Food on Friday ~ Soup
only the pure in heart can make a good soup
In many parts of England and the USA it’s cold, dark, and miserable. At times like these I believe that we all need comfort food, and what better than a nourishing, warming, interesting soup?
And, if you are pure in heart, then you can make a decent soup over an open fire, if you have to. Better still would be an unfashionable wood burning stove. The people of Texas will tell you that relying on electricity is not always a good idea, nor mains gas either. BTW, never, ever use petrol, (gasoline) to start a fire ~ not if you want to go on living.
First up this week, from Chungah at Damn Delicious we have this Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup. You know what? If you don’t have a slow cooker, then get one. At this time of year it will be a brilliant investment.
Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Tiffany at Creme de la Crumb has a recipe for Easy Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup. Tuscany is one of my favourite places in the entire world.
Easy Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup
Holly at Spend with Pennies has a wonderful looking recipe for Chicken Corn Chowder with Bacon; how very American! This really is a meal in a bowl.
Chicken Corn Chowder with Bacon
Dana the Minimalist Baker has a collection; Healthy Winter Recipes for Cold People, and from that I’ve chosen to feature her very easy, very healthy, gluten free, one pot, Curried Potato and Lentil Soup, (with kale).
Curried Potato and Lentil Soup
Meanwhile, Jessica at How Sweet Eats offers us 20 of Her Favorite Soup Recipes for Winter; from which I give you this Easy Lemon Chicken Soup. OK it’s the second lemon chicken recipe this week but they are very different.
Easy Lemon Chicken Soup
Finally for this week Country Living has a collection of 55+ Extra Comforting Soups and Stews to Warm You Up on Chilly Winter Nights. How about this Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese Soup for something very different?
Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese Soup
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
they even get snow in Arizona
I know, I was there
Food on Friday ~ Hypertension
if you’re not hungry enough to eat an apple;
then you’re not really hungry, just bored
Yesterday I was diagnosed as having high blood pressure and told that I need to have a battery of tests, and prescribed some powerful medicine to help me. To help myself I need to change my lifestyle;
- eat a heart-healthy diet with less salt, less refined sugar, and less caffeine
- get my weight into the green zone body mass index, which means losing about ten pounds
- take regular exercise ~ which is a bit difficult given how much I hurt
- give up booze and smoking ~ which is OK because I’ve never smoked and haven’t taken a drink since Christmas
The type of menu I should be on includes;
From Jessica at How Sweet Eats, Shredded Citrus Brussels Sprouts Salad with Avocado and Pomegranate.
Shredded Citrus Brussels Sprouts Salad with Avocado and Pomegranate
Salmon and other oily fish are good too. A recipe by Chungah at Damn Delicious; Lemon Dill Salmon in Foil. I love these easy ‘wrapped in foil’ dishes.
Lemon Dill Salmon in Foil
And last for this morning; a collection from Delish Magazine; 33 Amazing Broccoli Recipes Even Broccoli Haters Can’t Hate. I’ve chosen to feature this Better than Takeout Beef and Broccoli.
Better than Takeout Beef and Broccoli
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jack collier
jackcollier7@taltalk.net
The Minimalist Baker
Food on Friday ~ Californian Style
healthy eating is a way of life
Deep into lockdown and I am not feeling at my best. The edict here is that we should stay at home, not going out at all except for ‘essential’ purposes. Well, for me shopping for food is an essential reason to get out of the garret. And face it, when one can’t go anywhere nor meet with friends, then cooking is one of the few real pleasures left in life. Ergo, the dishes this week are things that look and sound good. Maybe all these recipes are healthy and very nutritious, but this week that’s all secondary to simple pleasure.
Not only that ~ these recipes remind me of warmer and better times spent in California.
From Tieghan at Half Baked Harvest we have 30 Minute Creamy Thai Turmeric Chicken and Noodles. I like easy thirty-minute recipes. Turmeric is supposed to have lots of interesting health benefits.
