Thai Coconut Soup

I am big fan of all sorts of Asian cuisine, especially Thai!  I love the creamy coconut and lemongrass flavors found in so many dishes.  One of my favorites has always been Tom Kha Gai, a soup made of broth, lemongrass, ginger, mushrooms and coconut milk.  I know I could have easily tracked down all of the ingredients for the authentic recipe, but I was sooo hungry for this soup the other day, I decided to make due with the ingredients that I already had in the kitchen.  I have to say, for having only half of the real ingredients, I was able to mimic the real thing pretty well!

Thai Coconut Soup

 Here's what you'll need:

Thai Coconut Soup

5 cups water
6 tablespoons chicken flavored broth base (I use Orrington Farms)
2 medium or 1 large raw chicken breasts, about 12oz total
8 oz sliced mushrooms
1 - 14oz can coconut milk
1 Tbl  lime juice
1 1/2 Tbl lemon juice
1/4 tsp dried red pepper flakes
3 green onions, diced
1 cup jasmine rice, cooked (optional)

PRINTABLE RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS!!

Happy Sunday Funday!

xo

Fresh Strawberry "Short" Cake

Helllooooo sweet yummies!!

Are you looking for a fresh cake to wow your loved one on Valentine's Day, or 'just because'?  If so, this cake is for you.  I made this fresh strawberry cake for the hubby last weekend.  After battling with a triple layer super hero cake for my nephew, my husband quietly walked past the kitchen and mumbled, "I wish I could have a cake."

"Oh! Lovey, right away!!"  I spent the rest of my evening searching around for a recipe to use with the fresh strawberries I had just picked up.  After much searching for a recipe that did not require cake flour, I stumbled across a recipe for fresh strawberry cupcakes that used all-purpose flour.  JACKPOT!

I had all the ingredients...

Fresh Strawberry "Short" Cake

I don't have all that much experience with making cakes from scratch, so I had no clue how this cupcake recipe would turn out at as a cake.  I went with my gut that if box cake recipes can be cupcakes, then this cupcake recipe could be a cake!!! I hoped for the best, tasted the raw batter and became very excited because the batter tasted just like Bisquick shortcakes with strawberries and millk!!  As a baked cake, it still tastes very similar.

In the photo above, please note that I made 2 cakes and a double batch of frosting.  I chose not to double the cake recipe, but make to make two separate batches because I remembered reading once that you shouldn't double your baking recipes because it often won't work out the same as a single batch.  Does anyone know why that is? 

If you're a layer cake connoisseur, you'll notice that this cake is not perfect; the bottom layer is thinner than the top layer.  I'm pretty sure the cakes didn't turn out exact because I'm impatient and didn't wait for my eggs and milk to get to room temperature for the first cake, but the second, fluffier cake,  I did.

In the end, I felt that the flavor of the cake is incredible.  It was a bit dense for my preference, but I'm assuming that was because I didn't exactly follow the original directions.  I am considering the next time I make this cake, I'll either add 1/4 teaspoon  baking soda, or patiently wait for my ingredients to reach room temperature.  Probably the latter.

So, with that, here's what you'll need:

fresh strawberries

all-purpose flour

baking powder

coarse salt

pure vanilla extract

milk

unsalted butter

large eggs

confectioner's sugar

PRINTABLE RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS!!

Quick Beer Bread

Need a hearty bread to make with a warm, comforting stew this Fall?  Try a quick beer bread!!

Beer bread is commonly known as "3-ingredient" beer bread, but mine is not.  It could be, if I had some self-rising flour, but I don't; I made do by adding a leavening agent (baking powder).

Quick Beer Bread

Beer bread is soooo easy.  You can use any type of beer you like.  I used a Coors Banquet Beer because it's what we had in the house.  I was hoping to find a nice wheat beer in the refrigerator, but the only other beers were ridiculously overpriced my husband's specialty craft brews, which I new better than to waste in a bread!!  Wanna give it a go?  Here's what you'll need:

Quick Beer Bread

3 C flour**
3t baking powder**
1 1/2  t salt**

3 T sugar
12 oz beer (1 can)

**You can replace these ingredients with 3 cups self-rising flour if you have it in your pantry**

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix dry ingredients, add beer.

Combine well.

Bake in a bread pan for approximately 50 minutes.

PRINTABLE RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS!

Beef Barbacoa

Oh. My. Yum.  I looooove, love, love, love this Mexican style beef barbecue!!  Through slow cooking the beef with all the earthy seasonings, these bad boys are full in flavor, and in HEAT!

I'm a big fan of the beef barbacoa at Chipotle, so I just knew I had to try making it at home.  After perusing the internet for a few weeks hours, I decided to play with the flavors that most beef barbacoa recipes tend to have.  This is my second time making it, so I made a few slight changes to my liking (or to what I had in my kitchen!!)

Trust me when I say, YOU  MUST MAKE THESE NOW!!  

Beef Barbacoa (Source)

I found most recipes required you to slow cook your beef in a cast iron pot, turning once every hour.  I took my chances and cooked it in a slow cooker like a pot roast, and ta-da!!!  I served mine on a bed of rice and black beans with fire roasted tomatoes.

