Cheesy Potato and Broccoli Soup

This was kind of....meh, but DS loved it! And I made it for the kids anyway. Every once and a while you'll see a super high in calorie recipe from me, this is because my children are stubborn and making them gain weight is a lot harder than one could imagine. More on that later I'm sure. This is another one pot dish....kind of...I also had to use a colander, and I used the pot twice. Once for steaming the veggies, and once for cooking the soup...
oh...
I also used a food processor...
So really probably not a one pot dish, but if I had an immersion blender it totally would have been...
I've always kind of sucked at math anyway, what do you expect this is a food blog, not a "let's make fun of the girl who doesn't know how to count to one"blog...
ON TO THE RECIPE....

1 head of broccoli steamed
3 potatoes peeled and boiled to mashed potato consistency
4 cans of evaporated milk
2 tbs butter
1 pkg cream cheese
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
salt, pepper, garlic salt....you know the drill

Melt the butter on low heat with the cream cheese, meanwhile run the broccoli and potatoes through the food processor. Pour the vegetable mush (I know you're salivating already, right?) into the pot with the butter and cream cheese and mix thoroughly. Slowly pour in the evaporated milk mixing well. Cook on medium low until warm throughout, add cheddar cheese, add salt pepper and garlic salt to taste. You may notice there is no broth or stock in this recipe, I was trying to amp up the calories and protein of this dish, for the kiddos. For the average adult not looking to gain twenty pounds you could probably replace about half of the milk with broth.

Sugar Fast Day Two....is it normal to feel like stabbing people??

...The answer would be yes.
I have given up cane sugar for a week...kind of...I'm really sucking at it though. The idea is to retrain my taste buds so that I don't crave sugar as often, to eat more whole foods, and if weight loss is a side effect I would not mind that one bit. I've also started "The 30 Day Shred".
What prompted all of this?
Well my birthday is coming up, and I kind of loath my birthday. Adult birthdays suck monkeys, it's like the calendar is mocking me...
"You're older", it whispers
"and bigger than last year"......

I have some issues.

Beyond that, the fact that everyone insists on preceding the word "birthday" with the word "happy" is like a cruel joke. Maybe it would be happy if it weren't a reminder that I have spent another year thousands of miles away from my closest friends, but I just don't see the point in celebrating*. Other holidays don't do this to me, most are a celebration of love, or family, or the birth of Jesus, these are things I can get behind. Birthday cards might as well read "You're one year closer to adult diapers, and mandatory colonoscopies"...yes!!! Woo-hoo, party down. Someone break out the champagne.
Anyhoo...Back to the sugar fast thingie
I figure regardless of my views on birthdays there will be phone calls, and facebook messages, and cards, reminding me of the anniversary of my entrance to this world, and if nothing else I want to feel healthy and fit when I turn twenty five....for the third time.





* especially when "celebrating" in Mommy Land usually means sleeping an extra hour, and baking myself a cake....oooh the excitement.

Quick Chickpea and Potato Curry

I recently bought some Masala simmering sauce from Trader Joe's. I wanted to be blown away and I was not. Super sad face goes here--->, because I love TJ's and wanted a super quick curry for lunches.
Well with a wee bit of adjustment, adding things like fresh garlic and ginger I was able to give it a more homemade taste.

What you need
1 tbs olive oil
5 cloves garlic smashed and minced
1 onion diced
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 dash cayenne (or more to taste)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 Jar of masala simmer sauce
1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed
1 potato diced
2-3 handfuls of spinach (optional)
yogurt and chopped cilantro for garnish

In a large pot heat the oil. Add the onions, garlic, ginger, potatoes, and salt, cook for two minutes. Add the spices and cook for one more minute. Add the diced tomatoes, simmer sauce and chickpeas. Simmer covered until potatoes are cooked. Add the spinach and cook for a few more minutes. Serve topped with yogurt and cilantro....or not. This is also yummy on top of rice, but then it really isn't a one pot dish.

One Pot Wonder Week

We just got back from a vacation, which means laundry, and catching up on housework, and errands, throw in a teething baby and the fact that it is tax season and you've got my life. Needless to say, I'm looking for things to make this week a little easier. Instead of relying on eating out, I like to use my crock-pot, OAMC, and one pot meals. The beauty of the one pot meal is that there is very little clean up, not a lot of multitasking, and often leftovers. In an attempt to catch up on house work I will be making one pot meals this week.

Garlicky Tortellini Soup

What you need:
1 tbs olive oil
1 box veggie broth (about four cups)
1 cup butternut squash puree (re purposing baby food is a new hobby of mine)
1 bulb of garlic, peeled, and put through a press
1 cup frozen spinach (totally optional if you are a spinichaphob)
1 pkg frozen peas
1 pkg of whatever filled pasta you desire, I accidentally bought regular tortellini, but this would be super yummy with a nice portabella mushroom ravioli
salt and garlic salt to taste

Are you ready for this......because this is very difficult....pour everything into a large pot, stir together, and cook following the directions on the back of the pasta......voila.

Behind the scenes.........
me: I don't know hunny, do you think I can fix this picture
hunny: Well it doesn't really do it justice
me: Well what about...
hunny: eeeeeesh, ya ok, go with the first one.
me: I'll just make it small then.

