Ham, Beans and Potatoes

The recipe is simply delicious.....

Ham, Beans and Potatoes

In a large stock pot, add 4 ham hocks, 1 sliced onion, 2 carrots sliced and enough water to cover ham hocks, turn heat to simmer, cover and cook for about 4 hours, remove ham hocks and take off any meat from the hock and return it to the broth, add 6 potatoes, peeled and cubed, and 1 lb. fresh green beans, washed and ends cut off. Continue to cook until beans and potatoes are tender, add salt and pepper to taste. Hint: the longer and slower you allow this mixture to cook the better, your house will smell delicious and your tummy will be more than satisfied.

Hope you enjoy this comforting soup.

The Lunch Lady :)

Meatball Veggie Soup

This soup seemed to be a big hit at school today, I found it to be easy to make, not a lot of ingredients needed. I hope you try this and enjoy it.

The recipe for meatball veggie soup:

Meatball Veggie Soup

Heat 4 qts water in a large stock pot on med hi heat, add 4 c. Cole Slaw Mix, 1 bag Mixed Vegetables, 3 T. Beef Base, 20 Meatballs, 2 T. Italian Seasonings, 2 T. Garlic Powder, Salt and Pepper to Taste. Cook until meatballs are heated through and cole slaw is tender. If you would like to make this recipe a little spicy, add 2 c. Salsa.

The Lunch Lady :)

Kathy's Greek Salad

I have a rich heritage of awesome cooks, my dad's side was Greek, my mom's side was German, with that being said I love to cook foods that remind me of the times I spent in the kitchen with those I love. My Greek Salad I want to share with you today, was a recipe I got from my cousin, Kathy. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do. I make it a few times a week at school and the staff always seems to enjoy it.

The recipe for Kathy's Greek Salad is as follows:

Kathy's Greek Salad

On a large platter place 2 heads of washed and torn Romaine Lettuce leaves. Place one cut cucumber on next, followed by 3 chopped tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, followed by 1 sliced red onion, and sprinkle with 2 c. crumbled Feta Cheese.

Homemade Dressing Recipe:

In a large bowl combine and whisk together 1 1/2 c. Olive Oil, 1/2 Red Wine Vinegar, 1/3 c. Honey, 2 T. Oregano, 1 T. Garlic Powder, and Salt and Pepper to Taste. Pour dressing over salad, toss and serve.

Variations:

Add 2 c. Homemade Croutons
Add 1 c. Banana Peppers
Add 1 c. Greek Olives
Add 1 c. Black and/or Green Olives

Enjoy trying this salad.

The Lunch Lady :)

Homemade Mac & Cheese

I love to make this recipe, it is very forgiving, and easy to make, substitute any cheeses you prefer. Have fun, hope your family loves it as much as mine.

Recipe for mac & cheese is as follows:

Homemade Mac & Cheese

In a large stock pot add water and your favorite type of pasta. We prefer any Dreamfields Pasta as it is lox card and works well in my husband's diet since he is diabetic. Cook pasta until al dente and set aside.

In a large saucepan melt 1 stick of butter on medium heat, and saute 1/2 sweet diced onion until tender. Add enough flour about 2 T. stir until mixed well and add enough milk to make runny, about 5 cups. Add the following cheeses or whatever combination you like, I use 5 slices american cheese, 2 c. shredded cheddar, 4 slices swiss, 1/2 c. parmesan, and 2 T. Stone ground mustard mix until melted, if you need to thin a little add more milk. Prepare a greased  9x13 inch pan and combine pasta and cheese sauce, pour into prepared pan top with 1/2 c. Seasoned Breadcrumbs and 1/4 c. Parmesan Cheese. Bake in a 350 degree oven until golden brown about 40 minutes.

Some Variations:

Add 2 c. Cooked crumbled bacon
Add 2 c. Cooked mixed vegetables
Add 2 c. Cooked chopped broccoli
Add 1 Can, drained Tuna
Add 2 c. Cooked diced Chicken and 1 small can jalapenos

Your combinations are endless...



