butter
Homemade Soup from a Can
For many of us, we are navigating our way through uncharted territory; rationing food, getting to the stores at 4:00 am to stand in line for toilet paper and living with the uncertainly of what tomorrow will bring. Growing up in a family where my parents lived through both WW2 and the Great Depression, the conversations around the dinner table growing up often reflected the hardships of those times, the appreciation of what we now had, the importance of not wasting food and learning how to stretch the meal budget. This recipe is inspired by those conversations during these tough times. If your pantry is anything like mine, it’s a hidden treasure of cans! Many of those cans will help turn vegetables into a gourmet soup! The same principals will apply with any can of vegetable that you choose for your soup. You can make it creamy, spicy, and brothy or add any spices that you like. Just open a can of veggies, like peas, and turn it into a hearty meal. The two fresh ingredients that really make the soup gourmet-tasting are garlic and onion. Once you’ve sautéed those up in some butter, you’re good to start adding your favorite flavorings. You’ll have homemade soup from a can of veggies in minutes and you’ll be surprised and pleased at how tasty your meal is!
Watch my how to video here!
Pepperoni Party Bread
Pepperoni Party Bread
What are you hoping the spread will be for Big Game on Sunday? No, I don’t mean the point spread, I mean the snack table spread! Anything and everything deep fried, grilled, buttered, battered and baked, I’m assuming! From chicken wings and crock pot meatballs to deep fried pickles and football shaped brownies, the food at Super bowl parties are as much fun (and sometimes way more fun) than the game itself! While we’re considering the menu of all the things we want to dip and dive into, here’s a very simple Pepperoni Party Bread that is a real “slice ‘n diver!” You slice it up and plunge it right into your favorite red sauce! It all starts with refrigerated bread dough; either Pizza or French bread dough. It’s loaded up with thin slices of pepperoni, some tasty shredded cheese like gruyere, mozzarella or a combination of both. (For this recipe, you want the cheese to pull and stretch when you slice and lift it out, and both gruyere and mozzarella are great “pulling” cheeses! Some sliced peperoncini and some seasonings for added flavor and you’ll have super party bread for a super game day!
Watch my Video for Pepperoni Party Bread here!
Grown Up Smore’s and Graham Cracker Cake Pops
Looking for just one more item for your New Year’s Eve bash? This idea will create a S’more-gasboard of treats! For fun and easy Grown Up S’mores Marshmallow Pops, I had to look no further than the back of a Honey Maid Graham Cracker Box. If you find the old fashioned Smore’s to be a little messy to eat, you’re going to love the modern day “cake pop” version. I found the perfect size (3 inch) pretzels at Cost Plus World Market. (UTZ All-Natural Butter Sticks.) Then, for New Year’s Day, if you have leftover graham crackers, try moist and flavorful Graham Cracker Cake. I found the recipe in the 1931 Searchlight Cookbook. It’s an 82 year old dessert that I’m guessing few people have tried, even though Graham Crackers continue to be one of America’s favorite snacks. For this recipe, the graham cracker crumbs replace the flour, and the folded-in egg whites make this cake light and fluffy. You can serve it with whipped cream, but I’ve also shared my favorite glaze that’s perfect for desserts like the Graham Cracker Cake. I hope you’ll enjoy both treats. May they add Smore to your life this New Year’s Eve and for 2020!
