Saturday, April 12, 2008

Slow Cooked veggie soup - hubby approved!!

I was startled to realize how long it has been since I posted. I have been busy looking for the perfect new fridge. I found one!!!!! I am super excited. I also got a new dishwasher, soon I will have a whole new kitchen. Today I have 2 sick kids and a husband that is crankier then the kids so i needed something that i wouldn't have to think about but could cook thru the day. I rarely use my slow cooker, I have no clue why as it is a wonderful appliance and super handy. So today was the a soup kinda day. With my new fridge coming I needed to use up my food so that it will be no big deal to switch over. This soup was so good my hubby ate 2 bowls! He even paid me a compliment, which is not normal.

Amanda's Great When You Feel Cruddy Soup (working on the name)

24 oz chicken stock (canned or homemade) could use veggie stock if want meat free

1 onion chopped

7 stalks of chopped celery I used the leaves too

1/2 yellow pepper

1/4 orange pepper

1 reg size can chickpeas rinsed

1 reg size can chopped tomatoes with juices

3 chicken bouillon cubes low salt or else don't add salt later

4 medium potatoes chopped in bite size chunks

about a 1/4 c of fresh basil and fresh parsley (from my window)

about 1/4 of fresh herbs for later too

1 sm zucchini add 30 min before serving

I threw everything in the pot at noon on high, at 4:30 I added the zucchini and it was ready at 5 pm. About 5 min before serving I added the fresh herbs I hand shredded to small bits. By adding the herbs in the beginning and again at the end it gives you more depth of flavor. I added about 2 teaspoons salt and to clear our noses LOTS of pepper i think I did about 30 grinds, but it was not strong it was just right-but if you are not sick i would maybe use just 15 grinds. This filled my big crockpot so i am thinking i will make grilled cheese sandwiches and soup tomorrow for lunch.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Something Fresh!!!

Don’t tell Whole Foods but I am cheating on them. I went to Reasor’s the other day and the veggies looked amazing! I got red, orange and yellow peppers all for only 50 cents each. Wow, as normally they are about 2.50 each I was excited they also had great squash. So last night I made a simple squash fry. I used one small yellow squash and wished I had made more as the hubby took most.

1 yellow chopped in about ¼ in pcs squash
¼ orange pepper chopped
1 teaspoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic minced

I melted the butter added the olive oil, and then simmered the garlic in it for a minute. Then threw in the veggies stirred it up and let it cook about 10 min. SOOO good I loved the taste and it was nice and garlicky. If you don’t love garlic I would use less as this is a small amount of veggies. I used my tiny fry pan. I am thinking I might make this again tonight. I am glad to see some pretty things as you know I have been whining on the lack of veggies. I also saw asparagus finally but there was only one bunch left so none for me, today anyway.

So finally I can say Welcome Spring and, of course, living in the Midwest Welcome Tornadoes.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Peanut butter + chocolate

Yummy, I love math! Today I made
Reese’s Peanut Butter And Milk Chocolate Brownies.
It is from the Best Loved Hershey’s cookbook my dear friend and sister in law,Lorry, got for me. I have been collecting cookbooks from second shops and tag sales but she bought me a thick luscious new book that lies flat and has thick glossy pages. It is a pretty book just to look at but this is delish.

¾ c Hershey’s coca
½ teaspoon baking soda
2/3 c organic butter melted you will split this up
½ c boiling water
2 c fair trade organic sugar
2 cage free organic eggs
1 1/3 c flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
1 full pkg peanut butter chips
1 c milk chocolate chips I did closer to 2 cups to make it super chocolatee


1. heat oven to 350 degrees grease a 13x9x2 pan. I like to line with release foil and it makes for quick cleanup.

2. stir together coca and baking soda. stir in 1/3 c butter and boiling water stir until it thickens. then add the eggs, sugar and remaining 1/3 c butter. Add flour, vanilla and the salt. Blend completely. Stir in the chips. Pour into pan.


3. bake 35 minutes until it pulls away from the sides. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut it how you like it.

4. try not to eat entire pan.


It took 30 min to cook in my oven. This looks amazing, it has a crackly glossy top. I think we have another hit because my husband was panting as I mixed it up. The smell was so strong of chocolate it was amazing.