Friday, July 3, 2009

Sunday, July 5 through Saturday, July 11

Sunday, July 5
Smorgasbord

Sundays are usually our big meal days so my hubby has plenty of leftovers for lunches during the week. But, this Sunday we have the annual Thompson family “Doings” and I won’t have the opportunity to cook a large meal Sunday evening so it’s everyone at my houses favorite meal – Smorgasbord! Giving leftovers a fun name is an easy way to get them eaten up. Sometimes it’s good to be a Swede. Skål!


Monday, July 6
Tomato and Olive Penne – serves 4


Ingredients:
Salt and pepper
1 lb penne or other short pasta
1/4 c olive oil
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2/3 lb cherry tomatoes (2 cups), halved or quartered
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 c Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
1/4 c chopped fresh parsley
1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

Instructions:
1. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the penne according to package instructions until al dente, about 13 minutes. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, and cook, stirring, until just golden, about 1 minute. Add the cherry tomatoes, oregano, crushed red pepper (optional), 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Reduce the heat to low, and cook stirring, until tomato juices run, about 3 minutes.
3. Add the penne, olives, parsley, and 1/4 cup Parmesan to the skillet and toss to combine. Serve with more cheese if desired.

Tuesday, July 7
French Toast – makes 8 slices of French Toast


Baba will not eat French Toast if it’s called French Toast. He prefers the British “Eggy Bread.” Last time I made this my husband told me to double the recipe. I already was doubling the recipe. Maybe it is time to triple or quadruple the recipe…
Ingredients:
3 eggs
¾ c milk
1 tbsp sugar
¼ tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt (optional)
8 slices of bread (especially good with cinnamon raisin bread)
Cinnamon


Instructions:
1. Beat eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt with wire whisk or hand beater until smooth. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
2. Heat griddle or skillet over medium heat or to 375˚. Grease griddle with butter if necessary.
3. Dip bread into egg mixture. Place on griddle. Cook about 4 minutes on each side or until golden.

Wednesday, July 8
Mulligatawny – Serves 8


Ingredients:
4 tbsp butter (or tbsp olive oil)
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 apple, cored, peeled, and chopped
1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, chopped
1/2 c flour
2 to 3 tsp curry powder
5 c chicken broth
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
Salt and pepper
2 c hot cooked rice

Instructions:
1. Melt the butter, or heat the oil, in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, celery, green pepper, apple, and chicken, and saute for about 15 minutes. Turn the heat to low.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the flour and curry powder. Add the mixture to the pot, then stir and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth and tomatoes. Partially cover the pot and simmer the soup for about an hour, stirring occasionally. Add the salt and pepper to taste.
3. To serve, place about 1/4 c of rice in a bowl and ladle the soup over the rice.


Thursday, July 9
Black Bean Pitas – serves 4


Ingredients:
1 can black beans
1 c frozen corn
6 bacon strips, cooked & crumbled
6 tbsp chopped sweet red pepper
6 tbsp mayonnaise
3 tbsp finely chopped celery
3 tsp sugar
3 tsp finely chopped onion
3 tsp cider vinegar
3 tsp olive oil
4 pita bread (6 in) halved
1 1/2 c torn romaine
3 plum tomato, chopped

Instructions:
Combine black beans, corn, bacon, red pepper, mayonnaise, celery, sugar, onion, cider vinegar, and olive oil. Fill pita with romaine, bean mixture and tomato and serve.

Friday, July 10
Egg Sandwiches


Egg Sandwiches are always a favorite at our house and what’s not to love? Melted cheese, eggs, and your favorite meat. Plus, you don’t have to heat up the house by turning on the oven!
Ingredients (per sandwich):
1 Egg (actually, I’m the only one in my house who uses one egg, everyone else has 2. Even the baby)
2 slices of bread
1 slice of cheese
Favorite breakfast meat


Instructions:
Cook breakfast meat. Fry egg. Toast bread. During last few minutes of cooking, put cheese on egg. Assemble sandwiches.


Saturday, July 11
Pizza


Either call your local pizza establishment and in 20 to 30 minutes you have dinner or follow the below recipe to make your own personal pan pizzas. Recipe makes two personal sized pizza or one large pizza.


Ingredients:
2 ½ to 3 cups all purpose flour
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 package dry yeast (2 ¼ tsp)
3 tbsp olive or vegetable oil
1 c very warm water
1 can (8 oz) pizza sauce
1 tsp Italian seasoning
2 cups shredded cheese
1 cup of chopped vegetables (onions, mushrooms, peppers, black olives, etc)
Pepperoni, sausage, pineapple, etc to taste


Instructions:
1. Mix 1 cup of the flour, the sugar, salt and yeast in large bowl. Add 3 tablespoons oil and the warm water. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough remaining flour until dough is soft and leaves sides of bowl. Place dough on lightly floured surface. Knead 5 to 8 minutes or until dough is smooth and springy. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest 30 minutes. Grease two pie tins with oil. Sprinkle with cornmeal (or just spray with cooking spray and call it good). Divide dough in half. Pat each half in bottom of pan. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place 30 to 45 minutes or until almost double. Move oven rack to lowest position. Heat oven to 375. Partially bake 20 to 22 minutes or until crust just begins to brown.
2. While crusts are baking, cook meat if necessary. Spread pizza sauce over partially baked crusts. Top with toppings and sprinkle with cheese.
3. Bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Happy cooking!

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