Italian Meatballs in Marinara

 This was TO DIE FOR.  All 4 of us ate until we were so stuffed.  We sat around the table saying how full we were but that we wanted to keep eating!

Got the meatball recipe off of Christna Ferrare's site on OWN.  Marinara I found on AllRecipes.com.

Servings: Makes 10 4 oz. meatballs

INGREDIENTS

Jamie's Famous Meatballs Recipe

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 8 ounces ground pork  (I used 2 lbs of ground beef)
• 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs (I had Italian Seasoned on hand)
• 1/4 cup and 1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan (or Pecorino Romano)
• 1 large whole egg
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3 cloves chopped fresh garlic
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil , for frying

DIRECTIONS

Using a whisk, mix the milk and the bread crumbs in a deep bowl. Add all the other ingredients. Using your hands (you can use gloves), mix well until the mixture looks even. With a scale, weigh out the mixture into about 4-ounce portions and form them into meatballs.

Place olive oil into a frying pan, and heat until it begins to smoke slightly. Carefully place the meatballs in the pan using tongs. Keep rotating each meatball so they cook evenly until the inside of the meatball reaches 140°. Place the cooked meatball into a marinara sauce of your choice and let simmer for approximately 2 to 4 hours.

Yield: 10 meatballs (4 ounces)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Inactive prep time: 0 minutes
Cook time: 2 to 4 hours  (I only let them simmer about 20 minutes.  We were hungry!)

I happen to have a scale.  This is like the one I have.  If you don't have a scale, big deal, just try to make them all the same size.  4 oz is pretty big meatballs.  They sell fancier scales for 3-5 times the amount of money, but I like the kind that has a plastic bowl on top so that you can throw that in the dishwasher.

I made this just like the instructions (except for omitting the pork & replacing it with the ground beef).

Here is where I stole the recipe from:  http://www.oprah.com/own-cristinas-big-bowl-of-love/Jamies-Famous-Meatballs-Recipe

 For the Marinara Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (28 ounce) can tomato puree
• 2 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
• 2 1/2 tablespoons dried parsley  (I didn't have dried parsley so I used a little dried basil)
• 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese   (I just used the parmesan)
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon onion powder  (I had granulated onion, so I used about 2 teaspoons, to taste)
• I also sauted an onion & added it

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Saute garlic until aromatic and tender. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato puree, oregano, parsley, Romano cheese, Parmesan cheese, bay leaves and onion powder. Reduce heat to low and simmer for at least 40 minutes.  I allowed it to simmer for about 20 minutes until my meatballs were done, then I added the meatballs for the last 20 minutes.

Recipe site:  http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/simple-marinara-sauce/Detail.aspx

Served it with spaghetti noodles & sauted zucchini.  Which by the way even my kids find amazing. 

 Sliced zucchini, saute in a little olive oil until tender & a little brown.  Sprinkle liberally with garlic salt to taste.  I'll post my favorite garlic salt.  It's a favorite for a reason.  You can find it in any grocery store.  McCormicks California Style (with parsley) Garlic Salt.

Sonya's Chicken Tortilla Soup

I think traditional tortilla soup usually has a tomato base.  But not mine.  There is a hole in the wall Mexican restaurant where I used to live in Riverside.  It is called Mexican Kitchen.  I ordered this once & I was hooked.  I went home & duplicated it perfectly. All the ingredients are optional & you can take out & add whatever you want.  Everything can also be a guess.  There is no exact science to this.  So really there are no measurements.


Chicken Stock or broth about 64 ounces  (I make my own, see recipe)
Shredded chicken (from the chicken I made the stock from)
Yellow Onion, 1 medium onion, diced (set aside a little fresh for garnish)
Celery, about 3 sliced
Carrots, about 3 sliced
Cilantro (to your liking, set aside some fresh for garnish on each bowl)
Green Cabbage  (I wash it then hack it up, I use mostly the green outer parts)
Monterey Jack Cheese (or a blend "Mexican Cheese") (garnish to your liking.  I like a lot)
Corn or Flour tortillas (garnish)
Avocado (diced for garnish and YUMM!)
Oil for frying tortillas (if you want them fried)
Salt to taste (You probably won't need any.  It depends on your broth or stock).

