Italian Wedding Soup

I've been really into soups lately, having found that they are such a great way to stretch out our veggies and meat for a growing family. I also love having leftovers = less time in the kitchen!

Everyone enjoyed it, and my youngest said it made him feel warm and cozy. :o)

Source: The Kitchn

Italian Wedding Soup is highly adaptable; try other greens like kale (as I did in the photo above) or chard, add grated lemon rind to the meatballs and some lemon juice to the broth for brightness, or consider spicing it up with some ground red pepper flakes added with the onions and garlic.

Italian Wedding Soup serves 6 to 8

3/4 pound ground organic meat (chicken, turkey, pork or beef) - I just used a pound of ground beef
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
3 large eggs
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or 1 teaspoon dried) - I used Garlic & Herb Mrs. Dash
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 medium yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups chicken stock
1 bunch greens trimmed and torn into bite-sized pieces (about 6 lightly packed cups) - I used kale (just the leaves, no stems)

Combine the ground meat, bread crumbs, 1 egg, 1/4 cup of each cheese, oregano, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix thoroughly, then form the mixture into 3/4-inch to 1 1/2-inch balls. You should have 20 to 30 meatballs, depending on how large you form them.

In large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium high heat. Add the meatballs in batches, and cook, turning, until browned all over, 3 to 5 minutes. (If they are still a bit pink in the middle, don't worry, they will continue to cook in the broth.) Set them aside on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

In a 4 to 6 quart soup pot, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium high heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until onions are tender and garlic is soft, but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Add the greens, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the meatballs and cook another 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine remaining 2 eggs and remaining cheeses in small bowl and stir with a fork to blend. Slow pour the egg mixture into hot soup, stirring constantly. Cover and simmer just until egg bits are set, about 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and black pepper, maybe even a squirt of lemon juice, and serve immediately in a low bowl if possible so the meatballs are visible.

To re-heat, simmer gently over low heat.

Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder

One of my favorite soups, and was just as good using fresh corn off the cob from the farm, rather than using the normal can of creamed corn that the recipe called for!

Source: All Recipes

Image Source: Yunhee Kim

Ingredients:

1 12 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite size pieces) 12 cup onion (chopped) 1 clove minced garlic 3 tbsps butter 2 cubes chicken bouillon (or 1 cup chicken broth) 1 cup hot water 34 tsp ground cumin 2 cups half and half (cream) 2 cups shredded monterey jack cheese 14 34 ozs cream style corn (or fresh corn off the cob, about enough to fill a can) 4 ozs green chile (diced) 1 dash hot pepper sauce 1 tomato (chopped) 1 sprig fresh cilantro (garnish optional) 1 In a Dutch oven, brown chicken, onion, and garlic in butter until chicken is no longer pink. 2 Dissolve the bouillon in hot water; Pour into Dutch oven, and season with cumin. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. 3 Stir in cream, cheese, corn, chilies, and hot pepper sauce. Cook, stirring frequently, until the cheese is melted. Stir in chopped tomato. Garnish with cilantro.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Source: The Pioneer Woman

Ingredients

• 2 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Cumin
• 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1 cup Diced Onion
• 1/4 cup Diced Green Bell Pepper
• 1/4 cup Red Bell Pepper
• 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1 can (10 Oz. Can) Rotel Tomatoes And Green Chilies
• 32 ounces, fluid Low Sodium Chicken Stock
• 3 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
• 4 cups Hot Water
• 2 cans (15 Oz. Can) Black Beans, Drained
• 3 Tablespoons Cornmeal Or Masa
• 5 whole Corn Tortillas, Cut Into Uniform Strips Around 2 To 3 Inches
• _____
• FOR THE GARNISHES:
• Sour Cream
• Diced Avocado
• Diced Red Onion
• Salsa Or Pico De Gallo
• Grated Monterey Jack Cheese
• Cilantro

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix cumin, chili pepper, garlic powder, and salt. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil on chicken breasts, then sprinkle a small amount of spice mix on both sides. Set aside the rest of the spice mix.

Place chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until chicken is done. Use two forks to shred chicken. Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a pot over medium high heat. Add onions, red pepper, green pepper, and minced garlic. Stir and begin cooking, then add the rest of the spice mix. Stir to combine, then add shredded chicken and stir.

Pour in Rotel, chicken stock, tomato paste, water, and black beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 45 minutes, uncovered.

