Turkey Vegetable Soup...and Blessings

 

I realize this isn't much of a food presentation...but, it's a real 'thrift' of a wonderful homemade soup from 'scratch', that costs nearly nothing...and it's all fresh!

Everyone knows that I save the carcass from the roast turkey. This year, I ended up with 2, and huge leg bones as well. Nonno Sal, (he is not my nonno=grandfather, but everybody calls him that)...he is sooo sweet and adorable with amazing cooking skills from Sicily. Before we packed up leftovers he said to me...
"Éé...Elisabett, I saved some nice-a bone for you to make-a nice-a soupp! I told him "thanks, but I already have so much leftover carcass, and turkey meat!...but he insisted these huge leg bones were special, and he knows I always save them!

All it takes to make a beautiful turkey broth, is to place the carcass and extra leg bones in a large pot, fill it 3/4 up with water, bring it to a boil, skim off the scum, and lower the temp. so it could simmer.

I always, but always add a bay leaf or two to all my broth, and a half of onion, some leftover herbs, such as parsley, rosemary, or basil, that are in my fridge and are not so fresh...dump it all in, and let it simmer for about 45 minutes. Strain the entire broth over a mesh strainer, and discard all the contents.

Now, all you do is get a medium pot, and sauté in vegetable oil a medium chopped onion, a couple cloves of garlic, 2 stalks celery 3 pieces of whole carrots, scraped, and sliced, added some more chopped parsley, and another bay leaf. Do not add baby carrots, they are expensive, and they are not really baby carrots, just special cut to make them look like baby carrots.
Also, I added 1-5 oz. can of petite diced organic tomatoes, and fill the pot with the reserved broth to about 3/4 full, add some leftover turkey meat; just chop into small pieces and simmer the soup for another 45 minutes.
Bring it to a boil... add some leftover thin dry spaghetti from a leftover box...break it up in 3 portions, and boil until tender. Turn off the heat, and soup is ready to serve.
Yields about 12 generous servings, and you save a lot of money!

In my previous post, I mentioned that my neighbors next door to me from both sides are not very friendly, and/or receptive! Well, wouldn't you know it's like "one door closes, and another opens" situation that took place. Just over the weekend, a new person moved into our condo unit. I of course said 'hello' and introduced myself, and she as well!

Just yesterday, I stopped by to see if she's OK, because there was a large truck parked downstairs and bringing stuff down from her apartment. I seriously thought she decided to move back out again! I told her I'm so sorry she decided to move out before even settling in...and noticed that there was a Kitchen-Aid mixer sitting on the floor. She said she is 'downsizing' and donating stuff that she doesn't need, and she is not moving out. I asked her if  she's getting rid of the Kitchen-Aid and she asked if I wanted it?... before she gets rid of it. Well, of course my answer was YES~

She hasn't used it in a while...had it stored probably in a garage because it was so dusty, but in perfect condition...I cleaned it up, shined it up, washed the bowl and the mixing gadgets, and it's 'brand new' all over again! I thanked her, and promised that I will get great use out of it, and told her that I'm truly Blessed, and the 'blessing' will come back to her. She just smiled, and I know I made a friend with a new neighbor! Life works in mysterious ways...and you just 'never know'!

 Here's my gorgeous and top of the line 'fire engine' RED Kitchen-Aid....made in the U.S.A

All cleaned, and shined up...not a scratch, or even shown that it has been used; probably once or twice! Posed it for my photo...my daughter wants me to trade with her white one; which is smaller, I think. She laughed and said I should take a 'selfie' with the Kitchen-Aid...why don't I take it down to the beach...prop it on a chair and take 'selfies' with it sitting next to it...ha, ha,...funny, not ready to do a trade yet; will have to try it out first!

Hope your Sunday is going great...although I feel bad for some of you in the freezing and snowy weather; Bye now, from Sunny South Florida~xo

Silent Sunday

Sunset in Palm Beach, Florida. (granddaughter Gabby, serious photographer; age 12)...actual divine colors on the Intracoastal Water; Saturday, 9-14-2013
Have a beautiful Sunday! xo

Creole Shrimp and Rice...my way!

