Magical Healing Soup...

My new book came in the mail!!! And I am SO excited about it. It's called The Kind Diet  by Alicia Silverstone and it's fabulous. She has gone entirely Vegan (for about 12 years now) and has some really fabulous recipes in her book - I will be trying all of them at some point and giving my honest review.

When we all woke up feeling kind of sick this weekend I knew this soup was on the top of my list. So today I went grocery shopping to buy all sorts of fabulous veggies (some the first time ever) and came home to make this delicious soup.

You can check out alicia's website HERE if you want more information or additional recipes - there's an awesome giveaway linked on her site right now so check it out.

I am not going to post her exact recipe as I made some adjustments - I'll just post how I made it and you can vary it any way you want.

6 cups of water in a large pot
3 carrots, chopped
1/4 daikon, in large chunks (they had this at wal-mart....I'd never even heard of or noticed it before)
1/4 red onion, chopped
1/4 yellow onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
a handful of broccoli florets
3 mushrooms chopped
1 leek sliced (I LOVE leeks)
1 baby bok choy, chopped
a handful of bean sprouts, chopped in half by my adorable daughter!
Ginger juice to taste - I have store bought minced ginger but was able to press the spoon into the jar and squeeze out some of the juice. I also put some of the actual ginger into the soup.
Shoyu to taste - I am making the switch gradually to healthier versions of certain ingredients so for now I just used soy sauce
AND I did add one chicken bouillon cube which I know defeats the purpose of it being a veggie soup but it was perfect. LOL

I boiled the first 6 ingredients for about 15 minutes, then added everything else for about 5-7 minutes more....

In Alicia's version of this soup she recommends topping the soup with watercress, mochi, and nori. I have never used any of these and was unable to find them today...but the hunt is on!

More fabulous recipes to come!!! Seriously - I am so excited about this book and the recipes sound awesome!

Sloppy Joes - Jessica Seinfeld Style

I love her book, Deceptively Delicious....while my kids are both really great about eating fruits and vegetables I LOVE the idea of being able to put even more wholesome goodness into the food they eat (us too). And to put items in their food that perhaps I don't know how to prepare otherwise OR that they wouldn't normally enjoy (beets for example - not this recipe but a few others I plan to try) but that are so good for us.

I have decided to try and use ground turkey or chicken in place of beef in some (most) recipes. While it is still meat, I know there are other benefits and the fat content is quite a bit less....and because it's more expensive I'm also hoping it will help me eliminate meat a little more. LOL Sometimes I think we get a little carried away and it seems EVERY meal we make is meat based. And I like the idea of changing it up a little....trying something new.

I was planning on being out tonight so hadn't anticipated making dinner...so I had to do some quick thinking. Thankfully as a result of my grocery trip yesterday, I had a lot of ingredients to choose from. In the end it was the Sloppy Joes that won out!

Nonstick Cooking spray (I just used olive oil to avoid the *propane* in the cooking spray)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound lean ground turkey or beef (I used chicken)
1/2 cup sweet potato puree
1/2 cup butternut squash or red pepper puree (I used a mixture of red and yellow pepper puree)
raw, finely chopped carrots (optional - I put them in)
1/2 cup reduced fat, low sodium bef broth (I didn't have any so used french onion soup mix instead - great substitute)
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp chili powder, or to taste
1/2 tsp salt (didn't add)
1/8 tsp pepper
8 whole-grain hamburger or hot dog buns

Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set it over medium-high heat. When the skiller is hot, add the oil. Add the onion, celery, and garlic (I also chopped mushrooms and added them here). Cook until the onion starts to soften (about 3-4 minutes). Add the meat and cook until no longer pink (4-5 minutes). Add the vegetable purees, raw chopped carrot (if using), beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer until liquid is reduced by about half - 15 to 20 minutes.

Spoon onto buns and serve. I added a bit of grated marble cheese as well...

I think this recipe has potential. It wasn't flavourful enough for me....I need a lot more chili powder...but for kids (and adults alike I suppose) who like a blander taste, it would probably be perfect. I also think I added too much tomato paste (one whole small can....) which may have contributed. It was definitely a bit too tomatoe-y for me. But I will be making this again and doctoring it to our families liking. I really liked that the veggies weren't super obvious - I personally love veggies....but for a child's meal this can be very important.

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 3.5 STARS

My lunch of choice...

Actually it's not just my *lunch* of choice - right now, it's my breakfast, lunch, and dinner of choice. I LOVE it. all the time....Nothing fancy, nothing crazy - just a delicious veggie wrap! I know I know, it doesn't sound too exciting, but trust me....

