Future Posts

I have so many blog-worthy events that I don't even know where to start. I'm looking forward to writing more pretty soon. Some of the topics involve:

Being a Grandmother.
My job situation.
Up north Michigan.
COVID lessons.

... and so much more!

Stay tuned shortly.
xoxo

Bruchetta

Bruchetta

Cherry tomatoes
Fresh Basil
Fresh Garlic (TONS)
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar (Good quality)

Turkey/Vegetable Chili (BEST)

Ingredients:

3- 15 oz. cans of tomato SAUCE (not puree or diced)
1 can of black beans (rinsed)
1 red or yellow onion (whole if medium size or half of large)
3 stalks celery
1 large sweet potato
1 pound ground turkey (or beef)
3 bell peppers (red, orange and yellow)
3 cloves resh garlic
olive oil
4 Tablespoons of chili powder (a variety of brands/kinds is good)

Cook the onion & garlic in olive oil until translucent. While the onion is cooking, chop the celery and sweet potato. Add ground turkey. Once meat is cooked, add the tomato sauce and ONE can of water. Then add the chopped celery and sweet potato. Add the black beans. Cover and cook over low heat for 30 minutes. Then chop the 3 bell peppers. Once the 30 minutes is up, add the peppers and cook for 10 more minutes. Done!

Serve with cornbread!  Delicious!!

Spicy Black Bean Soup

1- 1/2 cup black beans
1 Tablespoon dried onion
2 Tablespoons cumin
1 teaspoon celery seed
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 veggie bouillon cube
1 chile pepper (optional)
6 cups water

Remove wrapper from bouillon cube and add it, plus all remaining ingredients to 6 cups of water into a sauce pan. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to low and simmer until the beans are tender and the soup is thick, about 90 minutes, adding more water as necessary to soften the beans. Remove and discard the chile pepper and bay leaves before serving. Season to taste.

From Heidi A.

I haven't tried this yet, but my friend Heidi said it is easy and good!

Coconut Curry Soup

2/3 cup orange (or red) lentils
2/3 cup green lentils
1 Tablespoon curry powder
1 Tablespoon dried chopped onions
1 Tablespoon dried minced garlic
2 veggie bouillon cubes
4 cups water
14- ounce can of full fat coconut milk
1 chile pepper or 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Remove wrapper from bouillon cubes and add them, plus all remaining ingredients to 4 cups water and 14- ounce coconut milk. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to low, simmer until the lentils are tender about 20 minutes. Remove and discard chile pepper before serving. Season to taste.


From Heidi A.

:)

Italian Barley Soup

1 cup pearled barley
1/2 cup sundried tomatoes
1 Tablespoon dried chopped onions
1 Tablespoon dried minced garlic
2 Tablespoons dried basil
1 Tablespoon dried oregano
1 Tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 veggie bouillon cube
4 cups water
1 14-oz can diced tomatoes

Remove wrapper from bouillon  cube and add it plus all remaining ingredients to 4 cups water and 14 ounce can of diced tomatoes in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to low, simmer until barley is tender about 20 minutes. Serve topped with Parmesan cheese. Season to taste.

From Heidi A.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Meghan made these excellent chocolate chip cookies when we were in Culver City for Thanksgiving 2018. I made them for our neighbor, Sharon on the heels of a red-eye and I quickly learned the importance of mixing the dry ingredients before adding the sugar, egg mixture. ;)

This Is Us 2018

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter (melted over medium heat. Whisk butter and remove from heat as soon as butter begins to brown. Set aside and let cool for a few minutes) --> this is key!


Sugar Mixture:
1-1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks

Dry Ingredients:
2- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (plus more for sprinkling on top)


Beat the butter and sugars until thoroughly blended, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg yolk, yolk and vanilla until combined. -->add the dry ingredients slowly and beat on low-speed just until combined. Add the chocolate chips.

If you can, chill the dough for 1 hour.

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

Make your dough balls and sprinkle w/sea salt flakes. Bake at 350 for 7-10 minutes. You want the cookies to look under baked in the center, but lightly browned around the outside.

**If you want crispy on the outside, and soft and chewy on the inside, then refrigerate dough balls for 24-48 hours before baking, and make sure to bring to room temp before putting in the oven.

Oatmeal (Prep)

Breakfast Idea from a patient In glass tupperware layer: 1/4 c. rolled oats (not instant) blueberries drizzle with honey cinnamon 1/4 c. rolled oats other berries (raspberries) drizzle with honey cinnamon 1/2 c. unsweetened vanilla almond milk or coconut milk Cover and keep in fridge. Make a week's worth and bring out each morning. Uncovered and cook in microwave for 1 minute 10 seconds.

Meghan's Salad

Arugula -5 oz.
Feta -4 oz. crumbled
Shallot -1 sm. thinly sliced
Quinoa -1 1/2 cup
White Beans -15 oz. can cannelloni  drained, rinsed.
Dill -3 T. fresh chopped
Kosher Salt -1 teaspoon
Black Pepper -3/4 teaspoon
Olive Oil -1/4 cup
White Vinegar -1/4 cup

Mix everything together and marinate. Fold in the Feta and Arugula at the end. Garnish with the dill.

Can't wait to try it tonight with her lamb/turkey meatballs!

Recipe compliments of Meghan, while living in Culver City.

Kristen, Dani, Meghan, Sarah, Ali, Megan

Meghan's Lamb (or Turkey) Meatballs

1 pound ground lamb (or turkey)

1/2 cup golden raisins

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1 large egg, beaten

Scallions (white and light green parts), sliced. Approx ½ bunch.

1 bunch of mint leaves

 

1.    Place an oven rack in the second-highest position and heat broiler 

2.    Combine the lamb, raisins, cinnamon, salt, pepper, bread crumbs, egg, and the scallions in a large bowl (you can add other spices too if you want such as cumin, all spice or a little cayanne)

3.    Shape into golf ball-size meatballs and place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Broil, turning once, until cooked through ( approx 10 min)

4.    Serve with tzatziki sauce, mint leaves and pita bread

I haven't made it yet, but it sounds delicious and I'm trying it tonight!

p.s. She's a wife now, as of 9/23/17 

Angie, 55 Meghan & Matt, 32

Chocolate Summer Dessert (Easy) :)

Best Chocolate Summer Dessert

Layer 9 x 13

Ice Cream Sandwiches
Cool Whip
Chocolate Fudge Sauce
Caramel Sauce
Heath Bar Bits

Freeze. Leave in Freezer for company that stops by.
Had it at The Carlson's spontaneous Summer Pool Party!