Ingredients
1 cup of each of the following vegetables cut into small pieces
Onion
Carrots
Celery
Zucchini
Green Beans
Peas
Corn
Potatoes
Soup
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 garlic cloves, grated
1tablespoon of dried Italian seasoning
4 cups tomato purée
2 cups canned chopped Italian tomatoes
½ teaspoon Calabrian chili paste
3 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
2 cups water
Parmesan cheese rind
Salt and pepper to taste.
Grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
Directions
Heat the oil in a soup pot. Add the vegetables that take longer to cook: onion, carrots, celery, green beans, and potatoes. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and remaining vegetables. Cook for 5 more minutes.
Add purée, tomatoes, broth, water, cheese tind, and seasonings. Bring to a low boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook untold the vegetables are tender, about 45 minutes. Serve in soup bowls and garnish with Parmesan cheese.
Broth
Ingredients
One 4-pound) whole chicken
Or 2 lbs chicken wings and 2 lbs chicken drumsticks
1 onion, halved across the equator
2 carrots, washed and cut in thirds
2 stalks of celery, washed and cut in thirds
1 head garlic, cut in half across the equator
1 bay leaf
10 sprigs thyme
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
14-15 cups water
Directions
To a large pot add the chicken, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, peppercorns, and water to cover about 14 cups. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Skim the top of the broth of any impurities that rise to the surface. Adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Simmer the broth, uncovered, for 2 hours, skimming as needed.
Remove a wide bowl and cool.
Chicken broth and return it to the soup pot.
Remove the meat from the bones and set aside.
Soup
Ingredients
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 carrots, sliced
1 onion, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
1 large thyme sprig
½ cup chopped celery
8 9z thin noodles {I use thin spaghetti}
Cooked chicken
Homemade broth.
Directions
Bring the broth to a boil. Add the vegetables and cook for 5 minutes. Add the noodles and cook until al dente.
Add the chicken and seasoning. Heat until the ingredients are hot. Serve or refrigerate until needed.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped (1 cup)
2 medium celery stalks, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 cartons (32 oz each) of reduced-sodium chicken broth (8 cups)
1 package (9 oz) refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini
2 cups lightly packed Swiss chard leaves or baby spinach leaves
1-pint grape tomatoes halved
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
In a 4-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add carrots, celery, and onion; cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown on the edges. Stir in garlic; cook for 30 seconds. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Stir in broth. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Stir in tortellini. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tortellini are tender.
Stir in spinach, tomatoes, and parsley. Simmer for 10 minutes
Top each serving with grated cheese.
ingredients
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 medium onion diced
2 ribs celery diced
2 medium carrots diced
½ bell pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
14 ounces canned diced tomatoes
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup brown or green lentils
1 rind Parmigiano Reggiano optional, see notes below
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon crushed red chili flakes
Directions
Heat a large saucepan to medium-low and add the olive oil, carrots, celery, bell peppers, and onion. Cook until soft and translucent (about 10 minutes).
Add in the tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently for 5 minutes.
Next, add in the chicken broth and tomatoes, Bring to a boil, then lower the heat. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well. . Cok the pan to a simmer until the lentils are soft (about 60-900 minutes).
Taste test and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Serve in bowls with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and with grated cheese.
Classic Manhattan Clam Chowder
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 onion, diced
1 medium bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 sprig of thyme
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
2 bay leaves
15 oz can chopped tomatoes
2 cups of seafood broth or clam juice
2 10-ounce cans of diced clams, drained with juice reserved
Salt and black pepper to taste
Chopped parsley
Saltine crackers for serving
Directions
Heat the oil in a dutch Oven, Add vegetables and garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft but not brown, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Add drained clam broth, seafood broth, thyme and celery seed, and bay leaves.
Partly cover the pot, and simmer gently until potatoes are tender approximately 10 minutes.
When potatoes are tender, stir in tomatoes, and heat them through. Add chopped clams, stirring to combine. Add black pepper to taste. Let chowder come to a simmer, and remove from heat. Fish out the thyme and the bay leaf, and discard. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
The chowder should be allowed to sit for a while to develop flavor. Reheat it before serving, then garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with oyster crackers.
Homemade Shrimp Po-Boy Sandwiches
3 servings
You can buy the creole seasoning or make your own. See recipe.
Shrimp Seasoning
¼ teaspoon granulated garlic
1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon salt
1tablespoon olive oil
Rémoulade Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon capers, drained and minced
1 Tablespoonsweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon
1 tablespoon finely minced shallot
1 tsp. tarragon or Champagne vinegar
1 to 2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Kosher salt
A good sprinkle of paprika
Sandwich
½ lb medium shrimp shells removed and deveined
1 tablespoon olive oil
Creole seasoning
Sliced tomato
Shredded lettuce
3 French bread rolls, about 6 inches long, warmed
Directions
Make the creole seasoning and the Remoulade sauce and set them aside. Preheat the broiler to high.
Place the shrimp and creole seasoning in a ziplock bag. shake and then add the oil. shake again. Cover a sheet pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Place the shrimp in a single layer on the prepared pan. Broil the shrimp for 2-3 minutes on each side until curled and light pink. Remove to plate.
