Guest Recipe… Zucchini Enchiladas

Mar 30, 2012 by pearsonsprogress    7 Comments    Posted under: Blogroll, food, recipes, saving money

Thank you to Jerusha for including this recipe. It looks very yummy and I can’t wait to try it. Please send in your comments!

Zucchini Enchiladas

I have probably made this recipe at least 10 times since my sister-in-law first introduced it at our family reunion last year. It’s inexpensive, healthy, and full of bright and tangy flavors – all the elements of a great recipe. Serve it along with a green salad tossed with yellow peppers, tomatoes, and cilantro-lime dressing.

• 1 tsp. olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
• 3 medium zucchinis, grated
• Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
• 1 ½ cups grated Mexican blend cheese
• 10-12 small flour tortillas
• 1 small can green enchilada sauce
• Chopped cilantro (optional)
• Lime wedges (optional)

Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium nonstick skillet, sauté garlic and scallions in olive oil over medium heat for about 3 minutes; add zucchini, cilantro, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook about 4-5 minutes.  Remove from heat and add 1/2 cup cheese; mix well. Divide zucchini between each tortilla, roll and place seam side down in baking dish.

Top with enchilada sauce and remaining cheese and bake until hot and the cheese is melted, about 20 minutes. Top with chopped cilantro and serve with lime wedges, if desired.

~ Jerusha Gish

Cherry Clafoutis

Jan 12, 2012 by pearsonsprogress    1 Comment     Posted under: Blogroll, food, Grocery Challenge, recipes

My Cherry Clafoutis

Last weekend I hosted a dinner party/committee meeting here at our home. As I planned my menu I was looking through this wonderful French cookbook that our kids Anita & Neil gave to me for Christmas.

Here are some of the reasons I like this recipe:

1. It’s easy
2. it can be prepared early in the day
3. it’s not too sweet
4. it’s creamy & luscious

Cherry Clafoutis

¾ cup of thick cream

1 teaspoon of vanilla

½ cup of milk

3 eggs

¼ cup sugar

2/3 cup flour

1 Tablespoon of kirsch (cherry brandy)

1 lb of cherries ( Used 1 jar of pitted cherries drained)

Confectioners sugar for dusting

Preheat the oven to 350°. put the cream in a small saucepan. Add the vanilla and heat gently for a couple of minutes, then remove from heat, add the milk and cool.

Whisk the eggs with the sugar and the flour then stir into the cream. Add the kirsch and cherries and stir well. Pour into a 9″ round baking pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden on top. Dust with confectioners sugar when ready to serve.

Serves 6

It’s super easy, yummy and very french.

A better sugar/ Christmas cookie

Dec 13, 2011 by pearsonsprogress    5 Comments    Posted under: Blogroll, food, Grocery Challenge, recipes

Instead of the  regular sugar cookie, try this one which is tender and soft. They’re a big hit in my circles.

Sour Cream Cutouts

1 cup of margarine or butter

1½ cups  of  sugar

3 eggs

1 cup of sour cream

2 t. vanilla extract

3 ½ cups of flour

2 t. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

In a mixing bowl butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs. Add sour cream & vanilla; mix well. Combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda; add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Chill dough at least 2 hours or overnight.

Roll on a heavily floured board to ¼- inch thickness. Cut with your favorite cookie cutter and bake for 10-12 minutes @ 350°.

Frost and add Christmas sprinkles if desired. * I made these year round.

Cabbage

Apr 20, 2011 by pearsonsprogress    3 Comments    Posted under: Blogroll, food, Grocery Challenge, recipes, saving money

I went to the downstairs refrigerator to get some bread I baked and found that I had a whole head of green cabbage. This is good news but it also means that I have to find a way to use it soon because we have a trip coming up at the end of this month. I just hate to see food go to waste! I looked in several cookbooks and I found one that sounds tasty in, The Biggest Book of Casseroles I bought while in the USA a few years ago.  I’ve made several of the recipes in this book as they are easy to put together for family or guests and casseroles can use several of the ingredients in the pantry and fridge.  I also don’t hesitate to substitute if I don’t have the exact ingredient called for. I will add my substitutions in parenthesis after the ingredient.

I have also made these recipes from this book: The Biggest Book of Casseroles

• Fruit & nut Baked Oatmeal~ page 35
• Caraway Batter Bread ~page 47
• Cranberry Bread Pudding~page 68
• Polenta- Pecan Apple Cobbler~page 86
• Tuna Noodle Casserole~page 95
• Cheeseburger Casserole~ page 139
• Prairie Potato Bake~ page 142
• Pork & Spinach Bake~ page 171
• Pork Chop Casserole~ page 173
• Florentine Lasagna~ page 203
• Denver Potato Casserole~ page 210
• Huevos con Frijoles~ page 239
• South of the Border Pie~page 260
• Layered Potatoes & Leeks~ page 268
• Cheesy Chicken & Mostaccioli~ page 272
• Sweet Potato Casserole~page 294
• Mexican-Style Chicken~ page 322
• Nacho Turkey Casserole~ page 323
• Tex-Mex Chicken ‘N’ Rice Casserole~ page 324
• Cajun Chicken Pasta~page 334
• Monterey Tortilla Casseroles~ page 341
• Carrots Au Gratin~ page 373
• Best Ever Corn Pudding~ page 398

WOW, even I’m surprised about how many I’ve made! I really think this cookbook is worth the price of about $13.

