Sherry Tomato Soup

Nothing says “winter meal” more than soup. Creamy tomato soup…spiked with wine. The nice folks at Tuttorosso sent me some canned tomatoes to try (and I got a beautiful new le creuset from Mr. J for Christmas) to debut so soup was in order. Don’t breeze through this thinking “didn’t she just make tomato soup?” That was different. this is different.
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I made Ree Drummond’s Sherried Tomato Soup and loved it. It stands up to her thought that after tasting it, “solemnity and peace will be within reach”. True story.

It is totally flavorful and comforting. I served it with some grilled cheeses and was thoroughly impressed. I liked how heavy-handed she is with the sherry. She’s also heavy handed with the cream making this delightful and it off-sets the sherry a bit.

Sherried Tomato Soup

(adapted from Pioneer Woman)

Ingredients:

1 small onion, chopped (next time I’d reduce this to ¼ cup)
3 tbs butter
1 tbs garlic, chopped
28-oz can crushed tomatoes
2 cups tomato juice
2 tbs sugar
½ cup chicken broth
1 cup cooking sherry
1 ½ cups heavy cream
chopped parsley, basil, ground pepper (optional)

Directions:

Heat a pot over medium heat and add onions and butter, cooking until translucent, adding garlic just for the last minute or two of cooking.
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Add canned tomatoes, tomato juice, sugar, and broth cooking for 5-10 minutes to heat through and release the flavors and sugars, not boiling.
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While first few soup ingredients are cooking, assemble grilled cheeses or prep garlic bread.
Reduce heat to medium-low, and add sherry.
Now is an opportune time to start grilled cheeses or garlic bread for dipping. Cook soup for another 5 minutes.
Turn heat off, and add cream & herbs.
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Serve & enjoy!

I loved the super strong tang of the sherry. Mr. J thought it was a bit too intense. You can reduce the amount or cook it a bit longer. I think soup gets a bad wrap and should be very flavorful. None of that Oliver Twist watery cabbage junk. This soup is like a warm itch-less-sweater wrapping like a hug around you.
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I liked this one reheated. If you’re feeling fancy, only add some of the cream to the part you’re eating right then. Reheating the soup, with the cream in it, isn’t for everyone. I like it though. A dollop of plain greek yogurt in each bowl, instead of the cream would be good. I got about 5 good-size servings out of this.

Talk about McSteamy! (Also, I know. I’m aware my placemats are still supporting the holidays. All they need is a flip to the reverse to become winter versus Christmas. I’m delaying the holidays-being-over thing.)
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Full 3 Bite Rule Disclosure: Tuttorosso sent me a set of samples of their canned tomato products to try out and taste. The product samples were completely complimentary but my experience, thoughts, opinions, and words are entirely my own. They are offering an apron giveaway for the first 4,000 people to “like” their page on facebook and who provide an original recipe. Also one lucky winner gets $500 to cooking.com. 

No Fail Fudge

I gave a few edible gifts again this year for the holidays. Sometimes there’s just so much stuff. I like a few gifts in there that can be consumed, used, and then gone. I haven’t gotten crazy with my packaging but maybe I’ll have my act together enough sometime.

This year I made my Dad some mocha fudge. He was telling me about some mocha fudge he had on a vacation he and my mom took so I nabbed that subtle hint and ran with it. Now let’s also set the stage: I don’t bake a lot. Making candy? Umm nope, never. My grandma used to make it and she wasn’t really a cook, so I figured if she could do it, I’d definitely give it a whirl.

I followed the instructions EXACTLY. Fluff’s no-fail fudge seemed simple enough and I did it! Woohoo! Spoiler alert: success!

I made a half batch and it was quite a lot of fudge. Plan on giving it away. It won’t help your New Year’s resolutions one bit. I swear. I’ll stop tempting you soon.

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Ingredients:

2 1/2 c. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 stick butter or margarine
1 5 oz. can evaporated milk (2/3 c.)
1 Jar (7 1/2oz) Marshmallow Fluff
3/4 tsp. vanilla
1 12-oz. package semi-sweet chocolate pieces
espresso

Directions:

Grease a 9-inch square baking pan. (I lined a pan with parchment paper instead.)
In large saucepan combine the first sugar, salt, butter/margarine, and evaporated milk.
mocha_fudge_sugar_590_390Add fluff and stir over low heat until blended.
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Increase heat to Medium and bring to a full-rolling boil being careful not to mistake escaping air bubbles for boiling. Boil slowly, stirring constantly for 5 minutes (use Soft-Ball test).
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Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, chocolate pieces, and espresso until chocolate is melted.
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Turn into greased pan and cool.
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The original recipe makes 2 1/2 pounds. That is a heck of a lot for one person. I used a 9×9 pan and really liked the thickness. I can’t imagine my fudge doubled in that same size pan. The half batch is borderline-too-much-for-one-person.

