Roasted Garlic Soup with French Bread and Broiled Cheese Topping

Holy Moley...oh my....sweet mother of Venus...amazing explosion on the taste buds of wicked awesomeness....I saw this on Smitten Kitchen, and fell in love, and since we had 50 pounds of roma tomatoes that were canned, I saved some to make this soup.  I also made french bread to go on top and then sharp cheddar cheese...oh, my...did I mention holy moley?  The roasted tomatoes were AMAZING I ate a couple of them before I even put them in the soup, and I also roasted the garlic, oh, the smell, the taste!!  along with the freshly baked bread...my house was heaven on earth.  I loved the roasted tomatoes so much, I diced some others, and roasted them, and added more roasted garlic and balsamic vinaigrette so I could make roasted tomato bruschetta.  Oh my...I love my life.  xoxo!

 
Roasted Tomato and Garlic Soup
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen
Serves 4-6
Soup
3 pounds plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic,roasted
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves or 1/4 teaspoon dried
1/4 teaspoon (or more to taste) dried crushed red pepper
4 fresh basil leaves
1 cup fat free half and half
3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
Lid
4 1-inch slices from a large loaf of rye bread, whole wheat sourdough or bread of your choice (or 16 1-inch slices from a baguette), toasted until hard and lightly buttered on one side
1 tablespoon grated raw onion
1 cup coarsely grated cheddar (or more to taste)
Make soup: Preheat oven to 400°F. Wrap garlic cloves in a tight foil packet. Place tomatoes, cut side up, on large baking sheet. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper (I used 1 full teaspoon of Kosher salt). Drizzle tomatoes with olive oil. Add foil packet of garlic to tray. Roast until tomatoes are brown and tender (garlic will be very tender), about 1 hour. Cool slightly.
Unwrap garlic packet and squeeze four cloves in to blender with tomatoes, tomato juices left in pan and basil leaves and pulse machine on and off until tomatoes are a chunky puree. Transfer tomatoes to medium pot and add thyme, crushed red pepper and stock and bring to a boil Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 25 minutes. Remove from heat and adjust seasonings to taste.

Create cheddar lid: Preheat oven to 350. Arrange four ovenproof soup bowls, crocks or large mugs on a large, foil-lined baking sheet. Stir grated onion into the warm soup. (I love this last-minute suggestion of onion.) Float toast slice(s) in each bowl, buttered side up and divide grated cheese generously over top. (If you’re using a wide bowl, you might find that you want more cheese to create a thick, broiled lid.) Bake soups on tray for 15 to 20 minutes, until cheese on top is bubbling and brown at the edges. If you’d like it even more bronzed on top, preheat your broiler and finish soups for a minute or two under it. Serve immediately.

 

 

 

Old Reliable" French Bread (for Kitchen Aid Mixers)

Units: US | Metric

• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 2 1/2 cups water (105F to 115 F)
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon melted margarine or 1 tablespoon butter
• 7 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal
• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon cold water

Directions:

Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed mixer bowl.

Add salt, butter, and flour.

Attach bowl& dough hook to mixer, turn to Speed 2 and mix about 1 minute or until well blended.

Knead on Speed 2 about 2 minutes longer.

Dough will be sticky.

Put dough in large greased bowl, turning to coat.

Cover and let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.

Punch dough down and divide in half.

Roll each half into 12" x 15" rectangle.

Roll dough tightly, from longest side, tapering ends, if needed/wanted.

Put loaves on greased baking sheets that have been dusted with cornmeal.

Cover and let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.

With sharp knife, make 4 diagonal cuts on top of each loaf.

Bake at 450F for 25 minutes, then remove from oven.

Beat egg white and water together and brush each loaf with this mix.

Return to the oven and bake 5 minutes longer.

Immediately remove from baking sheets and cool on wire racks.

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/old-reliable-french-bread-for-kitchen-aid-mixers-52289#ixzz1YjbKkzNW

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chimichangas.

When I first saw this recipe I was suspicious.  Whenever a recipe says "vegan"  I start to think, "not a chance in he%$"  Why?  It is a whole psycho-social reactionary thing...but, I can handle vegetarian, but mostly I want healthy and tasty.  I keep trying to find ways to use beans and vegetables in  nourishing and delicious ways, and this is it baby.  Now, I will mention, that I did find a way to make it non vegan, and after a few fixes, ended up making it more chimichanga style.  Yum!

Black Beans and Sweet Potato Chimi's
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp oil
1/2 onion
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
handful of spinach
1 clove of garlic
1 roasted, and chopped green chili or 1 4 oz can of green chilies
2 cups of cooked black beans, or 1 can rinsed and drained (I used black beans with jalapenos to up the spice)
2 chopped medium tomatoes (or 1 can of diced tomatoes)
1/2 cup sweet corn
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
salt and pepper
12 flour tortillas (I used Mission's new blue corn and flax...they were good!)

 salsa


optional toppings:
plain greek yogurt, avocado slices, cheese...anything else that makes you happy.

