What my Elfs have been up too

Easy PEASY Potato Soup

I made a pot of potato soup a few days ago but my son didn't like it with the celery so I omit it this time around. Next time I think I am gonna add some shrimp or maybe kernel corn ;)



Ingredients:
1 pound bacon
1 medium onion--chopped
4 cloves garlic--minced
2 tablespoon all purpose flour
8 russet potato--peeled and CUBED into little pieces
5 cups water
2 tablespoon chicken powder
3 cups HEAVY CREAM

Garnish:
shredded cheddar cheese
dice up bacon
green onion--sliced



DIRECTION:
In a sauce pan...cook up the bacon....once its cook...spoon it into a paper towel and KEEP the fat...saute your onion and garlic in the bacon fat... until they are translucent. Next add the 2 T all purpose flour--and stir to combine. Cook for about 2 minutes and slowly add the 5 cups of water and the 2 T of chicken powder ....then add in your potato. Cover the lid and cook for about 20 minutes on medium--remember to stir occasionally. Uncover and take a fork and smooch some potato to the side of the pot...making the soup nice and creamy.  Next add in the 3 cup of heavy cream..continue to stir for about 5 minutes and turn off the stove.

Add more pepper and salt to taste...the bacon fat and the chicken powder/chicken broth is already salty so I didn't add ANY SALT at all.

If you are planning on reheating some...just add a little water or chicken broth and reheat..

Garnish with sliced green onion, shredded cheddar cheese and bacon bits..

ENJOY!!!

Egg Roll

Ingredients

• 1 package egg roll wrappers

Filling

• 1 lb ground pork (makes 25 egg rolls)
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots  
• 1 large chopped onion
• 4 cloves of minced garlic 
• 4 sprigs of green onion-chopped
• ⅛ cup wood ear mushrooms, chopped
• ½ cup bean thread noodle, cut into 1″-1.5″ threads
• 1/2 cup shredded cabbage
• 1 tablespoon  fish sauce
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Egg Roll Wrap Sealer

• 1 egg whites 

Instructions

1. Soak bean threads in hot tap water and mushrooms in 40-second microwaved hot tap water until soft. About 30 minutes
2. When soft, cut the bean thread noodles into little 2 in pieces and mushrooms.
3. In a large BOWL...mix all the ingredients ..make sure its all incorporated 
4. In a fry pot--add your oil...the eggroll needs to be deep fry...once oil is hot..slowly add 1 eggroll at a time....
5. Wrap the egg rolls and fry until golden brown and fully cooked inside. About 12-16 minutes per batch. Don't crowd the frying pot. 

Served with dipping fish sauce or sweet chili sauce ;) 

Loaded Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 6 slices of bacon--roughly chopped 
• 1 cup diced onion
• 3 garlic cloves--minced 
• 6-8 medium sized russet potatoes--peeled and diced 
• 6 cups  chicken stock 
• 1/4 cup flour 
• 4 cup of heavy cream or 2 can of evaporated milk 
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. parsley--garnish 
• cheddar cheese, grated--garnish 
• green onion, sliced--garnish 

You can also used sour cream, monterey jack cheese, chopped chives as a garnish ;) 

Instructions:

1. Cut up bacon into 1" pieces. Saute over medium-low heat. In a large stockpot. Once bacon is crispy. Spoon out the bacon when almost crispy and set aside on a paper towel.
2. Use the reserve  bacon grease to saute the onion and garlic over medium-low heat until soft. While the onion is sautéing---then whisk in the flour and stir constantly over low heat until the flour is cooked and the mixture is thickened. Peel potatoes then dice into 1-2" cubes. Add the potatoes and the chicken stock. Over medium heat bring soup to simmer and cook for about 25 minutes or until the potatoes area soft. Mash some of the potatoes to the side of the pot  for a thicker creamier texture. Add the heavy cream or evaporate milk...reduce heat to a simmer/low  
3. Adjust the thickness by adding water or more stock.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Top soup with grated cheese, bacon & green onions.

Halloween Ideas

Breakfast Muffin

1 can of Pillsbury Grand biscuit.. Cut into little pieces.. 

