Tomato Basil Soup

• I got this recipe many moons ago from Light & Tasty, a magazine put out by Taste of Home.  It's a perfect accompaniment to the last recipe I posted, Chicken Pesto Paninis.  It's yummy just the way it is, but I sometimes add some freshly pressed garlic to it, because we love our garlic and it's good for you!  I'm thinking about making it this weekend, in addition to some other goodies for one of the few football games I actually care to watch.  Go Dawgs!! =)

• Tomato Basil Soup
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photo & recipe by: Taste of Home

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• 4 medium carrots, finely chopped
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1 can (49 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth or 6 cups vegetable broth, divided
• 1 can (29 ounces) tomato puree
• 5 teaspoons dried basil
• 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 can (12 ounces) fat-free evaporated milk

In a Dutch oven, cook carrots and onion in butter over medium-low heat for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.

    In a blender, place 1/2 broth and the cooled vegetables; cover and process until blended. Return to the Dutch oven. Stir in the tomato puree, basil sugar, salt, pepper and remaining broth. 

    Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Gradually stir in evaporated milk; heat through (do not boil). Yield: 6 servings (2-1/4 quarts). 

Chicken Pesto Grilled Sandwiches / Paninis

A while back, I entered a recipe contest {I used to have time to do that sort of thing ; ) }, and this was my contribution based on a specific list of ingredients.  Super yummilicious served with a bowl of  homemade Tomato Basil Soup ( <----- check back next week)!


I make these on a large electric T-Fal griddle so that I can make the whole family's meal at once. Instructions are given based on cooking in this manner, but these could easily be made on a grill or Panini grill as well. The pesto recipe is a little thicker than I normally make it to prevent the oil inthe pesto from saturating the bread before the sandwich is done. Cook and prep time include time for making pesto and marinade, but do not include the time needed to marinate the chicken, so plan ahead! You'll be glad you did! :)


 **We really like this sandwich, but not the Nutritional Facts! If you would like to lighten it up a bit, instuctions are at the bottom of the page......you could also omit the chicken and do all veggies if you want (but the chicken is delish).

Chicken Pesto Grilled Sandwiches/Paninis-Original & Lighter

Pesto:

2 1/2 cups spinach leaves, fresh

1 cup asiago cheese, grated

1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted

2 garlic cloves, large, peeled and cut in half

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup olive oil

Chicken Marinade:


1/4 cup pesto sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt, opt.
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 lb skinless chicken breast halves, cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch s thick strips


Other Ingredients:


2 ounces sun-dried tomatoes, julienne cut (or roasted red peppers)
1/2 cup water1/4 cup olive oil, divided
6 ounces baby portabella mushrooms, sliced
1 loaf Italian bread10 ounces gouda cheese, thinly sliced
4 tablespoons butter, divided

Directions:

For pesto, combine first six ingredients in a food processor.
Process until finely chopped; gradually pour in olive oil and process until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.For chicken marinade, combine all marinade ingredients (using 1/4 cup of the pesto you just made and reserving remaining pesto for later use).

Place marinade and chicken in a bowl or zip-top plastic bag. Make sure chicken is thoroughly covered; refrigerate 6-8 hours.  Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade.

In a nonstick skillet, cook chicken in 2 Tablespoons oil over med-high heat, about 5 - 7 minutes. Remove chicken and divide into 6 equal portions; set aside.  Drain tomatoes.   In same skillet that you cooked the chicken in, saute mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes in remaining 2 tablespoons oil  until mushrooms are tender and liquid is absorbed; divide into 6 equal portions; set aside.

