INSTANT POTATO CHEESE SOUP WITH MY NINJA MEGA KITCHEN SYSTEM 1500W

Thanks to my Ninja,  I was able to have this Potato Cheese Soup on the table in less 8 minutes without any effort.  That means more vegetables, fiber, and nutrition.  Sweet:)

I can't believe how easy it was to prepare this Creamy Potato Cheese Soup now that I have my Ninja.  It makes it so  easy to literally throw something together.  Just like I threw these veggies in the Ninja to make my soup "instant".  My vegetable intake for my family has increased 10 fold if not more daily.  The containers wash so nicely.  It makes me want to use all those vegetables I bought and said I was going to use. Right?  I'm not alone here I know:)

1.  Put vegetables and meat in the blender.  I didn't add the
smoked sausage in this pic, but I will in the future.

Sad to say sometimes I have to throw some fruits and vegetables away because it goes bad.  My intentions were to use all those fruits and vegetables I had bought at the beginning of the week. However, time goes by, I am either too tired to prepare them as I had initially planned, or just plain too busy.   Now I able to use all my fruits and veggies I buy because my Ninja Mega Kitchen System does all the hard work.  Those fruits and veggies get pureed, chopped, or added to bread dough, sauces, etc.  They get used, and we get the nutritional benefits.  Anyway, enough chit chat, and lets do what I do best...cook and share:)

2.  Pulse 3 times

Ingredients:

• Potato 1 med/large cut in 1/2
• Celery 1 stalk cut in pieces
• Onion medium 1/4
• Garlic 1 clove
• Parsley or cilantro a few sprigs
• 1/4 cup grated cheese (white or yellow mellow)
• Smoked dogs 2 (Can use any meat like bacon, chicken, or none at all)
• Milk 1/2 cup
• Cornstarch 1 tablespoon
• Chicken boullioun (I used Knorr)
• Enough water to cover veggies.

Instructions will be tutored via photos:)

3.  Saute in a pan for about 2 minutes

4.  Add water to cover food.
Add chicken boullioun
Mix cold milk with cornstarch and add slowly to soup
stirring
Cook for about 4-5 minutes till tender.
Top with cheese and parsley or cilantro, and serve.

Voila, here you have it...Instant Potato Cheese Soup, made with my nifty Ninja.  Gosh,
the more I use it, it more I like it.y

One more comfort food for you to enjoy during this cold winter.  I got so caught up with telling you how nifty my Ninja was, I forgot to mention that this Potato Cheese Soup is not only easy to make with or without the Ninja.  It's a great comfort food, that can be served alone as is, or with a sandwich.  Yum.  It is fresh, has no preservatives, and is loaded with nutrition and fiber.  Did I mention how cheap this dish is if it is homemade.  

Well I hope you like this easy dish made with my Ninja.  Now,my job is done.  Time for an easy clean up:).  I love one pot dishes, so convenient.  Till then, Many Blessings:)

Sincerely,

Mary Helen

CRISPY CRUSTED PITA PIZZA

Crispy Crusted Pita Pizza.  So quick and easy especially if you have a Ninja.  You can top it with whatever you have on hand.

Did you know that pita bread makes a great crispy crust?  Well it does if you know how.  Imagine how many individual pizza's you can make with just one bag of pita bread.  You could fee a whole family.  Sometimes, I have company and I always like to share with them something to eat before they leave.

This is so quick, it only takes a few minutes to chop whatever you are going to use.  Only 3 seconds to chop if you have a Ninja Pulse.  Yes, my Ninja makes my life so much easier.  I absolutely love it!

Anyway, you can top it with just about anything you have in your refrigerator.  It's also a great way to get rid of any left-over food too.  Just don't tell them it's re-hashed.  Anyway, it's healthy, easy, cheap, and by all means definitely tasty.  This is what I did to serve 2.

Ninja Kitchen System - PULSE (Google Affiliate Ad)

By the way, this Temptations bakeware is the best I've ever used.  And I've been baking for many years now. If you ever try Temptations bakeware  by Tara, you might not ever want to go back.  Why?  Because it's presentable,
durable and so easy to clean.  Nothing every sticks.  Ever!

Ingredients:

• Pita bread 2 (just double or triple recipe for more)
• Spaghetti Sauce 1/2 cup (Canned spaghetti sauce is ok)***
• Mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup shredded or chopped in small pieces.
• Meat topping your choice (I used turkey pastrami slices for this one.  One per pizza.)
• Vegetable topping (your choice)
• Olive oil  enough to brush each pita bread
• Oregano, a pinch crushed between your fingers for each pizza.

