Mel's Cooking Adventures and More

Soup du Jour - Chickpea and Pasta

2011-02-12T14:06:00.000-08:00

I just made up a recipe. And it's good! I wanted to make something today but haven't bought ingredients for the next selected recipe. So I thought of some items I had on hand and came up with a concoction to try.

Can of beef broth
2 cups of water
Can of garbanzo beans
1 cup of pasta -- I used whole wheat rotini that was left over
6 baby carrots, chopped (I think this approx = one medium carrot)
1 small onion, chopped
1 or 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil
Approx 1 tablespoon of minced garlic (I heart garlic)

1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat until hot. Add the onion, garlic, and carrot and cook about 5 -7 minutes, stirring frequently.
2. Add the broth, water, beans, and vinegar and simmer on low heat about 15 minutes.
3. Add the pasta and cook per instructions on pasta box.

It turned out good! I will make this again, especially to use up more of the whole wheat pasta.

Southwestern Spaghette Squash - I wanna try this

2010-11-04T14:52:00.000-07:00

Southwestern Spaghetti Squash (serves 4)

Ingredients
1 spaghetti squash (3 pounds)
1 (14 ounce) can Mexican-style tomatoes, undrained
1 (14 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup monterey jack cheese, divided
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cut squash in half lengthwise.
Remove and discard seeds.
Place squash, cut side down, in greased baking pan.
Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until just tender.
Using fork, remove spaghetti-like strands from hot squash and place strands in large bowl.
Add tomatoes with juice, beans, 1/2 cup cheese, cilantro, cumin, garlic salt and pepper; toss well. (I mixed all this together while the squash was baking to save time)
Spray 1 1/2 quart casserole with nonstick cooking spray.
Spoon mixture into casserole.
Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
Bake uncovered, 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through.
Serve immediately.
I served it with corn chips, avocado, and sour cream on top. Perfect fall meal.

Caramel

2010-09-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

Found in an old email

2010-09-23T14:53:00.000-07:00

Someone had written this to me in an email a few years ago. I just ran across it and it's just neat and insightful. I don't want to lose track of it. Not sure it will make much sense to others but here it is.

"My job change is a weird turn going from an over abundance of rules to hardly any at all.

The other half of our conversation also fits in with that theme. While one can think that changing jobs will find the happiness and the internal peace one wants, there is also the extreme of resigning oneself to not changing "because the next thing will probably be the same". So, even in this arena one has to search for the proper balance. While I'm quite aware that happiness comes from within rather than without, there are some things that are not acceptable and must be changed every so often while other things do not have to change because it was the improper thinking of depression that caused it to be unbearable. I wish I could help you there but that middle ground is something only you can find just as I had to find my peace in life. For me some of it was a job change to go with my new happier self. I had to leave the environment that I was in for when I started I was depressed and now I was better and I wanted to break away from that job as I had too many triggers present. I was dealing with them well but my coworkers had seen the old me and I wanted a new place where only the well adjusted me would ever be known. So, you may find Maritz will work for you or you may find that you'll want to leave as the desk, a person, an assignment or whatever will trigger old memories. You won't get depressed because of the triggers as you'll be better but you might not like to be around them anymore. I didn't want any of these reminders so I left that particular job.

Don't you like that, we talk about the "grass is greener" syndrome then I toss the opposite at you and say that the grass can be greener.

Balance is the key. Pick your pasture Melissa and find the field with the right shade of green for you."

White Tofu Chili

2010-04-20T20:10:00.001-07:00

Random picture of a couple new kitchen-y things that helped inspire me to post a pic and the chili recipe. :)

Half a package of extra-firm tofu, cubed
1 medium onion, chopped
1.5 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp oil
3 cans (15.5 ounces each) great northern beans and/or white kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14.5 ounces) vegetable or chicken broth1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies (I may use 2 next time - recipe said 1 or 2)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (recipe called for cayenne pepper)
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup half-n-half or whipping cream

In a large saucepan, saute onion and garlic powder in oil for about 5 minutes. Add tofu, beans, broth, chilies, and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream and half-n-half/cream. Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired (Oh yes, I desire! LOVE cilantro.) This is especially good served with tortilla chips. Makes about 5 generous servings.