Enjoy making this recipe with your family.

The Lunch Lady :)

Country Mushroom Soup

Sorry it has been a while, things have been a little crazy around our house this week. I hope you enjoy trying this recipe. It is simple and yummy.

The recipe for Country Mushroom Soup is as follows:

Country Mushroom Soup

In a large stock pot add 1/4 c. olive oil, 1-2 lbs sliced mushrooms (you can use any combination of mushrooms for this soup), 1 chopped sweet onion and saute until tender. Add spoonful of flour to thicken and stir in 8 c. beef broth. Whisk as to avoid lumps, add 1 large can cream of mushroom soup, salt and pepper to taste, 1 T. Italian Seasonings, 1 T. Garlic Powder, blend together and heat through. If you need to thin slightly add some cream, half and half or milk. This recipe is so easy and very delicious.

Variations to this recipe:

Add 1 c. Orzo and allow to cook in soup.
Add 1 c. Noodles of your choice (leftovers work well)
Add 1 c. Cooked Beef

This soup seems to be a big hit with all. Enjoy.

The Lunch Lady :)

Pammie's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Since I was home today taking it easy, I decided to make my favorite cookies. I hope you enjoy experimenting with this recipe.

My recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies is as follows:

Pammie's Chocolate Chip Cookies

In a large bowl use a mixer and cream 2 Sticks Softened Butter, 1 1/2 c. Brown Sugar (I prefer dark brown) until fluffy, add 2 Eggs, 1 T. Vanilla extract and mix well. Add 2 1/4 c. All Purpose Unbleached Flour, 1 t. Baking Soda, 1 t. Kosher Salt, 1-4. oz. Box Instant French Vanilla Pudding, mix well and add 1 bag Mini Chocolate Chips and 1 c. Craisins.
Use a small ice cream scoop and place on a cookie sheet, bake in a 350 degree oven for about 12-15 minutes.

Variations of this recipe:

Leave out Chocolate Chips and Craisins and bake as directed (my daughter-in-law loves them this way)
Add 1 C. Nutella and bake as directed
Add 1 C. Smooth or Chunky Peanut Butter and bake as directed
Add 1 C. Oatmeal and 1 C. Raisins (best if soaked in hot water to plump) and bake as directed

Use your imagine and add your own yummy combinations. Happy Baking.

The Lunch Lady :)

Jay's Favorite Salad

I wanted to share with you our favorite Sunday Salad, my husband so enjoyed this at a favorite restaurant in town that I came home and tried to duplicate it so he can have it anytime. I hope you enjoy it.

 Jay's Favorite Salad Recipe is as follows:

Cut 1 head of romaine in pieces or use fresh baby spinach leaves. Place on a beautiful platter for presentation, top with 1 apple chopped, 8 slices cooked bacon, 1/4 thinly sliced red onion, 3 oz. cubed cheddar cheese, and 1/2 c. spiced pecans.

 Salad Dressing Recipe:

1 c. Canola Oil, 1/4 c. Apple Cider Vinegar, 1/3 Sugar, 1 t. Celery Seed, Salt and Pepper to taste, 1/4 c. red onion, 1 T. Stone Ground Prepared Mustard. Combine ingredients in food processor until smooth.

For variations to dressing add 1 of the following:

add 1/4 C. Strawberry Jam
add 1/4 C. Orange Marmalade
add 1/4 C. Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Recipe for Spiced Pecans:

In a small bowl combine 1 t. Black Pepper, 2 T. Cinnamon, 1/2 t. Cayenne Pepper, 1 t. Pumpkin pie spice, 1/4 t. Salt, 1/2 c. sugar

In another bowl combine 1 egg white and 2 T. water, mix well. toss pecans in egg mixture, then place into spice mix and coat well. Place on lined cookie sheet and bake in a 325 degree oven for about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Serve over salad, you might want to make extra so you can snack on them.

I hope you enjoy making this salad, it is easy, pretty and delicious.