Instructions:

***The secret to the success of any pizza is in the dough,  and the sauce.   The dough is taken care of by the "no-fail pita bread".  As for the sauce canned is fine. But if you saute some chopped veggies, you can hide them in the sauce.  Again I used my nifty Ninja Mega Kitchen System to chop some onions, garlic, bell peppers and carrots in no time.  I sauteed them, added the spaghetti sauce and no one will ever know anything came from a can, or that it has carrots.  Lol.  Just like semi-homemade.

• Preheat oven to 380 F
• Brush olive oil abundantly on each pita bread to avoid bread getting soggy.
• Top with Spaghetti sauce.  
• Add meat, cheese, oregano, then veggies.
• Place on cookie sheet and bake for 4-7 minutes depending on desired crispiness.
• Let cool one minute before serving

There you have it.  Another quick, cheap and easy meal for 2 or more.  They will definitely ask you to make it again, because it's definitely a winner.  It's so easy, you just might oblige.  Have fun, be creative, and share.  If you find this recipe helpful, please click the box on the right.  And again, feel free to share.  Till then, Many blessings.

Sincerely,

Mary Helen

CREAM OF CABBAGE SOUP WITH SMOKED HOT DOGS

"CREAM OF CABBAGE SOUP WITH SMOKED DOGS" made using my Ninja Pulse.  It makes it so easy to make dishes like this that is loaded with phyto-nutrients that help me with cellular rejuvenation.  Food is medicine.  Taking this kind of medicine has helped me get off hundreds of pharmaceutical meds.

Soups on folks.I like to think of my food as medicine. I enjoy eating food so much more when it is loaded with nutrition. Why?  Because food is medicine when using wholesome unprocessed foods with herbs.  You get lots of micro phyto-nutrients.  Phyto-nutrients are found in plant foods like cabbage and chili peppers.  Cabbage and chili peppers rank high on the phyto-nutrient list.  It is necessary for cellular rejuvenation, aka cellular reconstruction.  To me, cellular rejuvenation is all that I need to hear.  Here is a creamy cabbage soup with smoked hot dogs,  It is easy to make. very healthy and so comforting to eat. This recipe serves four and costs no more than $2.00 to make. By the way, it absolutely delicious! Now with the weather cooling down, hearty soups are the perfect solution to warm up with on a cool day. So with that, no more talk. Lets get down to business and cook.

Okay, okay, before I continue, I will give credit where credit is due.   What made this recipe so quick was I used my Ninja Pulse.  It chopped my onion, and cabbage  together in just a few pulses.  I just love my Ninja.  I could have spent 5 minutes chopping the cabbage and onions.  But I didn't.  I could have shed tears while chopping the onion.  But I didn't.  It washes so well as long as you wash it right away.  Yup, I'm a happy camper.  So happy, I just had to share.


Ingredients:

Lot's of Micro Phyto-nutrients here.

• Cabbage 1/2 head chopped small
• Onion 1 large chopped small
• Smoked hot dogs 4-6 sliced into 1 inch pieces
• Water 1 1/2-2  cups. (Approximately more or less, adding more till desired thickness is obtained.)\
• Vinegar 1-2 tablespoons  (you decide)
• Milk 1/2 cup cold (more if you want a white sauce)
• Cornstarch 1 tablespoon
• Red chili pepper. 3 pods
• Parsley flakes 1 tablespoon
• Salt and pepper to taste or bullion cubes
• Pan large saute 
• Butter 1/8 cup (can use oil)

Add smoked hot dogs after you slightly
caramelized the veggies.

Instructions:

• In a large pan add butter or oil, heat on med-high.
• Add chopped vegetables and chili peppers and sauté till slightly caramelized or tender.
• Add vinegar, salt and pepper
• Add 1/2 of the water and hot dogs
• Mix cold milk with cornstarch slowly adding to vegetable mixture, keep stirring.
• Add any additional water till you reached your desired thickness.  Stir
• simmer for 5 minutes 
• sprinkle with parsley or chopped chives.
• serve hot and enjoy

Cream of cabbage soup with smoked hot dogs served in
my favorite cookware.  Temptations.  I really like cooking
and presenting my dishes in them.  They wash so well.
Nothing ever sticks.  Ever:)

Well here you have it.  So easy, so quick, so cheap, and so nutrition.  Best of all, it is so delicious.  Your family would think you took hours to make.  It's another "poor mans food" that is really not poor at all.

Please share if you like it and if it was helpful please click the box on the right.  Again, thank you for allowing me to be of service.  Till the next time...Many Blessings.

