January Recipe Favorites

January is cold for most people and everyone thinks of recipes to warm the body and soul. I particularly like a cup of tea and the flavors offered now a days are wide spread, like cinnamon, green tea, and peach, to name a few. I recently found this wonderful refreshing tea called "Grapefruit Tea" see the video with Martha Stewart showing how to make it exactly! mmnnnn good!!

But, tea is not the only favorite, how about a bowl of hot chili, or a steaming plate of pot roast or beef stew. And sitting by a fire later in the evening sipping on a hot cup of cocoa...yum yum....

When I heard of temps in my home town were 20' BELOW zero, I thanked God I was living on the west coast. My old bones would ache in that kind of cold. On days like those (and most other winter days) all I really want is a hot bowl of soup!! I love chicken noodle but there are many kinds that have loads of health benefits, and they are usually pretty inexpensive to make, and makes great leftovers.

Plus, once you have made a huge batch of soup, you can share it with friends or neighbors? I love the idea of a soup swap and here is my VIRTUAL soup swap!! If you have a favorite soup recipe, post it in the comments or leave me a link to it and I will be sure to post all the links here to share with everyone.

Here's a favorite soup - Vegetable Soup recipe from Char:

• Saute finely chopped garlic, onions, celery and carrots in olive oil until wilty
• Add organic vegetable stock (Swanson), some Maggi beef stock, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
• Season with salt and pepper, you can use Herbamare seasoning
• Add can of diced tomatoes, frozen peas and corn, sliced carrots, celery and onion
• chop up some cabbage and add that later
• Bring to a boil and simmer.
• You can add just about anything but this soup is just good!!

Some other links:

• Tortilla soup
• Minnistrone
• Cheddar Cheese
• Cheddar Cheese Broccoli
• Corn Chowder
  

Miz Allie's Escape,Flowers, Homemade Soup, and Yum!!!

Now this is what Miz Allie Cat did to the hidden cat nip??? Well not too hidden, she found it and ate it all and got it all over the diningroom floor....grrrrrrrr

My flowers are blooming.....this is a beautiful Morning Glory one I shot.....DH got me a new tea pot to hold my tea. I seen it at Polly's Pies and loved it and he remembered and got it for me for my B day...Wasn't that great??

I was thinking of homemade soup and was watching Tyler and he gave 4 tips, sea salt, fresh cracked pepper, lemon juice sqeezed from a fresh lemon, and fresh herbs like oregeno....he claims that your soup will be spectactular....

Let's make a yummy dessert, I love Bread Pudding mainly because I love the cinnamon and hot dessert...here is an easy recipe to make some scrumptious pudding...

Bread Pudding Recipe

Bread pudding is a dessert that was born of necessity long ago. It was a recipe cooked up by thrifty homemakers to use every bit of leftovers in interesting ways to feed their families. This bread pudding, from an old Amish cookbook, is absolutely incredible.
It is definitely a comfort food, and can be made richer with cinnamon sauce or caramel sauce. You can also substitute berries in place of the raisins for a delicious change of pace. It is a fairly basic bread pudding recipe, but it is truly the soul satisfying treat that most people crave. Nothing beats warm bread pudding on a cold or rainy night.
What do people that love bread pudding also tend to reach for as a treat? Check out our Monkey Bread Recipe for a sweeter, cinnamon-laden delight, or Banana Pudding for a luscious, creamy southern favorite. If you're truly throwing those calorie counts out the window (and we all need to once in a while!), take a look at the cheesecake recipes that will have you convinced that each bite is a velvety, decadent morsel of pure joy.

Bread Pudding
Ingredients:
2 cups milk

1/4 cup butter

2/3 cup sugar

3 eggs

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups soft bread, torn into small pieces

1/2 cup raisins or berries (optional)

Directions:
1. In medium saucepan, over medium heat, heat milk just until film forms over top. Combine butter and milk, stirring until butter is melted. Cool to lukewarm.
2. Combine sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for 1 minute. Slowly add milk mixture.
3. Place bread in a lightly greased 1 1/2 quart casserole.
4. Sprinkle with raisins or berries if desired. Pour batter on top of bread.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 to 50 minutes or until set.

Serve warm.