While it was hot, it didn’t seem very mocha flavored. I let it sit for a few hours then I thought the flavor came out big time. I gifted it in a holiday tin with wax paper. I didn’t cut it into bite sized pieces since it will get stale and hard faster.
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I was psyched it worked so well. I want to try my hand at chocolate peanut butter fudge next! I just need a willing recipient…

Pizza Soup in Breadbowls

Today I have a leftovers on rehab which I like to call Tonight & Take 2. It is a great way to use something you prepped or even ate before. Using leftovers and creating them into something new is key especially since I’m cooking for 2 and love to reuse leftovers…creatively. It simplifies dinner planning and is green (environmentally speaking and money saving!).

Speaking of leftovers, why were the ladies on the Bachelor so annoyed that Kacie is on, yet a gal from Bachelor Pad was no big deal? Sometimes leftovers are better the second time around! Not that I realllly want to call her leftovers, she is way more classy than the 50-shades of gray drunkard. Anywho, back to food.

Way back when, I tried my hand at Bolognese sauce (which was a hit) and then I wanted to let the leftovers shine. Along comes another Tonight & Take 2. Take last night’s bolognese sauce and make it into a comforting soup. I froze my leftover sauce so the soup came later and we weren’t eating the same thing meal after meal after meal…

Ingredients:

leftover bolognese sauce or meat sauce
pizza dough
1 cup pepperoni sliced
1 cup shredded mozzarella
2 tbs Parmesan cheese
3 tbs cream

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Directions:

Start with bolognese sauce, or any meat sauce you like.
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Reheat and add a touch of cream, Parmesan, and pepperoni.
Bake pizza dough in baseball/softball size blobs at 400-degrees for about 20 minutes. The interior doesn’t need to be fully cooked. Once cooled, chop of the top, pull out the interior, and add a few tablespoons of shredded cheese.
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Add soup and top with another sprinkle of cheese.
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This was a great use of leftovers feeling completely different without pasta. You could nix the bread bowls to eliminate a step/ingredient. I like that these guys are balanced and filling. It is flavorful and comforting without being complicated. I have a surprising number of soup posts to catch you up on so hold on tight!

What do you think? Thoughts about leftovers? Do you recreate them or enjoy them again and again as-is? Are you watching The Bachelor?

Apple Cider Cookies

I wanted to try out the pudding cookies that Flying on Jess Fuel made, butttt the necessary gingerbread pudding ingredient wasn’t for sale anywhere near me. The office cookie swap warranted something out of the ordinary for a holiday cookie swap. I’m not always 100% into mint so that narrows holiday cookie options.

I know, this goes against resolutions about 97% of of you out there have made, but they’re really good, and I made them during the holiday craziness and just didn’t get to share it with you till now. Just wait. There’s more to tempt you still to come…
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I took a personal day that would have expired by the end of the year and baked cookies at mom’s house. We made a few different kinds going and all were successful!

I pinned these sugar cookies made with hot apple cider mix and thought they sounded great. They seemed a bit fall-ish but I tweaked them and they were a hit for the holidays.

Apple Cider Cookies

adapted from Dreaming All Day

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
6 tbs sugar
1 individual serving size packet hot cider
2 tsp vanilla
¼ tsp salt
2 cups flour
1 tbs milk
1 ½ cups butterscotch or cinnamon chips
¼ cup sugar
3 tbs cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Beat butter, sugar, cider mix, vanilla, and salt.
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Add flour in and mix until well combined.
Mix in chips by hand.
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Roll cookie dough in 1 inch balls into mixed cinnamon and sugar.
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Bake 9 minutes and let cool on cooling racks.
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I loved these. I thought they were way more exciting than sugar cookies. I amped up the cider mix more than the original recipe called for and I added chips. It might be a weird ingredient to buy just for cookies, but I had some for a hot drink anyway.

Mexican Cooking Class in Cozumel

Just before the holidays, Mr. J and I went to New Orleans and then got onto a cruise. We stopped in Belize, Honduras  and two cities in Mexico. It was amazing, and it flew by. We loved out time on the beach and some awesome adventures. It was the perfect getaway and break to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary (again). We ran around New Orleans then got to really relax and enjoy the cruise. It was the best of both worlds.

In Cozumel we decided to take a cooking class. After a mini-jeep adventure, a private island beach day, and a tour of Mayan ruins it seemed like a fun and different excursion. It was amazing, my favorite day of the trip.

Our chef instructor was just so funny.

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annnnd the margaritas just kept coming which helped the fun.
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We made an appetizer of Devil Shrimp Sopes. They were slightly spicy shrimp with a fresh crunch and a great corn masa base.
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We made a tamarind fish fillet packet with grouper and chopped veggies
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And we made caramelized plantains with a tequila chocolate sauce
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It was such a fun class. The drinks were awesome and then the meal was perfectly flavorful.  I was afraid it might be a dumbed down menu but it was great. The fish was really light and flavorful. The app was my favorite part because I have always loved shrimp.

Mr. J didn’t take the chicken option. He tried (and liked!) the grouper! He liked the shrimp app too! The class was just so enjoyable and we were laughing the whole time. We learned some good tips and really enjoyed the lunch.

Afterwards we spend the rest of the day on the beach. Not too shabby.

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