Sincerely,

Mary Helen

GRILLED HAM AND CHEESE STUFFED WITH VEGETABLES

I want to dedicate all my recipes that have to do with bread, to all the folks who stand in bread lines.  I promised I would give you some recipes using all that bread you are given. I know you have to work with what you have, and you have to work quick because the bread has expired and wont last long.   I am a woman of my word, so this is for you.  God bless you wherever you are.

This is not your regular ham and cheese sandwich.  In the past I always found ways to get as much vegetables in my family as possible.  When my kids were younger, eating vegetables was not their choice food.  But what they didn't know, was I always stuffed veggies in everything.  That way  we were all happy campers when it came to dinner time.  Well, my kids are all grown up now.  However, my son a college student, lives alone, and does not cook at all.   He ends up eating a lot of fast food junk with his busy schedule.  He loves my cooking, and today he can now appreciate any veggies I serve him.  I admit he comes by often to get a home cooked meal.  Lucky him.  I wish I had a place where I could drop by and get a home cooked meal right?  I love him coming by anyway so I try to make sure he is fed well.  Sometimes I am unaware that he is coming, and I quickly put something together.  Here is my version of my fast food... Grilled Ham and Cheese Stuffed With Vegetables.  Healthy, but fast, cheap and easy.  1/2 of this flat bread is all that I used as it was wide and a foot long.  This will cost under $2.00 if the bread was given to you.  Even if you paid for the bread it's still a tasty recipe that serves 4, or two hungry men.

Ingredients:

• Flat bread  cut in 1/2   (You can adjust the recipe to use the whole loaf if you like.)
• Mozzarella string cheese 1 stick (any white or cheddar will work)
• Ham 2-4 slices  (I cut mine so the whole ham slices do not come out with one bite)
• Pasta sauce 1/4 can (more or less.)
• Water 1/4 cup
• Medium Onion  1/4 diced  (Don't forget that this is medicine, so use as much as you want)
• Tomato 1 diced (vitamin C and lycopene comes to mind)
• Carrot 1 diced (Vitamin A)
• Parsley 1/4 cup chopped  (I love this herb.  I'ts full of potassium, and can be used in a lot of recipes because it is so mild in taste.)
• Oregano a pinch crushed between fingers(Goes great with tomatoes and is loaded with micro-nutrients.)
• Garlic 1 clove minced  (Natural antibiotic.)
• Olive oil 3 tablespoons, plus just enough to drizzle on bread both sides.  (Any oil will work but olive is a better choice for this recipe.)

Instructions for sauce:

• Dice all vegetables small.  Lucky me, I was able to use my nifty Ninja Mega Kitchen System with 1500W.  It diced all my veggies at the same time in 3, one second pulses.  The more I use it, the more I like it.  Anyway.  
• Put all diced vegetables and two tablespoons olive oil in a pan and saute till they are tender.  This shouldn't take long because you diced them small right? 
• Add pasta sauce and water.
• Simmer till it is a thick sauce.

Putting the sandwich together:

• Slice flat bread in half to make a sandwich
• Drizzle both sides with olive oil.
• Heat large pan on medium and toast sides of bread that has drizzled oil.
• Flip over and carefully spoon sauce over both sides, leaving one side with less sauce.
• Add cheese and diced ham on side with less sauce, and toast for one minute.
• With a large spatula, flip one side over the top to complete the sandwich.  
• Continue to toast till cheese is melted.
• Remove from pan and wait a couple of minutes before you cut this.
• Eat hot so the bread does not get soggy.
• Voila, dinner is ready
• Enjoy:)

Don't forget to share this post with your friends.  Check out my other post that are also healthy and...cheap, fast, and easy.  If this recipe was helpful please click the yes box on the right.  Thanking you in advance, and so grateful to be of service.  Many blessings to all.

Sincerely,

Mary Helen

BBQ Spicy Frank And Black Beans

BBQ Spicy Frank and Beans (black beans) .  It can be made just as tasty without the franks:)
Vegetarian is good.

If you like the sweet taste of pork and beans, then I think you will really like this simple recipe of BBQ Spicy Frank & Beans made with black beans, aka Hot Dog & Bean Soup.  You can always leave out the spicy, or the franks for that matter.  Then it's just a tasty Vegetarian Black Bean Soup. It is a high protein soup made on a poor mans budget.  My mom always called these money saving meals, "Poor Mans Food".  However, I find it ironic because my mama's "poor mans food" was rich in flavor and nutrition. Anyway this meal cost me about $2.00, and serves 4 bowls.  All it takes is a few ingredients.  This is what I used.

