Soup Lady

Roasted Tomato Soup

I love soup, hence the name Soup Lady.  It is a great way to get your veggies and feel like you are not being deprived.  Different ingredients, techniques and add a richness to veggies you don't get from just steaming them.  While this may be healthier, it is not as appetizing or as enticing to me.  I found this recipe on the Food Network and was demonstrated by Tyler.  He is my new favorite chef, I love his technique and recipes.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 pounds fresh tomatoes (mix of fresh, heirlooms, cherry, vine and plum)

6 cloves of garlic, peeled

2 small yellow onions, sliced

1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1 quart chicken stock

1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning blend (I like Litehouse)

1 tablespoon sugar

3/4 cup heavy cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450.

Wash, core and cut the tomatoes into halves.  Spread the tomatoes, garlic and onions onto a baking tray.  Drizzle with the 1/2 cups of olive oil.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Roast for 20 to 30 minutes or until caramelized.

Remove roasted tomatoes from the oven and transfer to a large stock pot.  Add 3/4 of the chicken stock, seasoning and sugar and butter.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.. 

Remove from heat and blend in your blender or you can use an immersion blender if you have one.  Return soup to low heat, add cream and adjust consistency with the remaining chicken stock, if necessary.  Season to taste.

Swedish Meatballs

I really love meatballs.  I decided to try a new version of meatball and decided to try Swedish Meatballs.  During the process I found a new way (for me) of browning the meatballs.  Instead of pan frying them I baked them.  I really liked this way to cook the meatball for several reasons:  less fat, even cooking and browning and easier.

This recipe combines the talents of Alton Brown with the pre-packaged goodness of McCormick Swedish Meatball mix.

Ingredients:

1 package McCormick Swedish Meatball mix

2 slices of fresh white bread

2 cups of milk

3 tablespoons of clarified butter, divided

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

Salt and pepper to taste

3/4 pound ground chuck

3/4 pound ground pork

2 large eggs

1/4 cups of flour

3 cups of beef broth

1/4 cup heavy cream

Directions:

Preheat oven t0 200.

Ground the bread in the food processor until it resembles bread crumbs.  Set aside

In a pan, melt the butter.  Add the onion and a pinch of salt and sweat until the onions are soft.  Remove from the heat and set aside.

Combine the bread to the ground chuck and ground pork, eggs, and salt and pepper to taste.  Add the seasoning portion of the McCormick package to the mixture.  Mix well.

Form meatballs into even portions and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 - 30 minutes until brown and cooked.

In a pan add butter and melt.  Add the flour to the pan and whisk until lightly browned approximately 1 - 2 minutes.  Gradually add the beef stock and whisk until sauce begins to thicken.  Add the cream and continue to cook until the grave reaches the desired consistency. 

Remove the meatballs from the oven and cover with the gravy and serve.

Macaroni and Cheese

Jamie has been craving mac and cheese - to the point he was willing to mix up a pre-packaged boxed version of this amazing comfort food.  I decided to treat him to the real thing. 

Ingredients:

Salt

1 pound elbow macaroni

• 4 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 5 1/2 cups of cheese (see below):

1. 1 cup Velveeta
2. 1 cup Fontina
3. 1 cup Sharp Cheddar
4. 1 cup Swiss
5. 1 cup of Jack
6. 1/2 cup Parmesan

• Fresh ground pepper to taste
• Salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons parsley
• 4 slices of bacon, fried and crumbled
• 1 large onion, diced

Directions:

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.  Add the macaroni and cook for 8 or 9 minutes.  Drain.

Preheat oven to 400.

In a small saucepan heat the milk with the thyme and garlic powder.  Melt the butter in a large deep skillet over medium high heat.  Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Whisk the butter and flour mixture into the milk and whisk vigorously and cook until the mixture is smooth.  Stir in 4 cups of your cheese into the milk mixture, reserving 1 1/2 cups for the top.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Add the cooked macaroni and the parsley and fold into the cheesy mixture.  Scrape into a 3 quart baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.  Bake for 30 minutes.

While that bakes heat a saute pan.  Add the bacon, render the fat and cook until crispy.  Add the onionn and cook for about 5 minutes to soften the onion.

To serve, scatter the bacon mixture over the mac and cheese. 

Small Group Potluck

Jamie and I belong to an awesome church called The Grove.  I hesitate to say it is perfect since nothing really is...but it is PERFECT for Jamie and me.  Jamie is involved with the media group. With my crazy travel schedule I like the fact I can give money to great causes that benefit our local and international community.

We have recently begun participating in a small group headed up by our friends Steve and Laurie.  A fun couple who really love the Lord.  We all get together and bring food to share as we share about each other.  It is a great way to get to know people and feel involved in the church we love.

Tonight, I am bringing Macaroni and Cheese, Swedish Meatballs and Banana Pudding.  YUM, YUM!!!

Trunk or Treat 2009

Our church has a Trunk or Treat each year.  It is a fantastic celebration of the fall season within the confines of our church community.  Literally, thousands of kids show up in their finest costumes.  Cars are lined up and decorated with candy distributed to the waiting princess, fairy, pirate or...

