Minestrone Soup

My mom has been making minestrone soup for years, and somehow I hadn't tried it until a few months ago.  I LOVED IT.  Minestrone is a bit like "Ghoulash", in that it seems to mean something different in each household.  This is my version, and the ingredient list is as complete as possible for a "maybe a little bit more of this, little bit more of that" recipe.

1/3 lb ground beef *
1/4 of a white onion, chopped
1 1/2 tsp basil
1 1/2 tsp oregano
5-6 c water
3 cubes beef bullion
4-5 carrots, chopped
28 oz can diced tomatoes
15 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 tsp onion salt
1 tsp garlic
15 oz can kidney beans
15 oz can green beans
1/2 of 15 oz can yellow corn
4 servings pasta, mini-shells shown above
salt and pepper, to taste
fresh Parmesan cheese

Brown ground beef and onion in stock pot until thoroughly cooked.  Add remaining ingredients (except kidney beans, green beans, corn, and pasta), cover, and cook at a low boil until carrots are thoroughly cooked.

Prepare pasta separately (my preference is to make it a bit al dente, so that it doesn't get too soft later) and add to soup after carrots have cooked.

Add green beans and corn and simmer over low heat until ready to serve.

Comments from the cook:  This was my first time making minestrone soup, and I was thrilled with how it turned out.  Brian had to work late that night, and I knew it was my chance to make a big batch of "girl soup".


I experimented quite a bit with flavors, and you'll want to do the same.  In the end, mine was a bit thick, and I should've added a bit more water.  But, thankfully, this soup freezes amazingly...and you can always add more water when you thaw it out and re-heat it.


My mom serves this with fresh Parmesan cheese and warm bread.  


This makes a gigantic batch, but we (Claire and I) loved it so much that it seemed impossible to have too much around!  I realized the other day that we no longer have any in the freezer, so it must be time to make some more...


* We usually divide our ground beef into 1/3 lb increments, but you're welcome to use whatever amount you prefer.  My mom says that Italian sausage also tastes really good in this recipe!

Originally shared by my mom, Alane, who got her version from a dear friend, Donna Harris.

Hearty Beef Stew

I wanted to make beef stew the other day, and the seasoning packets at our local grocery store were nearly $3(!), so I tried my hand at homemade. I cracked my Betty Crocker cookbook for a few pointers, and the result was great! For the record, we won't be buying packets ever again...

1 lb beef stew meat

1/2 medium onion

10-12 baby carrots, sliced

1 cup beef broth

1/3 c flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp marjoram

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp garlic powder

6 russet potatoes, cut into 1" chunks

6 c water

Brown stew meat in a frying pan, and add to CrockPot. Add sliced onion, carrots, and potatoes.

Add beef broth and water (6 cups is an estimate...I just added enough to partially cover the vegetables, so they would cook thoroughly).

Add spices and flour. Stir together until mixed.

Allow to cook in CrockPot for 3-4 hours on high.

Comments from the cook: Brian works out of town on Wednesday afternoon/evening, and always needs to take dinner with him. Beef stew is one of his all-time favorites, so I threw this in the CrockPot a little before noon. I was nervous that it wouldn't be done soon enough, but by 3:45 it was perfectly cooked.

I also loved that this stew didn't require any kind of thickening! Adding flour in the initial stages is all you need to do, and the thickness is perfect after 3-4 hours.

Many ingredients/quantities taken from "Betty Crocker's Cookbook - Beef Stew" recipe (found on pg 465)

Teriyaki Kabobs

Marinade:
1 cup water
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup sugar
1 tsp garlic
2 TBSP green onion, chopped
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated

To be skewered:
1 green bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 small onion
1 fresh pineapple
fresh chicken breasts (frozen ok, defrosted)
steak (stew meat ok)

Potatoes:
3 russet (or red) potatoes
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3 TBSP olive oil

Combine marinade ingredients in glass bowl. (Separate into 2 medium bowls if doing separate containers for chicken and beef).

Cut meat (chicken and beef) into 1" pieces and place in marinade. Refrigerate and allow to sit for 2 hrs.

In the meantime, cut potatoes into 1" pieces and boil for 4 minutes. Drain and allow to cool and dry on dishcloth for about 30 min. When cooled, toss in about 3 TBSP olive oil. Add rosemary, thyme, sea salt, and pepper.

Cut veggies and pineapple into 1" pieces.