Ingredients:

• Black beans 2 cups cooked (soak uncooked beans for 18-30 hours prior to cooking for optimal protein nutrition, and to remove toxic waste which causes gas.)
• Weiners  5-6 sliced 1 inch bite size pieces
• Tomato 1 large diced
• Onion 1 small diced fine
• Garlic 1 large clove
• Water 1/4 cup
• Tomato Ketchup 1/4 cup
• Brown Sugar 2-4 tablespoons to taste (white sugar will work too)
• Cayenne red pepper 1-4 teaspoons to taste (optional but its a good blood purifier)
• Sea Salt to taste (please don't use table salt, so harmful)
• Cumin powder 1/2 teaspoon  (Not optional, but good for gas)
• Oil 2 tablespoons  (Make it a healthy oil)
• Tumeric 1 teaspoon (optional but good for all that ails you:)
• Chives 2 teaspoons (optional for topping, but good for you too)

Instructions:
In a medium pot heat oil, add...

• onion, garlic, cumin, tumeric, cayenne pepper just to caramelize a little
• Add all other ingredients, and simmer on low for 20 minutes.  This allows time for the beans and liquid to blend with the other flavors.  Serve warm and enjoy.

See, I told you it was easy.  I hope you enjoy this simple "poor mans food".  It is pretty hearty, and such a comfort food.  Feel free to share this recipe with others.  Check out my other delicious, easy, and healthy recipes here at Mary Helen's Test Kitchen.  Well that's it for now.  Goodnight and God Bless:)

Sincerely,

Mary Helen

LOW FAT STOVE TOP HOT CHOCOLATE GRAVY

A.  Stove Top Hot Chocolate Gravy cold, frosted this cake just fine.

 Compared to your typical store bought frosting, this stove top Hot Chocolate Gravy which can be served hot or cold is tasty, fluffy, and low in fat.  It also calls for a lot less sugar.  It is not only easy to make, but easy on the pocket book too.

I had guests coming for dinner today, and I decided to bake a cake for dessert. All I had was a box of yellow cake mix and nothing to top it. I was thinking of chocolate.  I'd add cocoa to the cake mix no problem.  However, I thought of the idea of biscuits and gravy and how that goes well together. Why not make a sweet gravy sauce and add chocolate cocoa, a healthy oil, and sugar.  I had to work fast as my  guests were so ready for dessert. The results were amazingly delicious. I just had to share.

Before I continue I do have to say this was so good that we could not wait and voted to served it hot over a slice of cake. It was a very good idea, as we all enjoyed every bite of it.  However, once cooled, the left over gravy still held its shape and I was able to actually frost the other piece of cake.  Nice to know it can be served hot or cold.  I believe it can be used to actually put in a cake decorating bag and piped on a cake.  For more detailed piping you might add more coconut oil or butter, or bakers merengue, chill well before piping. This can be done, and will be done, just not today. This is what I had and how I did it.

Ingredients:

1.   On a stove with a low flame, in a
small saucepan, toast flour till it has
a caramel color.  

• Flour 4 tablespoons
• Milk or water 1 1/4 cup (I used water with coconut powder.  You can even use water with non dairy creamer)
• Butter 1/2 cup (I use 1/4 cup coconut oil and 1/4 cup butter.  You can use margarine or crisco if that's all you have)
• Sugar 1/2 cup (I used brown sugar)
• Cocoa powder 2 tablespoons
• Vanilla 1 teaspoon
• Salt 1/4 teaspoon

Instructions:

Please see photo tutorial:)

2.  Add 1/2 cup of milk or liquid slowly stirring
constantly to avoid lumps.  Just like making
a white gravy sauce.  Add the rest of milk slowly,
 then the oil, salt,and vanilla.  Continue
stirring on a low flame.  Bring it to a low
rolling boil

3.  Once it is at a low slow boil, add cocoa,
stirring constantly.

4.  I cooked this on a low boil stirring constantly
to avoid burning for about 5 minutes.  This gave
the brown sugar a nice caramel taste.  Yum.
Chocolate and Caramel marries well together:)
At this point it is done and ready to use as
a Hot Chocolate Gravy. See Pic B. shown below.  Or...

5.  This made about 1 1/2 cups of  Low Fat Hot Chocolate Gravy.
 I had about one cup leftover after I topped my cake.  I put in the
 refrigerator and lowand behold, once cooled, It looked more like a
real frosting in this picture. This is because the butter and coconut
oil hardened.  Note, being that is was cold, I did notice some oil separation.  No problem.
I re-whipped it till it was fluffy and topped my cake in pic A. shown above.