It began a couple of weeks ago when I picked up subway on the way home from the gym. I hadn't eaten supper beforehand but wanted to make sure I ate something at least sort of healthy that wouldn't put all my work to waste. Having recently discovered the delicious factor in their HONEY OAT BREAD (seriously try it!!) I got my veggie sub on that, instead of the usual Italian Herb and Cheese. Baby steps - I'm a cheese ADDICT, so this kind of a big deal for me. Brent always gets those banana peppers on his (the yellow, orange, and red ones) and I decided to finally try them.

OH SWEET DELICIOUS PEPPERS!!!!

I'm hooked. absolutely hooked. So I made a special trip to walmart just a couple of days later to pick some up. I took the opportunity to stock up on veggies and such (I LOVE when my cart is filled with veggies and fruit and little to no processed *stuff*) and got some small, whole wheat tortilla shells. I was set. And seriously I've had it every day since.

I put on one smear of herb and garlic cream cheese, cucumbers, sprouts, orange or red pepper (anything but green as I don't like them), purple onion (I LOVE), sometimes a few sweet pickles, and a few rings of the hot peppers. They have a nice little kick, but really aren't *hot* so I say try them even if you don't love hot stuff (I don't generally). And I bought a Beano's brand sub sauce a while back so I put a little drizzle of that on.

I love it....and yes you may have noticed I haven't been putting cheese on them....I've decided to try and avoid it where I can. I eat way too much cheese and I'm certain it's not healthy, though certainly delicious. And on something like this where there are so many other flavors, I can leave the cheese out and not really notice. My personal favorite though is Jalapeno Havarti. It just makes everything taste better.

Last night and today we cooked up some (yes, processed) chicken strips and added them to the wraps. So if you aren't into the whole veggie thing, go that route! 

So try something new. I bought the wal mart brand instead of the *real* brand because the first ingredient was actually peppers and the *real* brand had an additional ingredient in it that I can't pronounce. Okay I can pronounce it, but certainly don't know what it means....an additive I'd rather avoid :)

I would add a photo but I can't find one online that I'm happy with. Maybe I'll take one of my own - but honestly it won't be fabulous!
 
SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 5 STARS (definitely no less)

I love Barley...

I like the convenience of Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup packs....I don't like the high salt and msg content, but I make it anyways. LOL My kids DEVOUR it. So a while back (a year ago or more) I started making it with veggies...I boil a bunch of chopped veggies (onions, carrots, celery, potatoes sometimes, and more recently leeks) for about 30 minutes and then add the soup mix. At least this way I feel like there is some good stuff in it.

This past week, however I was sick....and I didn't want to eat the noodles....So instead I made a vegetable stock (boiling the veggies chunks for 30 minutes or more) - no potatoes this time - and added some barley instead. One thing to remember though is that Barley soaks up quite a bit of water so be sure to compensate accordingly. I added a few tsp of chicken broth and away I went. I'm looking to buy big tubs of vegetable broth but haven't found the knorr stuff here yet.

anyways - Brent had some for dinner that night and said partway through,  "You know, I could eat soup like this every night" - To which I replied, "Good because I plan to make a ton of it this winter!" LOL...Turns out - he loves barley like I love barley. Delicious!!!

A quick and easy meal that you are bound to have most of the ingredients for. Pick up some barley on your next grocery trip (it's sooo cheap) and keep it on hand just in case. I actually added some to the lipton soup for the kids just to give something extra to it. They didn't even notice!!!

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 4 1/2 STARS!!!

It's all about creativity!

Leftovers can be so fun....I don't often like to eat the exact same meal night after night until the leftovers are gone, so I'm always trying to think of something new to do with the food.

We had a fun retreat last weekend where there was a lot of leftover food. I was able to take a container of veggies home which i was really excited about. I wasn't really sure saturday night what to do for dinner but I knew I didn't want to make a huge meal. But I also knew I wanted to eat some of the veggies....Sooo....I made a wrap!

The veggie mix included, broccoli, snap peas, cauliflower, carrots, celery, onions, mushrooms, and zucchini. So I warmed some up and put them in a tortilla shell. I know - nothing special...buuut, I added on top a sauce I LOVE.

Mix 1 part mayo/miracle whip to 2 parts sour cream, sugar to taste and a dash of garlic powder. This dressing/sauce can be used for so many things...donairs, nachos and cheese (a fave), and wraps. This sauce MADE the wrap soo delicious, I could have easily eaten two...but I didn't. :)

Then I also have a ton of leftovers from THIS recipe. I took some of the pork and fried it up with some sliced red peppers and onions (I used a touch of olive oil but otherwise used the sauce from the meat). I placed it in half of a tortilla shell and topped with some cheese - folded in half and fried in a frying pan for *pork quessadillas*. I served it with the above sour cream/mayo mixture and salsa. Brent LOVED it!

Tomorrow I plan to use the remaining pork and make the Chicken enchiladas tomorrow. I'll be adding the leftover black beans as well (I LOVE black beans) and possibly using some of the cafe rio dressing in the sauce as well. We'll see.

