ITALIAN MEATBALL SOUP (SLOW COOKER)

Welcome back to 'Let's Cook.'

Before we start today's recipe, I must admit to a mistake in last weeks recipe. (Strawberry Tiramisu)

Really, I did goof and left out a sentence. It has been corrected.

Today we are going to have Soup and Sandwiches for dinner. This will also make for a GREAT lunch tomorrow as well.

This recipe comes from one of my favorite Cook Books.

SLOW COOKER REVOLUTION (TEST KITCHEN)

And you can get your very own copy right HERE 

Here is what we'll need for today's recipe

4 Slices of High quality white sandwich bread torn apart. (They called for 2 slices. I upped it to 4 since I am doubling the meat portion)

½ Cup Whole Milk

1 lb. of Ground Chuck

1 lb. of Sausage

1/2 Cup grated Parmesan Cheese (+ some for serving)

3 TBL Minced Fresh Parsley

1 large Egg Yolk

6 Garlic Cloves (Minced)

1 ½ tsp fresh Oregano (OR ½ tsp Dried)

Salt & Pepper

1 Onion (Minced)

1 TBL EVOO + some for serving

¼ tsp Red Pepper Flakes

8 Cup of HOMEMADE Chicken Broth

8 ounces Kale, stemmed and leaves sliced ¼ inch thick

6 Ounces of ORZO (about 1 Cup)

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OK, Let's get to work

Mash bread and milk into a large bowl using a fork.

Mix in the beef and pork, Parmesan, parsley, egg yolk, 3 of the Garlic Cloves, oregano, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ½ tsp of pepper.

(Note- The recipe called for ½ lb. Beef and ½ lb. Pork- SO you might want to up the salt and pepper)

Mix well, using your hands.

Now, spoon up tablespoon size meat balls and place them on a plate.

Microwave meatballs on High until fat renders and meatballs are firm.(3-5 min)

Pour off the fat and transfer the meatballs to the slow cooker.

Microwave the onion, the remaining 3 Garlic cloves, oil and red pepper flakes until softened (about 5 minutes) Transfer to slow cooker.

Add the broth to the slow cooker. Cover and cook until meatballs are tender. (4-6 hours on low.)

Time to check on the President.

So busy 

And have a refreshing adult beverage.....

When cooked, let soup sit for a bit, then skim off any fat that comes to the surface.

Stir in the Kale and Orzo, cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes.

Season with Salt and Pepper to taste.

Serve with additional Parmesan and some Olive oil.

This was SOOOOOOO GOOOOOOD !!!! I got out the Panini Press, and made up a couple of Ham & Cheese sandwiches, It went great with the meatball soup. 

So there you have it. Another great Slow Cooker meal. You can prepare most of this ahead of time, then when you come home for lunch finish the prep.

And while you are at work, you can let your slow cooker do all the work.

When you get home, it's easy to cook up a sandwich, add the soup and have a great dinner.  WITHOUT GOING OUT TO EAT !!!

That's all the time we have for now, friends. I hope you come back next time for another easy to make recipe. 

Proving that if I can cook, SO CAN YOU!!!

See you then !!

STRAWBERRY TIRAMISU

Welcome back food friends for another exciting episode of "LET'S COOK"

The blog that proves that anyone can learn how to make a great meal at a great price.

Today we are going to the DESERT Tray for one of the BEST deserts I have ever made.

I found this recipe on FOOD AND WINE DOT COM .

We served this dish to friends a few week ago, and they LOVED it.

So grab a refreshing Adult Beverage and come along for the ride.

INGREDIENTS

2 TBL Orange Liqueur

2 tsp Balsamic Vinegar

1/8 tsp Kosher Salt

1 ½ LBS Fresh Strawberries (hulled and slices (4 Cups divided)

½ Cup PLUS 3 TBL granulated Sugar – divided

¼ Cup Strawberry Jam

4 Large Egg Yolks

1 ¼ Cup Heavy Whipping Cream

1 (8 ounce) container Mascarpone Cheese

1 tsp Grated Orange Zest (one small orange )

1 (7 ounce) package of Ladyfingers (about 24)

Stir together the liqueur, vinegar, salt, 3 CUPS of the Strawberries,  and 3 TBL of the sugar in a medium bowl Let stand, stirring occasionally, until the berries release some juices, about 15 minutes.

Transfer half of the mixture into a blender, add the Strawberry Jam and process until smooth. (about one minute )

Stir the pureed mixture back into the remaining Strawberry mixture in the bowl and set aside.

