Two Great Soups

Hamburger Soup

The name doesn't sound great but this is the best comfort soup ever. I have never served it that it wasn't loved.

1/2 pound of ground beef (I use as little as possible, probably 1/4 pound or less, just to flavor it)

3/4 cup chopped onion

3/4 cup Shredded carrots

3/4 cup diced celery

1 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon parsley

4 tablespoons butter

3 cups chicken broth

4 cups potatoes diced

1/4 cup flour

2 cups Velveeta cheese (I use the light Velveeta)

1 1/2 cups of milk (I use skim milk)

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup Sour Cream

Brown meat, saute' onion with meat, add basil, carrots, celery, parsley, 1 tablespoon butter, add broth, potatoes, beef, and bring to a boil.

Simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, in separate saucepan, melt remaining butter and add flour, stir until bubbly, add milk. Put in soup, cook until soup thickens slightly. Stir in Velveeta cheese that has been cut into small chunks. Just before serving add sour cream.

Don't add the cheese to early it can curdle. Add it early enough to melt and be warm and then do the sour cream at the last minute.

Tortellini Soup

2 Tablespoons Oil

1 medium onion

1 package sausage ( I use the apple 3 cheese sausage from Costco it's pretty low fat or also Turkey kielbasa)

2 cloves garlic

1 package fresh tortellini (found in the refrigerator section in your grocery store)

1 can 28 ounce diced tomatoes

1/2 cup apple juice

1 cup water

2 tablespoons parsley

1 tablespoon basil

1 tablespoon oregano

1 stalk celery diced

2 carrots chopped

1 zucchini chopped

Combine and saute' oil, onion, sausage and garlic. When browned and onions are caramelized, add tortellini, diced tomatoes, apple juice, water, parsley, basil oregano, celery, carrots and zucchini.

Bring to boil, then simmer for 1/2 hour until vegetables are tender.

I use this same recipe to add every vegetable under the sun, such as asparagus, artichokes, green olives, etc. I double the broth, put in whole wheat linguine, and make a sort of vegetable spaghetti that is great. Sometimes I add tomatoes soup or tomato sauce with the above broth. It is so healthy and delicious it is amazing.

Blogging with a new purpose

I have struggled with what to say on my blog. My daughter in law Sarah suggested that I share some of the recipes I use in the cooking class that I teach. That simple suggestion made me so happy (thanks Sarah). I love to cook, and I love my cooking class. We teach each other and learn easy family friendly recipes that are healthy and tasty. So here are two recipes that have been tried and tested and worked with the 10 women who attend my enrichment cooking class.

Vegetable Salsa

I add the following vegetables chopped fine. You can add any vegetable you desire. This recipe can be easily personalized to fit your families likes.

Green Pepper

Red Pepper

Green Onions

Black Olives

Avocado

Tomatoes

If you like it hot you can add jalapenos.

1 can of either black beans, pinto beans or black eyed peas rinsed and drained.

Salt to taste

Lime juice to taste

Touch of red wine vinegar (we discussed this allot as we make it as a family and decided it needed to stay)

Cilantro

Green chile's

Any of the above ingredients can be deleted. This is a very mild salsa. It is healthy, non fat, and no points for the weight watchers. This may not be a salsa at all, but it's great with chips.

Bow Tie Chicken Pasta

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1/4 inch strips

1 tablespoon olive or canola oil

1 small sweet red pepper, julienned (which means cut into small strips)

1 small zucchini, cut into 1/4 inch slices

1 small onion chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup frozen peas thawed

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/4 teaspoon salt-free seasoning blend (I use season salt)

1 Cup bow tie pasta cooked and drained

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese. (This is different from the powdery Parmesan in the green can)

In a large nonstick skillet, saute' chicken in oil for 3-5 minutes or until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm. In same skillet, stir-fry red pepper and zucchini, onion and garlic for 3-4 minutes or until vegetables are crisp tender.

Add peas and seasonings; stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add pasta and tomatoes; cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in chicken. Sprinkle with cheese.

Serves 4

If you have any questions about these recipes let me know and I will try to help you with them.

They both look beautiful and are delicious. I will try to do pictures in the future.

Golf Anyone?

I have really stepped out on a limb. I have a set of petite ladies golf clubs arriving any day now. I purchased them on e-bay. This is probably trivial to everyone else, but it is major to me.
I never thought I would be chasing a little white ball around some grassy area, so that's a big deal. The other major deal is that I now have purchased something on e-bay and I have a pay pal account. I also did all of this by myself.
Contrary to what you may all believe, golfing has become a necessity. Three grandsons and a son and son in law all golf. I need to be able to hang out with those little guys at least and chase some balls around with them.
My first day, I used Brad's clubs and tried hitting a bucket of balls. What a joke. It's a very hard game to play. I can putt O.K. and I can barely chip, but hitting on the range is major stress. Braden makes me laugh allot and that helps ease the embarrassment.
No, I will not be participating in any major tournaments. I will just be using it as exercise, a way to release frustration, and the enjoyment of being outside, and with little boys whom I love.