I found that I enjoyed this even more a few days later after the flavors had been absorbed into the tofu more.

Been a While

2010-03-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

It's been a while so I just wanted to say hi. Hmm, I guess I did pick up the cooking action a bit over the winter, but not much. Although something I will have to blog about: the white chicken (er, tofu) chili I made a few weeks ago. Yes, I attempted to substitute tofu for chicken. Actually it was good! It was better a few days later after the flavors melded (is that a word?). Still the tofu seemed to have too soft a texture, IMHO. And I used extra-firm. Next time I'll use less tofu and more beans. Anyway stay tuned for the White Tofu Chili post.

I might have made a couple new cyber-friends. They've inspired me to start up the blogging again. They are both single women in their 30s. It's always nice to know there are others in your same situation out there! No matter what your situation.

More soon...

Handstands in the Pool

2009-08-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

This is Michelle's husband Rob and I doing handstands in the pool. I love that those 2 enjoy doing silly wacky things at the pool, like I do. Michelle took this picture. I didn't know she had the camera out. No wonder she told me to point my toes. :)

I haven't really cooked since the summer began. Planning on starting up again in the fall. Cooking on a Sat. afternoon with football on sounds great. I think I am slightly ready for fall but will still make the most out of August.

From SouleMama

2009-06-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

This looks very good and I want to make it sometime. I took it from soulemama.com. Her blog is entertaining, to say the least (he he).

************

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 small jalapeño, seeded, deveined and chopped

1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt

1 small garlic clove

1/2 teaspoon mustard

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 -3 big handfuls baby arugula (or other salad greens), well washed and dried

3 cups cooked black beans

1/4 cup feta, crumbled

1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Start by making the dressing. I use an immersion blender - but a blender or food processor will work just as well. Combine the lime juice, vinegar, honey, jalapeño, salt, garlic and mustard and puree. Add the olive oil and puree until everything comes together. Taste and adjust with more salt, honey, or lime juice if needed. Set aside until you are ready to serve the salad.

Just before you are ready to serve the salad gently toss the arugula with a bit of the dressing. Arrange it on a platter. Now toss the beans and most of the almonds with a generous splash of the dressing. Arrange the beans on top of the arugula and finish by sprinkling with the remaining almonds and the crumbled feta cheese.
Serves 4 - 6.

A Funny from David

2009-04-24T15:45:00.001-07:00

This is from my brother. It's a label on a toy bought from a Japanese store in CA. These are always pretty funny! See below if you cannot read it.

-- Be attention to avoid child eating.
-- For security, don't use damaged or transformed goods.
-- Do not use for other purpose.
-- Dispose of properly if you want.

And here are a few more I dug up from an email he sent once (also from a toy from the Japanese store):

1. Keep in dried places after clean it well.
2. Don't wind up too much, it causes broken.
3. Please understanding the natural wood likely to have the status of distortion, cracks, rot, rust, and other phenomena if the wood with water and wet.

LOL!

Taco Casserole

2009-04-24T15:39:00.000-07:00

Mom made this for dinner at their house last weekend. It was so quick and easy, and good too.

I think this would also be real good inside hard taco shells, although a little less healthy.

1 lb ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning (recipe called for Taco Bell brand)
1 box macaroni and cheese dinner (Kraft, etc.)
1 cup mild salsa (recipe called for Taco Bell brand)

Cook ground beef with taco seasoning. Prepare mac and cheese dinner according to box directions. In an 8 x 8 baking dish, layer meat, mac and cheese, and salsa. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Hearty Bean and Pasta Soup

2009-04-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

This is from my "Cooking for Less: Pasta" cookbook. It happens to have many non-meat recipes, probably since it's geared towards recipes that cost less. The meatless recipes naturally attracted me. Mary liked the cookbook too, and bought the same one a few weeks ago while in Toledo. :) Do you mind me talking about your goings-on in my blog, Mare?

Next time I will double the beans (I love beans) and double the balsamic vinegar. Love that stuff too, and this recipe was an excuse to buy a bottle. That was partly why I chose it!

Less spinach would be fine too. I used only a 10 oz bag, not a pound, and it was plenty. Maybe Popeye wouldn't agree.