(The original post had an error, as one sentence got deleted. Here is the corrected paragraph)

Using an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks and remaining ½ Cup Sugar in a large bowl. Mix on High Speed until pale yellow and tripled in volume, about 4 minutes. Transfer mixture to a large bowl.

In another large bowl mix the cream on medium high speed until soft peaks from, about one minute.

Add the Mascarpone and Orange Zest, and beat on Medium Speed until soft and billowy, about 20 seconds.

Fold the Mascarpone mixture into the egg Yolk mixture.

Spread about 2/3 Cups of the Strawberry mixture evenly in the bottom of a 8 inch square baking pan until completely coated.

Top with a single layer of Ladyfingers (about 8 total) gently turning the Ladyfingers in the Strawberry mixture until completely coated.

Repeat layers of Strawberry mixture, Ladyfingers, and Mascarpone mixture 2 times, ending with the Mascarpone mixture.

Cover and refrigerate until firm. (At least 8 hours or up to 12)

Decorate the top of the Tiramisu with reaming cup of Strawberries in

alternating single rows.

Serve immediately.

How was it ?????  

 F A N T A S T I C.  Off the hook....Shut the Front Door.

And it was super easy. You really need to give this one a try. 

The Ladyfingers evolved into a 'cake like" texture. The flavor of the cheese was NOT overwhelming.

This recipe goes into the "Let's make this again" category.

So, that a wrap this time. Another delicious recipe from Let's Cook.

So what's next ???? I have a cool Chicken dish we had last night, as well as a Stir Fry that I really enjoyed..... That's the next two episodes of Let's Cook.

See you then.

God Seed Mother Nature

Grover Cleveland sends his love.....

 

COWBOY KENT'S BLUEBERRY LEMON MORNING CAKE

AND WELCOME BACK TO LET'S COOK.

Since I retired I spend a bit more of my time watching TV while at the computer writing.

I love the OLD Shows and they are abundant.

I enjoy the old Black and White Westerns of the 50's and 60's. And nothing says Western's more than RAWHIDE. As you may or may not know, it's where Clint Eastwood got his start.

But my favorite Rawhide character was good old Wishbone. (The Camp Cook) Played by the late Paul Brinegar, it was a fun character. 

And I love cooks.

I actually found a REAL Western Cattle Drive cook on You Tube and Penny bought me his book.

You can obtain your very own copy here:

 COWBOY KENT

 It is one of my favorite cook books. This book is worth having just for the PHOTOGRAPHY. You should also check out Kent's You Tube channel.

So let's grab a refreshing adult beverage and give Kent's version of BLUEBERRY LEMON MORNING CAKE a try. He calls it a breakfast cake. I call it DESERT.

 

INGREDIENTS

 

2 CUPS Blueberries (Fresh or Frozen)

3 CUPS A.P. Flour (plus ½ Cup if you use Frozen Berries)

1 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Salt

2 Sticks of Softened Butter

2 CUPS of Sugar

3 Large Eggs

1 CUP Lemon Yogurt

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Zest of one Lemon

Powdered Sugar for the Top

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees with the rack in the middle

Butter and Flour your Bundt Pan

If you are using Frozen Berries, toss them in a small bowl with ½ Cup of flour and set aside. If you are using FRESH Berries, then SKIP this step.

In a medium bowl. Combine the 3 Cups of Flour, the Baking powder, and the Salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl (or mixer) cream the butter and sugar together for about a minute, or until fluffy.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Mix in the Yogurt, the Vanilla Extract, and lemon zest.

Slowly mix the flour mixture into the wet mixture until combined. 

 If using Frozen berries, shift the flour out. 

 Fold the sifted frozen berries into the batter.

Scrape the batter into the bundt pan.

 

Bake for about an hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and let cool. Run a knife around the edges of the bundt pan to loosen. Place a plate on the bottom and flip the cake over onto the plate to remove it from the pan.

 Sprinkle with some powdered Sugar and serve at room temperature.

 

 So, how did it turn out ????? 

 Need I say more??? Not only did Penny and I love it, it also got the Presidential seal of approval..... 

President Grover Cleveland

You should really give this one a try. You can thank me later.

That's all the time we have for today folks. "Your all invited back next week to this locality...to have a heaping helping of" (way too much Beverly Hillbillies.) another desert that will knock your socks off. It's the best we ever made. We call it Strawberry Tiramisu.

That's next time on "Let's Cook." See you then,

God Speed, Mother Nature.