The Lunch Lady :)

Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

Today I was off from school, no cooking so let me share an easy favorite that my family really enjoys. I hope that this becomes one of your favorites too.

Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

In a stock pot add 2 qts water, bring to a boil and add 3 cups chicken (cooked and diced), salt and pepper to taste, 1 can cream of chicken soup. Now add 1 or 2 cans biscuits (any canned biscuit will work), you will open the can and cut each raw biscuit into 4 pieces, carefully place in boiling broth and cook until glossy. At first the biscuits will begin to puff up and look mushy, stir gently and allow to cook until firm. Turn heat to simmer and allow to cook until broth is desired thickness or until ready to serve.

For added flavor add 1 package mixed vegetables.

I sure hope you have fun making this soup.

The Lunch Lady :)

Fresh Vegetable Soup

At school today I had some fresh veggies to use up, so I made Fresh Vegetable Soup, Basic ingredients were used.

The recipe for Fresh Vegetable Soup is as follows:

Fresh Vegetable Soup

In a large stock pot add 2 qts water, 2 T. Chicken Base (available at GFS), 3 Zucchini (diced), 1 Sweet Onion (diced), 1 Head Broccoli (chopped), 3 Carrots (peeled and diced), simmer veggies until they are tender, add 3 c. Salsa, 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup, Salt and Pepper to Taste. Heat and serve.

For variations of this recipe you can add any leftover meat, about 2 cups.

Enjoy making this very simple, easy soup.

The Lunch Lady :)

French Onion Soup

This is a simple version of a fancy French Onion Soup, at school I have limited ingredients to work with, so I came up with this recipe and it seemed to be a big hit. I hope you enjoy it too.

The recipe for French Onion Soup is as follows:

French Onion Soup 

In a large stock pot, add 1/4 c. Canola oil or Olive Oil and 1/4 c. Butter, heat until oil and butter melt, add 6 Sweet Onions (slice thinly), cook until onions are caramelized. Add 2 qts. water and 3 T. Beef Base. Add salt and pepper to taste, 2 T. sugar, 1 t. Worcestershire, cook until heated through. Add more water if needed, adjust seasonings to your liking.

To serve:

In a bowl place 1/2 c. homemade croutons, top with Shredded Mozzarella, Swiss or Provolone cheese, ladle soup on top and serve.

Recipe for Homemade Croutons is as follows:

Homemade Croutons

In large bowl add 1 c. Olive Oil, 2 T. Italian Seasonings, 1 T. Garlic Powder, 1 T. Paprika, 1 T. Salt, and 1 T. Pepper, mix together well. Add 1 loaf of bread cut into cubes (I leave the crusts on). Mix together, place on a cookie sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes, stir and continue to cook until croutons are golden brown and not soft anymore. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Enjoy your soup.

The Lunch Lady :)

Meatball Minestrone Soup

I sure hope you have been enjoying my soup recipes. This soup is one of our favorites.

The recipe for Meatball Minestrone Soup is as follows:

Meatball Minestrone Soup

In a large stock pot add 3 qts. water, 1 can crushed tomatoes, 12 cooked meatballs, 1 bag mixed vegetables, 2 T. Italian Seasonings, 1 T. Garlic Salt or Powder, Salt and Pepper to Taste, 2 T. Beef Base, 3 oz. Spaghetti (uncooked and broken into pieces), allow to slowly boil until pasta is cooked to your liking.  If soup is too thick add some water.

I hope you enjoy making this soup, great served with garlic bread and your favorite salad.

The Lunch Lady :)

Berry Yummy Salad

It is Sunday, so here goes another salad recipe. I came up with this recipe one day when we were having friends for dinner and I needed to make a salad, it was a big hit, yummy and easy.