It's nothing major - but it can really help out if you are willing to be creative and try new things. I remember one time buying the wrong pitas from a local bread store. We ended up getting greek pitas which don't open :( But I decided to try them as individual pizzas and they were AWESOME! Now we often buy the Naan Bread (bags of about 6 I think - I love the garlic ones best) to make pizzas at home. We did it for Brooklyn's 3rd birthday party and everyone was able to make their own pizza - it was great!

So what's in your fridge? And - what else can it be?? Try something new - you might surprise yourself!

Lentil Soup

Yep - ANOTHER soup. We actually have leftovers from the dinner I made the other night but I plan to make those into enchiladas tomorrow and wanted to get out of making lunch for Brent tomorrow. LOL So I whipped this soup up - sooo fast!

1/4 cup red lentils
1/4 cup brown lentils (only had red so used 1/2 cup)
1/4 split peas
1/4 cup ABC pasta (optional - I added barley instead)
1 whole onion, peeled and chopped
5 cups water
2 stalks of celery, chopped
2 tomatoes, diced (I forgot to add these)
2 potatoes, chopped or diced
3 carrots, peeled and diced
2 vegetable bouillon cubes (I only had 1 left, so I used 1 veg and 1 chicken)

Combine and heat lentils, peas, water, and onions in a pot for 45 minutes. Add other ingredients and cook another 20 minutes. Serve. I added some pepper and additional water to make it a bit more brothy (especially with the barley in the soup). Delicious....You could add a pinch of cayenne pepper if you wanted it a little spicey...or play around with some other spices too. I also added some diced red pepper and would probably add corn next time too. Great winter meal!

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 4 1/2 STARS

Hearty Vegetable Soup

Another recipe coming from the book *Original Fast Foods* - I'm really into the soup thing lately...they are hearty, perfect for a cool day, and best of all - sooo fast!

6 cups water
3 vegetable bouillon cubes
1 onion, chopped
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 stalks celery, chopped

Combine all ingredients in a large pot, and simmer over medium heat until potatoes are tender. Blend 1/3 of the contents in blender, and add back to thicken soup. You may add whole-weat noodles at the end to make the soup *kid friendly* and your favorite spices to add some zip. I used about 1/3 cup of alphabet noodles and next time will add some more spices. But otherwise - this soup was great!

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 4 STARS

Great day of Great food :)

A few weeks ago we had a potluck get together. One lady brought the most delicious pita mix that my friend and I just HAD to have the recipe for. So today we finally made it for lunch and boy was it good :) (and boy did it ever make a lot!!)

Tabbouleh

 (Wheat Berry Salad)

§        3 cups dry wheat berries (We just used a small box of couscous - we boiled it in water but next     time will likely do chicken or vegetable stock instead)

§        1 medium white onion finely diced

§        2 ribs of celery finely diced (optional)

§        ½ bunch of cilantro finely chopped - I detest fresh cilantro but put it in anyways - you can't tell!!!

§        1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, cut each in half lengthwise. (Diced roma tomatoes works too.) - we used 1/2 a pint because I don't like tomatoes, but in this you hardly notice they are there.

§        ¼ cup lemon juice

§        3 tablespoon canola oil

§        1 tsp salt (or to taste)

1.    Soak wheat berries overnight in lots of cold water. (The wheat will more than double in size while soaking.) Slowly cook wheat berries until they begin to pop out of their coatings and are chewy to the tooth - the wheat will more than double in bulk when cooking. Rinse cooked wheat in cold water until all heat is gone. 

  In a large bowl combine onions, celery, cilantro, tomatoes and lemon juice. Toss gently so as not to mash the tomatoes.

5.    Add as much cooked wheat as you see the above ingredients will take.

6.    Before serving pour the oil over the tabbouleh and mix well.

N Note:  I like to combine everything except the wheat first to see how much wheat to use.  The cooked wheat can always be frozen to use another time, or some people like hot cooked wheat with milk and sugar, just like porridge.

. 

     MAST-E XIAR

(YOGURT DIP)

1 quart container of plain yogurt       

1 English cucumber

1 bunch of fresh dill or 3 Tablespoon of dried dill or crushed mint

Salt to taste

3 large cloves of fresh garlic, minced

§        Peel and dice cucumber

§        Peel and mash garlic with salt (we did not mash with salt)

§        If you are using the fresh dill; remove stem and chop

§        Pour yogurt into a dish

§        Add cucumbers, dill and garlic

§        Stir well

As an appetizer for a party, use mini pitas. We used large ones (each had half) for lunch today and it was great! Next time we plan to use the handy chopper for the garlic, cucumber, and dill instead of chopping it all. :) You could also just mix it all up like a salad and skip the bread/pita altogether - or throw in some ripped up pita and eat it that way (definitely less messy lol)



SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 5 STARS!!!