Saute onion until translucent, add garlic and sweet potatoes.  Saute until soft, add spinach, green chilis, black beans, tomatoes and spices.  Simmer together and adjust seasoning to taste. 

Spray bottom of 9x13 pan with  non stick spray, add a 1/2 cup of salsa to the bottom of the pan.  Place filling in the middle of a tortilla, roll and place seam to the side, place on top of salsa.  Continue with the rest of tortilla and fillings and add to pan.  Place dots of butter to the top of the tortilla's add another quarter cup of salsa.  

Cook at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Flip over and add more butter to the top of the tortillas and add a handful of cheese , if you are non vegaing and desire cheese.  ook until brown and crispy, another 5 minutes or so. 

Add other toppings and eat!  Fantastic!!  I really enjoyed it. 

Easy Tasty Chicken Tenders with Prickly Pear Honey Mustard dressing

• Honey Mustard Dressing
• 1/2 cup light mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoon prepared mustard (I used my brothers homemade prickly pear)
• 2 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

mix together and refrigerate.

• 1 lb chicken tenders
• 2 tablespoons light mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs (I had plain, so I added a dash of oregano, basil, nutmeg, sweet mesquite, Cajun and garlic salt)
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven to 425°F.
2. Mix chicken tenders and mayonnaise in a bowl to lightly coat chicken with mayonnaise.
3. Mix bread crumbs and cheese in a gallon-size zippie bag.
4. Prepare baking sheet with cooking spray.
5. Put 1-2 chicken tenders in the zippie bag with the bread crumbs and shake to coat.
6. Place chicken tenders in a single layer on prepared baking sheet.
7. Continue until all tenders are coated and on the baking sheet.
8. Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes. Gently flip each one, so as not to remove the breading, and bake an additional 8 minutes.

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/baked-chicken-tenders-194400#ixzz1XZUhXO4Q

Awesome Cinnamon Rolls for Awesome students

 My students went above and beyond what I asked of them, and what they were expected to do.  They are amazing!  When I told them that I wanted to make them something as a thanks, they said something with frosting.  So for them, I went for the most amazing frosted item that I know of...Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls...Oh my goodness!  If you don't know the Pioneer Woman food blog, become acquainted now
http://thepioneerwoman.com/   she is amazing and my hero...after watching her premire food network show, I had a dream about my own ranch and cowboy....I wonder if they still do mail order brides for ranchers?  Anyway, I halved this recipe, used part skim, part 2% milk and put cream cheese in the frosting....I promise you, this will make you popular, happy and well, have my fabulous curves...and these melt in your mouth like butter....so keep the sweet rolls rolling!!!

Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

• 1 quart Whole Milk
• 1 cup Vegetable Oil
• 1 cup Sugar
• 2 packages Active Dry Yeast
• 8 cups (Plus 1 Cup Extra, Separated) All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon (heaping) Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon (scant) Baking Soda
• 1 Tablespoon (heaping) Salt
• Plenty Of Melted Butter
• 2 cups Sugar
• Generous Sprinkling Of Cinnamon
• _____
• MAPLE FROSTING:
• 1 bag Powdered Sugar
• 2 teaspoons Maple Flavoring
• ½ cups Milk
• ¼ cups Melted Butter
• ⅛ teaspoons Salt

Preparation Instructions

Mix the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a pan. “Scald” the mixture (heat until just before the boiling point). Turn off heat and leave to cool 45 minutes to 1 hour. When the mixture is lukewarm to warm, but NOT hot, sprinkle in both packages of Active Dry Yeast. Let this sit for a minute. Then add 8 cups of all-purpose flour. Stir mixture together. Cover and let rise for at least an hour.
After rising for at least an hour, add 1 more cup of flour, the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir mixture together. (At this point, you could cover the dough and put it in the fridge until you need it – overnight or even a day or two, if necessary. Just keep your eye on it and if it starts to overflow out of the pan, just punch it down).
When ready to prepare rolls: Sprinkle rolling surface generously with flour. Take half the dough and form a rough rectangle. Then roll the dough thin, maintaining a general rectangular shape. Drizzle 1/2 to 1 cup melted butter over the dough. Now sprinkle 1 cup of sugar over the butter followed by a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.
Now, starting at the opposite end, begin rolling the dough in a neat line toward you. Keep the roll relatively tight as you go. Next, pinch the seam of the roll to seal it.
Spread 1 tablespoon of melted butter in a seven inch round foil cake or pie pan. Then begin cutting the rolls approximately ¾ to 1 inch thick and laying them in the buttered pans.
Repeat this process with the other half of the dough. Let the rolls rise for 20 to 30 minutes, then bake at 400 degrees (see note below) until light golden brown, about 15 to 18 minutes.
For the frosting, mix together all ingredients listed and stir well until smooth. It should be thick but pourable. Taste and adjust as needed. Generously drizzle over the warm rolls. Go crazy and don’t skimp on the frosting.
Note: My rolls don’t work for me at 400 degrees anymore. I now bake them at 375 degrees.

