Oven Roasted Tomatoes and Red Pepper Soup

Oven Roasted Tomatoes and Red Pepper Soup

-10 Roma Tomatoes Blanched to remove skins
-3 red peppers blanched to remove skins
-1 large onion
-4 cloves of garlic
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-900ml vegetable broth
-1 tablespoon herb de provence
-1 teaspoon chili powder
-salt and pepper
-1/2 teaspoon crush rosemary

-boil water and place an x with a knife on the tomatoes and place in boiling water for 1 minute, the skin should peel right off, do the same with the red pepper.  Preheat oven to 400.  Slice the tomatoes in half, place tomatoes and red pepper, onion and garlic in a bowl and coat with olive oil and spices.  Spread out on a cookie sheet (use parchment paper) and roast until onions, tomatoes and peppers are roasted nicely (about 40 minutes).  On the stove in a large pot combine the vegetable broth and roasted vegetables and bring to a boil, allow to cook for 10 minutes, then purée and serve.  Top with cheese, feta, old cheddar, etc.

The soup is delicious and worth the effort.

Taco Night inspired Quinoa Salad

Taco Night inspired Quinoa Salad

-2 cups of water

-1 cup quinoa

-2 tomatoes diced

-1/3 cup olive oil

-juice and zest of 1 lime

-1/2 cup taco sauce or salsa

-1 roasted red peppers

-a pinch of red chili flakes

-1/2 teaspoon cumin

-onion diced

-yellow pepper diced

-salt and pepper

-cilantro

-roast red peppers in oven at 450 drizzled in a little olive oil for about 15 minutes.  Cook the quinoa, bring water with quinoa to a boil, then cover and cook on low for 15 minutes and let sit for 5 minutes. Chop the tomatoes and mix the tomatoes, onion and yellow pepper with lime juice, lime zest, salt and pepper and let sit.  Chop the red pepper.  In a large bowl mix the quinoa, red peppers, the tomato salsa, the olive oil, chili powder, cumin, red chili flakes and taco sauce.  Taste and add more salt, pepper or taco sauce.  You can also add a few drops of either Tabasco or Franks red hot.  Top with cilantro.

A delicious easy dinner

A quick and easy dinner: Cheese, fresh fruit, crackers, baguette, 

pickled vegetables and prosciutto.

Takes a few moments to put together, no cooking required.

Enjoy with a full bodied red wine.

Cheese platter:

Smoked Gouda Cheese

Peppercorn Goat cheese

Brie

Swiss Cheese 

Caramelised Onion Edam

Pomegranate and blueberries

Artichoke hearts

olives

roasted red peppers

sun dried tomatoes

prosciutto

Tomato and Hot Italian Sausage Pasta Bake

Good evening,


Tonight I was expecting a friend for dinner, however she cancelled.  I have had a tomato sauce cooking all day with onion, hot Italian sausage, tomatoes and roasted red peppers.  I made rotini noodles, covered them with the sauce.  Then I covered the pasta and sauce with amazing assortment of cheeses...

Tonight's Sauce


-2 pounds roma tomatoes, peeled
-1 onions chopped
-2 cloves of garlic minced
-3 roasted red peppers from a jar
-4 hot Italian Sausages, casing removed (from the Healthy Butcher)




-in a sauce pan place roma tomatoes peeled, (I blanch them).  Then add hot Italian Sausage with casing removed, and onions.  allow to simmer all day.  I boiled pasta and placed in a casserole dish, I covered with the sauce and placed grated mozzarella cheese, and then I used up some taco cheese mix.  I placed in the over for 30 minutes and then on broil for a few minutes to brown the cheese

Curried Alfredo Sauce with Artichoke Hearts and Roasted Red Peppers

Alfredo Sauce with Artichoke Hearts and Roasted Red Peppers


-1 jar of artichoke hearts (drained)
-1/2 jar of roasted red peppers (drained)
-1 onion chopped
-1 portebello mushroom (tonight i didn't have)
-1 jar of Pre-made Alfredo (was in a rush)
-1 tablespoon curry powder
-1/2 teaspoon chili powder
-fresh lemon


-in a frying pan I fried chopped onions with a small amount of olive oil, if I had mushrooms would have added at this point.  Once the onions were cooked and translucent I added the roasted red peppers, the artichoke hearts, I allowed them to cook and using a wooden spoon I chopped them up while cooking into bit size pieces.  I then poured in the Alfredo sauce, to ensure all the sauce was out of jar I add milk to it and shake it.  I let it simmer for a while and then I added the curry and chili powder.  I served with the pan fried chicken and just before I ate my plate I used a little fresh lemon which adds freshness and cuts the fat.  

Flank steak

So tonight had a few friends over for dinner.  I started marinating the steak at lunch time and it turned out amazing.  I also served asparagus with roasted red peppers and artichoke hearts and made I made rice.  My mango salsa and I made a fresh tomato salsa with avocado.  I also had fresh tomatoes stewing on the stove all day for my chicken parmesan that I am cooking tomorrow night.


Teresa's Flank Steak


-2/3 cup olive oil
-1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar
-salt & pepper
-1 tablespoon chili powder
-1/2 teaspoon thyme
-1 tablespoon tamari soy sauce
-3 tablespoons smoked mustard
-2 tablespoon maple syrup
-1/2 teaspoon cumin
-juice of 1 lemon

I scored meat with 1/2 inch deep cut about an inch apart.  I dry rubbed the spices, mustard and maple and let sit for an hour.  I then added the olive oil, vinegar, tamari and lemon juice and I let sit for several hours.  Broiled on high on top rack for 8 minutes and flipped over for another 8 minutes.  I have an apartment oven so maybe need less time depending on your oven.

Cheese

Just getting back from Kensington Market, which was an adventure for my taste buds.  In particular I popped into Global Cheese to buy there spicy olives and was given a piece of Cambozola Cheese.  Fantastic!!!  Currently enjoying with my friend on top of bread, freshly baked at a local bakery.

Baquette with Cambozola cheese and roasted red pepper

My children are enjoying some of the treats from Cora's.

Alfredo Sauce