One last picture.....

Sour Cream LIME Pie

Prepare yourself for heaven.......

Shall I include a recipe? I found a recipe online six months ago for Sour Cream Lemon Pie, but I used lime instead, just to experiment ;-) It was great! I still prefer lemon though.

Homemade Pizzas

YuMMmmmm! This is a few hours of work, but it's so great to taste everything homemade! The crust/dough recipe is from The New Best Cookbook- basically what I use for a reference for nearly everything! It's an incredible cookbook- everything comes out PERFECT!! Best instructions and illustrations......I highly recommend it.

I bet most doughs are close to the same-
4 c flour
2 t salt
one packet of yeast-in 1/2 cup warm water- let sit for 5 min. Add 1 1/4 cup room temp water and 2 tablespoons olive oil.
I use a KitchenAid standing mixer.....so I had the flour & salt sifted first in the bowl, then added the wet ingredients slowly with the paddle on....then switched to the kneading hook.
Let rise in a well oiled, large bowl for two hours.
Cut into thirds....work with each ball of dough at a time, press and stretch the dough out on a lightly floured surface, until it is to your thickness liking. Brush with the dough with oil....then add sauce and toppings.

Today's sauce is basically the same as the sauce recipe I posted last week sometime- the difference is- no meat, add a teaspoon of cayenne. I LOVED putting a little heat into it. Next time, MORE!

The toppings included:

-Most of one red pepper, chopped
-a little chopped onion
-black olives
-feta cheese
-cheddar cheese
-mozzarella cheese
-sprinkled sweet basil (dried)
Bake at 500 degrees for 8-10 min

Veggie&Tofu Stir fry

Once again, I didn't use a recipe.... but here's how I made it.

I glanced at what vegetables and things I had available for a stir fry, was quite satisfied at the quantities...so I washed everything up, and chopped what I thought would feed about 4 people.

1 med. onion
2 peppers (orange and yellow)
2 large carrots
1 good sized broccoli floret
2 cloves garlic

about 1 T grated ginger

I also cut up a block of tofu and (in a wok) sauteed it in ginger, garlic, oil, soy sauce and hot chili sesame oil.... but I'm not sure I'd do it quite like that again. I'm still very much learning how to make tofu to my liking!! It was good, but I like it more stiff....it was too soft for my liking. I set aside the tofu in a bowl until the veggies were finished.

I cleaned the wok then heated a tablespoon of oil on med-high heat, then sauteed the garlic and ginger for about 45 sec before dumping all of the veggies in. I cooked them for about 8-10 min on medium heat (or until they were slightly soft-but still a bit of a crunch left) I don't like soggy vegetables!

Next I added two packages of yakisoba noodles with a saute sauce......I'm sure you can use however or whichever kind you want! I don't recall the brand, but they are in the refrigerated section close to the vegetables (if that helps!!!)

I combined everything and let it soak up some flavor. It was quite good, practice makes......better! ;-)

Homemade Pasta Sauce

In a pinch, I love to just cook up a delicious homemade tomato sauce- for pasta or pizza. Doesn't take long, either! And I love having leftovers.....

My recipe for tomato sauce (this ALWAYS varies...I doubt it's ever the same, but here's the one from tonight. ;-)

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 large onion, chopped

1 yellow pepper (use any kind)

1/2 package of ground beef, organic of course! ( PS-NOT USUAL that I EVER use meat, but it did taste excellent)

5 fresh basil leaves, chopped

about 1 T Italian seasonings

about 1 t dried sweet basil

salt to taste

Saute until meat has browned well enough.

Add 2 small cans of tomato sauce or one can of sauce and 1 can of crushed tomatoes....I always switch them around, and add fresh tomatoes when I have them.

Add most of a tiny can (don't remember ounces, sorry!!!) of tomato paste

I just add, mix and taste......that's the way I roll.

Cook on low until seasoning set well. Bon Appetit!

Indonesian Sweet Potato and Cabbage Soup

Made one of my most favorite soups for a special guest on Monday. One of my brothers thought it smelled like Pad Thai ;-) It's a superb combination of spicy garlic, ginger and cayenne- rich with sweet potato and peanut butter- with cilantro to top (a must!)

Here is the recipe from Simple Suppers.

1 T grated peeled ginger root

2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed

1/4 to 1/2 t cayenne (more, I say!)

1 T veg oil

1 1/2 c chopped onions

1/2 t salt

2 1/2 c chopped cabbage (1/2- inch pieces)

2 1/2 c diced sweet potatoes (about 1 lb.)

1 quart vegetable broth ( I make my own or just use water)

1/2 c peanut butter

1 cup chopped tomatoes (I use canned or crushed)

1 T soy sauce

mung bean sprouts (optional)

chopped cilantro, scallion, mint, and/or Thai basil

In a pot on medium heat, cook the ginger, garlic, and cayenne in the oil for a minute before adding the onions and salt. Cover and cook, stirring often, until the onions soften, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the cabbage and sweet potatoes. Add about 3 1/2 cups of the broth. Cover and increase the heat to bring to boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

In a bowl, whisk together the peanut butter and the remaining 1/2 cup of broth until smooth. Add the peanut butter mix to the soup with the tomatoes and soy sauce. Simmer covered until all the vegetables are tender, about five minutes.

Serve each bowl topped with bean sprouts and cilantro, scallions, mint, and/or basil.

Tuna Noodle Pasta

This is a childhood favorite :-) I remember my mother making this all the time when I was a wee lassie. A homey sort of soul food.....a good meal for a rainy day. Benny nearly licked his bowl clean!!

Two Potato Gratin

Tonight I thought of what I had left in the kitchen for vegetables.....I scoured the refrig and ended up in the pantry.....looking down at a bin of potatoes. Thought of a potato curry, checked Moosewoods Simple Suppers for a recipe, and discovered Two Potato Gratin before I turned to the curry! So easy, so fragrant, so deliciously satisfying......