We had a Church fall festival where the potluck food theme was chili. For the first time ever I just took cans and seasonings from the pantry. It turned out great. Well, at least I liked it, and the pot came home emptier than it was!
Vegetarian Chili
1 tablespoon beef broth powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon mixed onion and garlic granules (50/50 mix)
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
2 cans tomato sauce, 14-15 ounce size
2 cans kidney beans, 14-15 ounce size
1 can black eyed peas, 14-15 ounce size
1 can white beans, 14-15 ounce size
1 can chickpeas, 14-15 ounce size
1 can cannellini beans, 14-15 ounce size
1 large chopped white onion
1 large chopped red bell pepper
3 cloves chopped garlic
Sauté the onion, bell pepper and garlic in Instant Pot until the onions are translucent and the bell peppers are softened. Don't put the garlic in until the onions are nearly done. VERY IMPORTANT: when using the sauté feature on the Instant Pot, you need to stand over the pot, stirring the vegetables with a long handled wooden spoon constantly, or just about, because they can easily get away from you and burn. Ask how I know...
Add seasonings to the cooked vegetables to bloom for a few moments. Add tomato sauce then beans without draining. Stir well. Heat to boiling then let simmer on Slow Cook.
Monday, October 31, 2016
Friday, October 28, 2016
Food Friday: Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie with Soy Curls
Shepherd's Pie
Mix together 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon beef broth powder and 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce in a medium size bowl. If you do not have these flavorings, just use water.
In the bowl add 2 cups of Soy Curls.
Let sit 10 minutes to re-hydrate.
Finely chop one-half yellow onion and begin sautéing on medium low heat until translucent. Add 3 finely chopped cloves garlic and continue sautéing for another 2-3 minutes.
Drain the liquid from the soy curls. If you used flavoring in the soaking water, save for soup stock. Put the re-hydrated soy curls into a blender jar and pulse until the curls are rather finely chopped.
Add the chopped soy curls to the pan of onions and garlic then add 1 teaspoon Kitchen Bouquet Browning and Seasoning sauce and 1 teaspoon soy sauce. I used La Choy this time.
Stir the mixture well together. If it is a little dry add some of the soaking broth a tablespoon at a time until you like the “meat” consistency. Add one can drained whole kernel corn and heat through.
In the meantime, scrub, rinse and cook 6 medium red potatoes and cup into quarters and steam until soft. Pour into large bowl and mash with a potato masher or ricer. Add 2 tablespoon butter and mix well.
Also, in the meantime, turn the oven on to 350 degrees F.
Pour the vegetable/soy curls mixture into a 2 quart casserole dish. Cover with the mashed potatoes and place in the oven until everything is uniformly hot. Since you have just been working with them, they are probably able to be eaten immediately but it is nice to put them in the oven for 15-20 while you set the table and clean up some of the kitchen mess.
Serve with a nice tossed green salad. If you also just made some nice whole wheat bread, add that to the meal. Or any recently homemade bread. It will taste good and you will feel virtuous. And perhaps your Dear One will also serve himself seconds….
Mix together 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon beef broth powder and 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce in a medium size bowl. If you do not have these flavorings, just use water.
In the bowl add 2 cups of Soy Curls.
Let sit 10 minutes to re-hydrate.
Finely chop one-half yellow onion and begin sautéing on medium low heat until translucent. Add 3 finely chopped cloves garlic and continue sautéing for another 2-3 minutes.
Drain the liquid from the soy curls. If you used flavoring in the soaking water, save for soup stock. Put the re-hydrated soy curls into a blender jar and pulse until the curls are rather finely chopped.
 |
| Soy Curls/Onion/Garlic/Corn mixture in bottom of casserole dish. |
Add the chopped soy curls to the pan of onions and garlic then add 1 teaspoon Kitchen Bouquet Browning and Seasoning sauce and 1 teaspoon soy sauce. I used La Choy this time.
Stir the mixture well together. If it is a little dry add some of the soaking broth a tablespoon at a time until you like the “meat” consistency. Add one can drained whole kernel corn and heat through.
 |
| Mashed Red Potatoes with Skins |
In the meantime, scrub, rinse and cook 6 medium red potatoes and cup into quarters and steam until soft. Pour into large bowl and mash with a potato masher or ricer. Add 2 tablespoon butter and mix well.
Also, in the meantime, turn the oven on to 350 degrees F.
