Carrot-Tomato Soup

Carrot-Tomato Soup

Ingredients
2 TBSP butter
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 lbs tomatoes, peeled* and sliced in half with stems removed
3/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
(optional) fresh sprigs of thyme, oregano or rosemary
1 medium sized yellow onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
5 medium sized carrots, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups chicken (or vegetable) stock
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
3/4 cup heavy cream

Instructions
Place sliced tomatoes on a baking sheet. Cover with most of the olive oil (reserving 2 TBSP or so), and the salt and pepper. If you'd like a little more flavor, I sometimes add a fresh sprig or two of oregano or thyme atop the tomatoes. Place in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes to roast.

Halfway through the roasting, melt the butter and remaining olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-low heat. Add onion, celery, carrots, and garlic and cook until the vegetables begin to get soft (15 minutes or so). When the tomatoes are done, add those to the pot (removing the sprigs of herbs), along with the stock. Simmer on low until the vegetables are all tender (another 15 minutes or so).

Puree the soup. (I don't have an immersion blender, so my regular blender works just fine, doing it in batches.)

Stop here and see below if you'd like to freeze some of the soup for later!**

Return the soup to the pot and onto the stove. Heat slowly. Add the chopped basil and heavy cream.

Enjoy!

Notes:

*To peel the tomatoes, heat a sauce pan full of water and bring to a boil. Place tomatoes in for a minute. Remove and let cool. The skins will peel off easily after that.

**Because I love the basil and cream to be fresh when I serve this, at this point, I try to estimate how much I'll use for dinner now and how much I'd like to freeze for later. Usually, with this recipe, I freeze a one quart mason jar, filling it to within an inch from the top to allow for expansion room when it freezes. It makes a perfect lunch or light dinner size for us, especially when served with some crusty bread and sharp cheddar cheese for sandwich dipping!

Recipe from Soule Mama's blog. Thank you!

Hot or Cold Pasta Salad

Ingredients:
2T Sliced Almonds Toasted
6oz Orzo (about 1 Cup)
3 Garlic Cloves, crushed
1lb Asparagus, cooked and cut into quarters
Zest of one lemon
1/4 C. Grated Parmesan
2T Olive Oil
3/4t Salt
1T Lemon Juice
2T Dried Cranberries

Directions:
To cook asparagus - I put about a cup of water in a pot and set it to boil. Then I add the asparagus and turn the pot down to simmer. I let it simmer until tender - I don't use the top to the pot. I also chopped the asparagus before cooking to make things easier. (HINT: to stop asparagus from cooking after you remove it from your pot, put it in a bowl of ice. This will chill it and stop the cooking process.)

Prepare orzo per package directions, drain.

Heat oil, saute garlic until soft.
Add asparagus, stir in orzo and salt and toss.
Remove from heat.

Add zest, juice, Parmesan and cranberries.
Season w/S&P
Top with toasted almonds.

Recipe from Jill Baldwin!

Rachel’s Radical Cheese-Stuffed Turkey Burgers

1 pound ground turkey breast
½ cup chopped onions
½ cup chopped green peppers
1 egg
¾ cup shaved zucchini (this is in place of bread crumbs to hold burgers together)
1 Tablespoon of finely chopped garlic
½ tsp salt
½ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp pepper
2 wedges of Laughing Cow Light Garlic and Herb Cheese
4 large iceberg lettuce leaves
4 sliced tomatoes

Makes 4 burgers
Each burger is about 4 ounces

Place the ground turkey in a large bowl and smash it against the sides of the bowl. Add the onion, peppers, egg and zucchini. Mash together with hands. (Sorry, this is gross but the best way to mix.)

Make 8 balls with the mixture. Take 1 ball and smash it flat (about 1 inch thick). Put ½ of the cheese wedge in the middle of the patty. Take another ball and place it on top of the cheese. Form a burger patty, pinching the sides to hold the cheese inside.

Grill or bake the burgers until cooked through. For baking, oven is at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Spray the baking dish to prevent the burgers from sticking.

Top burger with sliced tomato and use lettuce leaves for a bun.

Thought: Make all 4 burgers and use them for lunch, or dinner, the next day. They can be reheated in a microwave for 1 minute.

Balsamic Chicken and Mushrooms

Ingredients

2 tsp vegetable oil

3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 tsp Dijon mustard

1 large garlic clove(s), crushed

1 pound(s) uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, four 4-oz pieces

2 cup(s) mushroom(s), small, halved

1/3 cup(s) canned chicken broth

1/4 tsp dried thyme, crumbled

Directions:

In a nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of oil.

· In a medium bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar, the mustard and garlic. Add chicken and turn to coat.

· Transfer chicken and marinade to skillet. Sauté chicken until cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side. Transfer chicken to a platter and keep warm.

