February 2018 Hits & Misses (1,234 views)

Erin-looks like your month was very sweet....literally! Sadly I really did not keep track this month so this is all I could remember:

Excellent:
-Italian Wedding Soup-a combo. of barefoot contessa, Giada, and my changes! A regular smorgasbord but was very good
-Cauliflower Chowder-Damn Delicious-better than expected and only used 2 slices bacon and half the butter. Added some scallions and cheese, though (cheddar and gruyere)
 -Cauliflower Crust pizza-from C.I. Nutritious and Delicious made from cauliflower and chickpea flour. Easy to make esp. since there was no squeezing moisture from the cauliflower. Held together with egg and lots of cheese so crust is almost like a giant cheese crisp. I froze half of the crusts (made 4, 9" crusts instead of 2, 12" ones) untopped.
-Cod Sausage Fennel Cioppino-used tilapia. very tasty. Fine Cooking magazine.
-Spring Seafood Stew-C.L. an old favorite. Made it with seared scallops and chunks of fish; no shrimp as I am allergic to shrimp. 
-Lemony Chicken Vegetable Soup
-Speculoos Cookie Butter Hamantaschen
-Chocolate Hazelnut Amaretti-a pre Passover experiment which was very tasty so it is in the freezer for this years dessert tray

Very Good:
-Quinoa, Zucchini, and turkey sausage stuffed Peppers
-2 ingredient bagels-Skinnytaste. Not as good as the real mcCoy (boiled/baked variety)but a nice quick bread. Made these twice. Once as called for in recipe but using white ww flour and everything seeds; 2nd try used Kodiak buttermilk mix and omitted salt and baking powder plus kneaded in asiago, rosemary, and garlic powder, then topped with a seed combo (flax, anise, sesame, midget sunflowers). Texture of the ones with regular flour was better but these had more flavor and still very good/worth repeating.
-Copycat Panera Tomato Basil Bread
-KAF-Everything Cheddar Braid

Good:
-Zata'ar flatbread/naan-a little dry but good flavor. Next time I may decrease water and add some olive oil. There was none in the dough, only on top

Tried and Trues:

-Creamy Chicken Dumpling (mini pierogi) soup-my own creation
-Mini Turkey Meatball Vegetable Soup-Skinnytaste (I always add pasta to this one so it is like a spaghetti and meatball soup plus used some zucchini noodles this time, too)
-Apricot/golden raisin walnut filled Hamantaschen
-Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter Banana Bran Muffins
-Peanut Butter Granola with Chocolate Chips

I know there are more but I guess I remembered more than I thought I could .

Karen

Thanks for starting. And Karen and Erin -- lots of great cooking (and baking) going on. I will be checking out some of the ideas so thanks!

I ate lots of, let's just say basic stuff. I would pull out a container of soup from the freezer (and think.... hmm, is that orzo I see, oh wait is that a garbanzo bean....I never label the soups so I try to decipher it, or just toss in the fridge and perhaps be surprised). Toss a quick salad, and dinner done. I just haven't been in the mood to really cook (and yes clean up) and have been trying to use up what I have.

Off top of my head....
Tortilla Soup/dinneralovestory www.dinneralovestory.com/new-twist-on-old-fave/ very good, didn't follow that closely, and yes its all about the toppings

Mashed Chickpea and Avocado Sandwich --- definitely needs topping to give it some crunch/texture www.simple-veganista.com/2015/01/mashed-chickpea-avocado-sandwic.html

Black Bean Fajitas and Guacamole -- very good, did make some changes since missing some ingredients simple-veganista.com/2014/05/black-bean-fajitas-guacamole.html

Spinach Tortellini Soup/budgetbytes -- has become a favorite when I want something quick and I almost always have the ingredients. I often just sub a carrot instead of sauteeing the onion, since its easier and quicker (and my eyes always burn while cutting onions). I have subbed wh wheat orzo for the tortellini since I have on hand, and rather just go with the orzo, not saying the tortellini wouldn't be good! The recipe uses frozen spinach -- usually not a big fan but really like it here. The recipe is super flexible too, add in other veggies.... I think it needs the parm and some good bread too!
www.budgetbytes.com/2012/09/spinach-tortellini-soup/

Karen -- I always think that I'll remember what it is/can tell by the container etc -- but it likely is just some type of veggie or bean soup so I just go with it. But I should label things more especially those foil packets. I do sometimes but have been surprised a time or two. I remember once thinking that a small foil packet had a slice of banana bread but it was chicken.

I should get some freezer tape (I don't think I've ever seen locally but I probably just overlooked). I have some labels that I got super cheap awhile back that stick great and easy to remove (I use to label/date some items in my cabinets and stick great to my containers in the freezer) but I'm almost out.

I'm with you -- I can't wait to get some different veggies and especially FRUIT!

oooh... Korean beef bowl link is a-life-from-scratch.com/slow-cooker-korean-beef-bowls/

Applecrisp.... Make it with the focaccia it is amazing!

Well, I love making both bread and soup and that pasta fagioli and rosemary focaccia has my name all over it!!! Thanks!

Karen

I have already preordered OUAC cookbook.   There has only been one thing on her blog that I did not like and for the life of me I can't remember what it was.   So I feel pretty comfortable buying her cookbook.... Normally I always preview cookbooks through the library.  She has some excellent recipies on her blog!