Cauliflower Cheese Soup (add potatoes)

Without delay, the recipe that inspired mine is right here for your perusal, and you can just go straight there if you want to make it like she tells you to...
http://realhousemoms.com/slow-cooker-cauliflower-cheese-soup

• 1 (32-oz.) box chicken broth
• 1 head cauliflower cut into chunks, green part discarded
• 1 cup diced leeks
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/4 tsp. pepper

Add this at the end

• 3 cups shredded sharp cheese
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• salt to taste

For serving

• 6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• chopped chives
• additional shredded cheese

I'm going to put the recipe into my own words, because usually that increases my chances of ever making it again .... for some reason!

Why didn't anyone tell me that leeks are not only delicious but so beautiful? #firsttimeusingleeks

1. Chop up leeks (like onions), cauliflower, and garlic and put it in the slow cooker with the broth.

mmmmm.... veggies! ;-)
2. Let it cook all day.  On low. :0)

At this point, I added some leftover (pre-cooked) potatoes. Probably a handful or so!

3. Blend using a stick blender- or a regular blender will do!

sidenote>> I was worried/wondering if leeks would be soft enough to blend once cooked for a long time in the slow cooker. Yes, yes they are! :0)

4. After blending, add your milk (or cream), and a handful of cheddar!


YUM-mo.  I actually added about 2 c. of leeks, because I had no idea how powerful their flavor would be.  Now I know! The recipe definitely called for 1 c.! ha.

And... I'm making this again. I think it will be one of my go-to for Fish Friday/Meatless Meals during Lent!!! Just subtract the bacon.

Tuna Sandwich Thyme

We love fish in our house, and being Catholic, I'm always searching for good recipes that fall under the category "Soups, Meatless, Vegetarian, or Fish" for Fish Fridays!!;-)

Here is a recipe for one of our favorites, tuna salad sandwich. 

-hot dog bun, cut in half

-3/4 can tuna fish, drained (1 can can easily make 2 sandwiches*)

-2 celery sticks

-mayonnaise

-thyme or italian seasoning

-dried or fresh minced onion (optional)

-3 diced bread and butter pickles (optional)

-salt (if needed) and pepper (optional)

Combine tuna, diced celery, enough mayonnaise to cover ingredients, onion, and diced pickles in a small bowl.  Stir together until well-combined. Top with your thyme and italian seasoning.

Spoon/spread onto hot dog bun, and enjoy!

For the "High Stakes Tuna Sandwich,"

turn it into a tuna melt. Add grated cheese and still under a broiler set to High for 3 min.

*I like to add more celery if I'm making 2 sandwiches

If you're serving yourself, but want leftovers, make enough for 2

Devil's Food Cake With Oreo Crumbs-Frosting

Devil's Food Cake With Oreo Crumbs-Frosting

1 c. milk
3/4 c. cocoa
1/3 c. white sugar
1 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
3 eggs
1/4 c. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. sifted cake flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat the oven to 350.

Heat milk in a small saucepan until bubbles begin to appear around the edges. Remove from heat.

Mix cocoa and white sugar together in a small bowl and slowly beat in warm milk. Let cool.

Cream the butter with the brown sugar. Beat in the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Add cocoa mixture.

Mix remaining dry ingredients together and gently blend into butter mixture. Do not overheat.

Turn into 2 well-greased and floured 9-in. layer cake pans, and bake for 25-30 mins. until cake shrinks slightly from sides of pan and springs back when touched gently in the center. Cool on a rack for a few minutes, then turn out of pans onto rack.

Wait until completely cool before frosting.

Seven-minute frosting

4 egg whites

1 1/2 c. sugar

3/4 c. water

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1/8 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. Crushed oreos

Combine egg whites, sugar, water, cream of tartar, and salt in top of double boiler. Set over simmering water and beat with an electric mixer for about 5 minutes, until soft peaks are formed. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Keep beating until frosting is stiff enough to spread. Use immediately. This looks like a lot, but use it all; it is enough to fill and frost the cake.

Halve the frosting. With the frosting for the center, fold in half of the crushed oreos.

Use the plain frosting for the outside. When frosted, gently pat handfuls of oreo crumbs around the edges!

Winter Squash Two Ways

According to this blog, I was really into serving squash with roasted red peppers two years ago. Sounds yummy! This year, my big discovery is the addition of feta cheese. So. good. It is gluten free and delicious.

Stuffed Acorn Squash~ Simple!

-Slice into 6-7 pieces
-Spray the pan and the tops of the squash with olive oil (you can buy this with the Pam spray)
-Bake on 375 for 45 min. or until tender
-Add diced dried onion, salt, and pepper
-Add feta cheese
-Broil on hi for 5 minutes or until melted

Stuffed Butternut Squash~ with Cumin

-Slice in half
-Spray the pan and the top of the squash with olive oil
-Bake on 400 for 45-1 hr depending on the size of your squash
-Sprinkle with salt, pepper, cumin, and dried onion
-Add feta cheese
-Broil on hi for 5 minutes

I hope you try this! ;-)

For more squash recipes on this blog, see:

Butternut Squash Casserole

Creamy Ginger Butternut Squash Soup

Shrimp Scampi over Spaghetti Squash

For the Shrimp:

-1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

-1 tbsp. pure olive oil

-2 tbsp. garlic, finely chopped

-1 1/2 c. dry white wine 

-scant 1/4 c. lemon juice

-1 tsp. italian seasoning

-1/2 c. softened butter

-1/2 c. parmesan cheese

instructions:

1. heat skillet and add olive oil

2. add shrimp and cook until tender and no longer translucent, reduce heat. Remove shrimp and set aside.

3. add garlic and cook 2-3 min. no more

4. add white wine and lemon juice

5.cook until wine is reduced by half. After reduced, add italian seasoning.

6. reduce heat to low, add butter.

7. add shrimp back to sauce and season with salt and pepper

8.sprinkle with parmesan cheese

to cook the spaghetti squash:

http://eatwithinyourmeans.com/how-to-cook-spaghetti-squash/

Baked Stuffed Green Peppers

via Jodeze Home and Garden

2 green peppers
1 c. brown rice
2 bratwursts, diced
1/2 onion
parmesan
salt and pepper
garlic powder, chili powder, or cumin, if desired

-Cook rice according to package instructions. 
-Cook bratwurst, according to package, and dice.
-Slice off the tops of the green pepper.
-Reserve 1/4 c. diced pepper for filling.
-Soften the onion and green pepper in olive oil.
-Add to rice and brat mixture.
-add seasonings
-Fill the rinsed-out green peppers with rice mixture.
-Dust with Parmesan cheese.
-Bake upright filled peppers on 350 for 25-30 min. or until green peppers are softened but not overcooked.

Serves 2

My Newish Favorite Food: Irish Nachos

photo via handmade & craft

Irish Nachos with Pulled Pork.

It is Southern, it is Irish, it is awesome.

Bake potatoes. Like, make Baked Potatoes

Cut into fourths and scoop out some of the potato, leaving the "skins."

Alternatively: thinly slice potatoes and bake like this recipe (below)

Top with pulled pork, sour cream*, melted cheese, salsa or tomatoes, and green onions (or chives... is that the same thing?). Here is a "real" recipe ;)

-Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
-In a large bowl combine potatoes, olive oil, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir until coated.
-Place potatoes in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. ... 
-Place cooked potatoes in a large oven safe skillet. Top with cheese and bacon or pulled pork (can use leftover pork shoulder from slow cooker). ...
-Sprinkle with green onions.


YUM-O!!!!!

* I have been using Greek yogurt, and I honestly can't tell the difference!!! In taste;)