Stuffed Pasta Shells

I'll be trying this Wednesday for Lunch for the kids I think....and possibly for dinner too with a couple of sides.

This comes from the Original Fast Foods book. I'll let you know any changes once I make it :)

1 lb large whole grain pasta shells
2 butternut squash, peeled and cubed
2 cups apple juice (fresh)

Cook pasta shells, rinse and drain and set aside to cool while squash is cooking. Combine squash and apple juice in a saucepan and cook until tender. Add contents to blender and blend until creamy. Spoon the squash mixture into cooled pasta shells. Place stuffed pasta shells into baking dish and cover with tomato walnut sauce (they have a recipe for this, I'll likely be using regular tomato sauce). Bake at 350 for 30 minutes....I'll also probably put some cheese on as well....but we'll see..

Rating to come :)

Oh Salata!!!

I love a good salad....the more ingredients - the better it is. Loads of veggies, sometimes hardboiled eggs (not the yolk as I *really* do not like the yolk), croutons, craisins (divine) or other fruit, and sometimes chicken strips. I recently purchased a box of grilled chicken strip slices from M&M's and am THRILLED! I can just grab a few from the resealable bag and fry them up (in nothing - not oil or marg...) and throw them in my salad. So I intend on doing this every once in a while. I always add cheese - always....I loooove cheese (addict). And a lot of times I make my own dressing which is nice because it's not processed, but some of the recipes also have a pretty high amount of sugar so it isn't really that healthy. THEN I discovered this beauty...my parents received it as a gift from a lady they know and am I ever glad they did. I LOVE it and use it all the time. I'm really excited to try it on my veggie wraps - I think I'll marinate the veggies and just throw them in my wrap just like that. (no mayo=even healthier!)

The ingredients are Water, Spirit Vinegar, Wine Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Dill, Tarragon, Wort, and Caramel.

Nothing I can't pronounce....nothing horrible....and it's all mixed together and is seriously SCRUMPTIOUS!! LOL

Nutritional Information (per Tbsp) - ZERO calories, ZERO fat, ZERO cholesterol, 200mg sodium, ONEg carbs, and ONEg of sugars. (and zero fibre and protein - and vitamins a &c, calcium and iron...just so I'm not giving only half the information).

I absolutely LOVE this dressing. If you are looking for it - it's not directly in the salad dressing section...a little further past - by the vinegars I think (it's a seasoned vinegar dressing). I paid $5.00 for my first bottle (750 mL) but then found it at Wal-Mart for $3.50 (gotta love Wal-mart!)

Seriously - go try some.....it's delicious!

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 5 STARS

It's Taco Soup night for sure

I am not ready to say goodbye to summer yet...but I can't deny that I love these cozy cool days where you just hunker down and watch videos and get some housework done. Maybe I don't love the housework part, but I sure enjoy it more than on hot days when I'd rather be outside with the kids. The other thing I love about these kind of days - is cooking. I love making soups and other hearty meals that make me feel like we are in a cabin in the woods with nothing but our family. I think of days spent on the ski hill (I'm a self proclaimed lodge bunny who would rather be in the lodge cooking than going down the hill on one or two *sticks* lol), hunting (again, I'd be in the cabin), or just a day spent at the hill with a bunch of families taking the kids tobagganing (I'd definitely be joining in for this...it would be a crockpot day for sure!). And while we are doing none of the above 3 things, today is definitely one of those days. The only thing that would make it better is if Brent had the day off. Oh well...at least we get to spend the evening together.

I got this taco soup recipe from a cookbook my aunt gave me. Her Relief Society group put it together - it is one of my favorite cookbooks. Real people cooking Real recipes with Real food. Stuff I typically have on hand already and food our family will love. This recipe is awesome...I love the flavour, the consistency...and I LOVE anything topped with sour cream.

2 lbs hamburger
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 taco seasoning packages
3 tsp chili powder
1 (10oz) can beef broth
1 (15 oz) can tomato paste
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 can green chilis
1 can mixed vegetables (I just used a can of corn)
Grated cheese

Brown hamburger with onion and garlic; add taco seasoning. chili powder, and green chilis. Put in a big pot and add the rest of the ingredients and a can or more of water to desired consistency. Let head on stove and serve with sour cream, grated cheese, and tortilla chips.

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RECIPE: 5 STARS - this is a must try recipe!

Sour Cream and Chicken Enchiladas

I have always loved - LOVED - chicken enchiladas. The way they look fresh out of the oven - makes my mouth water. Unfortunately for me, my husband isn't a huge fan. He much prefers his sister's enchiladas, which I can't blame him for. They are DIVINE! But I don't really think they can be compared - chicken vs hamburger. I love both...equally I'd say....for different reasons.

