My - Minestrone

1. Large Pot, wooden spoon, sharp knife and cutting board
2. Vegetables - mini carrots cut up, 2 stalks of celery cut small, 1/2 onion chopped up (saute these first in 1 Tbs Olive oil or Butter until they are kind of soft) chopped garlic,  I also added chopped spinach and some broccoli slaw (it comes in a bag) because I had them and wanted more veggies
3. 3 Types of Beans - Canned is easier - I used Black, Pinto, and White
4. 1 Can of Tomato Soup
5. 1 Box or 4 Cups of Broth or Stock (I always keep this in my pantry - A box of 4 at costco is the most affordable way unless it is on sale)
6. 2 Cups (Dry) pasta cooked (or you can use left over rice or those Uncle Ben's Rice packets)
7. No-Salt Seasoning like Mrs. Dash, some Italian seasoning like oregano, basil, rosemary 1Tsp of each.
8. The BEST Frozen Rolls on the Planet go well with this soup - so does a fresh loaf of french type bread from the store or garlic bread whichever you prefer.

First Saute the 1/2 Onion,2 Stalks Celery, 3 Large (or a couple handfuls of little ones) Carrots until tender, add the garlic - 1 Tsp, also add the broccoli slaw to speed up the cooking time

Next drain the canned beans and add to the soup along with 1 box (4 C) of broth, and the can of tomato soup add the pasta and spices next stir - if you need to add more liquid use some more broth or water.

Cood until the Carrots are soft.

Follow the directions on the package - if you plan this right you take out the rolls  in the morning - put them on a sprayed cookie sheet spray the tops with Pam type spray, and cover them with plastic wrap - leave them on the counter all day until you start making the soup - then follow the directions on the package -   I really don't think I will actually make "home made" bread ever again - these pass the test!!

Potato Beer Cheese Soup

 Dice up potatoes 10 small white or red or 4 russets into 1" pieces

  Option to add:  diced onion, celery and carrot sauted the carrots will still be firm when you add them to the soup.
1 box of chicken stock or broth
1 bottle of beer
Make cheese sauce and add it at the end)
   Cheese sauce:  1/4 C Butter - Margarine  or Olive Oil
                            1/4 C Flour
Yup you are making a roux again....I do this alot :)  See the Kitchen Hints Tab.
                           2 Ladels of water from the Potatoes
                           2 C of Milk
                           2 C of grated cheese

Cook the potatoes in the chicken stock/broth until they are done (add water or more stock to make sure the potatoes are covered) - poke em with a fork, if the fork goes in easy they are done.

Add the bottle of beer - or more if you have beer lovers in the house. Add the cheese sauce and salt and pepper to taste.  Simmer until thick - it will continue to thicken after it sits and is fantastic the next day!

I will add hot sauce because I put it on everything.

Day 2 Rotisserie Chicken Soup

No Photos - today going to class...

Chicken
Leftover - cooked Rice or Quinoa (keenwa)
Carrotts - Celery - Onion
Chicken Broth, Stock or water to cover

Thicken with roux - to make a heartier soup and pour over toast or buscuits

Roux - melt 2 Tbs butter or margarine you can use olive oil as well, add in 2 Tbs of flour or corn startch cook together until smooth and bubbly add to soup and stir in.  (if you want to make more roux - always use equal amounts of fat and flour)

Rotisserie Chicken - Fajitas

Just having a rotisserie chicken from the store is kind of boring - so I keep trying to find things to do with them.

Quick Chicken Fajitas -
Rotisserie Chicken
Vegetables
    Peppers
    Onions
    Mushrooms
    Lettuce
Grated Cheese
Tortillias
Refried beans
Guacamole or Avocados
Hot sauce
Sour cream

If you like them - use any vegetables you have in the refrigerator - leftovers are great

(NOTE: I dont know why I can't get all my photos to turn the same way...ARGH)

I like to saute the vegetables until they are warmed thru with a little color

Tear off some chicken, place in the center of the tortialla, add cheese, vegetables, beans etc.   Add Hot sauce and sour cream and guacamole or avocados.  Roll Up and Eat.

Breakfast Burritos for Dinner

Breakfast Burritos for Dinner!

This recipe is handed down from my Mom Laurie - she made these for my Dad for his hunting trips, now I make them for my husband Tim for his hunting trips and our family for quick meals.  Great micro-heated and wrapped in foil for winter morning sporting events (Soccer - Football) also great for camping - heat up in a pan or over the fire wrapped in foil.

1 or 2 Large Pans
1 Dozen Eggs
1 lb Package of Italian Sausage (any type hot, turkey, pork, beef, plain)
    If the sausage is not seasoned - add salt, pepper or no salt seasoning for flavor.
1 pkg of Tater Tots - thawed
30 flour tortillas
grated cheese
 
Cook the Sausage (no pink) and set aside
While the sausage is cooking break the eggs into a bowl and mix with a fork, a wisk or stick blender

Break up the Tater-tots and heat them through, add back in the cooked sausage stir together, add in the blended eggs.

Carefully turn the egg mixture until no longer shiny.

Spoon the mixture onto tortillas add some cheese, turn in the ends and roll.

We keep them in the refrigerator in zip bags and reheat in the microwave, stovetop or oven. 

Quick CHILI

Use a large deep pot with a lid - set burner to a medium high temp for the first 10 mins until chili bubbles - then turn burner to low and simmer for up to 2 Hrs. Stir it occasionally.

1/2 to 1 Qt of chicken broth, stock or water
1 12 oz can any type of Tomato (home canned, diced, whole or a few fresh ones chopped up)
1 Jar of any type of spaghetti sauce
1-3 cans of beans drained (white, pinto or black) I like to mix all three
1 can of refried beans (optional helps thicken the chili)
1-3 lbs of meat if you have it - chicken, elk, venison, beef - ground, cubed, left over taco meat, sausage
Optional:  1/2 bag more or less of frozen corn.
Spices to add if you have them in any combination
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp Cumin
1 tsp garlic powder or crushed garlic
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp cinnamon
chopped cilantro
any hot sauce to your taste
squeeze of lime and sour cream on top is great as well

NOTE: to make a thicker chili in separate pan melt 2 Tbs of butter and 2 Tbs of flour together to make a paste add some of the liquid from the chili wisk together and add back into pot.

IF the meat is already cooked, put everything in a pot on the stove and cook for 20 minutes up to 1 Hr.

You can pre-cook the meat in a pan and add to the pot or add the meat and cook it for 2 Hrs.

Serve alone, with rice, bread or cornbread.