Mix cornmeal with a small amount of water. Pour into the soup, then simmer for an additional 30 minutes. Check seasonings, adding more if needed---add more chili powder if it needs more spice, and be sure not to undersalt. Turn off heat and allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes before serving. Five minutes before serving, gently stir in tortilla strips.

Ladle into bowls, then top with sour cream, diced red onion, diced avocado, pico de gallo, and grated cheese, if you have it! (The garnishes really make the soup delicious.)

Greek Pasta Salad

Could also marinate some chicken in a second bath of the vinaigrette (minus the olive oil) and grill it up for some protein.

Source: My Recipes

Ingredients

• 
  Preparation
• Dressing:
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• Salad:
• Salt
• 1 pound gemelli or other short pasta
• 3/4 medium English cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
• 1 dry pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 large red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
• 6 ounces feta, crumbled 
• 3 cups firmly packed baby spinach 

1. 1. Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, salt, pepper and olive oil until well combined.
2. 
   
3. 2. Make salad: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes, or as label directs. Drain, rinse under cold water and transfer to a bowl. Add remaining ingredients, toss with dressing and serve.

Tomato Basil Soup

This recipe is adapted from La Madeleine's famous recipe and my friend Kyla's yummy recipe. So good! I like to serve it with Elana's Pantry's Scallion and Goat Cheese muffins.

Source: La Madeleine's Restaurant

Image Source: Johnny Autry

Ingredients

• 4 cups (8 to 10) tomatoes, cored and roughly chopped, or 4 cups canned whole tomatoes, crushed
• 3 cloves garlic, minced/grated
• 12 to 14 washed fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 pound sweet, unsalted butter
• salt to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 
  

Instructions

Put tomatoes and garlic in saucepan. Simmer 30 minutes. Puree, along with the basil leaves, in small batches, in blender, food processor (or better yet, one of those handy hand-held immersion blenders, right in the cooking pan).

Return to saucepan and add cream and butter, while stirring over low heat. Garnish with basil leaves and serve with your favorite bread.

Zucchini and Yellow Squash Gratin

A really yummy way to use up our squash this week. Even though the recipe calls for two of each squash, (which is what we had), our squash were so big that I ended up doubling the rest of the recipe to go with our 4 jumbo summer squash (and baked it in a 9 x 13).

Source: Everyday Food

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 medium zucchini (about 7 ounces each), sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick
• 2 medium yellow squash (about 7 ounces each), sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick
• 2 shallots, minced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup panko
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat; add zucchini, yellow squash, shallots, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini and squash are crisp-tender, 4 to 6 minutes.
2. Add cream, and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; stir in 1/2 cup panko and cup Parmesan.
3. Spoon mixture into a shallow 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining panko and Parmesan; season with salt and pepper. Bake until top is golden, 8 to 10 minutes.

Kale with Apples and Onions

This recipe is even better topped with some crumbled bacon. :o)

Source: Paleo Parents

Image Source: CSA Virgin

Ingredients

2 Tbsp lard (or bacon grease, or preferred cooking oil)
1 onion, diced
1 apple, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 bunches kale, sliced (large stalk and thick veins removed)
1/4 C apple juice
1/4 C beef stock (we had chicken stock on hand)

Crumbled bacon, if desired

Instructions

1. Melt lard over medium-high heat in a large frying pan with a lid
2. Add the onion, apple, and garlic and saute until soft, ♥ stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes
3. Add kale and toss quickly until all leaves are coated
4. Pour in juice and stock, reduce heat to medium-low and cover
5. Simmer covered for 10 minutes until kale has softened
6. Add crumbled bacon before serving, if desired.

Serves 4-6, or 2 if they’re our boys.

Portobello, Broccoli, and Red Pepper Melts

Just made these for lunch today with broccoli from our first CSA box of this season. Oh WOW! These are definitely a winner! Just a side note to go easy on salting the veggies because the Gouda brings its own saltiness. I also love that I could use the same pan for the veggies, remove the foil, and then use it again to broil the bread. Simple and delicious. Can't beat that.

