Lasagna Soup

I don't know about where you live...but the weather here is so totally up and down! Chilly, jacket wearing weather followed up by searing humidity.
Huh?
I don't know how to dress, I certainly don't know what to cook!
One night it's comfort food for chilly winds, the next night we don't even want to turn the oven on because it's sticky and humid.

I am such a fall/winter person that I am LOVING when we get the chilly weather.
So into stews, chowders, casseroles...all the comfort foods that the fall bring.

What is your favorite comfort food?



Ingredients:

2 Tsp Olive oil

1 ½ Lbs Italian sausage (bulk)

2 Onions (diced)

4 Garlic cloves (minced)

2 Tsp Oregano

½ Tsp Red pepper flakes

2 Tbsp Tomato paste

1 (28 oz) Can diced tomatoes

6 Cups Chicken broth

2 Bay Leaves

8 oz Rotini pasta

½ Cup Basil (finely chopped)

8 oz Ricotta

½ Cup Parmesan (grated)

½ Tsp Salt

Pepper (to taste)

2 Cups Mozzarella (shredded)

Directions:

1. In large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat

2. Add sausage and saute, breaking into small pieces

3. Cook until sausage is no longer pink

4. Drain any excess fat

5. Add onions and saute until softened

6. Add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes

7. Add tomato paste and saute until it turns a rusty brown

8. Add diced tomato (undrained), chicken broth, and bay leaves

9. Bring soup to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes

10. Add pasta, increase heat to boil, and cook as long as directed on pasta package

11. Discard bay leaves, add basil

12. Add salt and pepper to taste

13. To each bowl add some ricotta and parmesan

14. Ladle the soup into the bowl

15. Top with mozzarella

Print

Yup, left out my basil. Whoops!

Ricotta and Parmesan in the bowl

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Lisa's Beef Stew

I have lots of friends named Lisa. Seriously, sometimes there can be 6 of them in the same room!!
Craziness I tell ya!

One Lisa gave me this recipe for her beef stew.
I have my own that we are partial to, but always willing to try a new one!

I was laughing at myself while making this because she obviously typed it as she was trying to remember it all. There would be ingredients listed in the directions that were not in the ingredients list. So, my pictures are a little whacked, but it's all good!

This recipe makes a LOT of stew! We ate it for two meals, I brought it for lunch two days, and I have another couple of servings in the freezer!

Ingredients:

3 ½ Lb stew beef

5 Cloves garlic (crushed)

4-5 Medium onions (quartered)

2 Lbs carrots (chopped into large pieces)

6 Medium potato

2 Tsp salt

1 Tsp sugar

1 ½ Tsp pepper

½ Tsp paprika

3 Tsp Worcestershire sauce

2 Bay leaves

Dash of tabasco

Dash of lemon juice

1 Cup flour

1 Tbsp vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Brown stew beef in a large pot with vegetable oil for about 20 minutes

2. Add 4 cups boiling water, spices (minus lemon), garlic, and 1 onion

3. Simmer (covered) for 1 hour

4. Add carrots, potato, and rest of onions

5. Simmer another hour

6. Add lemon during the last 15 minutes of cooking

7. To thicken, shake 1 cup flour with 1 ⅓ cup cold water until there are no lumps. Slowly add to stew.

Print

She forgot to tell me about the oil needed to brown the beef

Then I paperclipped over where it said to use potato!

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Escarole and Bean Soup

A friend of mine shared this recipe with me.
The same friend I discussed trying to starve here.

Thankfully she is wise and forgiving.
(Thankfully for me that is! We have been friends for so long, I can't imagine not having her a text message away!)

Anyhoo...
I finally got around to making this soup and it was DELISH! We all had it for dinner, and then the girl child and I made two more meals each out of it.

I have to admit, the escarole part sort of threw me for a loop.
Salad type product? In soup?
It made it though...it simply needed it!

I sent her a text to let her know I made it (which means she is also eagerly awaiting to see it posted here!). We talked about it for a bit...and then she drops the magic words "I think my mom got this recipe from Wegman's".
:::sigh::: Ahhh...Wegman's.
My grocery oasis.
Love me some Wegman's...as does my friend.
See, this soup was just meant for us!

Ingredients:

1.5 Lbs mild Italian sausage patty

3 Tbsp vegetable oil

8 oz chopped onion

3 Cloves garlic (minced)

14 oz escarole blend

Salt

Pepper

44 oz chicken stock

15.5 oz cannelini beans (drained)

1 Cup ditalini pasta

¼ Cup finely chopped parsley

2 Tbsp lemon juice

Directions:

1. Cut each sausage patty into 8 pieces, shape into balls

2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in large pan

3. Add sausage balls and cook, turning to brown all sides

4. Remove sausage from pan and set aside (discard drippings)

5. Return pan to heat and add remaining 2 tbsp oil

6. Add onions to pan

7. Cook 2-3 minutes, or until onions are translucent

8. Add garlic and cook until soft

9. Add escarole, stirring occasionally until wilted

10. Season to taste with salt and pepper

11. Stir in stock, beans, and browned sausage

12. Add pasta and simmer 10 minutes

13. Add parsley and lemon juice

Print

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Shoney's Chicken Enchilada Soup

A few years back I emailed all my friends and asked them for some of their favorite soups. My friend S came back at me with this one.

