Simple Supper :: Split Pea Soup

One of my favorite soups when I was a little girl (and also when I was pregnant with my little girls!) was split pea soup. We'll find out tonight if it is also Gracie's favorite. It is such a simple slow cooker recipe.

Split Pea Soup


2 Tsp olive oil
8 small carrots - diced
1 onion - diced
8-12 oz cured ham - chopped - I found Niman Ranch Smoked Ham at TJ's!!!
4 cups split peas
12 cups water

cook on high until peas are soft
cook on low until dinner time

Baked French Toast

I found whole wheat cinnamon raisin rolls at TJ's but they were on the dry side so I turned them into this delicious breakfast. It would be great for entertaining guests or for a brunch with friends. The praline topping is a little sweet for me so I could do without it but everyone else thought it was great.

butter a large casserole dish
Break cinnamon rolls into one inch pieces
Combine:
8 eggs
2 cups milk
1 cup half and half
1 tsp cinnamon
dash of salt
1 tsp vanilla
pour over bread

Praline Topping:
One stick butter cut into pieces
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup pecans
raisins
pour over toast to bake for the last 20 minutes

**This makes an excellent dessert. Better the next day. Tastes like bread pudding**

Simple Supper :: Chile Relleno Casserole

My dad made this casselrole for me when I was a little girl. The original recipe used low fat versions and egg beaters but I like to make it full fat, especially these days when I am burning an extra 600+ calories.

I timed myself the other day to see how fast and how easy this meal can be. Nine minutes! All was prepped before naps so that at night when both girls need me, I can just turn on the oven and stove and have things ready with very little hands-on time. The girls both had a cold so they needed my hands more than dinner :-(

Preheat oven to 350
oil baking dish
Mix together
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1/3 cup flour
4 cans green chiles
4 cups (12 oz bag mexican blend) cheese
pour into dish and top with salsa or 8 oz tomato sauce and more cheese
bake 45 minutes

Simple Supper :: Chana Masala, Biryani Rice, Simple Salad and Whole Wheat Naan

We're trying to think of very simple suppers for the baby days to come. We are going to try to stock our freezer with homemade lasagna, casseroles, soups, etc but I also want to have some easy grocery store dinners that are as healthy and tasty as homemade as well.

Tonight we are having a 15 minute prep dinner with limited cooking/heating time.

TJ's shopping list:

for the salad:
bag of organic mixed greens
tomato
feta cheese (store broken in freezer)
balsamic
olive oil

for the chana masala:
canned garbanzos
masala simmer sauce

for the biryani rice:
frozen grilled chicken (optional)
bag of biryani rice

whole wheat tandoori naan
butter

17 Bean and Barley Soup

Thank goodness for Trader Joe's. We love that place. I picked up a bag of their 17 Bean and Barley Mix and we are making the soup recipe on the back. We soaked the beans overnight and all day but this would make a great slow cooker recipe, soaking them overnight and then adding the other ingredients in the morning to cook all day while you play.

17 Bean and Barley Soup:

One bag bean and barley mix or 2 cups mixed beans
Soak overnight or quick soak (boil and rest for one hour)

saute:
2 tsps olive oil
1 cup onion chopped
1 cup carrot chopped
1 cup celery chopped
**TJ's also sells the above Mirepoix chopped and ready to go in the produce section**
1 red bell pepper chopped
1 tsp basil
1 clove garlic chopped
add to drained beans along with one 32 oz vegetable broth, you may need to add more broth or water to keep beans covered as they cook
simmer for one hour+
add chopped tomatoes
s+p
**tomatoes and salt keep beans from cooking so only add when beans are tender**
serve with crusty bread and a fresh salad

Our lettuce is growing faster than we can eat it. I severely cut back the outer leaves the other day, enough lettuce for five big salads, and they had already grown back yesterday. We will prune again tomorrow!!

Tomato update for those keeping track: the Texas Cages arrived today! We did a happy dance when UPS pulled up.

15 Minute Tuscan Bean Soup

We are spending more and more time at the garden now that it is planting season. That means I have less and less time to cook wholesome, healthy meals for the family. I am also trying to plan for the days to come when I will have even less time to spend on food. Inspired by Simple Lovely's posts about her family's favorite meal of white navy beans (but without a recipe to work with)  and my favorite cookbook (thanks mom!) Moosewood's Daily Specials...here is how today panned out for us.

In the morning:

I threw 3 cups of navy beans and 6 cups of water into the slow cooker on low.

We spent the morning planting in the garden. Heaven.

We came  home to cooked beans and to take a nap.

As Gracie napped I sauteed:

1 onion
4 cloves garlic
half a bag of carrots (1 1/2 cups+/-)
s+p

I added that to the slow cooker with:

1 capful (2 tsps?) sage

Now it is cooking (warm setting) until Ryan gets home and we are ready to eat. Maybe with sliced tomatoes, crusty bread and TJ's new batch of California Estate Olive Oil. Buon appetito!

UPDATE:

An EMPTY plate! Amazing.