Here’s a recipe guide for a full meal featuring baked beans, mac and cheese, butter shrimp, steak, and rice. I’ll break down each dish step-by-step so you can make everything perfectly.
1. Baked Beans
Ingredients:
-
2 cups canned navy or pinto beans (or cooked dried beans)
-
1/2 cup ketchup
-
2 tbsp brown sugar
-
1 tbsp molasses (optional, adds depth)
-
1 small onion, finely chopped
-
2 cloves garlic, minced
-
1 tbsp yellow mustard
-
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
-
2 strips bacon, chopped (optional for flavor)
-
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
-
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
-
In a skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove and set aside, leaving fat in the pan.
-
Sauté onion and garlic in bacon fat until soft, about 5 minutes.
-
In a baking dish, combine beans, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, sautéed onions & garlic, and bacon.
-
Stir well and season with salt and pepper.
-
Bake uncovered for 45-60 minutes, stirring halfway through. Beans should be thick and bubbly.
2. Mac and Cheese
Ingredients:
-
2 cups elbow macaroni
-
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or mix cheddar and mozzarella)
-
2 cups milk (whole or 2%)
-
3 tbsp butter
-
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
-
1/2 tsp salt
-
1/4 tsp black pepper
-
1/4 tsp paprika (optional)
-
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (optional topping)
Instructions:
-
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
-
In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
-
Stir in flour and cook for about 1-2 minutes to form a roux (it will look paste-like).
-
Slowly whisk in milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
-
Cook and stir until sauce thickens (about 5 minutes).
-
Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheese until melted and smooth.
-
Add salt, pepper, and paprika.
-
Mix cheese sauce with cooked macaroni.
-
Optional: Pour mac and cheese into a baking dish, top with breadcrumbs, and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes until golden.
3. Butter Shrimp
Ingredients:
-
1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
-
3 tbsp butter
-
4 cloves garlic, minced
-
1/2 tsp paprika
-
Juice of 1/2 lemon
-
Salt and pepper to taste
-
Chopped parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions:
-
Pat shrimp dry with paper towels.
-
In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
-
Add garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 1 minute).
-
Add shrimp, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque.
-
Squeeze lemon juice over shrimp and toss to coat.
-
Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
4. Steak (Pan-Seared)
Ingredients:
-
2 steaks (ribeye, sirloin, or your choice), about 1-inch thick
-
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
-
2 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
-
2 tbsp butter
-
2 cloves garlic, smashed
-
Fresh rosemary or thyme (optional)
Instructions:
-
Remove steaks from the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking to come to room temp.
-
Pat steaks dry with paper towels and generously season both sides with salt and pepper.
-
Heat oil in a heavy skillet (cast iron preferred) over high heat until smoking hot.
-
Add steaks and sear for 3-4 minutes without moving.
-
Flip steaks, add butter, garlic, and herbs to pan.
-
Tilt pan and spoon melted butter over steaks as they cook for another 3-4 minutes (for medium-rare).
-
Remove steaks and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
5. Rice (Simple Steamed Rice)
Ingredients:
-
1 cup long-grain white rice
-
2 cups water
-
1/2 tsp salt
-
1 tbsp butter or oil (optional)
Instructions:
-
Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear.
-
In a pot, combine rice, water, salt, and butter/oil.
-
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover.
-
Simmer for 15 minutes without lifting the lid.
-
Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
-
Fluff with fork and serve.
Putting it all together:
-
Serve steak sliced alongside a helping of steamed rice.
-
Add butter shrimp on the side for a delicious surf-and-turf vibe.
-
Plate with a scoop of mac and cheese and baked beans.
-
Enjoy!