Veggies & Rice...

What are you to do with the left over veggies from a veggie and dip platter? Now mind you I had placed them in my kids lunches, but there were still plenty to be eaten.  I opted to make a throw together meal of Veggies and Rice.  I was thinking it would be more like a vegetable soup, but the rice thickened it up so it was more like a mash... I know that sounds totally unappetizing, but man was it good!
Everyone in the family went back for 2nds, even my youngest who said I could make that for her anytime!

Veggies and Rice
In a crock pot place the following:

Chopped - carrots, broccoli, squash, asparagus, celery, mushrooms

10 oz tomato puree

16 oz chicken stock

1 Tb garlic powder

1 Tb Italian seasoning,

Salt and Pepper
1 cup Rice

Cook on low for 3-4 hours - until rice is soft. Mine was on all day because I started with homemade frozen tomato puree and stock. 

Serve with Parmesan cheese.
You could even add cherry tomatoes or cauliflower. I'd recommend not adding the left over cucumbers or radishes. Also do not add any starchy veggie like potatoes as the rice adds that dimension

Butternut Squash Soup...

Fall is here, the weather is going from sunny and warm to cold and drab. There is nothing better than a bowl of soup when the days are becoming dreary.
Since I had nothing handy in my cupboard or today, I had to come up with something warm and soothing to eat for lunch...
In my freezer was a container of pureed Butternut Squash from my winter co-op... Aha! Butternut Squash Soup it is then!

Butternut Squash Soup
16 oz Butternut Squash Soup Puree
7 oz Chicken stock
2/3 c milk
1/8 tsp rubbed sage
1/8 tsp garlic powder
Salt and Pepper to taste.

Combine all ingredients in a pan, bring to a boil and enjoy!

Now of course you could switch out the Butternut squash with any sort of root vegetable puree - Sweet Potato, Acorn squash, Hubbard squash... you get the idea.

BBQ Sauce....

I decided to try to make my own BBQ sauce. Now you know me I do not like to do anything "ordinary" when it comes to cooking, throwing in hidden ingredients here and there.  I can then pack in all the extra nutrients where I can!
This recipe begins with dried fruit and ends with a delicious sauce!

BBQ Sauce

6 oz apple Cider Vinegar

2 c applesauce

8 oz dried pineapple

6 oz dried apricots

4 oz tomato paste

1 onion chopped

1 c brown sugar

3 TBS smoked paprika

1 TB garlic powder

1/2 Tb nutmeg
1 Tb cheyenne pepper

salt and pepper to taste

Combine all in a crock pot, cook in high for 3 hours then puree till smooth.