Love to Eat?

 Minestrone Soup* with Sausage Meatballs… Minestrone doesn’t have to be vegetarian!

Soup

3+ T extra virgin olive oil

1 large onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

3 bay leaves 

.5 t oregano

.5 t thyme

.25 t cayenne pepper, +/- to taste

3 chopped carrots

2 sticks celery, chopped

30 sausage meatballs (see below)

1 C chopped zucchini

1 C diced waxed potat

 Minestrone Soup* with Sausage Meatballs… Minestrone doesn’t have to be vegetarian!

Soup

3+ T extra virgin olive oil

1 large onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

3 bay leaves 

.5 t oregano

.5 t thyme

.25 t cayenne pepper, +/- to taste

3 chopped carrots

2 sticks celery, chopped

30 sausage meatballs (see below)

1 C chopped zucchini

1 C diced waxed potatoes

1 C frozen carrots

1 can green beans

1 can cannellini beans

1 large can crushed tomatoes

4 C low sodium beef broth

1 C Water

1 C Faro, ancient grain

2 C chopped kale

2 T lemon juice

Parmesan cheese to taste

Add 3 T olive oil to a large pot, when hot, add chopped onions, fry till translucent. Add garlic, bay leaves, oregano, thyme, cayenne pepper, carrots, celery, potato, celery and fry for 2 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes and 4 cups broth, 1 C water, green beans, cannellini beans, sausage meatballs and simmer for 20 minutes, add zucchini and faro, simmer for 10 minutes, add kale, lemon juice, stir and turn off heat.

Serve with parmesan cheese and drizzle olive oil. 

Sausage meatballs

2 T extra virgin olive oil

1 package Premio sausage links

2 c low sodium beef broth

Add olive oil to the pan, slit the sausage casings and remove casings. Divide each sausage into 5 small meatballs, roll and add to the pan. Fry sausages until golden brown, rotating to all sides. Add beef broth or liquid from minestrone soup. Simmer until cooked through. Add meat balls to soup or keep in a separate container in the fridge and add 2-3 meatballs per bowl to ensure that everyone gets meatballs with each bowl!!!. Allow the remaining broth to cool in the fridge. Remove solid fat and add remaining broth back to soup. 

*This recipe originally came from Cookie and Kate, but this is my version.. Click here to see the original recipe

https://cookieandkate.com/classic-minestrone-soup-recipe/

  Set Oven to 350 degrees.

1 C all purpose flour

½ C whole wheat flour

1½ t baking powder

¼ t baking soda 

¼ t cinnamon

1 egg

3 medium spotted bananas* 

⅓ C sugar

¼ C extra virgin olive oil

1 squeeze packet apple sauce

1 C chopped walnuts

1 C dark chocolate chips

Grease loaf pan with butter. Mix flours, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon in a medium

  Set Oven to 350 degrees.

1 C all purpose flour

½ C whole wheat flour

1½ t baking powder

¼ t baking soda 

¼ t cinnamon

1 egg

3 medium spotted bananas* 

⅓ C sugar

¼ C extra virgin olive oil

1 squeeze packet apple sauce

1 C chopped walnuts

1 C dark chocolate chips

Grease loaf pan with butter. Mix flours, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon in a medium bowl. Mix egg, olive oil, apple sauce, bananas and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Combine dry with wet and blend until smooth. Add walnuts and chocolate chips last and spoon into a greased loaf pan. Cook at 350 degrees until golden brown and a tooth pick comes out clean.

*I buy bananas in bulk and wait till I have 3 brown spotted bananas, remove the skin and freeze them overnight. Pack 3 bananas per bag and your banana bread is ready to go, just defrost. This allows me to have perfectly ripe bananas whenever I need them. Ripe bananas mean less sugar added, since they are sweeter. Defrost overnight or warm them in a microwave for 30 seconds at repeat until room temp, stir each time.

2 T+  extra virgin olive oil

1 large onion diced

2 cloves of garlic, minced

0.5 t thyme

2 bay leaves

4 carrots diced

4 potatoes diced

1 ham steak, with bone, diced

8 C water

1 lb split peas, sorted and rinsed

In a large crock pot or stock pot, add 2 T olive oil and diced onion, fry on medium heat till translucent, add garlic, time, bay leaves and s

2 T+  extra virgin olive oil

1 large onion diced

2 cloves of garlic, minced

0.5 t thyme

2 bay leaves

4 carrots diced

4 potatoes diced

1 ham steak, with bone, diced

8 C water

1 lb split peas, sorted and rinsed

In a large crock pot or stock pot, add 2 T olive oil and diced onion, fry on medium heat till translucent, add garlic, time, bay leaves and stir. Add carrots, potatoes, ham steak with bone, 8 cups of water and split peas. Simmer on low heat for 1 hour.

Serve with a parsley garnish and or drizzle with more olive oil.

 Grandma Westburg's Soda bread can't be beat. We love cooking our family tradition for St. Patrick's Day!

3.5 Cups all purpose flour

3.5 Tsp baking powder

0.5 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Salt

3 Tbs. Sugar

2 Tsp. Caraway Seeds

1 Cup Raisins

2 Tsp. Butter

1 Egg Beaten

1 Egg Yoke

2 Tsp. Water

2 Cups Buttermilk

Bake: 350 Degrees  1 Hour

1. Combine flour, sugar,

 Grandma Westburg's Soda bread can't be beat. We love cooking our family tradition for St. Patrick's Day!

3.5 Cups all purpose flour

3.5 Tsp baking powder

0.5 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Salt

3 Tbs. Sugar

2 Tsp. Caraway Seeds

1 Cup Raisins

2 Tsp. Butter

1 Egg Beaten

1 Egg Yoke

2 Tsp. Water

2 Cups Buttermilk

Bake: 350 Degrees  1 Hour

1. Combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and soda. Stir in caraway seeds. Cut in butter.

2. Add raisins, combine buttermilk and egg, blend in flour mixture.

3. Turn out onto a lightly floured board. Knead until smooth-25 times.

Shape into a smooth ball. Place in a well greased 2 quart baking pan ( I use an 8inch cast iron pan). Cut a 4 inch cross about 1/4 inch deep across the top.

4. Lightly beat egg yolk and water, brush over loaf. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes. Use a wooden spoon to knock on the bread, it should sound hollow. 

Enjoy!