Taco Soup

I don't make this often, but it's easy to fix. I originally got the recipe from a Weight Watchers group member, but I'm sorry to tell you I don't remember the points value. If you want to be really bad (since we didn't count points) you can top a bowl of this with a dollop of sour cream, some shredded cheese and tortilla strips or tortilla chips.

There are a few versions out there, but this is the way I fix it. I don't eat hominy so those got nixed. so did the pinto beans. If I have to eat beans they need SOMETHING to help me not taste them. I've also seen versions with Rotel tomatoes in them. I've used ground buffalo or turkey in place of the beef. So as you can see, you could make this with what you have on hand. I told you, it's EASY! 

Taco Soup

1 lb. lean hamburger meat (90% or 94%)
1 small onion, chopped
1 can sweet onion Ranch-Style beans
1 can black beans 
2 cans stewed tomatoes
2 cans of whole kernel corn 
1 can chopped green chilies
1 packet (dry) taco seasoning
1 packet (dry) ranch dressing mix
1 can water



Brown hamburger meat with onion. If you used a meat with a higher fat content, drain the grease. Combine all ingredients together and simmer until well heated. I do not drain vegetables, but you can if you would like. 

Mashed Rutabaga with Potato

Ingredients:
2 pounds rutabaga, peeled and cubed (about 3 large)
2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed (about 2 medium)
3 cloves of garlic, peeled
4 tablespoons butter
2/3 cup milk, half and half, or cream (pick your fat level...) 
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, or to taste
2 teaspoons chopped parsley (optional)

Instructions:
Cook rutabaga and potatoes in salted water in separate saucepans with garlic cloves. When both are tender, remove from heat. Rutabaga will take longer than the potatoes. Drain; mash rutabaga well, then mash the potatoes. Combine mashed root vegetables; add butter, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Slowly add in milk until you reach desired consistency. Beat well. Taste and add more salt if necessary. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Inspired by: http://southernfood.about.com/od/turnipandrutabagarecipes/r/bl81114i.htm

Alligator Étouffée

I had a package of gator in my freezer that I needed to use up: 

So... I searched the internet and settled on making Gator Étouffée. I got the original recipe from here. The main changes I made were using a bit of Chachere's and cutting back on the celery because I don't care for it. Also, I added a bay leaf, and cut the butter in half. The original calls for TWO STICKS of butter. I'm sure it's yummy, but it was great without it. In fact, I may cut the butter back more if I were to make it again.   

Ingredients:

1/2 c. butter (1 stick)

2 medium onions, chopped

2-4 cloves garlic, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped (optional)

1 (10 oz) Rotel Brand tomatoes

1 bay leaf

Chachere's or Salt, black pepper, and cayenne to taste

1 lb alligator meat, cut in thin strips

1/2 cup green onions, sliced

1/4 cup parsley, fresh (or 2 tbsp. dried)

Directions:

In a large pot, sauté onions, garlic, celery  and bell pepper in the butter until soft.

Add the Rotel and bay leaf simmer for 20 minutes, covered.

Add the alligator meat and cook over a low heat until tender for about one hour. If it thickens too much while cooking, add chicken stock or water. 

Add the green onions and parsley and cook 10 minutes.

Serve over rice.

Pumpkin Butter

I just made a big ol' batch of pumpkin butter!

Note: This can be refrigerated or frozen, but not canned per USDA guidelines. For a great explanation, click here.

My recipe is a variation of the one found here.

I used 2 small pie pumpkins... I chopped them in half and baked them cut side down in the oven until fork tender (about 35 min @350 degrees F). I let that cool then peeled and removed the stems. This yielded 2# 9 oz of pumpkin flesh.

I placed the pumpkin flesh in a 2 quart pan with apple cider, spices, and brown sugar. I mashed the pumpkin using a potato masher. I thought about using my stick blender, but I wanted it to be a bit more chunky.

I cooked this on very low heat for about an hour. Giving it a stir every now and then. I suppose you could use your crock pot if you so choose.

The result is delicious if I do say so myself. It will go great with the biscuits I just made using my newly acquired Bakewell Cream. Yeah, I think it was worth it. I mean, usually biscuits are no good on day two. These are on day 3 and they are still edible. (Yes, they were much better fresh.)

Ingredients:
2.5 lbs. cooked pumpkin flesh
1.5 cups apple cider (non-alcoholic)
1 tbsp. Pumpkin pie spice
1 pinch cardamon
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground ginger
1 inch fresh ginger, grated or finely chopped
2 cups brown sugar

Yields 7 (4oz) jars. Must be refrigerated or frozen.