Separate thinly sliced Gouda into 6 equal portions.  Cut 12 slices, 1/2" thick, from Italian bread loaf.For each sandwich, do the following:. On one slice of bread, layer chicken strips, mushroon/tomato mixture, and then Gouda slices. Place remaining bread slice, pesto side down on top of cheese. Spread approximately 1 teaspoon butter on top bread slice.  Place, buttered side down, on preheated griddle or grill.  With a spatula, press down on the sandwich - just to kind of "smoosh" it together, and while it is cooking, spread approximately 1 teaspoon butter on top slice of bread. Grill approximately 5 minutes, flip and grill approximately 3-5 minutes more or until cheese is melted and bread is golden brown and crispy.Repeat for remaining sandwiches.

***Lighter version***.

For pesto sauce, substitute 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth for the olive oil and omit the salt (if using low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, you may not want to omit the salt) and reduce pine nuts to 1/3 cup or omit altogether (if you want to go even lighter).Proceed with recipe as instructed.Reduce Gouda to 6-8 ounces (depending on your preference for cheesiness), thinly slice and proceed with recipe instructions.Omit the butter that is spread on top of the bread before grilling and instead use a lighter spread - I use Smart Balance Light Buttery Spread w/ Flax, or I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray (No fat or calories in this one).Depending on which and how many of the suggested changes you make, you could cut the fat and calories significantly and still have a tasty panini. :).

Beefy Calzones

I have a  recipe for you....because it's on my menu of things to make within the next week or so, and apparently there's a few of you out there who have missed my regular recipe posting! =)  Roast is on sale this week, so I'll be stocking up and roasting for future recipes like this one......

These calzones are always a hit with my family. =)  I make my own pizza dough and double the sauce to make sure we have plenty for dipping. I also frequently toss in 1 cup of frozen green pepper/ red pepper/ onion blend instead of the onion and bell pepper called for. I have made them with ground beef, but our *favorite* way is with leftover roast beef. Either way, they're good! These freeze well also.  Try them.  You'll like them.  If you don't, your kids will! ; )

Beefy Calzones

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef or 1 lb beef roast 
• 1/4 cup onions, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup bell peppers, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup A-1 Steak Sauce
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 (11 ounce) packages refrigerated pizza dough
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded ( 8 oz.)
  

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, cook beef, onion, pepper and garlic until beef is no longer pink, stirring to break up meat;drain.
2. Keep warm.
3. In small skillet, over medium-high heat, heat tomato sauce, steak sauce & Italian seasoning to a boil.
4. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.
5. Stir 1 cup tomato sauce mixture into beef mixture; set aside.
6. Keep remaining tomato sauce mixture warm. Unroll pizza dough from 1 package; divide into 4 equal pieces.
7. Roll each piece into 6 square; spoon 1/3 cup reserved beef mixture onto center of each square.
8. Top with ¼ cup cheese.
9. Fold dough over to form triangle.
10. Press edges together, sealing well with tines of a fork.

11. Repeat with remaining dough, filling & cheese to make a total of 8 calzones.
12. Bake at 400* for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
13. Serve with warm sauce. Garnish as desired. Serves 8.
    
    
     Notice my new banner?  Come back next Thursday for another recipe.....I've put myself on schedule! =)
    

Cheeseburger Pizza ~ Kid-friendly Recipes ~ Fun in the Summer Sun Link-Up

Welcome to the 2nd week of our Fun in the Summer Fun event!  Each Monday until September 7th,  Mama to 4 Blessings along with:

Adventures of Mommydom,
Sweet Diva,
 Harvest Moon By Hand,
and Sweet Phenomena

 will be hosting Fun in the Summer Fun link up events.

Here's the line up:

The 1st Monday of each month: link up your "Kid friendly summer activities"

The 2nd Monday of each month: link up your "Kid friendly summer crafts"

The 3rd Monday of each month: link up your "Kid friendly summer recipes"

The 4th Monday of each month: link up your "How to stay cool in the summer heat"

Cheeseburger Pizza:

Sausage Cheeseburger Pizza (Cooking for Kids - Southern Living at Home Ckbk)
*made this way, it tastes much like a Krystal

1 lb. Bob Evans Original Recipe Roll Sausage (or lean ground beef or turkey)
1 (12 inch) prepared pizza shell
1/2 cup yellow mustard
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup chopped onion
15 dill pickle slices
3/4 cup (3oz.) shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 425. Crumble and cook sausage in medium skillet until browned; drain well on paper towels. Place pizza shell on lightly greased 12" pizza pan on baking sheet. Spread mustard over shell; top with mozzarella cheese, sausage and onion. Place pickle slices evely on top; sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake 12 min. or until crust is cooked through and cheese is bubbly. Cut into thin wedges and serve hot. Refrigerate leftovers.

