Beef Minestrone Soup-One Pot Recipe

For my birthday my mother got me a bunch of mini cookbooks.  One of them was full of one-pot recipes, so of course I had to find one and completely jack with the ingredients.  Here is the result of that fun, it turned out quite delicious. :)

Ingredients:
1 lb Hamburger
Seasoning (Basil, Oregano, Alpine Touch, Crushed Red Pepper)
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Cloves Garlic (Minced)
1 Carrot (Peeled & Sliced)
1 Zucchini (Peeled & Sliced)
2 Celery Ribs (Chopped)
10-12 Grape Tomatoes (Diced) *substitute a can of diced tomatoes if needed
3 Large Tomatoes (Crushed) *substitute can of crushed tomatoes if needed
5 Mushrooms (Chopped)
1/2 Can of Black Olives (Sliced)
2 1/2 Cup Beef Broth
2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
2 Cups Bowtie Pasta
Shredded Cheese to taste

Directions:
Add the hamburger to a pot and cook on medium.  Once browned add the oil, garlic, carrot, zucchini and celery.  Cook for about 4 minutes.  Add in remaining ingredients except for the cheese and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 10 minutes until pasta is al dente.  Stir occasionally and serve when done.  Stir in the cheese and top with basil and enjoy!

Brown the hamburger in the bottom of the pot

Add the oil, garlic, carrots, zucchini and celery

Add in the remaining ingredients and mix together

Mix in the shredded cheese and enjoy!

Ultimate Garden Salad

When you get as many veggies as I end up with, you start to wonder what in the heck you can do with all of them...  Yesterday I came up with an ultimate garden salad.  You could make this using whatever crazy veggies you have around the house, but this is what I had at my disposal.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Hand Full Radicchio
3 Stalks Kale
2 Radishes (Chopped)
1 Stalk Celery (Chopped)
1/2 Zucchini (Peeled & Sliced)
1/2 Cucumber (Peeled & Sliced)
2 Large Mushrooms (Chopped)
4 leaves Endives (Chopped)
4 or 5 Cherry Tomatoes (Chopped)
1 Avocado (Pitted & Sliced)
3 Heirloom Carrots (Peeled & then Shaved)
Dressing (I used Guacamole Ranch)

Directions:
Place the radicchio and the kale on the plate, add all toppings, top with dressing.  Serve & Enjoy!

Add the Radicchio & Kale to the plate

Add the radishes

Add the celery

Add the zucchini

Add the cucumber

Add the mushrooms

Add the endive

Add the tomatoes

Add the avocado

Add the carrots

Top with dressing

If you like salads you can also check out my Blueberry Walnut Salad and my Steak Gouda Salad.

Sloppy Joes!

These were so amazing last time that I had to make them again, although I changed a few things up :)  Amazing as ever!

 Ingredients:

1 lb ground hamburger

2 Tbsp Butter

3 Carrots (Peeled & Minced)

3 Garlic cloves (minced)

4 Mushrooms (minced)

2 Celery Stalks (Minced)

1 Tbsp Vinegar

1/2 Tbsp Crushed Red Pepper

1/2 Tbsp Thyme

1 Tbsp Brown Sugar Bourbon Grill Mate (or another great steak seasoning) 

1 tsp Fresh Basil (chopped)

1 tsp Fresh Oregano (chopped)

3 Tbsp Brown Sugar

3 Tbsp Tomato Paste

1/2 Cup Ketchup

1/2 Cup BBQ sauce (Carolina Honey for a sweeter version)

Directions:

Brown the hamburger.  Drain and set aside.

In a separate pan add the Butter, minced carrots and garlic and saute' for 2-3 minutes.  Add the minced celery and cook for another minute.  Add the Vinegar and seasoning and cook for another minute or two to thoroughly season the veggies.  Add all remaining ingredients and thoroughly mix.  Add the hamburger to the mixture and simmer for about 15 minutes.  Sauce will be ready to serve.  Serve on your favorite bun, roll or bread for the best eating experience. 

Brown the hamburger

Saute' the Carrots, Garlic & Mushrooms

Add the celery and continue sauteing

Add the vinegar and seasoning

Add the remaining ingredients

Add the hamburger to the sauce

Mix thoroughly

Serve and enjoy :)

Cheese-Stuffed Meatloaf Burgers

Another quick and delicious recipe :)

Ingredients:

1 lb Hamburger

1 Egg

1 1/2 pieces of bread (ripped into small pieces)

Cheese Cubed (I made 9 burgers so I had 9 cubes of cheddar and colby jack)

Seasoning (BBQ &Hickory Smoked Balsamic)

Pickles 

Ketchup (Whatever other accoutrements you prefer on your burger)

Hamburger Buns

Directions:

Combine the hamburger, Egg, Bread, and seasoning into a bowl.  Mix thoroughly with your hands to ensure complete mashing together of all ingredients.  Shape the mixture into hamburger rounds.  Make as many as you would like to eat and or have for leftovers.  Take the cubed cheese and smash one cube on the middle of each burger.  Reshape the burger around the cheese so that the cheese is in the middle of the burger.  Cook in a pan or on a grill and turn to get an even browning and melting of the cheese.  While cooking smash down to flatten a bit with your spatula.  Once the burger is cooked to your desired temperature, place on a bun and add your toppings.  Enjoy. 

 

Mix the burger, egg, bread and seasoning together

Shape into hamburger balls

Smash the cheese cubes into the middle of each burger

Reshape the burgers around the cheese

Cook to desired temperature and flatten some with a spatula

Place on bun and add desired toppings, serve & enjoy!