I decided, since the weather has gotten a little chilly, that I'm going to make some soup for lunch for the week. Today, I decided to make Grill Red Pepper soup. Now I've never made this soup before so I was a little excited and and tiny bit apprehensive.
I started with 4 red peppers, 4 cloves of garlic, one onion and a large potato.
The first thing I did was to peel and cut the potato. I boiled it for about 25 minutes. I wanted it very mushy.
I cut the red peppers in chunks making sure I took out the seeds. I put them in about 1 tbs of olive oil and a little bit of minced garlic. I put it on the grill in a grilling basket for about 15 minutes. Next time, I'll put them in there for about 10-12. Some got a little burnt. I will also add some fresh basil. I didn't have any this time so I put dried basil in the soup.
Then I chopped the onion and boy did I cry!! It was the strongest onion I've chopped in a loong time! I chopped the garlic too. I sauteed the onion and garlic in about 2 tbs of olive oil for about 3-4 minutes.
I transferred all the veggies in a blender and pureed them. Now, I did not remove the skins of the peppers. The next time, I just may. It's really your preference. The skin kind of remains and gives the soup a different texture, but it's not off putting. I don't know if it will be worth taking the time to peel the peppers. That will take a lot of work. Like I said, your preference.
After the veggies are pureed, you transfer them to a big pot and add 3 cups of chicken broth. Bring to a boil while stirring. Once the soup comes to a boil, turn the heat to low and simmer for about 30 minutes.
This soup was so delicious! Amanda even enjoyed it, which is saying volumes! I had a slice of sour dough bread with it. If I had time, I would have made a salad, but I really didn't need to. It was very fulfilling.
Make you pot and enjoy!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
What's for dinner 10/13/10
After a long day at the zoo, I wasn't really in the mood to do a lot of cooking so I decided to make a pizza and garlic knots.
Now this was the first time I made the knots and man were they good!
You'll need two pizza stones. Put them in an 450 oven for about 10 minutes.
Now before I started the dough, I began my sauce. Here's that recipe.
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1 tbs olive oil
2 tsp basil
1 tbs Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp onion powder
3 minced garlic cloves
Bring it to a boil, then simmer for about 20-25 minutes.
Yes, we love to keep vampires away so we love lots of garlic.
So here's the dough recipe for the knots and pie.
3 cups plain flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tbs baking powder
1 cup water
Mix the dry ingredients. Add the water. Mix by hand. Knead until the dough is smooth and pliable. About 2 minutes. I took about a third of the dough and made knots. I pinched off a bit and rolled in between my hands, reminded me of playing with play doh and making snakes. Take the snake and make a knot. Once made, put on one of the pizza stones that have been in the oven. Cook for 10-15 minutes.
While the knots were baking, I took the remainder of the dough and made the pie. Before you put the pie dough on the second stone, put a dusting off corn meal on it. This keeps the pie from sticking. Roll the dough on the stone. You can try the pizza flipping thing, but I can't do that, so I just use a roller. Bake for 10 minutes.
After the knots were done, I put 2 tbs of butter and about 1 tbs of olive oil in a small glass casserole dish. I added another 3 minced garlic cloves; that's 6 in all. Then put the knots in the dish. I returned the dish to the oven and baked for about 5 minutes. When you take them out of the oven, mix them in butter sauce so they will have the sauce all on them. Serve them with the tomato sauce.
When the pie dough is done, put as much sauce as you want on the dough and add your pizza topping. I put pepperoni and cheese. Put in the oven again for about 5-10 more minutes. You know, until the cheese is melted.
So yummy, fun and easy.
Enjoy!
Now this was the first time I made the knots and man were they good!
You'll need two pizza stones. Put them in an 450 oven for about 10 minutes.
Now before I started the dough, I began my sauce. Here's that recipe.
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1 tbs olive oil
2 tsp basil
1 tbs Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp onion powder
3 minced garlic cloves
Bring it to a boil, then simmer for about 20-25 minutes.
Yes, we love to keep vampires away so we love lots of garlic.
So here's the dough recipe for the knots and pie.
