"Use It Up" Soup is a dish I make at least once a week. Since I buy a lot of veggies, I have to go through them every few days and make sure I use the ones that will go bad first. If I find that I have quite a few things, it's "Use It Up" Soup time.
I make it different every time. It all depends on what I need to use up. Tonight I used:
"Use It Up" Soup (Version 1)
2 chicken legs, 2 chicken thighs
2 stalks celery, diced
1 onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 red pepper, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 head broccoli, broke into pieces
homemade chicken broth (You can use canned)
1 bag egg noodles
Salt and pepper
Put in all the ingredients into a big stock pot. Boiled until the chicken was done and all the flavors were blended. Take out chicken, shred, and add back in. Last few minutes, put in noodles and boil until done.
You can put in any meat, any veggies, any noodles, rice, potatoes.
If you want to eat it for a few days, boil noodles separate and add them into your bowl. It warms up better without the noodles.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Food Watch: Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe
My son drinks a lot of hot chocolate in the Winter, and those little packets can cost a lot. He's not big on making his own from cocoa mix. Someone gave me 3 big bags of dry milk the other day. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. HOT CHOCOLATE MIX!!!!
With the help of this recipe: Hot Chocolate Mix, I put together a ton of my own hot chocolate mix. I won't have to buy any all winter. I put into a bowl:
Hot Chocolate Mix
6 cups of Dry Milk Powder
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups sweetened chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon salt
I mixed that all up in a big bowl, put a lid on it and it's in the cupboard. I left out the powder creamer, but that's because I bought a few different flavors and my son adds it in based on his desired tastes that day.
This is a good recipe, and all he has to do is put in a few tablespoons of mix, a cup of milk, and heat it in the microwave for 2 minutes, until the chocolate chips are melted.
My son says, "Bring on winter now." He's ready.
With the help of this recipe: Hot Chocolate Mix, I put together a ton of my own hot chocolate mix. I won't have to buy any all winter. I put into a bowl:
Hot Chocolate Mix
6 cups of Dry Milk Powder
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups sweetened chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon salt
I mixed that all up in a big bowl, put a lid on it and it's in the cupboard. I left out the powder creamer, but that's because I bought a few different flavors and my son adds it in based on his desired tastes that day.
This is a good recipe, and all he has to do is put in a few tablespoons of mix, a cup of milk, and heat it in the microwave for 2 minutes, until the chocolate chips are melted.
My son says, "Bring on winter now." He's ready.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Food Watch: Vanilla Extract Recipe
Or vanilla-flavored vodka. My sister taught me this the other day. She took 3/4 of a gallon of vodka and put in 60 vanilla beans that she got on special over the internet. She put them into a jar with a tight-fitting lid, and will let it sit for 6 months to make vanilla extract. She said comparatively speaking, she would save about $160 if she bought that much vanilla extract.
Vanilla Extract I also found this recipe. It calls for less vodka and vanilla beans, and less time fermenting.
I also read if you let it sit for about 4 days, it makes a great vanilla vodka.
Vanilla Extract I also found this recipe. It calls for less vodka and vanilla beans, and less time fermenting.
I also read if you let it sit for about 4 days, it makes a great vanilla vodka.
Food Watch: Taco Seasoning Recipe
I admit that I hardly ever remember to buy taco seasoning, and we eat tacos at least once a week. When I do remember to buy it, the price makes me want to faint. So instead I have started to make my own with the spices I have in the cupboard. The batch of seasonings is also good on meats or in scrambled eggs or other things that might need a little flavor.
This is another recipe that can be done to what your tastes are. If you don't like one of the spices, leave it out. If you have other spices that you like better, use them. It's all up to you. I usually always get these spices for a dollar a piece.
Taco Seasoning
5 tablespoons chili powder (my base)
4 tablespoons garlic powder
3 tablespoons cumin
4 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons steak seasoning
4 tablespoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Often if I have some other spice that I think might go well into it, I add that, too. This batch lasts quite awhile. You only need a few tablespoons for a pound of ground meat for tacos, or a sprinkle on top of meats.
This is another recipe that can be done to what your tastes are. If you don't like one of the spices, leave it out. If you have other spices that you like better, use them. It's all up to you. I usually always get these spices for a dollar a piece.
Taco Seasoning
5 tablespoons chili powder (my base)
4 tablespoons garlic powder
3 tablespoons cumin
4 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons steak seasoning
4 tablespoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Often if I have some other spice that I think might go well into it, I add that, too. This batch lasts quite awhile. You only need a few tablespoons for a pound of ground meat for tacos, or a sprinkle on top of meats.
