Thursday, July 19, 2018

Autumn Minestrone Soup

I have new diet restrictions and luckily, everything in this soup, minus the garlic, I can eat, which means I can make this again. This soup was really good & I'd definitely make this one again.

Autumn Minestrone Soup (Pinterest) (6 servings):

2 med carrots, diced
1 med yellow onion, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
6 c veggie broth
2 1/2 c 3/4-inch diced yukon gold potatoes (I used sweet potatoes)
2 1/2 c 3/4-inch diced butternut squash (or pre-cut)
1 med zucchini, ends trimmed, sliced into half-moons or quarters
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes (I used a can of diced chiles)
2 1/2 tsp finely minced fresh rosemary or oregano
2 1/2 tsp minced fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper
2/3 c dry ditalini pasta, or other small pasta (optional)
2 c packed chopped kale (thick ribs removed)
1 (14.5 oz) can red or white kidney beans, drained & rinsed
Shredded parm, for serving (optional)

Heat oil in large pot over med-high. Add onions & carrots and saute 3 min, then add garlic and saute 1 min longer. Stir in veggie broth, potatoes, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves & season with salt & pepper to taste. Bring to boil & then stir in pasta, if using. Cover, reduce heat to med-low & simmer until veggies are nearly tender, about 15 min. Stir in kale and kidney beans and cook until kale is tender, about 5 min longer. Remove bay leaves, serve warm with parm.




Ready to be simmered...





Enjoy!...

Cookie Bars

Again I did not get an after shot...but to my defense, there wasn't any leftovers so I couldn't!! These were gone fast when I brought them to work!

Cookie Bars (Pinterest):

1/2 c butter
1 c brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 c flour, sifted
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp baking soda
3/4 c chocolate chips

Melt butter in microwave safe bowl until melted. Let cool. Add brown sugar, vanilla & egg-mix well. Add dry ingredients gradually. Blend well and pour into greased 9x9" pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and bake at 350 for 20-25 min.




Enjoy!...

Chocolate Chip Caramel Butter Bars

I needed to make a dessert for a potluck for work & I found this recipe on Pinterest. I don't have the after shot but they were really good! And they did not last long with the therapists!

Chocolate Chip Caramel Butter Bars (Pinterest) (24 bars):

1 1/2 c unsalted butter
1 1/2 c sugar
2 large eggs
2 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp salt
4 c + 1/4 c flour, divided
2 c chocolate chips
1 (11-12 oz) jar caramel or salted caramel ice cream topping

Preheat oven to 350. Line a 9x13" pan with foil & spray with nonstick cooking spray. Cream butter & sugar with a mixer. Once mixture is creamed & fluffy, mix in the eggs & vanilla extract until smooth, then mix in the baking soda, cream of tartar & salt. Slowly mix in 4 c flour until mixture is just combined, then stir in the chocolate chips.

Press about 2/3 c of this mixture in the bottom and about 1/2" up the sides of the prepared pan. Stir in the caramel sauce & remaining 1/4 c flour in small bowl. Pour over the top of the dough. Drop spoonfuls of the remaining dough evenly over the top of the caramel.

Bake 25-33 min, or until the top looks done & is golden brown around the edges. It will still be somewhat jiggly in the center. Cool completely before cutting. It's easier to cut when chilled. Store in airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month.




Enjoy!...

Cauliflower Fried Rice

I found this recipe on Pinterest. It was good the day of but not so much as leftovers. And I didn't use the frozen kind, like it called for-I "riced" a cauliflower. I also had to use way more soy sauce & garlic to add flavor.

Cauliflower Fried Rice (Pinterest) (4 servings):

1 bag frozen riced cauliflower or a head of cauliflower chopped up & "riced in food processor
2 tbsp sesame oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 c frozen peas & carrots, thawed
1/4 c broccoli, chopped
3 tbsp soy sauce
Salt & pepper
Garlic salt, optional
1 egg

Heat oil in large skillet on med/high heat. Saute onions until tender. Add peas, carrots & broccoli and cook until soft. Add frozen cauliflower (or fresh riced) to pan. Mix with veggies & continue to saute until cauliflower is no longer frozen. Add about 2 tbsp soy sauce & mix well. Slide rice to one side of pan & scramble egg on other side of pan. Once egg is cooked, mix in with rice & add additional soy sauce (to taste preference). Add salt, pepper & garlic salt to preference. Enjoy!




Enjoy!...

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Garlic Lemon Butter Salmon

Found this recipe on Pinterest. I can't make it again, since it contains two things I'm allergic to...garlic & pineapple but from what I remember, it was good.

Garlic Lemon Butter Salmon (Pinterest) (2 servings):

2 salmon fillets
1/2 pineapple, halved & sliced
1/4 c butter
1/3 c honey
4 large cloves garlic, crushed
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Chopped parlsey
Salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 400. In small saucepan, melt butter over low-med. Add honey, garlic & lemon. Whisk until honey has melted through the butter & the mixture is well combined. Add 1 tbsp chopped parsley, mix well & set aside.

Cut 4 sheets of 14-inch lenght foil. Divide pineapple slices among sheets layering in center in an even layer & sprinkle with pepper. Arrange salmon fillets on top & drizzle with honey mixture. Sprinkle with salt & pepper & top with more chopped parsley.

Pull sides of foil inward & seal, then roll edges up; try to leave a little room for heat to circulate. Transfer packets on a baking & bake in oven for 10-15 min. Eat with remaining sauce & additional parsley. Enjoy!




Two individual servings...





Close up of the parcels...





Wrapped up & ready to be baked...





Enjoy!...

Baby Back Ribs

I'm so behind on this, so bear with me please! I love this blend of seasoning and it tasted really good on the ribs. I've used it since, but omitted the garlic since I can't eat garlic anymore :(. I found this recipe on Pinterest.

Baby Back Ribs (Pinterest)

1-2 racks baby back ribs
2 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp onion powder
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp cumin
2 tbsp smoked paprika
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard
1-2 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix all dry rub seasoning in bowl. Bring ribs to room temp & apply rub generously to ribs. Rub into meat & let sit 1 hour.

Place ribs on a foil-lined baking sheet, then cover with foil & bake in oven at 275 for 2 hours. Remove foil, slather with bbq sauce & place back into oven, uncovered, for 30 min or until meat if falling off the bone. Enjoy!




Seasoning...





Fresh from the oven...





Ready to eat...Enjoy!

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Gorgonzola Sauce

Oh my god this sauce....how have I lived without this sauce??!!! I've had this recipe on my Pinterest for a while now but it was attached to a steak recipe and then I discovered I could just make the sauce instead, which is what I did and I made up my own steak using the recipe I always did, with onions. You could actually put this sauce on anything, ANYTHING!!! Its that good and so much more!!! It's so cheesy and smooth and velvety. I ate it over 3 days and I don't think it would have lasted more than that because it was starting to separate more & more. It still tasted good but I couldn't get it to stay together after the 3rd day. Make sure you pay attention on how to reheat it-the consistency startled me when I tried to reheat in the microwave. Go make this sauce RIGHT NOW!!!!

You can find the recipe here