Tuesday, January 26, 2016

“Crab, Shrimp, and Corn Chowder Soup” To Keep You Warm On A "Soupy Tuesday"


Welcome to “Soupy Tuesday!” For those of you that are new to my blog…For the next few months I will be sharing a recipe for a delicious easy soup. As the days get colder, everyone enjoys a hot bowl of soup. We here on the East Coast had a Blizzard this passed weekend. I ended up with about 27 inches of snow with the drifts on Long Island. It took a few days to clear out. So this soup or any soup for that matter is like a welcoming friend. Warm and comforting…If you would like to see a special recipe for soup or have one that you want to share just email me at this address (angellite13(at)optimum(dot)net) or post something in the comments below. I will be happy to give you a shout out. Hope this keeps you warm and cozy for the next few months… 


******* I just want to "thank" all of you who have been sending well wishes and prayers to my mom who is in a rehab center for her back. She has been there since the beginning of December and her condition is getting better with her PT and OT, but she had a set back the weekend of the January 16th and was taken to the hospital for a blood transfusion. She is now back at the rehab and is trying to regain her strength. It is very slow going and my family thank you for your continuing prayers and thoughts. Also want to let you know that I will be only posting on “Soupy Tuesday” for a while. Thank you dear family and dear friends.**********
 


The soup that I would love to share with you today is called “Crab, Shrimp and Corn Chowder” Just as good as the satisfying chowders you find in restaurants along the New England coast, this creamy chowder can easily be made at home in less than an hour. Why not whip some up right now?

Crab, Shrimp, and Corn Chowder Soup

Serves: 6; 1 3/4 cups each

Ingredients:
4 slices bacon
1 medium sweet onion, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups Chicken Broth homemade or cans
2 teaspoons seafood seasoning
7 red potatoes or fingerling potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
2 cups frozen whole kernel corn
1 container (8 ounces) pasteurized refrigerated lump crabmeat
12 small shrimp, cooked, and deveined
1/2 cup heavy cream



Directions:
Cook the bacon in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until crisp. Remove the bacon from the saucepan and drain on paper towels. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons drippings from the saucepan. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion and garlic to the saucepan and cook until the onion is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir the broth, seafood seasoning, potatoes, and corn in the saucepan. Heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in the crabmeat and shrimp, plus add heavy cream and cook for 5 minutes or until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Divide the chowder among 6 bowls. Top each with about 1 tablespoon bacon. Serve with a big green salad and a chunk of crusty bread…to get up every bit…Enjoy!

*****Ingredient Note: If you can't find sweet onions, regular white or yellow onions will work in this recipe.


Till Next Time………………………………...

Copyright © 2016 “Family Plus Food Equals Love” All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

“Lasagna Soup” And My "5th" Year Blogiversary! Bring A Spoon!

“The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works, is family”  Lee Iacocca

Welcome to Soupy Tuesday!” Today is a special day for me as well as being Soupy Tuesday…. can you guess why? I’m celebrating 5 years of blogging. It’s my Blogiversary! I am amazed and blessed everyday at the amount of my readers that have visited. I have 161 countries and over 90,000 people who come back to visit and read my story as well as my recipes each week. Wow, that is impressive! My heart overflows with thanks for reading, subscribing, commenting, and liking what I write.


I had no idea how this blog would impact so many people, including myself. Since I have started this blog every one of you has made me feel that I have something important to say and share. My passion for writing, my family traditions, recipes, and new experiences have given me confidence and motivation. Blogging has given me the opportunity to share my personal stories, create friendships, and give me support. I am looking forward to new experiences, with new recipes to share. I hope that you will continue to come back as my journey of year “5” continues! There is so much more to be accomplished! So let’s celebrate!

Wow, times flies when you are busy baking and cooking. So glad that you are coming along for the ride on this journey of mine. As I have stated many times in  previous posts, this blog was for me to share my memories of my Italian family with all of you. That still holds true but it is also for you as well to share your memories and food thoughts along the way. “5” years going strong, and looking forward to doing better as a blogger within 2016. Along the way I have met amazing bloggers, friends, and an incredible online community from all parts of the world. I have also been introduced to many new cuisines. I hope that my recipes and stories have inspired you to create your own memories. 


Not everyone will understand why you blog, but it is okay. People you never would have expected will turn out to be your biggest supporters; unfortunately, the opposite is also true. But at the same time, the blogging world can also be like high school at times, very judgmental. It’s okay to only post when I really have something to say. But at the same time, you can’t take yourself too seriously. The most important thing — which I think about with every post — is to genuinely be myself. People have told me that I write as if I were talking to my girlfriends. I hope that’s how it comes across. 

It is time to move forward, and I promise I will be giving my best whenever possible. If you would like to see something different or have an idea, please comment below and let me know what I can do to make your stay more enjoyable. 


Today sounds like a day for comfort food. Comfort food is what we all need once in a while to bring back those warm days of being home with family. The kitchen was and still is the heart of our home. Our family did everything in the kitchen. It was a small room compared to the kitchens of today, but that made it even better as it was our gathering place. We would talk at the kitchen table; we did our homework there, and many other family projects. It always seemed that as my mother was cooking or baking we gravitated to that room. 


Maybe because it was a happy place to be with everyone while we were waiting for dinner. Sometimes my mom and dad would take out a deck of cards and play Kings Corners with us, remember at that time there weren't any of the electronic games or computers that we have today. Not even cell phones. We had one phone in the house with an extension that would go into my parent’s room. But the main phone was in the kitchen. So cards and board games were always at hand. I remember the kitchen windows would be foggy with steam from the warmth of the kitchen, as we tried to look out to see when my dad would be coming home from work.

