Chorizo-Cod-Potato Stew

This is a Rachael Ray recipe that can be found in her Express Lane Meals cookbook. There are three sections in the cookbook: Meals for the Exhausted, Meals for the Not Too Tired, and Bring It On (But, Be Gentle). This is in the Meals for the Exhausted section; you normally only need to buy a few things for these recipes on your way home from work. If you follow her recommendations on what to keep on hand, the only things you need to buy for this meal would be the chorizo and cod.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 lb chorizo sausage or 1/2 lb andouille sausage, thinly sliced
• 5 red or white boiling potatoes, cut in half, then thinly sliced into half moons
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled, thinly sliced in half, and sliced into half moons
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• salt
• black pepper
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced fired-roasted tomatoes
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 2 jarred roasted red peppers, chopped
• 1 1/2 lbs fresh cod, cut into 2-inch chunks
• 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions:

1. 1
   Preheat a soup pot over med-high heat with the oil.
2. 2
   Add in the sliced chorizo; cook/stirring frequently, for 2 minutes.
3. 3
   Add in the potatoes; continue to cook for 2 minutes.
4. 4
   Add in the onions, carrots, and garlic; season with salt and pepper, and cook/stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.
5. 5
   Add in the white wine and cook for 3 minutes.
6. 6
   Add the tomatoes, chicken stock, and red peppers; bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
7. 7
   You want the soup to be at a gently simmer before you add the fish so, if necessary, turn the heat down a little.
8. 8
   Add in the cod; gently simmer 3-4 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through.
9. 9
   Finish the soup with the parsley; taste for seasonings and serve.
   
   
   
   
   

Leek and Potato Soup

Irish Nachos

This is a fantastic and smart way of a deconstructed Corned Beef and Cabbage with Potatoes. It is very clever and so stinking yummy! Some of this may sound odd, shouldn't go together, or bleh. However, PLEASE try this! I promise it will be worth your time. I was nervous and only bought half of the corned beef. It was enough but the called amount probably would have been better. We used Coors Light because it was what we had.

Ingredients

• 1 20- to 24-ounce bag waffle fries
• 2 tablespoons EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 pound deli-sliced corned beef, chopped
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 small head green cabbage, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup light beer
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 cup shredded white cheddar cheese
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  Preparation

  Preheat oven to 450ºF.Arrange the waffle fries on a baking sheet and cook according to package directions, adding about 10 minutes onto the baking time to make them extra crispy.
  
  When the fries have about 10 minutes left, place a medium skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons. Add the corned beef to the skillet and sauté until light golden brown and heated through, 2-3 minutes.
  
  Add the onions and cabbage to the pan, and cook until the onions have softened and cabbage has wilted, 4-5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and reserve warm.
  
  While the veggies are cooking, place a medium pot over medium-high heat and melt the butter. Add the flour to the pot and cook for about a minute.
  
  Whisk the beer into the mixture and cook for about 30 seconds to cook off the alcohol. Whisk the chicken stock into the pan and bring up to a bubble. Simmer until thickened, 2-3 minutes, then remove from heat and stir in the cheese to melt. Season the sauce with salt and pepper
  
  To serve, arrange the crispy waffle fries on a platter, top them with the corned beef and cabbage mixture and douse with a good helping of cheese sauce.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Roasted-Potato Pennette

When the hubby and I were considering being vegetarian for a week, we found this Rachael Ray recipe. It is mostly pasta and potatoes so it is very filling. It was not as good as leftovers but that's just because it was so good freshly cooked.

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 large baking potatoes (aboout 1-1/2 pounds)
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 pound small tube pasta, such as pennette rigate
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 3 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
• 
  

DIRECTIONS:

1. Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 450°. Cut the potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the potatoes with 3 tablespoons olive oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; arrange in an even layer. Roast until golden and crisp at the edges, 25 to 30 minutes

2. Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and transfer to a bowl. Add the parsley, butter and remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss. Season with salt and pepper; add the potatoes and toss again.

Baked Potato Soup

So this is a Cooking Light recipe that we made tonight. Pretty much amazing. I love the fact that the potatoes were baked before making it into the soup and that they were not pureed. It was so good to have some pieces of potato in the soup. It was also good because the weather is turning colder...and we have TONS of this leftover for later on in the week. This can be made into a vegetarian soup by leaving out the bacon.

Yield

8 servings (serving size: about 1 1/2 cups soup, 1 1/2 teaspoons cheese, 1 1/2 teaspoons onions, and about 1 tablespoon bacon)

Ingredients

• 4  baking potatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds)
• 2/3  cup  all-purpose flour (about 3 ounces)
• 6  cups  2% reduced-fat milk
• 1  cup  (4 ounces) reduced-fat shredded extrasharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 1  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 1  cup  reduced-fat sour cream
• 3/4  cup  chopped green onions, divided
• 6  bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
• Cracked black pepper (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°.

Pierce potatoes with a fork; bake at 400° for 1 hour or until tender. Cool. Peel potatoes; coarsely mash.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Place flour in a large Dutch oven; gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended. Cook over medium heat until thick and bubbly (about 8 minutes). Add mashed potatoes, 3/4 cup cheese, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, stirring until cheese melts. Remove from heat.

Stir in sour cream and 1/2 cup onions. Cook over low heat 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated (do not boil). Ladle 1 1/2 cups soup into each of 8 bowls. Sprinkle each serving with 1 1/2 teaspoons cheese, 1 1/2 teaspoons onions, and about 1 tablespoon bacon. Garnish with cracked pepper, if desired.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

329 (30% from fat)

Fat:

10.8g (sat 5.9g,mono 3.5g,poly 0.7g)

Protein:

13.6g

Carbohydrate:

44.5g

Fiber:

2.8g

Cholesterol:

38mg

Iron:

1.1mg

Sodium:

587mg

Calcium:

407mg