Crockpot Minnestrone

Cozy Crockpot Minestrone

4 cups chicken broth

1 1/2 cups vegetable juice (like V8)

1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained or 3 medium tomatoes, diced

2 cups fresh spinach

1 cup chopped green onions

1 cup chopped carrots

1 cup chopped celery

1 1/2 cups chopped potatoes

1 can cannellini beans 

1 tsp dry parsley

salt and pepper

1/3 cup dry ditalini pasta or other small pasta noodle (I use more noodles)

Place everything in a crockpot minus the ditalini pasta and stir well to combine.  Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6.  Add ditalini and stir well.  Cover and cook for an additional 20 minutes before serving.  

http://www.smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com/ has some amazing recipes!!  We just made this yesterday, and it was DELICIOUS!

Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad

1 bunch broccoli
a bunch of carrots
1 head cauliflower
1 Tbsp. onion flakes
1lb. Bacon, cut and fried (I just throw in a handful of crumbled bacon you buy for salads)
1 pkg. Snyders bbq or honey mustard pretzels (I think they've discontinued the BBQ ones)
Chop broccoli, Cauliflower, and Carrots into bite sized pieces. Add bacon and onions. Make dressing and add to vegetables.
Dressing
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise (I usually use only one cup)
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/3 cup sugar (I usually use 1/4 cup)
Blend it all together and pour on the veggies. Let it sit for a few hours. Just before serving, add the pretzels.

Strawberry Danish Dessert Cake

1 white cake mix
small package Strawberry Hello, prepared
1 box strawberry Danish Dessert ( or homemade if you feel like it)
1 1/2 C. heavy whipping cream
sugar to taste
Package of  thinly sliced strawberries ( frozen is fine, just defrost them and drain completely before adding to mixture)

Bake the white cake mix, poking holes in the cake with a fork  as soon as you take it out. prepare small box jello. spoon jello all over cake, using about 2/3 of the mixture, discard the rest. let cake cook in fridge. Make Danish Dessert, allow to cool for about an hour. Beat whipping crean until it has peaks, adding sugar to taste. Fold in Danish Dessert with whipped topping. Add strawberries and spread over cake. Can be made the night before use.

One Hour Bread

5 1/4 C. Bread Flour
1/2 T. Salt
1/4 C. Sugar
1 1/2 T Yeast
1 1/2 Soy Lethicin Liquid ( or granules)
2C. Warm Water

Mix together the bread flour, salt, sugar,yeast and soy lethicin in a mixer. Pour in the water while mixing and then keep mixing for about five minutes.

Shape into balls, or if you want twists, roll out dough with your fingers into strands and then coil the dough around itself. DO NOT add ANY flour while shaping into balls. If you need to prevent sticking use coking spray or shortening, not flour. Let the dough rise for 20 minutes and then bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Soy Lethicin Liquid is a bit hard to come by, I think you can get it online. My sister in law got mine for me at the Macy's in Orem. The granules are easier to find, and they work also. Sometime I need to add a little more than 2 C. of water, and let the dough rise a little longer, depending on how warm the kitchen is.

Pear and Walnut Salad

pear and walnut salad

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup glazed walnuts
• 5 cups spring salad mix, cleaned and dried
• 1 pear, thinly sliced
• 1 lemon
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt pepper
• 6 ounces blue cheese crumbles

Directions

Combine spring mix and pear in a salad bowl, add nuts then dress the salad with lemon juice and olive oil, salt and pepper. Top salad with lots of blue cheese crumbles. To check if the pear is ripe, apply pressure with your thumb at the top of the pear by the stem. If your thumb leaves an indent, it is ripe.

Russian Borsh

2 Medium Beets (matchstick)
2 Medium Carrots (matchstick)
1 large Onion (diced)
3 Cloves Garlic (minced)
1/2 Cup Tomato Paste
2 tsp. Salt
Pour some oil onto a frying pan (maybe 1/4 cup) and fry the beets, carrots, onion, and garlic. I just add water, instead of more oil, as I go because it needs a bit of liquid to soften them up. When they are no longer crunchy, add the salt and tomato paste and cook a little more. It will be really thick. And you might want to add 1tbsp. of sugar or so to take the bite out of the tomato paste.

In a bot with 2 liters of water add:
3 Large Potatoes (chopped)
1/2 a small cabbage (chopped)
3 bouillon cubes
2 Bay Leaves
Any kind of meat (Pork is the best and they love it really fatty- but I don't)
(You can also add roasted red pepper, white beans, or whatever would make it tastier for you)
Boil all of these things together and when it's soft, add the Beet mixture and let the flavors blend together. Salt and Pepper to taste.
The Russians like to add fresh dill on top, but I don't like it. I ALWAYS eat it with a dollop of sour cream. It is an acquired taste, but so delicious!

 

Thai Cashew Chicken ผัดเม็ดมะม่วงหิมพานต์ใส่ไก่

Ingredients: 2 T oil (vegetable, coconut, sesame, etc.) 1-2 T garlic - crushed 10 oz chicken breast - cubed to bite size 1 large or 2 small onions - sliced to bite size 1-2 large red chillies - sliced (unseeded for more heat; bell peppers can substitute) 1/3 cup water or chicken stock (I usually don't even use any) 2 T oyster sauce 1 T soy sauce 1 T fish sauce 1 T palm sugar (brown can substitute) 4 spring onions - sliced to 1½-inch segments 1-2 cups cashews (your preference- salted/unsalted, toasted, fried) Heat up your wok or a large/deep pan to med/high. Add oil. When oil is hot add garlic. When garlic starts to brown add chicken. Stir for 1-2 min then add onions and chilies. Stir for 2 more min. Add oyster, soy, and fish sauce, and sugar, then stir. Add water as needed. When chicken is thoroughly cooked and onions are slightly soft add spring onions and cashews. Stir briefly then turn off heat. Serve over white jasmine rice.