To make the sandwiches
Spread some of the Remoulade sauce on both sides of the inside of the rolls. Add sliced tomato and shredded lettuce. Top with 1/3 of the shrimp. serve with a cup of soup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon sesame oil, divided
1/4 medium onion, sliced
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 large garlic clove, grated
4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
1 tablespoon soy sauce
4 oz shiitake, mushrooms, sliced
1 packager frozen dumplings { I used pork and ginger soup dumplings from Trader Joe’s)
3 green onions, sliced
If you like it little spice in the broth, add a pinch of cayenne pepper
Directions
Heat 1 tablespoon of sesame oil in a large saucepan. Add in the onion. Sauté 2-3 minutes until slightly softened. Add garlic and ginger. Sauté for 30 seconds. Add in the chicken broth, soy sauce, and mushrooms.
Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 5-6 minutes.
Add the remaining teaspoon of sesame oil and green onions. Simmer another 2-3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
Heat the dumplings in the microwave
Cut the corner of the soup dumpling bag open to allow steam to escape.
Place the soup dumplings on a microwave-safe tray.
Heat on high for 2 minutes, or until the dumplings are cooked through.
Let it sit for 1 minute before removing it from the microwave.
Place 3 dumplings in two separate soup bowls and pour the broth over the dumplings.
Chinese Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground pork
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons Thai chili sauce
1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped
4 green onions, chopped
1 tablespoon sesame oil
Large lettuce leaves
Directions
In a large skillet, cook pork and onion over medium heat for 6-8 minutes or until pork is no longer pink and onion is tender, breaking up pork into crumbles.
Stir in hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger, vinegar, soy sauce, and chili sauce until blended. Add water chestnuts, green onions, and sesame oil; heat through.
To serve, place pork mixture in lettuce leaves; fold lettuce over the filling.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 (15 ounces) can of diced tomatoes
1-28 oz can of Fire Roasted Red Pepper strips
1 cup of corn
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
6 corn tortillas, cut into strips
Directions
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and jalapeno peppers and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add broth, tomatoes, red peppers chili powder, and cumin. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
Toss the tortilla strips with 1 tablespoon oil and place on a sheet pan. Toast the strips in a 425-degree F oven until crispy, about 10 minutes.
Add chicken. Remove from heat. Add cheese and tortilla strips. Stir well. Return the pot to medium heat and cook until hot, 1 to 2 minutes.
Escarole, Bean, and Sausage Soup
Ingredients
1 lb hot Italian sausage, slice4d into thin rounds
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 heads of escarole, chopped
Salt
4 cups low-salt chicken broth for homemade broth see my recipe
2 cups home-cooked cannellini beans or 1 (15-ounce) can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 (1-ounce) piece Parmesan
Freshly ground black pepper
6 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
Crusty bread for serving
Directions
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add sausage and garlic until the sausage is lightly brown. Add the escarole and saute until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add a pinch of salt. Add the chicken broth, beans, and Parmesan cheese. Cover and simmer until the beans are heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Ladle the soup into 6 bowls. Drizzle 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil over each. Serve with crusty bread.
Ingredients
8 ounces of short pasta
3 cups fresh broccoli florets (about 1-2 heads)
3 tablespoons butter
½ yellow onion, finely chopped
2 cups cooked chicken cut into bite-size pieces
2 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup flour
1 cup chicken broth, homemade recipe below, or use store-bought
2 cups milk
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
½ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the pasta. Once the pasta is about 4 minutes from al dente, add the broccoli and cook another 2 minutes. Drain and transfer to baking dish.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and onion. Cook until the chicken is lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Mix in the flour and cook for another minute. While mixing, slowly pour in the chicken broth and then milk. Simmer for 3-4 minutes, until thickened to gravy consistency.
Remove the skillet from the heat and mix in the chicken, salt, pepper, parmesan, 1/2 cup cheddar, and ½ cup mozzarella cheese. Pour the pasta and broccoli into the baking dish and mix them together. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese.
Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 10 minutes until the cheese is lightly golden brown and the sauce bubbles around the edges.
Homemade Chicken Broth
This recipe gives you plenty of chicken and broth for several recipes.
Ingredients
1 (3 1/2 to 4 pound) whole chicken
1 onion, halved across the equator
2 carrots, washed and cut in thirds
2 stalks of celery, washed and cut in thirds
1 head of garlic, cut in half across the equator
1 bay leaf
10 sprigs thyme
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
Directions
To a large pot add the chicken, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, peppercorns, and water to cover about 14 cups. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Skim the top of the broth of any impurities that rises to the surface. Adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Simmer the broth, uncovered, for 1 hour, skimming as needed.
Remove the chicken to a plate. Continue to simmer the broth. Use tongs to handle and shred the meat of the chicken and set it aside for another use. Return the bones and skin to the broth and continue to simmer for an additional hour.
Remove from the heat and strain the broth. Discard the bones and vegetables and allow the broth to cool. Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Ingredients
5 cups (1/2-inch-diced) peeled eggplant (1 pound)
2 large chopped leeks, white and light green portions
2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)
4 cups vegetable stock, preferably homemade
2 (28-ounce) cans of crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
2 tablespoons sundried tomato paste
2 teaspoons whole dried fennel seeds
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon honey
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon fresh basil leaves
Freshly grated Italian Parmesan cheese, for serving
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Spread eggplant on a rimmed baking sheet, and toss with 2 tablespoons of oil and 1/2 tsp. salt. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, tossing once halfway through, until soft.
Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a Dutch Oven, add the leeks, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, occasionally stirring, until the onion is tender but not browned.
Add the garlic and cook for one minute, stirring often. Add the stock, roasted eggplant, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, fennel seeds, oregano, red pepper flakes, honey, salt, and black pepper.
Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer uncovered for 1-hour stirring occasionally. Puree the soup with a hand blender.
Stir in basil and taste for seasonings.
Serve hot in large bowls sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.