I put the broth/stock in a big pot (like you would boil pasta in).  Add the onion, celery, carrots, & cilantro (leave some cilantro for garnish, it really does taste better to have fresh cilantro in each bowl).  Bring to a boil & then lower to a low simmer.  Put a lid on it.  Cook until the carrots are tender but you don't want soggy (I hate soggy carrots).

Preparing Tortillas:


You may want to prepare your tortillas now.  I just take a few out at a time, then put them on a flat surface & roll a pizza cutter over them, making strips.  You don't have to fry them if you don't want to.  Sometimes I just serve them whole and warm on the side.  With flour tortillas, you can just throw them in the soup when serving & not even heat them up.  For corn tortillas, I like them heated.  I put them directly on my gas stove burner on low eat and turn them.  I'll break off a piece & eat it on the side along with the soup.  Just heat a pan with oil in it (Grapeseed oil would be great.  You want a flavorless oil but any oil will do in a pinch) & fry the strips and then set them aside to drain on paper towels.  Doesn't take long.  Get 'em in, get 'em out.

When carrots are tender, add your chicken (however much you want) and cabbage.  We LOVE cabbage, so I put a TON.  Let it simmer until chicken is heated through & cabbage has softened up but isn't soggy.

Then top with garnishes.  A little finely chopped fresh onion is amazing on this, as well as the cilantro, the cheese melts & the tortillas are to die for!  I absolutely LOVE avocado so I dice up avocado and put this in as well.

AMAZING!  Then I used the rest of the shredded chicken to make enchiladas the next night.

Butternut Squash Soup

I got this recipe while watching Chrisina Ferrare's new show on the OWN network.  It looked easy when she made it, but It took a while because I don't have a good peeler.  I will now be buying a new peeler & I highly advise you do too for everything.  Cheap ones can make life miserable.  It's not that it was HARD to do, it was just time consuming.  Prep time is longer than 10 minutes as recipe stated.

Servings: Serves 4–6  (serves 6)

INGREDIENTS

Butternut Squash Soup

• 2 medium onions, peeled and sliced thin
• 3 lbs. butternut squash , peeled, seeded, and cut into 2-inch cubes
• 2 tsp. Kosher salt
• 3 Tbsp. Extra virgin olive oil
• 5 scallions, coarsely chopped
• 2 quarts chicken stock, homemade or commercial (8 cups)
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. nutmeg, ground fresh
• Pinch of ground cloves (optional)
• 2 tsp. dry sherry or dry white wine
• 8 ounces nonfat cream cheese at room temperature, cut into 4 pieces

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375°. Spread the sliced onions and cubed squash on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Kosher salt, then toss together to coat vegetables with oil and salt.

Place the baking sheet in the oven. Roast the onions and squash for 20 to 30 minutes or until onions have caramelized and you can insert a paring knife easily through the cubes of squash. Place the caramelized onions, cubed squash, 3 scallions, chicken stock, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and sherry into a stockpot. Gently simmer for 30 minutes.

In a blender, in batches, add 2 ladles of soup and 2 ounces of the cream cheese at a time and blend until smooth. Pour into a clean stock pot. Keep up this process until all the soup and cream cheese have been used.

To serve, heat the soup until hot and ladle into heated bowls. Garnish each bowl with 1 tablespoon sour cream, 1/2 teaspoon chopped scallions, 1/4 teaspoon finely chopped jalapeños, 8 to 10 pomegranate seeds. Sprinkle withalt and pepper to taste, 6 to 8 pieces toasted walnuts, 1 teaspoon walnut oil and a dash of cayenne pepper.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour

I got this recipe from :  http://www.oprah.com/own-cristinas-big-bowl-of-love/Butternut-Squash-Soup#comments

I couldn't find fresh nutmeg, so I just used the nutmeg I had already ground.  I used my own homemade chicken stock.  I got the sherry at Trader Joe's for about $4.95.  It lasts a long time.  However, I think it's optional.  

I followed the directions to a T.  I just didn't like the garnishments, so I omitted them.  I just added a bit more of cinnamon & nutmeg to the top.  I liked this soup, but for all the trouble, I probably won't make it again unless I have guests for dinner.  And then I will cut the recipe in half & serve it as a starter.  It is very good though.

I think I may buy these peelers.  Versatile!  Inexpensive & good reviews. 

Chicken Stock

This is how I make my chicken stock.

