Thai Shrimp Soup with Ramen in the Ninja Cooking System

We made another pilgrimage to the snowy slopes of Mt.Baker this weekend. It's the first time we squeezed 7 of us in my car headed for Baker and gear for 6 people! What an accomplishment for my little Toyota. Kids had a blast and are asking and pleading for more time up there. We're thankful for the free 5th grade seasons pass & a big thanks to Mt.Baker for offering that program to our community.

After being on the mountain all day there isn't anything quite like a hot meal that's easy to prepare.  Again, my go-to source is the Ninja Cooking System that I received as a perk for attending the International Food Bloggers Conference in Portland last year.  I love this system because you can fry, saute, steam, slow cook and bake. Less clean-up + Fresh ingredients + Many features= Healthy Meal & Happy Mom

Thai Shrimp Soup with Ramen

• 2 cups shrimp
• 10 cups water
• 1 can light coconut milk
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 cups broccoli, diced
• 2 teaspoons fish sauce
• 2 teaspoons chili sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup torn basil leaves
• Juice from one lime
• half a red onion, diced
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• salt and pepper to taste

On stove top medium for 12 minutes, saute the broccoli, onion, carrots & garlic in vegetable oil.  Stir every few minutes.

Add fish sauce, lime juice, water, salt and pepper. Turn to stove top high for 5 minutes. 

Add two packages of ramen noodles (discard the seasoning packets or save for another use).

Cook for 6 minutes. 

Turn to stove top medium and add shrimp and coconut milk.  Stir and cook for about 4 minutes.  

Serve with lime slices and fresh basil leaves.

Serves: 8 

Sausage Veggie Couscous Soup in the Ninja Cooking System

Do you love the raw e-cards that are flying around the web? If not stop reading here & scroll down to the recipe. You've been warned. I love reading those & enjoy the subsequent belly laugh.  I also get a kick out of the ones that shame their pet. Maybe you have seen the one of a dog with a tag around his/her neck that says "I licked my brothers balls" or "I chewed the face off an antique stuffed panda bear".  Well today its my turn to shame. Not my pet, though.

So this soup is chunky, hearty, flavorful and healthy.  I love this soup. Really. I can eat it for lunch and dinner, then lunch and dinner the next day.  Then the leftovers go in the freezer for another time. But I really shouldn't have leftovers, except that my husband is super duper picky. It's kind of a plague of sorts, for a food blogger, to be so restricted. You see, he is an amazing husband...I love him for sooo many reasons, he is; strong, loving, has an amazing work ethic, a can-do attitude, he's seriously smart, mostly patient, caring dad and the list goes on (and on).  But what he isn't is adventurous in the dining department.

 We were at the Longsdale Market in Vancouver, Canada many moons ago, before marriage & I ordered each of us a bubble tea. He looked at the gigantic straw, the bubble tea, looked at me, took a sip and his face became crazed. Really. He ran for the garbage can and spit it out.

Bubble tea is out, Thai food and Vietnamese Pho are out of the question & as far as couscous goes, that's just simply not happening. It's like a relative to the bubble tea balls, or so he tells me.

So if you love a delicious soup and aren't afraid of the couscous give this one a try.  If you're like my husband, well. I'm sorry, I can't help you today. Alright, I suppose you could substitute the noodles for couscous. Maybe.

Sausage Veggie Couscous Soup

• 3 mild Italian sausage links, casings removed
• 3 whole carrots, peeled and diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cups fresh cauliflower, diced
• 2 cups fresh broccoli, diced
• 1 large fire roasted red pepper diced (I usually use the jar variety)
• 1 can canellini beans
• 1 cup uncooked pearl couscous (otherwise known as Israel couscous)
• 8 cups beef broth
• a few dashes of worcestershire sauce
• 4 cups water
• salt and pepper to taste

In the Ninja Cooking System on Stove top high, fry the sausage for about 10 minutes. Break into smaller pieces.  Add onions, carrots, broccoli, & cauliflower. Fry for another 10 minutes.

Add beef broth & water. Place lid on top and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Remove lid, add beans, couscous, red pepper, worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Turn the Stove Top dial to medium. Place the lid on top and cook for 15 minutes.

Serves 10 people

Crock Pot Beef Broccoli

I have a heavy heart today. It feels achy, sore and sad. A friends dad passed away coupled with the devastating news about the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.   I watched President Obama begin his speech by stating "we have endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years". He paused  during his speech numerous times & wiped away tears before they rolled down his face. As he held back tears, mine flowed. I knew, then, that the conversation I would have with my children would be difficult. I was tasked with balancing my own emotions of sadness and confusion regarding the tragedy while explaining it to my own elementary aged kids.

I was thankful to receive the mass email from the Superintendent of our local school district with a link to an online resource for talking to children about traumatic news or events. I took the time to read the article before my kids arrived home from school and it provided a great platform for me to work from.  I began asking my kids if they had heard about the tragedy today...they had not.  I explained briefly that a gunman entered a school and fired rounds from a semi-automatic weapon and that there were numerous casualties.  From there, my kids had lots of questions and I remembered the link, "don't provide unnecessary details".  I answered their questions honestly and paused at times. Trying to stay strong for them. For us.

