Today's theme appears to be cinnamon.
on a cold cold cold weekend winter's day day, I like to shower, shave, curl and my set my hair and get all bundled up...then get to the grocery store, buy the newspaper, and get to the local diner/ coffee-shop around noon and have a hanburger "deluxe" platter.
Beef patty on a toasted sesame-seed bun with lettuce and tomato and fried potatoes, a bit of cole-slaw and a nice cup of coffee. MMMMMMMMMMM
another nice, heavy yet economical winter meal is Greek-style beef stew with chunks of beef or lamb, string beans, onions, tomatoes and/or paste/sauce and cinnamon. MMMMMMMMMMMMM Sometimes 5 ingredient jobbies are WONDERFUL.
Here is another interesting stick-to-your-gut dish:
ORZO (rice shaped pasta)
2 cups orzo (just under one pound, less than half a kilo)
5 cups water
oninon(optional)
chicken bouillon cube(optional)
tomato paste.
In a 4 qt/ 4 litre pot:
Saute onion in a small amount of (olive) oil. (optional)
add the orzo, saute for a minute.
add water
add tomato paste (1 tablesppoon or equivalent), stir
(if you use tomato sauce reduce water so that total liquid is 2 cups)
add one or two bouillon cubes. (if not using this ingredient add salt, pepper)
add cinnamon stick or ground cinnamon.
COOK over LOW heat stirring one or twice with a wooden/plastic spoon. SCRAPE THE BOTTOM as it tends to stick.
Cook for 12 minutes covered or with cover slightly ajar.
STIR WHEN FINISHED. Water will be fully absorbed. no need to drain.
It is truly a unique and flavorful meal.
..as a variation add pre-cooked (leftovers work well too) meat to the mix at the start of cooking.
