Northern Bean and Potato Soup

I was too tired my first day back at work to stop at the grocery. So I decided to make use of the collards I planted in the fall.  I finally paid attention to them and they are growing out of control and I must say delicious.  This is the perfect meal for a cold night.

Ingredients:

3 strips bacon (or 1 tbl butter for the vegetarians out there)
1 clove garlic
1 small onion chopped
2 cups collards
2 carrots chopped
1 large potato chopped
1 can northern beans rinsed
6 cups broth
1 tbl thyme
1 tbl parsley
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbl. dill
3/4 c. sour cream (water will work too or silken tofu)
4.5 tsp flour

Saute first 6 ingredients.  Add broth/water and seasoning.  Boil for 30 minutes or so till veggies are soft.  Take masher and mash a few times in pot. Mix in bowl sour cream/water and flour.  slowly add to soup to thicken.  Enjoy!!!!

olive tapenade on toastpoints

one can olives
1 tbl. lemon  juice
1 tsp garlic
1 tbl fresh basil chopped
1 tbl. olive oil
pepper and salt to taste
1 tbl. capers

put all ingredients in food processor and turn on.  Delicious and easy.  Perfect for an appetizer.  I cut up my homemade wheat french bread and really enjoyed putting fresh mozzarella on it.  Enjoy!

Steamed Veggies over Rice with a Panzo Sauce

Dieting has begun to get ready for the hubs to come home.  This is a good healthy meal,  I recommend brown or multi-grain rice,  but hubs won't go near it. lol. 

Steamed Veggies over a white rice in a panzo sauce

Panzo Sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 clove garlic chopped
2 mandarin oranges
1/3 c. rice wine vinegar
1/4 c. soy sauce
1 tbl. chopped green onion

Steam rice,  remember brown and multi-grain rice needs about 1.5 cups water to rice ratio. Meanwhile, steam veggies, i used a simply frozen mixed veggies and place steamer. Try adding a clove of garlic and ginger to add flavor with no extra calories.  Panzo sauce is not typically served warm but I did for the meal.  Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan and just warm, or place in bowl and pour over meal when complete.  Enjoy!!!

Sausage Cheese Biscuit Balls

This recipe came from a sampling of multiple recipes to achieve what I wanted.  The result is reminiscent of red lobster cheddar biscuits. yum!

Sausage and Cheese Biscuit Balls

Ingredients:

1.5 c. all purpose flour

½ c.  corn meal

3 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

½ tsp ground mustard

½ tsp paprika

4 tbl butter

8-10 oz milk

12 oz. sausage

¼ c. onion

½ tsp sage

½ tsp paprika

¼ tsp pepper

10oz shredded cheese

Cook sausage in onion,sage, paprika, and powder, set aside and let cool. In a mixer add flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, ground mustard, paprika,  and salt. On med speed add butter  until crumbly.  Add milk slowly while mixing on med. Speed until  moistened. Add cheese and sausage and continue mixing until well mixed.  Spoon tablespoon balls onto greased sheet cook at 385 degrees for 12 minutes or until just before browning.  Enjoy!!!

Amaretto Bread Pudding

I tried my hand at starting to make my own bread to avoid some of the unnecessary chemicals.  Unfortunately I didn't eat much bread this week so I had a loaf to play with.  I updated this classic recipe with Amaretto and cranberries

Comfort Food

Today was a very long Mon-Tuesday,  missing my  love more than ever today.  Decided after a long hard day I wanted a quick, comforting dish. This dish  is easy to make and can be adapted into a yummy warming french onion soup.

Balsamic Reduction Mushrooms over Bagette

Ingredients:
2 tbl butter
1 clove garlic chopped
1/2 c. onion chopped
Salt pepper to taste
1/4 c. white or red wine
4 tbl. balsamic vinegar
(for adapted frenchonion soup add beef stock and serve atop bread with melted cheese ontop.


Melt butter brown onion and garlic.  Season with salt and pepper.  Once brown add wine and vinegar. toast bread and add mixture on top. Enjoy.

Felted Soap

Over the holidays I was at a specialty boutique a cool and unique gift.  I love felting and wanted to start back felting again so I was stoked to find an easy way to felt and make cool gifts.  I embellished this with felt applicaes embroidered on  This soap is a soft wash cloth and fine soap in one and allows you to use every bit of the expensive delicious smelling soap (instead of losing the last few pieces which typically happens). 

Supplies
High quality soap (I go to Tuesday Morning, they have really nice boutique style soap for about $3 a bar)
Wool
Felt
Embroidery Thread

Take wool and layer going in opposing direction 4-5 layers, each layer should be made out of the thinest strands possible.  Take wool in one hand and with other hand slow pull off a small thin patch. Make a 4inch by 6 inch rectangular swatch.  wrap around the soap.  Get warm water in a bowl and saturate  wool wrapped bar,  continue to massage until wool is taught and does not unravel. Lay out and dry. Once dry create applicaes to embroider on.