Curried Chicken Over Spinach

 Well, some more healthy eats brought to by the World's Healthiest Foods website.  This one is both sweet and savory.  I am really picky about my curry powder, if it is too strong, I can not eat it.  I found a wonderful one at Penzeys.  This recipe didn't originally call for sweet potato or quinoa.  I added them to up the complex nutritional level and to make it a little more filling.  I have found that quinoa stays with me a little longer, and with my long days, things that help me not be hungry is important.  So if you don't have quinoa or sweet potato, no big deal, you can still make it as is and it will be fantastic.  So curry away!

Curried Chicken Over Spinach

Prep and Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

·                         3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces (6oz each)

·                         1 1/2 cup chicken stock

·                         3 cloves garlic, sliced

·                         1 TBS fresh ginger chopped, or 1/2 tsp dried

·                         1 tsp curry powder

·                         1 medium sized onion, cut in half and sliced

·                         1 medium sized red bell pepper julienne about 1 inch long

             1/2 sweet potato peeled and chopped...or as I do it, chopped then peeled. 

·                         1/2 cup coconut milk, make sure it is mixed well before using ( used a whole cup since I mixed in quinoa)

            1/2 cup quinoa

·                         4 bunches fresh spinach

·                         salt & white pepper to taste
**after making this, I found the flavors still a little too strong for me, so I added a dollop of plain greek yogurt, it was perfect, and made it a lovely creamy consistency. 

Directions:

1. Bring water to a boil for spinach. While water is coming to a boil, cut chicken into bite sized pieces. Healthy Sauté onion in a medium sauté pan over medium low heat for about 5 minutes stirring frequently. Add garlic and fresh ginger and continue to sauté for another minute. Add and curry and mix well. Add , chicken, bell peppers, and sweet potato. Saute for 2 minutes.  Add stock, quinoa and coconut milk and simmer until chicken is done, about 12 minutes. Season with salt and white pepper.
2. While chicken is cooking, cut ends off the bunch of spinach all at once. Don't bother trying to do it one stem at a time. It will take you too long and it is not necessary. Rinse spinach well and drop into boiling water for just 1 minute. Strain and press dry. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Place spinach on plates and top with chicken mixture.

My mom and I bought 36 pounds of pears from bountiful baskets to can.  Can she did...I was too busy at work, so she and dad did them without me. However, there were leftover pears, but by the time I brought them home, they were really beat up.  Since it is the first day with my university students tomorrow, I always bring a snack or two. So what will be better than pear muffins?  I have never made pear muffins before, so I modified a bread recipe and was feeling really lazy and in a rush at the same time (is that possible) so I pureed them in my blender with some water instead of chopping.  We will see how it goes!!  I also had fun using the mini muffin pan.  I watched marriage ref the other day on tv, and they were arguing about excessive appliances.  There is no such thing as too many kitchen gadgets, so I pulled out the mini, and we will party on with them! So keep pearing!

Fresh Pear Muffins

• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour                                                                               
• 2 cups Coachs Oats
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups peeled, cored and finely chopped pears, and pureed with ¼ cup water
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp molasses
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

 

 

Directions

1.                       In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, oil molasses and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt; stir into the egg mixture just until moistened. Toss pears with lemon juice and water, puree in blender. Stir pears into batter). Spoon into greased muffin pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Quinoa Falafel

I subscribe to a blog called http://www.cookingquinoa.net/  I have been really wanting to make falafel lately (I love a good falafel !)  She posted this recipe for quinoa falafel.  Healthy, very tasty, not dry like some falafels.  I added a cucumber sauce and hummus, and put it in a whole wheat wrap.  Fantastic!  Hope you try it out.  Have fun falafeling!

 

Quinoa Falafel

• 2 cups cooked chickpeas (about one can)
• 2 T tahinior greek yogurt
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 tsp mineral salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 2 T fresh cilantro, chopped
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper
• 4 cloves garlic, mince
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 T olive oil
• 1 cup arugula
• ½ cup greek yogurt
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a food processor, combine chickpeas, tahini, or greek yogurt, quinoa, salt, baking powder, cumin, cilantro, cayenne pepper, garlic and lemon. Pulse until well combined. Form into 18 balls and then flatten into patties.
3. Heat olive oil (I just used cooking spray, for less fat) in an oven safe skillet over medium heat. Add patties and cook for five minutes on each side, until lightly browned. Place skilled in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
4. Make Cucumber sauce
5. 1 (6 ounce) container plain yogurt
6. 1/2 cucumber - peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
7. 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
8. salt and pepper to taste
9. 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
10. Mix together and refrigerate 
11.  
12. Place falafel on top of arugula, or in a wrap with hummus, vegetables and top with cucumber sauce.

Calories: 306

Fat: 13.4 g

Protein: 12.2 g

Carbohydrates:36.4 g

Fiber: 2 g