When I saw my cousin Kym's recipe for her Chicken Enchiladas I knew I wanted to try them. They really are pretty similar to the other recipes I've tried over the years, except for the southwest or cajun seasoning for the chicken. I knew I should have doubled the sauce recipe like I normally do, but even still - these were delicious. Brent chose to eat the leftover soup from the night before which was fine by me. More for my tummy :D I also had a friend over (and her husband stopped by after work later that night and also enjoyed a couple) and another friend for lunch the next day - this meal was definitely enjoyed! Here's how you do it:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used 3 and cubed them pretty small)
2 Tbsp oil
1 package southwest or Cajun seasoning (I just bought cajun seasoning and sprinkled the chicken while I cooked it - not sure how much...maybe 1-2 Tbsp?)
1 small can green chilis or 1/2 cup salsa (I used green chilis)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2-1 cup milk
2 cups cheddar cheese
10 large flour tortillas (the 3 chicken breasts gave me enough to fill 8)

Heat oil in large skillet. Add chicken and seasoning and cook until no longer pink inside. Just use garlic and salt if you can't find seasoning - I used my garlic salt with parsley in addition to the cajun seasoning.

Mix remaining ingredients together in large bowl. Dip each tortilla into sauce to coat both sides (I did not do this, figured it would be too messy). Place about 1/4 cup chicken down center of tortilla and roll up, laying seam down in pan. I always put a bit of the sauce on the bottom of the casserole dish so they don't stick. I also put a bit of sauce inside each tortilla along with a small topping of grated cheese :). Pour remainder of sauce on enchiladas and bake for 35 minutes at 350. Then I throw a bit more grated cheese on the top (remember, I'm a cheese addict. lol) and it's ready to serve. DELICIOUS!!! I served this with orange almond salad - nothing else is really needed. It was perfect.

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 5 STARS - FOR SURE!!!

Spicey Cheeseburger and Fries Soup

I have sooo much to update...I've tried about 5 new recipes in the past week - so lots to report ;)

I can't remember when I made what, so however I remember them - here it goes

Spicy Cheeseburger and Fries Soup
*this comes from my fabulous cousin, Tasha*

1 1/2 cups water (I ended up doubling this)
2 cups cubed peeled potatoes
2 small carrots, grated (I just chopped mine)
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped green pepper, optional (I used red pepper)
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped (remember to seed it...otherwise it will be smokin' hot!)
1 garlic clove, minced (I think I used 2-3)
1 Tbsp beef bouillon granules (I used 2-3)
1/2 tsp salt (I actually added it, although wouldn't next time...couldn't taste it so it wasn't a bad addition, but with bouillon you really don't need anymore salt)
1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained
2 1/2 cups milk, divided
3 Tbsp all purpose flour
8 ounces process american cheese, cubed
1/4 to 1 tsp cayenne pepper, optional
1/2 lb slived bacon, cooked and crumbled

In a large saucepan, combine the first nine ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Stir in beef and 2 cups of milk; head through. Combine flour and remaining milk until smooth and gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat and stir in cheese until melted. Add cayenne if you want. Top with bacon just before serving.

This was a big hit with the dh (dear husband). We added a scoop of sour cream which was awesome. It had kind of a stroganoff flavour to it. I'm excited to make it again and possibly doctor it a bit more. It was really good....and a perfect hearty meal on a cold day. I'm thinking a day of hunting...on the slopes...out toboganning...etc. What a great meal to come home to. This would have been perfect with a nice piece of cheese or garlic bread!

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 4.5 STARS (just because I'm curious what else can be done with it)

Donairs!!!

I've always been a fan of donairs. Not only are they delicious but they also hold special meaning as I recall going to the Flea Market on saturdays with my dad and having donairs for lunch. I loved them then and I love them now - but rarely take the opportunity to get one. When I saw this at our local Wal-mart I had to try them. I was a little leary having tried a ginger beef kit recently that was HORRIBLE (not the same company), but I decided to do it anyways. It was only $5 (they are now $6) so I figured it wouldn't be too big a loss. Boy was I ever shocked - these donairs are AWESOME!!! The sauce, the meat - it's fabulous. I mean, there's nothing quite like a fresh hot donair - but this is definitely the next best thing. and for $6 you get enough for 4! You just can't beat that!

I try not to purchase frozen food but this is quickly become a staple in this house. I had a friend over for lunch one day and we made these up - she went out a couple of days later to buy a couple boxes! Super quick and easy - and totally delicious! And (as my friend and I thought) what a perfect idea when you are having a group together for appetizers or sporting events. Make a few of these boxes up, typical nachos and cheese, chips and dip, etc. And you've got yourself a lovely filling meal. They even give the suggestion on the box for making them into donair pizzas, which would probably work best for large groups. I add diced cucumbers, shredded cheese, lettuce, and sliced white onions to mine. Perfect!

Try them!!!

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 5 STARS!!!

Baked Potato Soup...

