Saturday, November 13, 2010

Pumpkin Pie French Toast

Leftover pumpkin? Try this. It's sweet enough that it doesn't really need anything on it, but a little honey or maple syrup never hurt.

2 eggs (this is what the recipe called for, but I would definitely use 3 or 4 - especially if you expect it make 8 slices)
1/4 c milk
1/4 c pumpkin puree
1/4 t vanilla
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t ginger
1/8 t cloves
1/8 t nutmeg
2 T brown sugar

8 slices bread

Mix up everything, dip bread in it, make French Toast.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Dinner in a Pumpkin

 
(Picture not my own)


Have you ever had dinner in a pumpkin? I have. Twice. I first had it in college, thought it was ingenious, and vowed to make it myself someday. That day was today. It was easy, it was delicious, and the missionaries were impressed (So was the husband. The baby was not impressed). There are many variations of recipes out there. I did this:
1-1.5 lbs ground beef/turkey
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 T. brown sugar
1 can mushrooms (or fresh would be good)
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups cooked rice (I used leftover brown rice - it was good)
Brown the ground beef/turkey with the onion and mushrooms, if applicable. Drain and stir in soy sauce, brown sugar, soup and cooked rice. Meantime, cut the top off a pumpkin and clean it out. Throw the hamburger junk inside, stick it in a roasting pan, and put it in the oven for an hour or so. To serve, scoop out some junk and scrape the sides to get some pumpkin in there too.
Benefit: My pumpkin was decent sized, so I had a lot of roasted pumpkin leftover, which I am mashing and putting in the freezer for pumpkin recipes all winter long. Booyah.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Peanut Butter Balls

Photograph courtesy of The Pioneer Woman


Time for something sweet. These are similar to buckeyes, but I daresay perhaps a slight bit healthier. Plus, it always seems like recipes for buckeyes have some weird ingredient like parrafin wax. This is pretty straightforward. Recipe fron Parents magazine.

Mix 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/3 cup honey, and 1 cup powdered milk in a bowl. Roll into 20 1-inch balls. Melt 6 oz dark chocolate (or whatever you have or like) and dip balls in chocolate. Refrigerate until chocolate hardens. Vow never to make again because you just ate half a cup of peanut butter, a third a cup of honey and one cup powdered milk in one day. Repeat.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Crock Pot Caribbean Black Bean Soup



This soup is awesome. It is my favorite way to use ham hocks. I am waiting for ham to go on sale so I can get one and cook it up on a day that we are NOT having people over, so there are plenty of leftovers for stuff like this. It's a cinch to throw together too.

1 lb dried black beans, rinsed and sorted
3 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 ham hock or 3/4 cup cubed ham
1 T oil
1 T ground cumin
2 t oregano
1 t thyme
1 T salt
1/2 t pepper
3 cups water
2 T vinegar

Soak beans overnight in 4 quarts water. Drain. Combine everything but vinegar in crock pot. Cover. Cook on low 4-5 hours or high 8-10 hours. For a thicker soup, puree half of cooked bean mixture in blender and return to cooker. Add vinegar and stire. Debone ham and cut into bite-sized pieces, then return to soup. Serve with sour cream and fresh cilantro if you want.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Spicy Pintos

We like beans. They're healthy, cheap, and delicious. This recipe is a cinch to throw together and very versatile. Recipe is from About.com. I get a slow cooker recipe in my email every Monday from them.

1 pound dried pintos, rinsed, sorted, and soaked overnight
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups water, or to cover
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 and 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Drain soaked beans. Throw it all in the slow cooker. Cook on high 6-10 hours.

The recipe suggests you serve it with cornbread and slaw. If you're into making slaw, go for it. It can be served with pretty much anything, though. You could add ham and have a main dish (although it's a fine main dish, as is).  I usually serve it in a bowl with some shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and avocado if we have one.  It also makes very good refried beans - just mash and fry (or would you just call that fried beans, since they're only fried once?).

Let me know how you enjoy it.

Cheers.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Sweet Potato Waffles

I like to keep a stash of waffles or muffins or both in the freezer for quick snacks or meals for little Lauren. These are whole grain, low sugar, and have sweet potato, one of favorite veggies!

1/2 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato
1 and 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 and 3/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar

Stir together dry ingredients. Beat together sweet potato, honey or brown sugar, oil, egg and buttermilk. Stir into dry ingredients. Cook in waffle maker.

I usually serve these to the babe with applesauce or whatever fruit puree I have in the freezer (currently mango).

How do you sneak veggies into your recipes?

P.S. Stay tuned for a couple of great slow cooker recipes later this week!