a new to me source for “Made/Assembled in USA” I wanted an easier to clean grinder for coffee and herbs and spices. I had sort of set my mind on KitchenAid Set, which included the Stainless Grinder and Accessory Bowls –
The grinder comes with a 4oz bowl, great for our daily pot of coffee. The accessor set of two smaller bowls and three lids (two to seal and store, one shaker top) to be used one for sweet and the second for savory as soon as I find a way to mark them.
I found the “set” both on Amazon.com and KitchenAid.com BUT only in the Silver and I wanted EMPIRE RED. Well turns out, by purchasing the Grinder separately I had a choice of Silver, Onyx (Black) or Empire (Red) at EverythingKitchen and the accessory set (sold out in other places) separately for the same total price total price.
Incidentally, I placed my EverythingKitchen order using the “made in USA” (and of course found more to add) Late in the morning on March 5 and was a bit concerned because of FedEx Ground track record around here, but is did arrive as promised in 3 business day – well packed and as soon as I have a moment to get it washed and set up will be replacing the rather old and likely soon to die one on my counter. It will get its first serious workout next week when I do my monthly “blends” making. so update to come.
Just one more way for me to EnjoyTheMaking InMySmallKitchen
p.s. Amazon is affiliate link for your convenience, but politically speaking, you can purchase thru KitchenAid or EverythingKitchen with out benefit to me or Jeff Bozos. (pun intended)