3 cups plain flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tbs baking powder
1 cup water
Mix the dry ingredients. Add the water. Mix by hand. Knead until the dough is smooth and pliable. About 2 minutes. I took about a third of the dough and made knots. I pinched off a bit and rolled in between my hands, reminded me of playing with play doh and making snakes. Take the snake and make a knot. Once made, put on one of the pizza stones that have been in the oven. Cook for 10-15 minutes.
While the knots were baking, I took the remainder of the dough and made the pie. Before you put the pie dough on the second stone, put a dusting off corn meal on it. This keeps the pie from sticking. Roll the dough on the stone. You can try the pizza flipping thing, but I can't do that, so I just use a roller. Bake for 10 minutes.
After the knots were done, I put 2 tbs of butter and about 1 tbs of olive oil in a small glass casserole dish. I added another 3 minced garlic cloves; that's 6 in all. Then put the knots in the dish. I returned the dish to the oven and baked for about 5 minutes. When you take them out of the oven, mix them in butter sauce so they will have the sauce all on them. Serve them with the tomato sauce.
When the pie dough is done, put as much sauce as you want on the dough and add your pizza topping. I put pepperoni and cheese. Put in the oven again for about 5-10 more minutes. You know, until the cheese is melted.
So yummy, fun and easy.
Enjoy!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
What's for dinner 10/10/10
Breakfast is what's for dinner tonight. Who says you can only eat breakfast at the crack of dawn? It's an easy, simple and so yummy meal to prepare. I suggest you do it often!
So on tonight's breakfast menu is the following: pancakes, eggs and bacon. Pretty much the staple of breakfast items.
Here's my recipe for the pancakes:
2 cups of all purpose flour (stir or sift it before you measure. It helps to keep the batter airy)
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
3 tbls sugar
1/2 tsp salt
mix the items well
In a separate bowl (I actually use my measuring cup) mix 1 1/2 c milk and 2 eggs.
Pour the egg mixture in the flour mixture. Now stir. Here's where it's important to not over stir. If you do, your cakes will be tough. Don't want a tough pancake. Stir until it is blended. Don't worry if you see lumps, it okay. Trust me.
Now melt about 2 tbs of butter and blend it in the batter. Again, don't over mix or you're gonna have tough cakes.
Make sure your griddle is on about 375. I use a ladle to pour my batter on the griddle. You could also use an ice cream scooper. Yes, an ice cream scooper. It gives you the perfect amount for a perfect pancake. I wasn't being perfect tonight so I used the ladle which makes it a tad bit faster.
Watch your cakes and when you see tiny bubbles, flip those babies! Now leave them cooking for about another minute. Take a peek at them and see if they are brown. Now from my experience, they won't look like the top which are all golden brown, they'll be splotchy. That's because of the bubbles. So don't leave them on too long hoping they will look like the top. It won't happen and you'll burn your hard work. When they are brown, take the off. Now this is important. Make sure you put the ugly splotchy part on the plate so your golden brown cakes are showing. It's all about presentation people! ;) If you like, you can add butter between each cake, but I didn't find it necessary since I added quite a bit of butter in the batter.
Serve with your favorite syrup. Now I've not gone so far as to make my own syrup...but I'm thinking it is coming. We barely had enough store bought syrup tonight. GASP.
Bear's and Baby Girl's egg were scrambled. I sometimes add a drop of texas pete or salsa in the eggs. Gives them a kick!
My egg was a cheese omelet. Now the secret to an omelet is to let that puppy s.l.o.w.l.y cook. Turn the heat on low/med heat. Put your pan on the heat for about 30 seconds to a minute, then add your egg. I then add my fillings. In this case, about 1/2 a slice of White American cheese in bits. Now leave you egg alone. I'm serious, don't look at it, don't talk to it, just let it be. It will thank you for it. Now, I'm saying to forget about it though. When the egg has fluffed up and I mean fluffed up and there is hardly any egg left on it, it's time to fold it into an omelet. If you let it get to this point, it so easy to fold it. Fold it ever so gently, speaking sweetly to it and let it rest on the pan for about one minute, then flip it, again, let it rest for about a minute. Now, if your egg has gotten dark brown, your heat was too high. Your omelet will be a very so slight golden brown. I put salsa on mine sometimes, but not tonight.