Living in sunny South Florida gives us the advantage of obtaining the freshest seafood every day...available, 365 days a year. You can even buy it from fishermen coming back from the fishing boats...not cheap, but affordable and oh, so amazing and fresh!

I love shrimp, especially the pink Key West shrimp. I saw the CREOLE SHRIMP AND RICE  recipe in June, 2013 issue of Cooking Light magazine and I was impressed by it, but adding the 1 cup of milk to make the Creole Sauce was not my 'cup of tea', so I adapted the recipe changing it to the 'ruby red' spicy sauce, and serving it with Jasmine rice!

I discovered this beautiful bag of little treasures...fresh San Marzano mini tomatoes...grown in Texas, so sweet, crunchy and yummy; you can eat it just like 'candy' but I used it in my sauce, along with the Red Gold tomatoes... that I still had left over from my promotion pack. No need for extra spices, although I used the same recipe as the one from Cooking Light, and added 1 can of the Chili Ready diced tomato.

We all have a way of dealing with 'stress' a different way. Most people eat for comfort...or shop for comfort...be a 'hoarder' of accumulated unnecessary things; as for me, I also shop, but I do the 'thrift shopping' and only for items that I really could use in my kitchen or around the house.

As for eating...I substitute it for 'food shopping'! My cupboards are slightly overflowing with just about every staple item needed for cooking or baking; my fridge is full with fruits, vegetables, dairy products, breads and rolls in the freezer. Food shopping brings me comfort, but it can be costly if all the perishable items are not used up in time.

I'm not the type of person to complain about my physical health...aches, and pains, or even keeping a doctor's appointment; rather cancelling and re-scheduling, instead. To get to the point, I've been neglecting my every 3 months dermatology check ups...after over a year, I finally visited the dermatologist office to check for dangerous moles or spots sprouting up. Since the last couple months I had at least half a dozen suspicious moles and spots...some cancerous, removed from my back, chest, and arm, and now I am dealing with two more that are a little more complex.

So, if you did not hear from me for over a week...posting, commenting, its not because I'm on vacation its just LIFE HAPPENS...every day is a 'challenge' of some sorts.

I had a dangerous skin cancer (Basal Carcinoma) surgically removed from the middle of my forehead this morning...three consecutive sessions...digging, scraping, carving; now its stitched up, and I'm not feeling my best, and next month I will have to have another one surgically removed.

Here's some helpful information about skin cancer...from the SKIN CANCER FOUNDATION

When you don't hear from me, and I'm not blogging...or on Facebook...something's up.
I also forgot to mention that, Pinterest has been a great comfort for me for the last week, just pinning...pinning...and marveling at all the amazing and beautiful things. Also, I've been 'downsizing' and getting rid of things. I hauled more clothes, books...mostly cookbooks, and small pieces of furniture, to donate...you would think that I'm moving!

Have a wonderful week, ahead! xo

Linking to:Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherines Corner
                  Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage

 

Mark Bittman's Bread Pudding...and Giveaway!

Perfect bread pudding, right out of the oven!

There's a saying..."what you see, is what you get"...or a favorite of mine...IT IS, WHAT IT IS!...When life gives you lemons; you make LEMONADE...When your son brings you a homemade beautiful round Challah bread with raisins, from a Kosher kitchen...that has been blessed by a Rabbi...you eat half, freeze the other half...and make the best Bread Pudding...ever!
Linking to:
Hearth and Soul Blog Hop @Zesty South Indian Kitchen
Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage 
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherines Corner 

Not only did I feel blessed, but comforted...knowing, that this bread will be best, used  for french toast, or make a fabulous bread pudding...not just any old recipe, but my most favorite, trustworthy Mark Bittman's
"How to Cook Everything" Simple Recipes for Great Food!...don't expect pretty photos, and illustrations in this 944 page of a bright yellow soft covered book (comes in hard cover, as well)...you can certainly order this on Amazon, and get it for a great price, but mine was also NEW, which I purchased 2 years ago at Goodwill for 79 cents...a price which is no longer available for soft covered books. Today, it would cost me $4.00 even at Goodwill...but then you can probably get this at Amazon for the same price, and pay $3.99 for shipping. It's still a great bargain...either way!