For any of you who love baked potatoes (I know I do), this is the soup for you! Interestingly, for me - it's not even the potato that I love, it's the sour cream (addict), green onions, and bacon bits I looooove (oh AND the cheese....definitely can't forget the cheese...mmmm). Anyways, this recipe was taken from Brent's cousin, Devynn who also has a cooking blog - you can find it HERE. She tried it and said it was sooo good. It was kind of gloomy so I figured it was the perfect time to try it. It's been a while since I made soup so I was definitely in the mood for it. Here are the ingredients :)

5 medium potatoes, unpeeled and cut into small chunks
3 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup chicken bouillon
3 cups milk (I did 2 cups milk, 1 cup cream)
1/2 cup dehydrated onion flakes (I just diced a small onion)
1/2 cup crumbled bacon
2 cups shredded cheddar
diced green onion (I did about 4 stalks - just depends on how many people that are eating like them)
Sour Cream

Pierce the potatoes and cook in microwave for about 10 minutes (2-3 minute increments). Let cook and cut into small chunks. Put into crock pot and add water, chicken bouillon,milk (or milk and cream), and onion. Cook on high until potatoes are nice and easily mashed - use a potato masher. You can blend it too, but I just used a masher. Dish into bowls and top with bacon, cheddar cheese, and green onion. Oh and sour cream too of course!

I also served this with my orange/almond salad and a french loaf with butter. We fed 7 adults with this amount. It was *just* enough food....I contemplated making a second batch but then I'd have had so much leftover. Not that Brent would have minded - he's still talking about it. I'll probably make it again soon. It was a huge hit and soooo easy. I had it in the crock pot from 10am-5pm. Throw the stuff in and forget about it. Definitely a *make again* meal - perfect for those cool and rainy days, or the winter snow days when you just hunker in and watch videos all day!

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 5 STARS

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Yep - from scratch! I LOVE this soup - so does Brent. And I always get excited when I feel like the weather permits a nice hot soup for lunch. I remember the first time I made this soup I had to do it three times before I got it right (I misunderstood part of the recipe and it had disastrous results. LOL).....but boy was it worth it.

You will need:

1 lb mushrooms

1/2 cup butter/margarine

1 tsp lemon juice

1 small onion, sliced

1/2 cup flour

3 1/2 cups chicken broth (liquid)

1 tsp salt (I don't put this in...chicken broth already takes care of the salt in my opinion)

1/4 tsp pepper

1 cup evaporated milk (1 can)

Remove and trim mushroom stems and set aside. Slice caps thinly. Melt butter over medium heat - cook mushrooms and lemon juice until tender, stirring often. Reduce heat to medium low. Remove mushrooms. Cook onions and stems in remaining butter until tender. Blend in flour (sprinkle), add milk and broth and continue stirring until thickened. Blend in blender and return to pan. Add mushrooms (that you set aside before), salt (I don't), and pepper. Do not boil.

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 5 STARS!!!

Perfect for those rainy or snowy *housebound* days.

Kraft is a beautiful thing!

I went through a phase about 10 years ago of boycotting Kraft....Because they are owned or partially owned by the Tobacco Industry (ie they own a large portions of shares in Kraft). And you know that sounds all nice and activisty and I felt like somehow perhaps I was doing my part. But really...I'm just not that bothered by it (which is probably why the phase only lasted a few months). Do I want to support the Tobacco Industry - well not particularly (not at all actually)...but does Kraft happen to make some really fab products - YOU BETCHA! And you know, they make sooo many products I just found it really overwhelming almost to keep it all straight. And let's face it - I like their stuff. And it's not like Kraft picks and chooses who buys their stocks. It's possible they would prefer it to be a different company/organization as well (although I have nothing to base that on) - but money talks....
So I guess I'll just have to use my efforts to promote and benefit other causes, that for me - at this point take priority. I think when it really comes down to it, so many of these large corporations are tied together somehow....I don't know that we can possibly get it straight. Does that mean it's not worth trying...of course not. But make sure it's something you truly believe in and have researched, not something you choose to do based solely on what you've heard from ONE person. Find a cause that means something to you...for some that will in fact be the boycotting of certain food products and companies.

For me....bring on the Kraft! I love their salad dressings. And while I really prefer to make my own, sometimes it's so nice to have something equally as enjoyable just waiting to be used. No work involved. I love making a hearty salad....full of veggies - celery, carrots, red pepper (I don't like green), mushrooms, green onion, purple/red onion, cucumber, sugar snap peas...and sometimes a chicken breast or leftover steak cut up or slices of lunch meat.

some of my favorite dressings are: Italian (interestingly the Kraft one is healthier than the superstore no name one! I like Golden or Creamy or Zesty), Catalina, Three Cheese Ranch (actually, Brent's favorite), raspberry vinaigrette (I LOVE vinaigrettes), and their Signature collection - Roasted Red Pepper and parmesan, Greek with Feta and Oregano, Creamy PoppySeed, and Sundried Tomato and Oregano. I will say I thoroughly despised their Mandarin Orange with Sesame dressing and ended up tossing the bottle. I was pretty disappointed because I thought for sure I would LOVE it....oh well, can't love it all I guess! :)