30 Minute Creamy Thai Turmeric Chicken and Noodles
Another 30 minute dish, this time from Dana at Minimalist Baker; Rosemary Roasted Root Vegetable Panzanella ~ how very Californian. This is quick, nutritious, vegetarian comfort food. Rosemary is another herb with lots of health benefits attached to it.
Rosemary Roasted Root Vegetable Panzanella
At Cooking with a Wallflower one of Andrea’s top ten recipes is this Korean Style Spinach Mushroom Glass Noodles. I enjoy making a stir fry and this vegetarian dish looks so very easy for a lunch or dinner at any time.
Korean Style Spinach Mushroom Glass Noodles
Here in England, in the depths of winter, a hearty soup is always welcome on the dinner plate. Holly at Spend with Pennies has something that would remind me of warmer and better times vacationing in California. A Crock Pot Taco Soup ~ and almost everyone has a crock pot tucked away in a kitchen cupboard. Allegedly this soup is so easy it practically cooks itself.
Crock Pot Taco Soup
I’ve realised that the recipes this week all have some kind of Californian connection. So, how could I not include something like these Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos with Chipotle Slaw and Roasted Pineapple Sauce. From epicurious.
Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos
Our collection this week comes from Jessica at How Sweet Eats; 20 of My Favorite Soup Recipes for Winter. From this fabulous list I’ve chosen to feature this great looking Chicken Tortellini Soup. If you buy a rotisserie chicken this dish is so quick and easy.
Chicken Tortellini Soup
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Santa Monica, CA
Food on Friday ~ Cookies
a balanced diet is a cookie in each hand
Except, here in England we call them biscuits.
If you want something really Christmas themed, then Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest offers us The Santa Clause Cookies, (I once saw a Tim Allen movie called The Santa Clause, wasn’t half bad for a Christmas film).
The Santa Clause Cookies
Well now, Joy the Baker has posted these colourful Chocolate Peppermint Black and Marble Cookies on her website. Joy says these are tender and caky, and I believe her. (Is caky a word?)
Chocolate Peppermint Black and Marble Cookies
Jessica Merchant at How Sweet Eats has a fantastic 2020 Holiday Baking List. I really like the look and sound of these Bourbon Soaked Cherry Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. And not just because of the great name she’s given these alcoholic gems.
Bourbon Soaked Cherry Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
From Dana, The Minimalist Baker how about 27 Easy Vegan Cookie Recipes, perfect for holiday baking, including these Perfect Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies. Marvelous.
Perfect Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
I happen to like chocolate chip cookies, so from Alanna the Bojon Gourmet we have her recipe for Magical Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies (Vegan, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Paleo, Nut-Free, Refined Sugar-Free)….. Perhaps they only exist in our zero calorie imaginations.
Magical Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies
Our big collection this week is from Good Houskeeping; 90 Irresistibly Good Christmas Cookies to Make this Season. From which I’ve chosen to feature these very festive Chai Trees and Snowflake Cookies.
Chai Trees and Snowflake Cookies
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
woof!
Food on Friday ~ Lockdown
now that I’m in enforced lockdown I’ll be eating canned goods for another week
None of these following recipes are unhealthy canned goods.
First this week from Jessica Merchant at How Sweet Eats we have delicious Parsmesan Pistachio Pork Tenderloin.
Parmesan Pork Tenderloin
Now from Tiegha Gerard at Half Baked Harvest we have Skillet Chicken Broccoli Pot Pie with a Garlic Butter Phyllo Crust. That looks wonderful. Me I’m eating pie out of a can!
Skillet Chicken Broccoli Pot Pie with a Garlic Butter Phyllo Crust
From Diane at In Dianes Kitchen, how about these Asian Pork Meatballs ~ I wish.
Asian Pork Meatballs
Chungah at Damn Delicious gives us her Best Ever Beef Stew.
Best Ever Beef Stew
Amanda at Chez le Reve Francais has a wonderful recipe for her Quiche Lorraine with Shortcrust Pastry.
