Category: New Menu Monday

I was in the mood for hamburgers and also in the mood to bake some bread. So these were inevitable.

These were easy to make, but with a few more ingredients than my usual breads. The dry milk and potato flour make all the difference.

This is a recipe my mom made often when I was a kid. I’m not sure when she stopped, but I have an idea why. This recipe is best when it sits on the stove or in the oven, all day. Stirring occasionally. Not always easy to do with a house full of kids and a busy life.

All day on low heat is how it gets its amazing flavor. Something an instant pot or slow-cooker cannot duplicate.

A dramatic Artic freeze for the weekend provided the perfect opportunity to make an old favorite.

Chicken Cacciatore

• 1 whole chicken, cut up or 6-8 thighs, skin on, bone-in
• basil, oregano, garlic powder, salt, pepper to season chicken
• 1/2 green pepper, diced
• 1/2 red pepper, diced
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 28 oz crushed tomatoes
• 15 oz tomato sauce
• 6 oz tomato paste
• 2 tsp basil, 2 tsp oregano, sprig of rosemary
• 1/2 cup red wine (opt)
• Any or all of these: button mushrooms, sliced zucchini, eggplant, sliced carrots

Frigid temps arrived this weekend. No snow here, but plenty up in the mountains so the view should be pretty once the clouds disperse. I spent the weekend cooking and packaging meals so I wouldn’t have to do much during the week.

Tax time is my busy season, and I still want to put in a few hours of writing each day, so prepped meals give me a bit of extra time each day. It is definitely soup time. I made a nice Spinach-Tomato Soup and will probably make this recipe mid-week.

Spicy Potato Soup (Zuppa Toscana)

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp cayenne
• ½ lb spicy ground sausage (or ground beef)
• ¼ tsp crushed red pepper (opt)
• 1 bay leaf (remove before serving)
• 1 tsp crushed garlic
• 32 oz chicken broth
• 6 potatoes, well scrubbed, unpeeled – cubed or thinly sliced
• 2 cups milk
• salt and pepper to taste
• 8 oz shredded cheese – I like parmesan myself)

saucepan or instant pot

Our annual Christmas Eve dinner has always been guests’ choice. And has become a tradition, Spinach Lasagna is the requested main course.

It’s been super hectic for all of us the past few months, so we are looking forward to coming together for dinner. Haven’t decided if there will be an after dinner movie or game night.

On the board:

1. Spinach Lasagna
2. Sweet and Sour Green Beans
3. Garlic Cheese Bread
4. Ice Cream Sundae Bar