As we had our dinner we would talk about the days events, and God forbid that the phone would ring and it was one of our friends, that was a no-no. Dinner time was for family and nothing could come between that. Now dinner was always a hearty and comforting meal, especially on cold days. Winter time meant meat loaf, stews, and hearty soups, were on the menu for those days. Soups were so good back then and good for you. My mom would always use fresh ingredients and the best meats as possible. So you can see that food and the kitchen were pure comfort to us when we were growing up and it was those times that meant something so special to all of us.



What better way to celebrate my blog’s anniversary is with some comfort food like hot “Soup?” January just happens to be, “National Soup Month.” It is like a warm blanket comforting you as you sip the soup from a cup or scoop it up with a spoon. With the winter weather upon us, January is the perfect month to celebrate and enjoy soup of all kinds. This soup that I am sharing with you today is one that really proves you can eat your Lasagna even in a soup. So get your fork or better a spoon you want to get every drop and let’s “mangia tutto!”---(eat together)

                                                               “Lasagna Soup
   
All the traditional flavors of lasagna come together in this heartwarming meal in a bowl.

Yield: 8 servings (2-3/4 quarts)


Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (14-1/2 oz) diced tomatoes, un-drained
2 cans (14-1/2 oz) reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 1/2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
2-1/2 cups uncooked cut up lasagna pasta
1/2 cup Grated Pecorino Romano cheese

*****Optional: 8 oz of Ricotta Cheese. You can take 1 oz of cheese and dollop a spoonful on top of the soup. I just makes it creamier and also tastes more like Lasagna. Also instead of Pecorino Romano you can use Mozzarella cheese sprinkled on top and even place in bowl in broiler to get it melted….yummy!

Directions:
Place olive oil in pot; heat in a large saucepan, cook beef, green pepper and onion over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Breaking up beef into crumbles. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in tomatoes, broth, tomato sauce, peas, tomato paste, Italian seasoning plus season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil. Stir in cut up lasagna. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 10-12 minutes or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and cheese at the end before serving.



Till Next Time……………………………….....................

Copyright © 2016 “Family Plus Food Equals Love” All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

A Yummy "Stone Soup" For A Cold "Soupy Tuesday"

Welcome to “Soupy Tuesday!” Hope that all of you had a magical holiday and that your New Year will be filled with all good things.. For those of you that are new to my blog…For the next few months I will be sharing a recipe for a delicious easy soup. As the days get colder, everyone enjoys a hot bowl of soup. If you would like to see a special recipe for soup or have one that you want to share just email me at ......(angellite13(at)optimum(dot)net) or post something in the comments below. I will be happy to give you a shout out. Hope this keeps you warm and cozy for the next few months…

******* I just want to thank all of you who have been sending well wishes to my mom who is in a rehab center for her back. She is coming along, but it is very slow going and thank you for your prayers and thoughts. Also want to let you know that I will be only posting on “Soupy Tuesday” for a while. I also want to mention that on January 18th is my “5th” year Blog Anniversary. So please come back on next Tuesday the 19th for that, I have so much to be grateful for. Thank you dear family and friends.**********



 
The soup that I would love to share with you today is called “Stone Soup.” I remember when my son Paul, was young and in school, he had a teacher called Sister Grace Ann, at St. Kevin’s, which is located in Flushing. Sister Grace Ann asked each child to bring in a flat stone so they could make “Stone Soup.” You can imagine what questions I got from my son, “Are we going to eat the stone?” etc. It was such a wonderful lesson that he learned and we had so much fun looking for a flat stone, which he brought to school for class that day. All the children were glued to Sister Grace Ann as she told the story of “Stone Soup.” The classic tale tells of three hungry travelers who encourage an entire community to work together to make a feast fit for a king. It starts with water and a stone, and slowly the soup builds into a healthy and hearty meal with everyone contributing an important ingredient. Much more than a classic folk tale, “Stone Soup” is an inspirational story about the strength people possess when they work together.



“Stone Soup,” is a folk tale told all over the world and is a parable about the sharing of resources, particularly in times of scarcity. In the tale, a community who think they have no food to spare when strangers enter the village asking for a meal, create a nourishing soup by unwittingly working together. They each contribute an invaluable ingredient after being asked to help add a little something to improve the flavor of a soup that the strangers are preparing, using only boiling water and a simple stone. (I should probably mention here that the stones are not actually eaten!) Before long, a delicious pot of soup has been made, to feed villagers and strangers alike. In the story, the stone serves as a tool to bring people together but it could also be a button, nail, shoe, or anything that you might carry with you. 


“Stone Soup” has been made many times and it is one of my favorite "recipes" because there is no recipe! Just water, stones, and just whatever food you have available. There is no secret to stone soup, but one thing is certain, it takes many people, sharing what they can to make a great feast.

So, come on in and create a big pot with your family and friends.. Here is a simple but enjoyable recipe that will bring everyone together for a delicious soup. Don’t forget to find that flat stone, which is an important ingredient in making your own “Stone Soup.”

Stone Soup

Number of servings: 8



Ingredients:
1 large cleaned flat stone
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
2 potatoes, peeled & chopped
2 large carrots, peeled & sliced
4 cups chicken broth, homemade

vegetable stock, or water
1 cup tomato sauce
1- 15.5 oz can corn, drained
1- 14.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes
1 to 2 cups cooked meat (Chicken or Turkey)
1 cup cooked beans (your choice)
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper and peas
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning mix 
Salt and pepper to taste


Directions:
In a large stockpot, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring, on medium-low for five minutes. Place a stone in bottom of pot. Add the potatoes and carrots and stir. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes. Stir in the broth and puree. Add the corn, tomatoes, meat, beans, peppers, peas, and seasonings. Stir well and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Adjust seasonings.

Till Next Time………………………………...

Copyright © 2016 “Family Plus Food Equals Love” All Rights Reserved