Zucchini and Basil Soup with Coconut Milk

The color of this soup looks unappealing, but it really is good. 

I had so much zucchini, onions and basil from my garden I had to do something with them before it all went to waste. 

Zucchini and Basil Soup with Coconut Milk

1/4 cup of olive oil (I used Tuscan flavored)

3/4 cup diced onions

2 cloves of garlic

1 jalopeno pepper diced (optional)

2 Lbs diced zucchini

1 tsp salt

2 cups water ( I used organic chicken broth, you can used vegetable broth if vegetarian)

1/3 cup packed basil leaves

1/4 c - 1/2 cup coconut milk

Add oil to a pan, sauté onions, garlic and jalopeno until soft.

Add zucchini and salt to the onions, garlic and jalopenos.

saute for 5 minutes.

Add 2 cups of water/broth

cook for 15 minutes until veggies soft.

Let cool and add to a blender and add the basil leaves. 

Add 1/4 cup of coconut to start with. Add more to get the right consistency of soup.

Put the blended soup through a strainer. 

Enjoy.

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Spaghetti Salad

1 lbs spaghetti

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 large tomato, diced (I used 1 container of sungold baby tomatoes orange yellow color)

1 english cucumber, diced, about 1 cup or less (has less seeds, but you can use a regular cucumber)

1/2 cup of parmesan cheese (I put it in the blender to make it like sawdust texture)

8 oz of zesty italian dressing recipe below

2 Tbls salad supreme seasoning (I used store bought)

DRESSING

1/2 cup of white vinegar or any kind of your choice

1/2 cup of canola oil

1 Tbls of water

1 1/2 tsp of garlic powder

1 1/2 tsp onion powder

1 1/2 tsp white sugar

1/2 Tbls dried oregano

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1/8 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp dried basil

1 1/2 tsp dried parsley

1/8 tsp celery salt

1/2 TBls salt

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

Mix everything in a mason jar and shake until mixed.

Boil water, when boiling, snap noodles in half and add to boiling water. when done,  rinse with cold water

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. 

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Smoked Sausage and Rice

 Smoked Sausage and Rice

1 Tbls olive oil (I used green chili olive oil)

1   lbs package smoked sausage, cut in 1/4 dice

2 large carrots, peeled and diced

2 celery stalks, diced

5 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp parsley

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp creole seasoning

1/8 tsp cumin

1 1/2 cups white, long grain rice, rinsed and dried

3 cups chicken stock

Add olive oil to a frying pan, add smoked sausage and brown.

Remove sausage to a bowl for later.

To same frying pan add carrots and celery and fry for around 4 mins to soften.

Add garlic and seasonings for a minute.

Add rice and cook for about 3 minutes

Add chicken broth. bring to a boil, reduce to simmer. 

Cover the frying pan with a lid and cook on low for 15 minutes.

Stir in smoked sausage and eat. 

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I used this kind of Smoked sausage and used the entire package.

Asian Beef

HOMEMADE ASIAN SAUCE

1/2 cup of low sodium soy sauce

4 Tbls brown sugar (recipe called for 5 Tbls but I cut it down and added crushed red peppers)

6 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 tsp ginger (I used fresh minced but I think the recipe meant ground ginger)

2 tsp rice vinegar

1 tsp crushed red peppers (my husband likes it spicy) Optional

Put everything in a mason jar, shake to mix.

Put it in the refrigerator until your ready to use.

BEEF

Olive oil for frying

Top sirloin steak (mine was .90 lbs for $8.99), cut in thin strips against the grain

1 basket of sliced mushrooms

3 large bundles of broccoli, cut in small pieced

You can add other veggies cut up.. carrots, onions ext

Stir fry noodles or rice

INSTRUCTIONS:

Add olive oil to a large pan, cook steak don't over crowed the pan. Cook them in batches otherwise you will steam the meat. 

Remove the meat and set aside.

Add more olive oil t the pan, add mushrooms and broccoli. Cook a few minutes until they begin to soften. 

In the meantime cook the noodles for 2 1/2 minutes in boil water, drain water and run cold water over them to stop them from cooking more.  

Add the sauce to the veggies.  Cook for a few minutes for the sauce to thicken. 

Add the beef and noodles. Stir

Transfer to a large bowl and enjoy.  

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Rice Seasoning Mix

Rice Seasoning Mix

3/4 cup chicken flavored broth base (I used low sodium, BUT it wasn't salty enough so next time I will use the regular, see picture below)

1/2 cup dried parsley

1 tbls dried basil

1 tbls dried dill 

2 tbls dried onions

1 tsp seasoned salt

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp lemon pepper

1 cup unsalted almond, ground in grinder. I ground them up to almost powder/with bits no big chunks.  This is OPTIONAL. I put them in but next time I will try without and see if it is still as good as with them in.  Or i might try salted ones and see it it tastes better. 

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and transfer to a large mason jar. 

 I vacuumed sealed it with my food saver to make sure it didn't get moisture in it also to preserve the almonds and not let the oil in the almonds go rancid.  

I was going to store it in the refrigerator, but I don't know if this would cause moisture.

DIRECTIONS: Boil 2 cups of water, then add 1 cup jasmine rice (not minute) and 3 Tbls of this rice seasoning mix.  Cover and turn heat to simmer for 18 mins. when done fluff and eat.  

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 This broth base is a powder form. I didn't want MSG in my spice mix.  Most of the other chicken bouillon graduals have MSG in it.

All seasoned salts are different. So that is why I put a picture of what I used.  I have lawry's seasoned salt too, so next time I will try that and see if it adds more salt since my first batch wasn't that salty but good.

Tater Tot Casserole

Tater Tot Casserole

2 lbs ground beef cooked and drained

1 cup onion, chopped (optional)

2 cans (10 3/4 oz) campbells condensed cream of mushroom soup

1 can of green beans, drained

2 Tbls katchup

2 Tbls worcestershire sauce

1 cup shredded cheese (jalapeño or cheddar)

Frozen tater tots (enough to cover the top)

1 cup of shredded cheese on top of tater tots (optional)

Cook the beef and onions, drain the fat.

Add all the ingredients except the tater tots in the pan you cooked the beef and onions, to save on dishes. 

Add that to a large greased baking pan. I have a 10 x 15 pan. 

(if you cut this recipe in half I use a 9 x 11 normal cake pan)

cover it with tater tots

Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are golden brown and the bottom is bubbly. 

Option: you can stir in frozen vegetable mix to make it with more veggies.  

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Spiced Pecans

Spiced Pecans

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 TBls ground cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

4 cups (12 ounces) unsalted pecans

1 egg white, whipped

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Add sugars and spiced to a bowl, mix.

In a separate bowl, add pecans and whipped egg whites. Gently toss until all coated. 

Add sugar mixture and toss until combined.

Spread mixture on large sheet pan with parchment paper .  

Bake for 40 mins, stir every 20 mins. 

The sugar will harden more once cooled. 

Let cool and store in sealed container.  

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