I had never bought marinara sauce before. Asked Mary about it and she mentioned the brand Newman's Own. That is what I ended up picking up, since it was right in front of me and I had no opinion/favorite. I got Newman's Own Cabernet Marinara and the slight wine flavor seemed to work out great! I loved this soup.

PS -- I still plan to get my mitts on a digital camera soon so pics can be included with these postings!

1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups water
2 cans, about 14 oz each, chicken broth
1 jar, 26 oz, marinara sauce
1 can (about 15 oz) Great Northern or cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 lb spinach, stemmed and chopped (see note above about using less)
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional

1. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain.

2. Meanwhile, heat oil in Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir 5 minutes or until onion is tender.

3. Stir in water, broth, marinara sauce and beans; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in spinach, vinegar, and pasta; cook 5 minutes.

4. Ladle soup into bowls; sprinkle with cheese, if desired.

Lull in the Cooking Action

2009-04-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't cooked in a few weeks. There have been good reasons though. Mary came to visit a couple weekends ago. We had so much fun. Here are some things we did, in about the right order: Picked up Schlotzkey's, watched college b-ball, ate at Grape Leaf Diner, shopped at Libbey Outlet and Barnes and Noble, ate at Abuelo's, poked around at Meijer and got wine, drank wine while watching more college b-ball (hey it was tournament time, why not?), lunch at my house, Bed Bath and Beyond, picked up Subway. It was a fun time!

I am picking out the next recipe out of a recently-acquired pasta cookbook bought from B and N after a rehearsal. Mary liked the cookbook and bought the same one during our B and N visit. Now we have a couple of the same cookbooks. :)

Soon I plan to get a digital camera. I'll be spicing up this blog with some pics. Much more entertaining to look at.

Black Bean and Quinoa Enchiladas

2009-03-25T14:51:00.000-07:00

This is on the list to make sometime. I've never had quinoa but I'd like to try it. It sounds similar to rice but it is high in protein and is a complete protein. And it has other nutrients that rice and pasta do not. I plan to pick some up at Whole Foods in Ann Arbor sometime soon after a band rehearsal.

The rest of this post is taken directly from www.melisswallace.blogspot.com/2008/02/recipe.html:

Quinoa (pronounced "keen-wah") is from South America and I like to describe it as a cross between couscous and rice. It is extremely high in protein and is in the whole grains family.

Black Bean and Quinoa Enchiladas

Prep time: ~ 40 minutes
Cook time: ~25-30 minutes

Ingredients
1 green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (15oz.) can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15oz.) can of diced tomatoes and green chilies
1/4 cup picante sauce (she uses medium)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 cups cooked quinoa
whole wheat tortillas, warmed (at least 8 or 9 6-inch tortillas- depends on how full you make the enchiladas)
1 cup salsa (she uses medium)
shredded cheese (Cheddar, fiesta mix, etc)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions
In a large nonstick skillet, saute the green pepper, onion, and garlic in the olive oil until tender.

Add the beans, tomatoes/chilies, picante sauce, cumin, chili powder, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until heated through and mixture thickens.

Add quinoa, cook 5 minutes longer or until heated through.

Sprinkle shredded cheese onto tortilla. Spoon 1/2 cup or so (more or less depending on how full you want the enchiladas to be) into the middle of the tortilla and roll. Place in 9 X 13 pan, coated with non-stick spray. Repeat until the pan is full. Spoon salsa over the enchiladas and bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes. Remove and sprinkle top with cheese and chopped cilantro. Return to oven for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Makes about 9-12 enchiladas.

Greek-like Salad I Made Up

2009-03-24T14:56:00.000-07:00

During the summer of 2007, I had a cucumber from the neighbor’s garden to use up. Cucumber is in fatoosh and I love fatoosh. So I made up this recipe that resembles fatoosh or some sort of Greek-ish salad. I don’t recall the amounts of each ingredient. I believe I gradually added them to the chopped cucumber until it looked like a good amount of each for my tastes.

It turned out quite good. I love the way feta cheese absorbs the dressing. Yum! The salad had a pretty strong flavor but I liked it that way. Using less dressing would have toned down the flavor.

