Quinoa Tabbouleh

Serves 8 to 10

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1/2 medium red onion, chopped (3/4 cup) (I used green onions)
• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped (2 cups)
• 1 1/2 to 2 cups minced parsley (1 large bunch)
• 1/2 cup minced mint (1 small bunch)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice, plus extra to taste
• Salt and pepper
• 8 ounces feta, optional

Rinse the quinoa under cool water, then combine with 2 cups of water and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a rapid simmer, then turn down the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until the quinoa is fluffy and chewy, about 20 minutes.

While the quinoa is cooking, soak the onion in a bowl of cold water. This softens its bite and makes it more pleasant to eat when raw.

Empty the cooked quinoa into a large bowl and allow it to cool almost to room temperature. The quinoa should feel just barely warm to the touch. You can speed this process by spreading the quinoa into a thin layer and stirring it occasionally.

Drain the red onions. Stir the onions, tomatoes, parsley, mint, and garlic into the warm quinoa. Whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Pour this over the salad and stir to combine. If using, crumble the feta over the salad and stir it in. Taste a spoonful of the salad and add more salt or pepper to taste.

Serve room temperature or cold. This salad is even better the next day, once the flavors have had a chance to mingle. Serve it on its own as a side dish or with wedges of pita bread as a light appetizer. (Makes 8 cups.)

I got to use so many fresh ingredients in this recipe.  My garden had an abundance of parsley, mint, garlic and green onions.

Adapted from: www.thekitchn.com

Healthy Banana Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients 1 ½ cup uncooked old fashioned oats 1/3 cup coconut flour ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp baking soda Pinch sea salt 3 Bananas, very ripe, mashed 1/3 cup Greek yogurt (I used regular whole milk yogurt) 1/3 cup sweetner (honey, maple syrup, or Splenda granulated) 2 eggs ½ tsp vanilla extract Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a small bowl stir to combine oats, coconut flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, mix on medium of electric mixer, mashed banana, Greek yogurt and sweetner, then add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Stir dry and wet ingredients to combine.  Pour mixture into 8×8 baking pan, coated with cooking spray or butter or coconut oil.  Bake for 18-22 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool at least 10 minutes then cut into 16 bars. Yield: 16 bars 1 Weight Watchers Smart Points, if use fat-free or low-fat Greek yogurt and Splenda, granulated for sweetener. +1 WW SP for honey or maple syrup adapted from: http://www.kimtrotto.com/me-happily-ever-after-blog/healthy-banana-oatmeal-bars-1-sp-with-weight-watchers-options#comments

Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings Recipe

Ingredients

1 (2 1⁄2- to 3-lb.) whole chicken

2 celery stalks, roughly chopped (about 1 cup)

2 medium carrots, roughly chopped (about 1 cup)

2 quarts water

2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3 Tablepoons vegetable shortening

water (enough to make into dough)

Chopped fresh chives

 

How to Make It

Step 1
Place chicken, celery, and carrots in a Dutch oven; add water and 2 teaspoons of the salt. Bring to a boil over high; cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until tender, about 1 hour. Remove chicken from broth, and let stand until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Remove and discard skin and bone from chicken, and cut meat into bite-size pieces. Bring broth to a boil over high; stir in pepper.

Step 2
Meanwhile, combine flour, baking powder, and remaining 1⁄2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl; cut in shortening with a pastry blender (or use your fingers) until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add water, stirring with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface, and knead lightly 4 or 5 times.

Step 3
Pat dough to 1⁄2-inch thickness. Pinch off dough in 1 1⁄2-inch pieces, and drop into boiling broth. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until desired consistency is reached, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in chicken. Garnish servings with chives

Adapted from: https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/old-fashioned-chicken-dumplings-recipe

 

Spelt and Rye Soda Bread

This recipe I got from Amy.  It is my daily bread!

• 1 and 1/2 c. spelt flour
• 3/4 c. rye flour
• 1/4 c. apple cider vinegar
• 3/4 c. buttermilk
• 4 Tbs. butter (sometimes 3 Tbs. butter and 1 Tbs. lard)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 T. caraway seed (optional)
• In a large, glass bowl, whisk together the spelt and rye flour. Combine the apple cider vinegar and buttermilk, then add to the flour mix. Stir until moistened. Cover and let sit overnight or for 12-24 hrs. Cut the butter into the flour. Add together the salt and baking soda and knead into the flour several times. Add more flour if dough is sticking to the table, but keep the mix moist. Bake at 350 Fahrenheit for 30-40 min.

 

 

 

Crockpot Pork Chops

INGREDIENTS:
4 pork chops (thick with bone-in is best)
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion , sliced
2 cups mushrooms , sliced
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
3/4 cup beef broth (I prefer low sodium)

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oil over medium-high heat. Season pork with salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder. Brown pork on each side (about 3 minutes each side).
Remove pork, add broth and soup to pan and whisk to release any brown bits in the pan.
Place onion & mushrooms in the bottom of the slow cooker. Top with pork and pour the soup mixture overtop.
Cook on low 7-8 hours or until pork is tender. Serve over rice, potatoes or noodles.

NOTES:
Best choices for this recipe include blade chop, shoulder chop or sirloin chop. Leaner cuts do work but the results are not as tender.

Adapted from: https://www.spendwithpennies.com/crock-pot-pork-chops/

Hummingbird Cake (Muffin) Recipe

Really delicious!   This is an old southern recipe.

I made 24 muffins from the cake batter. Used cupcake papers and baked about 30 minutes.

