Friday, October 8, 2010

I guess summer isn't over yet!

It may be October, but my little balcony garden isn't done trying yet.

I guess little gardens produce little fruits? Check out the bountiful mini produce I'm getting:

That big green pepper is almost a normal size!

Yaaay Fall!

I'm diving right into this cold weather! This past weekend i made not one, but 2 delicious and hearty soups/stews. (in other words, i've been procrastinating with my studying).

I'm a big supporter of "one pot" cooking. So i make lots of soupy stewy type meals, intended to be eaten in a bowl, because I'm also a big fan of spooning. I should also mention that i make up recipes as i go, so sometimes they could use improvement.

Saturday, we had:
Butternut Squash, Apple, Sausage, and Tortellini Soup

Chopping list:
  • 2 lbs butternut squash, 1/2 inch to 1 inch pieces (i used the pre-cut kind, it was actually cheaper!)
  • 1 or 2 apples, diced ( i used 3, too many i think.)
  • 1 small potato, peeled and diced (i used red, but shouldn't matter much)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
Other:
  • 3 links sweet italian sausage, casings removed
  • 1 package frozen cheese tortellini
  • 1/2 tsp herbs de provence ( i have this one with a built in grinder and i love it... i definitely bought it at a regular grocery store, but i don't know which one)
  • 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 carton (4 cups?) chicken broth
  • water... enough to cover what chicken broth can't
  • a little butter? (i didn't use, but would have been a good flavor addition)
Optional:
  • 1 beer for enjoying while cooking
  • music (optional) for singing and dancing while cooking (I used a combination of Ella Fitzgerald and "Rhythms del Mundo: Cuba)
  • Blender (I looooove my kithen aid immersion blender)
Instructions:
  • Open beer
  • Cue music (Que? Queue?)
  • In large pot, brown and crumble sausage. Anyone know a good way of doing this? I end up with giant chunks, but it doesn't really matter, since they're still delicious.
  • Sip beer. Start nodding your head to the music.
  • When fully cooked, remove sausage, put in a bowl, and set aside.
  • In same large pot, now greased with sausage juices, add onions and spices and saute until onions begin to turn translucent. I bit of butter would be good to add here for increased flavor, but I didn't think of it at the time.
  • Sing into your beer bottle microphone.
  • Add remaining vegetables. Stir well.
  • Add broth and enough water to cover vegetables. Dance a bit while it comes to a boil, then some more after reducing to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are fork tender.
  • If you want a creamy soup, remove from heat and submerge immersion blender, or blend small amounts at a time in a traditional blender.
  • Place back on medium heat, add in sausage and 1 bag of frozen cheese tortellini. Cook until tortellini is warmed through. Dance and finish beer to speed along the process.
  • Salt and pepper to taste, and serve!
  • Yum!


Sunday, we had:
Mustard and Beer Beef Stew

Chopping list:
  • 1 small potato, skin on, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • few carrots, peeled and chopped
  • few stalks of celery, chopped
Other:
  • Stew meat, doesn't really matter how much... i use a package. 1.5 pounds maybe?
  • Beer (darker is better), not for drinking this time.
  • Mustard of choice, ~2 tsps (i used a combo of "cuban mojo" and brown mustard)
  • 1 carton (4 cups) beef broth or stock
  • 1 Bay leaf (i forgot, would have been good)
  • 1/2 tsp of herbs de provence or oregano, or maybe sage?
  • bit of olive oil
Optional:
  • half a kielbasa or smoked sausage, chopped
Instructions
  • In large pot, add a bit of oil, and brown stew meat. Cut up into bite size cubes as is easiest for you... i use tongs and kitchen shears while they're browning to save time.
  • when done browning, add mustard of choice, stir well.
  • Add sausage, if including.
  • Add half the beer, stir well. Cook a bit over medium low heat.
  • Add onions, stir well, let cook a bit.
  • Add a little bit of herbs de provence
  • Add remaining vegetables, stir well, cook until onions are translucent.
  • Add broth and bay leaf
  • Cook for a while... until the potatoes start to fall apart
  • Make sure beef is fully cooked
  • Remove bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Serve! With remaining half beer perhaps?
Smelled funny while cooking (due to the weird mustard i used) but turned out well. Even more tasty a day later!

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