Stuffed Zucchini

1/4 cup quinoa
2 medium zucchini
1/2  15-oz can cannellini beans, rinsed
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup almonds, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2+ cup grated parmesan
1-2tbsp olive oil

Heat oven to 400oF. In a large saucepan, combine the quinoa and 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and the water is absorbed, 12-15min.

Meanwhile, cut the zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Arrange in a large baking dish, cut-side up.

Fluff the quinoa and fold in the beans, tomatoes, almonds, garlic, parmesan, and the oil.

Spoon the mixture into the zucchini. Top with the additional parmesan. Cover with foil and bake until the zucchini is tender, 25 to 30min. Remove the foil and bake until golden, 8-10min.

Cabbage Kielbasa Soup

1/2 - 3/4 head green cabbage
3 kielbasa links (or 1/2 lb kielbasa)
4 cups chicken broth
2 carrots
1 yellow onion
3 cloves garlic
1 can white beans
3-5 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp brown sugar
black pepper

Cut and brown kielbasa on medium in a pot. Add chopped onion and minced garlic. When onions become transparent, add chicken broth, cut carrots, and cut cabbage.  Cook on medium or medium-high until cabbage and carrot become tender. Add beans, vinegar, brown sugar, and pepper and lower heat to medium-low for a few minutes. Pepper to taste, and serve.

Lemonade

5-6 lemons
3/4 c granulated sugar
1 c hot water

4+ c cold water

Mix sugar, hot water, and the juice from 5.5 lemons until all sugar is dissolved. Slice the remaining 1/2 lemon and add to mixture. Pour another 4 or more cups water into the pitcher and enjoy over ice.

MUSHROOM & ONION TARTLETS (x2)

I've tried to make the same mushroom & onion tartlet's I remember my best friend's mom making. So far, I've made two attempts....

...GREEN ONION & SWISS

Pastry Ingredients:

4oz cream cheese

2tbsp salted butter

3/4 c flour

Filling Ingredients:

1tbsp butter

6-8oz button mushrooms

1/2-1 c green onions

1egg

salt 

pepper

1/4 tsp thyme

1/2 c swiss cheese

Recipe from Kitchen Aid stand mixer. Place cream cheese and pastry butter into mixer bowl and mix with flat beater on Speed 4 for ~1min. Scrape bowl and add flour. Mix at Speed 2 for ~1min. Form a ball and wrap in waxed paper. Chill for ~1hr.

Divide dough into 12-24 pieces depending on how big your tarts are. Press each piece into a muffin cup (mini or regular - mini is easier).

Melt filling butter in pan on medium and add chopped mushrooms and onions. Salt and pepper, and cook until tender. Place egg and thyme in mixer bowl with flat beater. Beat at Speed 6 and then stir in shredded cheese. Spoon mixture into dough shells and bake at 375deg for 15-20min until golden brown.

...WHITE ONION & GOAT CHEESE

Pastry Ingredients:

Same as above.

Filling Ingredients: 

6oz button mushrooms

1/2 white onion

2-3oz goat cheese

1 egg

1tbsp butter

salt 

pepper

thyme

Make the dough as directed above. This time I put them into mini muffin pans. Beat egg and brush onto pastry shells. Pre-bake 5-10min at 400deg. Chop mushroom and onion and saute in butter until tender. Add ~2oz goat cheese to remaining egg and beat. Add cooked mushrooms and onion and spoon into pastry shells. Salt and pepper top of tarts and bake in oven for 10-15min until golden brown.

Makes 12 mini tarts, plus some extra.

...WHITE ONION & GOAT CHEESE -- REVISITED

Pastry Ingredients:

Same as above.

Filling Ingredients:

6oz button mushrooms

1/2 white onion

3oz goat cheese

1 egg

1tbsp butter

salt 

pepper

thyme

CORNED BEEF & CABBAGE

CASSOULET - i.e. FRANK & BEANS

Ingredients:
hot Italian sausage (4 links)
1 14.5oz can diced tomatoes
1 19oz can black beans
1 19oz can canelli beans
1 19oz can red kidney beans
1 med onion diced
3 carrots diced
3 celery stalks diced
6 cloves garlic
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp molasses
2 tbsp dijon mustard
thyme
marjoram
olive oil
salt
pepper

Total Time: 2hrs

Brown sausage in a pot, and remove. Saute vegetables in leftover sausage oil, then add tomato, beans, spices and sausage. Boil potatoes until tender and add to the pot. Salt and pepper to taste. Place pot in oven at 350deg for 45min.

BACON S'GHETTI

Ingredients:
1 med onion
3/4lb bacon
1lb ground beef
1 lrg can crushed tomato
12oz ketchup
4 cloves garlic
crushed red pepper
1-2 tbsp brown sugar
salt
pepper
olive oil

homemade spaghetti noodles
parmesan (optional)

Total Time:  ~2hr

Cook bacon in saute pan until crispy. While bacon cooks, chop onion and garlic. Add olive oil to a large pot, heat, and add onion and garlic. Add groud beef and brown while onion becomes tender. When beef is browned, add crushed tomatoes and ketchup. Salt, pepper, and add red pepper flakes. When bacon is finished, remove from pan and let cool. Chop into pieces and add to pot with beef and other ingredients. Keep on med or low heat (med for 45min-1hr).

Begin making pasta dough, or boil pre-made pasta and combine to serve.

Homemade Spaghetti Noodles

GINGERBREAD MEN

Ingredients:
1.5c powdered sugar
1c butter (2 sticks)
1 egg
1c molasses

2.5c flour
1 1/2tsp baking soda
1 1/2tsp cream of tartar
1/2tsp ground cloves
1/2tsp nutmeg
1tsp ginger
Optional: 1/4tsp black pepper

Additional ~2.5c flour
(less than 2.5c for chewier cookies)

Cream butter and sugar together. Add vanilla egg and molasses, mix well. In a separate bowl, mix together dry ingredients (not including the additional flour). Add to wet ingredients and mix. Incorporate the last amount of flour into the dough until it has a workable consistency. Less flour will make the cookies chewier and softer, more flour with make them crunchier.

Frost with homemade buttercream (vanilla, orange, or lemon flavored), or homemade royal icing. Cinnamon sprinkles are always a plus.