tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222765762024-03-04T21:04:53.654-08:00Cheap Chic LifestyleBecky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-75218101456302644102011-10-26T19:31:00.000-07:002011-10-27T10:16:40.601-07:00Fat Flush Soup<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvOjbb3oiS-CKNuPIQi9sJCQVVwp4w5DOuFp_CyfDJNAO8Biv5n6BJV7syQ_XU8VuXkTNfZBMw6H4gTwOZpVRrvv8aCs4OLAQC86gGyx1qfYilyqq3CcCMqmkuk4CxzbJBzgc/s1600/House+Picture+1204.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvOjbb3oiS-CKNuPIQi9sJCQVVwp4w5DOuFp_CyfDJNAO8Biv5n6BJV7syQ_XU8VuXkTNfZBMw6H4gTwOZpVRrvv8aCs4OLAQC86gGyx1qfYilyqq3CcCMqmkuk4CxzbJBzgc/s320/House+Picture+1204.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667996829428845890" border="0" /></a><br />I saw this recipe in <a href="http://www.annlouise.com/blog/2011/09/27/delicious-detox-slimming-soup/">Woman's World Magazine</a> for "Fat Flush Soup"! Supposedly if you eat it twice a day (lunch & dinner) for about a week, it's suppose to detox your system and help you lose weight. You also need to eat a high protein breakfast every morning. You can have some snacks through out the day like veggies with dips and fruits and yogurt, etc... and probably do some exercise too, ugh! Well anyway, I love soup so I'm willing to give it a try. I tweaked mine a little by adding Italian seasoned ground turkey, a little celery, carrots and cabbage and more broth. Here's my recipe for "Fat Flush Soup". We'll see how it works! :)<br /><br />2 tsp. olive oil<br />1 lb ground turkey ( I used Italian seasoned Jeanne O')<br />1 medium onion, chopped<br />1/2 large bell pepper, seeded and chopped<br />3-4 cloves fresh garlic, chopped<br />4-5 large mushrooms, chopped<br />1 cup of carrots, diced<br />1 cup of celery, diced<br />1 cup of green cabbage, chopped into bite sized chunks<br />1 14oz can diced tomatoes (I used fire roasted with green chilies)<br />2 32oz cartons of organic vegetable broth (or organic chicken broth)<br />Juice of 1 fresh lemon (this takes the place of salt)<br />3-4 shots of Worcestershire sauce<br />1/2 cup of white wine (optional)<br />1 14oz can of beans of your choice, drained (I used butter beans)<br />1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (you may use less if desired)<br />1 tsp. cumin<br />Cracked black pepper to taste<br />1/4 cup cilantro and/or parsley, chopped<br /><br />Add oil to a large pot and saute' meat over med-high heat until it's cooked through. Drain off juices and add onion, garlic, peppers and mushrooms. Cook about five minutes until soft. Add all remaining ingredients except cilantro and parsley. Stir and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about 20 minutes. Stir in cilantro and/or parsley and simmer for an addition 10 minutes. Soup stores in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Also freezes well.Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-51520183667746397792011-06-06T09:14:00.000-07:002011-06-06T11:05:12.653-07:00Sunny Day (Farmers Market) Chicken Soup<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFmiPCLlDvF1B_oL8wtLUtzGeGzIIRQU0b7k9asp-4atGyLqfCFKCT96uo93EvKyUpqUjEmO7ZJOqhAV2Ga2wWnTBUVkL9yHQ9X3CUsFl4UBssJi-kD519pfUNtub0DEfb5NR/s1600/House+Picture+1076.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFmiPCLlDvF1B_oL8wtLUtzGeGzIIRQU0b7k9asp-4atGyLqfCFKCT96uo93EvKyUpqUjEmO7ZJOqhAV2Ga2wWnTBUVkL9yHQ9X3CUsFl4UBssJi-kD519pfUNtub0DEfb5NR/s320/House+Picture+1076.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615141406838741778" border="0" /></a>This chicken and vegetable soup is so fresh and delicious! I used veggie fed sustainable farmed chicken (no antibiotics/hormones) and organic vegetables from my local farmer's market!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Recipe</span>:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Broth<span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;">5 chicken legs (or thighs)<br />10 cups water<br />1 cup of white wine (optional)<br />4 whole cloves of garlic (slightly smashed with knife)<br />1 medium onion (skin left on, cut into 4 pieces)<br />2 chicken bouillon cubes (broken up)<br />4 black peppercorns (or 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper)<br />1 teaspoon of course ground salt (or regular salt)<br />1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)<br />1 sprig of fresh rosemary<br />3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme<br />3-4 leaves of fresh sage<br />*Tie the herbs together with a string or thread to make a bouquet. You may substitute fresh herbs with a tbsp. of dried Italian seasoning<br /><br />Place all ingredients in a large pot and bring to a slow simmer, skimming the foam off top.<br />Simmer (partially covered) for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally.<br />Strain broth using a pasta strainer into a large bowl. Add the broth back into the pot.<br />Allow the chicken legs to cool while chopping the vegetables for the soup.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" > Soup Recipe<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 1/2 cups of sliced celery<br />1 1/2 cups of sliced carrots<br />3-4 sliced green onions (or 1/2 chopped yellow onion)<br />1/2 green pepper chopped<br />3 ears of white corn (kernels cut off of cob)<br />1 14oz. can of diced tomatoes<br />Juice of 1 fresh lemon<br />1 tsp. Agave nectar (or tsp. sugar)<br />Chicken meat pieces (pulled from the leg bones)<br /><br />Add all ingredients into broth and simmer for about 20 minutes.</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro or parsley.<br /></span></div>Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-21221746557188136572011-05-26T14:00:00.000-07:002011-10-27T10:05:59.270-07:00Comfort Casserole :)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7ItrDXuIvcHfyhtWZHE1XLGDy7eDcA7TgUQ4VV-A7Z5Xaag3bkSqXXhf-KMeZXJH8JwEY8SVraGzGIM1MBc-bEy3iungqaEbONxY5TiZAjjV4IToxXBYHIZvzHqQLMGMQFD4/s1600/House+Picture+1067.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCqERBK_gdHx3MCzv8QW0H38D5ak0EpEf6lJ7N_WDhpOEBQdM1XkSkKaay4vInkqvUEtpGV9wGieBo_JRjj0bDDp_-Q2IChgLUDyKzQ2HFU3L0smHv0B5JLfGyazHSRyb_gfj/s1600/House+Picture+1066.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCqERBK_gdHx3MCzv8QW0H38D5ak0EpEf6lJ7N_WDhpOEBQdM1XkSkKaay4vInkqvUEtpGV9wGieBo_JRjj0bDDp_-Q2IChgLUDyKzQ2HFU3L0smHv0B5JLfGyazHSRyb_gfj/s320/House+Picture+1066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611133244391166930" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1026"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Comfort Casserole </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">(8 Servings)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">5 Medium Potatoes, Peeled and Sliced ¼ inch thick</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">½ Cup Rice, Uncooked</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 Lb Hamburger, Broken Up and Cooked (I use organic)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">½ Lrg Yellow Onion, Sliced and broken into Rings</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">3 Medium Carrots, Peeled and Sliced (about 1 cup)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Butter or Pam Spray (to coat Casserole dish)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">2 Cups Water</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 Cup of White Wine (or water)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 Can Cream of Celery Soup (or any other cream soup)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 Tbsp. Sugar</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 Tbsp. Salt</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 tsp. Black Pepper</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a large casserole dish (or 9x13 cake pan) with butter or Pam spray. Layer potato slices, rice, hamburger, onion (broken into rings) and carrot slices, (in that order) evenly in the pan. Pour 2 cups of water evenly over casserole.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">In a separate bowl mix cream of celery soup with 1 cup of white wine (or water), sugar, salt and pepper. Pour evenly over casserole.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sprinkle Italian seasoning evenly over the top of casserole.