Quiche Lorraine with Shortcrust Pastry
And Finally for this week, Garlic and Herb Sweet Potato Nourish Bowl, from the Minimalist Baker. I would make this if I was allowed out to the store.
Garlic and Herb Sweet Potato Nourish Bowl
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Marmaduke and I still have a little fresh food left
Food on Friday ~ Autumn
fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose
In a couple of days time we will have the Autumn Equinox, the harvests will be taken in, and the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness will be upon us. I expect that you’re like me and wondering where the year went to, and how come I don’t remember what happened.
I believe that this coming Tuesday September 22nd is a time for me to make a fresh start, throw off the constraints of a summer that didn’t have much good going for it, and begin again.
A good place to start our move into Autumn, or Fall if you will, is with some good food, great recipes, and hopefully some very good company.
First this week we have Chungah at Damn Delicious and her warming, nutritious, delicious One Pot Chicken and Mushroom Orzo. We all like one pan dishes don’t we?
One Pot Chicken and Mushroom Orzo
Now, Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest has The 35 Most Popular Fall Recipes. From this collection I’ve chosen a Slow Cooker Herbed Chicken and Rice Pilaf.
Slow Cooker Herbed Chicken and Rice Pilaf
To go with your chicken, and for the warmer days still to come this year, from Dana at Minimalist Baker we have a Raw Rainbow Veggie Noodle Salad with Peanut Dressing. And, just how pretty is that?
Raw Rainbow Veggie Noodle Salad with Peanut Dressing
This is a super collection from Jessica Merchant’s How Sweet Eats; 45 Of My Favorite Fall Dinner Recipes. With so much to choose from how about a Smoky Pumpkin Bisque with Grilled Cheese Croutons? You need to keep this recipe by you for Halloween.
Smoky Pumpkin Bisque with Grilled Cheese Croutons
This might almost be the ultimate fall dinner recipe collection ever; from Delish Magazine 61 Unbelievably Easy Fall Dinner Recipes. From this cornucopia I’ve chosen these Garlic Rosemary Pork Chops. If you think that pork chops only come in the dry and overcooked variety, then you should try this recipe.
Garlic Rosemary Pork Chops
Or maybe this is the ultimate Fall Recipe Collection; 50 Apple Cider Recipes You Need in Your Life this Fall. From this Country Living apple collection I’ve picked a Roasted Butternut Squash with Cider Vinaigrette.
Roasted Butternut Squash with Cider Vinaigrette
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
if you are lucky you still have rosehips in your garden, and they make up some great medicinal recipes
Food on Friday ~ Quick and Easy
my friend cooks with wine, sometimes she even adds it to the food
In an ideal world each of us would have a gorgeous kitchen, a larder full of exactly the right ingredients, and lots of time to create wonderfully, brilliant, healthy and tasty dishes. Mostly the world isn’t like that, and for many of us there are so many other things we need and want to do rather than stand over a hot stove. Particularly when the weather is wonderful ~ or we have to go to work. Or have a long, hot, soak in the tub.
This week we’re concentrating on quicker and easier wonderful, brilliant, healthy, and tasty recipes.
First up this week, from Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest; 15 Minute Garlic Butter Ramen Noodles. Simple, easy, fast, and looking delicious.
15 Minute Garlic Butter Ramen Noodles
Another noodles dish, this time from Chungah at Damn Delicious; Quick Chicken Ramen Noodle Stir Fry. I like stir fry dishes, my perfect one pan meal every time. This one should be ready in 30 minutes.
Quick Chicken Ramen Noodle Stir Fry
Something I must try, from Tiffany at Creme de la Crumb is a Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet. This is a one pan dish you should be ale to prepare and cook in just 30 minutes, less if your seasoning is ready mixed.
Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet
At this time of year some of you may have peppers growing in your yard. From Jessica Merchant at How Sweet Eats we have these Grilled Marinated Peppers with Burrata and Breadcrumbs. This dish may take a little longer than the others we’re looking at this week, but it’s a very relaxing kind of longer.