We have no Shoney's around us...I did visit one for breakfast, in Florida, about 10 years ago...so I cannot validate this recipe.
A quick google search pulled up a bunch (like this one), so I assume this to be truth.

My truth is that this soup is delicious! We all very much enjoyed it, and it reheated well for lunches.

Having the crushed chips in the broth was a different texture, it kept things interesting while the cheese kept it creamy.
When I served it, I added cheese and sour cream to the top.

Ingredients:

2 Medium onions (diced)

1 Red bell pepper (diced)

1 Green bell pepper (diced)

1 ½ Cups corn kernels

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

2 Tbsp minced garlic

2 Lbs cooked chicken breast (chopped)

12 oz beer

16 oz salsa

2 Tbsp ground cumin

2 Tbsp chili powder

1 Tbsp salt

1 Tbsp ground pepper

64 oz Chicken broth

2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1-2 Cups crushed tortilla chips

1 ½ -2 Cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Cook onions and bell peppers in oil over medium heat for about 2 minutes

2. Add garlic and cook another 2 minutes

3. Add chicken and beer, cook 2 minutes

4. Stir in salsa, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, chicken broth, and Worcestershire sauce

5. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes

6. Stir in chips and shredded cheese. Cook 10 minutes

Print

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Quiche Lorraine

Yet another recipe from my dear friend Ann.
:::sigh:::
We do miss those who are no longer with us!

A crazy week surrounded this recipe. A certain material hit the proverbial fan if you catch my drift. Insanity reigned supreme!

Finally, a quiet night at home (so to speak)! Then I looked around and realized I had taken nothing out of the freezer.

Thankfully I had this recipe on hand. My bacon was frozen too...and I was not thawing the whole pound. I substituted 1/4 cup bacon bits for the bacon in this recipe, and it worked just fine. I also used a can of mushrooms I had on hand instead of the real ones which were still residing at the grocery store.

Ingredients:

½ Cup chopped onion

½ Small package sliced mushrooms

4 Slices of bacon, cooked to crisp and crumbled (reserve grease)

½ Tsp salt

¼ Tsp pepper

1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 Cup milk

½ Cup Bisquick mix

2 Eggs

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400

2. Spray a 9 inch pie plate with cooking spray

3. Cook onions in the leftover bacon grease

4. Stir in salt and pepper

5. Spread onions, bacon, and mushrooms in bottom of pie plate

6. Combine remaining ingredients in blender

7. Pour into pie plate

8. Bake 25-30 minutes until golden brown

9. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving

Print

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Jordan's Mexican Lasagna

I have this friend from high school, we still keep in touch, but live too far away to see each other (which makes me sad. Yay for Facebook!)

She is an amazing mother. She has 4 babies and has one step son.
It's one of those amazing relationships where you would never know he was a step, she loves him as much as her own flesh and blood.
This does not surprise me though, she is good folk.

My friend is always playing around in the kitchen making super fun and healthy foods.
(no, I am not implying this recipe is "healthy"!)

The oldest sprout was there and told her he wanted her to make a certain meal. So, being awesome x's 100, she had him dictate...and she cooked.

Ingredients:

1 Lb ground beef

1 Pkg taco seasoning

1 Large onion (diced)

1 ½ Cup cooked rice

Corn tortillas

1 Can diced tomato with chilies

1 Cup cheddar cheese

1 Can cream of chicken soup

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Brown hamburger with onions

3. Add taco seasoning

4. Mix rice with cream of chicken soup

5. Layer the bottom of a 9x13 pan with corn tortillas

6. Add layer of ground beef

7. Layer of rice

8. Layer of cheese

9. Layer of corn tortillas

10. Layer of ground beef

11. Layer of rice

12. Layer the remaining cheese

13. Top with diced tomatoes

14. Bake for 20 minutes

15. Serve with assorted toppings: Sour Cream, Cilantro, Lettuce, Etc

Print

I got to use up a few bags of cheese I had hanging around, BONUS!