Assemble skewers. Grease skewers slightly (dip your thumb and index finger in oil and run it down the skewer) before adding meat and veggies.

Alternate veggies, potatoes, meat, and pineapple as desired.

Heat grill to hottest temperature, and cook skewers evenly over fire. Rotate as needed.

Don't have a grill? Have one and it gives out? Broil them in the oven! Place skewers on a cookie sheet, and cook on top rack. Watch them closely and turn them every couple of minutes in order to avoid overcooking.

Comments from the cook's wife: This really is Brian's recipe, so I can't say much...beyond how much I LOVE these, and how much you need to try them!

The measurements for the marinade are not set in stone. If you don't think it's enough, double it. If you only want to make a few skewers worth, make a bit less. Brian learned to combine sugar, garlic, soy sauce, ginger, and green onions from a man on his mission, and has never been the same since! We have eaten many-a-meal with that sauce as a base, and look forward to more in the future.

We use metal skewers (we upgraded a year ago), but the inexpensive wood ones also work. We read online that they need to soak in water for about 30 minutes ahead of time. This apparently keeps the wood from burning as quickly.

Kabobs are very filling, but making a few extra might be just what you're looking for. They make for EXCELLENT leftovers. (Just push the meat and veggies off the skewer with a fork, and store them in an air-tight container. Reheat for 3-4 minutes in the microwave and enjoy again!)

A CookieSheets&CakePans original.

Hamburger "Stuff"

4-6 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced
3-4 carrots, peeled and sliced
1/2 medium onion, sliced
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can water
approx 1lb ground beef, uncooked
salt and pepper, to taste

Use mandoline (fancy name for slicer) to slice potatoes, carrots, and onions. Or, if you're the old-fashioned type...use a knife and cutting board. :)

Place ground beef (defrosted if originally frozen) in bottom of roast pan. Cover with potatoes, carrots, then onions.

In a separate bowl, combine soups, salt and pepper, and water. Mix until smooth.

Pour soup mixture over other ingredients.

Bake covered at 350° for 3-4 hours. Makes 4-6 servings.

Comments from the cook: My mom made this for us last summer...and it was fantastic! It's a great, inexpensive substitute for pot roast - particularly for those of us that don't need a big roast that might take days and days to eat (even after we've cut it in half!).

This is an excellent dish to throw in the oven before church. I even tried this in my CrockPot, and cooked it on high for about 4 hours. The potatoes were much softer and the entire dish was a bit mushy compared to the oven-baked version. It still tasted good, but I liked the results better after baking it in the oven.

Disclaimer: Sometimes it's hard to get a good photograph of food that tastes really good, but isn't as appealing to the eyes. :)

Originally shared (and named) by my mom, Alane.

Chicken Pot Pie

1 pkg ready-to-bake pie crusts (2 included)
5 small potatoes
2 TBSP butter or margarine
2-3 TBSP flour
1 cup milk
1 cup chicken broth
frozen peas
frozen carrots
chicken

Allow pie crust dough to defrost to room temperature. Put one crust in bottom of glass dish.

Cut chicken into small pieces and saute in a little bit of canola oil or cooking spray. Place on top of crust.

Dice potatoes (into 1/2" pieces) and pour over crust in dish. Add frozen peas and carrots to crust also, as desired. (Veggies are uncooked during assembly!)

In medium sauce pan, heat 2 TBSP butter or margarine over medium high heat. Once melted, add 2-3 TBSP flour to butter. Stir constantly, while adding 1 cup milk. Heat (and continue stirring) for 2 minutes. Mixture will thicken into a gravy.

After that 2 minutes is up, add 1 cup chicken broth and stir well until mixed (should only take a couple seconds of good stirring to be done). Remove from heat.

Pour gravy mixture over potatoes and vegetables in pan. Set aside.

Take your 2nd pie crust (that has not yet been used). Trim about 3/4" of crust off the edges. Place newly trimmed crust on top of the other to create a lid. Fold edges of bottom crust up and over.

Poke holes in top crust with a fork.

Bake at 375° for a hour or so. If top becomes too brown, cover in foil for remaining cook time.

Comments from the cook: I made this the other night, and only cooked it at 350 for about 55 min. The potatoes were still a little crispy, so we microwaved the whole thing for 3 minutes and they were perfect!