Beef Barbacoa

Yuh-um!  Here's what you'll need:

Beef Barbacoa

1/3 C Apple Cider Vinegar
4 T fresh lime juice
1 small yellow onion, peeled and quartered
6 cloves garlic, peeled
3T + 1t cumin
2t oregano
1 1/2 t salt
1 t black pepper
3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
3-4 T canola oil
3 lbs beef roast (I used chuck)
2 cups chicken broth

Printable Recipe & Instructions!

Happy Sunday Monday Funday!!

Frangelico Cream

Tomorrow is my mister's birthday.  We'll be going out for dinner and dessert tomorrow, so he asked if I could make his birthday dessert a day early.  Sounds like a Sunday Funday to me!!!

It has become a tradition over the past few years that I make Frangelico Cream for him on his birthday.  This neat, rich dessert is a favorite that his grandmother used to make for him.  Before we were married, he described this dessert with such  intensity that I asked my MIL to find the recipe for me.  After surprising him with the recipe once, the request comes in every October!

 

Frangelico Cream

My hubby's taste for very rich desserts is always satisfied after having two one large serving.  However, one small serving is more than enough for me.  Trust me when I say it is very, very rich!!  I highly recommend you serve this dessert to your dinner guests.  You will wow them with intense flavor without having to sweat all day over making dessert.

Frangelico Cream

1 1/2 cups superfine baker's sugar

3 egg yolks

1 t pure vanilla extract

24 oz cream cheese, room temperature

2 T Frangelico Hazelnut Liquer

1 pint (16oz) heavy whipping cream

PRINTABLE RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS!

Beat the sugar, egg yolks and vanilla until light and fluffy.

(Save the egg whites for a healthy breakfast!)

Sugar + Yolks + Vanilla

Blend in softened cream cheese and Frangelico

Cream Cheese Mixture

In a separate bowl, beat whipping cream until stiff.

Fold whipping cream into the cream cheese mixture

Whipping Cream and Cream Cheese Mixture Before Folding

Spoon into dessert cups or martini glasses and chill for

3 or more hours.

ENJOY!!

Dunskees

Happy Sunday Funday!!

Butternut Squash Soup with Sweet Italian Sausage

Today was a simple Sunday Funday!  I enjoyed a late afternoon lunch at my MIL's bridal shower, so there was no cooking to be had in my kitchen today!

Fortunately, one of my best gal pals and fellow foodie, Kellie, sent me a picture of a butternut squash soup that she and I had been talking about for a couple weeks.  Like myself, Kellie has been trying new recipes with ingredients she doesn't usually cook with, and has been especially interested in soups, too!  (Must be the cold weather in these midwest states!!)

In previous discussions about soup recipes, Kel and I have been trying to come up with ways to thicken our soups without adding all the fat and calories.  I've pureed rice in soup, added a small amount of flour and lowfat milk, or simply pureed an entire soup.  In approaching this recipe, Kellie decided to completely eliminate the original recipe's request of heavy cream and just enjoy her soup with a thinner texture.  I haven't personally tried this soup, but if Kellie made it and raved about it's delicious flavors, I believe her!!  I can't wait to make this one myself!!

Kellie's Butternut Squash Soup with Sweet Italian Sausage

Butternut Squash Soup with Sweet Italian Sausage

adapted from Emeril Lagasse's Food Network Recipe

1 large butternut squash, about 3 pounds, halved, seeds removed
2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage, removed from casings
1 large onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage, plus 12 whole leaves
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
6 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
2 tablespoons butter

PRINTABLE RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS!

Pumpkin Soup with (Turkey) Italian Sausage

I have officially made the best pumpkin soup!  I've never had another pumpkin soup, but this one is sooo incredibly delicious, I'm sure it's the best!  Problem is, we ate it all up before I had a chance to shoot a photo of it.  I intended to make the soup again today because I need pictures it was so delicious, but with the recent pumpkin shortage, I'm having a hard time find more pie pumpkins!  Luckily this recipe was adapted from A Mom Not a Pro, so here is a picture of her soup.  Mine looked identical, though the ingredients and methods were slightly altered by yours truly.

Pumpkin Soup with Turkey Italian Sausage (SOURCE)

I kid you not, this soup is fantastic.  It was so good that my mister ate it for lunch AND dinner the next day.  I was also told by my friend's husband that if I opened a soup kitchen, he'd eat there every day (he's also had my homemade chicken noodle soup, which is coming soon).  Open a soup kitchen?  Gladly!!  Just provide the financial backing and the health insurance to replace my current job and I'M ON IT!  No seriously, someone please pay me to cook all day Just kidding!!

Here's what you'll need:

Pumpkin Soup with (Turkey) Italian Sausage

1 3-pound Pie Pumpkin

Yellow Onion

Carrots

1 Golden Delicious Apple

Dried Sage

Flour

Honey

Nutmeg

Chicken Stock

Buttermilk

Fresh Romano cheese

Turkey Italian Sausage

Salt & Pepper

PRINTABLE RECIPE & INSTRUCTIONS!!

In the printable recipe you'll see that I have suggested using Jennie-O Hot Italian Turkey Sausage, casing removed.  I chose this because it's healthier than regular pork sausage, but also because the seasonings in the sausage transfer to the soup very well, providing a lot of heat and flavor.  In hindsight, the soup was also probably thick enough to omit the flour and milk to save calories.  So, use your best judgment when making this.
I was also surprised how hard it was to cut through the pie pumpkin, so if you have your mister around, take full advantage of his muscles if he is handy in the kitchen.

Happy Sunday Funday!!