Food Watch: Cheese Sauce Recipe
The cheese sauce that you get out of the jar can be quite pricey. Someone gave me a few boxes of the Velveeta cheese knock off. I diced up about one third of the box, put it in a bowl, added about a cup of my homemade salsa to it, and put it in the microwave for two minutes. When it started to bubble, I stirred it and put it back on. When it was as creamy as I wanted, it was done. Homemade cheese sauce. You can also add in a few tablespoons of chili, if desired. It hardens slightly in the fridge, so when you want to use it, warm it slightly in the microwave. Remember to add or subtract cheese and salsa to your own taste. I like mine very cheesy.
Cheese Sauce
1/3 package of Velveeta (or type) cheese
1 cup salsa
Put in microwave, stirring every 30 seconds or so, until cheese is melted. Put in more or less cheese to taste.
Cheese Sauce
1/3 package of Velveeta (or type) cheese
1 cup salsa
Put in microwave, stirring every 30 seconds or so, until cheese is melted. Put in more or less cheese to taste.
Food Watch: Cream of Tomato Soup Recipe
Cream of Tomato Soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. This is what some would label as the perfect meal. I love a good bowl of Cream of Tomato Soup, but I like it homemade.
With my basket of tomatoes, I went to the food processor and pureed 3 large one. Here is where you can fix it to your liking. You can get rid of the skin and seeds, if you wish. You can also used canned tomatoes, if you find them on sale or tomatoes are out of season and pricey. It also might be better if you use cream instead of milk, but I didn't have any. In a pot, I put in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of flour, and stirred that around. Then I added the pureed tomatoes. When it started to boil, I simmered it, just for a few minutes. Then turn the stove down and add enough milk to make it the thickness you desire. Stir. When heated through, it's done. If it's still chunky and you want it creamier, puree in the food processor again. Be careful since it's hot.
Cream of Tomato Soup
3 large tomatoes, pureed
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons oil
1 cup of milk
Put flour and oil into pot, and stir for a minute, then add pureed tomatoes. Let come to a boil, stirring every few minutes. Add desired amount of milk so that it's the thickness you want. Heat through.
This I ate for a few lunches with a side of grilled cheese. My daughter said, "Can't we eat anything out of a can?"
With my basket of tomatoes, I went to the food processor and pureed 3 large one. Here is where you can fix it to your liking. You can get rid of the skin and seeds, if you wish. You can also used canned tomatoes, if you find them on sale or tomatoes are out of season and pricey. It also might be better if you use cream instead of milk, but I didn't have any. In a pot, I put in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of flour, and stirred that around. Then I added the pureed tomatoes. When it started to boil, I simmered it, just for a few minutes. Then turn the stove down and add enough milk to make it the thickness you desire. Stir. When heated through, it's done. If it's still chunky and you want it creamier, puree in the food processor again. Be careful since it's hot.
Cream of Tomato Soup
3 large tomatoes, pureed
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons oil
1 cup of milk
Put flour and oil into pot, and stir for a minute, then add pureed tomatoes. Let come to a boil, stirring every few minutes. Add desired amount of milk so that it's the thickness you want. Heat through.
This I ate for a few lunches with a side of grilled cheese. My daughter said, "Can't we eat anything out of a can?"
Food Watch: Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
Jarred spaghetti sauce can be quite pricey at times. It's just as easy and tastes better if you make it yourself. That is what I really saw happening with my plunder of tomatoes. I had planned to make spaghetti sauce and freeze it. What's better than homemade spaghetti sauce? Okay, my daughter is boring and likes the stuff in the jar, but my son and I really like the homemade sauce. It has flavor.
I set two big pots on the stove and in each, put in about 2 teaspoons of oil and a half diced onion. Then I added in 4 pureed tomatoes. I added in a clove of crushed garlic and a couple of teaspoons of Italian Seasoning, 2 tablespoons of sugar (I use Sugar Twin or Splenda) and a little parsley. I let that simmer for about an hour and a half. If you want it thicker, add in a can of tomato paste.
Here's a great video. I made this sauce, except that I used the real tomatoes crushed in the food processor.
I now have a four containers of spaghetti sauce in the freezer for another time. What I love about these recipes are that it's all about veggies and seasonings.
