Creamy Tomato Soup

The kids still love the Campbell's variety, but Brandon and I really enjoyed this soup I made today with our grilled cheese sandwiches. I used yourhomebasedmom.com's version as a starting point and changed it to fit our tastes.

½ cup diced onion

¼ cup butter

2 (15 oz.) cans diced tomatoes

1 tsp. salt

¼-½ tsp. black pepper

¼ tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. prepared pesto

1 cup chicken broth

½ cup cream

In a large pot, saute the onions in butter until tender.

Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, baking soda, chicken broth and pesto.

Simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes.

Use immersion blender to puree, and then add in half-and-half or cream.

Peach Vanilla Syrup

Forgot to add this recipe after I canned this syrup last year. Yummy!

-thesistersdish.com

5 cups peaches (pureed)

2 cups sugar

2 T. lemon juice

2 t. vanilla

Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add vanilla and stir well. Pour into hot, sterile jars and screw the hot lids and rings on tight.

Process the syrup in a boiling hot water bath for 15 minutes, to make sure that any bacteria is killed. Start timing when the water comes to a full boil. Set jars out and listen for the pop to ensure they have sealed.

Raisin/ Gum-Drop Cake

I can't believe I don't have this one on the blog. This is my dad's favorite cake and my Mom makes it every Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

-Grandma Pulsipher

Boil the following ingredients together for 10 minutes:

            2 cups sugar

            1 cup shortening

            2 cups raisins

            2 ½ cups water

            2 tsp. cinnamon

            ½ tsp. allspice

            ½ tsp. cloves

            ½ tsp. salt

Sift together and add to first mixture:

4 cups flour

2 level teaspoons baking soda

Add :

1 ½ c. cut up fruit-flavored gumdrops

1 ½ cup broken walnuts

Bake in greased tube pan at 350° for 60-75 minutes or until toothpick comes clean.

Thai Chicken Pizza

The Thai Chicken Pizza from California Pizza Kitchen is one of my favorites - this comes pretty close!

Enough for 2 pizzas

Spicy peanut sauce:

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup plum duck sauce

2 tsp. red wine vinegar

½ tsp. dried ginger or 1 tsp. freshly grated ginger

2 minced garlic cloves

2 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil

2 tsp. soy sauce

1 tsp. garlic and chili paste (more if you like the heat)

1 Tbsp. oyster sauce

2 Tbsp. water

Thai chicken pieces:

1 Tbsp. olive oil

½ lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into small dice

For the pizza:

Pizza dough – double crisp crust pizza recipe

flour, for handling

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

4 scallions, slivered diagonally

1/2 cup white bean sprouts

1/4 cup shredded carrot

2 Tbsp. chopped roasted peanuts

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

Preheat oven and baking stone to 475° 1 hour before baking.

To make sauce: Combine ingredients in a small pan over medium heat.

Bring the sauce to a boil; boil gently for one minute.

Divide into 2 portions for use on chicken and pizzas; set aside.

To make Thai chicken: Cook the chicken in olive oil over med-high heat, stirring, until just cooked; 5 to 6 minutes do not overcook.

Set aside until cool, then coat with the sauce that was reserved for the chicken.

To make the pizzas: Roll dough out on parchment paper. Use a pizza peel or flat cookie sheet to transfer to baking stone in the oven. Bake for 3 minutes. Use the pizza peel/cookie sheet to remove the pizza from the oven. Spread with sauce and sprinkle with cheese and distribute half the chicken, green onions, bean sprouts, and carrots. Sprinkle with additional cheese and top with chopped peanuts. Remove parchment paper and slide pizza back onto baking stone. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until crisp and golden and cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chopped cilantro.

Korean Beef

Super fast and easy - perfect for busy weeknights! I like to serve it with lots of stir fried veggies.

-Sixsistersstuff.com

1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 - 1 teaspoon crushed red peppers (depending on how spicy you like it)
salt and pepper
1 bunch green onions, diced
Rice, cooked

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and brown hamburger with garlic in the sesame oil. Drain most of the fat and add brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, salt and pepper and red peppers. Simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors. Serve over steamed rice and top with green onions.