Leftovers are for lunches

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Soup, like a Hat Trick

It's Fall, the weather has turned, and you can only eat so many Busch Stadium hot dogs in October. So it's time to break out the Triple Threat...

...Crockpot. 3 1.5quart crocks with high low, and warm settings. Good for meatballs and little smokies, but awesome for making soups in reasonable quantities... and flavors for everyone. Set crocks on high to start.

So as the Blues take the ice... we can throw together 3 easy types of soup.

Soup #1: Potato leek

Chop 2 leeks, peel and dice 3 small potatoes,

Dump in crock with 2 cups of chicken broth and TBSP of Bouquet Garni... or atleast a couple of bay leaves and poultry seasoning.

Soup #2: Chicken Noodle:

Dice 2 stalks of celery and 1 large carrot.

Dump in crock with 2 cups chicken broth, 2 chicken thighs, 1 tsp poultry seasoning. If rice preferred to noodles, add 1/4 of white or brown rice. Noodles need to wait until later or they'll just be mush.

Soup #3: Southwest Chicken

SOUPER EASY, like a Home Run- dump 1 can drained diced tomatoes (or 2 fresh chopped), half a can of rinsed black beans, 1 chicken thigh, 3 cups chicken broth, 1tsp cumin, 1 cup corn (frozen, canned); 1/4c rice optional. I did not add in this batch.

Cook on high for 5-6 hours. To finish up soups:

Soup #1: Use immersion blender to lightly blend leeks and potatoes. Leave somewhat chunky. Add 1/2 cup half and half, stir in. Add 1cup+/- 2% milk until soup reaches desired thickness. Reduce to warm setting.

Soup #2: Fork shred chicken and add 1 cup egg noodles; leave on high

Soup #3: Fork shred chicken and add chopped cilantro and juice of half a lime.

3 Soups, Super Bowl Easy.
Go Rams!

Go Cards!

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Dark Wings, Dark Words, Light Meat

It's Back!! Winter is Coming and it Came... and went... and with it, Spring... and a new season of Game of Thrones.

So after the Red Wedding...

And the Mother of Dragons liberating the slaves of Mereen...

It's time for Mysha and I to feed our children... and prepare for the premiere tonight!

As Mereen seems like a combination of Africa, Morocco, and the Middle East, a little flavor is in order. (We're not into mutton here, so chicken is going to suffice!)

Myhsa's Pyramid Chicken
Set crockpot on high for 30 mins and added:
juice of half lime (other half for slaw dressing)
juice of half an orange
rind from most of orange in large sections
1/2 c wine (yes, WINE... the water of Westeros and Essos across the Narrow Sea.)
1/2 c chicken broth
1/4 c Xylitol... Splenda or sugar if you like
Allow to heat up, stir.

Browned package of bone in chicken thighs, using sesame oil

Turn and brown both sides

Turned and crisped the chicken

Then added to crockpot, setting to low for 6 hours

Dothraki Sea Grass Slaw
Assembled a coarse slaw, using a broccoli slaw mix and red peppers, diced
Dressing:
1/2 c mayo (or other)
1/2 c leftover low carb teriyaki sauce (could use regular bottled)
juice of half a lime
1/4 diced cilantro
2 pkts Splenda

Whisk and then toss with slaw, refrigerate until later.

Now Dessert....Second Son Daario's Gift... also known as these other 2 are, ahem, short lived for the series

This part is fun and easy.... get some pikes...because you gotta have pikes!

Get some strawberries

Spike them. (I used a heavy glass candle holder with a chunk of styrofoam to hold the berries in place.

Melt some chocolate (micro at 50% power in 30 second increments)
Then dip and put in fridge to chill/set.

Once chicken is done cooking/crockpot dings/you just can't take it any longer - remove chicken and peppers to platter.

Turn crockpot up to high and add half a block of cream cheese, cut into chunks. Curse the gods, old and new and even the drowned god, because the picture LOOKS oriented correctly in preview, loads to blogger sideways. Even save anew.