Spaghetti Sauce
4 tomatoes, pureed
2 tablespoon oil
1 clove garlic, diced
1 onion, diced
2 tablespoons Italian Seasoning
1 tablespoon parsley
6oz tomato paste
salt and pepper
Puree tomatoes (get rid of seeds and skin, if desired).
Put 2 tablespoons of oil and diced onion into pot. Stir til onion is soft. Add garlic. Cook for a minute. Add the rest of ingredients. Let simmer for an hour. If it gets too thick, add water.
You can also add in cooked Italian Sausage, or ground beef or ground turkey, or even meatballs.
I set two big pots on the stove and in each, put in about 2 teaspoons of oil and a half diced onion. Then I added in 4 pureed tomatoes. I added in a clove of crushed garlic and a couple of teaspoons of Italian Seasoning, 2 tablespoons of sugar (I use Sugar Twin or Splenda) and a little parsley. I let that simmer for about an hour and a half. If you want it thicker, add in a can of tomato paste.
Here's a great video. I made this sauce, except that I used the real tomatoes crushed in the food processor.
I now have a four containers of spaghetti sauce in the freezer for another time. What I love about these recipes are that it's all about veggies and seasonings.
Spaghetti Sauce
4 tomatoes, pureed
2 tablespoon oil
1 clove garlic, diced
1 onion, diced
2 tablespoons Italian Seasoning
1 tablespoon parsley
6oz tomato paste
salt and pepper
Puree tomatoes (get rid of seeds and skin, if desired).
Put 2 tablespoons of oil and diced onion into pot. Stir til onion is soft. Add garlic. Cook for a minute. Add the rest of ingredients. Let simmer for an hour. If it gets too thick, add water.
You can also add in cooked Italian Sausage, or ground beef or ground turkey, or even meatballs.
Food Watch: Ketchup Recipe
As tomato season went on, I got this brilliant idea to make ketchup. After all, I had all the ingredients already. I wouldn't have to buy ketchup, and I could freeze it. I found this recipe, which sounded good to me:
KETCHUP RECIPE
I was using real tomatoes though, not canned, so I took 4 big tomatoes and pureed them in the food processor. I pretty much followed the rest of the recipe and let it simmer for about an hour and a half until it was quite thick. When I tasted it, I was surprised to find that it actually tasted like ketchup, only it was better as far I was concerned. It tasted fresh and I could taste real ingredients in it. It doesn't seem to stick to food quite the same as bottled ketchup though. I really like it, and it has saved me from buying the bottled ketchup.
I feel like I am living back in the "old times" when people made all homemade things and made foods last as long as possible. My kids are teasing me, "OMG! We even have ketchup that's homemade!"
KETCHUP RECIPE
I was using real tomatoes though, not canned, so I took 4 big tomatoes and pureed them in the food processor. I pretty much followed the rest of the recipe and let it simmer for about an hour and a half until it was quite thick. When I tasted it, I was surprised to find that it actually tasted like ketchup, only it was better as far I was concerned. It tasted fresh and I could taste real ingredients in it. It doesn't seem to stick to food quite the same as bottled ketchup though. I really like it, and it has saved me from buying the bottled ketchup.
I feel like I am living back in the "old times" when people made all homemade things and made foods last as long as possible. My kids are teasing me, "OMG! We even have ketchup that's homemade!"
Food Watch: Tomato Season
Food Watch/Food Found: I have been buying tomatoes for about a month now. Every time I am in town I pick up a basket or two. They are only $4.99 for this huge basket of them. My plan was to make tomato soup, salsa, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, BBQ sauce, pizza sauce, and a couple of containers of just diced up tomatoes for later. I spent a little while every day making something. It didn't take too much time.
The one thing that I made a lot of was salsa. I use a lot of it. I put it on meats, in scrambled eggs, on sandwiches, hamburgers, and in cheese sauce. Since I do a lot with it, I made a lot and froze it. I made it so frequently that my daughter asked me if it was an automatic response to make salsa every time I get up.
My mom cooks her salsa, and I have seen a lot of other people do the same. Mine is not that difficult, and only has a few ingredients. My kind of recipe.
I used two big tomatoes, 2 jalapenos (insides taken out), half an onion, salt and pepper to taste. I put them all into the food processor and pulse until it is the desired consistency.
You can make this any way you want. I like recipes that you can adjust the ingredients to your own taste.
The tomatoes can be de-skinned and de-seeded, if you wish. I don't take the seeds or skin off.