Recipe for Berry Yummy Salad is as follows:


Berry Yummy Salad

1 Pkg. Blueberries
1 Pkg. Raspberries
1 Pkg. Blackberries
1/2 Block Feta Cheese (crumbled)
1 Tomato (cut into pieces) or 6 Cherry Tomatoes (cut in half)
Olive Oil
Red Wine Vinegar
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Fresh Oregano, Basil or Thyme

In a bowl whisk together 6 T. Olive Oil, 3 T. Red Wine Vinegar, 3 T. Honey, Salt and Pepper to Taste, and 1 T. Fresh Oregano, Basil or Thyme (chopped). In another bowl place washed fruit, cheese and tomatoes. Pour dressing over the fruit and toss. To serve place in a pretty tall goblet, drizzle with honey before serving.


Bonus Recipe for Homemade Caramel Sauce:

In a skillet heat 1/3 c. Butter, 1 c. Brown Sugar, 1/8 c. Sugar Free Syrup and 1/8 c. Molasses.
Boil until sugar is dissolved Add 1/3 c. Heavy Cream, 1 t. Vanilla and pinch of salt.

I used this sauce to pour over poached pears, it would be great with ice cream, pound cake and fruit, or any other dessert you can come up with. I also think it would make a great extra something in your coffee. Store in a sealed container in the fridge and enjoy.

Have a restful Sunday,

The Lunch Lady :)

*Feel free to add or delete whatever fruit you prefer. You can also use any vinegar you have for this recipe.*

Beef and Orzo Soup

Since it is snowing and cold today, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite soups, hopefully it will warm you from the inside out. It is so easy to make, creamy and delicious. Try it, I think it will become one of your favorite soups too.

The recipe for my Beef and Orzo Soup is as follows:

Beef and Orzo Soup

In a large stock pot add 3 T. Olive oil and brown 1 lb. Ground Sirloin and 1 Sweet Onion (chopped) on medium heat until meat is cooked and onion caramelized.Sprinkle 1/4 c. flour on top of meat and stir (cook for 2 minutes),  add 5 c. Beef Broth (I prefer low sodium or Beef Base from GFS) and 2 small cans Cream of Mushroom Soup, stir well, add 1&1/2 c. Orzo and simmer until orzo is tender, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 1 bag frozen mixed vegetables and salt and pepper to taste. Heat through and serve. You can place soup in a crock pot on warm until ready to use.

*You can add more water if needed, depends on how much liquid the orzo soaks up*

I love to serve this soup with a big piece of bread. Have fun trying this recipe for your family.

Recipe feeds 8-10

The Lunch Lady :)

Potato Corn Chowder

Today has been cold and dreary...nothing better than a comforting bowl of stick to your ribs delicious chowder.

Recipe for my chowder is as follows;

Potato Corn Chowder


In a large stock pot place 2 qts. of water, 2 c. carrots (shredded), 2 c. corn (I prefer frozen) and 2 T. chicken base, heat on medium until carrots are tender. Now add 7 potatoes (baked, peeled and diced), 8 pieces bacon (cooked and crumbled), salt and pepper to taste, bring soup to a boil and turn off heat. Add 8 pieces of american cheese, cover with lid for 5 minutes, remove lid and stir until cheese is melted. Serve with salad and bread.

Some options to add to your chowder:

1 lb. Diced, cooked smoked sausage
1 Can Diced, chopped Jalapenos
1 Caramelized Onion

I hope you enjoy this chowder, it was a big hit today when I served it at school.

The Lunch Lady :)

Turkey Vegetable Soup

My Turkey Vegetable Soup has a little kick, you can substitute whatever kind of meat you have available.You can even add some leftover pasta or rice. I found this soup to be very easy, put in pot and forget about it, perfect for the busy homemaker or working mom. You could even put it in the crock pot in the morning, turn it on low and let it cook for about 10 hours.

The recipe for Turkey Vegetable Soup is as follows:

Turkey Vegetable Soup


Fill your soup pot with 3 qts water, add 3 c. cooked turkey, 2 c. cabbage (shredded), 1 c. carrots (shredded), 1 c. green beans, 2 T. chicken base, 2 t. salt, 1 t. pepper, 1/4 t. crushed red pepper flakes, 1 t. onion powder, 1/2 t. cumin, 1/4 t. allspice. Cook on  med heat for about 25 minutes until cabbage and carrots are softened. Perfect soup served with some fresh fruit and a loaf of sourdough.

