Archive for the ‘cook it’ Category

I’m so happy to be able to share this recipe.

Yes.  It is an absolutely delicious soup.

But this soup has a little story…

If you are a quilter from Utah, I’m sure many of you remember and miss Gentler Times.

It was one of the most wonderful quilt shops you could imagine- nestled away in a lovely old house, it was a favorite place to take quilt classes, find wonderful fabric, and small treasures.

My mom, Leslie Ison, worked and taught quilt classes there for many years.  As kids, it felt like we were always popping in and out of Gentler Times.  I know my love of fabrics took seed there.

One of the owners of Gentler Times was named Patty.

Patty is one of a kind.  In a good way.

She has an abundance of talent, style, flair, energy, and heart.

This soup is her recipe.  She would make it and bring a big pot into Gentler Times to be served at a class or event.  Just like Patty, there is nothing boring about this soup.  It is full of flavor and flair.

True to form, the written recipe I received from Patty was a VERY creative… a pinch of this and a bit of that.  So I’ve done my best recreating the recipe with measurements… for those of you who have had Patty’s soup, let me know if I’ve got it right.

This recipe makes a BIG pot folks, so make it and share some with friends… or freeze half for later.

A lot a yummy ingredients go into this soup… but like all good soup recipes, it a guideline, not a rule.  You can easily make it vegetarian by leaving out the hamburger and using vegetable broth.  Or switch up the beans…

The vegetables are also flexible- add or leave out veggies as you please.  But do yourself a favor and make it Patty’s way the first time around.  She’s got lots of wonderful greens in the soup. I especially love the addition of cabbage and spinach, which I don’t usually see in a Minestrone recipes.

Patty’s Minestrone Soup

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 rib of celery, chopped
• 2 large carrots, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lb. hamburger
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 –  64 oz. can V-8 Juice
• 2 – 15 oz. cans stewed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup catsup (optional)
• 3/4 cup pasta of choice (small is best)
• 1-1/2 cups green beans, chopped into bite-size pieces
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 cup chopped cabbage
• 1 small zucchini, quartered and sliced
• 1 cup chopped spinach
• 1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil

In a large sauce pan or dutch oven heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add onion, celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Stirring often, cook until vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes.  Increase temperature to medium high and add hamburger and garlic and cook until meat is browned, about 7 minutes.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Pour in wine, and be sure to scrape up the brown bits from the pan.  Add chicken broth, stewed tomatoes (I like to make sure the tomatoes are chopped somewhat small for my kids), catsup, and V-8 Juice.  Bring to a boil and add green beans, cabbage, bay leaf and Italian seasoning.  Cook at a low boil stirring occasionally about 15 minutes until green beans and cabbage are softened.  Add pasta, zucchini, spinach and beans and cook until softened about 12 more minutes, until pasta is cooked.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Remove bay leaf and add fresh basil just before serving.

Garnish with grated parmesan cheese if desired.

Thanks Patty for sharing this wonderful recipe!

I am SO excited about this awesome giveaway sponsored by Hungry Jack™ and I think you’ll be excited too!  It’s a Breakfast Celebration Kit that includes yummy Hungry Jack products and $175 Visa gift card!

But first I want to talk a little about family traditions.  I’m a believer that having traditions is an important part of a strong family.

Traditions bring a rhythm to life.  Traditions make it easier to spend time together and are a powerful tie that holds a family together.

On most weekends my family takes the time to make and enjoy a really good breakfast together.  Around holidays, it’s fun to give breakfast a holiday flair.

We’ve been so impressed with the flavors of the Hungry Jack seasonal mixes.  The Pumpkin Spice Mix was no exception.  You can just add water for pancakes, and with a few more ingredients you can make a yummy waffle recipe too.

With Halloween coming up, Pumpkin waffles were the perfect way to celebrate.

Because I’m a good mom, and it was the weekend, I let the kids put a few chocolate chips on their waffles.  Before long they were making the chocolate chips into a jack-o-lantern face…. Can you see it?

We even made ghost milk… just a sharpie on a plastic cup.

Here are a few tips for making and celebrating weekend breakfast traditions:

• Develop traditions that are fun, but don’t overdo.  The best traditions feel natural… and are not a burden.  You don’t need to be cooking for hours in the kitchen or going overboard decorating the table… keep it more about the time you spend together.
• This may seem obvious, but create traditions that you want your children to remember.  As I think back on my own childhood, the traditions I remember most have a warmth to them.  They are of times together that were uncomplicated and happy.  I want to create the same spirit with our family traditions.  A long, relaxed breakfast together is the perfect way to create those kinds of memories.
• Involve your family.  Take turns choosing your favorite meal… and have your kids help cook.  The actual meal might be forgotten, but I cherish my memories of cooking with my kids when they were little.

Today’s totally awesome giveaway is a “Weekend Breakfast Celebration” kit complete with new Hungry Jack products and a $175 Visa Gift Card!!!

To enter, simply leave a comment answering this question:

What is your favorite breakfast celebration?

The Rules:

• Contest closes on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at 10:00 pm MDT

• Only one comment per person please.

• Random winner will be announced on Monday, November 4

Thank you to Hungry Jack for sponsoring this awesome giveaway!   Be sure like Hungry Jack on Facebook where you can find recipes, promotions, and more.  You can find more recipes and promotions on the Hungry Jack website.

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hungry Jack.  All opinions and ideas are my own.