The bacon, well is bacon. Just cook it the way you like. I do mine in the microwave for about a minute and half per slice.
Serve and eat!
Enjoy!
So on tonight's breakfast menu is the following: pancakes, eggs and bacon. Pretty much the staple of breakfast items.
Here's my recipe for the pancakes:
2 cups of all purpose flour (stir or sift it before you measure. It helps to keep the batter airy)
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
3 tbls sugar
1/2 tsp salt
mix the items well
In a separate bowl (I actually use my measuring cup) mix 1 1/2 c milk and 2 eggs.
Pour the egg mixture in the flour mixture. Now stir. Here's where it's important to not over stir. If you do, your cakes will be tough. Don't want a tough pancake. Stir until it is blended. Don't worry if you see lumps, it okay. Trust me.
Now melt about 2 tbs of butter and blend it in the batter. Again, don't over mix or you're gonna have tough cakes.
Make sure your griddle is on about 375. I use a ladle to pour my batter on the griddle. You could also use an ice cream scooper. Yes, an ice cream scooper. It gives you the perfect amount for a perfect pancake. I wasn't being perfect tonight so I used the ladle which makes it a tad bit faster.
Watch your cakes and when you see tiny bubbles, flip those babies! Now leave them cooking for about another minute. Take a peek at them and see if they are brown. Now from my experience, they won't look like the top which are all golden brown, they'll be splotchy. That's because of the bubbles. So don't leave them on too long hoping they will look like the top. It won't happen and you'll burn your hard work. When they are brown, take the off. Now this is important. Make sure you put the ugly splotchy part on the plate so your golden brown cakes are showing. It's all about presentation people! ;) If you like, you can add butter between each cake, but I didn't find it necessary since I added quite a bit of butter in the batter.
Serve with your favorite syrup. Now I've not gone so far as to make my own syrup...but I'm thinking it is coming. We barely had enough store bought syrup tonight. GASP.
Bear's and Baby Girl's egg were scrambled. I sometimes add a drop of texas pete or salsa in the eggs. Gives them a kick!
My egg was a cheese omelet. Now the secret to an omelet is to let that puppy s.l.o.w.l.y cook. Turn the heat on low/med heat. Put your pan on the heat for about 30 seconds to a minute, then add your egg. I then add my fillings. In this case, about 1/2 a slice of White American cheese in bits. Now leave you egg alone. I'm serious, don't look at it, don't talk to it, just let it be. It will thank you for it. Now, I'm saying to forget about it though. When the egg has fluffed up and I mean fluffed up and there is hardly any egg left on it, it's time to fold it into an omelet. If you let it get to this point, it so easy to fold it. Fold it ever so gently, speaking sweetly to it and let it rest on the pan for about one minute, then flip it, again, let it rest for about a minute. Now, if your egg has gotten dark brown, your heat was too high. Your omelet will be a very so slight golden brown. I put salsa on mine sometimes, but not tonight.
The bacon, well is bacon. Just cook it the way you like. I do mine in the microwave for about a minute and half per slice.
Serve and eat!
Enjoy!
Friday, October 8, 2010
What's for dinner
I get so many people complimenting me on my menu choices (bows as I blush) that I've decided to blog about it.
So what's for dinner tonight?
Nothing that will make your toes curl, but it's an old recipe that my mom would do for Bear when we would go visit her. She knew to always make this for him. I guess I'm feeling kind of nostalgic for some of my mom's cooking. Now I've personally never made this before so I'm kinda of nervous. I vaguely recalled how my mom made it. My mom never went by a recipe (that I remember) so asking her for a recipe was like asking the Sun why it appeared every day. It just does. So a lot of her yummiest foods I can't make because I have no clue on how to make them. I can just go by memory.
Any way, what am I making? I know the suspense is down right killing ya huh? Well on a autumn night what's better than a good toasted sandwich? Yep, I'm making Reuben sandwiches tonight!
Here's how I'm going to do it:
I have 1/2 lb corned beef (thinly sliced)
1/4 lb of Swiss cheese (I will put White American on mine as I don't like Swiss)
Dark rye bread
sauerkraut (drained as much as possible. No one likes a soggy sanmich!)
