Zucchini Bisque

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Momzoo

It’s been a while since I have posted any recipes. Like years. Figured it was about time, and I really couldn’t keep this soup a secret any longer. Bisque is a fancy name for a very simple soup that literally takes minutes to throw together and is simple to modify, my version is not vegan, but with a couple simple tweeks it’s good to go for you herbivores. I also like to make a huge batch, freezing the extra for later, this is a good way to preserve the summer bounty of zucchini. (Sorry I have no measurements, I don’t really measure anything with this soup….)

Ingredients:

butter

onions

garlic

summer squash

chicken broth

salt and pepper to taste

Yes, it’s THAT simple

First, melt butter in the soup pot, then peel and cut onions and garlic, I don’t bother to dice small, because this all goes in the blender anyway, no need to make extra wok for yourself.

Next, wash and cut up the summer squash, when the onions and garlic are nice and soft and have started to carmalize, add squash to pot.

Stirring occationally cook the squash downletting the edges brown just a little bit.

Then add enough broth to just cover all the vegetable and simmer until the squash is nice and soft. Once everything is nice and cooked, with an immersion blender, or in small batches, blend everything until is is nice and smooth.

This soup is wonderful just like this, I have also served it with a bit of sour cream and cheese, and of course a side of warm bread.

Enjoy!

Bean and Beef Burittos

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Momzoo

Beans fresh out of the crock pot, rinsed and draining. Some will be saved for dinner, the rest will be packed in bags and frozen.

In my (renewed) quest to save money AND stock up on freezer meals for when Little Miss comes, my thoughts have turned to dried beans.

Dried beans are a wonderful way to get bang for your buck, the amount of food you can produce for the amount of money spent, dried beans are one of the most cost effective foods you can buy. They are also full of nutrients, unprocessed, easy to cook (once you know how), and store forever.

One of my favorite go-to bean meals is burritos. They are very versatile, you can throw almost anything into them, whatever you have, and if you keep precooked beans on hand they can make up the bulk of the burrito. I serve them hot and cold, and they freeze beautifully.

Basic burrito made for freezing, cheese, beans, ground beef.

Rolled and ready for the oven. They don't need to be cooked before they are frozen, I just feel like they hold together better if they have been cooked first.

Fresh out of the oven, cooling, waiting to be bagged and frozen.

Once they are completely cooled, place in freezer bags and into the freezer they go. These will be warmed up later for a quick lunch or dinner.

Chicken Nuggets…..Method or Madness?

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Momzoo

I was asked to share my recipe and method for making chicken nuggets.

I have a confession to make,
I am a “fly by the seat of my pants” chicken nugget maker.

I don’t have a formal recipe and my method has just been made up over the years.

I use three basic ingredients:

Chicken Breast

(or tenders, depending on the price)

Bread Crumbs

(seasoned if you like, I just add some salt and pepper)

Eggs

Method:

If I am using chicken breasts, I cut those up to my desired size. Then I crack a few eggs into a ziplock bag (gallon size) and moosh it up so the egg yolks are broken up and mixed a bit. Then I add the chicken, seal the bag and shake it up so the chicken is coated. Then transfer the chicken into another ziplock bag that has bread crumbs added to it, seal and shake. I then lay the chicken on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until cooked.

If freezing, wait to bag the chicken until it has completely cooled, I usually put in on a plate in the refrigerator to quicken the process. When you are ready to eat, just warm it up and enjoy.

Very simple, and much better than the processed chicken parts you buy at the store.

Quick and Easy Dumplings

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Momzoo

One of the challenges to eating a healthier diet and getting rid of processed, chemically laden food, is what to do when I need a meal quick. Items such as Macaroni and Cheese, Frozen Pizza and Ramen Noodles are out, what is a gal to do?

I thought I would share a quick meal that my family enjoys and only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish.

We are going to make Dumplings, without the chicken soup.

First off you start with 4 ingredients.

2 cups flour

2 eggs

water

salt

(a basic pasta dough recipe)

Put your flour in a bowl, add the eggs and a pinch of salt. then start mixing with your hands adding water as needed for a stiff dough.

(remember to take your rings off before mixing…..)

Then pinch off little sections of dough, I like to do them really small so they will cook faster.

The pop them into a pot of boiling water and cook until soft, about 15 minutes.

When they are done add whatever sauce you would like. Today I did tomato soup, I have used spagetti sauce and leftover gravy.

I topped that with some grated cheese.

A quick and easy meal that my kids LOVE.

First Things First

Posted on April 6, 2009 by Momzoo

In the majority of my salads I add grilled chicken. I don’t really know why I call it grilled, because it isn’t really grilled, more like baked, but grilled sounds so much better so that is what I will call it. Anyway, in most of my salads I add chicken, I am serving them as the main meal and I think it helps to fill up tummies when there is a little meat. It also helps Dadzoo wrap his brain around the idea that, seriously, dinner is a salad. Not that he complains, but I swear I can see visions of steak and potatoes dancing around his head while he eats my “chick” food!

I figured I would show you how I bake my chicken.

First I place the chicken breast in a plastic, zip lock bag.

Then I pound it like a crazy woman, it is fabulous therapy! It needs to be pounded out evenly so it will cook evenly.

When it is nice and flat, place it on a baking sheet and season, I add salt and pepper, very simple, but good.

Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes, or until done, turning the chicken at least once in the cooking process.

When the are all cooked I let them cool, then place them in a bag in the freezer, then when I need them they get pulled out and thawed all day in the refrigerator.

Later today I will post the first salad recipe in my series!