salted caramel cookies

On my list to make...

Roasted potatoes

Ingredients

• 1/8 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine oil, garlic, basil, marjoram, dill weed, thyme, oregano, parsley, red pepper flakes, and salt. Stir in potatoes until evenly coated. Place potatoes in a single layer on a roasting pan or baking sheet.
3. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, turning occasionally to brown on all sides.

Veggie Broth

When I make veggie broth I often use whatever I have in my fridge...

Add 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 large carrots, chopped
3 stalks of celery chopped
A half a knuckle of ginger
1 tbs of kosher salt
one whole onion,
2 cups of fresh corn or one bag of frozen corn
2 tomatoes chopped
and sautee it in 3 TBS of olive oil... then add 5 quarts of water
Cover, bring to a boil and  thent urn down heat and let it simmer all day, adding water if it needs....

I can mine in a pressure cooker to keep it longer, but you can also freeze it..But don't leave it for long in the fridge....

edamame dip

1 cup shelled cooked edamame beans

1/2 cup cooked fresh spinach

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp greek yogurt

1 tbs cream cheese

2 cloves garlic

juice of one lemon

wee bit of cumin

Dried Strawberries

1. Halve or quarter the strawberries, depending on their size; place on a baking sheet; season with salt and pepper;
2. Dry in the oven for three hours at 100° C / 210° F.

Asparagus salad

4 ounces pancetta
1 tbs butter
1 lb asparagus trimmed an split on bias.
1 1 /4 cup leeks cut and quartered
2 garlic cloves
zest of one lemon
1 tsp orange zest
3 TBS pine nuts
1-2 TBS italian flat leaf parsley

4 ounces pancetta, saute until lightly crisp. diced

add asparagus and leeks and 1 TBS butter to pan and  saute until tender crisp

Add all the other ingreidients and saute til for about a minute.
Salt and pepper to taste

hamburger helper

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Yield: Serves 8

Ingredients

Hamburger Helper:
• 3 cups (24 oz) marinara sauce (storebought or homemade)
• 1 batch easy alfredo sauce (recipe below)
• 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, with juices
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 lbs ground beef (I used extra lean)
• 1 1/2 lbs penne noodles (I used whole wheat)
• pinch of salt and pepper
• Garnish: parmesan cheese and julienned basil
Easy Alfredo Sauce:
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• pinch of nutmeg
• Black pepper and salt to taste

Instructions

To make the alfredo:

Melt the butter in a large sauté pan set over low heat. Add the cream to the butter as it melts. Stir occasionally (keeping the heat on low). Let it simmer for about 15 minutes. When it’s reduced slightly, add the parmesan cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper and stir. Set aside while you make the rest of the sauce. Stir the alfredo occasionally. Note: if the alfredo is WAY too thick for your liking, add some extra milk or cream (1 tbsp at a time) after it’s simmered and reduced.

To make the hamburger helper:

Brown the ground beef in a large skillet then drain the fat.

Add the garlic to the drained beef and cook for about 30 seconds. Then add the marinara and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil. As soon as it starts to boil, turn down the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the alfredo sauce a few minutes before you add the noodles.

While the sauce is cooking, boil the pasta noodles.