Recipes, recipes, recipes

Zuppa Toscana...the soup from Olive Garden. This is what we are having for dinner tonight...with grilled london broil and asparagus.

The recipe is new for me, but smells awesome...so here it is. Enjoy!!! We love trying new recipes and it actually feels like fall today, so awesome time for some soup.

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana
This is a much requested recipe on this site, given its name! Someone who used to work at the Olive Garden sent in the original recipe, which I've adapted to serve 6-8. Try it, it is really yummy!
P.S. To be honest, this recipe isn't very "Tuscan". It is a very good soup and hits the spot on cold winter days. I've included this and a few other Olive Garden-inspired recipes on the site for all of our visitors that enjoy eating at this restaurant chain, I think making these recipes at home make them even better! :)
Makes: 6-8 servings
INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground Italian sausage
1½ tsp crushed red peppers
1 large diced white onion
4 Tbsp bacon pieces
2 tsp garlic puree
10 cups water
5 cubes of chicken bouillon
1 cup heavy cream
1 lb sliced Russet potatoes, or about 3 large potatoes
¼ of a bunch of kale
Sautee Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in pot. Drain excess fat, refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients.
In the same pan, sautee bacon, onions and garlic for approxiamtly 15 mins. or until the onions are soft.
Mix together the chicken bouillon and water, then add it to the onions, bacon and garlic. Cook until boiling.
Add potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour.
Add heavy cream and cook until thoughouly heated.
Stir in the sausage.
Add kale just before serving. Delicious!

Farmer's Market

I recently found a loverly farmer's market here in good ole Ocala. It is fabulous and gives me some nice fresh air every Thursday. I got some green beans and new potatoes, tomatoes, zuchini and sweet potatoes.

My favorite thing to buy every Thurs...homemade lemonade. It is sooo yummy and we get one for $2 every Thursday to share. I need to try to make some.

So...what's on the menu this week with all these yummy veggies?
On Sunday, Tony is off...I will make a baked chicken with some sweet potatoes. Want an easy, but yummy recipe? My friend April makes these and I made them and they are my new favorite veggie recipe.
Peel and cut as many sweet potatoes as you need for your family. I cube them and then put a whole stick of butter, melted over them. Sprinkle a little brown sugar over the top. Put aluminum foil on top and bake in the oven at 350 for about an hour.
You will love it...I didn't want to share with my family. :)
Not sure about the rest of the menu, lol. My friend just had a baby, so I will make doubles of whatever I make this week to feed them...that to me is the best present after a baby...no cooking!!!

Here's a recipe to try!!

Tony made it up. It's soo yummy everyone in my family eats it right up.

We call it pesto chicken.

You need:
about a pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts
fresh garlic (I use about 10 cloves...we love garlic)
olive oil to saute
any veggies you like...we use fresh mushrooms, a couple zuchini quartered and cut up, and a head of broccoli
a boullion cube with a cup of water.
a jar of pesto or you can make your own.
A box of bowtie pasta.

I cut my chicken into cubes before sauteeing. I chope my garlic with my food chopper. Sautee in olive oil until lightly browned. Do not burn it!!! Put in your chicken in the same pan and sautee until cooked thoroughly. Take the chicken out, but save the garlic and throw in all of your veggies. Sautee those until done to your taste. We like them al dente. While cooking veggies, boil your bowtie pasta according to package instructions.
Drain pasta. Throw the pasta, veggies, and chicken in a bowl. Add the whole jar of pesto. I swish a little water so not to lose any of the pesto. Add a chicken boullion cube to a cup of boiling water. Add this to your other ingredients and toss until well mixed.
We add parmesan to ours as well.

This is a great one dish meal and we love it. It makes enough for my family to eat it for two nights or to bring for a few lunches as well.

YUM!!!!