Avo Julia's Potato Leek Soup

This soup was one my late great grandmother Julia used to make often, and even though its a pretty standard soup that most people make, in my family it has forever been known as Julia's soup, plus its a really healthier version than most since it has no cream or milk.  Soup is kind of a big deal in my family, as it is for most Portuguese families.  Sunday family feasts are never complete without a soup, and right now with this awfully cold weather, there is nothing better than a warm bowl.  Makes me think of small tables with too many people, with everyone talking over each other, with baskets and baskets of bread and butter, and family, a sight alone that could warm my heart.

Ingredients:
4 to 6 large potatoes
1 large onion
4 cloves of garlic
5 to 6 cups of chicken stock (although I honestly used just plain water cause I didn't have any stock at home, and it really doesn't change the integrity of soup)
3 leeks
2 tablespoons of olive oil
salt to taste

This is a super easy preparation.  Simply boil the potatoes, onion, and garlic in the stock.  Once soft, blend with a hand blender, and add more water if it turns out a little too thick (about 2 cups worth).  Add the 3 leeks sliced and let the soup come to a boil again.  Right at the end add the olive oil.

Enjoy with warm bread, and someone you love.

[Recipe} Zucchini Fritters

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekends, its a sunny but crisp one here.  The babe is napping, and the big guy is enjoying his Sunday afternoon football.  In honour of game days, I thought I would post a recipe for an alternative snack, one that's a little healthier; although healthy is usual not on anyone's mind when watching football.

These are supposed to be deep fried, but I pan fry them, and then finish them in the oven.  They are super easy to make, and a hit with the little man, which is great since its always nice to find creative ways to get more veggies in our little ones.

I used 5 medium sized zucchinis, and grated them ahead of time.  Leave them in a strainer with a sprinkle of salt, this will help rid the veggie of excess water that will make frying them harder.  Once you're ready to make them, add 1 egg, and half a cup of flour, and combine together, don't over mix.  Take about a tablespoon worth in your hand and make a patty, as if you were making hamburgers, and place gently in a heated pan of about half a cup of veggie oil.  Cook for about 40 seconds on each side, and place on a cooking sheet.  They will need about another 10 minutes in the oven.

I served these with dinner the other day, with a dabble of sour cream and chives.  The whole family loved them.  Enjoy!

{Recipe} Easy Apple Muffins

I had a lot of apples from our apple picking trip last week, and sometimes its hard to come up with healthy snacks for kids to have when you're on the run.  These muffins are great, and the bonus is that the recipe can be adapted for other fruits, or even better veggies.  Also they freeze really well, so its easy to pop one in the microwave and presto you have a morning or afternoon snack.

The recipe is really easy, and a mixer is not necessary.  Lucas had a blast helping me, and I think its great to get kids to help in the kitchen with fun recipes, and get their hands dirty.

Ingredients (for 12 muffins):
2 cups of flour
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp of baking powder
1 1/2 tsp of baking soda
1 tbs of cinnamon
1tbs of ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp of kosher salt
1 egg
2 cups of apples peeled and diceds
1 cup of milk
3 tbs of vegetable oil

Method:
Mix all wet ingredients together, and then add the apples.  In a separate bowl mix all dry ingredients with a fork (this helps sort the brown sugar).  Add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until all is combined, do not over mix.  Grease a muffin tin and bake for 15 minutes at 400 F.

Super easy!

{Recipe} Easy Red Curry Chicken

The weather has been a little crispier this week so I was craving some comfort food, a stew for sure.  Behold this super easy curry dish. 

I sautéed one onion, threw in chicken chunks, and added salt, pepper, about 3 tablespoons of red curry, and a little of garlic powder.  Once the chicken was half done, I added a can of whole marzano tomatoes with the sauce, and just let them slowly break down with the stew, and a whole can of coconut milk.  I let this simmer until I knew the chicken was done, and added a bunch of fresh parsley right at the end, basil would probably work really well too.

I served on a bed of white rice cooked with a little butter and steamed rappini, I didn't add the rappini in the stew in fear that the bitterness would ruin the sauce.

I actually made this earlier in the day, so it was easy to just give it a little reheat at dinner and that way we had more time to enjoy some family fun. 

Enjoy!