Clockwise from from top left – Apple, Chocolate Pecan, Pumpkin and Lemon Meringue!

I made mine in a heart-shaped cake pan and then added icing I made from powdered sugar, cocoa powder and milk. This is perfect for anyone (like me) who is gluten-intolerant.

Get the recipe on Epicurious.com

Clean and peel tomatoes

Cook with onions, garlic, red wine and spices

Add meatballs. and look what ya got!

Yummy!

]]> http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/2011/03/02/so-many-tomatoes-what-to-do-with-them/feed/ 0 http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/2011/01/31/make-your-sweetheart-something-special-for-valentines-day/ http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/2011/01/31/make-your-sweetheart-something-special-for-valentines-day/#comments Tue, 01 Feb 2011 03:05:51 +0000 admin http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/?p=7429 Make your favorite shortbread cookie recipe, add a drop of red food coloring and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Then melt some chocolate chips and drizzle it over the top of the cookies. Delicious! And so perfect for Valentines Day!

Just take your favorite chocolate layer cake recipe, and add pure spearmint extract to the cake and frosting, rather than vanilla extract. Garnish with chopped chocolate mint candies!

No slicing and dicing for me tomorrow!

Daughter home from college to bake pies! These are all the leaf cutouts for the pie edge decorations.

Close up of leaf cutouts. (Buy the cutters at Williams Sonoma)

Pumpkin!

Pecan!

French Apple Crumb!

Chocolate Truffle Tart to be Decorated Tomorrow!

Meyer Lemon Cranberry Bread!

]]> http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/2010/11/24/my-favorite-day-of-the-year/feed/ 0 http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/2010/10/05/herbed-carrot-white-bean-meyer-lemon-soup/ http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/2010/10/05/herbed-carrot-white-bean-meyer-lemon-soup/#comments Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:53:28 +0000 admin http://smartpoodlepublishing.com/blog/?p=6678 Herbed Carrot White Bean Meyer Lemon Soup

Chop onion and celery and saute with olive oil until soft. Then sautee garlic for 2 minutes.

Add chopped carrots and 3 cups chick stock and 2 cups water and simmer for 20 minutes

Gather up herbs

Chop herbs finely and zest 1/2 meyer lemon or regular lemon

Add white beans, salt, pepper and herbs and simmer another 5 minutes

Use a stick blender to puree or use regular blender and puree in batches

Color will be a creamy orange when blended

Enjoy with your favorite sandwich or salad! Add croutons if you like.

Another healthy, nutritious, low fat soup. No cream or butter or bacon!

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 5 large carrots, chopped
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups water
• 1 meyer lemon or regular lemon
• 10 or so stalks of fresh herbs, sage, rosemary, basil and thyme
• 1 can navy beans or cannellini beans
• Salt and pepper

Forget the beef stock and fattening cheese (that I always choke on) that covers French Onion Soup!  This version is just as tasty and much healthier.

Gather up your six different kinds of onions

Cut them into 8 sections and pulse in the food processor until you get small chop.

Don’t turn it on automatic because it will puree it. You want it chopped.

Mix it all together in oil and butter. Cook on medium heat. No salt at this point or onions will not caramelize!

Stir often and be patient.

It will take at least 30 minutes for onions to caramelize.

When onions get golden and cook way down add Cognac and deglaze the pan.

Add box of chicken stock, salt and pepper.

Yum!

http://www.freeclipartnow.com

Saute onions in saucepan olive oil on med heat until caramelized. This will take at least 20 -30 minutes. Add a bit more oil and add garlic, stirring for just 2 minutes. Do not burn garlic. Add chicken stock and the rest of the ingredients (except for pesto), plus salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 20 minutes. Puree soup with a stick blender or put into a blender in batches to puree. Stir in pesto and serve. Will feed 4. DELICIOUS!!!