Pour the vegetable/soy curls mixture into a 2 quart casserole dish. Cover with the mashed potatoes and place in the oven until everything is uniformly hot. Since you have just been working with them, they are probably able to be eaten immediately but it is nice to put them in the oven for 15-20 while you set the table and clean up some of the kitchen mess.
 |
| One Serving of Shepherd's Pie |
Serve with a nice tossed green salad. If you also just made some nice whole wheat bread, add that to the meal. Or any recently homemade bread. It will taste good and you will feel virtuous. And perhaps your Dear One will also serve himself seconds….
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Garden Harvest: Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
We had about a quart of cherry tomatoes that I did not want to eat in salads or just plain. What to do? What to do? Why not try roasting them? Lots of vegetables taste wonderful roasted, even if they are not so hot raw or cooked other ways. I repeat: why not try roasting them?
This is what I did:
Washed the cherry tomatoes after removing a few stems.
Cut the tomatoes in half an put in a large bowl.
Poured a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil over them and swished the bowl around to connect the tomatoes to the oil.
Sprinkled on 1 teaspoon granulated onions and garlic (50/50 mixture I had made to take on vacation and which needed to be used up), 1 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning--oregano, basil, etc. (NOT Italian salad dressing mix), and 1/2 teaspoon of coarse Kosher salt. Mixed well by sloshing the bowl around a bit to get the seasonings on all the tomato parts.
Put tomatoes on a rimmed baking sheet that has been covered by parchment paper. There will probably be a little some delicious "juice" in the bowl. That can be used to flavor some other vegetable dish.
Place the pan in a preheated 350 degree F. oven for 45 minutes or so.
They will be nicely caramelized and taste really delicious.
This is what I did:
Washed the cherry tomatoes after removing a few stems.
Cut the tomatoes in half an put in a large bowl.
Poured a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil over them and swished the bowl around to connect the tomatoes to the oil.
Sprinkled on 1 teaspoon granulated onions and garlic (50/50 mixture I had made to take on vacation and which needed to be used up), 1 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning--oregano, basil, etc. (NOT Italian salad dressing mix), and 1/2 teaspoon of coarse Kosher salt. Mixed well by sloshing the bowl around a bit to get the seasonings on all the tomato parts.
 |
| Roasted Tomatoes showing the caramelizing. |
Put tomatoes on a rimmed baking sheet that has been covered by parchment paper. There will probably be a little some delicious "juice" in the bowl. That can be used to flavor some other vegetable dish.
Place the pan in a preheated 350 degree F. oven for 45 minutes or so.
They will be nicely caramelized and taste really delicious.
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Handwork: Charity Knitting Project with Recycling Overtones
A couple of years ago I went to area thrift stores to find 100% wool sweaters that I could take apart for various projects. At that time I wanted to make dryer balls instead of spending a lot of money for them. I found a beautiful Ralph Lauren Polo Country pullover. Eventually I pulled out the stitching at the shoulders with plans to use the sleeves for dryer balls.
Like so many of the "great ideas" that I have, this one turned out to be another failure. The dryer balls from this sweater did not stay as balls. When I was felting them they had dog ears and tails hanging off. And that was just the problem with the balls themselves. The main problem was that the dryer balls annoyed the other people drying clothes in our dryer. Oh well. Chalk it up to another idea which does not go over well with the rest of the family.
With no sleeves but a beautiful sweater body, I thought I could turn it into a vest with a little ribbing on the armholes.
It was pretty easy to do. The worst part was trying to find yarn to match the navy in the sweater. I had some Plymouth yarn that was pretty close and even had some wool in it.
This is what I did:
Starting at the armpit, I picked up (with a crochet hook) 84 stitches more or less evenly spaced around the armhole. After putting on a marker to show where the beginning of the round started I did a K2, P2 ribbing for 5 rounds. To bind off I used Jenny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off(found at Knitty and also on YouTube if you prefer video tutorials) which I have discovered works very well.
When I first decided to do this recycling project I intended to use this "new" vest myself. I love the pattern and colors. Well, how can you go wrong with navy and natural cream colors? However, the other night I was at a meeting of the women in our Church where the leaders made a call for winter clothing for some refugees in the area. I am more than happy to give up this vest. I can only wear one thing and a time and I already have a sweater for winter. I am hoping to go through our house in the next two weeks and pull out all the winter clothes that can be cleaned and mended, if need be, to give away. The refugees will be warm and, BIG BONUS: we will have an emptier house!
Like so many of the "great ideas" that I have, this one turned out to be another failure. The dryer balls from this sweater did not stay as balls. When I was felting them they had dog ears and tails hanging off. And that was just the problem with the balls themselves. The main problem was that the dryer balls annoyed the other people drying clothes in our dryer. Oh well. Chalk it up to another idea which does not go over well with the rest of the family.
