DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Posts Tagged ‘ingredients’

Kale and Black Eye Pea Soup

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay (the 13th)!

Today’s Friday Foodie Feature is Kale & Black Eye Pea Soup

Sunday I purchased a container of CutnClean Kale from Safeway to be used in my salads for the week.  However, after hearing the weather forecast for more snow I decided to use it to make a Crock Pot soup with Black Eye Peas.

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In the winter, my grandmother used to make the best homemade vegetable soups using ingredients she already had in the refrigerator, freezer or pantry.  So in keeping with tradition I used some leftover celery stalks, an onion, garlic, carrots and Bouillon cubes to make this soup.

Ingredients:

  • Dry Black Eye Peas – 1/2 bag
  • Kale – 1/2 package
  • Celery – diced
  • Carrots – diced
  • Onion – diced
  • Garlic – diced
  • Bouillon Cubes (2)
  • Water
  • Olive Oil
  • Black Pepper
  • Smoked Turkey Necks (optional)

Mama Midget (yes that was her name), never used measuring cups or spoons so neither do I especially when using the Crock Pot.  I just throw in what I have or think is enough.

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Rinse and drain 1/2 bag of dry Black Eye peas  

Add 2 Bouillon Cubes to 3 cups of hot water

Pour Olive Oil into Crock Pot just enough to cover bottom

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Chop onion, garlic, carrots and celery and add to Crock Pot

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Add Kale and sprinkle with Black Pepper

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Pour in Bouillon Stock, adding more water to cover all ingredients if necessary

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Stir and if desired add Smoked Turkey Legs or Necks

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Cover and cook on low 8 hour, high 4 hours – depending on Crock Pot model.  Don’t forget to make some Skillet Corn Bread!

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Nothing beats walking into the house on a cold and snowy day to the smell and taste of “good ole homemade soup”!

I miss you Mama – RIP!

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Do you make any of your mother’s/grandma’s favorite recipes?

Come on over and join in on the Family Friday Link Up Party!

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Crocktober – Cajun Chicken & Shrimp

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

Today’s Crocktober Foodie Feature is Cajun Chicken (of course) AND Shrimp

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 Ingredients:

  • 1 pound skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 can stewed tomatoes – undrained and chopped
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pound shelled shrimp, deveined and cleaned
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Hot Sauce to taste
  • 1 cup of prepared rice
  • * diced red pepper and celery rib can also be included

Spray Crock Pot with cooking oil

Place chicken thighs in Crock Pot, top with onion, garlic, tomatoes with juice, paprika, pepper, sugar, and Cajun seasoning

Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours – depending on Slow Cooker

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In the last hour of cooking add the shrimp, lemon juice and hot sauce.

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Serve over hot cooked rice

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It is always great to come home to a fully cooked meal with a wonderful aroma.

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4 Ingredient 40 Minute Meal

Hello friends and Happy Friday Eve!

Here’s another 4 ingredient 40 minute meal idea

Ingredients:

Chicken Strips/Tenders

Frozen Mixed Pepper Strips

Olive Oil and your choice of Seasonings

Jasmine Rice

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Rinse and season chicken tenders, cook in a little olive oil for approximately 15 minutes or until no longer pink

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Add frozen pepper strips and boil water for rice

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Cook rice according to package

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Cover and turn heat on low for approximately 15 minutes

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Spoon chicken and peppers over rice, serve and enjoy!

Linking up with Katherine’s Corner – hop on over and have some fun!

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4 Ingredient 40 Minute Meal

Hello Friends, I hope you had a good day.  

I didn’t make it into work this morning because of a quick moving, yet severe rainstorm that caused me to turn around and head home.  Fortunately the weather improved and it turned into a wonderful sunny afternoon.

I’m still on the Nutrisystem program and eating their meals but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped cooking dinner for my men.  Last night’s easy breezy meal contained only 4 ingredients that took 40 minutes to prepare.  

They really liked this dish and there was enough leftover for them to have for lunch today.  If you try this recipe let me know, and if you put your own little twist on it, tell me what you used.

Ingredients:
Dry Pasta
Turkey Sausage
Frozen Broccoli
Salad Dressing

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Boil pasta according to box instructions

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Cut Turkey Sausage into bit size pieces

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Cover sausage with 1/2 cup water and 1/4 cup salad dressing

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Cook 10 minutes

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Add broccoli, cover and cook add’l 15 mins or until desired texture

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Add to drained pasta

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Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese if desired

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Enjoy!

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Friday Foodie Feature

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

I’ve decided to add something new to the blog – drumroll please…..

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You know that I love to cook and in some circles am considered a Crock Pot Queen (sike), no really I just like sharing food finds on Instagram so decided to bring it to my blog.

Today’s 1st Friday Foodie Feature is

Mama Mae’s Lean Mean Collard Greens

 

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On Sundays when I was growing up my grandmother would always cook a big pot of fresh collardskale, or mustard greens, a tradition that I have continued with my own family.  Collards were always the chosen green but I have since discovered kale which is healthier has a sweeter taste and is good when used in a breakfast smoothie.  The tradition of having vegetables with dinner also hasn’t changed but when I don’t feel like cooking fresh I’ll use canned or frozen.

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I like trying new products especially if they are within my budget which was the case with the Mama Mae’s items at Shoprite.  The good thing about Mama Mae’s Lean Mean Collard Greens is that they can be cooked in the microwave, on top of the stove or in the oven but the best thing about Mama Mae’s greens are the ingredients.

  • collards
  • water
  • onions
  • garlic
  • sugar
  • dried turkey stock
  • roasted turkey juices/fat
  • yeast extract
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • liquid smoke

They tasted homemade because they basically use the same ingredients as I and contain no hard-to-pronounce artificial flavors or seasoning.  The box states there are approximately 2 1/2 servings per package which was accurate, they are also low in fat and 50 calories per serving.

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Mama Mae’s products are manufactured locally in Englewood Cliffs, NJ and if you like greens, I highly recommend trying them.  I look forward to trying some of the other Mama Mae’s items.

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Disclosure Statement
I was not financially compensated for this post.  I purchased product with my own money.  The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.

Buffalo Bleu Crockpot Meal

On Saturday I purchased three seasoning packs from Sugar Spice and Everything Nice: Buffalo Bleu, Cracked Crab and Habanero & Green Chile. On the back of each label is a recipe for making a Dip but I decided to use the Buffalo Bleu as a seasoning for a crockpot meal.

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Ingredients:
Frozen chicken thighs
Package Buffalo Bleu seasoning
1 cup water
Jasmine Rice
Mandarin Oranges (optional)

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Spray Crockpot with cooking spray or use a Slow Cooker liner for easy clean up

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Mixed seasoning with 1 cup water – could have used less but didn’t want dry chicken

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Place frozen chicken thighs in crockpot, cover with seasoning mix, cook on low

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Returned home to a kitchen smelling wonderful!
Cooked rice according to instructions, warmed oranges in microwave for a few seconds

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Chicken and rice was served with a small salad and was delicious.  The seasoning did not make the chicken overly spicy nor salty as I expected, I used drippings over rice.  My men and I thoroughly enjoyed this dish and am looking forward to using the Habanero & Chile seasoning as a dip.

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Paired extremely well with a glass (or two) of Liberty Creek Sweet Red Wine !