Now for the sauce. I remember my mom only used a mixture of mayonnaise and mustard on her sandwiches. She wasn't much on spices or a daredevil like me (smirking). I think I will still use the mixture of mayo and mustard but just may add a little bit of ketchup and maybe, just maybe, some herbs. Not sure what kind yet. I'm leaning toward basil. Not sure. I'll have to taste it on the bread to see. It seems to me the rye has enough kick that the dressing doesn't really need to be BAM! in your face.
So I'm going to butter the bread on the part that will be grilled on the inside I will put some of the sauce on both pieces of bread. Then I will put the meat then cheese and then the kraut. Put the sandwich together and use my griddle set on 350 and toast each side for around 3-4 minutes. Now I have found a trick to make a grilled sandwich sing, YES! sing people! I put on top of the sandwiches a baking sheet and slightly, with oh so much love, press down on the sandwiches. I keep the sheet on until time to flip. Flip the sandwich and put the sheet on again. It keeps the heat in better and makes the cheese melt divinely!
I think these sandwiches will be WICKED yummy.
I'm making the finicky eater a grilled cheese on plain white bread. She's excited so that's good enough for me.
I'll serve the sandwiches with some homemade potato salad
Which is:
a couple of potatoes cubed and boiled for about 10 minutes.
One hard boiled egg
Mayo and a tiny bit of mustard. You gotta go on taste on this one. Some like it more mayo and some like it more mustard. Your preference.
diced onion (again your preference. I usually use about a tbs or 1 1/2 tbs
salt and pepper
Mix all that together and there you go my simple but yummy potato salad. Some like relish and stuff in theirs, but that's not my bag so I leave it out. I'm the only one that eats it so I make it the way I like. Short and sweet.. just like me! (sheepish grin).
and potato chips for Bear and Baby Girl.
So that's what's for dinner tonight. Enjoy!
So what's for dinner tonight?
Nothing that will make your toes curl, but it's an old recipe that my mom would do for Bear when we would go visit her. She knew to always make this for him. I guess I'm feeling kind of nostalgic for some of my mom's cooking. Now I've personally never made this before so I'm kinda of nervous. I vaguely recalled how my mom made it. My mom never went by a recipe (that I remember) so asking her for a recipe was like asking the Sun why it appeared every day. It just does. So a lot of her yummiest foods I can't make because I have no clue on how to make them. I can just go by memory.
Any way, what am I making? I know the suspense is down right killing ya huh? Well on a autumn night what's better than a good toasted sandwich? Yep, I'm making Reuben sandwiches tonight!
Here's how I'm going to do it:
I have 1/2 lb corned beef (thinly sliced)
1/4 lb of Swiss cheese (I will put White American on mine as I don't like Swiss)
Dark rye bread
sauerkraut (drained as much as possible. No one likes a soggy sanmich!)
Now for the sauce. I remember my mom only used a mixture of mayonnaise and mustard on her sandwiches. She wasn't much on spices or a daredevil like me (smirking). I think I will still use the mixture of mayo and mustard but just may add a little bit of ketchup and maybe, just maybe, some herbs. Not sure what kind yet. I'm leaning toward basil. Not sure. I'll have to taste it on the bread to see. It seems to me the rye has enough kick that the dressing doesn't really need to be BAM! in your face.
So I'm going to butter the bread on the part that will be grilled on the inside I will put some of the sauce on both pieces of bread. Then I will put the meat then cheese and then the kraut. Put the sandwich together and use my griddle set on 350 and toast each side for around 3-4 minutes. Now I have found a trick to make a grilled sandwich sing, YES! sing people! I put on top of the sandwiches a baking sheet and slightly, with oh so much love, press down on the sandwiches. I keep the sheet on until time to flip. Flip the sandwich and put the sheet on again. It keeps the heat in better and makes the cheese melt divinely!
I think these sandwiches will be WICKED yummy.
I'm making the finicky eater a grilled cheese on plain white bread. She's excited so that's good enough for me.
I'll serve the sandwiches with some homemade potato salad
Which is:
a couple of potatoes cubed and boiled for about 10 minutes.