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Bake covered (with lid or foil) for 1 hour. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Continue baking uncovered for an additional ½ hour.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">* Serve with a toss green salad on the side for a complete healthy meal!</span></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7ItrDXuIvcHfyhtWZHE1XLGDy7eDcA7TgUQ4VV-A7Z5Xaag3bkSqXXhf-KMeZXJH8JwEY8SVraGzGIM1MBc-bEy3iungqaEbONxY5TiZAjjV4IToxXBYHIZvzHqQLMGMQFD4/s1600/House+Picture+1067.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7ItrDXuIvcHfyhtWZHE1XLGDy7eDcA7TgUQ4VV-A7Z5Xaag3bkSqXXhf-KMeZXJH8JwEY8SVraGzGIM1MBc-bEy3iungqaEbONxY5TiZAjjV4IToxXBYHIZvzHqQLMGMQFD4/s320/House+Picture+1067.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611133780071473826" border="0" /></a>Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-13765236989992464342011-04-07T12:34:00.001-07:002011-04-07T13:26:23.441-07:00Spicy Baked Penne Pasta<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLOODSZ-tQ5KMJnD9bMI3riHjQi2UHs9ujZIrWxjSbyKUwCfN5Mh_V7UZXu877pkWUEQrlH4B2scZ7pjVeO6MVT_ZI2F4JqnK4eOaNCy2hGWLFUqJB094AMv6Oc36PSm-ep8A/s1600/House+Picture+1022.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLOODSZ-tQ5KMJnD9bMI3riHjQi2UHs9ujZIrWxjSbyKUwCfN5Mh_V7UZXu877pkWUEQrlH4B2scZ7pjVeO6MVT_ZI2F4JqnK4eOaNCy2hGWLFUqJB094AMv6Oc36PSm-ep8A/s320/House+Picture+1022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592928508533819794" border="0" /></a>It looks and tastes like lasagna only it's cheaper and easier to make!<br /></div><br />Here is the recipe:<br /><br />1 lb of penne pasta cooked according to directions<br />2 Tbls Butter (or margarine)<br />1 Tbls olive oil<br />1/2 med. onion diced<br />1/2 green bell pepper diced<br />3-4 cloved minced garlic<br />1 jar of marinara sauce of your choice. (I used Trader Joe's cheapest sauce)<br />1 14 oz can of fire roasted diced tomatoes<br />1 8oz can of El Pato spicy tomato sauce (sub. regular tomato sauce)<br />1/2 cup of white wine (optional)<br />Salt and pepper to taste<br />1 15oz ricotta cheese (I used WalMart's True Value brand on all cheeses)<br />3 cups Mozzarella cheese<br />1 cup grated Parmesan cheese<br />1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (sub. 1 Tbls of dried basil)<br />1 cup chopped fresh spinach (sub. 1 pkg. frozen spinach thawed, drained & chopped)<br /><br />Preheat oven to 325 degrees<br />Cook penne pasta according to package directions. Drain & toss with butter<br />Place pasta in a 9x13 baking pan<br />Heat olive oil in a large sauce pan<br />Saute' onion, pepper and garlic until tender<br />Add marinara sauce, fire roasted tomatoes, El Pato (or tomato) sauce and white wine<br />Bring sauce to a simmer<br />Mix together ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, basil, spinach and 1 cup of marinara sauce and add to the pasta. Mix well.<br />Pour remaining sauce over pasta and sprinkle remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top<br />Cover loosely with aluminum foil<br />Bake in a 325 degree oven for 50 minutes<br />Take out of oven and let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.<br /><br />This dish goes well with a salad and garlic bread! Yummy!!!Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-54878015707654967182010-11-01T19:34:00.000-07:002010-11-01T23:15:10.309-07:00Roasted Beet Salad w/Sauteed Chicken and Feta Cheese!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8J42cv7bUbUCe-3pgOKO3X4cV5qqiOSxjTC6ANt0tMeAUGdiFUnyvU961j7eOt_j7ytGUxfKDp4Aav18nP3oG6Az0lW7frrY95jHd8L3pz9b0-rHAKuo075VdxrVwcm34jp4/s1600/House+Picture+739.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8J42cv7bUbUCe-3pgOKO3X4cV5qqiOSxjTC6ANt0tMeAUGdiFUnyvU961j7eOt_j7ytGUxfKDp4Aav18nP3oG6Az0lW7frrY95jHd8L3pz9b0-rHAKuo075VdxrVwcm34jp4/s320/House+Picture+739.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534776916042296098" border="0" /></a>What a great salad inspired by Maurizio's restaurant "Mangia la Pizza"! So healthy, so cheap and tasty too!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Recipe for one salad:<br /><br />1 medium roasted beet (golden or purple) cooled, peeled and diced<br />Olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder<br />1-2 cups green salad mix (I used a spring mix)<br />1 Tbsp chopped onion<br />1/2 tomato chopped<br />1 boneless chicken breast, marinated, sauteed and sliced (you may omit this if you are vegetarian)<br />2 Tbsp balsamic vinaigrette (I used Trader Joe's brand)<br />1 Tbsp crumbled feta cheese (Maurizio uses goat cheese)<br /><br />Cut the tops and bottoms off of the beet(s) and discard. Scrub beet(s) clean and pat dry. Rub outer skins with olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place in a pie pan and roast in a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes until tender when pierced with a fork. Let beets cool, take off peeling by hand and dice into bite size pieces. Marinate chicken breasts for one hour in Italian dressing and saute' in a frying pan on medium heat for about 7-10 minutes on each side. Let chicken cool and slice lengthwise. Assemble salad ingredients and top with diced beets, chicken and feta cheese. Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette on top! Bon Appetite!<br /><br />P.S. Fresh roasted beets have an amazing flavor unlike the ones out of a can that I used to eat when I was a kid (I liked those too)! I had gotten a bunch (4) of the golden beets at the farmers market. I roasted them all together and used one per individual salad. They are light, sweet and delicious!<br /></div></div>Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-9412854674288505652010-10-29T10:46:00.001-07:002010-10-29T19:55:55.859-07:00French Onion Veggie Soup<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45NdEesWW9Teizknd4PyLFNV-VNsNMWhCQifurTYEMGJEV7un83La3ribxbTRaNBVQR8jDwYaf_aOMg83bYGcROf8vZ0uI4PCSUlFzbJJMBexfbGH_6kbSooT8jn0V5FokR23/s1600/House+Picture+737.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45NdEesWW9Teizknd4PyLFNV-VNsNMWhCQifurTYEMGJEV7un83La3ribxbTRaNBVQR8jDwYaf_aOMg83bYGcROf8vZ0uI4PCSUlFzbJJMBexfbGH_6kbSooT8jn0V5FokR23/s320/House+Picture+737.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533526007912277570" border="0" /></a>This is so easy, so good and so cheap!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Recipe:<br /><br />3 large onions cut in half and sliced (I used a purple, yellow and a white)<br />3 Tbs of butter (or margarine)<br />1/2 red bell pepper chopped<br />2 large cloves garlic minced<br />1 tsp of pepper flakes (optional)<br />1 cup of wine (red or white, I used white)<br />2 large carrots sliced<br />1/2 head of green cabbage coarsely chopped<br />4 med-large russet potatoes peeled and cut into bite size chunks<br />2 32oz organic beef broth (I used Wolfgang Puck's)<br />4 cups of water<br />1 packet of Lipton Onion Soup mix (I used the store brand)<br />3 sprigs of fresh thyme (or 1 tsp of dried)<br />Your favorite grated cheese (optional)<br /><br />Melt the butter in a large pot. Add onions and saute' over medium heat for about 20 minutes, stirring about every five minutes, until they are caramelized (browned). Add red bell pepper, garlic and pepper flakes. Cook about 1-2 more minutes. Stir in the remaining ingredients, except for the cheese. Bring to a gentle simmer. Place a lid tilted on top of the pan and cook for about 20 minutes (stirring occasionally) until potatoes are tender. Serve in cups or bowls with your favorite grated cheese sprinkled on top. Eat with some crusty bread! Makes about 10 servings! Yummy!<br /></div></div>Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-62761625435823712292010-10-17T19:01:00.000-07:002010-10-18T09:06:13.587-07:00Fresh Pico de Gallo and Chips<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMXBGguAd7rwVjoOfbyhai8KB_kaUwt345VeMbSEVgMEj1rL5fy-WNKUwYhZ-83YTfyCLG5FuW5HmxxB7zfzyksyG7xuboezZEfYAtELcw3Hi76qFhUOm3TmlhMp0efImVR8N/s1600/House+Picture+735.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMXBGguAd7rwVjoOfbyhai8KB_kaUwt345VeMbSEVgMEj1rL5fy-WNKUwYhZ-83YTfyCLG5FuW5HmxxB7zfzyksyG7xuboezZEfYAtELcw3Hi76qFhUOm3TmlhMp0efImVR8N/s320/House+Picture+735.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529202683716863154" border="0" /></a>This was my dinner tonight. Seems a little weird but it was fresh and good! Here is the recipe...