· Heat remaining teaspoon of oil in skillet. Sauté mushrooms for 1 minute. Add broth, thyme and remaining tablespoon of vinegar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are deep brown, about 2 minutes longer.

· Serve chicken topped with mushrooms.

Emeril Green's Brown Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash

Ingredients:
2 acorn squash, split in half, seeds removed
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1 orange pepper, finely chopped
1/2 white onion, finely chopped S
alt and pepper, to taste
1 bunch Swiss or rainbow chard, ribs removed and diced, leaves chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cups cooked brown rice
2 teaspoons chopped parsley
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions:
Place the squash, cut side down, onto a microwave safe dish. Microwave on high for 12 minutes or until then flesh is soft. Set aside. (Alternatively, you can roast the squash in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes.) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

In a large sauté pan over medium high heat, add the grapeseed oil. After a minute, add the orange pepper and onion and season with salt and pepper. Once the vegetables begin to soften, add the Swiss chard ribs. Continue to cook another 2 minutes or so, and add the garlic. Stir to combine and cook only until the garlic becomes fragrant. Turn off the heat and stir in the brown rice, chopped Swiss chard leaves and parsley.

Place the acorn squash halves in a baking dish and fill each with 3/4 cup of the mixture. Sprinkle each stuffed squash with about 1/4 cup of the Monterey Jack cheese and place in the oven for 15 minutes or until the cheese begins to melt.
Serve warm with red pepper hummus or a side salad.

Yield: 4 servings

Giada's Spicy Baked Macaroni

Ingredients
Salt
1 pound elbow macaroni pasta
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 pound assorted mushrooms, quartered
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed and drained of excess liquid
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cups bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus 1/3 cup
1/4 cup Romano, plus 1/3 cup
2 tablespoons butter, softened, plus 2 tablespoons
12 ounces mozzarella cubed (about 2 cups)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, onion, and garlic. Cook until the mushrooms are tender and the onion is golden, about 7 minutes. Add the tomatoes, spinach, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.

In a small bowl, mix together the bread crumbs, 1/4 cup Parmesan, and 1/4 cup Romano. Spread the softened butter in a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish and sprinkle half of the bread crumb mixture inside the dish to coat.

In a large bowl combine the vegetable mixture with the cooked macaroni, cubed mozzarella, the remaining Parmesan and Romano cheeses, and the nutmeg. Spoon into the prepared baking dish, top with the remaining bread crumb mixture, and dot the top with the remaining butter. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 to 40 minutes.

Jen's Notes: I made this this afternoon since I had most of the ingredient on hand (except the mushrooms-- I added yellow beans instead). Its very yummy, though not very spicy. I might add more crushed red pepper next time or even chop up some fresh hot pepper. I also used freshed tomatoes since I had those on hand. Very yummy!

Crock Pot Risotto

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup uncooked Arborio rice

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup white wine

3 3/4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

1 t dried onion flakes (I use finely chopped onion)

5 cloves chopped garlic

1 t kosher salt

1/4 t black pepper

2/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese (to add at the very end)

The Directions.

Toss the uncooked Arborio rice with the olive oil in your crockpot stoneware. Add the seasonings, onion and garlic. Pour in the broth and white wine, stir to mix flavors.

Cover and cook on high for 2 hours, or until the rice is tender. It took 2.5 hours for me.

Stir in the shredded or grated cheese and leave uncovered for about 15 minutes to let a bit of the moisture escape

Jen's Notes: It will be very porridge like, so its not quite as attractive as you might like for a big night of entertaining but it tastes just as delicious! Enjoy!

The Pampered Chef Bread Bowl Artichoke Dip Recipe

Ingredients

2 16 oz (450 g) sourdough bread rounds (about 6-in./15-cm diameter), divided

Vegetable oil

4 oz (125 g) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup (125 mL) milk

1 can (14 oz or 398 mL) artichoke hearts in water, drained

1 1.4-oz (40-g) envelope or one 1.8-oz (51-g) box (2 envelopes) vegetable soup mix

1 garlic clove, pressed

1 lemon

8 oz (250 g) sour cream

Grated fresh Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Using Color Coated Bread Knife, slice off top of one bread round to create a lid; set lid aside. Carefully remove center of bread round to form a 4 1/2-inch-wide (12-cm) and 2-inch-deep (5-cm) well for dip. Slice center of first and entire second bread round into 1-in. (2.5-cm) cubes. Place bread bowl on center of Large Round Stone with Handles. Arrange bread cubes around bowl; spray with vegetable oil using Kitchen Spritzer.

