Baking and Cooking Tuesday

 Yesterday, I posted this on my Facebook wall: "There is something so beautiful to me in cooking and baking my own food. Anyone can go to a Fast-Food joint and grab food that was made with someone else's hands; but there is sooo much more satisfaction in the cutting, the blending, the stirring of the food. Now I understand the meaning of "Soul Food"...it's not stereotypical "black food", or even limited to a certain region of the country. It's food that goes beyond satisfying the simple need for food but refreshes the soul every step of the way. It's food prepared with the best intentions, it is food that you can almost taste the love and care with which the person made it."

In case you were not aware, I love food. And when I thought to start this blog, I knew I had to include a weekly section of recipes that our family loves. After debating on the how's and when's, it only made sense that I do it on the day our family does the most cooking and baking-on Tuesdays. Mondays we do our major cleaning, and after all that hard work, Tuesdays I want something that makes it all worthwhile. Please keep in mind, I am no advanced cook. I am just someone who enjoys the time spent with my kids mixing,chopping, cooking, smelling,tasting. It's not only a learning experience, it's bonding with them at the deepest level possible.

Today, I am going to share with you "Amish Baked Oatmeal" and "(Chicken) Meatball and Orzo Soup". Share it with those you love.  Both make about 4-6 servings.


Amish Baked Oatmeal
3 C. quick-cooking oatmeal
3/4 c. brown OR white sugar
1 C.+2 Tbs. Milk
1/3 c. butter,  softened.
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.. Grease a 13x9x2 baking pan.
2. Beat eggs, sugar,butter. Mix in baking powder, vanilla, cinnamon, salt. Stir in milk and oats.
3. Spread on baking pan. bake 35-45 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
4. Spoon into bowls, serve warm.
Other options- you can also combine all ingredients and allow to sit in the fridge overnight. You can serve this by itself, but we normally eat with sweet cream(or coffee creamer).
 Other things you can serve this with- milk, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, raisins or craisins(dried cranberries), nuts of your choice.

(Chicken) Meatball and Orzo Soup
1 Tbs. Olive Oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
A handful of shredded carrots(or, about 1 cup)
4 C. chicken stock/broth
1 lb. ground chicken
1/4 C. bread crumbs
3 Tbs. Parmesan-Romano cheese
1 egg
1 garlic clove, or 1 Tbs. minced garlic
salt/pepper to taste
1/2 C. Orzo

1. Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Saute onions and carrots for about 5 minutes. Add chicken stock/broth.
2. In a medium bowl, mix ground chicken with  Parmesan-Romano cheese, bread crumbs, egg, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. If the mixture is too moist, add more bread crumbs. Roll meat mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
3. When the stock/broth comes to a boil, drop the meatballs into the broth.
4. Stir in the orzo and cook for about 7-10 minutes, or until pasta and meatballs are cooked though. Serve.