Fresh Tomato Soup

Fresh tomato soup makes a wonderful light meal that goes great with saltine crackers or some freshly baked bread. 


This is a  weight watcher recipe - which yields 4 servings; 1 cup per serving; 1 point per serving. 

Ingredients

5 medium tomatoes

1 (26 oz) can whole tomato

1 1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/3 cup onions

1 1/3 cup hot water

1 cube vegetable bouillon

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 sprigs of fresh thyme

Direction

1. With a knife, make a shallow X on bottom of each tomato. Dip tomatoes into a large pot of boiling water to blanch for a minute or just until skins begin to crack. Remove the skin and seeds, then chop tomato.

2. Combine water and onion in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes. Stir in canned tomato, blanched tomato, bouillon, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.

3. Stir in basil and thyme. Simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Set aside; cool 10 minutes.

4. Process the mixture with a hand held blender until smooth. Return to saucepan. Cook 3 to 4 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve immediately. 

Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells

I adapted this recipe from a weight watcher cookbook, I did make a little modification to the recipe to make it my own. This recipe yields 5 servings (4 shells per serving = 7 points). 

Ingredients

1/2 (12 ounce) package jumbo shell pasta (about 20 shells)

3/4 cup nonfat cottage cheese

3/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed dry

1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

2 teaspoons dried basil

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 (24 ounces) jar fire-roasted tomato and garlic pasta sauce (Classico)

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Direction

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt. Rinse with cold water; drain.

2. While pasta cooks, combine cheeses, spinach, red bell pepper, basil, nutmeg, and pepper in a large bowl; stir well. Fill pasta shells with the mixture.

3. Spread 3/4 cup pasta sauce in bottom of a baking dish. 

4. Placed stuffed pasta shells in a single layer in dish; top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cover with a tin foil and bake at 350F for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake for 5 minutes. 

Spinach and Sun Dried Tomato Quiche

This spinach and sun-dried tomato quiche is simple to make and filling. A delicious tasty recipe which can be served as a lunch or dinner. Enjoy!!! 

Ingredients

Pastry Dough

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 tablespoons xylitol (or any sweetener preferred)

2 sticks butter (16 tablespoons), diced and chilled

1/2 cup very cold water (plus more if needed)

3 egg yolks

Filling

2 (8.5 oz) jar (julienne cut) sun dried tomato in olive oil, chopped finely

2 green onions, chopped

4 eggs plus 1 egg

1 1/2 cup whipping cream

4 cloves garlic

1 red bell pepper, sliced

2 cups sugar plum tomatoes

1 package Bella mushroom

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning plus 1 teaspoon

3/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1/4 cup shredded swiss cheese

1/4 cup shredded jack cheese

3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

12 ounces chopped spinach, thawed, squeeze the extra liquid out

1/4 cup olive oil

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

salt to taste

Direction

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Place the tomatoes, red bell pepper, mushroom, and garlic on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle some salt,1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and olive oil on the vegetables; place in the oven for 30 minutes or until veggies are tender. Let cool for 10 minutes; chop all vegetables finely.

2. Pastry dough. In the food processor, put the flour, salt, xylitol or sugar, and butter; pulse until it resembles coarse meal. Add the eggs one at a time, then add water a little at a time until the dough just comes together. Place in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

3. Divide the dough into ten and shape each dough into a ball. Roll out each dough ball into round sheet to fit a 5 in diameter x 1 5/8 in pot pie pans (foil pans).

4. Egg mixture. In a medium size bowl, beat the eggs, whipping cream, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside.

5. Filling. In a medium bowl, combine sun dried tomatoes, finely chopped roasted vegetables, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, and green onions.

6. Place rolled out dough in each of the pans, poke holes on the bottom crust, fill each pan alternately with the tomato mixture, cheese, and egg mixture.

7. Top with another rolled out dough, trim the extra crust.

8. Seal the edges using a fork, and poke some holes on top crust.

9. Brush the top with beaten egg before and in the middle of baking.

10. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. 

Spinach and Mushroom Roulade

This spinach roulade with creamy mushroom filling makes a delicious starter, which non vegetarians will love too.