Here’s the recipe:

Creamy Cabbage & Sausage Casserole

Serves 8-10

1½ pounds of bulk pork sausage (I will use ground pork & add the sausage seasonings)

3/4 cup chopped onions (only have ½ onion so I’ll add a couple of green onions from the garden too)

10 cups of coarsely chopped cabbage (1 med)

1½cups of dairy sour cream ( I use a product called quark in Spain since they don’t sell sour cream here)

1½ cups of shredded American cheese (6 oz) (I’ll use cheddar cheese and any bits of mozzarella that I have)

¼ teaspoon of salt

¼ teaspoon of pepper

1½cups  soft bread crumbs (about 2 slices) ( I may use some leftover toast & grind it or some fried onion topping I have)

2 tablespoons of melted butter

In a Dutch oven cook sausage and onions over medium hear  until sausage is brown; drain. Cook, covered over medium heart about 10 mins or until cabbage is crisp- tender, stirring occasionally. Drain any excess liquid. Stir in sour cream., cheese, salt & pepper..Transfer to an ungreased 3 qt. baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs, & melted butter; sprinkle over sausage mixture. Bake uncovered in 375° oven for 20 minutes.

*I’m sure that we’ll have leftovers and I’ll probably have to freeze some, but all these ingredients will freeze well.

Saturdays Meals

Mar 12, 2011 by pearsonsprogress    4 Comments    Posted under: Baking, Grocery Challenge, photos, recipes, saving money

Homemade pizza

Today is a big day for me in the kitchen. Making pizza for 25 is going to be a ton of work, but I’ll begin the chopping and shredding early in the day. I’ll start the dough  and get that in the fridge early on.  It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m not using the grocery $ for this, but instead my personal allowance. That was I can stay on track with my saving for the upcoming trip to Germany in 2012.

Here’s my menu for today:

Breakfast:

John: Corn muffins, egg, & leftovers

Bobbie: 2 kiwi’s

Lunch:

We’re having all the LEFTOVERS in the fridge… including the soups, and stir fry.

Supper:

Pizza, salad & cake… this is what I’m serving for our guests but we’ll probably skip the cake.

party time!

How to make pancake syrup

Nov 29, 2010 by pearsonsprogress    8 Comments    Posted under: food, Grocery Challenge, recipes, saving money

No, it”s not REAL maple syrup, but it does taste good for those of us who can neither afford nor find the real thing. Of course the real thing is not a Spanish product and not commonly found, & I really don’t have the food budget for it either. Here’s what I do:

Maple Syrup

1 cup water
2 cups sugar

¼ teaspoon maple flavoring

Stir ingredients together. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, and cool. Pour into a serving container (I use a jar and store it in my fridge) Makes 1 pint

* friends & family are kind enough to send me maple flavoring.

Friday Pasta Night~ Pasta Puttanesca

Aug 28, 2009 by pearsonsprogress    4 Comments    Posted under: Blogroll, recipes, saving money

Hear ye, Hear ye!!  (no, no, the British aren’t coming). I hereby declare Friday night as pasta night! I’m not talking about the same old… spaghetti & meatballs or macaroni & cheese stuff, no, I’m on a quest to find, cook and eat some yummy pasta recipes. Since John and I don’t go out to eat  in restaurants, this will be our ‘night out’.

Hey, we want to find fun things to do that don’t cost a lot of money, try new things and have a party!

Here’s what I’m trying this Friday Night.I got this recipe from:

http://www.recipezaar.com/Pasta-Puttanesca-the-Madames-Pasta-176435

Pasta Puttanesca 

45 min | 15 min prep

SERVES 2

Pizza Dough Recipe

Aug 25, 2008 by pearsonsprogress    No Comments    Posted under: Blogroll, Grocery Challenge, recipes

Here is the pizza dough recipe that was asked for. It is actually the PIZZA HUT recipe that I got from a book about copying restaurant food.

* If you want it to really taste like Pizza Hut dough, you should make it in the morning and refrigerate (with plastic wrap over it) make sure to punch down as needed during the day.

3/4 cup warm water ( 105°-115°F)

1 ¼ teaspoons yeast

1Tablespoon of sugar

2 ¼ cups of flour

1 ½ teaspoons salt

1 ½ Tablespoons of olive oil

Combine water, sugar and yeast in a bowl, stir and let set for about 5 mins or until it bubbles or foams. If it doesn’t, throw it out and start over.

Add the flour and salt gradually incorporating it into the yeast mixture, add oil. Knead until there is a smooth texture, about 10 minutes.

At this point you rub it with additional olive oil to rest for about 20 minuets, then stretch it on your pizza pan. This will make 2 thin crust or 1 think crust, or 6 mini’s.

Bake at your hottest oven setting and DO PREHEAT! Make sure your oven it VERY hot!