One hard boiled egg
Mayo and a tiny bit of mustard. You gotta go on taste on this one. Some like it more mayo and some like it more mustard. Your preference.
diced onion (again your preference. I usually use about a tbs or 1 1/2 tbs
salt and pepper
Mix all that together and there you go my simple but yummy potato salad. Some like relish and stuff in theirs, but that's not my bag so I leave it out. I'm the only one that eats it so I make it the way I like. Short and sweet.. just like me! (sheepish grin).
and potato chips for Bear and Baby Girl.
So that's what's for dinner tonight. Enjoy!
Things that tick me off!
So since I'm sitting here waiting on Baby Girl to get finish with one of her writing assignments, I thought I'd blog for a minute. Lots of things come to mind: what I'm making for dinner, what the cat drug in, who am I, the existence of something greater than me out in the universe, and well, you get the drift. Endless possibilities! But today I think I'm going to blog about things that really irk me. Things that get under my skin and just fester and boil until I just can not take it any more. So, here's my list:
1. People who drive under the speed limit! I mean how hard is it to drive the legal speed? Hell, 5 mile over the limit is even more optimum!
2. The fact that it is 2010 and gay people still do not have the right to be married to the person they want to spend the rest of their life with. What business is it to Jane Smith if Bob and George are married? Don't they deserve the same right to be happy (and sometimes unhappy) with that person? I just don't get it. I never will. We all deserve to be happy and loved.
3. That people are all up in arms about Muslims. Sure there are some nut bags out there but they are not what the entire religion is about. Read a book! Educate yourself on the religion. It's so funny to me that Christians are the loudest and yet they are worshipping the same god. Go figure.
4. That some (most) Christians want everyone to believe their way is the ONLY way. No it's not! I'm glad you found your path my friend, just don't take me with you. That's not my path. That's not millions of people's path. Everyone has the right to follow the path their heart has led them. Stop judging. PERIOD!
5. That my parents are not here to see my beautiful baby girl blossoming into the funny, smart, caring, and beautiful young lady she's destined to become. It totally sucks!
6. That my parents aren't here when I need some advice. My mom's advice was too nice most of the time. Not my style. My dad's was more to the point. But now that I'm a mom and have to actually check myself more often than not, I'd like my mom's advice. At times I even go WWMD? Totally weird but totally true!
Well that's what is foremost in my mind right this minute that really ticks me off. I feel a tad bit better putting it out there. Will it really change anything? Probably not. Gays still will not have the right to marry, people will still drive under the speed limit, Christians will still try to convert and irritate people, people will still be fearful of Muslims, and my parents will still be dead. But in whole, I'm glad I put it out there.
Peace!
1. People who drive under the speed limit! I mean how hard is it to drive the legal speed? Hell, 5 mile over the limit is even more optimum!
2. The fact that it is 2010 and gay people still do not have the right to be married to the person they want to spend the rest of their life with. What business is it to Jane Smith if Bob and George are married? Don't they deserve the same right to be happy (and sometimes unhappy) with that person? I just don't get it. I never will. We all deserve to be happy and loved.
3. That people are all up in arms about Muslims. Sure there are some nut bags out there but they are not what the entire religion is about. Read a book! Educate yourself on the religion. It's so funny to me that Christians are the loudest and yet they are worshipping the same god. Go figure.
4. That some (most) Christians want everyone to believe their way is the ONLY way. No it's not! I'm glad you found your path my friend, just don't take me with you. That's not my path. That's not millions of people's path. Everyone has the right to follow the path their heart has led them. Stop judging. PERIOD!
5. That my parents are not here to see my beautiful baby girl blossoming into the funny, smart, caring, and beautiful young lady she's destined to become. It totally sucks!
6. That my parents aren't here when I need some advice. My mom's advice was too nice most of the time. Not my style. My dad's was more to the point. But now that I'm a mom and have to actually check myself more often than not, I'd like my mom's advice. At times I even go WWMD? Totally weird but totally true!
Well that's what is foremost in my mind right this minute that really ticks me off. I feel a tad bit better putting it out there. Will it really change anything? Probably not. Gays still will not have the right to marry, people will still drive under the speed limit, Christians will still try to convert and irritate people, people will still be fearful of Muslims, and my parents will still be dead. But in whole, I'm glad I put it out there.
Peace!
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