Etsy

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

OH MY Gosh!!!!! Creamy Sweet Onion Soup


Ok folks this is a soup to die for- I came up with this recipe so it is a Pauletta original!!!

1 8 oz package of cream cheese
1 can of cream of celery soup
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 can of chicken broth
1 cup of half and half
1 loaf of french bread sliced and toasted
2 large sweet onions
1 stick of real butter
1 cup of shreadded mozzarella cheese
1 cup of shreadded swiss cheese

melt butter in pot, slice onions into slices and cook in butter until done- if the butter starts to burn add 1/2 cup of water at a time until onions are done and then let onions brown - the water will evaporate and the butter will still brown onions.

remove cooked onions from pot and combine cream cheese, soups, broth and half and half. Stir until cream cheese is melted. Stir in onions and heat through. Place soup into oven proof bowls and top with bread that is then topped with cheeses. Put under broiler unitl cheese is melted.

It is so good - please try it :)

Monday, April 19, 2010

Tortilla Soup- so good

No deep words of wisdom tonight folks just some good soup. I am collecting soup recipes because it is one of my crew’s favorite things especially in the Fall/ Winter months. Tonight was no exception. If you like soup this is a good one that is easy to make and is economical. I served homemade bean burritos with it.

Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. veg oil
1 onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic
1 ½ tsp chili powder ( I used Mexican chili powder)
¼ tsp crushed red pepper
32 oz chicken broth
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
2 cups of shredded chicken
Cilantro (use fresh if you can)

Cook onion in oil for about 5 min and then add garlic. Cook on low until soft add chili powder and red pepper – cook for another 2 minutes- add chicken broth and bring to boil- add in tomatoes and simmer for 15 minutes then add chicken and heat through – add cilantro – very very good

Bean burritos Рsaut̩ onion until soft and brown and layer on top of beans then add cheese and taco sauce Рbake in oven until cheese is melted

Tortilla Soup- si good

No deep words of wisdom tonight folks just some good soup. I am collecting soup recipes because it is one of my crew’s favorite things especially in the Fall/ Winter months. Tonight was no exception. If you like soup this is a good one that is easy to make and is economical. I served homemade bean burritos with it.

Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. veg oil
1 onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic
1 ½ tsp chili powder ( I used Mexican chili powder)
¼ tsp crushed red pepper
32 oz chicken broth
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
2 cups of shredded chicken
Cilantro (use fresh if you can)

Cook onion in oil for about 5 min and then add garlic. Cook on low until soft add chili powder and red pepper – cook for another 2 minutes- add chicken broth and bring to boil- add in tomatoes and simmer for 15 minutes then add chicken and heat through – add cilantro – very very good

Bean burritos Рsaut̩ onion until soft and brown and layer on top of beans then add cheese and taco sauce Рbake in oven until cheese is melted

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Sunday Dinner in the South


Sunday Dinner in the South

We all know the famous Norman Rockwell painting shown here- the whole family gathered around the table to eat together. Where have those days gone? I remember very well as a child going to my Granny and Grandpa Mills house for Sunday dinner. It was the best food I have still ever put into my mouth. Granny cooked everything on a wood cookstove and I truly believe that added a seasoning that cannot be found in any spice rack today. The house they lived in was over 100 years old and it was make from hand hewn logs. Each room was separate and were all connected by a porch. Each room also had a fireplace to heat with. I can still pull the smell of the house from my memory. Those rooms were even chilly on the hottest July days, except for the kitchen – and it was hot from the wood stove but you did not mind the heat when you had the food going into your belly.