Makes about 8 servings.

Altered Version(pictured)

I ususally don't use the mozzarella when making it this way and use 8 oz. of cheddar cheese instead. Follow above instructions, using your choice of meat. I chop 1/2 cup onion and cook it with the meat because the kids like it better when the onions are softer - I like it either way. On top of crust (we usually make our own instead of the prepared), spread a layer of ketchup (maybe 1/3- 1/2 cup); I have put it on the pizza sometimes, and other times have served ketchup on the side - the family likes it either way and I haven't decided yet which way I like it best, then a layer of mustard. Add cooked meat, pickles, about 1/2 - 3/4 cup chopped fresh spinach and approx. one tomato, thinly sliced. Top with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake as directed above.

Pizza Dough:
Just in case you want to try making your own, too!  Makes enough for 2 pizzas; we double the above recipe because 1 pizza isn't enough for our family. ; )

1/2 Tbsp. dry yeast
1/8 c. warm water
1 1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
Approx. 5 1/2 cups flour
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 cup oil

Dissolve yeast in warm water.  Heat milk to warm (110-115 degrees).  Add sugar, salt, and yeast to milk.  Gradually mix in 2 cups flour.  Add beaten egg and oil.  Mix well, then add remaining flour, until you have a soft dough, kneading well.  Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled.  Punch dough down and let rest for 10 min.  Divide in half and spread each half on a greased and floured 12 in. pizza pan.  Add favorite toppings.  Bake at 400* for 15 minutes; add shredded cheese and bake 5 min more until cheese melts.

Confession:  this was on our menu for last week, but these photos are about 2 yrs. old.  We had a crazy busy week and it got pushed to this week's menu instead.  Bad blogger ~ but look how cute my Ashlyn was! ; )  This is one of her favorite recipes!

rolling out homemade pizza dough:

browning the meat:

 

about to put it in the oven: 

 yummy =)

 

Zoned Hummus

From Zone Perfect Meals in Seconds. This is my favorite hummus recipe - the ingredient list may look a little strange, but it has delicious flavor and a great balance of protein/carbs/fat. My family is a big fan of hummus, and say they prefer my hummus over any other. We're serious about enjoying our food, so I'm pretty sure it's not just flattery! ; )  I often serve it alongside quinoa tabouleh as an appetizer with pita bread/pretzels/crackers/celery for dipping or as a spread in wraps, etc.  Grill some mushrooms & chicken (for the carnivores) and wrap it, along with the tabouleh, all up in a whole grain wrap or pita. YUM.

Zoned Hummus

{Sorry, no pic today.  It looks like.....hummus! ; ) }

Ingredients:

2 cups chickpeas, drained, canned, cooked ( save juice)

14 ounces tuna in water, drained, canned, no-salt

2 hard-boiled eggs

1/2 cup tahini, raw or 1/2 cup sesame tahini, raw, toasted, unsalted

1/3 cup lemon juice, fresh ( 1 lemon)

1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 cup filtered water or 1 cup chickpea liquid

1/2 teaspoon sea salt (optional)

ground paprika ( to garnish)

Directions:

Combine the chickpeas, tuna, eggs, tahini, lemon juice, parsley,garlic, cumin, pepper, and chickpea juices or water in the work bowl of a food processor.

Add sea salt if desired.

Cover and process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides with a spatula.

Add additional water as needed to blend. Taste and adjust the seasonings.

Cover and refrigerate.