In a container.. Mix 6 eggs.. 1/2 C milk.. 1/2 C cheese.. Crumble sausage .. Green onion.. Mix all up. Next add your seasoning 1 t garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon of Tony and dash of crack black pepper .. Pour into greases muffin tin ... And bake for 40 minutes @ 350 

Enjoy!!! 

Pumpkin Muffin with Cream Cheese frosting

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can Pumpkin Puree

• 4 large Eggs

• 1 cup Vegetable Oil

• 2/3 cup Water

• 3 cups White Sugar

• 3 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour

• 2 teaspoons Baking Soda

• 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt

• 1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground Nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice 

• 1/4 teaspoon ground Ginger

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). I made 36 muffin....use muffin liners 
2. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until creamy. In a separate bowl,mix together the flour,baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice  and ginger. Pour  the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. I used a hand held mixture and mix until its nice and creamy... Using a large icecream scoop...scoop mixture into each muffin tin. Filling it about 3/4 filled. 
3. Bake for about 30 minutes at 350. Muffin are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

 

Frosting

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 3-4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract

I leave the cream cheese and butter  out to room temp for about 2 hours ...so it can get soft 

With your hand held mixture...cream together the butter , vanilla extract and cream cheese until creamy and no lumps...slowly add 1/2 cup of confectioner sugar at a time...add according to your taste...I only used about 3 Cups because I like my frosting kinda like whip cream consistency ....

Enjoy!!! 

Lemongrass Chicken (Ga Xao Xa)

Every time we go to an Asian restaurant and if I see Lemongrass Chicken on the menu...I would order it...I LOVE LEMONGRASS chicken...so today I had a craving for some rice and wanted to make something fast and easy that is flavorful.

Ingredients:
3 pieces of leg quarters---I deboned the chicken and cubed the meat ( I wanted to use dark meat because its more juicy)
3 chicken breast--cubed
4 clove garlic--minced
3 tablespoon olive oil
6 teaspoon FROZEN minced lemongrass (found in the freezer at the Asian market)
2 tablespoon of sliced ginger
3 chili (chopped--I lOVE it spicy so I put 3--if you don't like it that spicy..just put 1)
2 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
sliced green onion for garnish

Direction:
Cubed the chicken meat and put into a bowl. Add the lemongrass, fish sauce, ginger, minced garlic, oyster sauce and sugar.
Try to marinate for at least 2 hour in the refrigerator.

In a HOT skillet put the olive oil and pour in the chicken with all the juice. Cook chicken until done...remember to continuously stirring the chicken. Once chicken is done...add in 1/4 c water and mix again...add in your chopped CHILI and mix one more time....garnish with sliced green onion...serve with jasmine rice

ENJOY!!!!

Dirty Rice

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground pork
4 cloves garlic--minced
1 large onion --diced
1/2 cup chopped  green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
3 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon tony chachere's
1/2 garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon crack black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne

garnish with chopped FRESH parsley

For the rice---1 stick of butter
6 cups of chicken stock ------or 3 teaspoon of chicken powder (add to water)

*** cook 4 cups of rice with chicken stock or add chicken powder to the water----once the rice is cook...add in 1 stick of butter....then add the rice to the cook ground meat mixture****


Directions:
In a nonstick pan ...saute the onion, minced garlic, celery, bell pepper in olive oil. Once its cook add in your ground beef and pork...then add in all your seasoning and bay leaves.  Cook until its done....Next add in your cooked rice---rice should be cook in chicken stock or chicken powder



**** I wanted to make it cook faster and easier that was the reason I cooked the rice first in my rice cooker then added it the meat mixture.


**** I didn't make it as salty...if you like it more salty add some salt

Cornbread

Ingredients:
1/2 cup MELTED butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (yellow) cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

PREHEAT oven to 375....using a GREASED  8 inch pan

In a large mixing bowl..mix butter and sugar together then add the eggs.  blend really well.  Next combine in your buttermilk.  Next add all your dry ingredients--salt, baking soda, cornmeal and all-purpose flour. mix really well. trying to get out all lumps and clumps...next pour batter into a prepared grease pan...
bake for 30-40  minutes...if you are using a muffin pan...remember the cooking time would be less.