A CookieSheets&CakePans original! (Tutored by Cathy Green)

Homemade Pico de Gallo

10-14 Roma tomatoes
1 white onion
2 jalapeno peppers
3/4 bunch cilantro
fresh garlic
vinegar
olive oil
salt and pepper

Dice and combine tomatoes, white onion, and jalapenos (seeds removed!).

Chop cilantro into small pieces. Add to tomatoes, etc.

Add about 1 tsp minced garlic. (We buy the kind in a jar, but you can use what you have. Amounts will vary based on whether you use fresh or powdered.)

Add 3-4 TBSP vinegar, 3-4 TBSP olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with tortilla chips.

Makes 4-5 cups.

Comments from the cook: This is our ALL-TIME favorite fresh food. We make it for our annual Cinco de Mayo celebration and it is always a hit. Lately, we've been enjoying it over tacos and can't get enough of it.

Generally, I try to find some firm tomatoes, and a few that are more ripe. This recipe is best served the next day, as the flavors really come alive when chilled overnight. Unfortunately, it does not "keep" very well...and only lasts a couple of days in the fridge. That is, if you have any leftovers! :)

For a true onion-hater like me (it's a miracle I eat this, mind you), I like to keep the ratio of tomatoes to onions equal. Choose the size of onion based on your preference. Enjoy!
Adapted from a recipe found online, long ago

Hamburger Soup

1 large can tomato sauce
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 can green beans
1/2 lb. ground beef
celery salt, to taste
season-all, to taste
water

In a large stock pot, brown hamburger. Stir in celery salt (I use about a TBSP).

Add tomato sauce and about 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer. Add season-all to taste.

Bring potatoes to a boil in a separate pot and cook until done.

Bring carrots to a boil in a separate pot and cook until done.

Combine all ingredients in stock pot and simmer for a few minutes.

Serves 4-6.

Comments from the cook: In the past, I have boiled the carrots and potatoes in the tomato sauce/hamburger mixture - covered. It takes longer, and can be really messy to keep opening it to test done-ness. The last couple of times, I have boiled each ingredient separately and have been very pleased with the minimal cleanup. More dirty pots, but less time scrubbing the stove-top!

Originally shared by Alane Sleight, my MOM!

Steak, Potato, and Green Chile Stew

8 small potatoes, diced
1 lb. steak pieces (most sliced in half because chunks are often very large)
1 can diced tomatoes (we use petite diced...I don't like big chunks)
1 can tomato sauce
6 cups water
1 small can green chiles (we use peeled, diced chiles and prefer them to be mild)
1 tsp fresh garlic
1 can white corn
Season-All, to taste
onion salt, to taste
salt & pepper, to taste
beef bullion, 4 cubes

Brown steak in stew pot until thoroughly cooked.

Add 6 cups water, 4 bullion cubes, can of tomato sauce, and can of diced tomatoes to pot. Cover and cook on medium heat for about 25 minutes.

Add diced potatoes, bring to a boil, and cook over medium high heat until potatoes are done.

Add chiles, white corn, and spices to taste.

Serves about 8.

Comments from the cook: We love to eat this stew with wheat french bread (sometimes lightly toasted). Dennis, the originator of the recipe, makes it with fresh green chiles (the REALLY hot ones!) and cooks it in a crockpot all day. He serves it with tortillas or tortilla chips and a dollop of sour cream on top. His will make you CRY, so we toned it down to mild chiles :)

Originally shared by: Dennis Adlesperger, a former boss/friend from PC (His version is much hotter!)

Sweet & Sour Chicken

2 Tbsp canola oil
1/2 green bell pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
1 clove garlic (minced)
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 c soy sauce
8 oz can pineapple chunks or tidbits, including juice
1 Tbsp vinegar
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground ginger
chicken, defrosted and cubed

Brown chicken in oil. Add peppers and garlic.

In a separate bowl, combine cornstarch, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and ginger.

Add to chicken while pouring pineapple chunks (and juice) into pan.**

Bring to boil.

Serve over rice.

**If soy sauce mixture is poured over chicken first, it will thicken too quickly. To avoid this, add pineapple and juice BEFORE soy sauce mixture to avoid premature thickening.

Comments from the cook: The original recipe calls for sliced carrots also. One of us (not me) isn't a big fan of them, so we leave them out. Add other veggies as you see fit. The sauce in this recipe is fantastic, so the more, the merrier!

Originally shared by Melissa Bell, my former roommate