Enjoy trying this recipe.

The Lunch Lady :)

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Broccoli Cheese Soup is one of my favorite soups to make, it is easy, warms the tummy and hearty enough for any appetite. I hope you enjoy making it for your family.

The recipe is as follows:

Broccoli Cheese Soup

In a large stock pot add 2 qts. water, 2 c. shredded carrots, 3 c. broccoli crowns, cover and bring to a boil, cook until broccoli is fork tender; add 2 T. chicken base, 2 small cans cream of mushroom soup, 12 pieces of american cheese slices, and salt and pepper to taste. Turn off the heat and stir until cheese is melted.

Serving Ideas:
Place in a bread bowl and top with shredded cheese
Pour soup over a baked potato and sprinkle with bacon crumbles
Place in a large bowl and serve fresh veggies on the side and use as a sort of fondue with friends.

Soup Variations:
Add some roasted veggies.
Add some grilled smoked sausage.
Add some caramelized onions.
Add any leftover sliced meats.
Add some cooked and crumbled bacon.

Use your imagination. Enjoy your soup.

The Lunch Lady :)

Vegetable Soup

Vegetable Soup is very easy and versatile. You can even start with the leftover Tomato Soup from yesterday and make a fabulous new soup. So here goes....

Vegetable Soup recipe is as follows:

In a large stock pot add 2 qts. water and either 1/2 qt. leftover tomato soup, 1/2 qt. salsa or 1/2 qt. crushed tomatoes, stewed tomatoes or tomato sauce. add 2 T. beef  base, 1 small can garbanzo beans, 1 small can black beans or 1 can pork and beans (drain beans before adding to soup), 1 bag mixed frozen vegetables or any frozen bag of vegetables in your freezer, 3 c. fresh baby spinach leaves, 1T. garlic powder, 1T. cumin, 1 t. black pepper, 2 t. salt, 1T. onion powder, 1T. Italian seasonings or basil. Heat and serve. So easy and very delicious. Add more salt and pepper according to your taste buds.

This soup can be made into so many different types of vegetable soup, you can add beef, chicken or turkey, add or eliminate any vegetables you prefer, add or eliminate any beans you like as well. You will start to see from my blog posts that my soups are similar, flavors will vary, effort is so easy, so enjoy experimenting and making each of my soups your own. Happy cooking.

The Lunch Lady :)

Tomato Soup w/ Homemade Croutons

Hope you had a restful weekend, today's soup is easy and yummy.

Tomato Soup w/ Homemade Croutons recipe is as follows:

In a large stock pot add 1 large can of stewed or crushed tomatoes, add 2 times the amount of water, 2 T. chicken base (available at GFS), 2 T. Sugar (to cut the bitterness of the tomatoes), 1 T. Italian Seasonings, 1 t. Garlic Powder, 1 t. Black Pepper, 1 t. Salt,  simmer until soup is hot. If you prefer a smoother soup, use an immersion blender and puree, if you prefer your soup a little thinner, add 1/2 - 1 C.Cream and stir.

Homemade Crouton recipe is as follows:

In a large mixing bowl add 1 c. Olive Oil, 1 T. Italian Seasonings, 1 T. Garlic Powder, 1 T. Paprika, 1-2 T. Salt, 1 T. Black Pepper, mix well and add 1 loaf of bread cut into cubes (I use the crust also). Toss well and place on a parchment lined baking sheet, bake in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes, toss croutons and continue baking until golden brown and crunchy. It usually takes about 10 minutes total cooking time.

The great thing about any homemade soup is you control the salt content. This soup is a great compliment to  any grilled cheese, you can use any cheese, add sliced apples and ham, one of my favorites. I hope you try it. Enjoy.