The ladies would cook all morning long preparing for the spread in the early afternoon. The table was long and made from boards that had been smoothed by time. On one side of the table was a long bench that us kids would all gather upon, the adults would get the chairs on the other three sides. Grandpa would sit at the head. The food was plentiful, tenderloin, fried chicken, beef, pinto beans or green beans fresh from the garden, corn, tater salad, fried potatoes with ramps, fried okra, sliced tomatoes (real tomatoes – not those that we have today) onions, chow chow, hot pepper, cornbread with a golden crust, butter, and biscuits. There was fresh cow milk (which I did not care for), tea, or spring water. Pound cakes were always present with a thick homemade chocolate frosting-the kind that was so sweet it would make your teeth hurt or a cobbler of some sort. Oh and there was always a coffee pot on the stove. Those were the days.

I try to keep that tradition alive by having a big meal prepared for my family after church and anyone else that wants to come by. Today was no exception, we had soup beans, ham, pineapple casserole, cornbread and cabbage and of course sweet tea. All that was missing was the wood cookstove and my Granny.

This cabbage was really good- try it sometime

1 head of cabbage cut into bite sized pieces
1 small bottle of Italian dressing

I have a bean pot so this is what I cooked mine in but if you don’t you can put it in a oven proof baking dish with the oven proof lid and cook until done- really delish and easy.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Fried Green Tomatoes




Do you remember the movie Fried Green Tomatoes? In my opinion, one of the best flicks ever! I love the setting and the whole switching back and forth in time! Great from beginning to end. As a child, my mom always made fried green tomatoes but she sliced them thin and tossed them in some flour and fried them all together-no single layers (kinda like you fry squash). I never knew there was any other way to make them but that. They were good don’t get me wrong!!! I just never knew any other way of having them until….. The movie. Most folks around me were caught up in the movie story line but when I saw Idgie frying up an iron skillet of single layer, circular delights, I made a plan. I was going to try to make them just like she did. I must say I succeeded. They are delicious. They have also become a family favorite that my whole family loves. When they see those green beauties on the counter waiting….I hear a collective FRIED GREEN TOMATOES….OH BOY! When? They are easy to make so I hope you will try and hear Ninny Threadgoode say “Oh, what I wouldn't give for a plate of fried green tomatoes like we used to have at the cafe. Ooh!

Fried Green Tomatoes

4-5 large green tomatoes
1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
½ c cornmeal
3 tablespoons of sugar
2 eggs beaten with 2 tablespoons of water
Salt and pepper
Oil (I use a combination of olive and canola)

Mix flour, cornmeal, and sugar together in a bowl. Slice tomatoes into ½ inch slices, sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Dip in egg and then in flour/cornmeal mixture. Place into skillet on med. heat that has been pre-heated. Brown on one side then turn. Continue to turn until tomatoes are cooked – reduce heat if necessary to keep from burning.

Serve hot- really great with a spicy ranch sauce drizzled over them.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Reflections and Poses



Time goes by …Places can change and often do …people change...
We took the kids to Pigeon Forge on Good Friday to spend the day. We decided to watch a magic show and it was wonderful. We ate at the Golden Corral with the buffet. It was really good and filled with lots of choices. We went shopping and just had a great time being together.

If you read my post you know I am a reflective person and as each year passes I become more and more reflective.

I was struck by things that do not change. As we were driving across the Smokies I saw a large family gathered in front of the Great Smoky Mountain Parkway sign having a photograph taken. How many of us have done that same kind of photo? It may not have been the Parkway sign but some other marker to still our place in time, a memento all in it’s own. I smiled and thought that the faces have changed but the scene is the same.

When we were young, my mom and dad loved to go on drives to little towns in Tennessee or Georgia-these would be places my dad would have been in his 18 wheeler that he wanted us to see. We would pack a cooler with bologna sandwiches and cokes and take along chips. There would also be a hot thermos of coffee. We would stop at those signs along the way to take those timeless photos that are still in photo albums today. Sometimes we would find a waterfall or some other beauty in nature to use as a back drop. If we were lucky we would find a flea market and be treated with some novel treasure.

I remember those trips and special times with my family-can’t tell you what toys I got or how much money I had but I do remember those poses beside a sign that said Welcome to Copper Hill Tennessee.