See Dick Cook: A Culinary Voyage for the Average Man (7 page)

Procedure

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Place potatoes in a large pot with enough water to cover them. Cover and boil on high heat for about 20 minutes or until soft. Drain water and mash with butter, milk and paprika until smooth. Cover and set aside to keep warm.

In a large frying pan over medium heat, fry sausage pieces for 15 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.

Using the same pan, melt one tablespoon of butter and add onions. Sauté for 10 minutes or until onions begin to soften.

Add the remaining ingredients to the pan bringing to a boil. Reduce to simmer and stir continuously to ensure your gravy is lump-free and thick. Remove from heat.

Pour enough of the gravy mix into a casserole dish, to just cover the bottom. Add the cooked sausage over the gravy, then pour remaining gravy over sausage. Top with mashed potatoes.

Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are lightly browned.

Servings: 6

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Easy

Oven Temperature: 350°F

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes

Dicks Tips

If you want a quick short-cut Dick, make yourself a batch of instant potatoes instead of mashed from scratch. The butter and herb or garlic versions would be good here. As for the sausage, Bob's your uncle, but the lower fat versions will be better for your ticker and your waistline.

Bite Me Sheppard's Pie

So the 'not-so-future Mrs. Dick' hates spicy food? Well nothing says bite me like a serving of spicy Sheppard's Pie. A hot twist on an old classic, for a final adios.

Procedure

In a large pot full of water, bring potatoes to a boil and cook for 20 minutes or until soft. Drain potatoes, then mash with butter and milk until smooth. Set aside, covered to keep warm.

Preheat oven to 350° F.

In a large fry pan on medium heat, melt remaining butter and sauté onions until soft, for about ten minutes.

Add the ground beef and fry until browned, being sure to break up the ground beef as much as possible. Drain any excess fat.

Stir in taco seasoning mix and corn, cooking for five minutes on medium-low heat.

Spread a thin layer of the mashed potatoes over the bottom of a 2 quart casserole dish. Next, spread the ground beef mixture over top of potatoes. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over ground beef, and top with remaining mashed potatoes.

Bake uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes or until the mashed potatoes form a light brown crust.

Servings: 6

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Easy

Oven Temperature: 350°F

Preparation Time: 1 hour

Cooking Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes

Dicks Tips

Looking for a shortcut Dick? Buy yourself a box of instant mashed potatoes and cook according to package directions to substitute for the mashed potatoes from scratch. Spreading milk over the top of the mashed potatoes will help to form a nice brown crust.

For a not-so-spicy version, substitute the jalapeno Monterey jack cheese for shredded marble or cheddar.

The Dick Factor: Brushing the potato topping about 15 minutes before its done will brown the top of the potatoes nicely.

Blackened Sole

Well soul mates you're not, but there's always next time. Meanwhile, feel sorry for yourself over blackened sole and get ready for the next Mrs. Right. (Or Mrs. Right-Now...whatever.)

Procedure

Mix all the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined.

Using a large frying pan or cast iron skillet, heat olive oil until hot on medium high heat.

Brush the fish with the melted butter until it is coated on both sides. Coat the fish with the dry spice mixture on both sides.

Lay the fish into the frying pan. Fry for 3 minutes then carefully flip over and fry for another 3 minutes.

Remove from pan and place in a serving platter lined with paper-towel to soak up excess oil. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Servings: 4

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Easy

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 6 minutes

Total Time: 11 minutes

Dicks Tips

Pretty much any flaky white fish will do here Dick, but Sole is a good choice. If you can't get fresh, don't sweat it, frozen is just as good. Don’t compromise with smelly fish. You’ll be sorry.

Cold Shoulder, Hot Catfish

Light and spicy Dick, this is a fast and easy fish dish. The cage will make you look like a barbecue guru and catfish is a nice healthy dinner.

Procedure

Heat the barbecue to medium high.

Wash your fillet's with cold water and pat dry with a paper towel.

Rub a small amount of olive oil onto the fillets - just enough to coat.

Combine all of the dry spices in a shallow dish making sure they're well blended.

Season both sides of the catfish with the spice mixture by sprinkling on with your fingers and rubbing the fish to coat.

Using a barbecue cage, spray with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange the fish equal distances apart and close cage as close to fish as possible.

Cook over grill for five to seven minutes. Flip cage and cook for an additional five minutes, or until fish is white and flaky.

Grill your lemon halves face down for the last five minutes of barbecuing.

Open cage and release. Throw the grilled lemons beside the fish face up for effect and flavour.

Servings: 4

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Very easy

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Dicks Tips

Okay, so what exactly is a barbecue cage? You'll find it in cooking stores or most places that sell barbecue accessories and it’s a great tool for Dick’s kitchen.

A Swing and a Miss Chipotle Chicken

Struck out on Mrs. Right yet again Dick? The chipotle peppers in this dish will burn away any last memory of what’s-her-name.

Procedure

In a large skillet or electric frying pan, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Pan fry the chicken breasts until lightly browned on both sides, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, using a blender or food processor, puree the remaining ingredients until smooth.

Once chicken is browned, pour the sauce over the chicken and heat until it begins to lightly boil. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer chicken in sauce for an additional 15 minutes, turning chicken occasionally to coat.

Remove from pan and serve with a little bit of the sauce poured over chicken.

Servings: 4

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Easy

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Dicks Tips

What the hell is a Chipotle pepper and where do you find it? It's a smoke dried jalapeno chili pepper, found in the Mexican food section of the grocery store, usually in a small can. These babies are super-hot, but super flavorful and a little goes a long way. If you like a little zing, stick to one pepper. If you want to man-up Dick, try two or three but have a cold drink handy.

Feeling Smothered Pasta

Feeling smothered? Pull the pin with this great chicken pasta dish that's loaded with flavour. This one's good for you too Dick - unlike your soon-to-be-excused dinner guest.

Procedure

In a small bowl combine olive oil, garlic, pesto, salt and pepper. Allow to sit for a half hour or more for the flavours to blend, stirring occasionally.

In a large pot, boil water and cook pasta following the directions on the box. Once cooked, drain, rinse and cover to keep warm.

In a large frying pan, heat olive oil and butter on medium heat. Once butter has melted sauté onions for 2 - 3 minutes or until they just begin to soften.

Add the green peppers and chicken, and continue to cook until chicken is cooked through or about 10 minutes.

Next add the diced tomatoes, green olives and red pepper flakes, stirring to heat throughout. Simmer on low for five more minutes.

Take your warm pasta and toss with the olive oil and pesto sauce, ensuring to evenly coat. (If you need to reheat your pasta Dick just place it in a colander and strain with hot water to warm it back up before tossing with the olive oil.)

Spoon your pasta onto a plate and then top with the chicken and tomato mixture from the pan. Serve immediately.

Servings: 4

Dick’s Difficulty Gauge: Easy

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Inactive Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Dicks Tips

This is a good time to whip up some Dick's Bread n' Butter garlic bread to serve with this pasta dish.

It's Not Me, It's You Meatloaf

While this dish is a guarantee, don't use the title as the opener. Repeat after me Dick: It's not you, it's me, and I’m sorry... There you go.