Been awhile

Sorry everyone that its been so long since we posted last. Been alot on my mind and I forgot all about this. Things here are going okay. Our gardens are doing wonderful, I am especially proud of my herb garden finally producing lots of quantity. I'll get some pictures of the flowers up soon.

As for food. I did make a wonderful beef soup recipe and a great steak marinade that i am going to list. Also a delicious sausage pasta dish.

Beef and Herb Soup(4 servings)
1lb beef cubes(something on the tender side like a chuck would go great, i used a london broil which is abit leaner)
1 large carrot
1 medium onion
2 large potatoes
2 TBLS oil
4 cups beef broth
2 TBLS cornstarch(dissolved in a small amount cold water)
fresh thyme, oregano, and parsley
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper to taste

1) cut carrot, onion and potatoes into similar sized pieces. in a large pot, saute carrot and onions for about 3 min(you don't want them to be tender as they will continue to cook. then add beef and cook for another few min until browned.
2) add beef broth, potatoes and bay leaves and bring to boil. lower heat and allow to simmer until potatoes are fork tender. add the cold water with the cornstarch and allow the soup to thicken alittle. remove bay leaves and add fresh herbs, salt and pepper to taste. simmer another min. and serve.


Italian Steak Marinade
1 shallot, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
1 TBLS white vinager
2 TBLS italian seasonings(dried)

1)combine all in ziplock bag and allow steak to marinade atleast 30min. Find marinades work best under broiler or over grill.


Sausage w/ Penne and Tomato sauce.
1lb sausage links cut into 1inch pieces
1 medium onion, diced
1 bell pepper, cut into strips
2 cloves garlic minced
4 servings of penne pasta cooked per box instructions
14oz can diced tomatoes, drained
2 cups favorite pasta sauce
2 TBLS dried italian seasoning
fresh basil
grated parmasean cheese(if you have a food processor i find that buying a small block and chopping it up in it works out wonderfully)

1) sautee sausage in large saucepan in alittle bit of olive oil until done. remove from pan but leave drippings. in the same pan sautee onions and peppers until just about done, then add garlic and italian seasoning and diced tomatoes and sausage. allow food to cook a few min and add pasta sauce and fresh basil. service w/ parm cheese

June's Recipes

So i am finally posting some recipes here. I know thats why you all keep coming back. I am working on a good beef recipe but i don't have one, i have been trying to think of one but i just can't seem to get one. I promise to have one soon. Here are a few that Cami insisted I post though.





Lemon Pepper Tilapia w/ Garlic Herb Bechamel Sauce(serves 4)

4 Tilapia Fillets
Your favorite Lemon Pepper Seasoning(if you want a DIY just ask)
Fettuccine for 4
Bechamel Sauce
2 TBLS butter(unsalted)
2 TBLS flour
salt to taste
1 1/2 cups heavy cream or milk(whole milk)
pepper
2 cloves of garlic, minced finel
either 1 teaspoon dried italian seasoning or fresh snipped basil, oregano, thyme, and/or rosemary(if your using fresh herbs at the the end the flavor will cook out if you add fresh herbs early.

Season Tilapia and cook as you want, ie baked or sauteed. Cook pasta per instructions.

Sauce
In small sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat, then add garlic and let cook for about 30 seconds. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and if using dried herbs, until lump free. Constantly stiring with a whisk, pour in cream and continue whisking over medium heat until the sauce beings to bubble on surface. Continue to cook and stir for about a minute more. Serve ontop of Fish and Pasta.

Shrimp Parmiggana(serves 4)
2 cups precooked small shrimp deveined w/ tails removed(you might need to do this yourself, sorry)
4 servings of penne pasta cooked per package instructions
1 onion
2 gloves garlic
fresh snipped oregano, basil, and thyme(or 1 teaspoon dried of each, add that earlier to cooking w/ tomatoes)
1 14oz can of diced tomatoes
olive oil
1/2cup shredded parmesan cheese, plus some grated to top the dish.

In large saute pan(preferably one with a lid). Over medium heat saute onions in olive oil until just about tender. Add garlic and about 30sec later add the tomatoes and shrimp. Cover and let cook until shrimp are hot then remove from heat. Fold in penne and fresh herbsthen shredded cheese. Top with Grated Parm.

Cami's 29th Birthday

As you all know it was Cami's 29th birthday on June 3rd, and since many couldn't be with us. We wanted you to atleast see her blow out her candles.