This and that

What a lovely day this Friday has been.  Sunny and warm enough to leave the back door open.  I think, however, it is working itself into rain and that usually means cooking for me; but it is Friday and the house has just been cleaned and I don't want to mess up the kitchen.  Still, I feel it coming on; another soup creation. Soup has taken over my cooking selections.  I don't find soup recipes inspiring, I just look in the refrigerator and the pot of soup pops into my mind and I just start throwing it together and tasting it until it rings a bell and Bob's your uncle.  Meat is usually involved like the piece of pancetta yesterday.  That sauteed with onions and put to work in a soup was wonderful--no left overs! As you know, pancetta is an Italian bacon that is rolled into a solid round so I cut it into lardons (which is a French word) but with the same uses in stews and braised dishes.  Trader Joe's has little packets of tiny diced pancetta that I buy to use in Mike and Nate's breakfasts...Andy's too if he wants it. Now I am out of both and growing out of the mood to cook anything tonight. Glad that need has passed.

I have been throwing away stuff today in our bathroom.  Half used things that I will never use again and out of date things--I once heard that make up should only last 6 months then it should be tossed.  Well I have some make up and pills older than my dogs, so I purged two bags of the stuff making my shelves look like they have been arranged by an organizer...hmmm, I have one living here and she will notice, she notices everything.

Have a lovely week end.  Just 14 more days until our New Orleans party week end.

kitchen sink soup

This is one of my very best soups and I did not write down the measurements.  I will tell you how it went into the soup pot, but measurements are lost to me, unfortunately.  I never measure when I am making soups.  I looked in the refrigerator and noted several things needing using before Monica comes to clean tomorrow. She looks in the refrigerator and terrorizes me because she left it perfectly last Friday.  We unloaded everything and started over and it was spic and span. Now, not so much.

I saw a hunk of Pancetta from Carfagnas that would be great coupled with the onion that wanted using. So I sauteed them together until they were lovely and brown.  I got out the celery, carrots, potatoes, and cauliflower...oh yes, and the broccoli,  diced them up.  Filled the pot with water and two cubes of chicken bouillon.  So now we are off and running.  I threw in a handful of rice medley from Trader Joe's and got it to the right point and started adding vegetables and tasting as I went.  Something was missing so I put in a packet of dry Ranch dressing,,, mmm, better but not there yet.  I added two squirts of chili tomato stuff from a tube of goodness that Pam had given me. Tasted.  No, not yet.  I added a can of Ro-tel diced tomatoes and peppers; better, much better.  Added salt and pepper, better yet. This lovely mix cooked until the vegetables were softer and then I added the Pancetta and onions and tasted.  Yes, just right.  I ate two bowls then and now! Once the picky eaters are done with this soup, I am putting in spinach.  I think that would make it even better. It's glorious and I think it is the diced Pancetta and onions that completes it.  I scraped every scrap from the skillet into the soup, so none of the goodness was lost.

L

cream cheese brownies

   
I was teaching at the time I first met cream cheese brownies.  Maize School was having one of its frequent bake sales.  There were half a dozen brownies in a package and I ate every one of them on my way home from school. (I weighed 100 pounds back then but it would have made NO difference; had to have them all.)  Had never seen them, had never smelled them, had never tasted them but had to have them (and I am not even a fan of chocolate.) I found the recipe years ago and it was more complicated than this.  This one is a brownie mix topped with a mixture of 8 ounces of soft cream cheese, 1/4 cup of sugar, one egg and a bit of vanilla mixed and swirled through the chocolate before going into the oven. 350 for 24 minutes.

I have an unusual soup started and I will let you know how that goes later today.
The soup is crispy Pancetta with several vegetables (soup) Note: Turns out to be one of my best inventions yet.I have a nice picture of it on my Facebook, but trying to get it on here was not in the cards today.  I may picture it tomorrow and write up the loose instructions.  My soups are never the same twice because I don't use a recipe.  I do wish, however, that I had written this one down to do again.
                                                                                    

Surprise! It's breakfast chili.

 

Cook's Corner came today with a surprise; a recipe for breakfast chili to serve at tailgate parties or to unsuspecting guests.  The Barefoot Contessa writes that she tries to surprise her guests, just when they are prepared for an elegant feast she serves them spaghetti and meatballs--she says they love it, but by the look on one of her guest's face, who had, by the way, boasted to the others about the gourmet dinner they were about to enjoy, I would say disappointment was the look of the evening.  This recipe is not for those opposed to can soups but the doctoring of them makes the recipe kind of interesting.  Serve it as a soup, serve it over hash browns or on a toasted English muffin, it seems quick and certainly easy.

one pound of breakfast sausage, I would use Bob Evans Zesty (browned and crumbled)
1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
9 hard-boiled eggs, diced
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can condensed cream of cheddar soup
1 soup can of milk
1 can navy beans
4 green onions, minced
1 can diced green chilies, drained (I would use Ro-tel)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste (although, I would guess there would be enough salt in this mixture already) I bet this would make a tasty dip.