I don't recall bragging so much about any cookbook, as I am totally in love with this one. I have managed to take it home several times...only, to find it back here at my daughter's house because we are both sharing the book.

This is how it goes...you decide to make a great dish, dessert, breads, anything your heart desires...you will find a simple version of it in this book; it virtually is, like a Bible...next, you go online, if you want to compare other similar recipes, and even find photos of it, and start comparing and creating it to your needs...but don't be "stingy"...be a friend, and mention the source! I can relate to your own creation of a fairly simple 'staple' recipe which do not require a source...but let's face it. We are not 'Martha Stewart'...or 'Giada'...or 'Nigella'...we don't have a cooking show, or have our own 'food magazine' like Martha Stewart...LIVING, which by the way, is one of my all-time favorite cooking magazines, next to Bon Appetit!

...but, you never know! Dreams can become a reality! You can become the next Food Channel 'cooking star'...or can go on T.V.'s CHOPPED program...and get yourself 'chopped off' after the first 'brutal challenge'...or, become the winner and take home the $10,000. which is not EASY!

I'm getting way off the subject here. I will share 2 recipes with you...the other, which I promised is my 'staple' banana bread recipe...and I do repeat...'staple'..because, both Lora and I make this once or twice a week, without consulting a recipe...just have it memorized after all these years, and totally cut down on the 1970's overload of sugar, and oil that they used in basic recipes. When I see a banana bread recipe posted with 1 cup of oil, and 2 or more cups of sugar, I just want to scream...NO, NO...you're killing us! (well, just a little dramatization of it) but seriously, who needs all that cholesterol and sugar, and most of the time with the overload of 'butter'...and let's not even go there...we all know what happened with Paula Deen; don't get me wrong, I love her dearly, and all her creative recipes, and her Southern "y'all" charm. We just need to stay, or get healthy, that's all!

Bread Pudding
adapted from: How to Cook Everything 
by, Mark Bittman

3 cups of milk, (I used low-fat)
4 Tbsp.=1 1/2 sticks butter, plus extra  for greasing the pan. (I used cooking spray to grease pan)
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cups sugar plus 1 Tbsp.
pinch of salt
8 thick slices of white bread, crust removed
(I used leftover Challah)
3 eggs ( I used 4)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Over low heat in a small saucepan warm the milk, butter 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 cup sugar, Just until butter melts. Butter, or spray an 8x8 square glass baking dish, or a casserole dish that can fit 1 1/2 quarts.

Cut or tear the bread in bite-size pieces (as in upper photo) and pour the milk mixture over it. ( I sprinkled the cinnamon, salt, and sugar, directly on the bread cubes, did not add in the milk mixt. to heat up)

Let the milk mixture sit for a few minutes, submerging
any pieces of bread that rise to the top.

Beat the eggs lightly, and pour over the bread mixture, stirring gently, being careful not to disturb the bread pieces. Mix together the 1 Tbsp sugar with the 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and sprinkle over the top.

This is how the mixture should look like...now, you are ready to bake it.

Bake 45 minutes...no longer than 1 hr. Center will be just a little wobbly, but it will settle as it cools a little.
Serve warm, or cold, with maple syrup, whipped, cream, or just plain powdered (icing sugar)

For chocolate pudding: Melt 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate with the milk, and butter, and proceed as above.

For Apple-Raisin filling: Add 1 cup peeled, grated, and drained apples, and 1/ cup or more raisins to the mixture, along with the eggs.

Elisabeth's Banana Bread

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cane sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup low-fat milk
3 rip bananas mashed
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray, set aside. In a large bowl, add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix together. In a medium bowl, mash the bananas with a potato masher, or fork, and add the sugars to it; stir to combine. In a small bowl, mix together the eggs with the oil, and milk, beating with a fork, or whip just to combine well. Add the bananas mixture to the flour, and pour the egg mixture over the top...stir to combine.
Stir 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips into the batter; spoon into the loaf pan, and sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips over the top. Bake for 30 minutes @ 350 degrees F.  Lower the temperature to 325 degrees, and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes. Cool on rack, and it will release easily from pan, after it cools down slightly.

note:
This is my very own "tried and true" recipe, and it is 'fail proof' ...you must add the ingredients just the way I have it written, in that order, and also for the temperature, and time baked. For the sugar, you can use just white sugar instead both kinds, but increase to sugar to 1 cup. You can also substitute by adding equal amount of whole wheat flour to equal amount un-bleached all purpose flour. You can add raisins, chopped nuts, cranberries, dried cherries, or any kind of dried fruits. I would not recommend fresh chopped fruit, they will add too much moisture and make the bread soggy!