In Classic Batter Bowl, whisk cream cheese until smooth using Stainless Whisk. Add milk to cream cheese; whisk until smooth. Chop artichokes using Food Chopper. Add artichokes, soup mix and garlic pressed with Garlic Press to batter bowl; mix well using Small Mix 'N Scraper®. Microwave on HIGH 5-7 minutes or until hot (do not boil). Juice lemon using Juicer to measure 2 tbsp (30 mL) juice. Stir juice and sour cream into artichoke mixture; pour into bread bowl.

If desired, grate Parmesan cheese over bread bowl and bread cubes using Rotary Grater. Lean lid against bread bowl. Bake 13-15 minutes or until bread cubes and top of dip are golden brown. Remove from oven; serve immediately.

Yield: 12 servings (about 2 cups/500 mL dip) Nutrients per serving: (about 2 tbsp dip/30 mL and 4 bread cubes): Calories 220, Total Fat 8 g, Saturated Fat 4.5 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Carbohydrate 29 g, Protein 7 g, Sodium 610 mg, Fiber 2 g

Cook's Tip: To soften cream cheese, microwave on HIGH 15-30 seconds or until very soft. Whisk until smooth.

Jen's Note: We made this at my Pampered Chef party last night and it was delicious! :)

Asian Summer Salad

Salad
8 ounces uncooked vermicelli pasta
3/4 cup julienne-cut carrots, 2 inches long
3/4 cup julienne-cut zucchini,
2 inches long
3/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/3 cup sliced green onions with tops
3/4 pound deli roast turkey or chicken breast, cut 1/2 inch thick
(I usually add broccoli or pea pods... you can add any veggie you have on hand, and obviouly skip the meat if you're so inclined).

Dressing
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 T. rice vinegar
3 T. reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 t. sugar
1/8 t. ground red pepper
1 t. finely chopped, peeled fresh gingerroot
1 garlic clove, pressed
Coarsely chopped peanuts or cashews and fresh cilantro (optional)

Intructions:
For salad, break vermicelli into quarters. Cook according to package directions; drain and rinse under cold running water using large Colander. Place vermicelli in large Colander Bowl and set aside.
Using Julienne Peeler, cut carrots and zucchini into julienne strips; cut strips into 2-inch pieces using Chef’s Knife. Chop bell pepper and slice green onions. Cut turkey into thin pieces, 2" long. Add vegetables and turkey to vermicelli.

For dressing, combine oil, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar and ground red pepper in Small Batter Bowl. Peel gingerroot; finely chop (or press in garlic press). Add gingerroot and garlic pressed with Garlic Press to batter bowl. Mix well using Stainless Steel Whisk. Pour dressing over salad; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour to allow flavors to blend. Spoon salad into serving bowl. Garnish with chopped peanuts and cilantro, if desired.

Yield: 6 servings
Cook’s Tips: This salad can be prepared up to 1 day in advance.

Per serving: (1 2/3 cups): Cal: 300, Fat 11 g, Sat. Fat 1.5 g, Chol: 25 mg, Carb: 35 g, Pro: 16 g, Sod: 980 mg, Fiber 2 g

*This is my all-time favorite Pampered Chef Recipe. Its great for a party, picnic or cookout because its better the longer it sits and marinates.

Crockpot Risotto

--1 1/4 cup uncooked Arborio rice

--1/4 cup olive oil

--1/4 cup white wine

--3 3/4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

--1 t dried onion flakes

--5 cloves chopped garlic (I don't use this much)

--1 t kosher salt

--1/4 t black pepper

--2/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese (to add at the very end)

The Directions

Toss the uncooked Arborio rice with the olive oil in your crockpot stoneware--add the seasonings and garlic--pour in the broth and white wine--stir to mix flavors--cover and cook on high for 2 hours, or until the rice is tender.

It took 2.5 hours for me.--stir in the shredded cheese and leave uncovered for about 15 minutes to let a bit of the moisture escape

Recipe from A Year of Crockpotting

--Note: You can also use Vegetable Broth instead of Chicken Broth. This is a great winter recipe!

Roasted Lemon Balm Chicken

Ingredients:
Handful of fresh lemon balm leaves
stems removed 1/4 cup or so of fresh sage leaves
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 large roasting chicken
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 400°.

Trim herb leaves from stems; wash and pat dry. Set sprigs aside. Chop two-thirds of the leaves, and combine with the butter, salt, and pepper.

Rinse chicken and pat dry. Loosen the skin in several places and insert the herb butter underneath. Rub chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Insert the remaining herb sprigs into the cavity of the chicken. Place breast-side-down in a roasting pan.

