Spicy Hamburger Soup

Adapted from Kalyn's Kitchen

Ingredients:

• 2-3 tsp. olive oil (depending on your pan)
• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 6 cloves chopped garlic
• 2 cans (14.5 oz.) petite dice tomatoes with juice (rinse each can with about 1/2 can of water)
• 4 cups beef stock
• 1 can vegetable broth
• 1 can kidney beans, rinse can with 1/2 can water
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 T dried parsley
• 1 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste
• 2 cups very thinly sliced and chopped green cabbage
• 1 cup chopped spinach
• 2-3 T sherry vinegar
• sour cream or grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large heavy frying pan and cook ground beef until it's well-browned, breaking apart with the turner as you cook. If desired, place the cooked ground beef in a fine mesh strainer and rinse with VERY HOT water to remove most of the fat.
2. Chop the onion, celery, and garlic.
3. Put the ground beef, chopped onion, chopped celery, garlic, canned tomatoes and water you rinse the cans with, beef stock, vegetable broth, kidney beans, red pepper flakes, dried parsley, and dried thyme into the slow cooker
4. Cook about 4 hours on high or 8-9 hours on low.
5. Taste soup and add salt and fresh-ground black pepper as desired.
6. While soup cooks, thinly slice the cabbage and chop the spinach.
7. After soup has cooked 4 hours on high or 8-9 hours on low, add the cabbage and spinach, turn slow cooker to high if needed, and cook about 1 hour more, or until the cabbage is done.
8. Stir in the sherry vinegar (start with 2 T and taste to see if you want to add more.)
9. Serve hot, with sour cream or grated Parmesan cheese to add at the table.

Christmas Carrots

Adapted from Kalyn's Kitchen

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. whole carrots
• 2 T olive or vegetable oil
• 1/2 tsp. Thai red curry paste
• 1-2 T finely minced fresh ginger root
• 1-2 T finely minced fresh garlic
• 3 T water
• sea salt for seasoning finished dish to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425F
2. Peel the carrots, cut off ends, and then cut into diagonal slices about 1/2 inch thick.
3. Combine 2 T oil and the curry paste in a small microwave proof bowl and heat just a few seconds in the microwave
4. Finely mince ginger and garlic.
5. Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray or oil, add carrots and toss with the oil-curry mixture, minced ginger, and minced garlic.
6. Drizzle over 3 tablespoons of water.
7. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake 20-25 minutes.
8. Then uncover the dish, stir, and roast the carrots an additional 15-20 minutes.
9. Season carrots to taste with sea salt and serve hot.

Pumpkin Brownies

Ingredients:

• 15 ounce can pumpkin
• 1 1/4 cup oil
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Mix pumpkin, oil, eggs, brown sugar and sugar together in a bowl.
2. Slowly add dry ingredients
3. Bake at 350 degrees in a 9 by 13 inch, greased and floured, for 30 - 35 minutes until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Easy Pizza Crust

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons yeast
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Directions:

1. Add 1 teaspoon sugar to warm water, sprinkle yeast on top and mix.
2. Let rise(proof) for about 5 minutes.
3. In the processor with dough blade, mix flour, salt and 1 teaspoon sugar. While processor is running, add oil and proofed yeast/water mixture. Let flour combine with liquid and knead for about 1 minute until dough is smooth. Add more water or flour if needed to get desired consistency.
4. Let dough rest for 5 minutes before rolling out.
5. Roll dough for pizza to desired shape and size.
6. Add desired toppings.
7. Bake on a hot pizza stone at 425 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes.
8. Or Roll dough into a greased pan. Grill 5 - 10 minutes covered until dough has browned on bottom. Flip dough, add desired toppings and grill another 5 - 10 minutes until bottom has browned and cheese has melted.