Chocolate Covered Almond (butter) Sandwich

We bought some almond butter today for half price....
Score!!
It is about to go bad.
Boo!!!
However I have a few recipes in mind that I have been wanting to try out so now I have the chance to do just that.
Sweet!!

Chocolate Covered Almond(butter) Sandwich
or
Chocolate Covered Almond(butter) French Toast

There is no picture for this recipe...they were eaten too fast for my camera to catch on film. I will try again later.

2 slices whole wheat bread
almond butter
chopped up dark chocolate
butter

Do I really need to put directions here? You all are intelligent people right? You know how to make a sandwich don't you? You put the almond butter and chocolate on the bread and you grill it like a grilled cheese sandwich, but instead of cheese it's dark, melty, creamy, chocolaty goodness and it's healthy, even if it isn't low cal. To make it vegan, just make sure that your bread and chocolate is vegan. To give it even more calories, dip the sandwich into French toast batter before cooking, and then sprinkle it with a mixture of cocoa powder, raw sugar, and a wee bit o cinnamon.

Cupcakes and Strawberry Ice Cream....for dinner

I love a good vegetarian meatloaf, and also a good cupcake....so why not combine the two??? Just what you were thinking right? I got the great idea to make cupcakes for dinner from my friend Katie, and it has quickly become a family favorite. The "strawberry ice cream" mashed potatoes were my addition, because there is nothing like a good lentil loaf and some garlic mashed potatoes. I made these a few days ago, and had not gotten around to writing the recipe down, so my solution is to add "ish" to every recipe amount. And that will make it ok if my amounts are all off...........right?


Lentil cupcakes

2ish cups cooked lentils
1ish package of cream cheese
1 package spaghetti sauce seasoning
1/4 cupish spaghetti sauce
5ish cloves of crushed garlic
2ish cups of oats

Ketchup or BBQ sauce for "frosting" and shredded cheese and/or baco bits for sprinkles.


Combine the softened cream cheese, spaghetti sauce seasoning, garlic, and spaghetti sauce in a large bowl. Stir until mixed thoroughly. Add the lentils and stir in oats until it has a good meat like consistency. You should be able to shape it into balls without it crumbling all over the place. Heap this mixture into GREASED muffin tins and bake at 350 until *doneish. Let the kiddos frost these bad boys with ketchup, or BBQ sauce (Annie's makes some great HFCS free condiments), and sprinkle with cheese and or baco bits.

"Strawberry Ice Cream" Mashed Taters

6 Potatoes peeled and boiled
6 cloves of crushed garlic
3/4ish cup milk (divided)
3tbs butter
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Beet juice
Salt and pepper to taste
In the same pot you cooked the potatoes in (waste not want not) melt the butter on low heat. Add the garlic, and about 1/4 cup milk, heat through. Remove from heat and mash in the potatoes, adding more milk as needed. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and add salt and pepper to taste. Add beet juice until it has reached desired coloring. This recipe is fantastic with red potatoes left unpeeled, however if you have itty bitty children in the house it's best to peel the potatoes, so that you don't have to put that Heimlich maneuver to use.

*see how splendidly that "ish" works out.

Make it Pink

We don't like to use red dye 40 in our house.........we also don't like lawsuits, so I will leave it at that. Unfortunately DD's favorite color is pink, not only that but if you ask her what her favorite food is she will smile and say "Pink!" (ok so she doesn't so much say it as she throws her hands in the air and sings it).....sigh. To top it off she has asked for a pink princess party for her birthday. Luckily beet juice makes a fantastically sickening pink hue when added to frosting.

With Valentines day coming up I thought it might be fun to post some of these pink treats.

Pink Fizzy Drink

DD is allergic to sulfites, this means no juice (among other things). If she weren't I would probably just serve a mixture of cranberry juice and seltzer water and call it good....but then I wouldn't have thought of this drink.

2 small scoops of raspberry sorbet
6 oz seltzer water

Scoop the sorbet into a cup and pour the seltzer water over it. The sorbet turns the drink pink, and gives it a delightful refreshing fruity flavor.

Pink Fruity Flower Toast

This is another sweet treat, it can be made even more simple by using no sugar added strawberry jam....but I really like the chunks of fruit, so we make it from scratch. :)

1 box strawberries
1/4 cup sugar (or to taste)
Juice of one lemon
water
Cream cheese

Chop the strawberries into small pieces and heat in a sauce pan on medium low with water (a very little bit like maybe 1/4 cup if that), lemon juice, and sugar, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile toast bread and cut with flower (or heart) shaped cookie cutters. Once the strawberry mixture has reduced and is all gooey and sweet and tangy remove it from heat and stir in the cream cheese. Spread this on your flower toasts. If it is too watery you can let it set in the fridge before using.....I know, I know, the picture is not a flower...and it also does not make you want to eat, but it works on toddlers...so, you know, give me a break.

Beyond these two treats beet juice can be added to things that are not going to be cooked* to create a fantabulous pink hue.

*Hummus, sour cream, yogurt, frosting, and mashed potatoes just to name a few.