Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana

The copycat recipe for Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana can be found all over the internet and for the most part, they are all the same. I followed this recipe pretty close making only a few changes. It turned out tasting identical to what I've had in Olive Garden... And it's easy!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 2 large Russet baking potatoes, sliced in half and then 1/4 inch slices
• 1 large (very large!) onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup bacon bits (Or Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Bits and more than 1/4 cup!!!)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups Kale or Swiss Chard, chopped (Swiss Chard is so much better)
• 16 ounces chicken broth
• 1 quart water (Or, what I learned is... make this 1 quart chicken broth, too)
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

Method:

Brown sausage in a soup pot, breaking it up into large, bite-size pieces. Add chicken broth and water (or all broth!) to pot and deglaze. Place onions, potato and garlic in pot. Cook on medium, simmering, until potatoes are done. Add bacon. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer another 10 minutes. Turn heat to low. Add Kale/Swiss Chard and cream. Heat through and serve... With salad!!!

Mom's Beef & Vegetable Stew

This is a very open recipe, any vegetable may be added, any set of herbs or spices... It's up to you what broth or bouillon you use. Thanks, mom, for sharing another perfect recipe :)

Ingredients:

• 1 - 1 1/2 pounds stew meat
  
• bit of all-purpose flour to coat meat
• salt and pepper, to taste
• teaspoon sugar
• 2 - 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  
• 8 cups broth or water
• herbs and seasonings of your choice
• fresh or frozen vegetables of your choice... I don't measure, I just eyeball it

Method:

Bring 8 cups of water or broth, herbs and seasonings and raw vegetables (except potatoes, they will become too soft) to a boil in a large stock pot. Meanwhile, combine flour with some salt, pepper and sugar and coat the stew meat with flour. Fry the meat in a hot skillet with a little oil until browned. Set meat aside. When this is done, take some of the broth/water and deglaze the skillet. Add this to the stock pot, turn heat down to a simmer, and add the meat. Make sure that the water isn't boiling when the meat is added, or it will become tough. Let the meat and vegetables simmer for about 30 minutes.

You can now bring your stew to a boil and add in whatever else you may want. Frozen vegetables can be added at this time, and also potatoes. You may also add a bit of barley, rice, or noodles. Return to a simmer for 30 minutes, and then you may enjoy :)

This time around I used some McCormick's Grill Mates Montreal Chicken Seasonings and it worked well for the stew.

Gyros w/ Mom's Tzatziki Sauce

My mom made Gyros frequently when I was growing up. I remember how awesome the sauce was she put on them, and I have tried so many tzatziki sauce recipes, but I could not replicate the flavor of my mom's. Then, I came across her recipe and figured out how she made it SO delicious. She used mayonnaise instead of yogurt! So, I had to try it again, and it was just as awesomely delicious as I remembered! I think I will be making these more and more frequently now! The marinade for the lamb I adapted from a kabob recipe from Faye Levy's feast from the Mideast. This makes enough for about 2 people. Now, on to the recipe!

For Lamb:

• about 1 lb lamb, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• drizzle of Olive Oil
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1 small onion, grated
  

Combine all ingredients and marinate lamb overnight. When ready to use, fry in a little bit of oil until cooked and tender. Remove and reserve for sandwich.

For Tzatziki sauce:

• 1 medium cucumber, peeled and chopped small
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 tablespoon milk
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon dried mint leaves (my mom actually used chives, which are amazing, too!)
  

Blend everything well, and chill at least one hour.

For Sandwich:

• whole wheat pita breads, warmed and sliced
• 1 sliced tomato
• dill pickles, chopped
• reserved lamb
• tzatziki sauce
  

Fill pita bread about 1/3 full with lamb. Add some tomato, pickle and tzatziki sauce. Enjoy with some fries, or whatever sounds good to you :) Enjoy!


~ I don't have to agree with you to like and respect you - Anthony Bourdain ~

Comfy, Easy, Home Cooked Roast & Veggies

This is one of those dinners that makes me wanna eat all curled up on the couch under a blankie watching a movie with my family... This dinner reminds me of childhood! This was one of those completely casual dinners, nothing fancy, just good enjoyable, delicious food... Comfort food... eaten at a TV tray if we wanted! My mom would always make some homemade bread with it... biscuits, rolls, Slut Bread... either way, it was tasty, healthy, filling and warm! The other day I decided to make it for myself and my daughter... and though it tasted just how I remembered, I missed eating it in my old house, with both my parents, and old friends and family. I didn't appreciate it so much at the time, but I would love to have just one of those days back. To compound my evening of nostalgia, my daughter left today for camp... She will be gone until Friday and I won't even be able to talk to her :( I have never gone an entire day in her ten years of life without talking to her, and I haven't gone more than 2 days without seeing her. I am craving some comfort right now! :(

This method works for either a beef or pork roast... It's simple enough, I put the roast in an oven proof pan along with a tablespoon of oil and about a 1/4 cup of water. I season it with McCormick's California Style Onion Powder, salt, and pepper, and I roast it at 350˚F for 3 - 4 hours, covered. I check it every hour or so and add a small amount of water as needed. After a couple hours, I flip the roast and season again. When It's tender enough to be pulled apart, I throw in cut up carrots and potatoes and roast another 30 minutes to an hour, until the veggies are soft. Sometimes at the end, I will add a bit of bullion for a stronger flavor in the broth.

"Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile."
~Franklin P. Jones

"Nobody has ever before asked the nuclear family to live all by itself in a box the way we do. With no relatives, no support, we've put it in an impossible situation."
~Margaret Mead

Burgers & Salad

This recipe is modified from feast from the Mideast 250 Sun-Drenched Dishes from the Lands of the Bible. I got this book from the library, but liked it so much, I bought it from Amazon... I think I will end up trying every recipe. The only major change I made is to add Thyme, and I made a different sauce than the recipe suggested.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• salt & pepper, to taste
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound ground beef, chuck or sirloin
  
• 2 - 4 pita breads or sesame rolls
• 1 onion, sliced thin (optional)
• pickle slices (optional)
• sauce of choice

Method:

Prepare grill, pan, or broiler. Combine meat with cumin, turmeric, thyme, salt and pepper, and garlic. Shape into four patties, about 1 inch thick. If using rolls, toast them lightly.

Grill, fry or broil until juices run clear. This will take approximately 6 minutes on each side. To check, make a small cut in the center of burger to see the color.

If using pita, heat briefly on grill or oven for a few seconds on each side, making sure bread stays soft.

Transfer burgers to pita or buns and serve with toppings of choice, like onions, pickles and sauce.

For the "garlic sauce":

I have tried to make authentic garlic sauce and haven't been successful, so this was my adaptation. I took about 1/2 cup mayonnaise, added a couple tablespoons olive oil and about 5 cloves minced garlic and let this sit in the regrigerator to blend flavors. This worked well, and gave the flavor I wanted, though the texture was a little different.

Suma from Suma's Cuisine tagged me ... Thanks, Suma ;)

**The rules are: Respond and rework – answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, and add one more question of your own. Then tag eight or ten other people.

1. What is your current obsession?

Worrying about the future.


2. What are you wearing today?

Jean skirt & T-shirt.


3. What’s for dinner?

Frozen Pizza.


4. What’s the last thing you bought?

Soap.


5. What are you listening to right now?

Harry Potter/ Prisoner of Azkaban


6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?

Very nice, great blog, and so sweet for thinking of me and tagging :)


7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world ,where would you like it to be?

I don't care, but close to people I care about.


8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?

Sandals, jean skirts, t-shirts and sunglasses.


9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

California.


10. Which language do you want to learn?

Spanish, as I could get a job just for being able to speak it.


11. What’s your favourite quote?

"I'm selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes. I am out of control and at times hard to handle, but if you can't handle me at my worst... then you don't deserve me at my best."
-Marilyn Monroe-


12. Who do you want to meet right now?

Sri (Soybean)


13. What is your favourite colour?

Burned Orange


14. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet?

My jean skirts & t-shirts.


15. What is your dream job?

Writer/ Author


16. What’s your favourite magazine?

Right now, Science Illustrated.


17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?

I'd take my daughter to lunch tomorrow, then to the mall and buy her something... Then maybe something for myself.


18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?

I don't care about fashion, probably wearing clothes too tight and small.


19. Who are your style icons?

I don't have any, style and fashion aren't really important to me.


20. Describe your personal style.?

Comfortable, clean, good-fitting and appropriate for the situation.


21. What are you going to do after this?

Take a shower, and go to the library.


22. What are your favourite movies?

The King & I, Gone with the Wind, It's a Wonderful Life, What Dreams May Come, The Gladiator, Shawshank Redemption, John Q, Puff the Magic Dragon, Water, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Seven Pounds.


24. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?

Foundation, eye-liner & blush.


23. What inspires you?

Intelligence.


24. What is your current favorite song?

Runaway - Love and Theft.


25. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?

Get frustrated and stay in the house.


26. Coffee or tea?

Coffee in the mornings, tea in the evenings.


27. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?

Lay around, cry, try to figure out how to fix everything in my life, then get more depressed.


28. What is the meaning of your name?

It's Greek for a sea nymph.


29. Which other blogs you love visiting?

All food blogs


30. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?

Right now, I'm craving some Tira Misu.


31. Favourite Ornaments.

Earrings & Nose Ring.


32. Most important thing your parents taught you?

Work Ethics.

I'm tagging anyone who wants to do this... :)

Pizza and New Years Wishes

This is my attempt at recreating a spicy Polynesian pizza from Cottage Inn. I wanted to make it as simple as possible for a weeknight dinner so I bought a pre-made crust and topped it with a spicy barbecue sauce in place of traditional pizza sauce. I then added chopped green peppers, onions, banana peppers, cilantro, pineapple and monterey-jack cheese. It turned out great, but next time I will add some crushed red pepper to the barbecue sauce for a little more heat.

This pizza was for Chelsea, and was her request... Simply pepperoni and banana peppers :)

Until next year... Happy New Year and best wishes to you all!!!

Skillet Dinner

This is one of the dinners I make when I have a lot of produce but am feeling very lazy. I make it with whatever I have at the time and I don't add much to flavor this because I love the taste of the polish sausage so much!

Ingredients:

• 4 red potatoes, cut up to desired size
  
• 1 large sweet potatoes, cut up
  
• produce bag full of green beans
• 1 large onion, chunked
• 16 oz. polish sausage, sliced into 1/2 inch. rings
• 16 oz. frozen corn
• about 1/4 cup water (more or less as needed)
• salt & pepper

Method:

I used an electric skillet and added all of the ingredients at once, cooking at 350 degrees with the lid on, stirring occasionally, adding water as needed, until the potatoes and beans were still a little firm, but done. Add salt and pepper to taste. I served this with some rice...and the kids ate all their veggies!

~ The only safe and sure way to destroy an enemy is to make him your friend.