I don't know why this has to slow cook so long, but here is how it reads:  The night before serving, in a large slow cooker, combine the sausage, bacon, eggs, cream of chicken and cheddar soups, milk, navy beans, green onions, chilies and cheddar cheese.  Mix well and season to taste. Slow cook on low for three hours or up to overnight. (I would never do that, everything is already cooked???) Serve when ready. Now, who is going to be the first to try this?

Mashed potato yeast rolls

This is a recipe you must try.  Yesterday was cold and gloomy so I cooked all day and last, of all, I found this recipe using leftover mashed potatoes from Pinterest called Amish potato rolls. I had heard of using potato water, so I was not surprised when that was included in the recipe too.  But a cup of leftover mashed potatoes???  I didn't have leftover mashed potatoes so I made some in a hurry and to tell the truth, they were lumpy AND IT STILL WORKED.  You cannot fail at this, it makes itself work no matter the mistakes.  You throw all the ingredients into a mixer with a dough hook and let it do the work. You can do it by hand, but why?The oven is at 350 and the rolls, when finished, bake for about 24 minutes depending on your oven.  Tomorrow I am turning these into mini sliders.  We have some roast beef, cheese, and grainy mustard.  I've given you that recipe before and actually, you can use any deli meat and throw on whatever pleases you and stick them in the oven to melt the cheese and toast the tops a bit. We also used Kings Hawaiian rolls but I am eager to try these in place of them.

The rolls
Into a mixing bowl:
2eggs, 1/3 cup sugar,2 teaspoons. salt, 6 tablespoons butter (soft), 1 cup unseasoned mashed potatoes, 2  1.2 teaspoons yeast (1 package dry yeast), 3/4 cup of potato water, 4 1/4 cups flour.  MIX until a ball forms; dough will be sticky. Place dough in greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap.  Let rise for 90 minutes.  Gently deflate and make 16 round balls.  Place them in a greased pan and put lightly greased saran wrap on top; let rise another 2  1/2 hours.  350 for 24 minutes and Bob's your uncle.

These with Balsamic salmon fillets (the post before this one) and roasted vegetables make a lovely dinner.

It's salmon today

Valentina's Corner (blog) has mouth watering salmon recipes and pictures which I hope can stay here along with some of her salmon recipes.  I have such a craving for salmon today for some strange reason.  So, I started searching Pinterest and they have done everything to salmon that can be done.  The recipes are easy and the pictures are glorious.  This recipe from Valentina's is one I want to try today, if possible.

2 pounds salmon
2 tablespoons Ranch mix dressing
2/3 cups Hellman's mayo
2 tablespoons parmesan
1  1/2 tablsp milk
garlin (if you want)
pepper
3/4 cups mozzarella cheese
Bake on parchment 12-14 minutes in 425 oven and then 2-3 minutes under the broiler to brown the cheese a bit.

What could be easier, I ask?
I'll search some more and put on more salmon recipes, hopefully.

I was able to get salmon so I am debating between the above and Balsamic glazed salmon.


Balsamic glazed salmon
In a sauce pan put: 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup white wine or chicken broth, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon diijon mustard
 1 garlic clove diced, if you wish.   Bring this mixture to a boil then reduce heat to simmer until the mixture becomes syrupy. Set aside to drizzle over the pan fried salmon.

Oil in a skillet
 four, 6 ounce fillets with skin off
 salt and pepper both sides
brown both sides in the skillet for three to four minutes
Serve them warm with the drizzle and fresh herbs on top
This may win because it would be wonderful with oven roasted crispy potatoes and roasted glazed carrots.  We have a winner!

Here it comes

After a brilliant October, today the 23rd, brings about a change.  It is dark and gloomy, but a good time to bake brownies in my new copper divided pan.  It is the second go-around for that little device and I like it still.

Today I took several new outfits to the alteration lady.  Finally found one close to home.   I also saw, just down the way from alterations, a new nail salon that I am going to try. I liked the salon I had been going to for a few years, but something happened I didn't like and rather than try to get it fixed I am simply moving on. I am getting too old to fight battles that mean nothing in the end.I just don't like to be short-changed.

I made a nice pot of Amish noodles with lovely chunks of chicken and fresh herbs. I will miss stepping outside to cut a handful of fresh herbs now that fall has taken over.  I can still get fresh rosemary out in the conservatory because it winters over beautifully; sage does well out there too.

It's 18 more days until we leave for New Orleans. Hence, the trip to alterations.  Beth and I are looking forward to merging families in a fun and festive time together. The men will be feeding dogs and 'doing' for themselves for four days.  I think they'll make it. I hope they don't enjoy it too much, however. 

Then when we come home it will be less than two weeks until Thanksgiving.  We are expecting a crowd as usual and looking forward to it.  I wish it would be nice so we could eat outside like the Pilgrims did and some years it is possible.  But, I think our grace period is over and it will probably be nippy. Nonetheless, we will have a good time.

