Showing posts with label Tomato. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tomato. Show all posts

Friday, June 10, 2016

Pasta Salad with Corn, Tomatoes, and Avocados



As promised, a few recipes about food.  This salad is delightful.  Each bite is creamy and packed full of flavor. I love the combination of avocado, corn and tomato.  You also have a lot of freedom with this recipe.  If you need to use gluten free pasta you can.  The sauce is pretty basic but feel free to mess with the flavor profile. Use fresh herbs or dried.  I will always encourage my readers to alter any recipe to fit into their family's comfort zone.

A side note, if you will.  Typing with single space and not double space is so WEIRD!  I have been in school these past six months and everything is double spaced with size 12 font.  I feel like such a rebel typing in single space.  Honestly, I kind of like it.

Thank you friends who took the time with my last post to send me messages (public and private).  It meant so much to myself and to my husband.  I didn't know how Cory would react with me sharing such a personal story and experience with the world.  His comment to me was one of relief.  He said it felt good to finally let everyone know that we are not perfect and that our marriage is fragile at times.  We make mistakes and try to learn from them.  I had to agree.  I felt a release too.  Cory said we weren't hiding the fact that we had a dip in our relationship, we just never openly talked about it.  Twenty-eight years is a long time to be married.  If in that time we did not have a few hiccups along the way, I believe, we would never grow as a couple.



Again, thank you for the support and kind words.  I appreciate each comment. They always touch me more than you know.  The private messages tug at my heart.  I believe with all my heart that we are each living and doing our very best at any given time.  Could we be better? Absoultely.  That's not the issue though.  Now is our only reality and it's now that we must live.  Now is how we will shape our future and deal with our past.  Now is sometimes easier than others.  Staying present and living the best NOW that I know is keeping me positive and on track.  Allowing myself to have a down moment is okay too.  It's easier to work my way through those feelings or disappointments instead of harboring them.  When they say to push through your each moment, good or bad,  I really do believe this.

Living an authentic life is raw and complicated.  Living an authentic life will make you more free than anything else.  Being the real you is better than trying to be something you are not.  A lesson that took me a few decades to figure out.

Love you.  It's okay.  Give yourself permission to be okay with yourself.

Oh, and make some pasta salad.


Pasta Salad with Corn, Tomatoes, and Avocados

1 package of your favorite pasta, cooked according to directions
1-2 avocado, diced small
1-2 tomato, diced small
1 cup of corn (frozen or canned) 
1/2 cup cubed cheese (omit if vegan or use vegan cheese)
1/4 cup mayonnaise or Vegannaise 
1 tablespoon chopped green onion
1/4-1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic
salt and pepper to taste
garnish--Chow Mein Noodles (if these fit into your diet plan)
garnish--fresh curly parsley

1.  Prepare ingredients.  Toss together in a large bowl.  Taste and adjust.  You can always add more seasoning but it's hard to adjust if you add to much.  Top with garnishes.

2.  Refrigerate any leftovers.  Good for 3-5 days.


Recipe and Photo's by Sherron Watson

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Tomato Soup #dairyfree #vegan


If I have to pick one recipe that has quickly become our favorite for this year it is this tomato soup.  My entire family LOVES it.  I make it at least once a week.  

We have named this Isabella's Tomato Soup because she is the one that request it the most.  Last week I taught her how to make it as part of our Friday Cooking Class.  Isabella is becoming quite the culinary student.  I have enjoyed teaching her about the basics of cooking, the health benefits of cooking from scratch, and the time together in the kitchen.

This recipe is dairy free and I have made it with all types of dairy free milk: rice, almond, soy and coconut milk.  We really like the coconut milk the best.  I use the full fat and the soup is very creamy and dreamy.


We use a combination of fresh and canned tomatoes.  I think the texture and flavor from using the two benefits from having a variety of tomatoes.  

It is quick!  We whip this soup up in about 20 minutes.  I try to let it simmer for a few minutes but I usually have a handful of people asking me, "is it ready yet?" every few minutes.  The soup is great the next day too.