I roast a chicken (rinse chicken first, then salt the inside of the cavity.  In a 375 degree oven roast until temp reaches 165 degrees.  I have a temp gauge that I insert into the thickest part of the meat, it alarms me when it reaches temperature so there is no guessing or timing.  The one I use is just like the one at the bottom of this post.

Then I let the chicken cool.  Strip all the meat off of the chicken & I put that in the fridge to save for enchiladas or my tortilla soup.  I am going to use it to make my tortilla soup.  I then take the bones & some skin (little fat) and put it in a stock pot with carrots, the inside, leafy pieces of celery (the heart?), parsley, onions with skins, garlic cloves & skins & cover with water.  I don't usually need to add any salt because I had salted the inside of the chicken cavity before roasting.  You can also do this with a rotisserie chicken from the store.  Strip the meat & save the carcass.

I then bring it all to a boil & then lower it to a simmer for 45 minutes (if I am in a hurry) to 4 hours or over night (very low heat).  You can simmer it all day, the longer the better.

Once I'm ready to use it, I then take cheesecloth.  You can get it at the grocery store.  And strain the stock & carcass & veggies through it (I line a strainer with the cheesecloth).  I strain it into a very large bowl or another pot.  Then lift the cheesecloth out with the carcass & veggies & throw it away.  Super easy.  This tastes better than any chicken broth or stalk I have purchased to use in my recipes.  I can tell a difference when I don't make it from scratch.  It's too easy not to!  Let it cool throughput before refrigerating it.

I've been moving

The reason for no posts lately is that I've been moving!  Seems we're more settled in now so I should be back to cooking in no time flat!  Hopefully tonight!

Tostada & Cindy's Salad

Hubby cooked dinner tonight while I sat in my sauna & took a much needed bath.  

I call this Cindy's Salad because my friend Cindy made it for me once for dinner.  It was a huge salad with a TON of stuff.  Ingredients:
Romaine Lettuce
Avocado
Beets from a can (drained)
Diced tomato
Sliced red onion
Sliced mushrooms
Diced bell Peppers
Garbanzo beans from a can (drained)

I topped mine with blue cheese dressing by Bolthouse, it's made with Greek yogurt & so it's low in fat.  I found it in the refrigerated isle.  Best one I've found so far that's in a bottle.

Ingredients & directions:  We browned ground beef & left the taco seasoning out.  Sometimes we like it plain.  We grocery store tostada shells, topped with heated refried beans from a can, then the ground beef (after draining if needed), then shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican cheese blend.  We then topped with lettuce, taco sauce, tomatoes & sour cream.  TO DIE FOR!  Also super easy.

Reviews:  All four of us gave the thumbs up.  The salad, I am sure the kids picked most of the veggies out.  They aren't too adventurous.  Although we do make them eat veggies.

Four Cheese Baked Penne

Last night hubs and I made something from Ellie Krieger.  She makes bad food healthy-er.

Finished Product.  I served with zucchini & yellow squash sauted in olive oil & garlic salt.

Ingredients

• 1 pound whole-wheat penne
• 1 1/2 cups small-curd low-fat cottage cheese
• 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1 1/4 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
• 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 (15-ounce) can low-sodium crushed tomatoes
• 1 (8-ounce) can low-sodium tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• Cooking spray
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan (3/4 ounces)

**I used chopped spinach instead of the parsley.  I had some on hand and wanted to add another element of health.  I also used 2 teaspoons of jarred diced garlic instead of the cloves.

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine the cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella and parsley in a bowl and stir with a fork to incorporate and set aside. Cook pasta until tender but still firm, a minute or 2 less than the package directs. Drain.

Heat the oil in the same pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, rosemary, chili flakes, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Return pasta to pot with sauce and turn off heat. Add cottage cheese mixture.

Spray a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray then transfer pasta mixture to pan. Top with remaining 3/4 cup mozzarella and the Parmesan. Bake until heated through and cheese is melted, 30 minutes.

Everyone was starving by the time it was taken out of the oven.  They couldn't wait for me to take my picture. 

Reviews:  I thought it tasted healthy.  I don't like whole wheat pasta.  Hubs said "it was good".  14 year old said "It was really good".  We all had left overs today and last night 14 year old & son had seconds.  So it was a success.  I am picky :)  I think it would have tasted better with regular pasta.
**Here is where I got the recipe from:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/four-cheese-baked-penne-recipe/index.html

  I want to get her SO EASY cookbook.  I have her The Food You Crave book.

