Cheese and Rice Soup

Cheesy Rice Soup! It’s still soup season and this one is sure to warm you. Not only that, but you already have the ingredients … well most! It’s an easy recipe with few ingredients. The secret is in the caramelizing of the onion. This will involve most of your prep time. The rest comes together quickly. Yep, I can’t deny this is a very rich soup but Oh So Good. A cup will do!

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Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie

Vegetarian take on a Classic! After I tasted this wonderful Cook’s Country Shepherd’s Pie (more correctly a Cottage Pie, ground beef replaced the lamb) my son Will put together I mused, a vegetarian version might be a good alternative. I’ve previously prepared a chicken version, here, and a ground beef version here. All these are great recipes! Give one or all a try!

First, a word about plant based meat. I’ve tried both of these with great success and recommend either for this recipe.

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re still not convinced and wish to use a meat but something other than lamb & leaner than beef, try lean ground turkey.

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Cornbread Salad

Just a great change-up salad! Goes great with jambalaya, gumbo, chili beans, pot roast and all by itself!

First, make your favorite cornbread. I prefer from scratch with a less sweet version. Mixes tend to be sweeter and more cake like. Cornbread is an easy quick bread. Try this recipe, here. For a fewer ingredient recipe try this.

 

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Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole

Little different from our cheese enchiladas and a quicker prep. Worth a try for those who find enchiladas irresistible. We do! Happy 50th Birthday Stephen!

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Pumpkin Chipotle Corn Chowder

Another great Dave Lieberman soup! In case you missed it, it’s Fall. Time to bring out all those soup recipes. Pumpkins are fresh and plentiful … Inspiring the cook to put together this great chowder. My oldest is a Dave Lieberman fan (me too). This is his take on the recipe. Enjoy!

Check out this easy way to prepare the pumpkin needed for the recipe, here.

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Spicy Chickpea Soup

How can this be a Portuguese soup when it’s really a take on Dave Lieberman’s Moroccan recipe? Simple! Many spices and food influences came to Portugal from Northern Africa. To give this recipe more of a Portuguese flare use chicken broth, add an uncooked cubed potato (large) along with other ingredients, and cut back on the chickpeas by 15 ounces. Either way this is an amazingly hearty meatless main dish soup.

Thank you to Will, my oldest, for introducing me to great Dave Lieberman recipes.

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Sunday Dinners are Back

… And this is one of our favorite dishes. Be sure everyone likes cheese … This is not a dish where you can get around it. It’s a favorite of my oldest who put this together. I believe it was requested as a main dish for one of his milestone birthdays. Yes, one of the guests was not a cheese lover but the wine helped save the evening & the apple pie (for her). Crunchy bread, salad and this five cheese mac and cheese is all you need for a delicious dinner.

This recipe is one of Ina Garten’s Family Style, sorta. She gives credit to George Germon & Johanne Killeen, a recipe from their cookbook Cucina Simpatico. We often find we need to do substituting with different comparable cheeses that can be found more easily at our grocer’s. Be sure and take your phone with you when shopping in case you need a quick look up for cheese substitutes.

Enjoy! For my perfect apple pie, here!

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Italian Vegetable Chowder

Rich creamy vegetarian soup for the cold winter meal. Spice it up with red pepper flakes for more warmth. Tame it down with broth instead of cream. Make the recipe your own or enjoy just this way. And for those that can’t go meatless add crumbled cooked Italian sausage.

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One Pan Egg Burrito

Loving this vegetarian (or meaty if you like) burrito. Just happened upon this technique and find it so easy and fast. Perfect for a crowd. Nadiya, winner of a BBC Bake off, calls her recipe an egg role. Adding the tortilla as the eggs are cooking is a perfectly great way to put this together in minutes. Personalize it as you’re cooking. Spicy is my thing. So, green chilies or jalapeños go right into the eggs along with cheeses. If you’re into meaty burritos add crumbled cooked chorizo or linguica. These can be served cold, and preparing a day ahead works. Just tightly wrap individually after cooling and refrigerate

Try this excellent Salsa to go with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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