Cupboard Rummage - Meatless Monday edition

For some reason Sunday's tends to be the day I eat the most meat. I don't know why it just happens that way. So I decided a while ago to adopt Meatless Monday. I haven't been the greatest consistency wise but I generally enjoy it.
As I began to think about what I would have for some reason my broccoli cheese soup sounded yummy. Its cold and gross and we are stuck inside so soup just sounded glorious (yes that is one of my favorite words) But I didn't have all the ingredients and with the weather (another advisory and white out conditions) I didn't want to run out.
So I did what I call a cupboard rummage. When I look through my cupboards and freezer (even the remote corners of questionable dates and "why did I buy that?" and whip up whatever I can. Sometimes it turns out wonderful. Other times not so much. . .
 Anyway I looked through everything I had and decided I had some decent substitutes for the ingredients.
I promise to post the original recipe in all its glory next time I make it. But for now here is my Cupboard Rummage version.

1 large onion
1 can chicken noodle soup (it was a condensed off brand in which the noodles are nasty so i didnt feel bad wasting them in favor of stealing the broth)
1.5 cup milk
1/4 block velveeta
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 bag frozen broccoli / cauliflower (I had just broccoli but I felt like adding the cauliflower too)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1.5 cups water


Chop the onion and put it in the pot with the broth strained from the chicken noodle soup, water, milk, garlic powder and parmesan cheese. Chop broccoli/ cauliflower mix (Size is up to you - I like mine a bit chunkier).  Once onion mixture is boiling add broccoli. Let simmer 20 mins adding mozzerella and velveeta in the last 5 min. Use a whisk to make sure the cheese melts in smoothly.

While this cupboard rummage wasn't as good as my original recipe it was yummy enough to satisfy the craving without having to run out in the craziness that is this Indiana weather.

And tomorrow when its not meatless Monday I will probably add a bit of ham to the leftovers.

Have you ever made the mad dash that is the cupboard rummage? I would love to hear about it in the comments. No matter how it turned out :)

Valentine's 2014 - Heart food x3

Valentines Day...
A day of pink and hearts and shout outs of both true love and single's awareness. I am in the former camp having been married to my love for just over 4 and a half years. (more about that on my other blog. . . ) I had the chance to try some new recipes and food ideas...

My husband is not a meat and potatoes guy... he's a healthfood guy with weakness for pizza and cheese sticks. So mostly easy to please especially with my penchant for italian food.

One of my hubby's fave recipes is these super easy Sticky Buns and then I saw this recipe for pull apart pizza bread. It looked perfect and I had an idea up my sleeve. Of course I tweaked the recipe a bit cause i dont think I've ever followed a recipe with out adding my own spin to it. Also the original recipe made a bit more than I needed for just hubby and I.


1 tube of biscuits
1/2 8oz package pepperoni
1/4 cup olive oil
1.5 cup shredded mozzerella cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Italian seasoning
garlic powder

Dipping sauce:
1.5 cups pasta sauce
3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1/5 teaspoon garlic powder

Cut biscuits and pepperoni into quarters. In a bowl combine all ingredients making sure the oil coats everything well.  Top with additional cheese and pepperoni if desired and back 20-30 min or according to biscuit instructions.

Mix all dipping sauce ingredients well and heat.

Since it was Valentines I put pepperoni in the shape of a heart on top.

 I also tried making bacon hearts for breakfast which didnt work out that well. Only one of them turned out and it had to be extra crispy which thankfully is hubby's fave way to have bacon. (Don't worry though - no bacon was wasted in this attempt at mushy valentines stuff)

Along with the bacon I made pancakes. . . 

My Valentines was great. Hubby was wonderful and planned out a great date. We had lunch together, picked up a CD that we both had been wanting and saw the Lego Movie. We aren't rom com people so it was perfect. I plan on watching it again soon and reviewing it on my other blog which I am working to revive. 

Happy 2014!

Life's been a little crazy but I'm doing my best to post more. I've got lots of awesome plans of recipes and projects to try. 

So let's get started. 

Hubby had recently mentioned that he was curious about turkey burgers. So I figured we would jump in and try a basic recipe. 

I knew the biggest issue was making sure the burgers stayed moist. So I looked at a bunch of recipes. I picked and messed around a bit and came up with this recipe. 

1lb ground turkey
1 onion (i prefer red)
1 bell pepper
4 slices of bread or equivalent bread crumbs 
italian seasoning
garlic powder (or cloves)
salt & pepper
egg white ( optional )

Oil 

Chop half each onion and pepper.  With the other half make strips of green pepper and rings from the onion. 

Heat up a bit of oil in a saucepan. Add chopped pepper and onion. Add garlic powder (or chopped cloves) and 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning. 

Salt and pepper to taste and cook down. Remove from heat and set to side to let cool.

In a mixing bowl combine meat, bread crumbs, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, dash of salt and pepper and fully cooled onion pepper mixture. 

Mix well and form into 6 patties. 

Heat a non stick skillet and cook until well done (about 4 min each side) they do better with a higher heat for a nice sear.

( I believe these would also bake well. Next time I will try it and let you know) 

I served these on wheat buns topped with raw onion rings (onion hating hubby left these off) and lightly sautéed green pepper strips with just a bit of mustard 

Yum!

Hubby's first turkey burger was success! 

I was pretty happy too! 

I wish this was the way all my recipe adventures turned out!