I'm trying to make some interesting cookies so that I can make bundles of cookies as Christmas presents.

Here's my first one. Its kind of like a moon pie, but different. This was RIDICULOUSLY easy to make, and hardly made any dirty dishes....so clean up was really quick afterward!

The first one I tried was pretty good. When I let them sit over night and had one the next morning for breakfast (yes, I'm an adult and I eat cookies for breakfast) it was even better!!

Listening to "The General Specific" by Band of Horses. Gettin a little dance on while making some poblano corn soup.

Once again, I didn't particularly enjoy this, but the boy loved it. So I'll have to keep it in the recipe files....just in case he ever asks for it again.

The recipe I based this off was from a Cooking Light magazine. I majorly altered the recipe, and wish I had altered it even more. I found the soup very bland. The recipe actually had the word "spicy" in the title, but it wasn't at all spicy...something that I think would have made me like it more. The original recipe had a bunch of microwaving also. I don't particularly like using the microwave, so I did it mostly on the stove top.


Poblano Corn Soup
1 16oz bag of microwave steam sweet yellow corn
4 poblano peppers
1/2 yellow onion
2 cups milk
3/4 tsp salt


Directions:

1)Chop peppers and onion. In a large pot, cook with approximately 2 tbsp of oil. Meanwhile, steam the corn according to package directions.
2)Once peppers and onions are softened, add milk and bring to a boil. Then add salt.
3)Add about 1/2 of the corn and puree using an immersion blender. Then add the rest of the corn.
4)Serve warm!

The original recipe said to add cheddar cheese as a topping, but Manuel liked it without any toppings. If I make this again, I think I'd add some jalapeno or serrano for spice. Maybe some garlic and/or cumin.


Update on the Chicken Tortilla Soup: None of it made it to Manuel over the weekend. I ate it all at work over the next few days. I realized it was too spicy for him to really enjoy, and I enjoyed it too much to buy the disgusting prepared food from the cafe at work. Next time, I definitely will not be using the habanero tomato mix.

Terrible day at work today. I think I talked to the rudest customer in my five years of being at the bookstore, so I politely placed her on hold and asked someone else to finish the call. Then I came home and made chicken tortilla soup!

During the week I'm cooking only for myself-since my boyfriend works and goes to school I don't see him. This recipe should yield 4 servings. That's enough for me to eat dinner, take a serving to work, and feed my boyfriend once this weekend. If he were eating with me tonight, I'd double the recipe.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1/2 yellow onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp dried cilantro

1 (10 oz) can ROTEL diced tomatoes with habaneros, drained

1/2 (14.5 oz) can of diced tomatoes, drained

1 cup whole kernel corn, cooked

1/2 (15 oz) can of black beans, drained and rinsed

1 (14 oz) can low sodium chicken broth

3/4 cup water

1 chicken breast, cooked and cut into bite-size pieces

Toppings:

Cheese

Tortilla chips

Directions:

1) In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until softened. Stir in chili powder, oregano, tomatoes & habaneros, cilantro, chicken broth, and water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

2) Stir in corn, beans, and chicken. simmer for 10 minutes.

3) Ladle into bowls. Top with cheese and tortilla chips. Serve warm.

This recipe is kind of spicy, but I love the heat! I used mozarella cheese because that's what I had on hand, but monterey jack or cheddar would probably be better. I also used the tiny broken chips at the bottom of the bag as the topping.

mmmm. This bad day has disappeared in a flash.

I graduated from college about a year ago. I've been working at the bookstore that I've been at for the last 5 years. I'm waiting on my boyfriend to graduate, waiting on the next stage in my life.

I'm not just waiting though. I'm learning to cook and craft. Sometimes I get upset with myself for not using my biology degree for something better, but I'm starting to realize that I like my low stress job and lots of free time.

I've decided that this fall/winter I will finally learn to make soup. And I will find delicious, healthy recipes that I can pass along to friends and family.

This week I made beer cheese soup. I have a friend who works at a local restaurant, and he 'committed corporate espionage' to get me the coveted recipe!



This soup was definitely a success. I will continue making & sharing it for years to come!