Pinterest Recipe: Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

It's been soooo chilly here the last week or two that I thought it would be a great time to try out a soup recipe that's been simmering on my Pinterest board for quite some time. 

Since Russ loves cheese tortellini I thought I'd start with this one. In retrospect, I'd probably do a double batch because we only got about five decent bowls of it and I would have liked to have had some leftovers. 

Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup from recipeswagger.blogspot.com

2 whole large Cloves Of Garlic Minced
2 Tbl Olive Oil
2 10 3/4 oz Cans of Condensed Tomato Soup
1/4 cup Sun Dried Tomatoes, chopped or 2 Tbl Of Sun Dried Tomato Paste
2 cups Half-and-half
2 cups Chicken Stock or Vegetable Stock
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 Tbl Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1 whole 9 Oz Package Of Cheese Filled Tortellini
1/2 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese, for garnish

Saute garlic with the olive oil in a large stock pot over medium heat until golden brown.
Be sure to keep an eye on it so it doesn’t get too brown or burnt.
When the garlic is done, add tomato soup, tomatoes, half and half, chicken stock and spices.
Bring to a simmer.
Once simmering, drop tortellini into the soup. Cook according to the package directions.
After tortellini are cooked, ladle soup into bowls and top with parmesan cheese.

Pinterest Recipe: Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Muffins

I've been trying to find some more good recipes out there that we can possibly serve on the truck. We are very anti-cupcake (because I think those are boring and overhyped and annoying) but pro-muffin. So, I've been trying out some muffin recipes to see what's out there that will be delicious.

Since my last foray into muffins was such a disgusting disaster (see: The Healthy Muffin Incident), I decided to go back to basics for a simple chocolate chip muffin.

Scrolling through Pinterest I found Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Muffins from The Curvy Carrot. The recipe seemed simple enough and promised a delicious cake-like muffin texture so I gave it a try. 

Chocolate Chip Sour Cream Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour 

2/3 cup granulated sugar

3/4 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 large egg

1 cup sour cream

5 tbsp unsalted butter, melted 

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 

Instructions:

1.) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2.) Line muffin pan with liners (not necessary, I didn't.) 

3.) In a large bowl mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

4.) In another large bowl combine melted butter, egg, sour cream, and vanilla and mix well.

5.) Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir well with a rubber spatula until just combined.

6.) Add the chocolate chips and mix gently until combined. 

7.) Evenly divide the batter in the muffin tin. 

8.) Bake about 14-18 minutes until a tester inserted into muffin comes out clean.

They were very good and very simple to make. They were moist and wonderful even the next day, I would definitely make this recipe again. I added a few more chocolate chips to the top before baking with I think made them look better presentation-wise. 

Recipe: Cayenne-Rubbed Chicken with Avocado Salsa

Today I'm going to share one of my favorite dinner recipes that I've been using for the last three years after I stumbled upon it at Martha Stewart's website. 

(Side note: is it a bad thing that I share other people's recipes? I mean, I'm not trying to take credit for it at all and I always credit my sources like a good little college student but I've been reading some comments online about other blogs and a lot of people were cutting on the blogger for not using original recipes. I just like to share things that I've tried and I know are good- not to take credit but instead to just share.) Anyways...

Here's the link to Martha Stewart's site where you can find her recipe... Or, you can have it right here:

Martha Stewart's Cayenne Rubbed Chicken with Avocado Salsa

• Coarse salt and ground pepper
  1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, (6 to 8 ounces each)
  2 tablespoons olive oil
  1 medium red onion, finely diced
  2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  1 Hass avocado, pitted and cut into chunks
  
  1.) In a small bowl combine 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, and cayenne. Rub over chicken.
  2.) In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add chicken and cook until browned on the outside and opaque throughout; 8 to 10 minutes per side.
  3.) Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine onion and lime juice; set aside. Just before serving, fold avocado chunks into onion mixture; season with salt and pepper. Serve chicken topped with salsa. 

It's a great Summery meal that's actually a pretty healthy main dish. This is definitely a favorite around here!

Recipe: Caramel Pecan Brownie Pie

It's been such a long time since I made a new pie! I have been looking for a new pie recipe to try but nothing really hit me until I stumbled upon Caramel Pecan Brownie Pie. Who could turn down a brownie pie, honestly?!

I found the recipe at The Militant Baker (and I loved her blog so much that I spent days going back through her archives). 