Ingredients

1 (16 oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, or 1.25 pound fresh spinach

2 tablespoons butter

4 large eggs, separated

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

salt


Filling

2 tablespoons butter

3 cups sliced mushrooms

1 1/2 tablespoon all-purpose flour

2 cups canned milk

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

salt

Direction

1. Make the filling. Heat the butter in a saucepan. Add the mushrooms and cook gently until softened. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk, sour cream; cook the sauce until thickened. Stir in the Parmesan, parsley and salt to taste.

2. Make the spinach roulade. Place the spinach in a saucepan with butter and cook until softened. Drain the spinach well and place in a large bowl. Add the egg yolks, beating them well into the chopped spinach; season with salt and nutmeg..

3. Whisk the egg whites until just holding their shape. Using a spoon, quickly fold then into the spinach mixture. Spoon the mixture into the prepared jelly roll pan, sprinkled the grated Parmesan over the surface, and bake in a preheated oven, 400F, for 10 minutes.

4. Remove the spinach roulade from the oven and take it out onto a sheet of waxed paper. Quickly spread the mushroom filling over the surface and gently roll the roulade up (roll up from the long side). Cut into thick slices and serve immediately with salad. 

Basil and Parmesan Popover

Popovers are a great, easy quick bread for any meal. These popovers do not require a special pan, nor any unusual mixing method; just blend in a blender, and bake a dozen delightful popovers, ready in just about 30 minutes.

The secret to light and airy popovers is to not over blend/mix the batter, a very hot oven for baking, and not to peek for the entire baking time. Serve them alone as a delicious savory treat or filled with jam. 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter, melted for brushing popover cups

1 1/2 cups whole milk

3 large eggs

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons fresh basil or 3 teaspoons dried basil

3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Direction

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Brush popover cups with the melted butter.

2. In a blender or food processor, combine milk, eggs, flour, and salt. Process just until batter is smooth. With a spoon, stir in basil and parmesan cheese.

3. Pour batter into prepared cups, filling up to 1/4 inch below rims. Bake for 30 minutes or until puffed and browned. Remove from oven, let it cool for 2 minutes, and invert to release. Serve immediately.

Leek and Potato Soup

This classic leek and potato soup is inexpensive and so easy to make, you may be surprised at how much flavor it has. This is a tasty, warming soup for a cold day.  I  adapted this recipe from the cookbook "SOUP". 


Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter

1 medium onion, chopped

2 leeks, sliced thinly

14 oz red potatoes, sliced thinly

3 tablespoons butter

3 cups boiling water

2 cubes vegetable bouillon dissolved in 1/2 cup hot water
sour cream, to serve

Direction

1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.

2. Add the onion, leeks, and potatoes, and saute for 4-5 minutes until soft. 

3. Pour in the dissolved vegetable bouillon and 3 cups boiling water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.

4. Transfer the mixture to a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Return to the rinsed-out saucepan. Reheat the soup, and serve warm with sour cream.

Meatless Meatballs

These versatile vegetarian meatballs  are made with a store-bought ground beef substitute. They have a nice crunch on the outside and soft on the inside. I served them with sweet chili dipping sauce. 

Note: You could also make burgers out of these.  

Ingredients

Meatballs

14 oz. (1 pkg.) Gimme Lean Ground Beef style (meat free)

1 red bell pepper, chopped finely

1 green onion, chopped finely

1/3 cup panko bread crumbs

1 1/2 teaspoon oregano

1 1/2 tablespoon fresh flat parsley, finely chopped

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 teaspoon salt

oil for frying

Breading

½ cup all-purpose flour 

¾ teaspoon salt 

2 eggs

1 cup panko bread crumbs

Direction

1. Place the vegemeat in a bowl, loosen it up with a fork.

2. Add in the red bell pepper, parsley, and green onions. Combine well.

3. Add in the bread crumbs and eggs. Mix until well blended.

4. Shape the mixture into 1 inch balls. 

5. Mix together flour and salt in a bowl. Roll each meatball in the flour and salt mixture to evenly coat.

6. Dip them in eggs.

7. And roll them  in panko bread crumbs.

8. Deep fry the meatballs in hot oil until golden brown.

9. Drain on paper towel.  Serve immediately with your favorite sauce.