Source: Everyday Food

Ingredients

• 1 small head broccoli, cut into small florets (stalk discarded)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 4 portobello mushrooms (stems removed), sliced 1/2 inch thick
• 2 red bell peppers (ribs and seeds removed), sliced 1/2 inch thick
• 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
• 1 small garlic clove, crushed through a press
• 4 thick slices country bread
• 4 ounces Gouda cheese, thinly sliced  (Swiss would also be a good option)

Directions

1. Heat broiler, with rack set 4 inches from heat. On a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil, toss broccoli with oil; season with salt and pepper. Broil, tossing once or twice, until broccoli begins to char, 4 to 6 minutes.
2. Add mushrooms and bell peppers to sheet; season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine. Broil, tossing once or twice, until vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes more; set aside.
3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Place bread on a work surface. Dividing evenly, spread with mayonnaise mixture, and top with vegetables, then cheese. Place on baking sheet, and broil until cheese is melted and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

Ratatouille

Source: Smitten Kitchen

I had a bunch of zucchini and some homemade goat cheese ready,  and have been wanting to try this for a while so I went for it. Delicious and light!  I can only imagine how much better it would be with all the different veggies in it.  I also added some ground beef for some protein into the sauce.

Ratatouille’s Ratatouille
As envisioned by Smitten Kitchen
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced
1 cup tomato puree (such as Pomi) - could use the whole can of tomato sauce if adding beef. I also add some honey to offset the acidity of tomatoes.
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 small eggplant (my store sells these “Italian Eggplant” that are less than half the size of regular ones; it worked perfectly)
1 smallish zucchini
1 smallish yellow squash
1 longish red bell pepper
Few sprigs fresh thyme  (I didn't have fresh thyme on hand so just liberally sprinkled some Italian seasoning on it)
Salt and pepper
Few tablespoons soft goat cheese, for serving


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Pour tomato puree into bottom of an oval baking dish, approximately 10 inches across the long way. Drop the sliced garlic cloves and chopped onion into the sauce, stir in one tablespoon of the olive oil and season the sauce generously with salt and pepper.

Trim the ends off the eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash. As carefully as you can, trim the ends off the red pepper and remove the core, leaving the edges intact, like a tube.

On a mandoline, adjustable-blade slicer or with a very sharp knife, cut the eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash and red pepper into very thin slices, approximately 1/16-inch thick.

Atop the tomato sauce, arrange slices of prepared vegetables concentrically from the outer edge to the inside of the baking dish, overlapping so just a smidgen of each flat surface is visible, alternating vegetables. You may have a handful leftover that do not fit.

Drizzle the remaining tablespoon olive oil over the vegetables and season them generously with salt and pepper. Remove the leaves from the thyme sprigs with your fingertips, running them down the stem. Sprinkle the fresh thyme over the dish.

Cover dish with a piece of parchment paper cut to fit inside. (Tricky, I know, but the hardest thing about this.)
Bake for approximately 45 to 55 minutes, until vegetables have released their liquid and are clearly cooked, but with some structure left so they are not totally limp. They should not be brown at the edges, and you should see that the tomato sauce is bubbling up around them.

Serve with a dab of soft goat cheese on top, alone, or with some crusty French bread, atop polenta, couscous, or your choice of grain.

Roasted Root Vegetable Pizza

Had this at Amy's house. Yum!

You can roast the root vegetables ahead of time to help with prep work.
You could also grab some dough from Trader Joe's to save time.

Source: Everyday Food

Roasted Root Vegetables:

Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash (2 pounds), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 pounds new potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
• 1 pound red onions, peeled and quartered lengthwise
• 1 pound carrots, halved lengthwise if thick, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 5 cloves garlic, crushed
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Divide vegetables and garlic evenly between two rimmed baking sheets; drizzle with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine, then spread in single layers.
2. Roast until vegetables are tender and beginning to brown, 40 to 50 minutes, tossing vegetables and rotating sheets from top to bottom halfway through. Serve hot or at room temperature.

For the pizza:

Ingredients

• Olive oil
• 1 pound Basic Pizza Dough, or store-bought pizza dough, fresh or frozen (thawed)
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 cups)
• 6 cups (about 1/2 recipe) Roasted Root Vegetables
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (optional)
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Brush a large rimless baking sheet with oil. Gently stretch dough into 12-by-16-inch oval (or as large as will fit on baking sheet); transfer to prepared sheet.
2. Sprinkle dough evenly with half the mozzarella. Scatter vegetables on top, then dollop with ricotta; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and the rosemary, if desired. Drizzle with oil; season with salt and pepper. Bake rotating sheet from top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until crust is golden, 20 to 25 minutes.