Broccoli Cheese Soup

Béchamels (fancy name for a white sauce) are a great base for many soups  I lightened this one up a bit and added more flavor by replacing some of the milk with chicken broth. 

Broccoli Cheese Soup                                                                          Printable Recipe

1 small head broccoli

3 Tablespoons butter

1/4 cup flour

2 cups milk (I used goat milk)

1 cup chicken broth

4 ounces Velveeta or 1/2 to 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Steam broccoli until tender.  It will not cook any more in the soup so be sure it is how you like it.  Also keep in mind that the softer you have it the more it will break up as you stir it into the base. 

In a large pot melt the butter.

Stir in flour, heat and stir until smooth.  Cook for 1 minute.

Gradually add milk and broth, stirring constantly until thickened. I find it easier to have the liquid warmed to prevent burning on the bottom.

This is with about half of the liquid. It will be a little thinner than this in the end.

Add cheese and stir until melted.  Gently stir in broccoli.  Add salt and pepper if you like. Ladle and serve.

If you have leftover ham you can chop some up and put it in the soup too!

Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart

This is a great way to use some of your fresh garden tomatoes. 

Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart

1 unbaked pie crust

4 ounces chèvre (goat cheese) (plain if using pesto otherwise chose a flavor you like or stir in your favorite fresh herb)

pesto

tomatoes

salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Place sliced tomatoes on paper towel. Sprinkle with salt.  Allow to sit for a little bit and  the tomatoes will let loose of its juices. If you slice them thinner they will also let go of more juices. Dab with a paper towel.

I decided to go half and half on my base.  I stirred a little pesto into one half of the goat cheese.  Use as much or as little as you like.  We like pesto so I used a fair amount.

The other half I mixed in fresh chopped parsley.  We did not think it had enough flavor so using more herbs would be a good idea or just stick to pesto.

Place unbaked pie crust into your pie dish. I wanted to use my stoneware pie dish for a crisper crust.  It is a deep dish so that is why my tart looks small compared to it.

Spread goat cheese onto bottom of pie crust.

 Layer drained tomatoes.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until crust is light brown and tomatoes are soft. If crust is browning too quickly, cover with a piece of aluminum foil or pie crust shield.  

Remove from oven and let set 5 to 10 minutes.  Eat warm or allow to cool and eat later.  

"30 Minutes or Less" Party

An InLinkz Link-up

Sausage and Kale Soup

Sausage and Kale Soup

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 cup onions, chopped (or diced)

8 ounce package pre-cooked chicken sausage (I used al fresco) 

1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped

1 bay leaf

6 cups chicken broth

1 can Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed

2-4 cups chopped kale

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)

ground pepper 

Heat oil in large pot over medium heat.  Add onions and saute until soft.  While they are cooking slice your sausage into chunks.  Add to pot and cook for another minute or so. 

 Add broth to pot.

 Chop up sweet potatoes.

 Add those to the pot.  Simmer for 8-10 minutes or until soft to your liking.

While potatoes are cooking finely chop your kale.  Be sure to remove the vein as it is very tough. 

When potatoes are soft add in the kale, beans and seasonings.  Simmer for 5 minutes or until everything is heated through. 

 Discard bayleaf before serving.

Pork Tenderloin with a Mustard Seed Crust

All I can say about this pork tenderloin is that there are several pieces that aren't even going to hit the plate!

Pork Tenderloin with a Mustard Seed Crust                                  Printable Recipe

2-3 pound pork tenderloin *

Rub:

2 Tablespoons whole mustard seeds

2 Tablespoons sweet smoked paprika (I like La Chinata brand)

2 Tablespoons onion powder

Approx 1 Tablespoon olive oil

salt and pepper

Basting Sauce:

2 Tablespoons ground mustard seed

5 Tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg yolk

2 Tablespoons sugar

(Similar to the homemade mustard I posted a while back only thinner.)

Pre-heat a cast iron pan over low heat.  Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Crush mustard seed with a mortar and pestle.  If you do not have one you can use a spice grinder and gently pulse.

Add the paprika and onion powder and pulse just until mixed. 

Rub the pork with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper on all sides. 

With a clean hand sprinkle on some of the rub, gently pressing it onto the meat with your other hand.  You will not use all of the rub so keep the meaty hands out of it so you don't contaminate it.  You can use it another time or make less to start.

Your cast iron pan should be nice and warm now.  Drizzle a little bit of olive oil in the bottom and place pork in to sear on all sides. It is already looking wonderful! Cover with a lid or foil and place in oven.  Cooking time will be approximately 30-45 minutes depending on your doneness preference.