Using a toothpick to test


serve with some butter ;)


**** you can also add...grated cheddar cheese, cream of corn, jalapeno...etc...

Red Beans and Rice

Ingredients:

• 1 pound kidney beans, soaked overnight in enough water that it covered the beans 
• 1 pack Lipton onion mix
• 1 pack of pickle pork (remember to rinse really well because its very salty) 
• 1 pack of bacon----sliced into 2 in pieces 
• 1 large onion, diced
• 5 stalks celery, diced
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley--or 1 teaspoon dried parsley 
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder 
• 1 stick butter 
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 pack of sausage (andouille sausage) 

I usually like to cook my sausage separately then add to the beans after. You can cut the sausage into little pieces or big chunks. 

Instructions:

1. Drain the beans from their soaking water and rinse.
2. Put into a large pot with water (enough to cover everything) , lipton onion mix package, bacon, salted pork, garlic powder, onion, celery,bell pepper, garlic, thyme and bay leaves, paprika. Cover pot.
3. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer 4 hours or until beans are soft.
4. Remember to stir occasionally 
5. Use a large spoon to mash some of the beans against the side of the pot to make a creamy gravy. Taste to see if you need any more seasoning..this is the time to either add more salt or seasoning---I usually add a few dash of hot sauce...this is also when I would add my sausage...I usually cook up my sausage first then I would add the sliced pieces into the beans...
6. I would also add the stick of butter right before I turned off the stove. 

***Serve over rice.

You can also add butter to your white rice 

If I have time....I usually like to cook up my celery, onion, minced garlic and bell pepper with a little olive oil then add the pickle pork, bacon, and cubed ham. Cook until nice and fragrant then I add the beans and all the seasoning then pour enough water to cover everything...cover lid and cook for the next 4 hours on low-simmer.
****Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and onion 

Serve with cornbread (recipe also on this blog) 

Beans soaking overnight 

Sausage cut into little pieces ...cook separately then add after ...I also cut up a few larger pieces...and add when I am plating up the beans and rice. 

ENJOY!!!! 

Broccoli and Chicken Alfredo Pizza

I usually make these for the kids after school snack because its super simple and fast. 

Broccoli and Chicken Alfredo Garlic Bread Pizza----I make this for the kids and it my CHEAT PIZZA recipe...I rather make these myself..even though they arent the healthiest but its better than buying the frozen ones from freezer  

Frozen pizza dough, topped off with a creamy Alfredo sauce, seasoned chicken and broccoli.

Ingredients:

i bottle Alfredo sauce---I used the Prego (homestyle brand--we love that brand)
1 chicken breast---I used the tyson grilled 
1-2C broccoli florets
1-2C whole milk mozzarella, shredded
3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet. Shape out your pizza dough( I used the frozen ones) into desired size and shape. Bake for 5 minutes. Coat with Alfredo sauce, leaving 1/2-1 inch exposed crust. Top off with shredded chicken ( the chicken is already cooked and flavored) and broccoli---I used the bag from the frozen section too...I just thaw... Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned.

Slice and enjoy!!! 

Rigatoni Bolognese

Bolognese Sauce:

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup butter
1 large onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
6 strips of bacon, diced
4 large cloves of garlic, chopped
1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, minced--if you don't have fresh then use 1 tablespoon of dried parsley
2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
3 dried bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried chili flakes
1 cup red wine
1 can tomato puree
1 small can tomato paste
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1 large carrot, small diced
1 cup parmesan cheese

*** if you have Italian seasoning then use that instead of the oregano and basil****

Cut bacon into small pieces ..finely chopped the onion and garlic. In a large frying pan heat the oil and add the bacon and cook until bacon is golden brown. Set aside...Next warm oil and butter together in Dutch oven, add onion and sauté until clear. Add ground beef and bacon back into the dutch oven. Saute until brown. Add garlic, parsley, salt and pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano and basil (unless you have Italian seasoning then add that instead of the oregano and basil). Cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Add wine, cover and continue to cook for a few minutes. Add diced tomatoes, puree, and paste. MIX WELL. Bring to a boil. Add carrots and celery and bay leaves. Cover and reduce heat and simmer ..for about 1 hour..remember to stir occasionally.

Cook pasta according to the instructions on the packages. Drain the cook pasta ...and plate.

Right before serving...add 1/2 the parmesan cheese and mix thoroughly...leave the other 1/2 cheese to sprinkle over pasta.

Sprinkle each serving with parmesan cheese...

ENJOY!!!