<br /><br />1 big fat fresh tomato chopped (or two small)<br />1 Serrano or Jalapeno pepper seeded and minced<br />2 cloves of fresh garlic minced<br />1/2 small yellow onion minced<br />2 Tbsp fresh cilantro minced<br />1 tsp dried oregano<br />1/4 tsp cumin powder<br />1 tsp Tabasco sauce<br />Juice of one lime<br />Salt and Pepper to taste<br /><br />Mix all ingredients together and marinate for one hour. Serve with chips! Yum!Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-9656664620141360672010-10-12T11:21:00.000-07:002010-10-12T11:53:37.662-07:00Grandma Molly's Zucchini Squash<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQuhFUnIBKv7-MEN_s5rQXwPECyxXz6yfH-gv9m2VjBT7iUkc1MJbIvvHJ09e3TZVErbYAjo8eIKnbt9onVTdcUqEqDVSJjR790Zwbj5MkYVssQq7ujm93kG903EfUcJDVBOd/s1600/House+Picture+734.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQuhFUnIBKv7-MEN_s5rQXwPECyxXz6yfH-gv9m2VjBT7iUkc1MJbIvvHJ09e3TZVErbYAjo8eIKnbt9onVTdcUqEqDVSJjR790Zwbj5MkYVssQq7ujm93kG903EfUcJDVBOd/s320/House+Picture+734.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527226913874306562" border="0" /></a>When I was growing up one of my favorite dishes was my grandma Molly's zucchini with peppers, onions, garlic and tomato sauce. It was her father Pedro's recipe. I actually ate this the night before I gave birth to my daughter and woke up all night long with "indigestion" which turned out to be labor pains! lol! Last night my friend Jose brought me a big bag of organic zucchini, yellow summer squash and green peppers so I couldn't resist making a pot even though it was 9pm. Hey, it's always better the next day anyway.... so I'm sitting here eating some right now as I type... it's so good with sourdough toast! Here is the old family recipe! Enjoy!<br /><br />2 Tbsp Olive oil<br />3-4 cloves fresh garlic<br />1 med yellow onion (cut in half and sliced)<br />1 large green pepper (sliced into strips)<br />1 tsp of Italian seasoning<br />2 pounds zucchini (or mix of zucchini and yellow squash) Sliced thick<br />Salt and Pepper<br />2 8oz cans of Hunts tomato sauce<br />Capers or sliced green olives on top as a garnish (optiional)<br /><br />In a dutch oven (big pot) over med high heat saute' garlic, peppers and onions until soft. Add sliced squash, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Stir and place a lid on the pan for 7-10 minutes. Then stir again and cover for another 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce, stir and cover for another 5-7 minutes. Now it's ready to eat with some garlic bread. You can garnish with a few capers or sliced green olives on top (very "tapas"). You may also serve over rice or pasta with a little Parmesan cheese! Smells and tastes delicious!Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-33283179376213581852010-10-02T16:48:00.001-07:002010-10-29T10:46:07.987-07:00Lemon Garlic Pesto Pasta with Chicken<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhA36o1R2peQu1XSFLq69oMa91aTZ6eyw75Yt22F56zyXAFvyGL09O2QjRqLrMpQgO3Q3kM2-jedqsXbYMXhTyOYaC8yF9aykn1fKZXDJ5-aMbD02RzeZwQXcRvFw0myLGeNUu/s1600/House+Picture+664.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhA36o1R2peQu1XSFLq69oMa91aTZ6eyw75Yt22F56zyXAFvyGL09O2QjRqLrMpQgO3Q3kM2-jedqsXbYMXhTyOYaC8yF9aykn1fKZXDJ5-aMbD02RzeZwQXcRvFw0myLGeNUu/s320/House+Picture+664.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523600172645596034" border="0" /></a>This is such a fresh and easy pasta dish made with tomatoes, garlic, pesto, wine, fresh basil, lemon juice, grilled chicken breasts marinated for a couple of hours in Italian dressing (omit these if you're vegetarian or you don't happen to have any chicken) and grated Parmesan cheese. It may also be served without chicken as a delicious vegetarian dish. Here is the recipe... enjoy!<br /><br />Recipe:<br /><br />2 Tbsp olive oil<br />3-4 cloves of garlic minced<br />1 cup white wine<br />3 Tbsp of pesto (I used Classico brand in a jar)<br />2 14 1/2 oz cans of diced tomatoes (may substitute w/4 cups of fresh chopped tomatoes)<br />1 tsp of pepper flakes (optional)<br />Salt and pepper to taste<br />Juice of one fresh lemon<br />2 boneless cooked chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces (optional)<br />1 lb of any type of pasta cooked al dente.<br />1/2 cup of fresh basil chopped<br />1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (I was out of Parmesan so I used feta)<br /><br />In a large frying pan saute garlic in olive oil until golden. Pour in wine and simmer until amount is reduced by half (3-5 minutes). Add pesto, tomatoes, pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste. Heat thoroughly. Place cooked/drained pasta in a large "pasta" bowl and top with chicken pieces. Pour sauce over the top and sprinkle with fresh lemon juice, basil and cheese. Makes approximately 6 servings.Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-61850028830265693622010-09-23T13:20:00.001-07:002010-09-24T18:42:10.273-07:00Creamy Veggie Casserole<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8rThqtO6q-1EiRxlPr-CDP7d1WFxN5nuUdHBNnqvbw5eGzs7Zh-DUIWj4OQukGo8cpFtJdcwcfNfeba5uXUpplxYUrw8B8s-qaC9UYeAkclc3HwbUuUWTKPu8yLDyJADhL0B/s1600/House+Picture+623.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8rThqtO6q-1EiRxlPr-CDP7d1WFxN5nuUdHBNnqvbw5eGzs7Zh-DUIWj4OQukGo8cpFtJdcwcfNfeba5uXUpplxYUrw8B8s-qaC9UYeAkclc3HwbUuUWTKPu8yLDyJADhL0B/s320/House+Picture+623.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520206688909586946" border="0" /></a>So rich, so good, so comforting! There can be many variations of this dish depending on what veggies you have on hand and whatever cheese you happen to have. It calls for pimentos but if I don't have any I will sub with chopped tomatoes or red pepper or sun dried tomato, etc... The staples for the sauce are cream of anything soup. This time I used cream of mushroom with garlic (so far my fav) but you can use any cream soup. Then there is a 1/4 cup of mayo to make it extra creamy, then shredded cheese and the juice of one fresh lemon. Of course I have to splash a little white wine in there to give it that extra rich flavor! :) The casserole can be eaten alone or served over rice. Add a fresh green salad and you have a delicious, healthy vegetarian meal. For you carnivores you made add chopped cooked chicken or even shrimp! It's super easy and super yummy!<br /><br />Recipe: (This is how I made today's variation)<br /><br />3 crowns of Broccoli (cut up and steamed till tender crisp)<br />1 large Carrot (sliced and steamed till tender crisp)<br />2 yellow summer squash (sliced and steamed till tender crisp)<br /><br />Note: I've used cauliflower before which is very good!<br /><br />Place steamed (drained) Veggies in a cake pan evenly spread out.<br /><br />Sauce:<br />2 cans of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom w/garlic soup<br />1 small jar of chopped Pimentos<br />1/2 cup white wine (optional)<br />1 cup shredded cheese (I used crumbled feta today because that's all I had)<br />1/4 cup of mayonnaise<br />Juice of 1 lemon<br />2 tsp curry powder (optional)<br />salt and pepper<br /><br />Mix sauce together and spread evenly over the top of veggies.<br />Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35 minutes.<br />Prepare any type of rice according to package directions.<br />Serve Veggies over rice... add a fresh green salad on the side and you have a fabulous dinner!Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-29567169617202616872010-09-13T18:02:00.000-07:002010-09-13T18:51:39.034-07:00Harvest 3 Bean Vegetarian Chili<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyJ_5Mv58DRlsDyCFl4SUW2P2K7GCB9SmCj2CqEttb9A-NyVJpmFiOCIgEJjO3-XoyS-clPQ383s5D-KyFL0QpU2RdxDzXZ9e1L1PpyqH3wTdhwE7nhiDhatn6e4zrF1V9GhP/s1600/House+Picture+614.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4LpScqYjfj3DGv6SLoz_adKtYdAhtbfPu7RoTXCPRDCIyy_DwAPxfVJrwoSqDO0Or2g8HGb4fWoveqkF-aPuez4jaombq8c9M8mLfBGlPi1vBV3LwFZJmSy-NY5wEMo__EZx/s1600/House+Picture+611.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4LpScqYjfj3DGv6SLoz_adKtYdAhtbfPu7RoTXCPRDCIyy_DwAPxfVJrwoSqDO0Or2g8HGb4fWoveqkF-aPuez4jaombq8c9M8mLfBGlPi1vBV3LwFZJmSy-NY5wEMo__EZx/s320/House+Picture+611.