Soon, very soon

October has been the prettiest month I can remember for a long time.  Today, it still is and so we are working to get all the outdoor furniture stored for the winter and the plants that can be saved into the conservatory.  Mike, Beth, Andy and I have worked all morning to get this done while I have been getting all the vines off the pergola for its paint job happening in the spring.  I have it spray painted every three years and now it needs it more than ever because our morning glories have gone wild this year and nearly covered it completely--not quite, but almost.  In between my job of vine cutting and dealing with the seeds I managed a pot of Trader Joe's medley rice with his New Zealand shrimp.  Yesterday I got the refrigerator completely cleaned and purged of what needs to go, so I am feeling accomplished today.

We have a few more days to enjoy before the 50s roll in letting us  know what is coming.  Andy has changed the filters in all three furnaces so that job is completed too.  We are on a roll...for once.

The rest of the day we can relax in the sun, read, talk and review the summer and all of its glory.  Our plans are secure for New Orleans  in twenty days.  I don't know why we are so excited about this trip.  Lately I dislike leaving home, but I have hauled out the luggage already for this excursion.  I hope to get enough pictures for the next Chat book.  I'll need sixty so every move will be recorded.  You poor things, you will be bored to death with the pictures but I will be happy to have the memories to look back on and people after me can see what a great family I have had with which to enjoy it.
Soon, very soon.

Doris Lechler

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Soup's on

As you probably know, I am not above talking help when I can get it and this soup is evidence.  Even though I cannot get the picture of my own soup from my own Facebook page over here, I can assure that you will see the picture on my Facebook. Sorry I can't get it to transfer. (Oh, there it is... appeared like magic.)

  Every time Joe and Glenda come to town we make a trip to Plain City to the Amish store.  Like Trader Joe's I enjoy trying their different products.  I saw, in my pantry,  the creamy potato soup mix with made from scratch quality and decided to marry it to Trader Joe's riced cauliflower and riced broccoli. It was a tri-marriage made in heaven.  Those items coupled with pepper bacon sprinkled on as it is being served won the day. Of course the 8 cups of homemade chicken broth (instead of 8 cups of water, helped things along and we had soup in twenty minutes.

I use Stouffer's products enhanced by my own too.  I use their mac and cheese but with pokes of pepperoni crisping on top.  I lay the pepperoni on top and with the end of a wooden spoon I poke it into the creamy mac and cheese and as it browns and becomes crisp the goodness also seeps into the main event.  The top comes out of the oven and looks like a bed of fall flowers.  It's a big hit with kids. I also use their lasagna especially the new one with loads of meat; I forget what it's called...maybe meat lovers.  There is not much you have to do with that product, it is good.  I make my own lasagna sometimes and get creative, but in a pinch and for a big crowd, I take the help, with thanks to the perfected products.

WOW.  There it is, picture and all.

Doris Lechler

31 mins · 

Soup’s on

Trader Joe's fix

I made a trip to Trader Joe's this morning and it was glorious.  No crowd, fresh goods and some new things to try.  I try to buy two or three products that I have never bought before and I am usually very pleased.  Look at this orchid!  Joe has great prices and this was $13. and change.  Dunkers.  If you have not tried these with your tea or coffee you are missing a treat.  (I have bought these many times.) Since I have a new and useful brownie pan I bought Trader Joe's truffle baking mix.  I'll let you know how this is.  Then to go with my recipe for clotted cream I bought pumpkin spice scone mix. These dried orange slices looked delicious so in went the package in my bulging shopping cart. (I only went in for a few things...you know how that goes.)

Have you had Joe's Argentinan red shrimp?  Wonderful.  His langostino tails which I put in my mac and cheese makes a fancy, tasty dish.
Also in the frozen section, I am trying the Thai shrimp gyoza pot stickers...new to me.  I'll let you know. Note:  These are delicious and they go right from the freezer into a skillet--follow the easy directions and lunch was ready in minutes.  There are microwave directions too, but I don't have one of those. (Yep.  I don't have a microwave.)

               

                               

Rosemary's hair cut

Rosemary got a haircut today.  A few years ago Glenda and Joe brought us a small potted Rosemary plant.  We stuck it in this big, and I mean big, pot with some other plants and look what happened.  She got a major haircut this morning because it takes two or three men to get this into the conservatory for the winter.  I have hung bunches of Rosemary everywhere.  It looks like I am warding off evil spells.

Today, another thing I am doing is putting together another Chat book.  It is so much fun.  The books are $8. a book with 60 pictures in each book.  They are raising the prices some time this month and they should because they are worth a bit more.  I can't wait to get the ones that will be from New Orleans (for my birthday celebration) early in November. For some reason we are looking forward to that trip more than usual.  Writing of trips Nate has bought a back pack that is enormous.  You could carry two or three babies in that thing.  He is preparing for his 3 month wander lust trip(S)

We are starting to put the outdoor things away and the pool will close at the end of October.  It's sad then, but there is the joy of spring ahead. Another glorious day at Many Branches today.