Flank Steak Stir Fry

I found this recipe because I had some flank steak and no idea what to do with it. It just so happened that asparagus AND red peppers were on sale. It was providence! So so yummy! If you like asparagus you will LOVE this. Jared wished he had doubled the sauce, but he likes things extra saucy. I think it was fine as it was.

Flank Steak Stir Fry with Asparagus and Red Peppers

3 T vegetable oil

1 lb asparagus trimmed and cut into 2" pieces

1 lb flank steak sliced into long, thin strips

2 red bell peppers sliced into strips

2 t cornstarch dissolved into 3 T water

all purpose stir fry sauce

3 T soy sauce

1 t finely chopped, fresh ginger (i didn't have fresh so I used powdered)

1 sm clove garlic, minced or pressed

1 green onion, including green tops, chopped finely

1/2 t chili oil ( I used 1/2 t vegetable oil with a dash of cayenne pepper)

1. While chopping ingredients, bring a small saucepan of water to boil. Parboil the asparagus for two minutes, drain, rinse with cold water, drain again and set aside. If you are planning to serve this dish with rice start that now.

2.Prepare the all purpose stir fry sauce by combining ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

3. Stir fry the asparagus in a wok (or thick bottomed pan with at least 2" sides that can take high heat) in 1 T of oil, on high heat, for about 2 minutes until lightly browned. Remove asparagus from the pan and set aside.

4. Add another 1 T of oil to the pan and stir fry the beef strips, in two batches if necessary, for 2-3 minutes until browned but still pink inside. Return the first batch of beef to the pan and add the bell pepper. Stir and toss over high heat until just beginning to wilt, 1-2 minutes.

5. Quickly stir the cornstarch liquid and add it to the pan along with the stir fry sauce. Cook until sauce thickens, 1-2 minutes. Return the asparagus to the pan, toss to evenly coat and serve with steamed rice

Acorn Squash Soup

All I can say is YUM! We had this with some yummy, crusty bread and it filled us right up!

Acorn Squash Soup

• 1 small onion
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
• 1/2 teaspoon dill weed
• 1/4 teaspoon curry powder
• dash cayenne pepper
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
• 3 cups mashed cooked acorn squash
• 1/2 cube cream cheese
• salt and pepper to taste
• 5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

1. In a large saucepan, saute the onion and celery in butter. Stir in flour, bouillon, dill, curry and cayenne until blended. Gradually add broth and milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add the squash, salt and pepper; heat through.
2. In a blender, process the soup in batches until smooth, add cream cheese at this point into one of the batches. Pour into bowls; garnish with bacon.

chicken and dumpling soup

Yet another recipe from Melanie at Mel's kitchen cafe. I swear over half of my weekly menu comes from her site!

Chicken and Vegetable Dumpling Soup

*Serves 6

Chicken and Broth:
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
2-3 chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
*I did two chicken breasts, but after I shredded it it seemed like way too much, so I halved it. Next time I'll only do one.*

Vegetables:
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 large carrots (6-7 baby carrots), chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup frozen peas
*I double the veggies because I like them :)*


Dumplings:
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme or sage
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil

In a large pot, boil the chicken broth, water and chicken breasts until the chicken is cooked through and tender (about 15 minutes). Remove the chicken from the pot, reserving the broth in the pot, and shred the chicken with two forks. Set the chicken aside and keep the broth warm on the stove.

While the chicken is boiling, in a large skillet, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the celery, carrots and onions. Saute for about 6-7 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Add the vegetables to the hot broth in the pot after the chicken has been removed. Add salt, thyme and pepper to the vegetable/broth mixture and stir to combine. Heat the soup to a simmer.

In a small bowl, blend ½ cup cold water and 1/4 cup flour with a wire whisk until smooth. Whisking vigorously, slowly add the flour mixture into the hot vegetables and broth and whisk until well combined. Add ½ cup frozen peas and the reserved chicken and cook, stirring gently for one minute.

For the dumplings, in a medium bowl, stir together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine sour cream, milk and oil. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined (don't overmix, it is ok if there are a few dry spots of flour here and there).

Heat the soup to boiling and drop teaspoonful amounts (the dumplings should be small, they'll expand while cooking) of dumpling dough into the boiling soup, covering the entire surface of the soup (don't make more than one layer of dumplings). Reduce the heat to simmering, cover and let the dumplings cook for 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid of the pot while the dumplings cook.

When the dumplings have cooked fully, remove the lid and gently stir the dumplings to break them apart. Serve.

Dry Onion Soup Mix

Dry Onion Soup Mix

3/4 c instant minced onion (1 bottle of the 5th season brand at Walmart is the exact amount)
1/3 c beef bouillon granules
4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp celery salt
1/4 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp white pepper

Mix all ingerdients together well. Store up to 6 months in cool dry place. Stir before each use. 5 TBS of mix is equal to 1 package of purchased soup mix

Cranberry Crunch

Cranberry Crunch
3 c unpeeled apples, chopped
1 16 oz can whole cranberry sauce
2 TBS butter, melted
1 c quick- cooking oatmeal
1/3 c light brown sugar
1/4 c flour
1/4 c chopped walnuts

Combine apples and cranberry sauce. Spread in 8x8 in pan Combine remaining ingredients and spread over apple/cranberry mixture. Bake 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm. If I have them I add dried craisins to the mix also.