While the pork is cooking make your basting sauce.  Like the mustard, place all ingredients over a double boiler.  The best is to use a round bottom metal bowl over a saucepan that has the water in it so you can whisk and get all the ingredients stirred   Whisk continuously until nice and bubbly.  It will not get thick like the mustard. If it is you will need to add a little water to be sure it is thin enough to baste with. (This is where you could use the vinegar if you like it tangier.)

Baste every 10 minutes and turn the meat.  Baste again.  Don't worry about the parts that look like they are getting too brown. It will be fine and it will taste fabulous when you are done. 

New guidelines say 145 degrees internal temperature is OK now for pork instead of the 160 degrees.  You cook it how you want.  Since we are using a pork tenderloin (not a pork loin as shown in the picture) the higher temp will still result in a tender meat.  I do not recommend using a pork loin as it is thick and the outside burns too much waiting for the internal temperature to get to where it needs to.  Also, there is not enough mustard to meat ratio.

Remove the pork from the pan and place it on a cutting board.  Cover with the foil.  Put cast iron back on the heat and add a little bit of chicken broth whisking gently to remove the bits off the bottom. It will make nice little sauce you can drizzle over your meat or drag your bread through.  Slice your meat and serve.

This photo is a tenderloin.

*Your pan will be large enough you can do two of these at the same time if you need to.

Taco Pasta Shells

Taco Pasta Shells

1 pound ground beef
taco seasoning
1/2 cup green pepper, diced
1/2 cup onion, diced
4 ounces cream cheese
1/3 cup whole corn (optional)
1/3 cup drained cooked black beans (optional)
15 jumbo pasta shells (gluten free works great too!)
1 cup salsa
1-1/2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese ( I use my homemade mozzarella)
sour cream

Breakfast Slam

A local restaurant makes this dish.  I show you what recipes you can make to put it all together yourself!!

Breakfast Slam

Omelet
Sausage Gravy
Perfectly Pan Fried Potatoes
Chopped Fresh parsley

Place omelet on the plate, potatoes on the side, and ladle sausage gravy on top.  Sprinkle with fresh parsley.

How to Make a Basic Omelet

Omelets are great idea for breakfast but we would certainly eat them for supper too! Change up your veggies and meats to make it your own.  They are easy to make and you should give it a try!

How to Make a Basic Omelet                                                 Printable Recipe

Per person
2 eggs
Splash of milk
Salt and pepper, as desired
1-2 Tablespoons green peppers/onions
Shredded Cheese of your choice
Ham, bacon, sausage, optional (only use if not making a breakfast slam*)

We prefer our veggies soft so we cooks ours first in a little bit of olive oil.   

Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Add in veggies.

In an 8" non-stick saute pan drizzle in a little olive oil or add some butter.  You don't need a lot since it is non-stick but some will help. Use your rubber spatula to lift up on the cooked egg on the side and then

tip the pan so the egg mixture slips in and fills in the hole.

Do this all the way around until the egg is nearly cooked and only slightly wet on top.

Now is the time to decide if you are going to go easy or impress everyone with your skills. You can either slide it out onto a plate, turn your pan upside down over the plate and flip it all. OR.... Do like I do and make sure it is loose (wiggle it back and forth a little) and with a flick of the wrist flip it all!!

 Add cheese to one side.

 Fold over.  The heat from the omelet will melt your cheese.

* This goes great in the Breakfast Slam.

Easy Quiche

Just as the name says, this quiche is easy to make.  Change up the meats and veggie to suit your taste and/or leftovers you have in the fridge.  

Easy Quiche                                                                                          Printable Recipe

Veggies of any sort, cooked.*

1-1/2 cups shredded Mexi-blend cheese or any of your favorite

4 teaspoons flour

1 to 1-1/2 cups cooked meat (chopped ham ,bacon or sausage or any combo)

4 eggs

1-1/3 cup milk

salt and pepper optional (depends on the meat you use)

unbaked pie crust

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Drizzle a little olive oil in a non stick pan.  Cook until vegetables are soft.  Cool.  

*I used 1-1/2 cups shredded zucchini and squash and some red onion I had.  

 Chop ham slices.

 Toss together cooled veggies, cheese, and flour. I used our homemade goat mozzarella so it is white. 

 Spread evenly onto unbaked pie crust.

 Add meat evenly over veggies and cheese mixture.

Mix together egg, milk, and optional salt/pepper.

Pour over meat and cheese.  If you have any floaties, press them down with the fork so they are coated.

 Place into oven and either use foil around the crust or a pie shield. 

Bake for 40 to 55 minutes until filling is set.