Ted's Potato Soup

Ingredients:

10 - 12 small to medium russet potatoes 

One medium onion

1-2 cloves of garlic

4 slices thick cut bacon

4 1/2 cups milk

3 T flour

4 c turkey stock (homemade is great, made with the bones from Mei's turkey)

Salt, pepper, celery salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, parsley, thyme ( all seasonings to taste)

Chop the potatoes into cubes the size you like

Chop the onion and garlic - fine

Cut the bacon into pieces and fry until crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan for garnishing later. Add onion to the pan and sauté until translucent. Add the garlic and all the spices and saute for another couple minutes until it’s fragrant.

Add the potatoes and stir it all around. Dump in the stock (it should just cover the potatoes) and bring it to a boil. Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the potatoes are tender.

Add your flour to 1/4 cup milk and whisk until there are no lumps. Warm the 4 cups of milk until it’s hot but not boiling. Add the flour and milk mix slowly, stirring well.

Dump all that into the pot with the boiling potatoes. Simmer, uncovered, until it starts to thicken.

At this point you can leave it all chunky or you can remove some of the potatoes and broth, smash the potatoes all up with a fork until you have a mashed potato slurry, then chuck it back in. That’s what I did.

We have know Ted and his wife Marie since we moved to LC. I always make them cookies but Ted isn't into sweets. He came over yesterday to pick up goodies for christmas and we chatted about Gabe's favorite - potatoes.  He said he loves potatoes also.

When he left I told Gabe if he would like some potato soup. He said he would have a bowl or two. Potato soup does not freeze well and I contacted Ted's wife and told her about the soup.

Ted came over today and was very happy!!

The flowers in the photo are from my neighbor Maribel.

Skillet Cauliflower Rice, Broccoli and Cheese

 

Ingredients

1 tbsp unsalted butter

1 yellow onion- chopped

½ tbsp garlic- minced

½ tsp garlic salt

1 cup chicken broth 

3 cups cauliflower rice

1 cup half and half

1 tsp lemon juice ( used my Meyer lemons) 

½ cup plain greek yogurt

1 bag steamed  broccoli 

2 cups cheddar cheese shredded

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until onion is softened. Stir in garlic salt. Add in cauliflower rice.

Cook until cauliflower is softened. Stir in chicken broth and cook covered for 10 minutes.

Stir in half and half, lemon juice. Reduce heat to medium low. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in yogurt and remove from heat.

Meyer Lemon Cake Mix Loaf

 Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix

1 box instant lemon pudding

⅔ cup oil

3 eggs

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp lemon zest

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 baking pan.

Combine the cake mix, pudding, oil, water, eggs, vanilla, and lemon zest in a mixing bowl. Mix together until just combined.

Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean

I added a glaze of powdered sugar and lemon juice. Poured it over the warm loaf

Air Fried Turkey and Mashed Potato Croquettes

 

Ingredients:

2 cups finely minced leftover turkey or chicken ( added meat to my food processor to mince)

1 cup seasoned mashed potatoes ( I added onion and garlic to mine)

1 tablespoon fresh parsley ( I added it to the food processor with the turkey)

Sauce:

2 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

1/4 cup turkey stock

1/4 cup whole milk

Coating:

1/4 cup almond flour 

2 eggs- well beaten

2 cups panko

Directions:

Combine turkey, mashed potatoes and parsley

In a medium sized saucepan melt butter. Add flour and stir until well combined. Stir in turkey stock and milk and continue cooking, stirring for about 2 minutes.

Combine the sauce and the turkey mixture. Make sure it's mixed  well. Cover and put in fridge 1 to 2 hours. I put mine in overnight.

Then taken out of the fridge, shape the mixture into croquettes size you prefer.

Roll in flour first then add to the egg and last the panko.

I put them back in the fridge for about a half hour

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. I added aluminum foil to the rack.

Placed the croquettes on the aluminum foil rack and fried 8 minutes ( may take longer in other fryers) on one side. Flipped and did another 8 on the other side.

Gabe wanted a sauce on them. I did a white sauce and also got lazy and added some bottle turkey gravy. I didn't think they needed sauce.

 

 

 

Buffalo Cauliflower Dip

 Ingredients:

1/2 head cauliflower

3/4 cup cayenne pepper sauce (like Frank’s Red Hot)

2 (8 ounce each) low fat or fat free cream cheese, softened

6 ounces plain Greek yogurt

1/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon dill weed

1/8 teaspoon onion powder

tortilla chips for serving

celery sticks for serving

Directions:

Remove stems and leaves from cauliflower and coarsely grate cauliflower florets to resemble rice to make 2 1/2 cups.

Place grated cauliflower and pepper sauce in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat and cook until heated through.

Stir in cream cheese and cook, stirring until melted then add in Greek yogurt, parsley flakes, garlic powder, dill weed and onion powder. Cook until heated through.

Place dip in bowls and serve warm with tortilla chips or celery sticks.

Air Fryer ChickPeas

 Drain and rinse 1 ( 15.5 ounce) can of Chickpeas 

Grapeseed Oil spray ( you can use Olive oil)

Directions:

Spread chickpeas onto a few layers of paper towels and pat dry (you do not need to remove the skins).

Spray oil on chickpeas until completely covered ( you can add salt at this point if you want)

Spread chickpeas in a single layer in your air fryer basket or rack. Cook at 390°F (200°C) for 8 to 12 minutes, or until crispy and lightly browned.  Lightly shake the pan a few times during cooking to help evenly cook the chickpeas.

While chickpeas are still hot from the air fryer, toss them with your desired seasoning, stirring well until seasoning fully coats each chickpea

Don't forget the basket and racks are hot!

Flu/Cold Tea Bombs

Two whole lemons, peeled a half 

1 Tablespoon ACV, 

2 whole garlic cloves

 2 tablespoons turmeric

 one and a half tablespoons of honey

 1 tablespoon of cinnamon

 3 cups of water

 blend in a food processor

 strain with cheese cloth

 put in silicone muffin pans about 1/8 of a cup each freeze add to hot water when ready to drink

I have a bunch of silicone molds which worked😀 Cute little 💜's

It's been in the 30's at night and in the early morning when we walk. These might help detour any virus