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516569578921497666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fall is in the air! It was a little foggy this morning and very cool outside so I decided to make a 3 bean vegetarian chili! Placed all the ingredients in the crockpot and six hours later... Yummy</span>!</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyJ_5Mv58DRlsDyCFl4SUW2P2K7GCB9SmCj2CqEttb9A-NyVJpmFiOCIgEJjO3-XoyS-clPQ383s5D-KyFL0QpU2RdxDzXZ9e1L1PpyqH3wTdhwE7nhiDhatn6e4zrF1V9GhP/s1600/House+Picture+614.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyJ_5Mv58DRlsDyCFl4SUW2P2K7GCB9SmCj2CqEttb9A-NyVJpmFiOCIgEJjO3-XoyS-clPQ383s5D-KyFL0QpU2RdxDzXZ9e1L1PpyqH3wTdhwE7nhiDhatn6e4zrF1V9GhP/s320/House+Picture+614.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516571288395782146" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1026"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Three Bean Vegetarian Chili</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 med. yellow onion chopped</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">4 cloves garlic minced</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">½ green bell pepper chopped</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">½ red bell pepper chopped</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 small jalapeño pepper chopped</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 large carrot thinly sliced</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 large stalk celery thinly sliced</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">2 yellow squashes cut into thick (bite size) chunks</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 small can of corn</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 28oz can of diced tomatoes </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">2 14.5 oz cans of tomato sauce</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 11.5oz can of V8 vegetable juice</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 14.5oz can of chili beans with spices (I used S&W)</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 14.5oz can of white (cannelloni) beans (drained)</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 14.5oz can of black beans (drained)</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 Tbsp dried oregano</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">2 Tbsp chili powder</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1/4 tsp cayenne pepper</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1/4 tsp red pepper flakes</span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 tsp sugar<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">1 tsp soy sauce</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">½ tsp salt</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">½ tsp of ground black pepper</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">¼ tsp cumin</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">¼ cup of red wine (optional)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Place all ingredients in crockpot and stir together.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Serve each bowl topped with grated cheese, sour cream and fresh herbs of your choice and a fresh squeeze of lime juice on top for added flavor!</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Makes 8-10 servings</span></p>Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-89096411222729612862010-09-05T09:16:00.000-07:002010-09-05T10:01:52.295-07:00Summer Time Veggies and Farmer's Market!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKw5fkp3VTSCXQYItsmsXIbPbGA1vD5p5OObakPjNbIbCMPZf3fDr1fR4q2ttrcSrx1T9gt6lJxHmcPTBvImffltZzuO5PSWyIdiSSHmRygZu8JNuwX-o5r5LH4fVANTuHJ6_g/s1600/House+Picture+597.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKw5fkp3VTSCXQYItsmsXIbPbGA1vD5p5OObakPjNbIbCMPZf3fDr1fR4q2ttrcSrx1T9gt6lJxHmcPTBvImffltZzuO5PSWyIdiSSHmRygZu8JNuwX-o5r5LH4fVANTuHJ6_g/s320/House+Picture+597.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513465027324422434" border="0" /></a>We're having an amazingly mild summer here in Northern California! One of my favoritie things to do every Saturday morning is go to the Farmer's Market here in Morgan Hill. I live downtown so it's literally right around the corner!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rnh2dwUK4KkS2TZ6kTRT6pR8a9LrOigC4MDFh4o_4zRlUMasdfyd34O3JludaaSI8-JtHNaV7vmF2pthCl1JH44b2ZFZvwfLX_ALuVkAwOyazZiSRlwwT2Szw5qXa8RPKkOa/s1600/House+Picture+601.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rnh2dwUK4KkS2TZ6kTRT6pR8a9LrOigC4MDFh4o_4zRlUMasdfyd34O3JludaaSI8-JtHNaV7vmF2pthCl1JH44b2ZFZvwfLX_ALuVkAwOyazZiSRlwwT2Szw5qXa8RPKkOa/s320/House+Picture+601.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513464662875097170" border="0" /></a>I had $20 bucks in my pocket so this is what I got! Aren't they beautiful? I laid them all out on my kitchen table and took this picture. Love all the colors of nature up against my red table!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgnfWRKexRHUcjGVzRnNSLpfErCfjv1Ia8naVIhLUnuS_H8mt9UX0wEA2b76SbnMlc8Ebf0ancD6aLJM7G4fOQFncWuPbM9_ZY4CmSOSBP4X8Z9V34S94lDt3YGM3GsvmjuCN/s1600/House+Picture+602.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgnfWRKexRHUcjGVzRnNSLpfErCfjv1Ia8naVIhLUnuS_H8mt9UX0wEA2b76SbnMlc8Ebf0ancD6aLJM7G4fOQFncWuPbM9_ZY4CmSOSBP4X8Z9V34S94lDt3YGM3GsvmjuCN/s320/House+Picture+602.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513464391581450130" border="0" /></a>Last night I made this simple, fresh green bean salad which I will probably eat with grilled salmon tonight, ahhhh! Delish and.... cheap chic!!!<br /><br />Marinated Green Bean Salad<br /><br />1 pound of fresh green beans (rinsed, trimmed and cut)<br />1 cup of cherry tomatoes (rinsed and cut in half)<br />1 small sweet white onion (cut into thin slivers) Purple onion works well too<br />1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing (I used Newman's own)<br /><br />Boil a pot of water and toss in the beans. Let them cook about 3 minutes. Then drain them and rinse with cool water. Place them in a bowl (a pretty bowl is best, lol) with the tomatoes, onions and dressing. Mix to coat with the salad dressing. Refrigerate over night. I re-toss them a couple of more times through out the night to make sure all the beans get marinated well. So crispy, so light, so healthy! Goes well with any meal! Enjoy! :)Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-7752461817903180472010-08-20T18:37:00.001-07:002010-08-20T21:08:15.117-07:00Chicken Parmesan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1L3MOl0RjpdqM38dsqnV7ekXDS32MVFn8YJxZ6WiXudUqg2haqF8u3YoQWA2s0UI8h0erBG8fXsXkobiDAj4Aq69vxJZjPmgSR2gXLeAt8z2wdaxSjw1TlZ4_3IUx_WJf5dD/s1600/House+Picture+572.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1L3MOl0RjpdqM38dsqnV7ekXDS32MVFn8YJxZ6WiXudUqg2haqF8u3YoQWA2s0UI8h0erBG8fXsXkobiDAj4Aq69vxJZjPmgSR2gXLeAt8z2wdaxSjw1TlZ4_3IUx_WJf5dD/s320/House+Picture+572.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507671898762133634" border="0" /></a>This is easy, cheap and so good! Okay here goes... Sauce consisted of a can of Del Monte Spaghetti sauce from Dollar Tree and a can of S&W diced tomatoes. A couple of cloves of fresh minced garlic and a little minced onion sauteed in olive oil then add the sauce and tomatoes. I have a basil plant so I minced some of the leaves and threw it in. You could sprinkle a couple of teaspoons of dry basil (or Italian seasoning) if you don't have fresh. Let the sauce simmer while you're preparing the rest of the meal.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQ8cl-LtNjBg-ul9A6-KqOPZiwNXO-QnDmrLBiBmlKN_ulgRNCDj10D1ALgGi0TmYW_iJJwJHbFY9VITrBy-zDqooAJs5PVkFbsnq6QaPa4FYaEiukwIC6_WuH-G0qgT5VpKu/s1600/House+Picture+575.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQ8cl-LtNjBg-ul9A6-KqOPZiwNXO-QnDmrLBiBmlKN_ulgRNCDj10D1ALgGi0TmYW_iJJwJHbFY9VITrBy-zDqooAJs5PVkFbsnq6QaPa4FYaEiukwIC6_WuH-G0qgT5VpKu/s320/House+Picture+575.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507671877979127330" border="0" /></a>I got a package of 3 boneless chicken breasts from WalMart. Pound them out on a cutting board with a meat tenderizer (meat pounder, lol) until they are about a 1/2 inch thick. Whip up an egg in a bowl and sprinkle some bread crumbs on a plate. Dip the chicken breast into the egg and then into the bread crumbs generously coating it. Then saute in olive oil until golden brown on both sides.