Carrot soup

This is a completely made up attempt at carrot soup, based only on what was in the cupboard/fridge.

Carrot soup

1 Tbsp. olive oil
8 oz. yellow onion
8 oz. diced carrots
1/2 tsp. chipotle chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. salt
8 cloves roasted garlic
3 c. water
1/2 c. heavy cream

This turned out very well. I would use more carrot than onion next time (to boost the carroty flavor). I'm surprised, but the garlic was not overwhelming. It was very mellow. I'd use the same amount of spices again, even if I increased the carrots. Some bites were a little hotter than I'd expected!

Tex-Mex style pork loin roast

2 lb pork loin roast (whatever fits comfortably in the crockpot)

1 large white onion, sliced

1 can diced tomatoes (no salt added), partially drained

1 can green chilies (preferably from Hatch, NM)

1 tsp chipotle chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp oregano

1 c half and half

2 Tbsp corn starch (about)

Place the majority of the sliced onion on the bottom of a 3-4 quart crockpot. Add half the chilies and tomatoes. Put the pork loin on top and cover in seasonings. Place the remaining onions, tomatoes and chilies around and on top of the roast. Cook on high 4 hours, and on low for as long as you need. (I cooked it on low for an additional  2 hours, but it would have been done after 4 hours on high.) 

When the roast is ready, heat the half and half in a 10" skillet. Gradually add the braising liquid from the crockpot to the half and half. Whisk in enough corn starch to thicken into a gravy. This makes a lot of sauce, nearly filling my 10" skillet. That's okay -- it's great with mashed potatoes!

This was delicious -- it was almost like eating a tortilla soup on a plate. I imagine it would also be delicious with chicken instead of pork, or brown rice instead of mashed potatoes. 

Quick pickle (attempt #1)

1 qt mason jar

Fill the mason jar with thinly sliced radishes, carrots, red onion, and thin stalks of asparagus. Add

20-25 peppercorns
2 bay leaves
1 large clove slightly crushed garlic

Bring the following pickling liquid to a boil and simmer about two minutes, until the sugar and salt are incorporated:

1 1/4 c. water
1 1/4 c. white wine vinegar
1/4 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. kosher salt

Pour over the vegetables in the mason jar. Let cool at room temperature.

Pizza casserole

Yield two 8"x8" pans

1.25 lbs ground beef (80% lean)
3 links Johnsonville hot Italian sausage, removed from casings
1/2 large yellow onion, 1/4" dice
6 oz. whole wheat elbow noodles
1 large green pepper, 1/2" dice
1/2 large yellow pepper, 1/2" dice
8 oz. cremini mushrooms, sliced
7 oz. pepperoni, quartered
1.5 jars Classico Spicy Red Pepper pasta sauce (about)
12 oz. shredded Sargento mozzarella and provolone
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp. oregano
Salt and pepper to taste

Brown the ground beef, Italian sausage and onion. Meanwhile, cook elbow noodles in heavily salted water until al dente. Drain pasta and meat, reserving 1 Tbsp. meat drippings. In the drippings, cook mushrooms until they release their water. Add peppers, and saute until slightly soft and mushrooms are browning. Combine pasta, meat, pepperoni, and 1 jar of pasta sauce in a large bowl. Season with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper. Divide half the pasta mixture between two 8"x8" pans. Divide the remaining (approximately) half jar pasta sauce and vegetables between the pans. Top with the remaining pasta, and cover each pan with cheese. Bake at 375 until cheese is browned and sauce bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let stand 15-20 minutes before eating.

(We decided this could be even better with twice the mushrooms and some sliced green olives.)

Lentil, potato and kale stew

1 c. French lentils
1 15-oz can fire-roasted diced tomatoes with juice
3 c. water
1 Tbsp. cumin
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper1 large (4 oz) carrot, sliced into 1/4" coins
1 medium (8 oz) yukon gold potato, ~1/2" dice
1 small bunch kale, torn into bite size pieces

Rinse and pick through lentils. Combine lentils, water, tomatoes and spices in a sauce pan and bring to boil. Reduce to simmer and add the carrot. After about 10 minutes, add the potato. When the potato is nearly tender, add the kale, stirring frequently to wilt it into the stew. You might need to add up to 1/2 cup water to keep things from sticking.

Roasted red pepper feta dip

Adapted from A Spicy Perspective.

1 lb. feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 lb. whole milk cottage cheese
2 cloves garlic, roughly minced
1/3 c. olive oil, plus 1-2 Tbsp. as needed
1 lemon, juiced
1-1.5 Tbsp. fresh thyme
1 Tbsp. dried oregano
1+ tsp. crushed red pepper
1/4-1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 large roasted red pepper, jarred is fine

 Using a food processor, pulse the first 9 ingredients together until smooth. Add more olive oil as necessary to achieve a smooth consistency. Drain and dice the roasted red pepper. Add to the food processor and pulse a few times to combine. There should still be chunks of red pepper, but the whole mixture should have a red/pink hue.

This is delicious as a dip, but it's even more delicious on a modified BLT:

Open-faced bacon, egg, tomato sandwich

1 slice Genesis 1:29 bread, or other whole grain sprouted bread, toasted
2 Tbsp. feta dip (above)
pinch crushed red pepper
1-2 slices bacon, cooked
1-2 slices garden fresh tomatoes
1 egg, over easy

Toast the bread, spread on the feta dip while it's still warm. Add an extra pinch of crushed red pepper, and top with tomatoes. Salt the tomatoes, and top with bacon. Cook your egg (over easy or medium is perfect), and top with sandwich with the egg. Add salt and pepper to taste. Devour.

Caprese turkey meatballs

Adapted from Cooking Canuck.

Yields 26-30 meatballs

1/2 medium yellow onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1.5 oz. dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
4 oz. fresh mozzarella, diced
0.2 oz. basil, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. red pepper flake
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 egg
3/8 c. panko (1/4 c. + 2 Tbsp.)
1.25 lb ground turkey

Combine the first 9 ingredients in a large bowl, mix well, and let sit for 20-30 minutes in the fridge. When ready to make the meatballs, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a half sheet pan with aluminum foil. Mix the turkey, panko and egg with the other ingredients. Roll out golf-ball sized meatballs (I got 26). Bake about 20 minutes, or until firm to the touch and cooked through.