Friday, January 17, 2014

Soup's On! Sausage Kale Soup

More winter here means more hot, healthy soups on the menu.  We love to warm up with a bowl of soup.
This soup's flavor comes from the Italian sausage links.  The spicier the seasoning in the sausage,
the better the soup! We love a little heat in our soups.  You can adjust the heat to suit your taste.  Kale is a main stay in this recipe.  It is full of nutrition and flavor.


Sausage Kale Soup
Ingredients
  1 pound uncooked Italian sausage links
  3/4 cup chopped onion, or 1/2 large onion
  3 bacon strips, diced
  2 garlic cloves, minced
  2 cups water
  1- 1/2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) chicken broth
  2 cups diced potatoes, or 4 medium
  2 cups thinly sliced fresh kale, 2 stalks
  1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
If you want more heat, sprinkle some red pepper flakes into each serving bowl to taste.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325°. Place the sausages in a ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan; pierce casings. Bake 15-20 minutes or until fully cooked. Drain; set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, in a saucepan, saute onion and bacon 3 minutes or until onion is tender. Add garlic; saute 1 minute. Add water, broth and potatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Cut sausages in half lengthwise, then into 1/4-in. slices. (I browned them again). Add kale, cream and sausage to soup; heat through (do not boil). Yield: 8 servings (2 quarts).
This was modified from the original recipe.
Originally published as Sausage Kale Soup in Quick Cooking March/April 1999, p52
Printable version: Sausage Kale Soup

Cook bacon in dutch oven.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Place sausage in ungreased baking pan;
pierce casings and bake 15-20 minutes until fully cooked. 

Chop onion and mince garlic.

Add onion to cooked bacon and saute until it is tender.
Add garlic and saute 1 minute.

Peel and dice 2 cups of potatoes.

Add water.

Add chicken broth.  I use more broth than the original recipe called for
which was 1- 14 oz. can.  (I like a lot of stock in my soups.)

Add diced potatoes.

Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer 20 minutes
until potatoes are tender.

Prepare kale by washing and removing leaves from stem.

How to Prep and Clean Kale:
For large leaves, cut away the center stalk. You can cut away just the base for smaller, more tender leaves. 
Trim any bruised leaves.
Wash thoroughly in cold water several times, and drain well on paper towels or spin in a salad spinner. 
This washing step is key because kale can be gritty if not washed well.
Tear into pieces; 12 ounces kale equals about 12 cups torn or chopped, or four servings.
from http://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-cook-kale/

Thinly slice the kale.

Cut sausages in half lengthwise, then cut into 1/4-inch slices.

We browned the cut sausage on the stove to add extra color and flavor.

Add the sausage to the ingredients in the dutch oven.

Add the kale and heat through.  Do not over cook.

The kale retains its nice bright green color.  Beautiful!

Add the heavy cream and heat through. 
Again, do not boil.

This makes 2 quarts of delicious soup, bursting with flavor in each spoonful.

 Enjoy!

Kale, a super food!

The good: One cup of kale provides 89% recommended daily requirement of Vitamin C, 354% of Vitamin A, and 9% of Calcium. This food is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folate, Iron and Magnesium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.
Read More http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2462/2#ixzz2qwoDH4bD


Although kale has been cultivated for more than 2,000 years, American cooks seem to just now be taking it seriously as something more than a garnish. It's a good thing they are, because kale has the health advantages of a cruciferous vegetable in lowering cancer risk, and it's also an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K and a very good source of fiber, potassium, and calcium. Kale is a member of the cabbage family and has a cabbage-like flavor. It thrives in cold climates and is in season in the winter months, although it is available year-round and can be grown in warmer climes as well. Kale leaves are long and frilly, with a tough center stalk, and can vary in color and texture (see varieties below). Kale can be used similarly to spinach. The kale chips below are trendy and fun to eat, and but also try kale boiled, sauteed, and slow-simmered.
from http://www.bhg.com/recipes/how-to/cooking-basics/how-to-cook-kale/

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Garam Masala Pork Chops

HAPPY  BIRTHDAY!
Yatzi & Gail

Today is a birthday celebration for my brother, Gail.  
Yesterday on the 11th, he turned "sixty something".  Oh, well, it is 63 to be exact.  
Doug fixed a special dish for the occasion with a spice we have been wanting to try, garam masala.
He found the recipe on MyRecipes.com.