1 cucumber
Red onion
Fresh parsley
Baby carrots
Feta cheese, crumbled (I bought a container of feta flavored with peppercorns and it was an awesome ‘extra’ in the salad)

Dressing: Extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice

Dice the cucumber, onion, carrots. Finely chop the parsley. Combine everything together along with feta. I made the dressing according to taste. I believe it was mostly olive oil and vinegar, with a little lemon juice.

Turned out yummy for my first made-up recipe!

De-lightful Tuna Casserole (Cheesy name, good food)

2009-03-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

Tues. 3/10/09:

This turned out very good and it was super easy. Got a big thumbs-up from the folks too (they are my guinea pigs). It is from an edition of Taste of Home's 'Healthy Cooking', February 2009.

1 package (7 oz) elbow macaroni
1 can reduced-fat condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms (I used canned)
1 cup (4 oz) shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
1 cup fat-free milk
1 can (6 oz) light water-packed tuna, drained and flaked
2 tablespoons diced pimientos
3 tablespoons dried minced onion
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt (I omitted this)
1/3 cup crushed cornflakes (I used Cheerios b/c that's what I had)

1. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the soup, mushrooms, cheese, milk, tuna, pimientos, onion, mustard, and salt. Drain macaroni; add to tuna mixture and mix well. Simultaneously fend off kitties who are madly begging for tuna.

2. Transfer to a 2-qt baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with cornflakes. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Midwinter Minestrone from Racheal Ray

2009-03-18T15:01:00.000-07:00

Sat. 2/28/09:

I made this last weekend and today, half-batch each time. It is more like a stew than a soup. This weekend I used fewer veggies and more pasta and beans. I also dropped out the carrots and added a can of kidney beans, and used double the garbanzo beans and half the kale. I would possibly leave out kale altogether next time.

Oh yeah -- left out the pancetta, used canned mushrooms instead of fresh, used a can of diced tomatoes instead of sundried tomatoes, and doubled the garlic (love garlic!).

Liked this a lot and so did the folks. Definitely making it again!

Here is her recipe, which I halved and modified:

2 tablespoons EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 pound sliced pancetta, diced (optional)
2 carrots, peeled and cut into small dice
3 ribs celery, cut into small dice
1 large or 2 medium red onions, cut into small dice
3 to 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
2 bay leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/4 cup (about a handful) dried porcini or mixed wild mushrooms, chopped
1 quart chicken or vegetable stock
1 15-ounce can chickpeas (I might use white northern beans next time, they seem softer)
1 small bunch purple or green kale, stems removed and leaves shredded
1 cup whole wheat fusilli or other short cut pasta
1/4 cup shredded Pecorino Romano cheese, for garnish

Place a heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons. Add the pancetta to the pan (if using) and cook until crispy, 5-6 minutes.

Add the carrot, celery, onion, garlic and bay leaves to the pan with the pancetta, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the veggies are tender, 6-7 minutes.

Add the sun-dried tomatoes, dried mushrooms, stock and 2 cups water to the pot, and bring up to a bubble.

Add the chickpeas, kale and pasta to the pot, and cook until the pasta is al dente according to package directions (the kale will be done at this point too). Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Garnish the soup with the Pecorino Romano and serve.

Welcome!

2009-03-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog! I will post recipes and other random goings-on here. I have never been much of a cook, although I've had an interest in cooking and intentions to be more of a cook for a handful of years. I have even enjoyed collecting cookbooks for the last few years, too.

Recently I've begun cooking more and really enjoying it! This will be my place to record what I make, for my own reference and for anyone else who is curious. Much of what I make will be vegetarian. I have always had vegetarian tendencies, often prefering the taste of non-meat dishes. And, raw meat is icky to deal with! And it's expensive. So considering all that, why not find interesting meatless recipes? Works better for me. Although I'm definitely not a true vegetarian. I would have trouble giving up sausage, well-done bacon, ground beef (esp. in tacos), processed lunch meat, hot dogs (woo hoo!), chicken/beef broth as ingredients, turkey on Thanksgiving, ham, and seafood.

Hope you enjoy my recipes and other ramblings.