quick and easy food.

Quick, easy, and simple lunch.

Corn tortilla skillet crisped. When one side is heated, flip, then add refried beans, pulled pork, and cheese. Cover skillet with lid until base is firm and cheese is melted. Topped with guacamole. TheMike topped with Guacamole and taco sauce. 

Easy peasy in that the pulled pork was cooked months ago, shredded, and frozen in small packages for quick use. Took out of freezer, added to a skillet with a splash of water, covered, and heated. 

Guacamole made with @simplyorganicfoods liquid

Guacamole mix packet. 

Tostada? Tlayudas? Regardless of name, it is delicious! 

On the plus side, we bought lottery tickets for the $500M jackpot and we matched , so we won $4. Ha! 

broccoli cheese soup

I received this recipe from a friend and mostly followed directions. Here is what I used and/or how I'd tweak it for next time. 

Ingredients:

3T butter

1 medium diced onion 

1tsp minced garlic 

2T gf flour blend 

2C milk (I used whole)

2c veg broth/chicken broth/water* See note 

1.5 pounds broccoli- diced

1C diced carrots (diced/bite size)

1tsp salt/pepper, Hungarian Paprika

1C American cheese block, cubed

1/2c sliced from block cheddar cheese (white cheddar)

*optional cubed ham, cubed chicken, Avocado

*[note] While we thought TheMike was reacting to Annato /orange coloring in cheese, it turned out he is reacting digestively to celery/celery seed/salt/coriander/cilantro/parsley (which are all part of celery family). 

As to this, I had crock pot cooked a chicken earlier this week using some seasonings *not celery*. 

I had leftover gelatin/stock from this and used it in the recipe for flavoring, and then used water.....as the chicken and veg broth I have on hand uses celery (as most will). 

Directions: 

In stock pot melt 3T butter.  

Add onion. Cook until almost translucent. Add garlic. Cook for a minute. 

Add flour and mix, stir, blend, and cook for 2 minutes. 

Add Vegetable/Chicken Broth/ *OR* water, add milk. Stir. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer, and simmer for 15 minutes. 

Add chopped broccoli and carrots. Use larger pieces if you want that. Use diced/bite size pieces if you want that-or don't want to use food processor /hand held blender to blend to a smoother consistency.  

[I had used larger pieces and then removed, let cool a bit, then blended to puree. Next time i will dice broccoli and carrots to small pieces in prep.]

Cook until veggies are tender, about 15 minutes. 

Add salt, pepper, paprika (and whatever seasonings you'd like- Thyme or Marjoram would be good). 

Add cubed  or sliced cheese.  Stir to blend. 

Top with cheese or avocado if desired. 

Would be good with precooked cubed chicken or diced ham after adding broccoli and carrots - or after pureeing the veggies. 

Enjoy!   Perfect for after a snowshoe hike on overcast day! 

*Denby blue bowls are perfect contrast to first eat with the eyes. 😊 

chocolate chip cookies

Guittard chocolate chips made gluten free today. 

I thank them for have cup and gram measurements on the package recipe.  I used the semi sweet chocolate chips, and recipe on said package. 

I used 2.5 cups of my gf flour blend which is just a bit more than 400grams, but that's what I know from baking, and from having started to measure flours in grams a few years ago. 

Guittard uses #sunflower lecithin which works for me!  

#chocolatechipcookies 

#chocolate

#glutenfree 

#glutenfreetastesgreat 

#celiac 

#coeliac 

#soyfree 

#soyoilfree 

#foodallergies 

#foodintolerances

Meatballs

Meatballs of sorts. 

Using recipe I got from an Italian friend years ago. 

In place of the cornflakes, I save up the ends of my bread in freezer, then thaw, pulverize in food processor, and then lightly toast in nonstick skillet. 

As TheMike has been reacting to celery/parsley/cilantro/coriander, I left out the parsley and added in oregano, thyme, basil, and some fine shred carrots. (Hey, carrots are good in meatloaf, maybe they'll be fine in meatballs!)

The new jar of minced garlic didn't POP when I opened it, so I dug out the few small cloves I had on had, peeled and then pulsed/minced in food processor. 

Recipe:

2# ground meat 

2 cups bread crumbs

1 minced medium onion

3 eggs

1 1/3 c parmasean cheese (I did fresh grated from a small block)

1T oregano*

1T garlic powder

1T fresh ground black pepper

2 tsp kosher salt

*note 4T fresh chopped parsley would be traditional instead of oregano. 

Wash hands and forearms well.  Mix all together in large mixing bowl. 

Traditional is cooking in a skillet in some olive oil and finishing in the oven. 

I prefer to bake mine on rimmed pans. 350°F x 30 min for small, 50 min for large. 

I make large meatballs with a one cup scoop which are great for slicing into lasagna.  Then I make small meatballs . I have three scoops of 1T, 2T, 3T size. Today I made the rest as 1T meatballs which will be great for pasta or meatball sandwiches. 

#glutenfree #glutenfreetastesgreat #celiac #coeliac #soyfree #soyoilfree #foodallergies #foodintolerances 

#beelerspurepork ground pork, #HyVee #butcherblockblend ground beef