Jumpers, food, helicopters, fire engines are all on display for an added treat!  I look forward each year to the beginning of my favorite time of year...Trunk or Treat, Turkey Day, XMAS, and rolling in the New Year.

Here are some fun shots of the evening...

Jamie and Cindy

Jamie and Deb

Bat Girl

 
Alias...Kailey

 
Hippie Chick

 
Alias...Sammie

Summer and Teacher

 
A Prince and His Princess (Steve and Sam)

 

Killer Chili

This is Jamie's Killer Chili recipe.

Ingredients:

• 6 ounce can of tomato paste
• 15 ounce can pinto beans (Ranch Style)
• 15 ounce can kidney beans
• 15 ounce can chili beans
• 15 ounce can white beans
• 15 ounce can can tomato sauce
• 15 ounce can  petite cut tomatoes
• 1 package Lawrey's taco seasoning
• 1 onion
• 1 - 1/2 pounds ground beef

Directions:

1. Brown meat, add Lawrey's seasoning mix and onion. Add water (according to package directions)
2. Drain juice from kidney, chili and white beans and rinse and add to a stock pot
3. Add Ranch Style beans with juice to stock pot
4. Add petite tomatoes, tomato sauce and paste to stock pot
5. Bring entire contents to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes

Gourmet Group (AB Dick Friends)

When I began my teaching career in Riverside, the salaries were extremely low (i.e. $7,000 per year).  So in order to pay my bills and try to get ahead in life, I took a second job as a waiter at a restaurant called "Aesops".  This was an up-scale place that specialized in steaks and seafood.  I would work during the week as a public school teacher and on Wednesday thru Sunday evenings I worked as a waiter at Aesop's.  I made pretty good money doing both but in the end I had virtually no time to be with my family.  As a waiter you sometimes impress your customers to the point where they ask to be seated in your section upon future visits. This happened to me shortly after I was hired at the restaurant.  

There was this one guy who came in frequently with his wife and they always asked to be seated in my section (if I was on-shift). The guy's name was Louis J. Michelli and he loved my service and enthusiasm for the job.  During one of his visits he asked if I wanted a better job than "just" being a waiter.  I told him "no thanks" that I already had a good job.  I explained  to him that I had gone to college for a teaching credential and that I was a sixth grade teacher in Riverside.  So he lights up a big fat cigar; pulls out one of his business cards and slides it over me and says, "Give me a call and I'll help you make twice the money you're making now".  So I looked at his card (which said: "Branch Manager, AB Dick Co." and I filled his wine glass.  I then turned his card over and wrote my own phone number on the backside. I then slid it back at him and said,"No, you call me when the booze wears off and maybe we'll talk."  He looks at his wife and said, "That's the kind of guy I'm looking for!"

To make a long story short, Michelli did call me after all and offered me a job.  After considerable thought I resigned my position as a teacher and took his job offer.  I doubled my teaching salary in the first nine months but more importantly I met some wonderful people there and developed many "life-long" friendships with these people.  Many of us still get together socially at least once a year.  Last night we met again at a restaurant called Napoli's in Redlands.  We talked and laughed about old times together and had a wonderful meal too.  It was great to see my old friends.    

 

Harley

Jamie and I have a four legged child named Harley.  He can talk to us in his own way.  He verbalizes, looks at you, sighs, cries and nudges you.  His language of love is goodies, babies and being the first to lay on Saturday bed.  Here are some pics of our baby boy...

 

Roar and Snore

I have always wanted to go on a safari to Africa.  Well, Wild Animal Park offers an adventure called Roar and Snore.  You sleep in tents and are exposed to all the sounds of nature.  Including the guy who kept me all night snoring away and the lions rumbling around 4:00 am.  The program is aptly named.

You take behind the scenes tours and can even travel the park on a segway.  A real treat and much closer than traveling to Africa. 

Deb

Jamie

 

Rhino

Call of the Wild

Giraffe

The King

The Tents

 

The Huntress

Elegant Beauty

Cheetah Stretch

Bad Hair Day

 

Peeker

Ali the Aligator

Eggsactly...

The End...

 

LA Phil, Kids and Grand Kids - Carnival of Music

Jamie and I love adventures with the grand kids where we can introduce them to new views, ideas and cultural activities.  We decided to see the LA Phil play Carnival.  A fantastic introduction to the symphony where you learn about different aspects of the symphony in a way young and old can appreciate the complexities of the music.  And the added bonus, our seats faced the conductor dressed in a Matrix style long black coat, handsome, passionate and taking us all on a journey with the animals.  The music brought Jeff and Tara to tears and the grand kids sat engaged in the experience. 

Afterwards we ate at Big Mama's for a slice of New York style pizza.  What an amazing day.

Waiting for the show...

 
Anna

McKenna

Nate, Drew and Deb

Tara and Jamie

Jeff and Deb

Big Mama Slice