I have tried lots of sauces, but like plain tomato paste and then I sprinkle basil on it. Or a pesto is good too.

~You can bake a bunch and freeze them, then add toppings.

~I like to reheat or even finish it off in a hot skillet to crisp up the bottom… but I also have a clay pan (rectangular… and I will turn it upside down and bake on that) I will let you know how that works. I am going to try it anyway. If you have a stone, use it!

Lentil- Walnut Burgers

Jun 27, 2008 by pearsonsprogress    No Comments    Posted under: recipes

3/4 cup toasted walnuts, cooled

1/3 cup plain dried bread crumbs

3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons ground coriander

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes

coarse salt and ground pepper

3/4 cup lentils, cooked *(below), drained, and cooled

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 large egg

* Yogurt-Cilantro Sauce for serving (optional)

1.) In a food processor, combine walnuts, breadcrumbs, garlic, cumin, coriander, pepper flakes, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; process until finely ground. Add lentils and 1 tablesppon oil; pulse until coarsely chopped (some lentils should remain whole).

2.) In a large bowl, whisk egg. Add lentil mixture; mix well. Divide into 4 equal-sized parts; roll into balls, and flatten with the palm of your hand into 3/4-inch-thick patties.

3.) Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a large non-stick skillet. Add burgers; cook over medium-low heat until crisp and browned, turning gently with a thin-edged spatula, 8-10 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Serve with Yogurt-Cilantro Sauce, if desired.

Yogurt- Cilantro Sauce:

In a small bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves, and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; season with coarse salt and ground pepper.

* to cook lentils, place them in a small saucepan, and cover with water by 1 inch. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Cover, and cook until lentils are tender but still holding their shape, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain well.

** I didn’t make the sauce but served them on hamburger buns with alfalfa sprouts, tomato and onion with mayo and mustard.

*** I got this from the Martha Stewart magazine, Everyday Food

My 5th Week of My Grocery Challenge

Jun 26, 2008 by pearsonsprogress    2 Comments    Posted under: Blogroll, Grocery Challenge, recipes

Ways I’ve made my money stretch this week:

1. I’ve sprouted, lentils, broccoli sprouts, and alfalfa spouts to add to salads and sandwiches (instead of lettuce)- thanks again to my friend Dana for sending me these!
2. I’m using up all the little guest soaps, and the hotel samples I’ve collected and others have given me.
3. I’m adding sand (from an old construction project) to the back yard patch of dirt, preparing it for a winter garden of carrots, beets, potatoes and lettuce. I’m hunting for the seeds. So far they are not in the stores. I’m also pouring boiling water down an ant hill, several times a day to rid the garden of them.
4. our snacks include popped corn & iced tea
5. we’re having more people over for coffee and muffins or a light supper instead of the main meal.
6. I’m planting as many “pots” as I can of vegetables. I’ll take these to the village with us July 7th.
7. We’re eating one or 2 meatless meals of week. We really liked the lentil/walnut burgers with sprouts, tomato and onion.
8. instead of using the “premix” bread mix I buy for 1.29 as directed, (it’s for bread machines- I don’t have one) I added some more yeast and flour and was able to get two BIG loaves out of it. It’s very nice bread with lots of sunflower seeds.

Starting balance for this week: 9,55€

What I bought:

1.34- vegetable oil

.90- lettuce

2.55- olive oil

.55-hot dogs with cheese

.41-napkins

.69- milk

.95- coffee

1.69- toilet paper

.79- lettuce

.28- 1 cucumber

.25- 1 apple

.25- 1 orange

_____________

10.65-total spent I went 1,10 euros in the hole… grrrr…

* this week was a bit of an “extra challenge” because I ran out of vegetable oil, and olive oil.

** I got the hot dogs for the little girl that is coming tonight with her parents. That is just about all that child eats. The adults are having the last of the lamb chops in the freezer on the barbecue.

*** we are still using meat we have in the freezer. We have approx. 1 lb of hamburger, 4 pk of pork chops and/or loin chops, sandwich meats, like sliced ham, pastrami and turkey ( not very much).

I am having a FUN TIME challenging MYSELF to use up what we already have, while saving some money too.

My menu for this week:

Thursday 26 June-Cheese, bread, olives, salami, lamb chops (last of the lamb in the freezer), pasta salad, green salad

Friday 27 June-Curried carrot soup (reinvented from last weeks cream of carrot), pork picatta (left over from the guest that didn’t show up Monday), stuffing, green beans

Saturday 28 June-Potato cheese soup, Stromboli, salad

Sunday 29 June-Lentil soup, pastrami sandwiches w/ veggies

Monday 30 June-left overs

Tuesday 1 July-Left over potato cheese soup, scrambled egg & ham crepes with a cream mustard sauce, brussel sprouts

Wednesday 2 July- cream of tomato soup, roasted turkey legs (last 2 in the freezer) mashed potatoes, salad

Next week I will have 8,90€ to spend

*my cherry tomato plants have tons of little green tomatoes. Unfortunately my lettuce seeds must be old, because they just won’t sprout! The same with my green beans… they are several years old. I’ll do a replant and see if I can get them going…