B.  Here  I served it as a Hot Chocolate Gravy over my chocolate cake.

Well, I really hope you like my simple Low Fat Stove Top Hot Chocolate Gravy recipe.  Hopefully, enough to come back and visit my other recipes.  Please feel free to share it with others.  So till then...Goodnight, and Many Blessings:)

Sincerely,

Mary Helen

HOME CANNING DAIRY AND NUT MILKS

Canned Milk

Canning milk at home save you money, especially when it comes to soy and nut milks.  Whether it be a dollar here or a dollar there, by the end of the month  you will definitely see the savings if you drink dairy or non dairy milks.  Another benefit of canning milk, is that you have the satisfaction of knowing what exactly is in that jar, and how long it has been shelved.  No preservatives here if I can it properly, right?

As you know I cook a lot using dairy and non dairy milk.  I stay busy in my kitchen so I like to not run out.  One way to do this is to keep my pantry stocked with my dairy and non dairy milks which l have canned. The dairy milk is similar to boxed milk that can be shelved, but not quite like evaporated milk.  However, the soy and nut milks taste just as fresh as when I first made it.  Soymilk  and nut milks do not last in my house more than a month, because my son loves it and takes a jar with him in his backpack for school.  It's makes it very convenient and it costs very little to make the milks yourself if done at home.  All you have to do is can it.  By the way, you can also can store bought nut milks too.  Yum almond milk.

1.  Here are 8 sterilized jars (under the
cloth) and my dairy milk

2.  These are the utensils I used

For some reason there is not much information of canning milk, but you know it's out there as it can readily be bought at the grocers.  Another YouTuber, named, "The Preppers Wife" has really helped me out canning milk.  She was able to get some info from the universities regarding safely canning milk.  Great video. I highly recommend it.  So like she said, she received canning safety info regarding pressure canning, which gave her a large range to choose from...like minutes and weights. The only canner I have is a  10 quart, Fagor pressure cooker/canner. It works fine since my family is small.   There are no weights just a knob with 3 positions, steam, 1 and 2...2 being high of course.

Again, there are no official guidelines for home canning milk so, please use your own  canning manual for safety measures as they all differ. However, I just realized that I opened my last jar of canned milk.  So, I thought I'd share with you how I do it since I am canning more dairy today.  Note, I haven't had a problem with it yet, and I've canned a lot of dairy and non dairy milks with success.  I am sharing with you how I do it.
First of all I am using 12 ounce jars.  They are the same size that the markets sells evaporated canned milk.  The difference here is they cost averaging $1.10 per 12 ounce can in most markets today.  I am using a little over a half gallon, to get eight 12 ounce jars.  I paid $2.79 per gallon of milk so I paid approximately $1.60 for the whole eight 12 ounce jars.  Not bad huh?

Ingredients:

• Milk  Dairy or non dairy   Enough to fill you 12-16 ounce jars
• Jars and Lids  12 - 16 ounce  MUST BE STERILE. 
• Canning utensils
• Vinegar 2 tablespoons
• Moist cloth to wipe rims of jars
• Kitchen towel to put hot jars on






4.  Yes it can get messy  (I  was born with
essential tremors and this was a good day
for me.  lol)

3.  I filled each jar using a funnel leaving
 a one inch headspace from the top.

5.  Make sure you clean the rims with a
damp cloth

6.  Add the hot lids and twist hand tight.

8.  I have the steam venting on a high
stove flame for 10 minutes.  I them put the
pressure on # 2.  Which was high
 for another 10 minutes with the stove flame
 on  medium # 5 on my stove.
I then turned the stove off

7.  Add the vinegar to three inces of water.
Then add the jars.  They fit nicely in the
 pressure canner.

 9. Once the safety lock released automatically I opened and set the jars to
 cool on a towel.  I then waited to hear that ping
sound.  That took about another 15 minutes.  But now I'm
done, and I have 8 jars of milk that looks very close to
shelf carton milk that is still good for cereal, and anything
you would do with milk except make cheese, or yogurt.

So there you have it.  Well actually I have it, for I now have 8 jars of canned dairy milk that I can use for a rainy day.  Good to know I have it for food storage too.  And it cost very little to make it at home.  I use this same instructions for soy and all my nut milk canning. I hope you too can benefit from this simple canning knowledge.  Yes you can, can dairy and non dairy milk.  Please feel free to share this site with others so they too can benefit on the savings.

Please feel free to ask any questions and or comment.  Well that's it for now, so till the next time...Goodnight and God Bless you all.

Sincerely,

Mary Helen