**Any in Purple I have used as a marinade for chicken (although fish I have heard is great too)...Any in Blue I am wanting to try and think would be great**

But my new favorite product of theirs is THIS collection:


They only have 4 kinds listed on the website but there are more. I have had the Pesto Parmesan which was really yummy on salad but even better as a chicken marinade. And I have the Fig Balsamic which is good on salad but also a GREAT bread dipper (like oil and balsamic vinegar with pan bread...although Brent wasn't too keen on the flavor, he prefers oil and balsamic vinegar....I'm happy with either). I also want to try the Raspberry Vinaigrette and the Greek Feta.

I can eat salad often - really everyday if I have enough variety. Or make a salad and throw it in a pita or a tortilla shell for a little more variety. I love alternating between homemade and store bought dressings...and the great thing about a pita or a wrap is you need just a small amount of dressing for a big punch of flavour. It's a great way to have a fresh and healthy meal that's filling enough to keep you going between meals! And is particularly delicious (I think anyways) in the summer when you don't want to be cooking anyways!

Kraft actually has some really great recipe ideas on their website....so check it out!

ENJOY! Let me know what your favorites are...how you've used them to cook...or perhaps some recipes you would love to try! You can e-mail me at skitalz@gmail.com with any recipes you have!

Meet me at the clubhouse...

It's kind of a tradition now...or was until Grey's ended for the season (oooo the suspense!)...every thursday night was girly/grey's night....snacks, good company, great show. I made dip once because well I pretty much had nothing else to offer and was too cheap (ie poor. lol) to go buy anything. It's a dip I've made for a loooong time now and just love it - with chips or veggies. I didn't know if anyone would eat it but I took it anyways....A friend had one taste and well, as they say, *the rest is history* LOL I'm sort of assigned to bring it every week. It's *seriously scrumptious* aaaand *seriously simple* - even better!!!

Buy this: Mix together 2 parts sour cream (remember it's 2 parts because it has 2 words...just an easy tip) to 1 part mayonnaise. I just sort of eyeball it and sprinkle in the dip mix to taste. I have never followed the directions on the back so have no idea how it compares....but to be honest, don't waste your time ;) There's no reason to - well in my opinion anyways!

This is a fabulous dip to take for bbq's or snack nights, etc. Like I mentioned, it's awesome for chips and veggies. So um, eat up and enjoy!

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 5 STARS

So while I was at the grocery store the other day I was looking at some of the other Club House dip mixes and thought I'd try this beauty: Well I didn't know whether to try it as a dip or a dressing but decided ultimately to go with the dressing (I followed the recipe on the back - just add vinegar and vegetable oil). I still had some of this tzatziki *dip* in the fridge so thought I should try something new! I've been back to eating my veggies wraps which I LOOOOOVE! So I put some of the tzatziki dip on the tortilla shell and then my veggies (carrots, celery, cucumber, red/purple onion, and red pepper) and some lettuce...topped it with a little bit of the new dressing and OH.MY.WORD. It was probably the most delicious wrap I've had in a looong time (or ever actually). In fact, the day after I had it the first time I made it for lunch again - my friend Jenn foolishly wasn't hungry but I gave her a bite just so she could taste it. She went and made one for herself :D I've pretty much had it for lunch (and a couple suppers) for 3 days....I love it that much. I bought whole wheat tortilla shells this time which I love. It really just tastes so fresh and healthy...and is delicious and filling. What more could you ask for??

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 5 STARS

back to it

I really need to get back to it....cooking...I've sort of dropped the ball a bit and gone the way of convenience and even *gasp* fast food (but doesn't it just taste soooo good!). When the weather gets warm (which it's not currently, but was) I sort of put other things ahead of cooking big meals and we end up eating whatever's around. But add to that a serious lack of groceries (I'm happy to reprort I've remedied that situation - and now have a lovely stock of fruits and vegetables) and we were in serious *trouble* (ie need for fast food. lol). I also was pretty sick for about 3 days and food just wasn't really appealling to me - why is it, that means everyone else has to starve?? *oops* (kidding...don't worry my kids were fed - thank heavens for an almost 5 year old that can help herself to pretty much anything. lol)

But I do still have a few things to blog about. First off, let's start with a new found quick meal that's really rather tasty! Thanks to my friend, Jenn we've enjoyed this meal more than once. It's quick and easy...and our kids love it too! I try not to buy hamburger helper meals because the salt content is pretty high and I'd rather make *from scratch* meals if I can help it. However, sometimes it's just nice to have something quick to throw together - even better if it tastes great too! So here you go....The first time I made them all up so all we had to do was grab one from the plate in the fridge and warm it up. Add some sour cream (really the perfect touch - but I LOVE sour cream. I've been known to make tacos JUST so I could have the sour cream) and salsa if you'd like (I prefer it without) and it's perfect. Add a salad and you've got a great and filling meal! The only thing I need is a non-stick pot - I must not stir it often enough because each time my pot gets a nice coating of stuck on rice *grr*

