No Onions: November 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009

Mom's Veggie Soup

If I'm not mistaken, this was the first time I've ever actually eaten anything called Vegetable Soup. I don't like onions, bell pepper, or tomatoes, so this soup has been something I've avoided most of my life (and life's been just fine without it).

A couple of weeks ago, my mother decided to make some without things I don't like and brought me a bowl. I ate every bite. A couple of days later she brought me another bowl. Ate that one too! It was great...and I even ate a few of the diced tomatoes when nobody was looking.

She didn't follow a recipe, she just kind of made it up and dumped in the ingredients. I interviewed her for the recipe the day she made it and this is what I got:

Mom's Veggie Soup

4 lbs. good quality meat, cut into bite sized pieces (Mom used filet mignon, I'd probably use sirloin)
Onion (I would substitute garlic)
Add beef and chicken broth (one of each, quart sized)
Chopped celery (6-7 ribs)
Baby carrots cut into 1/3s, half pkg.
Large can whole new potatoes, cut into chunks, with juice
Regular sized can new potatoes, sliced, with juice
Can Ranch style beans, with juice
Can hominy with juice
Can corn, drained
Can LeSeur peas, drained
Green beans
Cabbage (chop and add last)
Can chopped tomatoes
Lima beans if desired (I would desire...)
*Mom didn't, but I would probably add zucchini

Cube meat and brown in onion (garlic for me). Simmer in broth until tender (sirloin would need to cook longer to become tender). Halfway through meat simmering, add fresh vegetables (but not cabbage). Cook celery and carrots 20 minutes until tender. Add remaining ingredients (canned ingredients and cabbage).

Friday, November 27, 2009

Oreo Turkey

Oreo Turkey

2 Double Stuf Oreo cookies
Whoppers
Small tube or can of icing (if using can, put some into baggie, cut tip and squeeze out)
Candy corn

Take apart one Oreo cookie, and lay one half down with icing facing up Then press a whole cookie into the icing of the cookie half (will probably need to use more icing to keep attached).

Place 3-4 cand corn into the icing of the whole cookie, sticking straight up like a turkey tail.

For head, place one Whopper in front of the whole cookie (will probably need icing to stick) and squeeze icing on to Whopper to create eyes.

Lay one candy corn in front of the Whopper to create the turkey's beak.

Precious!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Oh MY...

Picky Palate's Crunchy Caramel Reese's Peanut Bars...did I say, "Oh my?"

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Creamy Broccoli Soup

After Mom and I talked about this soup when she brought the Chicken Noodle, she waited a few days and made a batch (YAY)! Growing up at home, I loved it when she made this soup--it was by far my favorite meal. I would eat more than I could handle and make myself miserable...because I knew it would be a while before she made it again. I'm sorry to say THAT hasn't changed. Ugh.

This may be the soup that made me a soup lover. I have to share!

Creamy Broccoli Soup

4 medium carrots, cut in narrow, 1 inch strips

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

1 1/2 cups broccoli, finely chopped

1 cup cauliflower, finely chopped

1 1/2 cups water, salted

1 10 3/4 ounce can chicken broth

2 1/4 cups milk

3 T flour

1 1/2 cup ham, diced

1 1/4 cups Velveeta, diced

1 T butter

parsley, chopped

Cook vegetables in water until crisp (start with carrots and celery, then broccoli and cauliflower). Heat broth and 1 1/2 cups milk in large saucepan. Blend flour and remainder of milk until smooth. Add ham and cheese. When cheese has melted, add cooked, undrained vegetables. Add butter and parsley.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Chicken Noodle Soup

I'm on Day 39 in the hospital on bedrest with my second child. My family and friends have brought me food from Pei Wei, Outback, Doubledaves, Carrabas, PF Changs, Antonio's, Chick-Fil-a, Thai Cuisine, Panera Bread, and Taco Deli. (Don't you worry, I've experienced countless meals from "Room Service" as well (that's what the hospital calls--THE CAFETERIA).

Tonight though, my sweet mother brought me a bowl of homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. It was delicious. I think Mom spent the entire day making it, starting with a trip to the grocery store and cooking a whole chicken (something I don't think I'll ever do).

I'm a pretty picky soup eater too--it has to be cool out, but I made an exception for Mom today and I'm so glad I did. Her soup was fantastic! I could taste the rosemary and Italian seasoning and the soup was filled with tender bits of celery and carrots.

She said the recipe was Paula Deen's and I wanted to share, it's a keeper!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/the-ladys-chicken-noodle-soup-recipe/index.html

Thanks for taking care of me Mom, I love you!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Fantasy Food

Breakfast: Steel Cut Oatmeal

We love this stuff at our house. I'm craving it, it's comforting oatmeal with a great "pop" in it's texture. Riley loves his with honey, milk, and blueberries.

Lunch: Steamy Kitchen's Thai Chicken Coconut Soup (Tom Ka Gai)

I actually ate this yesterday from Thai Cuisine and it was divine (Thanks, Babe (for picking it up) and Shayne (for recommending it), with a little Pad Thai, of course!

I had to find a recipe and whaddaya know I find one--by a friend of Pioneer Woman's! Well, of course it's got to be the best one out there, so I'm sharing!!

http://steamykitchen.com/3133-thai-chicken-coconut-soup-tom-ka-gai.html

Dinner: Macaroni and Cheese

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/04/macaroni-cheese/

and a collection of macaroni and cheese recipes from Food Network (um, the Lobster Mac and Cheese sounds pretty delightful).

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipe-collections/macaroni-and-cheese/index.html

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Beyond Pumpkin Pie

Confession #1--I don't like pumpkin pie, but I will pretty much try anything else with pumpkin in it. This has NOT always been the case for me. I was never in love with pumpkin until the Fall of 2006 when I was pregnant with my son. Now, scouting out pumpkin recipes is a mini obsession. One of the many reasons I love fall...

Some pumpkin recipes I routinely make: Dinner in a Pumpkin, Melissa's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, Pumpkin Dip, and Pumpkin Crunch (like Dump Cake, but with pumkin).

I'm going to post some pumpkin/Halloween recipes I wish I could try. Will the hospital let me have an Easy Bake Oven in my room? :-) What a fun blog that would be!! I may be on to something...

Confession #2--You know, I've never liked candy corn either. It sure does fascinate me though, it's pretty, fun, cheap, and yet another fabulous fall treat. Here are some candy corn goodies I found:

Candy Corn Bark
(I'm all about my sweet tooth, but this may be TOO sweet! Maybe a little more pretzel and a little less sweet treats?)

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Candy-Corn-Bark/Detail.aspx

Candy Corn Cordial

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/candy-corn-cordials-recipe/index.html

Lick the Bowl Good's Candy Corn Rice Krispie Treats

http://lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com/2009/10/candy-corn-fun.html

Smitten Kitchen's Pumpkin Waffles
http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/11/pumpkin-waffles/

Real Simple's Pumpkin Cornmeal Muffins

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=640875

101 Cookbook's Thai Spiced Pumpkin Soup
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/001525.html

The Mother Load's Creamy Pumpkin Pasta

http://www.momadvice.com/blog/2009/09/creamy-pumpkin-pasta.html

(This looks great, but I don't love Italian Sausage--would probably substitute with ground turkey sausage, even sausage links or good ol' Jimmy Dean in this one!)

Sunset's Spicy Avocado Poblano Salad