Mandy and Jace

I didn’t get to make this dish last night due to other plans but I did want to get the recipe out there. I got it from a website called a cozy kitchen.

Rigatoni with Eggplant Puree
from A cozy kitchen

1 medium eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, whole
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt & pepper
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1 pound rigatoni pasta
1/4 cup torn fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with tin foil or parchment paper. On the baking sheet, combine the eggplant, cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Smooth the vegetables out in an even layer on the baking sheet. Roast in the oven until the vegetables are tender and the eggplant is golden, about 35 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta into a large bowl and reserve 1 1/2 cups of the cooking liquid (optional).

Transfer the roasted vegetables to a food processor. Add the torn mint leaves and the pine nuts and puree the vegetables. Transfer the pureed vegetables to the bowl with the pasta and add the parmesan. Stir to combine, adding the pasta cooking liquid (optional) 1/2 cup at a time until the pasta is saucy.

I still hope to cook it sometime so if anyone tries it let me know how it comes out.

This is a very easy recipe and is great for throwing everything in the crock pot in the morning and having it for lunch. You can use whatever veggies that you would like. I used corn and green beans but you can easily use carrots and peas or anything else. Whole wheat pasta would also be really good in it.

Vegetable Soup
2 cans whole kernel corn
2 cans green beans
2 cans pinto beans (ranch style taste’s better but has lard so not good for the Daniel fast)
2- 8oz cans tomato sauce

Pour all ingredients into either a pot or a crock pot and heat until hot. The longer you let it simmer the better your soup will be!

I was amazed at how easy this recipe was. I was kind of nervous to make this because I have never made any kind of dough or bread before but it was so easy that I’m ready to take on more. This recipe made enough dough to cut it in half and make one thin crust pizza and freeze the rest for later. Half of the dough was more than enough for the two of us but if you’re serving a family you will probably need to use the whole thing. I found this recipe on a website called cozy kitchen.

First, mix the warm water, yeast and sugar in a large bowl until the yeast is dissolved. Then, let it sit for 10 minutes to let the yeast activate. Add the olive oil, and honey and stir until the honey dissolves. Add the flour and salt.

Mix until a dough ball forms.

Pour the dough out onto a floured, flat surface and knead the dough into a smooth ball.

Place the kneaded dough into a GREASED bowl, (I forgot to grease mine and it was a pain to get out) cover with a damp towel, and put it in a warm place for 45 minutes or until the dough doubles in size.

Turn the dough onto a floured flat surface and roll it out to your desired thickness and size.

Then put it on a sheet pan or pizza stone and top with whatever your heart desires.

Pizza dough
adapted from A Cozy Kitchen

Ingredients
1 cup warm water
1 packet dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
2 1/4 cups flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix the warm water, yeast and sugar in a large bowl until the yeast is dissolved. Then let it sit for 10 minutes to let the yeast activate. Add the olive oil, and honey and stir until the honey dissolves. Add the flour and salt. Mix until a dough ball forms.
Pour the dough out onto a floured, flat surface and knead the dough into a smooth ball. Place the kneaded dough into a greased bowl, cover with a damp towel, and put it in a warm place for 45 minutes or until the dough doubles in size.
Turn the dough onto a floured flat surface and roll it out to your desired thickness and size. Transfer the dough to a sheet pan or pizza stone and top with desired toppings.

I found this recipe on a food blog that I love called The Pioneer Woman. I never dreamed making refried beans could be so easy. It literally took me 10 minutes. No joke!

I started by heating some leftover beans over medium heat. I had made beans and cornbread a couple days before and the leftovers were perfect for making refried beans.

Throw in some diced jalapenos or any pepper you would like.

Get your handy-dandy potato masher out and start mashing…

…keep mashing

Now, no one panic… add a table spoon of lard. Yes, I said it, lard. It’s only a tablespoon and its not like you are going to eat the whole pot of beans by yourself. I promise it will make them so much better.

Mash them up some more.

And now you have refried beans.

This is one of the most fun and easiest meals we make. It is great for us because we can try all different kinds of toppings and not waste too much time and money. It would also be fun with kids.

Forgive me for the bad photos. My camera’s battery died and I had to use my iphone.
We use Pillsburry Thin Pizza Crust . It has a sweet flavor that I love.

I cut the dough in half so we each have our own personal pizza. You don’t have to cut it if you want a big pizza. I also fold my dough in half to make a thicker crust. Jace likes his thin so he leaves his like it is.

I like my pizza with tomato sauce, hamburger meat and cheese. I keep cooked hamburger meat in the freezer for meals like this when I don’t need a lot of it.

Jace likes his with olive oil, bacon, basil and fresh mozzarella cheese.

Next put them in a 400 degree oven and cook or about 20 minutes depending on the toppings you use. After that they are ready to eat!

Build your own pizza

Pillsburry thin pizza crust
any toppings you want on it

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
Spray two sheet pans with non-stick spray. Cut the dough in half and place one on each pan. Pile on your toppings and put the pizzas in the oven.
Cook for about 20 minutes or until the dough is done in the middle.