This recipe was shared with:
Monday: Homemaking with Style, Flour me with Love , Pioneer Momma, Feeding Big, Kitchen Table Art, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms , A Southern Fairytale, A Pinch of Joy, Modest Mom Blog, Huckleberry Love, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Uncommon Designs, Jambellish, Mom Favorites, A Mama's Story, All Things Fee, Boogieboard Cottage, The Chicken Chick, Say Not Sweet Anne,  Skip to my Lou, Sew Can Do, Mom's the Word, 21st Century Housewife
Tuesday: Cornerstone Confessions, Inside Bru Crew Life , Kathe with an E , Pint Sized Baker, Memories by the Mile, Hot Momma's Kitchen Chaos, Lou Lou Girls, Our Table for Seven, Time Warp Wife, Mini Van Dreams, Mandy's Recipe Box, Hope Studios, Hope in Every Season, Stone Gable, 
Wednesday: Dizzy Busy and Hungry, Recipes for our Daily Bread, Buns in my Oven, Crafty Allie, Milk and Cuddles, Raising Homemakers, White Lights on Wednesday, A Peek into my Paradise, Gingersnap Crafts, Mom's Test Kitchen, Mostly Homemade Mom, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Lemoine Family Kitchen, Gooseberry Patch
Thursday: Lambert's Lately, Sweet Haute, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Katherine's Corner, Sweet Bella Roos, What's Cooking Love, Saving 4 Six, Embracing Change, The Nourishing Gourmet
Friday: Coffee with us 3, Simple Nature Decor, Mommy on Demand, O Taste and See, Daily Dish, The Better Baker, Endlessly Inspired, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Thirty Handmade Days, City of Creative Dreams, The Diary of a Real Housewife, Craft O Maniac, Morsels of Life, Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom, A Little Claireification, The Girl Creative
Saturday: What's Cooking with Ruthie, Will Cook for Smiles, Six Sister's Stuff, Beauty Through Imperfection, Sewlicious Home Decor, Raising Memories, Weary Chef
Sunday:  A Peek into my Paradise, Denise Designed       

Mint Chocolate Cookies

I had just started a new job (many moons ago now). I was yet to be married, so still working under my maiden name.
A couple of weeks into it, I am sitting at my desk, minding my own business and this little lady (maybe 5 ft tall) comes flying up to me.
"What is your father's name?"
(She almost sounded angry, I wasn't sure if I should answer or not)

I answered and her face just lit up like sunshine.
"I knew it!!" She yelled! (we had quite the audience at this point)

She then proceeds to tell me that she worked with my father at another company (in the same building we currently worked in, funny enough) when I was born.
She then went on about how my father would come in with pictures of me to show off to everyone.

How sweet!

I promptly emailed my father and asked if he knew Ms. So-and-So.
I think if he could have jumped through the email he would.

"OMG she was my boss for a few years. I have never had a boss like her before, or ever again. I loved working for her!"

The next time my father was up visiting, we set a date to have lunch. It was a tearful , sweet reunion.
I know they kept in touch after that, which they both enjoyed.

We lost her a few years ago to cancer. She is well missed.

She lives on though, in a pile of recipes she had emailed me over the years. This is one of them.
The cookies are amazing...but oh my word are they serious when they use the term "sticky mess"!

Ingredients:

1 Box devil’s food cake mix

2 Eggs

2 Tbsp water

2 Tbsp oil

½ Cup cocoa

1 Pkg chocolate chips

2-3 Drops peppermint extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400

2. Combine cake mix, eggs, water, oil, and cocoa (blend well, this WILL be a sticky mess)

3. Let dough stand for 20 minutes

4. Shape into very small ½ inch balls

5. Smash down dough balls with a spoon covered in cooking spray

6. Bake for 8 minutes

7. Let cool to room temperature

8. Heat chocolate chips in double boiler

9. When chips are completely melted, add peppermint extract

10. Frost cookies with mint chocolate mixture or dip cookies in mixture

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This Recipe was shared on:
Monday: Flour Me With Love, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms, Feeding Big, A Southern Fairytale, Will Cook for Smiles, Frugal Foodie Mama, A Bright and Beautiful Life, Inside Bru Crew Life, New Mama Diaries, Jam Hands, Yummy Healthy Easy, A Peek into my Paradise, Adventures in Mindful Living, The Chicken Chick
Tuesday: Pint Sized Baker, A Peek into my Paradise, The Bitter Side of Sweet, The Road to 31, Cornerstone Confessions, My Joy Filled Life, Table for Seven, Yesterfood, Chef in Training, Mandy's Recipe Box, Kathe with an E
Wednesday: Recipes for our Daily Bread, Dizzy Busy and Hungry, Wine and Glue, White Lights on Wednesday, Buns in my Oven, Ginger Snap Crafts, Mom's Test Kitchen, Lady Behind the Curtain, Crafty Allie, Lemoine Family Kitchen
Thursday: Lambert's Lately, Sweet Haute, Sweet Bella Roos, What's Cooking Love, Saving 4 Six, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Embracing Change, The Nourishing Gourmet
Friday: The Grits Blog, Play Party Pin, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Endlessly Inspired, Dizzy Busy and Hungry, A Peek into my Paradise, Craft Dictator, Cooking with Curls
Saturday: Six Sisters Stuff, Whats Cooking with Ruthie, The Weary Chef, Cheerios and Lattes, Simply Gloria
Sunday: A Peek into my Paradise