You can take out the seeds and membrane of the jalapenos depending on how you want your salsa. The more seeds and membrane you keep in, the hotter it will be.
You can also change out the onion to be yellow, white, red, or even green onion. It's all up to your own individual taste. You can also added calantro, but I'm not a fan of it.
Because those are the only ingredients I put into my salsa, it makes it good for a lot of recipes.
Salsa
2 Tomatoes
2 Jalapeno (take out seeds and membrane)
1/2 onion
salt and pepper
Puree in food processor.
The one thing that I made a lot of was salsa. I use a lot of it. I put it on meats, in scrambled eggs, on sandwiches, hamburgers, and in cheese sauce. Since I do a lot with it, I made a lot and froze it. I made it so frequently that my daughter asked me if it was an automatic response to make salsa every time I get up.
My mom cooks her salsa, and I have seen a lot of other people do the same. Mine is not that difficult, and only has a few ingredients. My kind of recipe.
I used two big tomatoes, 2 jalapenos (insides taken out), half an onion, salt and pepper to taste. I put them all into the food processor and pulse until it is the desired consistency.
You can make this any way you want. I like recipes that you can adjust the ingredients to your own taste.
The tomatoes can be de-skinned and de-seeded, if you wish. I don't take the seeds or skin off.
You can take out the seeds and membrane of the jalapenos depending on how you want your salsa. The more seeds and membrane you keep in, the hotter it will be.
You can also change out the onion to be yellow, white, red, or even green onion. It's all up to your own individual taste. You can also added calantro, but I'm not a fan of it.
Because those are the only ingredients I put into my salsa, it makes it good for a lot of recipes.
Salsa
2 Tomatoes
2 Jalapeno (take out seeds and membrane)
1/2 onion
salt and pepper
Puree in food processor.
Carol's Food Watch: Recipes and Other Things
Carol's Food Watch is a place to come for recipes, helpful food preparation hints, and food saving tips.
I live a half hour from any grocery store or fast food restaurant, so running out for things every day isn't an option. We rarely eat out, and when I shop, I have to enough for awhile. It's hard to save money using coupons or running into town for the latest deal, so instead, I am always in search of other ways to save. This is usually either through getting the best deals on whole, healthy foods or making the most out staple foods that I already have.
"Food Watch" is about watching out for good recipes, good foods, and good deals.
The first thing I do is to make sure I have most of the staples in the house. These would be things like:
Rice (brown or white)
Beans (dry and cooked)
Flour (white or whole wheat or both)
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Sugar
Potatoes (white or sweet)
Milk
Meats (chicken, pork, ground beef, Italian sausage, and beef)
Fruits (apples, lemons, strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes)
Veggies (onions, celery, peppers, garlic, carrots)
With these items, you can make almost anything from your own ketchup, to your own bread.
I mainly make everything homemade, and I am learning to use foods that are on sale and in season while they are there. I try to make the most out of them by making foods and storing them for later.
I will get pictures in for different processes of cooking it. Bare with me there.
I also care about making homemade foods because I like knowing what I put into my foods, saving money, and I believe in a lot of the latest diet programs like E-Diets, South Beach, and Richard Simmons. Most of these recipes will fit into these programs. More about these programs later.
Carol
I live a half hour from any grocery store or fast food restaurant, so running out for things every day isn't an option. We rarely eat out, and when I shop, I have to enough for awhile. It's hard to save money using coupons or running into town for the latest deal, so instead, I am always in search of other ways to save. This is usually either through getting the best deals on whole, healthy foods or making the most out staple foods that I already have.
"Food Watch" is about watching out for good recipes, good foods, and good deals.
The first thing I do is to make sure I have most of the staples in the house. These would be things like:
Rice (brown or white)
Beans (dry and cooked)
Flour (white or whole wheat or both)
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Sugar
Potatoes (white or sweet)
Milk
Meats (chicken, pork, ground beef, Italian sausage, and beef)
Fruits (apples, lemons, strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes)
Veggies (onions, celery, peppers, garlic, carrots)
With these items, you can make almost anything from your own ketchup, to your own bread.
I mainly make everything homemade, and I am learning to use foods that are on sale and in season while they are there. I try to make the most out of them by making foods and storing them for later.
I will get pictures in for different processes of cooking it. Bare with me there.
I also care about making homemade foods because I like knowing what I put into my foods, saving money, and I believe in a lot of the latest diet programs like E-Diets, South Beach, and Richard Simmons. Most of these recipes will fit into these programs. More about these programs later.
Carol
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)