Rainy Day Eats

ainy days call for comforting, warm eats. Yesterday afternoon I ventured out into the showers to go shopping for ingredients to make such eats. I had one slice of pizza for lunch while shopping.

For dinner I made tortilla soup. It was FANTASTIC. Of course I smothered it with cilantro. Like duh, who wouldn't? ;-)





Tortilla Soup
(Adapted from John's tortilla soup)

3 T olive oil
1 onion - chopped
5 cloves garlic - chopped
1 jalapeño - chopped
2 T cumin
1 jar tomatillo salsa
Approx. 6 cups chicken broth (low salt)
Dried hominy (about 1 cups)
2 - 3 cups whole grain tortilla chips (to thicken)
2 limes
cilantro (optional, but seriously ... how could you not?)
Sour Cream (optional)

Sauté the onion, garlic, jalapeño for about 4 minutes in the olive oil.
Add the salsa, stock and hominy.
Cook until the hominy is done (desired softness) - about 15 - 20 minutes.
Crush the tortilla chips into the soup, and cook another 10 minutes.
Add the juice of 2 limes.

Serve with cilantro and sour cream on top.

I was hungry and craving protein later in the evening, so my snacks were yogurt and a couple eggs with hot sauce: (next time I will add beans, or some form of protein to the soup).





Breakfast this morning was a whole food juice made with 1 grapefruit, 1 pear, 1 red pepper, 1/2 cup OJ, and 4 ice cubes:



Unlike my juicer, the Vita-Mix gave me a juice with NO WASTE. 100% whole foods.

Mmmm mmmm mmmm!




(I had 2 full glasses).

Lunch was leftover soup and 1 chocolate chip cookie.

Mid-afternoon I had some yogurt.

For dinner this evening I made a spicy sausage and arugula risotto.

Spicy Sausage and Arugula Risotto

2-3 Spicy Italian sausage
3 cups (packed) arugula
3 cloves of garlic
Approx. 5 cups of chicken broth (VERY low sodium)
1 T olive oil
2 1/2 cups Arborio rice
1/4 tsp hot red pepper flakes
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Cook the sausage and set aside (squeeze out of casings, and cook, breaking up in the pan until done). In the same pan, sauté the arugula and garlic until wilted (about 2 minutes), and set aside.

Heat the olive oil in a pot, and add the rice, tossing to coat. Add 1/2 a cup of the broth, and stir until nearly absorbed. Add the hot pepper flakes. Continue adding the broth 1/2 cup at a time until rice is of desired tenderness. When it is almost done, add the sausage and arugula to warm. Stir in the Parmesan before serving.







I got a lot done today. I cleaned my house, did Jillian's 30 Day Shred (she is crazy), and also baked some Irish bread. This bread is very easy to make, and is one of the best breads I have ever had. No kneading required! I made it once before when I had my Irish Themed Dinner Party.

Irish Oatmeal Bread
(Adapted from "The Irish Spirit" Book)

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup quick oats
2 1/4 cup buttermilk
1 lg egg, slightly beaten

Preheat oven to 325. Spray a large cookie sheet with cooking spray.

Sift together the first 4 ingredients. Add the whole wheat flour and the oats. Stir.
Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk and egg.
With a wooden spoon, stir the mixture until it becomes a soft dough.
With floured hands, form the dough into 2 rounds, and place on the pan.
Bake 35 - 40 minutes.
Cool on wire rack

Before:



After:



I may or may not have snagged a slice after dinner ;-)

Perfection.

Do you make bread? Buns? What kinds?