Tomato Soup

Cookbook The Pioneer Woman Cooks Dinnertime.

www.thepioneerwoman.com

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, grated
1 medium onion, finely diced
3 large carrots, finely diced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
Three 28-ounce cans whole tomatoes
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons chopped basil, plus leaves for garnish
Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

In a big ol' pot, melt the butter in the olive oil over medium-high heat.
Then, add the garlic, onion and carrots.
Stir the veggies around and cook 'em for 5 minutes or so, until they start to soften.
Add the tomato paste and stir it into the veggies, letting it cook and release its flavors for a couple of minutes.
Next, add 1 cup water along with the broth.
Add the tomatoes. Stir the mixture around, bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
Blend the tomato soup or use an immersion blender and puree it about halfway. Be careful when you blend hot soup in the regular blender.
To soften the tomato flavor a bit, add the cream.
Then stir the soup and let it cook for a few minutes more.
Finally, sprinkle in some chopped parsley and basil along with some salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 12 servings

Judy's Poppy Seed Cake

Recipe courtesy of Judy Smith

1 box yellow cake mix
1 1/2 small boxes instant butterscotch pudding
1/2 cup salad oil
1 cup warm water
4 eggs
1/4-1/3 cup poppy seed

Mix all the ingredients and beat at medium speed for 3 minutes. Pour into a well-greased and floured Bundt cake pan.

Bake at 350 F for 50 to 60 minutes. Do not overbake.

Ham and veggie Alfredo Bow-tie pasta

Alfredo Sauce:

1/4 cup butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup Mozzarella cheese
Salt if needed
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Optional:

1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Melt the butter in a big saucepan on low heat. Add the garlic and cook slowly stirring often. Do not let the garlic burn.

Add the cream and cook at medium-low until it thickens a bit, about 6-8 minutes stirring constantly. Do not let it boil or it will curdle. Add the cheeses and combine well. Season with salt and pepper if needed.

Stir in:

1/2 lb cooked hot pasta a little undercooked (it could be penne, bow-tie, linguine, fettuccine etc, etc, etc)
2 cups chopped fully cooked ham (or you can add cooked shrimp or chicken)
2 cups steamed or cook and tender mixed veggies

Add the meat, pasta and veggies to the pot with Alfredo sauce and combine well. Keep cooking on low and stirring.

Serve immediately.

Healthier Version of No Bake Chocolate Cookies

2 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 cup smooth or chunky peanut butter
21/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2-1 cup slivered almonds, toasted

In a medium saucepan combine coconut oil, peanut butter, honey, chocolate chips and cocoa powder. Once everything is melted and smooth. Let boil for about 1 minute on low temperature and add vanilla stirring constantly. Immediately, stir in the coconut, oats and almonds if using. Combine well.
Drop tablespoonfuls onto a tray lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Place in the fridge to set.

Randy's Favorite Glaze for Ham

Glaze:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 heaping tablespoons honey
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Slices of fully-cooked ham ( I like to buy spiral ham)

Put all the ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat up to combine them well letting the honey dissolve.

Place ham slices in a 13 x 9-inch baking pan making sure you add some glaze in between layers. The pan has to be almost full of ham. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 350 F for 45-50 minutes.

Remove from the oven and baste the slices with the juices.

Michele's Chicken Noodle Soup

1 lb chicken breast
1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of chicken
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

Cook on Low for 3 hours. Remove and shred. Do not discard the cream of chicken.

1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
2 sticks celery
7 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
2 1/2 cups eggs noodles
Black pepper to taste

My additional ingredient:

1 tablespoon flour dissolved in 2 tablespoons cold water to thick the soup a little bit at the end.


In a medium-size pot, add the low-sodium chicken broth, celery and carrots. Let boil, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the shredded chicken and the cream where it cooked. Stir in the noodles and cook on medium-low, covered until tender. Finally, add the flour dissolved in 2 tablespoons cold water and stir constantly until the soup thicken a little bit. Add some black pepper to taste and salt if needed. Stir in the parsley flakes.

Makes 4 servings

Pumpkin Bread

Dry ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon ginger

Wet ingredients:

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips to mix in the batter

1/2 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips for sprinkling on top of both loaves

Mix dry ingredients in a medium-size bowl. Combine wet ingredients in a big bowl.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones mixing well. Stir in chocolate chips.

Butter and flour 2 9 x 5-inch loaf pans. Divide the batter among the pans and sprinkle with the 1/2 cup chocolate chips.

Bake in a preheated 350 F for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of each loaf comes out clean.

Place the baking pans in a wire rack and cool almost completely. Invert onto a platter trying not to touch the top of the loaves.

Makes 14 servings