Garam Masala Pork Chops

Ingredients: 

4 center-cut loin pork chops (each about 1 in. thick, 2 1/3 lb. total) $
4 teaspoons salad oil
2 tablespoons garam masala (or 1 tablespoon each ground coriander and ground cumin)
2 tablespoons garlic powder
3/4 cup cranberry-raspberry juice blend
1/4 cup fat-skimmed chicken broth
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Salt and pepper
Preparation

1. Trim and discard fat from chops. Rinse chops, pat dry, and rub with 1 teaspoon oil.
2. Mix garam masala and garlic powder. Rub spice mixture all over chops.
3. Place a 10- to 12-inch nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil and swirl to coat pan. Set chops in pan and brown well on each side, pressing meat flat with a spatula if needed to get even color, 2 to 3 minutes a side.
4. Stir cranberry-raspberry juice blend and broth into pan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover and simmer over low heat, turning once, until chops are no longer pink in center (cut to test), 15 to 18 minutes total. With a slotted spatula, transfer chops to a platter; keep warm.
5. Mix 2 tablespoons water with cornstarch; stir into pan, then stir over high heat until boiling, 2 minutes. Pour over chops. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Printable version: Garam Masala Pork Chops

“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!” 
― Julia Child, My Life in France

Garam Masala
What is Garam Masala?
Garam masala (from Hindi: गरम मसाला, garam ("hot") and masala (a mixture of spices) is a blend of ground spices common in North Indian and other South Asian cuisines. It is used alone or with other seasonings. The word garam refers to intensity of the spices rather than capsaicin content.

The composition of garam masala differs regionally, with many recipes across India according to regional and personal taste, and none is considered more authentic than others. The components of the mix are toasted, then ground together.

A typical Indian version of garam masala contains:

black and white peppercorns
cloves
cinnamon
black and white cumin seeds
black, brown, and green cardamom pods
Some recipes call for spices to be blended with herbs, while others for the spices to be ground with water, vinegar, coconut milk, or other liquids, to make a paste. In some recipes nuts, onion, or garlic may be added. The flavors may be carefully blended to achieve a balanced effect, or a single flavor may be emphasized. A masala may be toasted before use to release its flavors and aromas.
(from Ask.com)

Gather the ingredients.
Follow recipe above for 4 pork chops.  (We doubled the recipe.)

 Mix garam masala and garlic powder.

Thoroughly mix together.

 Mix cranberry-raspberry juice and chicken broth together.

 Trim fat from pork chops.  
Rinse chops, pat dry, and rub with 1 tsp. oil.

 Rub spice mixture over chops.

 Add 1 tbsp. oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium high heat.
Set chops in pan and brown well on each side.

 Add cranberry-raspberry and broth mixture into pan.

 Bring to a boil over high heat.

 Cover and simmer over low heat.

 Turn chops once, cook until they are no longer pink in the center,
15 to 18 minutes total.

 Mix 2 tbsp. water with cornstarch.


 Transfer chops to a dish or platter.

 Stir cornstarch mixture into pan, then stir over high heat until boiling, 2 minutes.

 Add pork chops back into pan.
Salt and pepper to taste.


Enjoy!

 Ethyl, Keith,Doug, Gail, Yatzi

 Keith, Doug, Denise, Gail, Yatzi

Gail & Yatzi
Birthday Blessings!

Saturday, January 4, 2014

More Soup--- Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili


Buffalo Chicken Chili 
featured in the beautiful mug Liz made Doug for Christmas!
Perfect!


It is January, and the temperatures are very cold.  We are cooking soups to keep warm.  This is a new recipe, but is very simple to put together, and let it cook all day.  The aroma will make you want to stay inside 
and snuggle up in a warm blanket and read a good book.
Our grandsons came over for a visit and a 3-D movie.  
They were hungry when the day came to a close.

Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

  • 2-1/2 lbs. boneless chicken, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 large onion, chopped, 1 cup
  • 2 medium stalks celery, sliced, 1 cup
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped, 1 cup
  • 1- 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 1- 15 oz. can black beans, drained, rinsed
  • 1 - 15 oz. can chicken broth
  • 2 tsps. chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
Mix all ingredients except buffalo wing sauce in slow cooker.
Cover, cook on Low heat setting for 8-10 hours.
Stir in buffalo wing sauce.
Recipe from Betty Crocker web sight.
Printable version: Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili


Ingredients.

Chop 1 large onion.

Slice carrots and celery.

Drain black beans.

Rinse before adding.

Add diced tomatoes to slow cooker.

Add chicken broth.

Season with 2 tsps. chili powder.

Add uncooked cut up chicken.

Add the other prepared ingredients: onion, celery, carrots, and black beans.

I also added a 15-oz. can of pinto beans.
Season with salt.

Brothers: Aiden, Duncan, and Camden waiting for the soup to be ready.

Mix all the ingredients except buffalo wing sauce.
Cover, and cook on Low heat 8 to 10 hours.

Stir in buffalo wing sauce.

This soup can be served in a tortilla bowl.
Sprinkle with tortilla strips or crumbled blue cheese.

Enjoy!

Grandma's helpers...
Duncan

Aiden