Easy Macaroni Soup!

Todays macaroni soup I added a little extra elbows so it’s pretty thick. ****  If necessary when it’s reheated I may add a little extra chicken or beef broth. Updated photo. 4/1/2024

Any day is a good day for this soup! Kiddo's will love this back to school recipe and it's so easy!

I've caught a "cold" and a bit under the weather so this Macaroni Soup will hit the spot for me.  I'm re-posting my blog post from last winter if you haven't checked it out.  A great dish for anytime but it hits the spot when you have a cold.  I add a little red pepper to it to open up those sinuses. Enjoy!

 I'm back in the kitchen and I totally surprised myself.  I thought I wouldn't touch a pot or pan for a week..  Guess I overlooked the fact that there weren't any leftovers so today I heard the weather guy say rain changing to snow in our forecast so soup's on..Macaroni soup that is!!!!

This recipe is one I have made and it's very easy...It's a basic recipe which takes no time to put together to warm you up on a chilly day.  You can add extra black pepper to spice it up..

Happy Cooking!

  

 1 lb. beef ground (I use 85 % ) so It'll give your soup good flavor..If you are worried about fat content use 90 %+.
1/4 +tsp. onion powder
1/4 +tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. parsley

1/2 tsp. Basil
1- 15 oz. can Hunts Sauce
1- large 32 oz. Beef Broth

1- large 32 oz. Chicken broth 
****1/2 lb. + elbow macaroni cooked rinsed and drained 
****salt and pepper to taste
grated Italian cheese


In a medium to large pot place about 3 tablespoon canola oil , add  ground beef, onion powder, garlic powder,  parsley, basil ,salt and pepper.  Saute until slightly browned....After browning, add sauce and beef and chicken broth. Cook over medium heat for approximately 30 minutes..Add cooked elbow macaroni and grated cheese....(for a thicker soup add extra pasta)  Note:  Do not overcook elbow pasta.

Note:  cook pasta separately (drain, rinse and cover in a bowl)if you like a more broth like soup and add the desired amount to broth. 

From my kitchen to yours,

9/16/12

1/19/16
8/21/16

10/4/2017

Turkey breast and trimmings

One pot turkey breast 

It’s not Thanksgiving but when I feel like a turkey meal I make it to my liking and don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving…just saying.,

Easy meal when you’re wanting turkey not chicken for a meal.

All I did was with this bone in small turkey breast was to sear it on both sides it in vegetable oil in my cast iron pot with salt pepper and onion granules.  

After the turkey was seared  I then added about 1/2 +cup chicken broth. Put the lid on it and put in oven at 325° and it reached 165° in about 11/2 hours.  

The turkey breast was about 1.5 lbs. 

Once the turkey breast reached 165° I allowed it to rest for about 5 minutes and then sliced it with a large serrated knife. It made yummy gravy.

Served with great sides!  It hit the spot! Yummy!

Enjoy!

Sauté shrimp in Marinara

8/7/2023 original 

Updated photos 2/25/24

A family favorite  shrimp in marinara.

Today was a busy day so I decided to take a short cut and use a jar sauce for the marinara.  There was a time I’d never use a jar sauce but when you decide to try a good brand and feel it satisfies you, I say why not?

1 large jar Rao marinara sauce 

1/2 cup half and half

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons butter

2 cloves minced garlic 

1lb.  Cooked and deveined large shrimp 

1 lb.  Pasta of choice(I used Rigatoni tonight)

Parmesan to taste

In a separate pot boil pasta according to directions in salted water. Drain

While pasta is cooking in a large sauté pan on low heat add olive oil ,butter and minced garlic.  Once garlic starts to sizzle add shrimp and just warm shrimp.  Add marinara, and half and half.  Heat on low until combined.  Add shrimp and drippings and heat until sauce is warm and shrimp is coated with sauce..  

Remove from heat.  Add drained cooked pasta and top with parmigiana cheese or Romano cheese. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Chicken Dorito appetizer

Here’s a great appetizer!

This appetizer is great anytime of year.

How about making it for Super Bowl Sunday this year!

DELISH!

 

Ingredients:

I lb. Shredded rotisserie chicken seasoned with taco seasoning 

1/2 jar salsa con queso

1/2 of a head of iceberg lettuce cut in smaller pieces

Oil, vinegar, salt pepper, parsley, onion and garlic powder

Salsa

Hot sauce 

Sour cream

Clean and rinse lettuce thoroughly 

Season warmed shredded chicken with taco seasoning and a little chicken broth.

Assemble scoop Doritos on bottom of platter

Add seasoned shredded chicken.

