Beef Tomato Vegetable Soup Base

Savory soup bases are a good way to stock up on quick meal starters. Preparing them ahead of time saves effort in the kitchen on busy days and are excellent for stashing some of those summer garden veggies. They'll heat quickly and serve in no time flat. This may be eaten as is or add pasta to this recipe and put a hearty meal on the table in no time flat!

Beef Tomato Vegetable Soup Base

1 Package of Beef Gravy Mix
1 can crushed tomatoes or 1 1/2 cups fresh diced tomatoes
2 small cans tomato sauce
3 quarts of hot water
3 cups of mixed veggies (zucchini, yellow squash, green beans, carrots, corn, green or red peppers)
1 medium onion - sliced thin
1 C or 1 small can of cooked Beans (Kidney beans are used in this recipe)
1/4 stick of butter
1/2 t Onion Salt
1/2 t Oregano
1/2 t Basil
1 T garlic in oil
Parmesan cheese for serving
Salt and Pepper to taste

Optional:
1 pound ground beef (browned and drained)
1/2 t Marjoram
1/2 t Thyme
1/2 t Rosemary
1/2 t Parsley

In a large stock pot, melt butter and sautee onion and garlic for two minutes until carmelized. Add veggies and stir until coated. Simmer for a few minutes and add water and tomatoes, tomato sauce. Mix in gravy mix and stir until smooth. Add herbs and salt and pepper and let simmer for about 40 minutes or until hard veggies are soft. Serve as is with Parmesan cheese as a garnish.



Elbow macaroni, rotini noodles, ziti, or bow ties. pasta may be added separately if freezing. Cook pasta separately when serving.

For freezing, use 1 quart bags or containers. To serve simply thaw in pot and stir occassionally.

Keeps for 3 - 6 months.

Makes 6 Servings.

posted from Bloggeroid

The Best Homemade Juice Recipe

Juicing is a fabulous decision for a healthier lifestyle. It helps increases our consumption of fruits and vegetables in a delicious beverage. Prepared ahead of time, these liquid power servings are just what the body needs in terms of nutritious snacking and energy boosts.


Homemade Juice
Image credit: M Burgess

I began juicing last summer when I ran across a batch of sweet pomegranates ready for harvest. The thought of hand extracting these beautiful fruits inspired me to buy a juicer. I had juiced them by hand the previous summer, but the process was too complicated and time consuming. I needed a better plan!

I shopped around and decided to purchase the Black and Decker Juice Extractor and it has held up well under the strain of 6 to 8 pints of juice a week. I let it rest occasionally, but try to do a batch every three days or so.

In the warmer weather day, I try to keep the sweet liquids on hand to begin my day. A pint of this good stuff and I'm on the go with chores and work. This is a much healthier alternative to coffee and energy drinks.

My recipes are a mixture of fruits and carrot based combinations. A recent recipe inspired me to name it Monkey Juice because most of the ingredients are fruits you'd see a primate eating. Packed with the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients we could all use more of, this juicing mix is a keeper for my fruit blend.

Equipment List:

*1 Juice extractor
*4 pint small mouthed jars w/rings and lids
*1 pint large mouth jar (for catching juice)
*1 scraper (to clean top and pulp chute)
*1 gallon sized pitcher
*1 bucket for dumping fruit pulp
*Masking or freezer tape
*pen

Fruit and Ingredient List:

3 pounds carrots - washed and topped
2 Gala Apples - cored and sliced
8- 12 large Strawberries - topped/quartered
3 Peaches - cored and sliced
3 Nectarines - cored and sliced
2 ripe Bananas - peeled and sliced
2 Kiwi - sliced whole (leave skin on)
1 ginger root (size of a thumb)
1/2 Orange - sliced
1/2 Lemon - sliced
1/2 Lime - quartered
1/2 t Tumeric
1/4 freshly ground pepper corns

Directions:

Squeeze the lemon, orange, and lime into pitcher into pitcher. Toss the rinds. Do not run them through the juicer. Add the Tumeric and pepper and stir. Set aside.

Juice the carrots through the machine. The measurements should be around 2 pints of straight carrot juice. Pour the liquid into the large pitcher as needed. Check the pulp container and shredding area for excess build up. Clean when needed. Continue juicing all the remaining fruit and, lastly, add the ginger and bananas. I generally save the banana for last because it gums up the tiny shredder inside the juice assembly.

Mix all into large pitcher and stir well. Pour into pint jars and refrigerate.

Mark each top with a piece of freezer or masking tape indicating the date made. Use within 3 days.

Makes approximately 4 1/2 pints.

Enjoy!

posted from Bloggeroid

The Best Homemade Juice Recipe

Juicing is a fabulous decision for a healthier lifestyle. It helps increases our consumption of fruits and vegetables in a delicious beverage. Prepared ahead of time, these liquid power servings are just what the body needs in terms of nutritious snacking and energy boosts.


Homemade Juice
Image credit: M Burgess

I began juicing last summer when I ran across a batch of sweet pomegranates ready for harvest. The thought of hand extracting these beautiful fruits inspired me to buy a juicer. I had juiced them the previous summer, but the process was too complicated and time consuming. I needed a better plan!

Black and Decker Juice Extractor
The Black and Decker Juice Extractor

posted from Bloggeroid