With no sleeves but a beautiful sweater body, I thought I could turn it into a vest with a little ribbing on the armholes.
 |
| The armhole with no ribbing in place |
It was pretty easy to do. The worst part was trying to find yarn to match the navy in the sweater. I had some Plymouth yarn that was pretty close and even had some wool in it.
This is what I did:
Starting at the armpit, I picked up (with a crochet hook) 84 stitches more or less evenly spaced around the armhole. After putting on a marker to show where the beginning of the round started I did a K2, P2 ribbing for 5 rounds. To bind off I used Jenny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off(found at Knitty and also on YouTube if you prefer video tutorials) which I have discovered works very well.
 | ||||
| Ribbing in place on first armhole |
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Papercrafting: Cute Tiny Boxes
For several years I have had the fun of making boxes for the Mother's Day treats the ladies at Church receive. Because there are quite a few to make, I start pretty early in the year.
This year I have been looking for some double-sided heavy card stock to make the pictured boxes. I had hoped for some 6" by 6" pads of paper but did not find any. I did find a 12" by 12" pad at Michael's in Mays Landing, New Jersey and grabbed it fast (since my math skills allow me to turn one 12 by 12 sheet into four 6 by 6 sheets...)!
These are the boxes I have made so far. For the first video I watched on how to make this box/tiny tote, click here. (I received an email from Split Coast Stampers which had the tutorial. I love those people. They have so many great tutorials on paper crafting topics. ) For another of the videos I saw, click here.
What you need to make these cute boxes are an envelope punch board, (I have a "We R Memory Keepers" envelope punch board--find them at Michaels, A.C. Moore, Hobby Lobby and use a coupon. By the way, WeRMemoryKeepers have many different punch boards. I am tempted....) double-sided card stock cut 6 by 6, a small circle (or other shape) punch, embellishments if you want them, ribbon or twine for a closure, and glue.
You can fit three Lindt Chocolate truffles inside! Just in case you were wondering what you could put in these little guys....
This year I have been looking for some double-sided heavy card stock to make the pictured boxes. I had hoped for some 6" by 6" pads of paper but did not find any. I did find a 12" by 12" pad at Michael's in Mays Landing, New Jersey and grabbed it fast (since my math skills allow me to turn one 12 by 12 sheet into four 6 by 6 sheets...)!
 |
| Cute Boxes/Totes--two ways |
These are the boxes I have made so far. For the first video I watched on how to make this box/tiny tote, click here. (I received an email from Split Coast Stampers which had the tutorial. I love those people. They have so many great tutorials on paper crafting topics. ) For another of the videos I saw, click here.
What you need to make these cute boxes are an envelope punch board, (I have a "We R Memory Keepers" envelope punch board--find them at Michaels, A.C. Moore, Hobby Lobby and use a coupon. By the way, WeRMemoryKeepers have many different punch boards. I am tempted....) double-sided card stock cut 6 by 6, a small circle (or other shape) punch, embellishments if you want them, ribbon or twine for a closure, and glue.
You can fit three Lindt Chocolate truffles inside! Just in case you were wondering what you could put in these little guys....
Monday, October 24, 2016
Munchie Monday: Popcorn Treats!
Is there anyone who does not enjoy a rice krispie treat every once in a while? I think not. Especially when there are so many variations on the basic Rice Krispie Treat. Well, I wanted to make some for our early morning crew but I did not have any Rice Krispies so I thought I would try them with popped corn.
This is what I did:
Popped corn to make 8 cups of fluffy popcorn.
Melted 4 Tablespoons of butter (Not margarine. Go for the real thing.) in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-low heat.
Added 10 ounces marshmallows and stirred CONSTANTLY with a long-handled wooden spoon until the marshmallows were completely melted and smoothly incorporated into the melted butter.
Poured the hot syrup over the popped corn and stirred until all the kernels were covered in the sweet syrup.
Previously I had lined a 9 by 13 pan with parchment paper which I sprayed with a little non-stick spray. When the popcorn was well mixed I pressed it into the pan and let it cool.
When completely cooled, I cut it into rectangles and put them on a plate for the early morning crowd, and went to bed.
It turns out either 1. there was no early morning crowd today, or 2. they did not think they would be any good. The plate appeared untouched. So....since I did not dare have them in the house as I liked them just fine, I put them all in a package and delivered them to the grandchildren who, I feel certain, will like them very much.
This is what I did:
Popped corn to make 8 cups of fluffy popcorn.
Melted 4 Tablespoons of butter (Not margarine. Go for the real thing.) in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-low heat.
Added 10 ounces marshmallows and stirred CONSTANTLY with a long-handled wooden spoon until the marshmallows were completely melted and smoothly incorporated into the melted butter.