Heat salsa con quesco.  Drizzle over chicken, add regular salsa if you like too then salad and a drizzle of hot sauce.

Basic all Beef meatloaf

Meatloaf  and Stuffed peppers Saturday !

It’s so cold we’ve  staying in  but I must cook.  

Here’s today’s meals!

I’m exercising portion control!(TODAY LOL)

Today I made a half recipe for the meatloaf  and the other half of meat I added onion , cooked rice ,salt and pepper and stuffed a large red pepper as well as two meatballs .  Two meals for two days.

1 lb. ground chuck
1/2 cup breadcrumbs, plain
1 tsp. salt
Pinch pepper 
eggs
1 medium onion finely chopped
1/2 cup milk

NOTE:  Spread some ketchup on top of meatloaf 10 minutes before removing from oven.

Beat egg well.  Add to beef, onion, salt pepper.  Incorporate breadcrumbs and milk.   Meat mixture will be soft but you will be able to form a small meatloaf.

Enjoy!

Beef in cast iron pot

I really love my cast iron pot.

I have two sizes and today I used the smaller one for our beef dinner.

I had about 1.5 pound piece of thick round steak

1 package onion soup mix

1 cup water

3T Vegetable oil

I seared the beef in the vegetable oil and then added the onion soup water mix.  

Baked in pre heated oven @ 350° for approximately 11/2 hours or less.  Because of the cut it baked quickly.

I tested it with a fork and it cut easily and was very tender.

A delicious meal.

Enjoy!

 

Easy Meals for convenience

Hi Everyone!

The New year 2024 is here and if you’re like me need to get back to some easy full filling dinner menus.  

We’ve had so much rich and fattening sauces 

, meals and desserts it’s difficult to get to thinking healthy, satisfying and tasty too.

I’ll post today a few suggestions that may be of help to you and me as well.

Last night we had a simple dinner of lightly sautéed chicken breasts, 90 second wild rice and applesauce.  All prepared in less than 45 minutes from start to finish.

Another meal is Meatloaf with roasted vegetables 

Link below:

https://iliketobakeandcook.blogspot.com/2016/01/baked-meatloaf-with-potatoes-and-carrots.html

Cappellini Pomodoro

https://iliketobakeandcook.blogspot.com/2018/09/cappellini-pomodoro-from-my-kitchen-to.html

Shrimp and Broccoli in a orange coconut sauce

https://iliketobakeandcook.blogspot.com/2018/04/shrimp-and-broccoli-in-sweet-orange.html

 

Pork chops n potatoes

Tonight’s meal had to be the easiest to make and it took about an hour from start to finish to serve it.

I browned in vegetable oil 4 thinly sliced boneless pork chops.  While they were slowly cooking I peeled and sliced a huge Idaho potato super thin.  I covered the sliced potatoes in salted water and microwaved them for about 10 minutes .  By the time the potatoes were done the chops were browned ( I seasoned with salt and pepper).

I added 1\2 can of cream of chicken soup to my baking dish, layered the cooked and drained potatoes on top of the lightly browned pork chops . Added some water to the other half of the can of cream of chicken soup ,stirred to mix it and poured it over the potatoes.  Covered the baking dish and baked about 45 to 55 minutes.

Hubby had coleslaw with his.  I had thin green beans with mine.  Delicious!  Ps I never have cream of chicken soup handy but by George I had a can and it was still 2024 dated!!👍

 

 

Banana Foster French toast

Breakfast for dinner tonight.  Bananas Foster over pancakes. 10/23/2023

It’s Sunday and I’m thinking an easy brunch meal for us...


                   

Hmmmm I have Italian bread, eggs, milk and cinnamon so French toast is always easy but toppings are better than plain syrup so since I have bananas, butter and maple syrup I’m going to experiment to make the Bananas Foster version my mind views it as.

  This was a total experiment and it turned out DELICIOUS!  My hubby loved it...


Topping

4 T butter
4 T pancake syrup ( I used log cabin brand)

2 bananas cut in medium slices

Melt butter in skillet add syrup.  Simmer.  Add bananas and allow to simmer on low until bananas are coated .  Serve over French toast.

French toast

2 eggs
1 cup+ milk
1 tsp. Cinnamon

5 slices of Bread

Whisk eggs, add milk and cinnamon.

In a large skillet place a pad of butter.  Dip bread into egg mixture and then place in pan. Cook until brown on each side. Yummy and you'll WOW them...

This recipe made 5 slices of French Toast.  I sprinkled a little powdered sugar on them before I served it.

12/9/2018 original