The Lunch Lady :)

Homemade Salad Dressing

Today at church I had a friend ask me how to make a yummy salad and dressing. I decided that Sundays will be Sunday Salads, hope you enjoy.

Homemade Salad Dressing Recipe:

In a bowl place 1/2 - 3/4 c. Olive Oil, 1/4 c. Red Wine Vinegar, 1/3 c. Honey, Salt and Pepper to Taste, 1 T. Oregano or Basil, and 2 t. garlic powder, stir well and pour over your favorite lettuce and serve.

Variations to this dressing recipe:

1/2 c. Cranberry Sauce
1/4 c. Orange Marmalade
1/4 c. Low sugar Strawberry Jam
2 squirts Mustard (yellow, dijon, stone ground, spicy)

To prepare your yummy salad:  Use romaine cut into pieces,  baby spinach leaves, or iceberg (if you are looking for no nutritional value),  some cherry tomatoes,  cucumber (cut into pieces),  olives (black, greek or green),  red onion (sliced) and add some crumbled feta cheese 9about 1/2 c) and  fresh berries (as many as you like). Pour your dressing over and mix. Serve with your favorite bread and soup.

Hope you enjoy.

The Lunch Lady :)

Homemade Chicken Soup

It is rainy and cold today so I decided to make something to warm our tummies. A simple, fast, great way to make your house smell delish is to make some Homemade Chicken Soup. Below is the recipe. Have fun making it your own.

Homemade Chicken Soup

In a large pot place whatever chicken parts you have, cover with water and cover, turn to simmer and allow to cook for about 4 hours until meat and bone separate. Pour the mixture into a strainer separating the broth from chicken and bones. I used the carcass of a roasted chicken I made the other night for dinner. Once you cook the chicken you can place in the fridge for a few days until ready to use. This morning I took out the cooked chicken, reheated the stock and added the chicken pieces, add 1 can mushrooms, 1/3 can chopped jalepenos, 1 can cream of chicken soup, salt and pepper to taste and a sprinkle of Italian Seasonings (no more than 1 teaspoon), heat until ready to serve. We had it today for lunch with some bread and butter.

This recipe has so many variations, add any of the following:

1 bag of frozen vegetables
1 box Zatarans rice of your choosing (cook in soup until rice is cooked)
1 box Wild Rice (cook in soup until rice is cooked)
Any leftover rice or pasta (1-2 cups will work)
1 can biscuits (tear into pieces and place in the soup on a rolling boil until biscuits become glossy)

*add some extra water if needed

Enjoy your Soup

The Lunch Lady :)

Oriental Vegetable Soup

Today I made Oriental Vegetable Soup at school for our staff. It was a big hit with those watching their weight. Super easy to make, and reheats very well.

Recipe for Oriental Vegetable Soup

In a large stock pot heat 4 qts. of water, add 2 T. beef base, 2 heads of broccoli pieces, 1/2 c. celery (chopped), 1 pkg. cole slaw mix or broccoli slaw mix, and 2 cups of shredded carrots, cook until vegetables are tender, on medium heat it should take about 15 mintues. Add 3 c. fresh baby spinach leaves, 1 t. garlic powder, 1 t. onion powder, 1 t. cumin, 1 t. oregano, 1 t. black pepper and salt to taste. Heat through and add 1 c. scrambled eggs. Stir well and serve.

Note: spinach will wilt quickly, do not overheat.


The Lunch Lady :)

Potato Soup Recipe

My homemade soup recipe today is:

Potato Soup

In a large stock pot add 4 qts. water and 2 c. shredded carrots, allow to simmer until soft. Add 2 T. chicken base (available at GFS), 8 baked potatoes (skinned and diced), 10 slices of american cheese, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 t. black pepper, heat through and add 8 pieces of bacon (cooked and crumbled) right before serving.

Serve with your favorite bread and salad for a hearty winter meal.

You can also used roasted potatoes and any cheese you have in your fridge. Add more or less water for your desired consistency.

Enjoy!

The Lunch Lady