Grilled Marinated Peppers with Burrata and Breadcrumbs
Our first collection this week is from Diane, The Minimalist Baker 26 Quick & Easy Recipes, all of which should be ready in 30 minutes or less. As the weather is not only mostly sunny, it’s also probably hot where you are, I’ve chosen to feature this Greek Goddess Bowl ~ something an Aphrodite would enjoy.
Greek Goddess Bowl
Another collection, this time from Country Living; 77 Best Quick, Easy Dinner Recipes You Can Make In 30 Minutes or Less. I’ve chosen to feature this dish of Grilled Pesto Chicken with Summer Squash ~ and talking of things you may have in your vegetable patch, how brilliant if you have squash growing in your yard.
Grilled Pesto Chicken with Summer Squash
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
we each have our own idea of an Aphrodite
Food on Good Friday ~ 2020
this Good Friday share all the bread, wine, and love you have
Back when I was a boy, Good Friday always meant eating fish ~ and for many in England it would mean going down to the local ‘chip shop’ for cod, chips, and mushy peas. And if you’ve no idea what I’m talking about then you’ve missed out on one of the great meals.
In reality, if you’re a Christian, then Good Friday means not eating meat. After all we are still in Lent. So, this week I’ll be concentrating on fish and vegetarian dishes.
If you are a Christian, you will not be able to go to church today, and whatever your religion you will most likely be banned from attending your place of worship. Personally, I will be going down to the sea to pray for all of us.
First up this week, from the Minimalist Baker, how about this 1-pot curried chickpea soup. You can’t get much easier than this, and if you’ve been feeling unwell the garlic and ginger in this dish should do you the world of good. This is both vegetarian and gluten-free. Gluten is bad for us.
One Pot Curried Chickpea Soup
To go along with that curried chickpea soup, what about the rosemary focaccia bread from Ali at Gimme Some Oven? I love the flavour of fresh rosemary.
Rosemary Focaccia Bread
From one of my favourite cooks; Chungah at Damn Delicious let me show you this sheet pan Easter dinner. Now you probably wouldn’t eat this today, but I know a lot of people will be having family over for Easter Sunday lunch / dinner. If you don’t like the pineapple ham, then try garlic butter chicken instead. I love sheet pan cooking, it’s so damn easy.
Sheet Pan Easter Dinner
If you are having people over for lunch or Easter drinks, then what about these Easter deviled eggs as an appetiser. This very easy and colourful recipe is from In Dianes Kitchen.
Easter Deviled Eggs
Heather Christo has a fabulous little collection called Easter brunch decadence. I really like the look of her strawberry rhubarb scones.
Strawberry Rhubarb Scones
Our final collection today is from Cookie + kate; 50+ spring brunch recipes. All of these are vegetarian. I have chosen to feature the roasted cauliflower and faro salad with feta and avocado from this great collection of easy Easter recipes.
Roasted Cauliflower and Faro Salad with Feta and Avocado
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
unlike most of us Marmaduke can get away for the Easter holiday break
Food on Friday ~ Wellness
love yourself enough to live a healthy lifestyle
You might have read here that I made myself so ill through a combination of too much booze and not eating the right things at the right time, (and eating a lot of the wrong things, like processed food), that I had to spend a week in hospital. You know what? I would have gone on in the same old way if I hadn’t turned-up for a routine health check.
What has that got to do with a recipes post? From now on I am mostly going to post recipes that seem healthier and better for us in body, mind and spirit. Less fats, more lean meat and oily fish, and much more fruits and vegetables. It also seems that not all plant-based foods are good for us. That high-fructose corn syrup is very bad for us seems obvious, but corn oil, wheat, legumes…..? They’re bad for us too, generally.
So, I will try to avoid recipes that contain anything that’s generally on the minus side of the wellness equation.
First up this week from Dana The Minimalist Baker is her easy 30 minute Chinese Chicken Salad. I think this fits my healthy eating bill perfectly, especially as it’s soy-free ~ plus, just look at those colours. There are a stack of tasty-looking salad recipes on this site, it may well be that this is one of my new go-to sites.