<br /><br />Spray a cake pan with PAM ( or rub with a little oil) and add a little sauce on the bottom of the pan (enough to cover) then lay each chicken breast in the pan. Cover them with the remaining sauce and bake for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven.<br /><br />While chicken is baking cook the pasta (al dente). Then drain and place it back in the pan. Add butter and toss. Cover the pan to keep pasta warm.<br /><br />When chicken has baked for 30 minutes add generous hand fulls of shredded Mozzarella cheese on top of each chicken breast and bake 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtobeBQNd39K51mltY5O-025K293JW3r7ar7NRsXmxind-FGbgHxTYQSp9pBSwWqBuAtW8bgO9fl6rP4ikL2NWVXfnCe24JuCh3xq9MHqClI12B1_LmUFiW5dADiIia1V2o7zU/s1600/House+Picture+577.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtobeBQNd39K51mltY5O-025K293JW3r7ar7NRsXmxind-FGbgHxTYQSp9pBSwWqBuAtW8bgO9fl6rP4ikL2NWVXfnCe24JuCh3xq9MHqClI12B1_LmUFiW5dADiIia1V2o7zU/s320/House+Picture+577.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507671870093072962" border="0" /></a>Place about 1/2 cup of pasta on a plate and then place a chicken breast on top and add a little more sauce! So delicious! Serve with a green salad on the side and you have an awesome cheap chic Italian meal that rivals even the best Italian restaurant in town. The best part about this entire meal is that it generously feeds a family of 4 for the same cost as one of those meals at that Italian restaurant! Bon Appetit!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasKZuN0PeH-9JCCY0wov9y5g8Hmj8OfMZmiUvl6ygTWd_70pdRklAOPLaINoiAjXqKXISNlYZzh725TrsOGgBhHunlEiUO0hUpVDmx-3CJb6MOty94IBfqLkQnqLQ0P2QCg7m/s1600/House+Picture+578.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasKZuN0PeH-9JCCY0wov9y5g8Hmj8OfMZmiUvl6ygTWd_70pdRklAOPLaINoiAjXqKXISNlYZzh725TrsOGgBhHunlEiUO0hUpVDmx-3CJb6MOty94IBfqLkQnqLQ0P2QCg7m/s320/House+Picture+578.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507671856310444434" border="0" /></a>Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-63429746169539624702010-08-17T01:31:00.000-07:002010-08-17T01:55:53.448-07:00Something to really think about...<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://life-at-thistlegarden.blogspot.com/2010/07/what-if.html">What if....</a> </h3> <div class="post-header"> </div> What if you had to cut down every tree you need to build your house...<br />Would you build a 3000 SQ FT house plus a bonus and great room?<br /><br />What if you had to carry all the water you needed in buckets...<br />Would you take a 30 minute shower?<br /><br />What if you had to grow all your own food, every single morsel....<br />Would you throw any of it out?<br /><br />What if you had to dig for every single drop of oil then refine it....<br />Would you drive 100 feet to the store 10 times a day?<br /><br />What if you had to sew everything you wore....<br />Would you still need all the clothes you have?<br /><br />What if an animal had to give up it's life...<br />And what if you had to kill that animal....<br />Would you still need 20 pairs of shoes and handbags to match?<br />Would you only eat the choice cuts of meat?<br /><br />What if we all consumed as if we had to procure and manufacture everything we need ourselves?<br />Would you consume, use and throw out less?<br /><br />I don't want to go back in time. I believe in progress but....not at the expense of my fellow humans, future humans and the planet.<br /><br />Every time you get in your car or buy something or throw something out think about it. Can you do without it? Can you recycle it? Can you make it yourself?<br /><br /><br />*I got this from an awesome blog called <a href="http://life-at-thistlegarden.blogspot.com/">Thistle Garden</a>. Check it out!Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-44831651358537799092010-06-10T13:48:00.000-07:002010-06-10T15:59:48.919-07:00Farmer's Market Spring Veggie Soup<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUZjNKkQdJpfbmxGYrB-xrdfeXGXcgG96v7DQENXoGVI8y4X8IFPzVVICUnMs97c_u7Pa6CKKfnUq2WA1V_9LStHIiY9Wp_gjgNHu0FifUKmjhYnMSQxrPJtgkoB4v2EZ7oyL/s1600/Craigslist+022.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUZjNKkQdJpfbmxGYrB-xrdfeXGXcgG96v7DQENXoGVI8y4X8IFPzVVICUnMs97c_u7Pa6CKKfnUq2WA1V_9LStHIiY9Wp_gjgNHu0FifUKmjhYnMSQxrPJtgkoB4v2EZ7oyL/s320/Craigslist+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481250096833547314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCpJ2vtNc6igBWPvBVedb16d0fjfqsOVIQBktkJXyjSxqMxBSxxg8aps7dLex-ujD3zHO4xLWFwU5uvCFe2FffCRgEADIKUMFgWToDJh5bGsYIWsYuhyphenhyphenS2ZeUsu9jlwPZsYaG/s1600/Craigslist+021.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCpJ2vtNc6igBWPvBVedb16d0fjfqsOVIQBktkJXyjSxqMxBSxxg8aps7dLex-ujD3zHO4xLWFwU5uvCFe2FffCRgEADIKUMFgWToDJh5bGsYIWsYuhyphenhyphenS2ZeUsu9jlwPZsYaG/s320/Craigslist+021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481250089749543794" border="0" /></a>It's beautiful spring weather here in Northern California. Temperatures have been in the 70's and 80's! Every Saturday I go to our local Morgan Hill (my town's) Farmer's Market. I'm lucky that it's only one block from where I live! There is a wide variety of organic and pesticide free locally grown vegetables. Today I decided to make a spring vegetable soup! Ahhhhh, it turned out so yummy! I just made up the recipe as I went along, throwing in a little of this and a little of that! I must say that it turned out so good that I decided to write it down (before I forget) lol, and share it with you all!<br /><br />Farmer's Market Spring Veggie Soup:<br /><br />2 Tblsp Olive Oil<br />4-5 Cloves Fresh Garlic<br />1 Med Onion chopped<br />1 Bell Pepper chopped (I used half green/half red)<br />3 Celery Stalks chopped (1 cup)<br />5 Carrots chopped (2 cups)<br />1 Tbsp dried Italian Seasonings<br />1 tsp Salt (I used ground sea salt from Dollar Tree)<br />1/2 tsp Pepper (I used ground pepper from Dollar Tree)<br /><br />Saute' all of this until onions are clear and then add the following:<br /><br />3- 32oz cartons of Chicken or Veg Broth (3 Quarts)<br />(I used Trader Joe's Free Range Organic Chicken Broth)<br />1- 14 oz can Organic diced Tomatoes<br />1- 6 oz can Tomatoes Paste<br />1/2 cup White Wine (optional)<br />(I used Two Buck Chuck Chardonnay from Trader Joe's)<br />3 Large Potatoes cut into chunks<br />1/2 head of Cabbage cut into chunks<br />1 tsp Dried Dill (or fresh)<br />1 tsp Sugar<br /><br />Bring this to boil and simmer for about 10 minutes until veggies start to soften. Then add the following:<br /><br />1 med. Zucchini cut into chunks<br />1- 14 oz can of White Cannelloni Beans drained and rinsed<br />Juice of one Lemon<br />2 Tbsp of a chopped Fresh Herb (I used Rosemary)<br />(Any herb of your choice will do... Basil, Cilantro, Thyme, etc...)<br /><br />Simmer about 10 - 15 more minutes and serve with crusty bread! So healthy and so delicious!Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-66528719137079007032010-05-10T14:33:00.001-07:002010-09-05T10:11:12.603-07:00Cheap Chic Pizza!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0asMQxLAx6Tg1gcv4A1UQgz9zIk5_WL2oQHoIClScMSMV9cuD6ptk2xyjA0_3A1xqgDaHwmPeQ-a8BpKkAkG9ZH9RsfD4d_pp6elTWRDaunKPWXjtgxK1Zde1GDwZCot-9zvm/s1600/House+Picture+310.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0asMQxLAx6Tg1gcv4A1UQgz9zIk5_WL2oQHoIClScMSMV9cuD6ptk2xyjA0_3A1xqgDaHwmPeQ-a8BpKkAkG9ZH9RsfD4d_pp6elTWRDaunKPWXjtgxK1Zde1GDwZCot-9zvm/s320/House+Picture+310.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469757823206162370" border="0" /></a>You know how they charge an arm and a leg for those bistro/brewing company wood fired pizzas? Well now you can do your own at home for literally a couple of bucks! Just get Trader Joe's already made pizza dough in a bag, about $1.29 (or any other store brand dough for that matter) and any tomato/marinara sauce, your favorite fresh veggies and some grated cheese! Roll out the dough on a floured surface with a floured coated rolling pin. Bake the crust on a cookie sheet at 425 degrees for about 10 minutes. My cookie sheet may look dirty to you but I prefer to think of it as "seasoned" lol! Then take out of the oven and spread the sauce on the dough. Sprinkle the grated cheese and any chopped veggies on top. Bake for another 10-15 minutes and you'll have the best little healthy gourmet pizza on the planet! Add a chopped green salad on the side and of course a glass of vino and you will have yourself a little gourmet meal for way under $10.00 dollars! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2fcUl-GQJZXQH98y8GSHWgiSdRTY14mITRU49VyaMvitlM9TrtKqG7ixVQXcKenZYw5ZErdtbOxDQH7EqPC3V_6IqxzXowsvTenfE_yIGR1pfpJsT955QoFP6J48hv0cDr-j/s1600/House+Picture+314.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2fcUl-GQJZXQH98y8GSHWgiSdRTY14mITRU49VyaMvitlM9TrtKqG7ixVQXcKenZYw5ZErdtbOxDQH7EqPC3V_6IqxzXowsvTenfE_yIGR1pfpJsT955QoFP6J48hv0cDr-j/s320/House+Picture+314.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469759962450869474" border="0" /></a>Think pizza party! Everyone could make their own little pizza! Make a big salad and pour the wine. Perfect meal for a wine tasting party too! So cheap and so very chic!Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-72846727276972152772010-01-31T15:43:00.000-08:002010-01-31T17:45:55.666-08:00Cheap Veggie Indian Curry Over Rice<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbsJAYftJKQbvnTdmil8fQCKj5Zw9BouPhH81z_kpFJZr_zomlO0rj_byPMT0Ijb4OvbpZf2rNj5kAl2yN-A6lCtMnh6aHpI12Act-LOP6yXhYaVY6LFNcfqLy2Dpq6SlP5G7/s1600-h/House+Picture+286.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbsJAYftJKQbvnTdmil8fQCKj5Zw9BouPhH81z_kpFJZr_zomlO0rj_byPMT0Ijb4OvbpZf2rNj5kAl2yN-A6lCtMnh6aHpI12Act-LOP6yXhYaVY6LFNcfqLy2Dpq6SlP5G7/s320/House+Picture+286.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433058892952307586" border="0" /></a>Tonight I made a very cheap and very exotic meal using Trader Joe's Curry Simmer Sauce. Ever since my son Carson watched the movie<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eKYyD14d_0"> "Food Inc"</a> he has decided to go vegetarian unless he can track where the meat is coming from and where it was slaughtered/prepared and packaged. Smart boy! However now this means that considering his 6'3" frame he now wants to eat almost every 2 hours because let's face it veggies don't stick to your ribs as long as meat does. Well anyway back to my recipe... Both he and I love Indian food so I purchased a bottle of Trader Joe's Curry Simmer Sauce and decided to make it with all vegetables over rice. I steamed two cups of rice in 4 cups of vegetable broth with a teaspoon of curry powder in a large sauce pan. I stir fried some veggies (chopped onion, chopped green pepper, 3 minced cloves garlic, 3 sliced carrots, 2 chopped zucchini, 1 small head of cauliflower chopped in 1 tablespoon of olive oil) in a large frying pan. I added the Curry sauce with one cup of water and a little splash of white wine (which I was drinking while preparing the meal, lol)! I then added a can of drained garbanzo beans. I brought the whole thing to a simmer, covering with a lid for about 20 minutes. Ummmm the smell was incredible!. I served this concoction over a bed of rice with some finely chopped cilantro on top (you could use parsley of any other herb you have on hand). Wow! What an awesome vegetarian meal and so filling and cheap too!!! Give it a try! I ate it alone but I'm sure it would be great with a chopped green salad on the side with some ranch or vinaigrette dressing! Wowza!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMEZllW94M2LYRZLzEpEpoWiq2WxzxYyaZhAYqblYG1fVcWEL_simcSdKTu5dngf68n_xkq4M67gqrk7QvlZZTaoZUCQiN1kKlUfHUZfRlCx6jb2QTa_a57Kze5YUV274Z5WO/s1600-h/House+Picture+290.jpg"><br /></a>Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-32715037772817625702009-10-15T10:49:00.000-07:002009-10-15T14:24:56.789-07:00The Best "Cheap Chic" Fish Tacos on the Planet!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jcTchqJgO1XJXUlyqcIx4NDKanVgoPOIZEf84c2O2im1ecGCc6yI1arWTpsxYboYXIbKLp5g3qxJloMI_cI9NCFjRxCmtdfGLSBd-Gwa9dFtVBkXYTzwp9p8F3xQBSQ1_24A/s1600-h/Food+040.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jcTchqJgO1XJXUlyqcIx4NDKanVgoPOIZEf84c2O2im1ecGCc6yI1arWTpsxYboYXIbKLp5g3qxJloMI_cI9NCFjRxCmtdfGLSBd-Gwa9dFtVBkXYTzwp9p8F3xQBSQ1_24A/s320/Food+040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392894927609882402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYbvnzD1hl4bKZq6mrbgU-bqADW2X6F3p03NSkhjLmg1oWxI6U9G5thcLuwPCipPl7s-tvSQSE_qo1-S14WQ-ceGnP9YEg6GCIUvi9vhq_VOnthkR5sJ0QrCzNtQQr0y23KfF/s1600-h/Food+036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYbvnzD1hl4bKZq6mrbgU-bqADW2X6F3p03NSkhjLmg1oWxI6U9G5thcLuwPCipPl7s-tvSQSE_qo1-S14WQ-ceGnP9YEg6GCIUvi9vhq_VOnthkR5sJ0QrCzNtQQr0y23KfF/s320/Food+036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392894804533167106" border="0" /></a><br />I do believe that I have found the best fish tacos on the planet! It's the best kept secret in Northern California! Their fish tacos and any/all of their seafood dishes are literally 5 star restaurant quality with "Super Taqueria" prices!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF2P6QrT8M6hoyu9sozYAgVfCmWylwU1FAqeCysOqKIjV9yZk0AURMZPCJ-OhXy1VemDaU46Ot6ULLz-Tk5_uNObXzfIaMrTnjBppmYvWuKSXm9wPfb78YbFunNFr6IGOA4m4/s1600-h/Food+044.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF2P6QrT8M6hoyu9sozYAgVfCmWylwU1FAqeCysOqKIjV9yZk0AURMZPCJ-OhXy1VemDaU46Ot6ULLz-Tk5_uNObXzfIaMrTnjBppmYvWuKSXm9wPfb78YbFunNFr6IGOA4m4/s320/Food+044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392887625365636370" border="0" /></a><br />The place is called "Marisco's Puerto Vallarta" and is located in Watsonville California in "Rodriguez" produce market/liquor store. There is literally a "hole in the wall" (order window) on the side of the store (behind the white van in the picture)!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQij4FlcagX7R1HwMY8AlYsE9wy0ytTzWUy82Je_IfJTRukSP49oslCK1u7hRdaTnaEvn47VFu4thPa_757hVStEZIqsBY_iTxmG-AkUhyphenhyphenmLobkCCJFqMAwLsaA6Tfj_uggco/s1600-h/Food+038.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQQij4FlcagX7R1HwMY8AlYsE9wy0ytTzWUy82Je_IfJTRukSP49oslCK1u7hRdaTnaEvn47VFu4thPa_757hVStEZIqsBY_iTxmG-AkUhyphenhyphenmLobkCCJFqMAwLsaA6Tfj_uggco/s320/Food+038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392887630230785010" border="0" /></a>You walk up to the window, place your order and have seat at one of the outside tables underneath the awning. There are a few tables inside the store as well.<br /><br />What you get is a seafood feast comparable to (if not better than) what I've had in some of the best restaurants in the bay area! Everything is FRESH as if it were just caught right before they cooked it. No frozen stuff here! The chef (forgot to get his name) should be cooking at the Ritz Carlton in New York or something. He's that good! He cooks the fish, shrimp, octopus and whatever else to perfection! No over cooking here just tender succulent fresh seafood galore!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA1FcCpXMVZ32Z-5WHaQdFhXPjpsmmTTAyGaruqV6LiJB1j0NUyiECrKJa9Kn9YheIgMzdjDfk02F8TnqXyvcp7sscjJdjXyWwlPkuHCGPruwcUIQ9VGFcNSSKOIMblYKvkh9/s1600-h/Food+039.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA1FcCpXMVZ32Z-5WHaQdFhXPjpsmmTTAyGaruqV6LiJB1j0NUyiECrKJa9Kn9YheIgMzdjDfk02F8TnqXyvcp7sscjJdjXyWwlPkuHCGPruwcUIQ9VGFcNSSKOIMblYKvkh9/s320/Food+039.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392887648653835042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK1KOMAzUNgcUhtqYH3p8yBrfhZyxlw1BL_omOeaidzl2SmxWemtRpAED3U_UZWJG8bllXjIz0uKOXibveMS0AlLAPICc7GNIQRibdD9Po9iugQbbjCCP2MdEg94xn_K4HAWN/s1600-h/Food+041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK1KOMAzUNgcUhtqYH3p8yBrfhZyxlw1BL_omOeaidzl2SmxWemtRpAED3U_UZWJG8bllXjIz0uKOXibveMS0AlLAPICc7GNIQRibdD9Po9iugQbbjCCP2MdEg94xn_K4HAWN/s320/Food+041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392887660075691602" border="0" /></a>Okay, okay so the atmosphere is not the greatest but this is definitely worth trying and worth the trip. Once you have tried it I guarantee you will find yourself craving this stuff. I could make this a regular weekend stop. If you love seafood you really must go! So this weekend go try some of the best seafood in the bay area!<br /><br />Marisco's Puerto Vallarta<br />17 Porter Dr<br />Royal Oaks, CA 95076-5338Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-91107008863358677962008-08-11T01:04:00.000-07:002008-08-11T01:18:11.163-07:00Salad for Lunch Today<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheBajzzPlKs18ZHs2yv1bUY3w8GJ2Ydsfh_Z9uS9R7EjVDlCTXmQTXh3eQhNMLeJfYaWu_CSXvlfv3qOhdACUIxVDpplajYQg3fvxwglS1INpaJUrMxSqDyQuXOU6kLHkgD4K/s1600-h/IMG_2752.