What’s the best thing about having a mini-vacation end on a Wednesday? Only having to work 2 days before it’s time to relax again! Didn’t hurt that we ended the workweek with a birthday potluck! The theme was Soups & Sandwiches…seems like we can’t get enough soup at these things. Must be due to this:
View from my back porch this morning. Sadly, my snowshoes were not needed š
My plan was to go the grocery store on my way home from work last night to grab some stuff, but with the roads getting icy and slick, I decided to just go shopping in my freezer instead. Therein lay the ingredients for this!
Southwestern Chicken & Black Bean Soup: (Serves 8-10)
1 pound cooked shredded chicken
2 cans black beans, drained
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 large orange bell pepper, diced (frozen)
1 medium onion, diced (frozen)
2 cups corn (frozen)
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 tablespoons cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt & pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and set to low for 4-6 hours.
Garnishes: shredded cheddar cheese, plain greek yogurt, and cilantro.
Can’t get any easier than that right? Well how about the chicken I had was frozen, so I popped it in the crock and went to bed, woke up and VOILA! soup-ready chicken!
And for a peek of what it looks like under the toppings:
The perfect soup to thaw you out on a cold winter day!
I absolutely love cooking the crock-pot, especially in the winter. Who doesn’t like to just throw ingredients in a pot and come back hours later to a good home-cooked dinner? Or in my case, work for 4 hours and go to the break room for a home-cooked lunch!
Tell me, what is one of your favorite crock-pot recipes?
Now that I have my new baby crock-pot and can keep servings to a more manageable amount (I tend to get carried away with my bigger one), I plan on slow cooking more in the future!
Thanks so much for all the sweet comments about my bread baking adventure yesterday! Hopefully I will be able to make my next loaf this weekend. I know I’ll probably be out by then. Between my sister and I, we have already consumed half of it!
Breakfast this morning was muy delicioso…and of course, it included bread!
Broccoli & cheese eggs with homemade bread topped with chunky PB & banana mash
It was hard to get up and go back to work today (I need to do a little research on just how I can get paid to sit at home and bake all day). Of course the day drug along as slowly as possible and then, when it was quitting time, I got to drive home in this:
Snowpocolypse 2011! Muhuhahahaha! Oh, sorry…got a little carried away there.
Annnnnnd, it only took my FOUR tries to get up my driveway!
Yeah, I was pretty much burning rubber just so I could get into the garage. What? You expect me to park in the driveway and get out in this blizzard?? I don’t think so!
After getting in, I noticed there was a package waiting for me on the doorstep! A couple of weeks ago Christin and I decided to do a little foodie swap. Trader Joe’s loot in exchange for some local Texas finds! I was so excited to open it…I mean seriously…it was like Christmas all over again!
Broccoli button! Tee hee! I so want to wear this!
Hello Barney Buttah! I’ve wanted to try you for so long!
Woo-hoo! Fruit leathers and Z bars!
Ahh, she knows me so well! See? Pumpkin spiced pecans!
I’ve decided before cracking into this bad boy, I must first purchase a cowboy hat and boots! š
And last, but surely not least:
Her homemade smoked paprika kale chips!
And then, 2 minutes 30 secondsĀ later:
Smoked paprika kale chip crumbs!
Oh my gosh! Words can not even begin to describe these! I’ve only had kale chips once before and apparently I went about it all wrong because mine ended up tasting like grass clippings š Not these! They tasted like…well, they tasted like I need to go make some of my own…like a friggin truckload! Christin, you are amazing!
After oogling over all my new foodie prezzies, I did a little blog reading. Seems Katie thought today was a perfect day for a stir-fry. I thought so too!
Not quite recipe ready, but here’s what’s in the bowl:
Buckwheat soba noodles drizzled with toasted sesame oil
Sweet mini peppers
Sugar snap peas
Edamame
Scallions
Water chestnuts (thanks reminding me about these little gems, Katie!)
My sauce still needs a little work, but I combined fresh orange juice, orange zest, and grated ginger. Super tasty, just needs a little something.
Well, I’m off here folks. Gonna go round up supplies to make some of those snow shoes that look like tennis rackets…might be needing them to make it to work in the morning!
What is one of your favorite things that you would give as a foodie gift? Mine would have to be TJ’s Valencia Crunchy PB with Flaxseeds…hope I didn’t ruin the surprise for ya Christin!