Ingredients

CAKE LAYERS
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans (I use 2 cups Einkorn flour and 1 cup all purpose flour)

2 cups granulated sugar ( I use only one cup coconut sugar)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 large eggs, beaten

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil (I use 1 cup avocado oil and 1/2 cup applesauce)

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 (8-oz.) can crushed pineapple in juice, undrained (I used fresh frozen pineapple)

2 cups chopped ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)

1 cup chopped pecans, toasted ( I used walnuts)

How to Make It

Step 1
Prepare the Cake Layers: Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk together flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon in a large bowl; add eggs and oil, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in vanilla, pineapple, bananas, and toasted pecans.

Step 2
Divide batter evenly among 3 well-greased (with shortening) and floured 9-inch round cake pans.

Step 3
Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely, about 1 hour.

Step 4
Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer on medium-low speed until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Increase speed to medium-high, and beat until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.

Step 5
Assemble Cake: Place 1 Cake Layer on a serving platter; spread top with 1 cup of the frosting. Top with second layer, and spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with third layer, and spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Arrange pecan halves on top of cake.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
2 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 cup salted butter or margarine, softened 2 (16-oz.) pkg. powdered sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
ADDITIONAL INGREDIENT
3/4 cup pecan halves, toasted

adapted from: https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/hummingbird-cake-recipe

 

 

White Chicken Chili Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

4 cups Chicken broth

4 / 15.5 oz. cans of Great Northern beans drained and rinsed (I used a 1 lb bag of Great Northern beans that I soaked over night)

2 cups shredded chicken (I cooked 3 frozen chicken breasts in the same pot, when I cooked the soaked beans, then took them out and shredded)

1 small can diced green chilies (I use mild)

1 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon oregano

dash of pepper

1 cup sour cream

2 cups of shredded cheese Monterrey Jack or Mexican blend

I added an additional teaspoon of garlic salt and a tablespoon of sugar.

Directions:

In large pot, add broth, beans, chicken, green chilies, cumin, garlic powder, oregano and pepper.  Simmer on low- medium heat for 20-30 minutes or until all heated through.

2. Right before serving, stir in sour cream and cheese until it is all blended and melted.

 

The picture is before adding sour cream and cheese.  I think it is better to add to the individual servings before eating.

A very good friend shared this recipe with me.

 

Macaroni Medley

This is a recipe that I have fixed for many, many years.  My kids grew up eating this macaroni and meat dish.  Some people call it Goulash.  I got the recipe as a free hand out from the little local corner grocery store called Feudo’s in Corpus Christi, Texas.  I hope you enjoy it.  (In the picture, I didn’t have enough elbow macaroni, so I also put Penne pasta.  Any kind of pasta will work, but I prefer elbow.)

Ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef (nowadays, I use ground venison)

8 ounces of elbow macaroni

1 can cream of celery soup (nowadays, I make my own cream soup http://www.afrugalsimplelife.com/2011/09/07/cream-of-whatever-soup-substitute/amp/)

1 can stewed tomatoes

1/4 cup chopped bell peppers ( I usually put a bit more)

1/2 cups chopped onions (I usually put a bit more)

2 teaspoons basil (I used dried from garden)

Salt and pepper to taste

3/4 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:

Cook macaroni, drain.  Sauté onion and bell pepper in 1 Tablespoon olive oil.  Brown ground meat.  Drain.  Add basil, soup, stewed tomatoes, salt & pepper.  Add macaroni.  Top with cheese.  Melt in oven 350 degrees.  (You only need to heat it throughly and melt cheese.  I like to see it bubbling before I pull it out of the oven.)

 

 

Chicken and Rice Soup

Ingredients

• 2 split chicken breasts
• 8 cups cold water
• 1 cup finely diced celery
• 1½ teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 3/4 cup finely diced carrots
• 1/3 cup uncooked white rice
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 1 Tablespoon Chicken base

• Directions

  1. Place chicken, water, celery, salt and black pepper in a 6-quart stockpot.
  2. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Tilt lid to partially cover. Cook 25 minutes.
  3. Add carrots. Cook 20 minutes.
  4. Add rice. Cook 10 minutes.
  5. Add parsley. Turn heat off. Stir.
  6. Remove chicken. Discard skin and bones. Pull chicken meat into bite sized pieces and return chicken meat to stockpot.
  7. Adjust seasonings, to taste. (poultry seasoning and chicken base)
  8. Serve.
  9. Adapted from: 
  10. https://sandersonfarms.com/recipes/chicken-and-rice-soup/?utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=native

Cabbage, Sausage, Potato Soup

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound kielbasa sausage*, sliced into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 medium leeks, sliced into ⅛ inch rounds, white and pale green parts only
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 small green cabbage, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 pound red potatoes, diced
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, homemade or store-bought
• 1 bay leaf
• Kosher salt and freshly-cracked black pepper

• Directions:

  1. Add sausage to a large stockpot and cook over medium-heat for 5-6 minutes, stirring and flipping occasionally, until the sausage is lightly browned.  Use a slotted spoon to transfer the sausage to a separate plate, and set aside.
  2. Add the olive oil, leeks, carrots and celery to the pan, and stir to combine.  Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Then add the cabbage and garlic, and sauté for 4 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Add the stock, potatoes, Italian seasoning, bay leaf, cooked sausage, and stir to combine.  Continue cooking until the soup reaches a simmer.  Then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked and tender.  Taste and season with a few generous pinches of salt and black pepper as needed.  (Also, depending on how seasoned your sausage is, feel free to stir in a extra few teaspoons of Italian seasoning if you think it needs some extra flavor.)
  4. Serve warm.  Or refrigerate in sealed containers for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
  5. *Feel free to use traditional kielbasa sausage, or any kind of smoked pork, chicken, turkey, or vegan sausage that you’d like.  (Bratwurst also works!)
  6. Adapted from: http://www.gimmesomeoven.com