Sunday, February 3, 2013

Blueberry Crisp

You will love this dessert.  Easy and satisfying!

Ingredients

Cooking spray

For the filling:
4 teaspoons cornstarch, divided
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound fresh or frozen blueberries

For the crumble:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats
3 tablespoons walnuts
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces

Directions
Preheat the oven to 375.  Coat an 8 inch square glass or ceramic baking dish with cooking spray.  Sprinkle 2 teaspoons cornstarch evenly in the dish.

Combine remaining 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, vanilla, and blueberries in a large bowl, toss. Place in prepared dish. 

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup.  Combine flour and next 6 ingredients in the bowl of a food processor; pulse twice to combine.  Add butter; pulse 5 times or until the mixture resembles coarse meal.  Spoon topping evenly over blueberries, packing down lightly.  Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.  Serve with Cool Whip or ice cream.

Pork Tenderloin Posole with Bottom of the Bowl Nacho Surprise


Excellent!

Ingredients

  • 8 green New Mexico chile peppers or 6 poblano or Anaheim peppers
  • 3 tablespoons EVOO
  • 2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 4 to 5 tomatillos, husked, rinsed and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano, lightly crushed
  • 6 cups chicken stock
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 cans white or yellow hominy, drained
  • Tortilla chips, for serving
  • 2 cups shredded asadero or Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 ripe avocado, pitted, peeled and diced
  • Lime wedges, for serving
  • Fresh cilantro leaves, torn, for serving

Directions

Heat the broiler. Broil the chile peppers, turning occasionally with tongs and leaving the oven door ajar to allow steam to escape, until the skins are blackened all over. Transfer to a bowl, cover and let cool.  Peel, seed and chop the 6 chiles.
Meanwhile, heat the EVOO in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot. Add the pork and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until browned and the edges are crisp. Remove the pork to a plate and add the garlic, celery and onions. Cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatillos, coriander, cumin and oregano and season with salt and pepper; cook for 5 minutes more. Stir in the stock, honey, hominy and roasted chiles. Transfer half the soup to a food processor and puree until smooth. Return the puree to the pot along with the pork and simmer at a low bubble until the pork is tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Spread the tortilla chips on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until browned and very crisp. Pile a handful of chips in each of 6 shallow bowls and top with the cheese, avocado and a squeeze of lime. Top with the posole and sprinkle with cilantro. Serve immediately.
Cook's Note: The soup can be covered and refrigerated for a make-ahead meal. Reheat over medium heat, partially covered.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Vegetable Cheese Chowder


This one is a keeper!!

INGREDIENTS:

32 oz chicken broth
2 cups water
1 bunch broccoli, finely chopped
2 medium Idaho potatoes, finely chopped
2 celery stick, finely chopped 
1 small onion, shredded or finely diced
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups regular milk
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup water
2/3 cup milk
flour and water, one part flour to two parts water to thicken

DIRECTIONS:

Combine chicken broth and water in a large soup pot and add diced vegetables.  Simmer until the vegetables are tender.  Add milk.

Combine 1/2 cup flour with one cup water in a separate bowl and mix well with a whisk until all lumps are gone.  Stir in flour and water mixture into vegetable broth mixture until bubbly.  You may continue to thicken as needed.

When it has thickened to your liking, cook and stir one minute more to completely cook flour then simmer 15-20 minutes longer.  Add two cups shredded cheddar cheese.  Simmer until cheese melts.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Cheese Chilies Cornbread



Nothing goes better with chili!


Ingredients

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
1/4 cup melted butter, cooled
1 cup cornmeal
1 tsp. each salt and baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup grated Monterrey Jack or cheddar cheese
1 cup canned cream style corn
1/4 cup minced green onion
1 can diced green chilies

Directions:

Beat ingredients together.  Place in greased 10" cake pan or heavy 10" skillet.  Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Roasted Tomato Soup


Tasty!!  Thanks for sharing, Karen!

Ingredients

  • 1 (14-ounce) can chopped tomatoes
  • 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 1 small carrot, diced
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Strain the chopped canned tomatoes, reserving the juices, and spread onto a baking sheet, season with salt and pepper, to taste, drizzle with 1/4 cup of the olive oil and roast until caramelized, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a saucepan, heat remaining olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the celery, carrot, onion and garlic, cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the roasted chopped canned tomatoes, reserved tomato juices, chicken broth, bay leaf and butter. Simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add basil and cream, if using. Puree with a hand held immersion blender until smooth.
You might want to double or triple this recipe.  This recipe only makes about 2-3 servings.

Recipe courtesy of Michael Chiarello (Food Network)

Tilapia Escabeche

You will LOVE this!!  Easy, tasty and good for you too!



Ingredients:

2 lemons
4 skinless tilapia fillets
2 different colored bell peppers, cut into 2-inch strips
3 garlic cloves, cut into thin slivers
1 (16 oz) jar salsa (Best to use:  Amy's Organic Medium Salsa or Frontera Chunky Medium Salsa)
3/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup honey

Directions:

Grate one teaspoon of the zest from one lemon and squeeze 2 tablespoons of juice.  Cut the remaining lemon into 4 slices.  Set aside.

Spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium heat.  Add the fillets and cook until opaque in the center, 2-3 minutes on each side.  Transfer to a plate.

Add the bell peppers and garlic to the skillet; cook, stirring frequently until the bell peppers are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.  Stir in the salsa, orange juice, honey,  and the reserved lemon zest and juice.  Bring to a simmer.  Cook, stirring occasionally until the bell peppers are just tender, about 5 minutes.  Add the fillets and spoon the vegetables and sauce over the top.  Cook until the fillets are heated through, about 2 minutes longer.  Serve at once with lemon wedges.  Serve over brown rice.

Brown Rice:

3 cups water
1 1/2 cups brown rice

Bake in oven at 350 for 1 hour 15 minutes.

Weight Watchers Shortcuts Cookbook

Slow Cooked Chili



Easy and delicious!





Ingredients:


1 lb ground beef
1/2 lb Italian sausage
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 (28 ounce) can undrained whole tomatoes, Cut up
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 -1 1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 (15 ounce) cans undrained mild or spicy chili beans (depends on what you like!)
Directions:


Uncase the Italian Sausage. Mix with beef. Brown in a skillet with the onions. Drain.
Combine all ingredients in crock pot and mix well.
Cover and cook on low settings for 7 to 8 hours or until thoroughly heated and the flavors have melded.
Serve with corn bread, crackers, sour cream, and/or cheese.
Enjoy!
Read more at: http://www.food.com/recipe/slow-cooker-chili-324260?oc=linkback