Curry chicken casserole

America in red, white and blue Jell-o!

Banana Pudding

Easy, homemade and sure to please, Granny Koonce's Original Recipe has undergone many updates. This time, I did it mom's way and made it in the microwave.

Facil et fais maison, un classique américain "Banana Pudding" que on peut faire au four micro-ondes!

Microwave Pudding Procedure: In a microwave-safe bowl combine: 2 eggs¾ c. sugar 2 tbsp. flour¼ tsp. salt 2 c. milk Place in microwave and zap for 2 min. Stir. Microwave in one minute intervals stirring each time until it reaches desired consistency. Remove from microwave. Stir in 1 tbsp. butter and 1 tsp. vanilla.

Banana Pudding fait au four micro-ondes: Dans un saladier mélanger bien: 2 œufs ¾ tasse sucre 2 cuillère à soupe farine ¼ cuillère à café sel 2 tasse lait entier Placez à micro-ondes pendant 2 minutes. Remuez. Répétez intervalles d'une minute en remuant à chaque fois jusqu'à ce qu'elle atteigne la consistance désirée. Retirer et incorporer 1 cuillère à soupe de beurre et 1 cuillère à café de d'extrait de vanille ou du rhum.  Dans un bol mettez un coussin de biscuits vanille et des rondelles de la banane. Vers le pudding dessus. Répétez jusqu'à il reste plus de pudding. Mettez des biscuits vanille et haut. Placez le dessert au frais au moins 4 heures. Servir frais.

USA v. France

No, it’s not sports. It’s my version of what I missed and didn’t miss while abroad. I’ll try to make my rambling short & sweet (sarcastic comments included!).

What I missed:

1.  Public restrooms: If you’re going out and about in town, you better have change because they do have public pay toilettes, but the majority of stores don’t have one. Some places, like Carcassone, have public toilets, but no T.P.

2.    Toilet seats: If you are going on a road trip and you stop at an “Aire” (The US equivalent would be a truck stop), Ladies, get ready to squat. No toilet seats! Or even better you can use the “toilette turque.” Go ahead and Google it….

3.    Decent TP…. Most homes I visited had decent toilet paper, but the hotel I was in had really terrible paper….

4.    Air Conditioning or Refrigerated Air… I’m a Texan. I expect when it’s 95°F that the inside of a building should be 72… just saying…. Our hotel had A/C but it was not like it’s American equivalent.

5.    Midol…I forgot to pack mine. Went to the Pharmacy and tried to explain what I was lookin   g for and they tried to give me ibuprofen. So not the same thing.

6.    Stores that were open after 8pm…. Or on Sunday… or on Monday.

7.  Beef Jerky

8.    Corn Nuts…I didn’t eat any corn this time, but if I had, I would have added decent corn. The corn in the US is much more flavorful & sweet than what’s available in France.

9.    Giant cups of coffee. I did run across a Starbucks, but I was unwilling to part with 5€ for a drink. That’s insane.

10. Iced Tea… Although, they do have Nestea flavored iced tea in a can… Not exactly the same… but a peach tea will do in a pinch. I used to miss big cups of ice, but I guess I’m getting used to being asked if I want “Un ou deux glaçons?” (1 or 2 ice cubes).

11.  My iPhone… I don’t have service in France. Thank you, Verizon. But I was able to link in on the Wi-Fi from my hotel. Which I could add that I miss having multiple free, public Wi-Fi hotspots to choose from.

What I appreciated:

1.     The freshness of food.

2.    That when I walk into a store, I’m greeted by someone who works there.

3.    Markets

4.    The kindness of my new family.

5. Well-behaved children, and parents who weren't afraid to discipline when needed.

What I didn’t Miss:

1.     Fake cheese… you know what I’m talking about that plastic-like mass of orange goo that is passed off as “cheddar sauce”. We had a layover in DC and I ordered an egg & cheese breakfast sandwich. Took a big bite and “WELCOME TO AMERICA”… I got a mouthful of nasty.

2.    Fake coffee creamer. (See a pattern here?)… our plane from DC to Texas was with Delta. Asked for a coffee (Because I had missed it so…) and I was given “dairy fresh” brand non-dairy creamer… wtff? I’m going to blame jetlag on my forgetfulness to ask if the cheese and creamer were real….In France, I didn’t have to ask.

3.    My computer… I left it at home! It was nice to be partially unplugged for a while.

4.    Work… duh!

OK looking forward to your comments and questions. If you don’t have a blogger account, you can leave me comments on my facebook link to this post.

<3