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Friday night dinner

1 bag Cocoa Krispies
1 Gallon of milk
1 quart-sized cooking bowl

Eat until full.

Since it's still raining here...

With all this cold, rainy weather, I just can't help but make soup a few times a week. Here's another favorite soup recipe.

Tomato Pasta Basil Soup

3 lg ripe tomatoes
2 tbsp olive Oil
1 med onion, chopped
1 cloves garlic, minced
1 sm red pepper, finely chopped (optional)
4 c (1 litre) vegetable stock
3 tbsp tomato paste
salt and pepper
1 tsp sugar
1/4 c fresh basil or 1 1/2 tsp dried basil
1 c small shell pasta or macaroni
extra fresh basil leaves

Cut a small cross in the top of each tomato. Place in a bowl and cover with boiling water for about 2 minutes; drain and cool. Peel skin downward from the cross and discard. Roughly chop flesh. Heat oil in a large heavy-based pan. Add onion, garlic and red pepper; cook, stirring, for 10 minutes or until all ingredients are soft. Add tomatoes and cook another 10 minutes.
Add the stock, tomato paste, salt, pepper and sugar. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. remove from the heat, add the basil. Allow to cool. Process in batches, in a food processor or blender, until smooth. (I use an immersion blender and blend right in the pot). Return the mixture to the pan and reheat gently.
Cook the pasta separately in boiling salted water until tender; drain. Add to soup and heat through. Serve sprinkled with fresh basil leaves.

Appetizer for New Year's Eve or Super Bowl parties

I'm a newbie to this blog. Thought I'd start out by sharing a family recipe for some incredible meatballs. These freeze very well. I serve them w/tooth picks stuck in them for easy eating by guests. Serve as an appetizer or add to spaghetti or other pasta dishes.

Swedish Meatballs

1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup warm cream
3/4 lb ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork
1/2 cup milk
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons minced onion
3 tsps salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp allspice
4 tablespoons butter

Soak crumbs in cream. Combine crumbs and meat; mix thoroughly. Add milk, egg yolks, onion and seasonings. Form into tiny balls. Can be fried or baked (350 degrees for 12-15 minutes) and later frozen. Serve as is or with gravy, barbecue or sweet and sour sauce.

Butternut Squash Dinner Rolls

I made these tonight with homemade chicken noodle soup. These are one of my favorite dinner rolls. I love getting in some veggies with my bread. :-)

Butternut Squash Dinner Rolls

1 1/2 c. flour, divided
1 c. whole wheat flour
4 1/2 tsp fast-rising yeast
1-2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. honey
1-2 Tbsp butter
3/4 c. mashed squash
1 egg

Combine first four ingredients in a large bowl. Heat milk, honey and butter in small pot until very hot. Add milk mixture to flour, mixing until smooth. Mix in squash and egg and enough extra flour to make a smooth dough. Knead dough until smooth and elastic, place in greased bowl and let stand (covered) in a warm place until dough doubles in size (about 30-45 minutes). Punch down dough, shape into round balls and bake in a greased muffin tin at 375 F until browned; about 20-25 minutes.

White Chili With Chicken

Because I'd been feeling guilty for not cooking... I teamed up with my Cusinart Slow Cooker and found this YUMMY recipe that came with the crock pot.

White Chili With Chicken

1 pound white beans
cooking spray
1 TB good quality olive oil
2 cups chopped onions
1 TB chopped garlic
5 cups chicken stock, nonfat, low-sodium
1 1/2 pounds chicken breast meat, cut in 1-inch cubes
3/4 cup prepared salsa verde (from a jar)
2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp coriander
2 jalapeno peppers, cored, seeded and minced (optional)
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground white pepper
2 cups cut white or yellow corn, (thawed if frozen)
8 lime wedges

Pick over beans and discard any stones or bits of dirt. Soak beans overnight (8 hours) in water to cover by 3 inches. Drain and Rinse

Lightly coat the interior of the ceramic pot of the Cusinart Slow Cooker with cooking spray.

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic. Cook until onions are soft, about 5 minutes; transfer to pot. Place stock, beans and chicken in slow cooker. Add salsa, cumin, oregano, coriander, salt, pepper and jalapenos. Cover and cook on Low for 5 hours using Timer function; slow cooker will automatically switch to Warm setting. One half hour before serving, turn heat to High; stir in corn.

Serve with wedge of lime

Tip: sliced or diced avocado makes a good garnish for White Chicken Chili.

What I did - didn't do -- Used chicken broth that wasn't low-fat low blah blah, used chicken tenders instead of breast meat - because then I didn't have to chop 'em up. Just tossed 'em in. After chicken slow cooks it's easily breakable with stirring. Used regular salt cuz I'm not kosher, used white corn... forgot the lime wedges and forgot the avocado. I have left overs so I'm totally adding the lime and avocado today for lunch. ...mmmm...

What's for dinner tonight?

Hi, I'm new here. Thanks for letting me join you! I already have dinner in the crockpot - Beef Stew - love it on a cold wintery day. Smells good all day! Here is my recipe:

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups beef broth
3 potatoes, diced
4 carrots, sliced
1 stalk celery, chopped

1. Place meat in slow cooker. In a small bowl mix together the four, salt and pepper; pour over meat, and stir to coat meat with flour mixture. Stir in the garlic, bay leaf, paprika, worcestershire sauce, onion, beef broth, potatoes, carros and celery.
2. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 10 to 12 hours, or on High setting for 4 to 6 hours.


What are you having for dinner tonight?

I have faith...

That you're all MUCH better cooks than I am. So seriously... I'm sitting here STARVING for some delicious food and ideas.

I started this blog because a little bird named Tracy thought this way we could all eat better. I'm still waiting little bird.

heheheh - all joking aside... I am literally STARVING. Please, send recipes/ideas.

CHEERS!