I know I didn't make it, but while I was feeling under the weather and really yucky (no, I'm not pregnant....and no I'm not trying...and no I'm not going to find out in a week that I really am like my cousin did after she expressed the exact same thing. LOL) the only thing I felt wouldn't really disrupt my stomach was a Subway veggie sub...seriously - divine...sometime I really do enjoy the meat ones (italian bmt for one) but more often than not it's the veggie one that just hits the spot. And, despite using Italian Herb and Cheese bread, I always feel healthier when I'm eating it. I always get the white cheese, lettuce, pickles, cucumbers, and onions (I detest tomatoes), a little mayonnaise, mustard, and pepper....and sub sauce (yep shot any chance of health there I know....added to the mayo - eeks!). Sooo delish....I never get them toasted - for some reason, to me only quizno's subs taste good toasted. wonder why that is??

Next....I made a meal one night that was just *okay*. Thankfully I have a husband who eats anything and everything and is happy doing just that. I took some chicken drumsticks (on sale again!!!) and cooked them sort of like I would a whole chicken. I sprinkled them with chicken oxo powder and seasoning salt....and pepper....and poured some water in the dish and covered with tin foil. Baked at 350 for close to an hour and told Brent to take the foil off for the last 10-15 minutes (I was out for the evening). It was *okay* - not great..not a make again...but it was sufficient. I really don't like wasting food, particularly chicken...so a few days when I realized the leftovers just weren't going to get eaten, I decided to try and salvage them. I baked them in bbq sauce (that I mixed with some brown sugar and water) for about 40 minutes...the result....AWESOME - Brent said. He got up and had seconds....HIP HIP HOORAY!! I love it when a salvage attempt goes so well. I absolutely love cooking for other people and when they truly enjoy and devour my efforts, it just makes me smile. I feel accomplished and valued - and THAT is something everybody loves! So an *okay* meal turned into an *awesome* meal - I may end up doing this first to chicken next time I want to coat it in bbq sauce. LOL

Ooo and a great lunch suggestion that I think is kind of fun for the kids...mini pitas. I absolutely love when I make the choice to buy them. The kids had chicken salad pits the other day for lunch and today had mayo and meat in them. Something fun - and kind of neat for the kids, particularly if you are having a larger pita for lunch. It's a great variation to a typical sandwich - and in my opinion is actually more enjoyable. I looooove pitas :)

Anyways - that's all for now. I do have some more recipes to post but as it's 1230am already I really should get to bed! Coming soon...pumpkin squares (I made them into cupcake/muffins this week), carmel popcorn (the best!!), pumpkin marble cheesecake, and some more dinner recipes I've been wanting to try!


And for anyone who has one - I'd love to get a bunch of chicken enchilada recipes in. My husband prefers the beef ones, but I'm determined to make some chicken ones he loves. LOL So send the recipes so I can look them over and try a few. (Auntie Glenda - if you're reading this....something tells me you have one...I keep remembering eating enchiladas when I was younger and for some reason I think it was at your house....would love the recipe to try!)

Pigs in a Blanket??

So if you use beef weiners are they called *cows in a blanket*? or *cows in a pig's blanket*? haha...okay, it's true...I'm tired, it's kind of late aaand I have tons of orders to fill......but I wanted to get these posts done before I forgot...

Today was a perfect day! Brent didn't have work (holiday) and was able to just hang out all day! We had our nephews over which was awesome - we played outside for most of the day (I love this warm weather) and just really had a great time! We recently purchased this beauty and LOVE it!
Every time I walk by it I love it all over again! And we lucked out because it was on sale when we bought it (I LOVE that!!)....thanks to my parents for contributing - instead of presents last year for the kids' birthdays they just gave $$$ to go towards it. Perfect!

For dinner we decided to do some hot dogs - it's sooo bbq weather! I don't know why I have never tried these, but they are definitely on my quick, easy, and seriously scrumptious list!
The kids devoured them! It helped that the crescent rolls (pillsbury) were on for $1 the other day! (limit of two...grr). Roll up the weiner, and bake at 350 for about 12 minutes (ish) - keep an eye on them until they are golden brown.

Dipped in ketchup (I admit to smearing cheez whiz on top of mine first - no shame, I'm a cheese addict and that's how I'll stay! haha)

SERIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS RATING: 4 STARS - it was just a fun thing to have...not every day (they are after all still hot dogs!) but a great variation of a childhood favorite. And sometimes, who can deny that a hot dog just *really* hits the spot!