Poured the hot syrup over the popped corn and stirred until all the kernels were covered in the sweet syrup.
Previously I had lined a 9 by 13 pan with parchment paper which I sprayed with a little non-stick spray. When the popcorn was well mixed I pressed it into the pan and let it cool.
When completely cooled, I cut it into rectangles and put them on a plate for the early morning crowd, and went to bed.
 |
| Popcorn Treats ready to serve. |
It turns out either 1. there was no early morning crowd today, or 2. they did not think they would be any good. The plate appeared untouched. So....since I did not dare have them in the house as I liked them just fine, I put them all in a package and delivered them to the grandchildren who, I feel certain, will like them very much.
Friday, October 21, 2016
Vacation Applesauce
Another thing you can make on vacation in a well-appointed kitchen: applesauce.
This is what I did:
Washed and cored the apples we had brought from Vermont to Virginia to eat up before they softened. Well, some of them HAD softened so to save their lives I made them into applesauce.
Put the cored and quartered apples into a saucepan with a little water...maybe a cup of water, just enough to cover the bottom and get steam going. Put the cover on and started heating the pan. In about 10 minutes I looked at the apples and stirred them around. They had started cooking. After another 5-6 minutes I checked again, and stirred them thoroughly again. They were mostly cooked, so I put the cover back on and turned off the heat. Since this was an electric cook top they could continue to enjoy heat for a little longer.
We left the hot applesauce to cool. When we returned the apples were cool enough to blend up in the blender. (Always check to see if you have a blender before starting a project like this...) All the cooked apples in their skins fit into the blender. I added one-quarter cup sugar and blended these guys to pieces. This turned out to be baby food applesauce, but it did taste good. And the apples did not rot. Well, one got away from us in the car and turned out to be what we were smelling when we got into the car the next day...
Side story:
We went out for a couple of hours to look for a flash drive that the family history conference director told us we needed to have to download our presentations to so we could use them with the projectors. We found a thumb drive at Best Buy in Mays Landing, New Jersey. They did not have lanyards but said Staples did so we walked over to Staples. They DID have lanyards but they were 1. not attractive, and 2. the same cost as the thumb drive! Did not want to do that. I had already gotten the more expensive thumb drive: $11.99.
There was a Michael's store in the same plaza so we went over there (driving this time since my legs had had it with the cement underfoot...) There we found a whole raft of lanyards for $3.99. Most of them were gaudy horrible things that I would not wear. There was one with fat fake pearls which was barely acceptable but the price was right and I needed something to keep the tiny electronic device from getting lost.
In the end it turned out to be unnecessary to have a flash drive, but now I have a nice thumb drive. And on a lanyard!
This is what I did:
Washed and cored the apples we had brought from Vermont to Virginia to eat up before they softened. Well, some of them HAD softened so to save their lives I made them into applesauce.
Put the cored and quartered apples into a saucepan with a little water...maybe a cup of water, just enough to cover the bottom and get steam going. Put the cover on and started heating the pan. In about 10 minutes I looked at the apples and stirred them around. They had started cooking. After another 5-6 minutes I checked again, and stirred them thoroughly again. They were mostly cooked, so I put the cover back on and turned off the heat. Since this was an electric cook top they could continue to enjoy heat for a little longer.
We left the hot applesauce to cool. When we returned the apples were cool enough to blend up in the blender. (Always check to see if you have a blender before starting a project like this...) All the cooked apples in their skins fit into the blender. I added one-quarter cup sugar and blended these guys to pieces. This turned out to be baby food applesauce, but it did taste good. And the apples did not rot. Well, one got away from us in the car and turned out to be what we were smelling when we got into the car the next day...
 |
| Applesauce made while on vacation away from home |
Side story:
We went out for a couple of hours to look for a flash drive that the family history conference director told us we needed to have to download our presentations to so we could use them with the projectors. We found a thumb drive at Best Buy in Mays Landing, New Jersey. They did not have lanyards but said Staples did so we walked over to Staples. They DID have lanyards but they were 1. not attractive, and 2. the same cost as the thumb drive! Did not want to do that. I had already gotten the more expensive thumb drive: $11.99.
There was a Michael's store in the same plaza so we went over there (driving this time since my legs had had it with the cement underfoot...) There we found a whole raft of lanyards for $3.99. Most of them were gaudy horrible things that I would not wear. There was one with fat fake pearls which was barely acceptable but the price was right and I needed something to keep the tiny electronic device from getting lost.
In the end it turned out to be unnecessary to have a flash drive, but now I have a nice thumb drive. And on a lanyard!
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