30 Minute Chinese Chicken Salad
Next, from Heather Christo a vegan white bean sweet potato chili. This also has chunks of avocado, fresno chili, cilantro, and green onions. I need to eat less meat so this dish will be ideal when I really want a smoky chili, but shouldn’t eat any beef for a while.
Vegan White Bean Sweet Potato Chili
Chicken has to be part of my new way of living, but chicken can be bland and boring. Not so this roasted garlic butter chicken with lemon olive dressing, from Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest. I think this dish has got so much going for it…..
Roasted Garlic Butter Chicken with Lemon Olive Dressing
Salmon has to be part of my wellness diet, and I really like the look of this baked teriyaki salmon from Erin Clarke at Well Plated by Erin. I especially like that the salmon fillet is cooked in foil ~ I love cooking in foil. Erin also shows us how to make our own, healthier, Teriyaki sauce ~ brilliant.
Baked Teriyaki Salmon
Not many know that, until the end of WWII, pork was not much eaten in England. We English ate mutton, pork is actually a German staple. However, this recipe for the best baked pork tenderloin is positively part of my healthier eating plan. Tiffany from Creme de la Crumb tells us how to do it.
Best Baked Pork Tenderloin
As my new eating plan is kind of a modified Paleo Diet our collection this week is from Delish magazine; 40 Paleo recipes that will make you forget you’re on a diet ~ well there are diets and there are diets. I have chosen to feature this good-looking baked swordfish steak, and if you have never tried swordfish steak then you’ve missed out on one of the great things in life.
Baked Swordfish Steak
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
poor little Marmaduke can’t have his canned spaghetti any more.
Food on Friday ~ Better than Take-Out
One cannot think well, sleep well, love well, if one has not dined well.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part in maintaining good health. Along with plenty of fresh air and exercise it can help you look and feel your best.
This means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions, and consuming the optimal amount of food and drink to maintain a healthy body weight. You also need all of the essential vitamins and minerals, else you could get quite sick.
Maybe the hardest part of a healthy diet is the sheer quantity of water we should really drink, and for the average person this works out to 8 x 8 ounce glasses of water, (green tea, fruit tea, herbal tea, coffee without sugar), which is half a US gallon every day, more if you’ve been boozing. In European terms this is 2 litres.
But today we are going to look at some great recipes for fabulous dishes ~ as a much healthier alternative than even the very best take-out.
First up this week we have hamburger steaks with a mushroom sauce from Holly at Spend With Pennies. While there is no way on this God’s Earth that I would buy a hamburger at a fast-food outlet such as McDonalds, I think a home-made burger can be fabulous.
Hamburger Steaks with a Mushroom Sauce
Another home-made alternative to unhealthy take-out; egg roll in a bowl from Well Plated by Erin Clarke. At one time I loved Chinese and Thai take out, but the muck is full of gluten and MSG, and I’ve seen out back of a takeout kitchen and hygiene is in a far country.
Egg Roll in a Bowl
Something that you certainly wouldn’t get from the average take-out; chinese mushroom dumplings with sweet chili ginger sesame sauce. Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest has very descriptive names for her recipes. Good for her!
Chinese Mushroom Dumplings
Now Heather Christo always makes her food look fabulous, and this green thai currey with vegetables is no exception. Get yourself some lemon rice and a bottle of Tiger beer to go with it. Heather’s recipes are all allergy free, (for all I know they’re gluten free too).
Green Thai Curry with Vegetables
The Minimalist Baker’s recipes are definitely gluten free, and this easy 1 pot tikka masala looks far, far better than anything you’d get from any Indian take-out place.
Easy 1-Pot Tikka Masala
Our collection this week is from Jessica Merchant at How Sweet Eats; 25 weeks of my favorite healthier weeknight dinners. From this 175 recipe collection I’ve chosen to feature baked parmesan chicken with lemon arugula. You can get Parmesan chicken as a take-out, but I wouldn’t.
Baked Parmesan Chicken with Lemon Arugula
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
JackCollier7 
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