...one more thing; I just recently received this special back order issue, for my 2yr Blog Anniversary giveaway.

I have not heard from anyone if you are in interested in my special giveaway of the 100yrs of American cooking edition, which came out in 1999. I love this special issue, and kept the magazine for 13 years now, using some of the best recipes...ever!

Back in 1999, it cost $3.95...I back ordered a special order...brand new one, plastic sealed edition...which cost $12.99 (still a thrift price) for something so special..the shipping was (that's where they get you) another $3.99, well worth it!

Are you going to miss out on this giveaway gift that has century old culinary stories, including the famous Amircan Apple Pie that debuted in 1900, the famous Coca Cola, in the late 1899,  the famous Betty Crocker in the late 1930's, Julia Child in the early 1950's famous movie stars, our very own American Mac n' Cheese, with updated old recipes...just look at the famous American list of products that our known all over the world, and when they debuted!

Hostess Twinkies (1930)
Snickers (1930)
Bisquick (1931)
Fritos Corn Chips (1932)
Skippy Peanut Butter (1932)
Campbell's Chicken Noodle
and Cream of Mushroom  Soups (1932)
Ritz Crackers (1934)
Five Flavors Life Savers (1935)
Kraft Miracle Dressing (1935)
Kix Cereal (1937)
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Dinner (1937)
Pepperidge Farm Bread (1937)
Spam (1937)
Lawry's Season Salt (1938)
Lay's Potato Chips (1938)
Nestle's Crunch bars (1939)

There's a lot more to mention...and the most popular of them all is the famous OREOS that just recently celebrated its 100 years in America and is now, famous, and well liked all over the world! Now, isn't this something for us to be proud of that's American?
...and don't forge the JELL-O which has been around since 1897...and took America by the storm in the 1920's...and making a comeback now, after declining since the late 80's.

...one more item...(among tons of others) THE CANDY MAN
who can forget the ever so famous HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE BARS?
Founded by Milton Hershey, in 1900...his chocolate was so well known an famous, by 1906, he got the town named after him!
So, there you have just some of the famous century information, along with photos and updated old recipes, and new ones, as well!
It's a whopping double issue of 254 pages, compared to this July grilling issue of Bon Appetit, of 122 pages. that costs you $4.99 an issue, if you don't have a subscription, which I've had for over 20 years!

I'm repeating this giveaway gift...just let me know if you would like it...no strings attached...but if you don't mention something about this amazing issue, then I will assume you're not interested in winning this!

 
OK...gotta go now. Luigi the little precious Chihuahua ...and Stella (not pictured) are hungry, and so am I...so let me hear from you...until then, have a wonderful Monday, Tuesday at some places...we're getting a tropical storm, rain, rain...and more rain!
xo

Red Gold Spicy Tomato Sauce...and a Winner!

Today is the first official day of spring! Although, here in South Florida, we've been experiencing our spring since about January, and we'll be going into full blown summer, by May...go figure! This it the tropical climate that we are accustomed to. Such a wonderful weekend we had, how about that bright and beautiful full moon that only comes around every 18 to 20 years? (witnessed it and took photos)...Sunday was such a relaxing day, did not have barely anything in my fridge to cook for lunch, for my family in my little beach condo, but I always have canned tomatoes on hand, and pasta...the little ones love the mezze penne, and the spaghetti. I also found some Italian sausage in the freezer which I defrosted, so lunch did not take long. A little bit too spicy, but my little grandson eats everything, and did not mind the spicy sauce. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and got to witness the gorgeous moon that was 14% larger, and 30% brighter than your average full moon...that's what I call "romance in the air...or is it "Love is in the Air?"...remember that song from the eighties?