So for now, I will hug my kids a little longer, turn the t.v off,  tuck my smart phone away a little more often and try to really engage in our family experience, as we all try to understand, mourn and process the "whys" of how precious lives were taken away in such a horrific way.

Crock Pot Beef Broccoli

• 1 pound Beef, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1/3 cup oyster sauce
• 1/2 cup Bragg's Liquid Aminos
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 cups broccoli
• 3 tablespoon green onions
• 4 cups cooked rice
• sesame seeds for garnish
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Mix all ingredients in the crock pot except the rice, broccoli, sesame seeds and green onions.  Set on low for 6 hours.  

Steam broccoli. Place rice on the plates and layer with beef and sauce. Next add cooked broccoli, green onions & sesame seeds. 

Serves: 4 

Crockpot Slow Cooker Jambalaya

A mere 14 days until Christmas & I'm reflecting on the joys of holiday shopping.  Although I started shopping a month ago I've already missed the boat on the oversize sock monkey that my daughter saw in a Black Friday ad. Which has now lead me to scouring Craigslist for a used ipod.

As a buyer,  Craigslist can be a gamble.  In the past I've replied or called on items never to receive a phone call back. Last night I left a message and heard back within 10 minutes. But its always an awkward call. The seller fishing for info to see if you're a flake & the buyer asking all the "right" questions and hoping that one is not talking to a criminal.

I'm guessing that she won't miss the grande sock monkey once she opens up the ipod that I overheard her brother telling her that she probably won't get this year. He can be such a realist & in some ways he was almost right. She was just a sock monkey away from the ipod.

All good monkeys eat their soup & today I offer a west coast version of Jambalaya

Crock pot/ Slow Cooker Jambalaya

• 2 cups black eyed peas (I used frozen)
• 14 ounces sliced beef sausage
• 2 cups mixed veggie (I used frozen)
• 1 green pepper, diced
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 12 ounce can tomato sauce
• 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 2 teaspoon basil 
• a few dashes of hot sauce
• 4 chicken thighs
• 8 cups (cooked) brown rice

Mix all ingredients (except rice)  in the crock pot & set on High for 4 hours. Cook rice, place rice in the bottom of each serving bowl. Remove chicken thighs and with 2 forks tear into shreds then place back in the crock pot. Place jambalaya on top of the rice and serve.

Serves: 8

Maple Whiskey Pork Chops in the Ninja Cooking System

Maple Whiskey Pork Chops in the Ninja Cooking System

Q:  What kind of pig knows karate?




A:   A pork chop

I know you read my blog for more than just the amazing recipes. I'm your go-to source for hilarious jokes that will delight your friends and family too.  O.k. maybe not. At all. I was typing up a short bio for a new social media platform that I'm enjoying (Google+) & I felt a bit challenged.

 Most social media provides space to write a tagline. I've got one on Twitter, Facebook, Google + & Pinterest but it seems redundant to use the same one across the web. I'm lacking satisfaction with all of my taglines and this means a call for help! (Yes, you. You're reading this blog post and I need you. Please, pretty please.)

Here's what you'll find on Twitter: Mom, wife, newbie blogger and National Guard family. On a quest to eat healthier. Somewhat obsessed with cookbooks and creating a variety of home dining experiences.

Here's my Google + profile:  Here you'll see a wife and mom with a business degree who can't sing, sew, knit or draw. I'm surrounded by cheerful yellow walls & black granite counters mixed with a 50's lime green dinette set in our kitchen nook and I life that I love. Constantly trying new recipes and challenging myself to balance the tried and true with the exciting and new. And yes, I heart the kitchen!

Here's my Pinterest profile: Mom, wife, family/food/travel blogger. On a quest to eat healthier. Somewhat obsessed with cookbooks and creating a variety of home dining experiences.

The Facebook Page profile: Sharing the joys of family life with recipes, entertaining tips, travel experiences and book reviews.

I'm not really content with any of my profiles. Can you please help me?  I would love feedback. Don't worry, I won't be offended when you are honest. Thanks!!

But back to the pork chop, this little piggie went to to the Ninja Cooking System and tasted great! Here's how to cook Maple Whiskey Pork Chops in the Ninja Cooking System:

• 4 bone in pork chops
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup whiskey 
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons dry mustard powder
• 2 teaspoons blackened seasoning
• 4 tablespoons no salt seasoning (sold at Costco and Trader Joe's)

Yield: 4 servings

Mix all ingredients in a gallon sizer plastic bag. Toss to coat and marinate in the fridge for a few hours.

Pour pork chops and marinate in the Ninja Cooking System.  Set dial to Oven at 350 degrees. Place lid on top and cook for 10 minutes. Remove lid and turn pork chops over. Place lid back on top and cook for another 10 minutes.

I love how perfectly 4 pork chops fit in the Ninja!



ps- please use comments below for any tips on writing a better profile for my social media platforms.  Thanks!!