Here's the easy recipe:

Combine:

1/2 c melted butter
1/2 sugar
1/2 brown sugar 
1 tsp vanilla

Add 3 eggs one at a time, thoroughly combining one at a time. 

Then add:

1/2 c flour

1/2 c cocoa

1/4 tsp salt

Mix and pour into crust and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

You can either pour on your caramel after it comes out of the oven or wait until it cools. Then, add the pecans on top. (The original recipe also has directions for making your own caramel but... I just used the store-bought kind for now.)

I also had some leftover dipping chocolate that I melted and drizzled over the top for extra fanciness! 

Just bask in this deliciousness. Below is the only piece of the pie that I got to eat because by the time I got home from work the next day the pie pan was empty...

I guess that means that this pie is a winner!

Pinterest Recipe: Oreo Mallow Bars

According to Pinterest, I pinned this recipe 31 weeks ago and haven't tried it yet! I don't know why... maybe it was just too simple and thus, boring? It's rice krispie treats minus the rice krispies and Oreos in its place. Super simple, fast and messy. Seriously, if you hate washing dishes you will loathe this recipe. If you're one of those people who will use a bowl and get it nice and gross and then put it in the sink, fill it with water and leave it... this recipe will be perfect for you. (Because, that's what I did. The marshmallow goo = cement. Seriously.) 

Oreo Mallow Bars

One 16 oz package of Oreo Cookies

5 cups large marshmallows
4 tablespoons butter

Butter an 8X8 inch baking pan. Line the baking pan with parchment paper letting the paper extend up two sides of the pan and overhang slightly on both ends. Butter paper; set pan aside.

In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade, pulse Oreos until ground.
In a large, microwave safe bowl, melt butter and marshmallows in the microwave until puffed, about 1½ - 2 minutes. Stir in ground Oreo Cookies until combined. Transfer to prepared baking pan. Using a piece of wax paper, press mixture evenly into prepared pan.
Let set up for at least 10 minutes. Cut into bars and serve.

The verdict? Well, they were pretty unexciting, to me. They weren't bad but I don't see myself craving to make these anytime soon either. But then again, doesn't every have just lukewarm okay feelings about rice krispies anyway? Was I expecting too much from a three ingredient recipe? Maybe. 

Pinterest Recipe: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

When two of the best things in the world (peanut butter and chocolate) collide, it can be magical. That's about the right adjective to describe these cookies.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies 

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup (225 grams) crunchy or creamy peanut butter
1 1/4 cup (225 grams) brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (200 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar on medium high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl as necessary. Mix in the vanilla extract and egg.
3. In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the stand mixer and mix on medium low speed until combined. Add the chocolate chips and mix on low until just combined.
4. Scoop into 1/4 cup rounds (1 1/2 tablespoon rounds for regular sized cookies) and place on prepared sheet pan. Bake until cookies just begin to turn brown, 12-15 minutes (8-10 minutes for regular sized cookies). Do not over bake.
5. Let cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then place on a wire rack to cool completely. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Usually when I make cookies my dough doesn't come out nearly as perfectly. But in this recipe, the dough couldn't have been more beautiful. It was perfectly doughy and easily rollable to make round, gorgeous cookies.

The cookies came out soft, chewy and delicious. I'm definitely writing down and saving this recipe for later!

New Year's Eve and a Pinterest Recipe: Cheesy Sausage Burger Sliders

We had a relatively low key New Year's Eve around here... watched some television, muted Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve because the music was awful (but watching Ryan Seacrest get hit in the face with balloons in Times Square was hilarious...). I tried to search for a picture right now but I guess no one else noticed the abuse he was suffering? 

We made some delicious appetizer-y things like Buffalo Chicken Dip and we tried out an easy Pinterest recipe that was simple, delicious, and of course not too healthy (but isn't that what resolutions are for??). 

Cheesy Sausage Burger Sliders 

1 lb hot sausage
1 lb ground beef
1 lb Velveeta 
2 packages dinner rolls/ slider buns

Brown the sausage and ground beef together.

Drain the fat and add the cubed Velveeta.

Once the Velveeta melts, serve it immediately!

It was such an easy little appetizer meal that I'll definitely be making it again.

Between the burgers and the chicken dip, I had to force-feed us some veggies.

Gizmo watched enviously as we ate our chicken dip.

And tried to sneak some dip bites when we weren't looking. Who knew that a cat could like buffalo chicken dip? 

I hope everyone had a lovely New Years (and maybe next year I'll get to go down and watch the fireworks at the Space Needle!).