Minestrone Soup

Minestrone Soup

It's getting to be that time of the year that I enjoy a good bowl of soup.  I love Casa Mia's Minestrone Soup and I know that there wasn't much to it so thought I would try this one out.  Even better this is a crock pot meal.

1/2 lb cubed chuck steak

1 can diced Italian tomatoes

1/2 can beans (I used red beans)

2 carrots diced

2 zucchini diced

1/4 onion diced

1/3 lb noodles (I used shells)

1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning

5 beef bouillon cubes

4 cups water

This is going to be really basic.  Drain water from beans.  Add everything EXCEPT zucchini and noodles to crock pot.  Set on low for 7 hours.  After 7 hours add zucchini and noodles.  Let cook for another hour or so until noodles are soft.  Serve and enjoy.  Casa Mia adds a dollop of pesto when serving.

Oatmeal cookies

Oatmeal Apple Cookies

Since I work at Toyota of Tri-Cities now I have to smell fresh baked cookies most of the day from our Loyalty Lounge, so I broke down and decided to make some oatmeal cookies... Well I didn't bother checking to see if we had enough oats left.  So here is the recipe that I used and wow did they come out epic.

3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla 
1 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon 
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup rolled oats
2 packages apple cinnamon instant oatmeal
1 cup raisin (optional)

Preheat oven to 375.  Cream butter with both white and brown sugars.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  In a separate bowl mix flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon.  Mix 1/3 at a time the dry ingredients in to the butter and sugar mix.  When this mixture is smooth add in the oats, instant oatmeal, and raisins.  Drop tablespoon size amounts on a cookie sheet and cook 8-10 minutes.  Let sit on cooling rack and then enjoy (with milk).

Jambalaya

Jambalaya

Been a while since I have posted anything but I had to post this one.

1/2 onion

2 celery stocks

1/2 red bell pepper

1 tsp garlic

1 lb andouille sausage

1 large pork chop

3 boneless skinless chicken thighs

1 bottle beer (I used a hefeweizen)

2 cups chicken stock

1 can stewed tomatoes 

1 can kidney beans

3 tbsp butter

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp paprika 

1 tbsp italian seasoning

Chop onion, celery, garlic, and red bell pepper and sweat in pot with butter.  Add chicken, sausage, and pork to pot and cook for 10 minutes.  Add beer, stewed tomatoes, and seasonings and let stew for 45 minutes.  Rinse rice and add to pot with chicken stock.  Bring to a boil and let simmer covered for about 20 minutes stirring a couple times.  After rice is cooked uncover to let cool and fluff rice.

We has some honey biscuits with it to offset the heat and it was amazing.