VEGGIE SOUP

This soup recipe feeds an army. Make it at the beginning of the week and eat it for lunch the rest of the week!

My medium size pot is just a little too
 small for all the soupy goodness.

Make sure you use a big pot so that it can simmer without boiling over the edges.
This soup is easily made vegan by using vegetable bouillon and margarine.
It can easily be made for meat-eaters by adding in chunks of cooked chicken breast. I would guess it would be best if you added the meat right after you added the water.


ingredients:

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 carrots, chopped
• 3 sticks celery chopped
• 2 potatoes chopped
• 1 tbsp butter or margarine
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 cube vegetable or chicken bouillon 
• 6oz can tomato paste
• 4 cups water 
• handful of spaghetti 
• 1/2 cup french cut green beans (can be frozen or canned or fresh)
• 2 heaping tbsp flour 



This is about how much pasta I used.

directions: 

1. In a medium-large pot, melt butter. 
2. add chopped onion, carrots, celery, and potatoes. 
3. sautee for 4 min, don't brown the veggies.
4. stir in bouillon cube, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and water.
5. bring to boil and simmer for 10 min.
6. break spaghetti in thirds, add to soup and simmer for 10 min.
7. add beans and simmer for 5 minutes more.
8. Mix flour with a little cold water in a cup. Add this to soup, stirring well. 
9. Cook for 1 more minute before serving.
10. Serve hot soup to your hungry friends. 

NOTE: If the soup starts to thicken when re-heating for left-overs, just add a bit of water to make it thin again. 

Feliz Dia del Amor y Amistad!

I have a confession to make. I hate Valentine's Day. But this year I realized that the name for Valentine's Day in Spanish is "El dia del amor y la amistad". Translated that means, "the day of love and friendship".
I like this idea much better, so to celebrate my newfound sentiment of this holiday, my friend Erica Reyes and I made cookies for all of the friends in our weekly study circle.

Erica had the idea of trying to form the dough into the shape of hearts.

I think they are just precious. Plus they were made with all the love in my heart.
Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup butter (very softened)
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. beat sugar into butter
2. add egg and vanilla and mix well
3. in another bowl, mix together dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder)
4. slowly mix dry ingredients into buttery egg mixture
5. scoop out dough in 1 tbsp balls
6. (for sugary coating) mix 1/3 cup sugar with 3-4 drops red food coloring
7. press balls into sugar mixture
8. cook for no more than 8 minutes at 375 degrees F

super easy and quick salsa

I have been asked by more than one person for my salsa recipe.
I can post the backbone of the recipe that way y'all can adjust it to how you like.

Ingredients:

• 3 large ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, chopped (I used 2 cans whole or chopped tomatoes, drained)
• 1 small green chile (seedless for mild to medium hotness and with seeds for medium to very hot salsa)
• 4 green onions (I like to use more)
• 1 garlic clove, peeled (again, I like to use more)
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1/4 cup cilantro leaves (or a heaping handful if you're me...)
• salt and pepper to taste

put it all in the blender, and chop it up.
chill in fridge for about an hour before serving. 

Now you have your own homemade salsa! (so easy!!)