Tomato Soup #dairyfree #vegan
Makes 4 servings

1/4 cup red onion, diced small
1 tablespoon Italian Parsley, finely minced
2 teaspoons oil of your choice, to sauté onion
2 tablespoons flour
2 cans Organic Diced Tomatoes
2 cans Organic Coconut Milk
1 teaspoon garlic powder or garlic paste
salt and pepper to taste


 1.  Heat a small pot with oil.  Add onion and cook for 3 minutes.  Add garlic and parsley, salt and pepper.  Cook over heat for 1 minute.

2.  Add tomatoes and coconut milk.  Do not drain juice from tomatoes.

3.  Stir together.  Using a hand held blender stick, puree soup until smooth. See picture below.  It will be light pink and as it cooks, the color will change to a beautiful orange red.  If you don't have this, then add to a blender and puree and return to pot.


4.  Heat soup until thick.  I don't usually boil this soup.  Once the soup is thick, I turn the heat down and let it simmer for 15 minutes.  Taste and season according to your family's needs.

5.  We serve this with homemade croutons.  Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.














Friday, September 4, 2015

Portabella Mushroom Casserole



In my neck of the woods it is casserole season.  Living at the beach in Oregon brings a cooler climate, especially in the mornings and evenings, that makes each day seem like the perfect blend of summer and fall.

Portabella Mushrooms are a family favorite because they are meaty in texture and have a mild earthy flavor.   My kids like mushrooms and this is a fun variety to buy at the store because they come in different sizes.  I usually buy the large ones in a 4 pack.  The mushrooms can be grilled (love the flavor when grilled), diced up for casseroles or used in stir frys.  These are just a few ways I incorporate them into our menu.

This casserole was a combination of a few ingredients that I had in my refrigerator.  I have a tendency to buy the mushrooms and then forget to use them.  I could tell I was nearing the end of their "fresh" cycle.  I recently switched to turkey sausage and find that these two ingredients pair well together.

On a scale of 1 to 10 this is an easy dish to prepare.  The kids love it and the leftovers leave you wanting more.

ENJOY!


Portabella Mushroom Casserole
4 servings

4 large portabella mushrooms
2-3 turkey sausage links (I choose the Italian flavor)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 red onion, diced small
1 small zucchini, diced small
1 cup of ricotta cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup of mozzarella cheese
2 cups of prepared marinara (homemade or store bought)

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Oil a casserole dish.  Add the 4 portabella mushrooms and prebake them for 15 minutes.

2.  Saute red onion and zucchini in olive oil until tender.  Add turkey and cook until done.

3.  Combine the parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese together.

4.  Remove mushrooms from oven and layer the turkey sausage mixture with the ricotta cheese,  marinara sauce and mozzarella/parmesan cheese around the mushrooms in the casserole dish.  If you wish to slice or chop the prebaked mushrooms into smaller pieces you can before adding the sauce and cheese.

5.  Bake until bubbly--25-30 minutes for most ovens.

Recipe by Sherron Watson

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Tomato Citrus Jam



I have been dying to make some tomato jam.  My family is a huge fan of tomatoes.  I found a recipe and experimented with the flavors a bit and decided that I really liked my version better.  

I added cinnamon, orange zest and orange pulp.  The orange added a unique citrus flavor profile.  I used the tomato jam as a condiment to our grilled cheese sandwiches.  The pictures show our favorite, open faced grilled cheese sandwiches.

I found the longer it sat in the refrigerator the more developed the jam became.  Although, it did not last that long because I could not stop eating it, maybe four or five days.



Tomato Citrus Jam
Makes roughly 1 cup of jam

1 1/2 pounds ripe Roma tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped (about 8)
1/2 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
1/2 orange, pulp and juice only
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red pepper (optional)


1.  To remove the skin from the tomatoes, bring a pot of water to a boil.  Cut an X on the top of each tomato and add to boiling water.  After one minute, remove and let cool for a minute or two.   The skin should peel easily in your hands. Cut tomatoes into medium sized pieces.

