(Condensed) Homemade cream of Mushroom

Start off with Fresh white mushrooms

This recipe takes about 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cup vegetable stock
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup finely-chopped fresh mushrooms
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp. freshly-ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. onion powder
• 1/8 tsp. celery seed (optional)
• 1/8 tsp. dried thyme

Directions:
 
Add vegetable stock to a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium high heat.
In a separate bowl, whisk together milk and flour until the flour is dissolved.
Slowly pour the milk mixture into the boiling vegetable stock, whisking to combine. Whisk in the mushrooms and remaining ingredients. Reduce heat to medium, and bring the mixture back to a very low boil, stirring constantly so that the bottom of the pan does not burn. Let the mixture boil for about 3 minutes or until thickened. Remove pan from heat.
Either use the condensed soup in a recipe immediately, or transfer it to airtight containers and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
*This recipe is NOT meant to be consumed as-is. It is a concentrated soup, which means that it either needs to be diluted to be eaten as a soup, or mixed into a recipe that calls for condensed soup. :)

This is the recipe I will use to make Thanksgiving Greenbean Casserole.. but this year I am switching it up and making Brussel Sprout Casserole with buttermilk onion rings. (I cant eat greenbeans so lets see how this goes :)

Shirmp Tacos

I made this meal tonight for dinner and I actually surprised myself with how tasty it was!
I got ideas from The Pioneer Woman and then put together my own little mix.

Slaw:
1/2 Head of Cabbage
1/2 Head of Purple Cabbage
Cilantro
Jalepeno

Dressing:
1/2 C milk
1/2 C Mayo -more if you like it thicker
salt
2 T sugar
2 T white vinegar
couple of shakes of Cayenne -more if you want a stronger kick
1 squeezed lime

Cut and combined all ingredients for Slaw and set aside. Combined ingredients for Dressing taste for seasoning and then mix into dry Slaw. 

Shrimp:
Skillet your shrimp with a little butter until pink or if it is already cooked just saute until warmed
1- 8oz can Tomato Sauce
few shakes of Franks Red Hot sauce
Tablespoon cumin
1 T Butter
1 squeezed lime

After shrimp is done add tomato sauce, hot sauce, cumin, butter and lime. Mix and let simmer for a few minutes.
Warm tortillas.

Make your taco. First add saucy shrimp, top with Slaw and then add Pico De Gallo. Optional add sliced Avocado.

Enjoy! Serve with rice.

Taco Casserole

This is a super easy and quick way to jazz up your hamburger meat :)

Ingredients:
corn tortillas (or if you dont want to make your own homemade chips you can just buy corn chips)
1/2 tsp olive oil
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
1-1 1/2 lbs ground beef (or ground turkey)
can tomato sauce
1 can favorite beans
1 cup salsa
black olives (if you like them... I didnt have any today but they are good in this too)
2 cups shredded cheese (your choice)
optional toppings: tomatoes, cilantro, sour cream, lettus

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees and you'll bake it for about 15-20 minutes

Directions:
In a skillet or sauce pan heat oil and saute finely chopped onions and garlic. They will start to look translucent when they are done
Add ground beef and add salt and pepper for taste... once almost done add half of a 14oz can of tomato sauce, add beans and salsa. Mix well.
In an 8x8 casserole dish line the bottom with a good amount of chips and put meat mixture on top. Spread it out nicely and then top with cheese. (Id put the olives under the cheeses if you want them warm and mixed in)
Then cook for 15-20 minutes when done add choice toppings.

YUM!
see how easy :) 

Chicken Tortilla Soup

 
    Awesome on a nice cold day... with a little spice :)

We are having this for lunch TODAY!!

Ingredient:
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Chicken Breasts, cubes
2 Boxes of Chicken Broth
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup Cooked rice
1 can corn
half red bell pepper, sliced
half green bell pepper, sliced
1 bottle La Victoria Green Taco Sauce- mild
finely shopped cilantro
1 green onion chopped or half a white onion
1 Tbsp lemon or lime juice
1/2 cup cheese (Fiesta or M Jack)
Add tostadas and Avocados on top with maybe a little soup cream :)

Directions:
Cube chicken and brown with oil. I just do it in the pot I will be making the soup in. Once chicken is done add the chicken broth, water, rice, and stir in corn.
Add Taco Sauce, cilantro, lime or lemon juice and cheese.
Once everything is nicely blended add the bell peppers and onions.
I add salt and pepper to the chicken when cooking but if you didnt you can add a little salt and pepper for taste :)
Then let it simmer together for a half hour and top it with avocado, tostada chips and sour cream if you like. Enjoy!!

If it is a little too spicy you can always add a little milk to blend it out :)

Flour

I have three new Gluten Free Flours that I have come to love!

Coconut Flour
Almond Flour
Oat Flour

All taste really good in cookies and crusts.

I made the biscuits and gravy recipe on here last night. The biscuits were made out of the coconut flour and they were really good... only problem they didnt rise like at all. So I made the dough thicker for the next batch :)

I also made an icecream pie and I made the crust out of Oat Flour and Sorghum and it almost tasted like graham crackers... yum!

Just a short note so I dont forget to tell you about these other pre-made options if you dont want to make my first posts recipe for GF flour :) 

Cucumber Cold Salad

Don't knock it til you try it!
I made this for my husband a while back and when he saw it he was hesitant... and now he requests that I make it. It works well as a side dish or as a quick health snack :)

Ingredients (and you can make less with the same amount of sauce extra... just cut less cucumbers)

4 cucumbers, thinly sliced
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon dry dill or if you dont have it you can use sage

Directions

Cut Cucumber and Onion and place in large bowl
Boil liquids together... vinegar, water and sugar. Once boiling pour over cucumber onion mixture. Stir together well making sure everything has been coated. Sprinkle dill or sage on top and then cover with plastic wrap and chill. Best results about an hour. Id stir it one more time before serving :)
Enjoy

I made some last night so I will post a picture ASAP

Beef n' Noodle Casserol

WARNING!! MUST BE A CHEESE LOVER  :)

I got this recipe from sixsistersstuff.com and made it Gluten Free and Soy Free

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef (or more if you like your meat)
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
salt and pepper for taste
15 oz can tomato sauce
8oz package noodles (if you are going gluten free you can find rice or corn noodles... I prefer the rice. You may not have as many options as normal pasta as far as style... I used spirals for this recipe)
3/4 cup sour cream
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup green onion, diced
1 cup cheddar cheese- shredded

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350
Cook noodles as directed on package :) its different for rice vs corn noodles vs normal pasta
Brown the hamburger (using a little butter will add an extra richness to the dish but it is already RICH) add spices and mix together
Drain the noodles
mix in tomato sauce on the cooked meat
In a separate bowl mix together remaining ingredients: sour cream, cottage cheese, and green onion.
In a casserole dish add pasta and cheese mixture and meat. Blend well and then top with cheddar cheese.
Bake 20-25 minutes and enjoy!