Crisp & Creamy Baked Chicken

Oh this was GOOOOOOOOD.  I started the meal & my husband finished it.  I was sick that night & my nurse was coming over so I had to get ready for him.  I got this recipe off the Kraft Foods website when hubby called from being out working, taking a kid to the doc & taking another to the batting cages.  He wasn't done working, but since I was stuck in bed, he offered to cook if I emailed him a recipe & shopping list.  I ended up cooking it, but he finished it & brought me dinner in bed.  He even snapped a pic for the blog.

Family reviews were all:  MMMmmmmmm..... gooooood.  It was creamy & gooey and moist.  I have never tried the Kraft Touch of Philly shredded cheese before.  It's creamier when it melts.  Good.  Bought the brand name of everything in this case except the cream of celery soup (hubs did the shopping).  Extra Crispy Shake n' Bake & the Kraft cheese instead of the store brand.  You could probably buy generic in all these & do just fine.  Or just use bread crumbs & season them.  I threw some brown jasmine rice in the rice cooker.  I usually cook it with chicken broth, but I didn't have any on hand, so I sprinkled some chicken bouillon in to give it flavor.  Then I jumped in the tub & left the rest up to hubs.

what you need

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)

6 Tbsp.  (1/2 of 1 pouch) SHAKE 'N BAKE Extra Crispy Seasoned Coating Mix

2 cups instant white rice, uncooked

2/3 cup  (1/2 of 10-3/4-oz. can) condensed cream of celery soup

1/4 cup milk

1 cup  KRAFT Shredded Three Cheese with a Touch of PHILADELPHIA

make it

HEAT oven to 400°F.

COAT chicken with coating mix as directed on package; place in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Discard any remaining coating mix.

BAKE 20 min. or until chicken is done (165°F). Meanwhile, cook rice as directed on package.

MIX soup and milk until well blended; pour over chicken. Top with cheese. Bake 5 min. or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly. Serve with rice.

Here is the where I got the recipe: http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/crisp-creamy-baked-chicken-90116.aspx

Lasagna Pinwheels

Last night I made Lasagna Pinwheels.  I had made it before when my friend Trish from Idaho came to visit me for a while.  She made these & I helped. You can double the batch & make one & freeze one before you bake it.  I use cottage cheese instead of ricotta.  It is high in protein & it really takes very good.  I have ricotta, but I am saving that for my Lemon Ricotta Cookies.  Well, they are Giada Delaurentiis' cookies.

This is the finished product.  I wasn't feeling well enough to plate it.  I made a mistake & stood my rolls up (you'll see later).  Next time I make it, I will lay the rolls on their side instead of standing them up.  A few fell over.  But they still tasted good!

Ingredients:  Lasagna noodles - cooked with sea salt in the water, 
Cottage cheese (large container)
About 2 cups plus more for topping of mozzarella cheese
 A jar of your favorite spaghetti or  marinara sauce
Pepperoni (I use turkey.  Less fat & a pig didn't have to die)
Basil
Oregano
Marjoram
If you don't have the spices you could omit them no problem

This is the amount of the 3 spices I use.  About a teaspoon each.  But you can mix it & add to taste.  That's how I do it.

I then add about 2 cups of the shredded cheese & stir everything together.

I clean my counter tops (they are sealed) well with warm water  & vinegar.  Then I lay out the noodles while they're still hot spoon & spread on cheese mixture then add pepperoni.  Then I roll them up and lay them in a lasagna pan.

I should have laid them on their sides, but they looked so cute like that!  I made 12 & had enough to make another 4 & throw them in the freezer for a dinner for 2 later.  Add your jar of sauce to top all of the pinwheels.  You may cover with foil (couldn't do it since I stood them up) and bake @ 375 for 20 minutes. Then pull them out, add mozzarella cheese (I used about a cup because we like a lot of cheese).  I also put some Parmesan on top (I found a little in the fridge).  Then pop it back in the oven for another 10 minutes.  If you had foil on them, remove the foil for this step so cheese can melt & crisp a bit.  I served mine with a salad from Costco (of course).

 Even though some of mine fell over, they were delicious!


Reviews:  Hubby said, "This was good, but he didn't love it."
14 year old:  "It was very good."  He ate seconds.  He really liked it.
16 year old:  "A quick that was good."  She ate it right up.