2.  Add the tomatoes and remaining ingredients to a medium sauce pan.  Bring to a boil over medium heat.  Stirring often to prevent jam from burning.  Once jam has boiled for one minute, reduce heat to a simmer and let jam thicken.  Again, stir it every once in a while. The jam should take about an hour to reduce and thicken up.

3.  Remove from heat, taste and adjust seasonings.  Store in refrigerator.  Good for two weeks.



Written by Sherron Watson



Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Lacto-Fermented Ketchup



Over the past few years I have been doing some reading and research into Lacto-Fermented foods and the health benefits of introducing these recipes into our diets.  I have fun learning new skills and this technique of making and preserving food fascinates me.

Fermented food is something that I have always liked and enjoyed eating.  One of my favorites is sauerkraut.  I will have a recipe for this on the blog soon.  I have been making this ketchup for over a year now.  My kids eat a lot of ketchup.  A lot to me is 2 bottles a month.  We eat ketchup on our eggs, with meat, potatoes, hamburgers, etc....  I also use it as an ingredient in several recipes-meatloaf being the most popular.

I have two delicious meatloaf recipes on the blog:  Mini-Meatloaves and Meatloaf in a bread pan.




Organic Ketchup gets expensive when you eat as much as we do so I decided to make my own.  I like the flavor of this recipe.  Don't be shocked by the use of fish sauce.  The smell in the bottle is enough to gag you but once it is used in the recipe that all goes away.  If you are nervous for the first batch then use less and see how it taste to you.  Honestly, people love it when they come to my house and have no idea that fish sauce is one of the ingredients. 

If you are new to lacto fermented food I have several books that I keep in my cookbook collection to answer any questions that I have.  My first book is Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.  It is a nice thick book that has lots of recipes for healthy eating.  The second book is True Brews: How to Craft Fermented Cider, Beer, Wine, Sake, Soda, Mead, Kefir, and Kombucha at Home by Emma Christensen.  The second book has more to do with drinks but we drink several fermented drinks in our home too.

Fermentation has helped me heal my gut.  It makes me feel good.  I don't have the stomach problems I have had in the past.  I hope to introduce you to more lacto fermented foods as I make and develop recipes for them over the next year.   It is something I really believe in and want to encourage people to make and use in their own homes.  This is a recipe from Sally's book to give you an idea of what you will find in her collection of recipes.

NOTE:  I have linked several ingredients and the books to my Amazon store.  There is no obligation to buy.  I make a small fee from each sale. This is a great way for me to share with you what products we use in our home. 


Lacto-Fermented Ketchup
Makes 1 quart-Adapted from Nourishing Traditions

3 cups canned Organic Tomato Paste
1/4 cup of whey (see below how to make this at home)
1 tablespoon sea salt
1/2 cup maple syrup--use the real thing
1/4 teaspoon cayenne--this is optional
3 cloves garlic, peeled and mashed
1/4-1/2 cup commercial Fish Sauce  <--this is the brand we use but any brand will work

1.  In a medium bowl combine and mix all ingredients until well blended.

2.  Add ketchup to a glass canning jar or any jar with a lid that seals.  I use the jars that have the spring loaded lids that latch on the side.

3.  Let ketchup sit on your counter for two days.  Find a dark part of your counter which is out of the way.  I add a sticky note with the date to it so I don't forget when I made it.

4.  After two days, stir ketchup and taste. Store in refrigerator.  Good for 2 months.


How to make whey:  Buy 1 large container of organic plain yogurt.  Place a piece of cheese cloth, folded several times, over a glass jar with a rubber band around the mouth, or tie the cloth to a sturdy wooden spoon and suspend the yogurt in the jar. The idea is the yogurt to drain and for the glass jar to catch the whey.  Pour yogurt into the cheese cloth.  Let it drip on the counter for 3 hours.  You should have about 1.5 cups of whey and some delicious greek yogurt.  (If you let it drip longer the yogurt will turn into cream cheese)  Store in refrigerator for up to 3 months.

The picture below is my whey that I keep in the refrigerator. The whey will settle once it has sat in the refrigerator.  The picture below is after it has been stirred.



Written by Sherron Watson



Donut Breakfast Casserole

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