Spinach Tortellini Soup

This is a tasty, simple recipe that you can quickly put together for a filling meal.

2 cans chicken broth
2 cans diced Italian tomatoes
1 pkg. (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach
1 bag frozen cheese tortellini
Oregano to taste

Simmer for 45 minutes. Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Wonderful with garlic bread.

Baked Oatmeal

This is a delicious recipe that all of my children love!

1/2 cup oil
3/4 cup sugar, honey or maple syrup (I prefer maple syrup)
2 eggs
3 cups oatmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup milk

Mix oil, sugar, and eggs with mixer until yellow and glossy. Add remaining ingredients and beat on medium until well blended. Add optional ingredients such as apples and raisins.
Bake at 400 for 30 minutes in 9x13 pan.
Serve warm with milk, brown sugar , raisins, or dates if desired!

Stuffed Chicken Breasts

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded flat
4 basil leaves
1 Tbsp. oil

Drizzle oil on one side of each breast and lay basil leaf on top of oiled side.

In small bowl combine:

1/2 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes
4 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/3 tsp. rosemary
1/3 tsp. oregano
Salt and pepper to taste

Spoon equal amounts of this filling on top of each basil leaf. Carefully roll the edges of the chicken breast around the filling and secure with toothpick. Place seam side down in baking dish. Drizzle with a little more oil and bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes.

Sesame Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into small chunks
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 Tbsp. oil
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. pepper
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tsp. ginger, fresh or powdered
sliced green onions, optional

Mix all together (make a double batch and freeze the second one!), marinate for a few hours and then broil for 10-15 minutes, turning once!
Serve with steamed broccoli and brown rice.

2 weeks of meals

On Saturday my sister Leslie and I prepared 2 weeks worth of meals for our freezers! It took about 5 hours (we both think it would have been less if we had planned a bit better), but it is an amazing sight for hungry eyes to find all that beautifully prepared food! We made burger patties and froze them along with some buns, beef and bean burritos, stuffed chicken breasts, sesame chicken, caribbean steak, crockpot barbeque chicken, crockpot beef and peppers, poppy seed chicken, meatloaf, and chicken scallopini. Most of these were simply freezing the meat along with a marinade...when I defrost, it will either be grilled, put in the crockpot or baked.

These are very easy meals that will be accompanied by fresh vegetables and salads. If any of these recipes interest you...just comment. We froze everything in gallon ziploc bags FLAT so that everything stacked neatly on top of each other. We labeled each bag with a sharpie with instructions on how to cook the meal.

Grab a buddy, schedule a Saturday, and fill your freezers full of food!

Delicious Living

I picked up Delicious Living magazine from my local health food store and found an interesting article about how Japanese people keep their weight and eating under control.

"Japanese women have the greatest longevity on Earth and the lowest obesity levels in the developed world. You may think it's all in our genes, but when Japanese people shift to unhealthy foods and too-big portions, they get fat, just like I did. What's our secret to staying slender? Fresh seasonal foods prepared in the healthiest, simplest ways and served in modest portions on beautiful dishes--a style of celebrating food that lets the natural beauty and flavor of the ingredients shine through"

So not only does simple cooking, buying produce local, and basic beauty bring me kitchen happiness, it also means a healthier, celebratory lifestyle. All year long, the Japanese "eat with their eyes" not only their mouths. "We take time to enjoy the natural goodness and beauty of the food".

Here's to eating healthy, modest portions on beautiful dishes and taking the time to savor and admire the beauty of your meal!

Making Your Table Pretty

It doesn't take much to create a pleasing centerpiece. I laid out an eyelet tablecloth I found at a garage sale for 50 cents and filled an enamelware pot with Granny Smith apples.
A basket filled with pinecones is nice for the winter. I love bowls full of lemons and limes. I also love bringing nature inside and cut some greenery or small branches and put them in a hurricane vase. Or put some "flower money" in your food budget and pick up a pretty bouquet from your grocery store. White pillar candles always add warmth and beauty and can be bought regularly and inexpensively and placed in hurricane vases. Your family will appreciate the extra small touches you take to make the dinner table inviting, warm, and pretty. And you may then linger longer as you eat and enjoy some wonderful conversation and memories.
Here's to a pretty table...simply!