Sunday, January 4, 2015

Tomato Soup


I love tomato soup. Add a grilled cheese to it, and it's one of my favorite meals of all time. It reminds me of Saturdays watching college football with my dad.

Today was the first real snowfall of the year, and after 2 hours of shoveling and playing in the snow, I figured we needed something warm and hearty for lunch. This soup certainly did the trick! And, it beats the pants off canned soup. It's thick and has great seasoning. And, there are even more vegetables in the soup than just tomatoes!


Tomato Soup
adapted from Jane Maynard



  • 3 T Olive Oil
  • 1 Onion, Small dice
  • 3 carrots, small dice
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 14.5-oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1.5 c tomato sauce
  • 48 oz vegetable stock
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1.5 c skim milk
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste
  • Crackers or pita chips for topping, if you're feeling it

1. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot. Cook onions until soft and translucent (5 min). Add carrots and continue to cook another 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook another minute.

2. Add vegetable stock, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15-20 minutes.

3. Fish out bay leaf, and blend the soup until a smooth consistency (either via an immersion blender or in batches in a blender).

4. Add milk to soup, and mix until incorporated. Season with salt/pepper to taste. Top with crackers/pita chips, if you so choose.

Week 259 Menu

Sunday: General Tso's Chicken with rice and roasted broccoli
Monday: Pulled pork sandwiches
Tuesday: Homemade pasta and meatballs
Wednesday: Creamy potato soup (a callback from last week)
Thursday: Pulled pork fried rice
Friday: Leftovers 
Saturday: Out

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Week 258 Menu

Sunday: Christmas Dinner leftovers
Monday: Big salads and roasted broccoli
Tuesday: Creamy potato soup
Wednesday: Pizzas
Thursday: Traditional New Year's fare - Sauteed collard greens, black-eyed peas, rice, and cornbread
Friday: Homemade chicken nuggets
Saturday: Out

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Week 257 Menu

Sunday: Jimmy John's after seeing the village's light display
Monday: Homemade ravioli and roasted sweet potatoes/apples 
Tuesday: Burgers on homemade buns and roasted broccoli
Wednesday and Thursday: Christmas menu
Friday - Saturday: Food coma? leftovers? Out?

Friday, December 19, 2014

Christmas Dinner 2014

Christmas Eve
Lentil chili
Cornbread
Veggie pizza - a classic and family favorite
Sausage, cheese, and crackers
Christmas cookies
   Cocoa balls
   Candy cane cookies
   Pepparkakor
   Shortbread
Glug

Christmas Dinner
Standing rib roast
Cranberry sauce

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Week 256 Menu

Sunday: Out for something before the church Christmas paegent
Monday: Pork chops and mashed potatoes
Tuesday: Pumpkin muffins
Wednesday: Meatballs and garlic greens/rice
Thursday: Homemade calzones
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Out

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Week 255 Menu


Sunday: General Tso's chicken, garlic greens, and rice
Monday: Homemade chicken nuggets and stuffing (yeah....we can't get enough)
Tuesday: African peanut stew over rice
Wednesday: Baked pasta and greens
Thursday: Leftovers
Saturday: Out