Gypsy Soup

This soup is so incredibly excellent. I need to double the recipe next time.

INGREDIENTS

* 4 tablespoons olive oil
* 2 cups chopped onion
* 1/2 cup chopped celery
* 2 cloves garlic, crushed
* 2 cups diced peeled sweet potatoes
* 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 pinch ground cinnamon
* 1 pinch cayenne pepper
* 3 cups chicken stock
* 1 tablespoon soy sauce
* 1 cup chopped fresh tomato or one can of diced tomatoes
* 1 1/2 cups cooked garbanzo beans

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat olive oil in a stock pot over medium-high heat. Saute onion, garlic, celery and sweet potatoes for about 5 minutes, or until onion is soft. Season with turmeric, salt, cinnamon, and cayenne. Stir to blend, then stir in chicken stock and soy sauce. Cover, and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.
2. Add tomatoes and garbanzo beans to the soup, and simmer for another 10 minutes, or until all of the vegetables are tender.

Chocolate Mousse Pie

This pie had an amazing flavor! It was a little liquid-y; I may freeze it next time.

8 ounces Hershey's Special Dark chocolate
1/2 cup water, divided
2 tablespoons butter
3 egg yolks
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/4 cups whipping cream, whipped
1 chocolate pie crust

1. In a microwave, heat chocolate, 1/4 cup water and butter until the chocolate and butter are melted. Cool for 10 minutes.

2. In a small heavy saucepan, whisk egg yolks, sugar and remaining water. Cook and stir over low heat until mixture reaches 160 degrees F, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat; whisk in chocolate mixture.

3. Set saucepan in ice and stir until cooled, about 5-10 minutes. Fold in whipped cream. Spoon into crust. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Tres Leches Cake

Oh my this was good.

* 1 1/2 cups flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 cup unsalted butter
* 1 cup white sugar
* 5 eggs
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
*
* 2 cups milk
* 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
* 1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk
* 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
* 1 cup white sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour one 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. Sift flour and baking powder together and set aside.
3. Cream butter and the 1 cup sugar together until fluffy. Add eggs and the 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; beat well.
4. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture 2 tablespoons at a time; mix until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Pierce cake several times with a fork.
6. Combine the whole milk, condensed milk, and evaporated milk together. Pour over the top of the cooled cake.
7. Whip whipping cream, the remaining 1 cup of the sugar, and the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla together until thick. Spread over the top of cake. Be sure and keep cake refrigerated.

Grilled Potatoes

So after a decade of mocking George Foreman grills, I was at a friend's house (a vegetarian, no less!) and she made sandwiches on the grill and . . . wow. They were so good. So I bought one. I've been experimenting with all sorts of interesting things.

--Slice white and sweet potatoes in 1/4 inch slices. Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with seasoning salt.

--Grill for about 15 minutes.

These were so good.

A Nice Little Salad

finely-diced cucumber
finely-diced tomato
diced cilantro
extremely finely-diced purple onion
a little feta, crumbled
a pinch of salt
juice from one key lime

Baked Ziti

We all adore this.

In a mixing bowl, combine 8 oz. UNCOOKED ziti, 1.5 cups water, 26 oz. spaghetti sauce, 15 oz. ricotta, and .5 c mozzarella (diced). Cover and cook at 375 for an hour. Put a little more mozzarella on top and return to oven until it melts.

A Really Good Cake

4 eggs
2 cups white sugar
1 container plain yogurt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 (16 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
2 cups grated zucchini

Mix ingredients and bake at 325 for 60 minutes. Frost.