Leftover chili

My fellow vegetarians will agree, I'm sure, that sometimes we find it difficult to order something yummy at a restaurant that isn't a salad or pasta.  I have been vegetarian for two years now, and though I don't miss meat - I do sometimes find my mouth watering for things like chili cheese fries on a restaurant menu. When this happens I come home and figure out a vegetarian version of that item.  This one was simple:  I took leftover vegetarian chili (recipe I will soon share) and blended it with my emulsion blender until it was fairly smooth.  Then I heated tater tots in the oven (because I was out of fries) and served the chili on top of the taters with a bit of grated cheddar on top.  Even my very picky carnivore son approves of this simple meal!  We first had it during the Super Bowl, but it has become a regular in the Wolfe household.  

Playing with color

I got bored one day this week and started rearranging shelves in my kitchen. Now I will have to fight the urge to buy cookbooks based on their color.

My brother Buster

When my parents get a dog, they refer to it as my sibling. This is my "brother" Buster.

I always wanted a brother, but had hoped for one with a bit more intelligence.  Buster is not the sharpest tool in the shed.  Good thing he's cute.

Roasted Veggies

Roasted Veggies

Roasted Veggies

8 oz. chopped broccoli florets
8 oz. chopped cauliflower
1 c. pearl onions, peeled
1 c. sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1" pieces
1 c. potatoes, cut into 1" pieces
1 c. red bell pepper, chopped
1/3 c. olive oil
1 tsp. sugar
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
salt & pepper
1/2 c. feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 c. sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 425.
Chop all veggies, keep in mind potatoes take longer to cook so cut them smaller. Feel free to add mushrooms, brussel sprouts, asparagus, eggplant, or any other veggie that's in season. Mix oil, garlic, sugar and salt & pepper and drizzle mixture over veggies. Toss to coat well. Spread veggies out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 45 minutes or until tender and starting to brown. Toss feta and almonds with veggies.

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto w/ Spinach

Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto w/ Spinach

This dish is delicious served either hot or cold.  I like to make it with fresh basil instead of spinach in the summer time, but in the winter months frozen spinach works great.

1 lb. penne pasta
1 (8.5 oz) jar chopped sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
salt & pepper to taste
1 (10 oz) pkg. frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1/2 c. shredded parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Meanwhile put tomatoes and garlic in food processor and process until well blended.  Drain pasta and combine with pesto.  Add spinach, cheese, salt & pepper to taste.

Sun-dried Tomato Pesto w/ Spinach and Penne Pasta

Walk in the woods...

I can't think of a better way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon with my family than walking in the woods with our dog. So glad the weather this February has allowed us such a luxury!

Creepy Clowns...

One man's junk is another man's treasure.  I grew up in a home where many Saturdays were spent "junking" (shopping around at yard sales, flea markets, antique shops, etc).  It can be quite an exciting and rewarding activity.  Here's a photo of a creepy clown I encountered recently at High Street Emporium in Ebensburg.  I'm one of those people who are weirded out by clowns, yet I found this one was rather interesting for some reason.

My garden is calling me....

These sunny days in February make me long for Spring so I can get outdoors and play in the dirt of my garden. Here's a photo of a pumpkin blossom from last Spring to remind us all that it's only 33 days away!


Any other gardeners out there? Are you starting from seeds like me? I'd love to hear what cool things you are planting this year.

Here's what's on our list so far:

Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Lettuce
Spinach
Beans
Celery
Please
Peppers
Peanuts
Potatoes
Garlic
Cauliflower
Kale
Carrots
Eggplants
Onions
Cabbage
Brussels sprouts
Broccoli
Beets
Asparagus
Pumpkins

Back to blogging...

Did you miss me? I haven't blogged in ages, but I'M BACK BABY! What better way to pass the winter days? I will be sharing random images every day, so keep watching. Feel free to share comments too!