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhheBajzzPlKs18ZHs2yv1bUY3w8GJ2Ydsfh_Z9uS9R7EjVDlCTXmQTXh3eQhNMLeJfYaWu_CSXvlfv3qOhdACUIxVDpplajYQg3fvxwglS1INpaJUrMxSqDyQuXOU6kLHkgD4K/s320/IMG_2752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233171448387973186" border="0" /></a>I made this yummy salad for lunch today! It consists of romaine lettuce, purple cabbage, green onions, bell peppers, celery, tomato and 3 oz of drained and flaked Albacore tuna. I dressed it with a little bit of olive oil, rice wine vinegar, garlic powder, salt and pepper. It really hit the spot considering it was a pretty hot day today! This was a cheap chic and refreshing meal!Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-40817421268282422032008-08-02T22:56:00.001-07:002008-08-11T01:33:18.654-07:00Albondigas for Days and Days!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp13oJONX-e94nyIocfCAKlhrl1JXkH0RU1VXYqsXyMYn1vNFdJLLU4U4sPsv-rUWUyS3X4Tyc5jqm-tSbM8aeDkU6iRWVEVcYf27vxUVfMistKeN2ZBdkOYjuSOXzWTzdi4Q/s1600-h/Picture+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp13oJONX-e94nyIocfCAKlhrl1JXkH0RU1VXYqsXyMYn1vNFdJLLU4U4sPsv-rUWUyS3X4Tyc5jqm-tSbM8aeDkU6iRWVEVcYf27vxUVfMistKeN2ZBdkOYjuSOXzWTzdi4Q/s320/Picture+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233171890919281314" border="0" /></a>When I make a big pot of Albondigas (Mexican Meatball Soup) it lasts for days and days! It also freezes well in an air tight container for future eating. This is a family favorite! Enjoy!
<br />
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><div style="text-align: center;"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///D:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CStacey%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Albondigas
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<br /></span></div><u><o:p></o:p></u> <p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">1 Tbls Olive Oil</p><div> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">1 Lrg Onion, chopped</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">1 Lrg Bell Pepper, chopped</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">4 Cloves Garlic, minced</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">2 tsp dried Oregano</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">1 Tbls Mexican Chili Powder</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">½ tsp Cumin</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">3-4 Spears Celery, chopped (approx. 1½ cups)</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">3-4 Carrots, peeled & sliced (approx. 1½ cups)</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">3 lrg Russet Potatoes, peeled & cubed (approx. 2 cups)</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">1 zucchini, cubed</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">2 <span style=""> </span>32oz cartons/cans Beef Stock</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">6 cups water (1½ Qrts)</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">2 tsp Beef Bouillon powder (or 1 lrg cube, mashed)</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">1 <span style=""> </span>6oz can Tomato Paste</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">1 <span style=""> </span>14½ oz can Diced Tomatoes</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">Juice of 2 large Lemons (Approx. ¼ cup)</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">1 tsp Sugar</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">1 tsp Salt</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">¼ tsp Black Pepper</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">Meatball Mixture:</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">1½<span style=""> </span>lbs of Lean Ground Beef</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">½ bunch (1/2 cup) fresh Cilantro, minced</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">2 lrg. Eggs, beaten</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">½ tsp Garlic Powder (may substitute 2 cloves minced garlic) </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">½ tsp Onion Powder (may substitute ¼ cup grated onion)</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">1 tsp Salt</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">¼ tsp Pepper</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u>Directions</u>:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, sauté onion, bell peppers, garlic and spices in olive oil until slightly tender. Add chopped vegetables except potatoes and zucchini. Add beef stock, water, bouillon, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Bring to a boil. Place the meat mixture into a large bowl and mix together with hands. Form into approx. 1 ½ inch meatballs. Drop them a few at a time into the boiling soup. Add the cubed potatoes and zucchini. Adjust the soup temperature to a steady simmer and cover loosely with a lid. Simmer for about 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Adjust seasoning to your taste by adding salt if needed of <st1:state><st1:place>Tabasco</st1:place></st1:state>/ hot sauce if desired. Makes approximately 8-10 servings.
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-104301752582275552008-07-14T16:38:00.000-07:002008-08-11T01:43:35.538-07:00Broccoli "Comfort" Casserole!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6D6O3BFUPMsp4EGqDvuMo76cMNgpmviddODMvDjgQZY0eC10q5bUVv0-94bBo_kD4Ux0xgYuHoX-5WPRBT2ckx8DxSxQFWE8-usE5N7k1Xv_YYUmuApyk1c-tywiCpPWEcRfP/s1600-h/IMG_2746.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6D6O3BFUPMsp4EGqDvuMo76cMNgpmviddODMvDjgQZY0eC10q5bUVv0-94bBo_kD4Ux0xgYuHoX-5WPRBT2ckx8DxSxQFWE8-usE5N7k1Xv_YYUmuApyk1c-tywiCpPWEcRfP/s320/IMG_2746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225622749280287874" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This is definitely a comfort food. It keeps well in the fridge and warms up great in the microwave!<br /><br />* Chop up a couple of bunches (2lbs) of broccoli and steam it till tender. Drain and spread out evenly in a 9x13 cake pan.<br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">* In a seperate bowl mix together 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup, 4oz jar of pimentos (if you don't have pimentos you may use a 1/2 cup of chopped red peppers, or a 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes), 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup of mayonnaise (yes, I said Mayo!). Then I splash a little white wine or a squirt of lemon juice. You may add a tsp of yellow curry if you like it (I love it).<br /><br />*Spread the mixture evenly on top of the broccoli.<br /><br />*Bake uncovered for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven.<br /><br />I serve this yummy cassarole over rice with a nice green salad on the side.<br /><br />Note: You may add chopped, cooked chicken. Just sprinkle it in with the broccoli before spreading the sauce on top.</span></span></span></span></span></span>Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-4927103096915036022008-07-14T16:35:00.000-07:002008-08-04T18:22:36.786-07:00Summer Time Pasta Salad!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oAi3-qEhnZwLr0-MFNinLO3hvqSE35AA0CFJC0ll6q9qD0BO98Cjphyphenhyphen2kTziFyTvbCBFyxVek1Vwq_OlExojfEeeuusx7IFNPKjQSAAEN0ctBbHcR65x4-y38YoBuIg6YvsM/s1600-h/IMG_2744.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oAi3-qEhnZwLr0-MFNinLO3hvqSE35AA0CFJC0ll6q9qD0BO98Cjphyphenhyphen2kTziFyTvbCBFyxVek1Vwq_OlExojfEeeuusx7IFNPKjQSAAEN0ctBbHcR65x4-y38YoBuIg6YvsM/s320/IMG_2744.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225620864213086642" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I cooked and drained a 1lb bag of shell pasta, chopped up a bunch of veggies (whatever I had on hand), mixed it all up with a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar (any vinegar will do), 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and there you have it! This is so good to keep in the fridge during the summer for a meal or a snack! I added a couple of slices of salami to my bowl for a hardy lunch time meal!</span></span></span></span>Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-43044615942961987072008-07-14T15:10:00.000-07:002008-08-02T23:17:07.894-07:00Beans, Beans the Musical Fruit.