Ohhhh…ho…ho yes, and it goes great with Newman O’s! š
Hello ladies and gents! Hope you have all had a healthy and happy hump day! Ahh, alliteration, I love you so!
So, I’d like to introduce you to my new friend! Everybody, meet Mr. Yeast! Mr. Yeast…everybody!
I cannot even begin to tell you how long I have been afraid of this mysterious little jar of bacteria. Just the word “yeast” would make me shudder. Whenever I saw a recipe that listed yeast as an ingredient, I would immediately turn the page, denying myself whatever foodie goodness lay within because I felt that baking with yeast was just not something a self-taught home cook like me could handle. There is much to be blamed for my ever-present perfectionism.
Then things started to change. Over the last couple of weeks, Allie, over at Live Laugh Eat, has been documenting a food journey of sorts as she learns all there is to know about baking bread. Some lessons she has learned through research…others merely through trial and error, but after a post the other day speaking about all things yeast, I realized that this tiny little jar was nothing to be afraid of! His secrets were revealed and I was on a mission…for homemade bread!
I wanted to start off as easy as possible. The least amount of steps with the least amount of ingredients. I figured it would give me a lesser chance of messing something up! š How do you like my sense of optimism?
A quick Google search led my to the King Arthur Flour website where I found a classic (yet simple) recipe.
Classic 100% Whole Wheat Bread: (makes 1 loaf) Taken from King Arthur Flour website
1 to 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water*
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey, molasses, or maple syrup
3 1/2 cups King Arthur Premium 100% Whole Wheat Flour
2 1/2 teaspoonsĀ instant yeast, or 1 packet active dry yeast dissolved in 2 tablespoons of the water in the recipe
1/4 cupĀ nonfat dried milk
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
*Use the greater amount in winter or in a dry climate; the lesser amount in summer or a humid climate.
The steps were are pretty straight forward. My reactions are in red. Let it be known that I am NOT a patient person:
1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir until dough starts to pull away from the edges. “Oh wow, this is easy peasy!”
2. Knead dough on greased surface with greased hands for 6-8 minutes. “Ooookay, don’t think I’ve worked with greasy dough before. Usually the recipe says a floured surface”…Heather, stop! You are not making cookies! 3. Place in bowl covered with a towel and allow to rise 1-2 hours “Okie dokie, I can do that!
…1 hour later, “Hmm, maybe I should give it a little longer, doesn’t look like it’s done much”…2 hours later, “Oh yay! That looks right!”
4. Remove from bowl, shape into 8 inch log, place in loaf pan covered lightly with greased plastic wrap and allow to rise a second time (1-2 hours)
“Man, this is a whole lot of waiting! I want some bread now!”…1 hour later, “Nope! STILL not ready”…2 hours later, “FINALLY!”
5. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35-40 minutes, tenting after 20 to prevent over browning of crust.
The last step is where my face was pretty much plastered to the oven window wiping the drool from my lips and twiddling my thumbs.
But then, 35 minutes later…it was finished!
It came out perfect! My little sister is staying over tonight and arrived just as I was slicing it up. As she took the first bite, I stood on my tip-toes in anticipation…
Her words, not mine: “Oh my gosh, this is like the BEST bread I’ve EVER tasted! It’s so sweet and…umph…mmm!…so good!”
*Insert happy dance!*
Dinner this evening HAD to be something great to compete with this fantastic loaf of wheaty goodness. I’ve been eyeing the bookmark for Erika’s White Chicken Chili for a week now. I knew tonight would be the perfect night to give it a whirl.
I halved her recipe since it was only for me and my sis and only added in one thing:
1/2 cup shredded zucchini to the onions while sauteing
I love sneaking in veggies whenever I can…you couldn’t even taste or see them!
Oh my goodness Erika! This soup was fantastic! I topped mine with lime, cilantro, and diced avocado. I loved the flavor of the cilantro mixed with the cumin…smoky with a hint of spice. The somewhat sweet-tasting bread was a perfect match to this flavorful soup. I did a good job of “mopping up” my bowl with it at the end of this meal!
What are your thoughts on yeast? Have you ever made homemade bread?
What do you think of the lightbox pics?
I think I’m finally getting the hang of it after a few days of playing around with light and camera angles!
My name is Heather! I'm a southern gal with a passion for food, fitness, and photography...and alliteration if you didn't notice! Here you'll find a mix of random musings, delicious recipes, and hopefully a chuckle or two! Check out my "About' tab to learn more!
View from my back porch this morning. Sadly, my snowshoes were not needed š
