Portuguese Caldo Verde

in some circles

called Portuguese Penicillin 

We ate this a lot growing up 
with crusty bread

I forgot to take a photo

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 ounces chouriço, linguiça,or Spanish chorizo, sliced into 1/4-inch coins
1 large Spanish onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, sliced
6 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
8 cups cold water, or half chicken stock or canned chicken broth, and half water
1 pound kale or collard greens, thick middle stem removed, and leaves cut into very, very fine julienne (think wisker-thin)
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste, although the Portuguese are found of white pepper

1 can kidney beans

. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chouriço slices and cook until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon remove the sausage to a plate. Try to let the sausage drain well into the pot; its fat will flavor the soup.

Dump the onions into the pot. Sauté, adding enough salt to bring out their sweetness, until they’re translucent and very soft. Sprinkle in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes more.

Cut the potatoes in cubes add chicken stock-water combo, and bring the soup to a boil. Lower the heat so the soup gently simmers. Cook until the potatoes are almost done,

Add the greens to the soup, bring everything back to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Season with more salt, if needed, and pepper.

Wheat Free Pumpkin Bread

The basic recipe came from 

the book Gluten Free on a Shoestring

the I did some adjustments

2 C All Purpose Gluten Free Flour 

              (that has some kind of gum in it)

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C oatmeal

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 C pumpkin puree

1/2 C maple syrup

1/4 C applesauce

1/8 C oil

2 whole eggs

Blend dry ingredients and 

then add until well blended

Bake at 350 for an hr

Tamales

 I made a roast the day before in a slow cooker

I add enchiladas sauce to the meat for flavor

Soak corn husks

 Mix Masa 

6c masa harina

3/4 C lard

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

broth from meat until creamy paste - abt a quart

Spread masa on husk

Add meat and roll 

Steam in instapot for 35 min  Allow to release on own

Enjoy!

Salsa Beef and Veggies

1 lb hamburger cooked and rinsed

1 tomato chopped

2 zucchini chopped in big pieces

2 ears of corn - taken off corn from cob

2 chopped bell peppers

salsa - at least 1 cup or more to taste

Fry up hamburger then wash to remove oil. 

Add veggies and salsa until heated through, 

You can sprinkle cheddar cheese

or add rice to stretch it or other veggies

Carrot Apple Zucchini Bread

I found the recipe  here

I did do some adaptations because

my one grand has a milk allergy

I also did not ice 

1/2C unsweet applesauce  and 1/4 C veg oil

2 cups granulated sugar

3 eggs, room temperature

¼ cup fresh orange juice

1 tbsp vanilla extract

3¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ tsp salt

2½ tsp baking powder

¾ tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

pinch of ground cloves

pinch of ground nutmeg

2 cups shredded carrots

1 cup shredded zucchini

1 cup diced, peeled apple

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour two 8x4 inch loaf pans. 

Line with parchment paper and set aside. 

place zucchini in a large kitchen towel. 

Bring up the four corners and twist. 

Squeeze the towel to extract all the liquid from the zucchini,

 or as much as you can. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, 

baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg together. Set aside.
In a separate large bowl, whisk together the applesauce, oil and sugar.
Add eggs, orange juice, and vanilla and whisk until combined.
Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients 

along with the shredded carrots,

 shredded zucchini, and apples, 

Pour into prepared pans.

Bake until golden brown, 55 to 60 minutes, 

or until loaves spring back when gently pressed with fingers.

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Orange-Strawberry Shrimp Taco Boats

A nice cool and easy dinner

precooked shrimp

premade pico de gallo

strawberries * you can sub pineapple. mango, peaches 

bag of shredded iceberg lettuce

flour taco boats

citrus based dressing 

like Kroger brand Orange Miso

Marinade the shrimp in a moderate 

amt of dressing for abt an hr

While marinading chop up strawberries 

add to pico and chill

Grill or heat up shrimp to warm

place shredded lettuce 

in the bottom of the boats

Add salsa and top w shrimp

Space Wedding Galaxy Favors

When trying to find space/planet/universe ideas

came across
galaxy ornaments

We decided that the
smaller version would be

the best idea

These mini iridescent ornaments
were purchased 

at Hobby Lobby

I used Pledge floor finisher

Swish a very small amount
it in and drain

then using a funnel layer in glitter colors

shake out excess

I followed up by putting black glitter
to fill in any spaces

Let air dry

The color combos are endless!

They were then put into these
small favor boxes from Dollar Tree

Mexican Wedding Cookies

2 sticks butter

2/3 C powder sugar

2 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 C flour

1/4 tsp salt

1tsp cinnamon

1 C finely chopped pecans

powder sugar to roll

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Beat butter, 2/3 c powdered sugar 

and vanilla in a bowl until fluffy. Mix in combined flour,

 salt and cinnamon. Beat in nuts. Refrigerate until firm 

abt 2-3 hrs. Roll into crescent shapes or round.  

Place 1 in apart on a greased cookie sheet 

and bake for 12-15 or lightly brown. 

Roll warm cookies in the powdered sugar

Nana's Xmas Cookies

My grandmother would make 

these every Christmas

1/2 C shortening

2 1/2 C flour

1/2 C sugar

2 eggs

1/4 C molasses

1/4 tsp soda

1/4 tsp salt allspice, clove and mace

1/2 tsp cinnamon and ginger

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and molasses. 

Slowly add dry ingredients to creamy mix

Add additional flour if too sticky to roll. Chill and roll out 

Space Wedding Cutlery

I printed the sentiment on to

business card size

and then cut the foil paper

just a bit larger

With a corner cutter I rounded them

Then using 

double sided tape 

I put the cards together

I cut strips to go around the napkins

and taped them to the cards

Slide the napkin in

back

 

 Front

Slide in utensils and you are done

Flower Girl Ball

We started with a 5 in ball

With wide ribbon wrapped it aropund the ball

and tied 2 knots

using pearl pins and silk hydragena flowers

we went around the ball in a circle

After covering the ball 

rhinestone bling

was added

(sort of looked like constellations)

Bending a wire w

the gem at the end twisting it

I twisted the taila round a pin 

then cut the excess off

then applied them here and there

Matchng hairbow