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFgSi5e3mQyV-I2WHARVGp51IlIg1vmG0Ir9XUB_ZR1ORWvyNczU2ejxRa-ihnCTqcugMuWgG-xPlsGHasRBevopElZ8LLuUfAwvaQnzNOr1hMIOmnguqQQ7j8TZO02dvswan/s1600-h/IMG_2741.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFgSi5e3mQyV-I2WHARVGp51IlIg1vmG0Ir9XUB_ZR1ORWvyNczU2ejxRa-ihnCTqcugMuWgG-xPlsGHasRBevopElZ8LLuUfAwvaQnzNOr1hMIOmnguqQQ7j8TZO02dvswan/s320/IMG_2741.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225611725639443058" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" >I've been rather manic today as I've been cooking most of the day! I've decided to make Monday a cooking day (this week anyway, </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" >lol</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" >). I think by doing this I can have things in the fridge ready to just warm up or pull out during the week. This will hopefully allow me to focus on other things during the week such as my ART! </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" >YAY</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" >!<br /><a href="http://www.collagecafe.blogspot.com/">(Collage Cafe Art Studio)</a><br /><br />I started off the day by cooking a big pot of pinto beans that I had soaked over night. Dried pintos are only $1.25 for a 1 lb bag, wow! They turned out </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" >soooo</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" > yummy! My son loves making bean burritos whenever he gets hungry (which is about every hour it seems) and I can also use these in soups or whatever.<br /><br />Here's how I cooked them.<br /><br />*1lb bag of dried pinto beans (rinsed, picked and drained) soaked over night in 6 cups cold water, or a couple of inches of water above the beans.<br /><br />*The next morning drain off the soaking water and add 2 cups chicken </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" >bouillon</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" > and enough water to cover the beans by 1-2 inches (or just use water if you don't have </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" >bouillon</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" >).<br /><br />*Add a small chopped onion, a couple of cloves of minced garlic, 1 tsp of dried oregano, 1/4 tsp of cumin, 1/4 tsp of </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" >Cayenne</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" > pepper and 1/4 tsp if black pepper (note: don't add salt until the end of cooking </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" >cuz</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" > it </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" >interferes</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" > with the cooking of the beans, or so I read).<br /><br />* Bring beans to a slow simmer and </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" >partially</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" > cover with a lid.<br /><br />* Let them simmer for about 2 hours until tender, stirring </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" >occasionally</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:100%;" >.<br /><br />I didn't even have to add salt at the end, I think because of the boullion. Anyway now they're ready to use for whatever and they're so much better than the canned mushy ones and way CHEAPER</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">!<br /><br />Note: You may use this same recipe in the crockpot for 6-8 hours on high.<br /></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzjEy0Lfre2gnj5EePgU4-04F3QEIaIuiKR2OD_nepDxI5_FrPmXB4l6_8RpdGHUn1T2srKfmJKs9ZcP7YC3vy1GaOy2F45uqs_DrB7IWMc7c9myxp1Kl40Dttf0B7JOMYGjM/s1600-h/IMG_2742.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzjEy0Lfre2gnj5EePgU4-04F3QEIaIuiKR2OD_nepDxI5_FrPmXB4l6_8RpdGHUn1T2srKfmJKs9ZcP7YC3vy1GaOy2F45uqs_DrB7IWMc7c9myxp1Kl40Dttf0B7JOMYGjM/s320/IMG_2742.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225621734633270402" border="0" /></a>Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-85419340060909625662008-07-05T14:00:00.000-07:002008-07-05T14:06:40.057-07:00New Challenges for the Cheap Chic Lifestyle!Wow, with gas prices and food prices going up almost daily there are always new and demanding challenges to living a cheap but chic lifestyle. It can be quite depressing sometimes! I think this is part of the reason I've neglected this blog for so long. That and the fact that my hard drive died a few months ago and I'm so busy trying to buy food and gas that I wasn't able to replace it until now. With all these new challenges I've decided to commit myself even more to blogging about the cheap chic lifestyle. I'm renewing my belief that it can be done! IT MUST BE DONE!Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22276576.post-82291577427773678942007-11-24T19:23:00.000-08:002007-11-24T22:08:06.857-08:00After Turkey... Turkey Soup!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpjdRCQvXG4gdjRutEcLfcUOUi0yhydPntB9wikh2BeQwWp8yq600xWZbCrVEPd7rc2OqrXamJNC4z9oZWoB-PRsI_iB829ZEwkAH-wJG9FeqqImw6ZRM-0HcNcE13kXXFkHL/s1600-h/Canon+1+1207.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136642440181797778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpjdRCQvXG4gdjRutEcLfcUOUi0yhydPntB9wikh2BeQwWp8yq600xWZbCrVEPd7rc2OqrXamJNC4z9oZWoB-PRsI_iB829ZEwkAH-wJG9FeqqImw6ZRM-0HcNcE13kXXFkHL/s320/Canon+1+1207.jpg" border="0" /></a>There is something about cooking and eating a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving that fills the basic need of family love and comfort in all of us. It could be the up coming holidays, the cooler weather or the fact that it's getting darker earlier, but somehow the smell of turkey roasting in the oven is the smell of memories and home! After our Thanksgiving dinner a tradition for our family is the making of turkey soup! There is something about this soup that is healing to the body and soul. A virus wouldn't dare touch you after eating this medicinal soup. I also equate the making of it to the making of a piece of art. I never use a recipe. I just keep adding and tasting in secession, little by little, until I've created a masterpiece of flavors which can change from year to year. Here is the "recipe" as follows... first pick the meat off the carcass (for leftovers) and then place the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">carsass</span></span></span> in a large dutch oven/stock pot and cover with water. Bring this to a boil and reduce to a simmer adding a cup of white wine, a tablespoon of Italian seasonings and two bay leaves. Simmer uncovered for 4 hours occasionally pushing the carcass down little by little until it's completely submerged into the water. After 4 hours strain the meat and bones (through a colander) saving the broth and pouring it back into the pan. Allow the bones and meat to cool down so you can pick through them to get the best tidbits of meat (light and dark) to add back into the broth. Place this mixture of meat and broth into the refrigerator over night. The next day (day after Thanksgiving) scrape the fat off the top of the mixture and discard it. Bring the broth to a boil again and add chopped vegetables of your choice, such as, yellow onion, 3-4 cloves garlic, carrots, celery, corn, green pepper, 14 oz can of tomatoes, etc... (about a cup of each) and some additional chicken broth as needed. Spice your soup with fresh squeezed lemon juice, salt, pepper, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tabasco</span></span></span>, soy sauce, thyme, curry powder, sage, Italian seasoning, etc... Sprinkle these ingredients a little at a time and adjust them to your <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">taste buds</span>. You may also add a 1/4 cup rice or 1/2 cup of pasta if you'd like. Simmer the soup for about 30 minutes and serve with bread or rolls and butter. This makes a great day after Thanksgiving meal or you may freeze it to eat later. Enjoy!<br /><br />Coming soon...<span style="color:#ff6666;"> A Cheap Chic Christmas!<br /><br /></span>Becky and Staceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16248069150388207345noreply@blogger.com0