Bake 30 minutes, then turn chicken over. Bake about 20 minutes longer. Makes 4 to 6 servings

Emeril's Korean Scallion and Mushroom Pancakes

Emeril's Korean Scallion and Mushroom Pancakes

Ingredients
For the sauce:
3 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
2 teaspoons lightly toasted sesame seeds
½ teaspoon sugar

For the pancakes:
9 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 bunch scallions, trimmed, quartered lengthwise, and cut into 2 inch lengths
4 ounces assorted wild mushrooms, chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups all purpose flour
1 ½ cups water
2 eggs

Make the sauce by combining the soy sauce, vinegar, honey, chili garlic sauce, sesame seeds and sugar in a small bowl, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside while you make the pancakes.

In a medium sauté pan over medium high heat, add 1 teaspoon of the vegetable oil. Next, add the scallions, mushrooms and garlic and sauté until the mushrooms begin to wilt, about 3 minutes. Set aside and let cool.

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, water, and eggs and mix gently until just combined. Add the cooked scallions, mushrooms, garlic, and salt and fold together briefly just to combine.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and, when hot, coat with 2 teaspoons of the vegetable oil. Add ½ of the pancake batter and use a spoon to spread into a 6 to 8-inch circle, trying to get the filling ingredients as evenly spread out as possible. Cook the pancake about 4 minutes. Once the pancake has begun to set and is golden brown on the bottom, flip the pancake to the other side, pressing with a spatula to compress ingredients. Cook until golden brown on the second side, about 2 minutes longer, transfer to a warm plate and cover loosely with foil to keep warm while you prepare the remaining pancakes.

Once all of the pancakes have been cooked, cut into wedges and serve warm with the dipping sauce in small bowls for dipping.

Yield: 4 large pancakes, 8 to 10 appetizer servings

Emeril's Cabbage Lo Mein

Emeril's Cabbage Lo Mein

Ingredients:
12 ounces Chinese egg noodles
1 cup chicken stock
¼ cup orange juice
3 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
*optional 2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced green onion
2 teaspoons minced ginger
12 cups baby bok choy, Napa cabbage, savoy cabbage or any mixed hearty greens, julienned
2 cups snow peas, cut in ½ on a bias
1 cup bean sprouts
½ cup crushed peanuts, for garnish

Method:
In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the noodles according to the package directions until barely tender and drain.

In a small bowl, combine the chicken stock, orange juice, oyster sauce, soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil and chili garlic sauce.

Heat a large high sided sauté pan over medium high heat, when hot add the peanut oil, garlic, green onion and ginger and sauté until fragrant, one minute. Add the bok choy, snow peas and bean sprouts and cook until the greens are crisp tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the sauce and the noodles to the pan and toss to thoroughly coat.
Sprinkle with the crushed peanuts and serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings

Emeril's Mongolian Style BBQ

Emeril's Mongolian Style BBQ

Ingredients:
For the base marinade:
3 tablespoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons minced ginger
½ cup sake
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
3 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
2 tablespoons mirin
¼ cup hoisin sauce
1 bunch scallions, green and white parts chopped

For the pork: 1 pound pork loin, sliced thinly on the bias 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper 2 limes, juiced
For the chicken:1 cup orange juice 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
For the vegetables:2 zucchinis, thinly sliced 2 summer squash, thinly sliced
For serving:1 head red leaf lettuce, washed and separated into leaves 1 cup mung bean sprouts Kimchi Steamed short grain sticky rice

First, make the base marinade by whisking all of the sauce ingredients together in a large, non-reactive bowl. Once it's combined well, separate the sauce into three containers, which will be for the pork, chicken and veggies.

For the pork marinade, add the crushed red pepper and lime juice to the marinade in the first container and then add the pork loin, turning the pieces to coat. Cove the container and marinate for 1 to 2 hours.

For the chicken, add the orange juice to the base marinade in the second container and add the chicken, turning to coat. Cover the container and marinate for 1 to 2 hours.

For the veggies, simply add the zucchini and summer squash to the base marinade in the last container and toss to coat. Cover the container and marinate for 1 to 2 hours.

Heat a griddle to medium high and when hot brush with 1 tablespoon peanut oil. Remove the vegetables from the marinade and lay them on the griddle. Cook the vegetables until just tender and move to the cooler side of the griddle. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the reserved sauce to the vegetables, when bubbly remove the vegetables and transfer to a serving platter. Keep warm in the oven while cooking the meats.

Add the remaining tablespoon of peanut oil to the griddle. Remove the pork and chicken from their marinades. When the griddle is hot add the chicken on one side of the griddle and the pork on the other. Do not over crowd the griddle, if necessary cook in batches. Cook the pork for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Cook the chicken for 8 minutes per side, or until an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast reads 170 degrees.

Transfer the cooked meat to the warm serving platter with vegetables.

This meal is best served family style, with the lettuce leaves, bean sprouts, kimchi, and sticky rice alongside the warm platter of meat and vegetables.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings